Alan waved the wooden stick in his hand to block the first three blows, but the last blow came from the right side and hit him hard on the side, causing him to scream in agony.
He was sure that after today, there would be pain there for two more days - and this was because Larum didn't exert any force, otherwise he would have to break a few ribs to count.
"Dad." The Sachi boy staggered away, panting heavily and glaring at him, "You... don't distinguish between left and right!"
"Even so." Lalum shrugged and stepped closer again, "Head, chest, right leg!"
The boy subconsciously stepped back with his right foot, but Lalum's wooden stick was as fast as the wind and hit his calf on the way. Alan fell to the ground, rolled, and half-knelt to prop up his body.
"head!"
The sound fell together with the attack, and the wooden strips tore the air and made a sharp roar. The hunter's instinct told Alan that if he could not take this blow, he might die - even if the opponent was his 'father'.
Time seemed to slow down suddenly, and the man's movements could be vaguely seen. The young man held the wooden bar with both hands, gritted his teeth, and faced the whizzing stick.
“Uhhhhhhh——!”
The two wooden sticks burst apart with Alan's roar, and his instinct prompted him to raise his left hand, grab the falling half of the wooden stick, and thrust forward with all his strength -
The blow seemed to hit the soft wall, making a muffled sound. The boy gasped, raised his head, and saw that his father also threw away the wooden stick and pressed the broken end of the wooden stick with his right palm.
His face was calm and filled with approval.
"Well done," Larum said.
Alan let go of his hand and stood up. Only then did he feel that his body was a little weak, and he had an indescribable experience. A moment ago, some kind of power integrated into his body, making him transcend his original perceptions and reactions. In an instant,
Make appropriate responses.
If you are on the battlefield or facing an enemy, this moment can make the difference between life and death.
Larum let go of his hand - even though he directly blocked Alan's stab, the man's palm was intact. He bent down, picked up the other half of the stick, and pointed it vertically towards the ground.
“Remember how you just felt, and then forget about the anger and fear part,” he said. “Some people call it ‘rage,’ because strong emotions are a good trigger. The downside to that is that the emotion itself is physically draining,
Making you tired more easily than usual."
"It's just a means of using magic power, just like the monks of the church and the wizards. We don't pursue complex effects, we only use it to strengthen our own physical strength or the weapons in our hands. Just like this."
Larum raised his arm slightly, shook the wooden stick in his hand, and threw it down as if without any effort——
Alan vaguely saw a very shallow red light flashing from 'Father's' right arm and melting into half of the wooden stick. The wooden stick pierced the solid soil with a pop, and penetrated more than three-quarters, leaving only half of it.
The end of the remaining length of the ruler is on the ground.
"This is your homework, Alan." 'Father' turned his back, and the midday sun passed over his shoulders, casting a short and solid shadow, "Go and have a rest and have lunch. There is still work to do in the afternoon.
Do."
"Got it, Dad!"
The young man watched the man gradually go away, raised his hand to wipe his sweat, waved his fist vigorously, and opened his mouth with a silly and excited smile.
For the first time, he felt like he was following in his father's footsteps - although judging from the last 'homework', it was still an unimaginable task to really catch up with him.
In any case, he is no longer the same person he was six months ago, Alan thought to himself.
Those originally painful exercises gradually became familiar, and the techniques of chopping, the way of exerting force, and the means of controlling physical strength gradually became instinctive and integrated into his bones and blood. His body shape also became stronger - his arms and legs
The legs are covered with well-proportioned muscles, the chest is solid and stiff, and the face seems to have faded away, becoming resolute and trustworthy.
Only in his heart, the young man knew that his yearning for adventure had never changed.
He often thinks about how his father obtained such great strength. Is it related to his experience going south and his companions? If the answer is yes, should he leave the village and go on a journey of his own?
...But he didn't know if his father would allow it. And to be honest, he still had a lot of farm work to do.
The young man stretched out his tired body and lay down in a big posture. He closed his eyes and let the sun dry the sweat on his body. He tried to remember what he had only experienced for a moment before. For a few seconds, he seemed to see something, but when
He tried to reach out and catch them, but they disappeared like clouds.
Sure enough, it was not that easy. The young man grinned and jumped up. When he walked into the village, he found that there were many people of his age gathered in the square, as well as a few unfamiliar faces from the Kamal people.
Alan ran over and squeezed past two men who were half a head shorter than him, "What happened?"
A Kamal man turned his head, looked him up and down for a few seconds, nodded with satisfaction, and slowly walked up to him.
"His Majesty the Emperor is recruiting soldiers to prepare for possible chaos and to implement new methods of warfare." The man raised his head and glanced at him, "You need to undergo training and then pass the assessment. As reward, you will receive a set of
A residence in the city, a monthly allowance of at least ten silver coins, and the status of an imperial citizen."
It sounded...like the opportunity he was looking for. Alan's eyes lit up and he swallowed carefully, "What do you want?"
"Young and strong, quick-minded, down-to-earth and willing to work." The Kamal man stretched out his hand, squeezed the young man's upper arm, and then patted his shoulder, "You have a good physique. By the way, can you read?"
"Um!"
Alan nodded vigorously. Larum taught him how to read and write since he was a child, even though many tribesmen thought it was useless. In addition to Kamal and Saqi, 'father' even taught him some Elna script - it's a pity that he
I still haven't mastered those complicated grammars.
"That would be even better." The man narrowed his eyes with satisfaction, "Opportunities like this don't come often. What do you think, do you have the courage to come with me?"
For a moment, he wanted to agree immediately - but the remaining rationality stopped him. The boy licked his lips, his voice was a bit hesitant, and the rest was in expectation, "When...are you going to set off?"
"The day after tomorrow at the latest, you'd better decide quickly. Your Majesty doesn't want many people this time, and you don't know when the next time will be."
Alan didn't quite believe this sentence. It sounded like a rhetoric to urge him to make a quick decision. Starting a war requires a large number of soldiers, and the Saqi people are the best source of warriors in the north. But even so, he can start his 'adventure' early.
, what’s wrong with that?
"Tomorrow. I will definitely come to you tomorrow." Alan scratched his hair and replied firmly, "I have to go and talk to my father."
The Kamal man nodded and turned to another young man who seemed to be interested. The man's name was Tut, who was four years older than Alan. He used to be the most outstanding young hunter in the village - of course he may not be now, Alan thought.
In fact, he was still a little hesitant. He had not yet mastered the power he had just obtained, and if he was in danger this time, it would be difficult for anyone to save him.
The sky was still bright, but his father was not at home. So Alan picked up the shovel and pickaxe and went to a field on the south side of the tribe.
Half a year ago, this place was a barren wasteland with no grass growing. I don’t know what the Elna people have done. The rain recently has been several times more than in previous years, and weeds have appeared out of thin air, filling the land. And what he has been doing these days
, which is to plow these weedy fields deeply and then sow corn and soybean seeds.
Larum told him that even in the cold winter, the magic of Breeze Forest can ensure that crops grow well and mature before spring comes. Alan has experienced the taste of starvation, and naturally understands what sufficient food means to the tribe.
——
But no matter what, the Elna man who kept a straight face all day long and taught these "short-sighted humans" how to "live in harmony with nature" always disliked each other.
"I won't come tomorrow." After half of the day's work, he took advantage of a break and tried in as casual a tone as possible, "Go and teach others to do these jobs, Aivas."
The young man thought that the other party would at least ask a few questions, but the silver-haired man didn't respond at all, as if he didn't hear his words at all. This made him feel that he was holding something back in his heart, and he was silent for a long time. He couldn't bear it.
Keep catching up with your own words.
"What do you think I'm going to do?"
"Go and die." The Elna man said coldly, "Like all the Sachi people who think they are mature and want to leave home alone."
Alan finally resisted the idea of giving him a shovel. His father would probably be angry, and he didn't have the same experience as a centuries-old antique. He turned his back without saying a word, raised his arm as if to prove something, and used the entire shovel.
He plunged his head into the ground, turned up dozens of pounds of soil, and then immediately swung out a shovel.
After he had raked the plowed soil flat and made a patch of soil about half a meter wide, the voice of the Elna man suddenly came from behind his head.
"Since you're leaving tomorrow, it's useless to teach you anything else. Just go home."
These words were too irritating. The young man turned around suddenly, used both arms to thrust a shovel full of soil into the opponent's face. The Elna man seemed to dodge in a hurry, but the soil swept past like a storm.
It hit him so hard that he stepped back and almost fell to the ground.
You deserve it, Alan thought. He picked up the pickaxe on the side and strode away without looking back. The silver-haired man was silent for a long time. The young man looked back at him. He had just cleaned the dirt off his coat, and there was a look on his face.
There was not much anger, but there seemed to be regret in his eyes.
It must be an illusion, Alan thought. Even if it wasn't, the other person's thoughts had nothing to do with him. He returned home and cooked a few corns as usual, and then stewed a pot of soup with wild vegetables and beans. Waiting until he met his father
After dinner together, he licked his lips, mustered up the courage, and spoke out loud what he had been thinking about for a long time.
"Dad, I'm going on an adventure!"
Larum nodded, seemingly unsurprised by what he said, "Where do you want to go?"
"The empire in the east is recruiting soldiers, and I want to try it out to see how strong the skills you taught me are." The young man clenched his fist hard, "If it weren't for the empire, we wouldn't have been able to get this land - it's considered
Let’s repay them once.”
'Father' looked at him calmly, his thick and powerful arms resting on the table, "For you, the way to prove your strength is to participate in a war?"
He almost forgot that Lalum didn't like war. Not long ago, his 'father' persuaded the leader of the Frostwolf clan to let the Sachi people sign a peace treaty with the Elna people - in the eyes of the Violet Empire, this move was close to betrayal. But.
Another voice told Alan that his father is his father, and his path... needs to be chosen by himself.
"We are born warriors, right." He raised his voice slightly, as if it would bring more confidence, "You taught me more than just hunting skills. Apart from the battlefield, I can't think of a better way to train myself...
A way for me to catch up with you faster."
"Moreover." The young man bit his lip, "If I grow up to be able to protect this village, father, you will... be able to do what you want to do, right?"
"Together with those people who have looked for you many times -"
The boy's words were interrupted. Lalum stretched out his generous palm and took him over. The man looked at the boy who was almost as tall as him, narrowed his eyes slightly, and shook his head with a faint smile.
"If I want to leave, even if no one can protect this place, I will not stop. But that is a thing of the past." The man patted Alan on the shoulder, his voice was gentle and low, "I have done that before.
, I won’t stop you now. But don’t forget, walk slower so you can see the road ahead clearly.”
The young man nodded vigorously, as if he understood what 'father' meant, "Don't worry, Dad. I won't let you down, let alone bring shame to your past reputation! Just wait and see!"
"I have no expectations." The man whispered back, "You need to work for yourself, not anyone else."
The last sentence made Alan think about it for a while, but fatigue and sleepiness quickly took away the unnecessary thoughts. The boy woke up early the next day and wrapped several linen coats, flints, ropes and knives in oilcloth.
Packed into a simple luggage. Then he walked to the door, turned around, and took a deep breath——
"I'm leaving! Dad——!"
Larum didn't answer. Alan turned around, quickened his pace, and ran almost all the way to the tribal square. Three Sachi people who were about the same age as him gathered around and turned to look at him when they heard the sound.
Tut, Duck, and Singh—those are also hunters in the village, but compared to his comrades, Alan understands that now they are more like 'competitors'. The young man ignored them and went straight to the man he had seen yesterday.
Kamal people.
"As promised, I'm here."
"Very good, you are the last one here." The Kamal man nodded, "I am Charles, your guide and future instructor. So, let's go now."
…
Those events happened more than two weeks ago.
They marched eastward along the wasteland, and hunters from other tribes continued to join in the process, so that the team finally reached forty-seven people. Halfway through, Alan hunted a bird that missed them with only a short knife.
The wild boar that passed by was a little bit of a hit—but at the same time, it also received hostility from the other people.
It's just jealousy, the boy thought, it's no big deal.
On the twelfth day after leaving the tribe, under the leadership of Charles and two other Kamal guides, they arrived at the imperial capital safe and sound.
But this was the first time Alan had seen a city of this size.
Whether it is the Frostwolf Tribe’s vast camp or the arena made of huge logs and the various facilities around it, they are completely incomparable to the city in front of them. Its outer walls are made of solid natural granite and filled with gravel.
The edge could barely be seen at a glance. A gray-black substance of unknown origin filled every gap. He reached out and tried to dig at it, but was unable to remove even a single crumb.
The gate of the outer city was more than ten meters wide and even thicker. Guards wearing light armor and carrying scimitars leaned against the door. Their sharp eyes scanned everyone who entered the city, and ordered two men wearing cloaks to
The man stopped to accept the question. Soles took out a metal nameplate, shook it at the guards, and then filed in with the entire team.
The road paved with bluestones was crowded with people, most of whom were Kamal people. The boy also saw a small number of Sachi people, Belon people, and even Fritz people - but there were no Elna people. Some pedestrians asked them
Everyone looked at him, but no one seemed too surprised. The vendors were busy recruiting customers, introducing products, or bargaining. Alan curiously picked up a short knife and weighed it, and then he was patted on the back.
"You will have plenty of time in the future." Soles took the dagger and put it back on the stall, "Follow me now."
He followed the other party quickly through half of the city and came to a camp outside the north gate. Hundreds of shacks were lined up neatly, each large enough to accommodate five or six people. The Kamal people walked to the entrance of the camp
, raised his finger and pointed at one of the houses.
"This is your temporary home." He said, "As I said, you need to receive sufficient training and then pass the assessment before you can join the empire's army." He raised his head and looked at the barracks in the distance, "
There are about three thousand people here, and eventually, we will select five hundred soldiers from them."
Only one-sixth, the young man thought. He firmly believed that he would be the chosen one, but obviously, some people were not satisfied with such rhetoric——
"No one told me this!"
The Sachi man with a scar on the left side of his face and a row of short hair on his head stepped out of the queue and glared at Charles, who was less than half a meter away.
"Regardless of the training, there are only so many people left. The person who called me didn't say anything." Alan remembered that the person was named Enlock, from the Thunder Dragon tribe, and he was praising his strength along the way. "He seems to be called
What kind of writing... forget it, but you said assessment? No one needs those bullshit!" He raised his arms, clenched his fists, and made the muscles bulge, "We are born warriors, and we come to a place like this with you.
, not to waste fucking time——"
"Okay, okay." The Kamal man took a step back and looked around everyone, with no fluctuations in his expression. "You all think so?"
At least half of the people nodded in agreement. The other half made no move. Alan belonged to the latter group. He agreed with Enlock's statement, but thinking about the gap between himself and his father, he felt that training - no matter what it was - might have some meaning.
"I understand." Soles nodded and looked directly at the Sachi man who started the topic, "Tell me, what do you know?"
"Fight, plunder, and kill." The man waved his arm, making a horizontal slashing gesture, and slashed across the Kamal people's throats. "Tell me where the enemies are and how many there are, and I promise to kill them all." clean."
The Kamal man closed his mouth and looked at Enluo calmly. It wasn't until Alan became a little impatient that he shook his head gently.
"In that case, come with me."
This time they went to the inn not far away and got on the mounts brought by the stable boy. Charles drove the horses to gallop north, and Alan finally managed to keep up with the opponent's speed. This might also be part of the assessment, the young man thought. The Empire's The Stormtroopers are quite famous, maybe one day, he can become one of them——
The horses and riders walked through the dry and barren land, rested at an oasis, and then continued on. About two hours later, they came to another fenced-in camp, and followed Charles into it.
The camp was much smaller than the previous one, and everyone Alan saw seemed to be busy. Orange smoke rose into the sky from the chimneys of several buildings, and the sound of hammers hitting anvils could be heard from the other side. Kama The Er led them through the camp to a slightly open place in the northeast corner.
Several targets made of thatched grass stood at the edge of the open space, and next to them were weapon racks filled with various weapons. It looked like a simple training ground. In the middle of the dusty open space, stood a more than seven meters high object--
At first glance, it looked like a humanoid with thick limbs, or like a fish with sharp double fins, leaning forward and upright. A gray-black metal plate covered its whole body, covering every joint and joint. It was more than two meters long. The 'fins' vaguely reflected the sunlight. Alan carefully took a few steps closer, squinted his eyes, and found that both of their edges were as sharp as knives.
He had never seen anything like it. But just looking up at it, awe instinctively arose in his heart. The boy was not afraid of giants - giants occasionally appeared in the wilderness, and those stupid guys eventually became the prey of the tribe. But this thing of unknown origin in front of him gave him an indescribable sense of heaviness and oppression.
"The fourth type of magic armor, codenamed 'Swordfish'." The Kamal people cast their gaze at him, their eyebrows arched, as if they were satisfied with the young man's expression, "This is a treasure left by the Fritz people, from The civilizational legacy of the First Age. It will also be your body, your arms, and your blades."
He stopped talking, slowly suppressed his smile, and calmly turned to the tall and strong Sachi man.
"Enlock, right?" Charles pointed behind him with his thumb, "If you want to get what I promised, you can either go back to receive training and become its operator; or defeat it and prove that you are..." He shrugged He shrugged, "A born warrior."
Enlock's eyes widened, he clenched his fists, then walked to the weapons rack on the side and picked up a long-handled battle ax over two meters long. His chest rose and fell slowly, and his steps were slightly stiff.
But Alan understood that as a Saqi man, he could not look back.
"It's just a tin can." Enlok lowered his body, swung his ax fiercely, and then pointed the tomahawk diagonally forward, like a cheetah preparing to hunt, "Let's see how I kill you——!"
He roared angrily and ran wildly, his heavy steps kicking up dust mist. At the same moment, the "Swordfish" more than ten meters away slid forward without warning, as fast as a gray shadow. In just the blink of an eye, it The two 'sharp fins' swung from top to bottom and split the battle ax in the Saqi man's hand into two pieces.
Enlock was stunned for a moment, and then showed a look of horror for the first time.
"Okay, you...no, no no no no, enough, enough--!"
But his retreat was not fast enough. The "Swordfish" suddenly accelerated again, and hit him head-on almost instantly. Alan watched as the Sachi man flew into the air with a bang, his body twisted into a strange shape, and then his head hit the concrete
The ground rolled all the way for more than twenty meters, and it did not stop completely until it knocked over a haystack.
The noise around him disappeared in an instant, leaving only a few frightened gasps. Alan didn't know if Enlock was still alive, but even if he was, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to be a soldier anymore, he thought.
Charles didn't look at the fallen Saatchi man at all. He waved slightly, and the 'Swordfish' slowly turned half a circle, glided to the man's side, and looked down at everyone from a high position.
"It is 7.4 meters tall, weighs 11 tons, and has a maximum speed of 90 miles per hour, far exceeding the fastest horse at present. It requires two 'horsemen' to operate it and can move independently for more than ten hours."
Marr said softly, his tone full of confidence, "Just one magic armor can rival a dozen of the Theocracy's glorious knights; and if there are ten of them, the 'Sword Master' who defeated Oren can
, I’m afraid it’s not that difficult.”
"This is the power of technology. Remember what I said." He turned around and glanced at Alan and all the remaining Sachi people. "From next time on, the previous methods of warfare will be completely obsolete."