Chapter 8 - 7

Chapter 8: Chapter 7 By dawn, preparations for battle were underway. After a full night’s rest, Lumberling had recovered his stamina and was ready. He knew this might be the end. Uncle Drake had told him that the Centurion planned to use the same tactic again. It was unlikely to work a second time, but they had no better options. ’Maybe he thinks... if we’re all going to die anyway, we should at least take down as many as we can.’ The 150 soldiers were split into three groups: Decurion Lance would lead an attack squad of 50, another 50 would lay an ambush led by Decurion Rex and Uncle Drake—Lumberling’s group—and the remaining would serve as bait, led by the Centurion himself. There were no grand speeches, no hopeful rallies. Just quiet goodbyes. As they moved out, Lumberling began practicing Concealment. He recalled the fragmented memories from the assassin whose essence he’d devoured, mimicking how they moved. Blend into the surroundings... erase your presence... silence your steps... He repeated the steps, adjusting with every mistake, each attempt smoothing the flow of movement and breath. Their unit waited in a dense forested area, hidden and idle. As time passed, the faint sound of metal clinking and footsteps began to echo. The enemy was here. Lumberling gripped his bow and readied an arrow. Then they saw it—Decurion Lance’s squad being chased. But this time, the enemy had sent 300 soldiers after them. ’Damn it. Triple their number? Even with our Knight Pages, we’re doomed...’ His heart pounded. ’Should I run? No... as long as allies remain, I can devour more. Okay, maybe that’s a little cold... but still—I’ll fight.’ He loosed an arrow. (You have devoured the Infantry Soldier’s essence...) He shot again, and again, before switching to his spear. The enemy was close. Charging forward with the ambush team, Lumberling thrust his spear into the enemy ranks. His strength matched a Knight Page’s—ordinary soldiers stood no chance. But he kept watch, searching for higher-value targets. A scream cut through the chaos. A Knight Page cleaved a soldier in half. Lumberling locked eyes on him—a strength-type with sword skills. ’Risky... but if I land the first hit, it could work.’ He snuck forward, avoiding attention, then activated Sprint. At ten meters out, he lunged— —but the Knight Page sensed something and raised his shield. Anticipating the block, Lumberling dipped his spear and drove it into the Knight Page’s leg. Blood gushed as the Knight Page collapsed. "You coward! How dare—!" Lumberling didn’t let him finish. He thrust again—straight through the skull. (You have devoured the Knight Page’s essence. 55 essence absorbed. Absorbing a portion of the Knight Page’s memories and experiences.) ’That went easier than expected.’ He grinned. Then came a message: (Your level has increased to 3) (Beginner Swordsmanship has become Level 1. Power +100) A surge of strength flowed through him, accompanied by new insights into swordplay. ’Skills are the core of a Knight’s power.’ Uncle Drake had told him that most Knights only mastered one skill in their lifetime. The few who mastered two or more were considered rare geniuses. And I already have five... if I master all of them... He pushed aside the thought and returned to the fight. Working in tandem with his allies, he continued to mow down enemies. But then, the enemy Knight Pages entered the fray. Each Decurion and Uncle Drake now faced two Knight Pages. They couldn’t last much longer. Lumberling rushed toward Uncle Drake. Two Knight Pages—one wielding a spear, the other a sword—had him pinned down. Lumberling snuck in, activated Sprint, and struck. The sword-wielding Knight Page blocked with both hands—but his blade shattered under the force. Lumberling’s spear rammed into his stomach. Blood sprayed. The Knight Page collapsed. Lumberling kept the spear lodged in his target’s gut. With a roar, he hoisted the wounded man into the air—then hurled him straight into the second Knight Page, who was too stunned to react. The second man caught his comrade—his mistake. Lumberling activated Sprint again and drove his spear through them both. "Uncle Drake, now!" he shouted. Still stunned, Uncle Drake sprang into action. Together, they finished the wounded enemies. (You have devoured the Knight Page’s essence. 55 essence absorbed...) (You have devoured the Knight Page’s essence. 55 essence absorbed...) ’Nice! Two more Knight Pages devoured.’ He glanced at his updated status. Name: Lumberling Race: Human Age: 17 Level: 3 Essence Point: (180/1040) Power: 437 Knight Stage: Unranked Active Skills: Beginner Sprint Lv0 (311/1000) (Grants a burst of lightning-fast speed. Consumes a large amount of stamina) Passive Skills: Essence Devour (Automatically devours the essence of those you kill. Absorbs a portion of their special experiences and memories.) Beginner Spearmanship Lv1 (352/1000) Beginner Swordsmanship Lv1 (289/1000) Beginner Bowmanship Lv0 (69/1000) Beginner Concealment Lv0 (9/1000) (Passively lowers your presence and allows you to blend into your surroundings. Proficiency in sneaking increases.) "You’ve grown a lot, kid. You kept surprising me," Uncle Drake said with a grin. "Were you secretly a noble or something?" "You must be joking, Uncle Drake. You already know I’m just an orphan from some remote village." "Well, looks like I’m in your debt again. You have my thanks." "No problem. I’m also grateful for all your teachings." Lumberling paused, then added, "Actually, I have a favor to ask." "What is it? Just tell me—I’ll do anything I can," Uncle Drake replied seriously, like he was ready to stake his life on it. Lumberling smiled at the sight. "It’s nothing that serious. I’d just like you to keep my strength a secret." "That’s it?" Drake chuckled. "Sure. My lips are sealed, I promise." "Thanks, Uncle Drake." "Anyway, let’s talk later. We should help the other Decurions. Go give Rex a hand—I’ll handle things with Decurion Lance." "Got it. Be careful. There might be more hidden Knight Pages among the enemy." "You too, kid." They parted ways. Lumberling soon spotted Decurion Rex struggling to fend off two enemy Knight Pages. He didn’t rush in. Instead, he observed the fight from a distance. ’Should I wait until they kill him?’ he wondered grimly. Decurion Rex had made him uneasy ever since claiming he’d take him under his wing. Something in his eyes... it didn’t feel right. Uncle Drake had warned him: nobles in the empire were power-hungry and dangerous. They’d do anything to get ahead. And Rex—his bearing, his attitude—he likely was one. Lumberling didn’t want his rapid growth noticed by someone like that. Maybe he was overthinking it. But better safe than sorry. Still, he couldn’t just let the man die. With a sigh, he held one of his two remaining Lye bombs and crept toward the fray. He sprinted at the taller of the two Knight Pages—a burly warrior wielding a massive shield. The man was clearly built for brute strength, not finesse. Confident he could overpower him, Lumberling chose him as his target. He gripped his spear and charged. The Knight Page reacted in time and blocked the attack with his shield. The impact sent a jolt through Lumberling’s arm—like slamming into solid iron. He followed up, aiming low at the man’s legs, but the shield was so wide it protected nearly his entire body. Another clash—this time, his spear cracked and splintered apart. ’Damn. It can’t handle my full strength anymore... And that shield—it’s high-quality.’ ’And the way the man used it—tactical, experienced. This was no ordinary brawler.’ Lumberling retreated and hurled the Lye bomb into the man’s face. The liquid sizzled as it hit skin, drawing a roar of pain. Lumberling pulled his sword free as the Knight Page charged him in a blind fury. ’Too slow,’ Lumberling thought, easily dodging his clumsy swings. ’Wait a second—he’s a tanker. He’s probably got shield-related skills, not swordsmanship. Trying to overpower him was a mistake.’ He grinned. "Hey, bigfoot! Are your muscles just for show? You swing like an old man!" The Knight Page snarled and swung harder. Lumberling danced around him, laughing. "Come on, you call that a hit?" "You fucking rat! Is dodging all you can do?!" "Not at all," Lumberling said with a smirk, putting space between them. "But you know what? You’re the reason God made the middle finger." He raised it, grinning. The Knight Page bellowed and charged with all his might. Lumberling darted forward, feinting an overhead slash. The Knight Page instinctively raised his shield—but Lumberling sidestepped, swept his leg, and sent the giant toppling. Before the man could recover, Lumberling was on him. With one clean strike, he beheaded him. (You have devoured the Knight Page’s essence. 55 essence absorbed. Absorbing a portion of the Knight Page’s memories and experiences.) (Passive Skill: Beginner Shieldmanship Lv0 has been learned.) ’Nice. Thanks for the skill, bigfoot.’ But exhaustion was setting in. ’I’m nearly tapped out...’ He glanced at Decurion Rex. Still alive. Still fighting. Good enough—for now. He didn’t go to help Decurion Rex, who was holding his own now. Drawing more attention would only increase the risk of exposure. Instead, he turned toward the front lines—where the enemy soldiers were still thinning out their forces. He retrieved the Knight Page’s shield. Its weight suited him perfectly. Armed with a new shield, skill, and sword, Lumberling dove into the fray. He didn’t know how long he fought—just that he kept moving, striking, dodging, devouring. When he finally caught his breath, the tide of battle had shifted. Familiar faces surrounded him. "They’re finally here," he muttered. Uncle Drake, Decurion Lance, and Decurion Rex had all emerged victorious. With Lance—a peak Knight Page—joining them, the outcome was clear. The enemy faltered. Roughly 200 enemy soldiers remained, but without their leaders, they crumbled. The survivors eventually fled. No one chased them. They were too tired. They had won. Of the original hundred, only 23 survived. None of the Decurions died, but everyone bore wounds—including Lumberling. He pulled up his status window: Name: Lumberling Race: Human Age: 17 Level: 3 Essence: 785/1040 Power: 474 Knight Stage: Unranked Active Skills: Beginner Sprint Lv0 (324/1000) (Grants a momentary burst of lightning-fast speed. Consumes a large amount of stamina.) Passive Skills: Essence Devour (Automatically devours the essence of those you kill. Absorbs a portion of their special experiences and memories.) Beginner Spearmanship Lv1 (489/1000) Beginner Swordsmanship Lv1 (468/1000) Beginner Bowmanship Lv0 (99/1000) Beginner Shieldmanship Lv0 (9/1000) Beginner Concealment Lv0 (16/1000) (Passively lowers your presence and allows you to blend into your surroundings. Proficiency in sneaking increases.) "Looking good. But damn, I have too many skills now," he muttered. "Hard enough leveling just one..." Still, he didn’t regret it. He simply needed to choose which ones to focus on soon—something that fit his fighting style.