Time sure flew fast. It had only been three days since I was in the cusp of the breakthrough. I could feel that my body was at the brink of breaking through into the 1st rank Warrior. It could happen anytime soon, even if I didn’t purposely aiming for it.

I'm grateful for having been born in an era where people had their gene enhancement since birth. If it wasn't so, it would have taken me months before I was able to touch the stage.

While having that thought in mind, I flicked my wrist then a vial containing a color-less liquid came out. It was, of course, a High Nutrition Liquid. In the past few days, I have been limiting myself on over-consuming the liquid as to not make my body grow immune to it. Guess, to make a guarantee for my breakthrough, might as well consume one now.

After much consideration, I unhesitatingly opened the tube and downed the liquid. It then spread into every crook and cranny of my body. Hotness emerged from inside of my stomach as my gene was actively digesting the liquid. I sat down and had my eyes closed, beginning the practice of the breathing technique. Aiming all my efforts into achieving a breakthrough. Shortly thereafter, an acupoint on my heart burst opened and I could feel a strange something filled my body.

“Hahhh... Is this yellow-transparent string, qi? I could sense it circling on my body.”

Just then, I stood up and felt that my entirety was very light just like a feather. My hand was full of strength as if it could crush a small stone barehanded. Curious about how much stronger I had become; I used the Universal Measurement Device on me.

177? That’s insane! I should be stronger than average battle engineered people... If I reach this much on the 1st rank Warrior, how much stronger could I get later? Also, it seems that normal 1st rank Warrior stands at around 100, so my power is quite an anomaly.

Itchy to try my new power, I ordered ATHENA to control one of the robots to the training room. Thus, a robot with a normal looking steel sword came in and stood in the middle of the room. The sword had been prepared beforehand, as having a fistfight with a hard steel robot was a no brainer.

No longer able to hold any longer, I took my first move after gripping the All Cut Sword, approaching the robot at a speed that would make an Olympic runner left behind in the dust. When we were only a meter apart, I swung the sword downward.

Swiftly, the robot evaded the incoming sword and countered efficiently. Thrusting its sword to me and aimed at my chest. In response, I smirked and slashed sideways to deflect it.

Clang!

The sound of clashing swords sounded simultaneously as the robot took a step back without having any difficulty maintaining its balance. Well, just as expected of a robot controlled by a personal battle A.I. like ATHENA.

“Hmph! I’m just playing around earlier.” Hence, I continued my strikes with a belief that attack was the best kind of defense.

The blowing winds and the thumping sounds of the floor kept echoed as we moved around and tried to attack each other. The robot’s movement amazed me as it moved very efficiently. Despite its inferior speed and agility, it felt like it always calculated each of my attacks and movements.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

This exchanging of sword clashes happened for a few minutes, making me used to the new strength that I had. However, I realized that no matter how many times I waited for the robot to make a mistake, it never had one and always changed its movements. Is this an effect of A.I. enhancement? Advanced machine learning is scary.

Right there and then, a brilliant idea sprung up in my head and I had myself charged to the robot. When the robot was about to attack, I went to circle it in a zigzag manner; thereby, making the robot couldn’t lock onto me. Just when it had figured out my movement, it went to swing its sword around to stop my zigzag. I dodged, pierced mine to its side. When the robot was about to deflect, I turned 360 degrees, feinting that attack before swinging my sword around.

Thwack!

The robot was cut slightly in the stomach and was sent flying a meter — tumbling for a second. Although the cut wasn’t too deep, it was a solid hit.

“Hard! A normal 1st rank Warrior's body would be split in half after receiving that attack.” I could feel that my hand quivered a little.

Now that I think about it, a normal type robot like this one should have no problem with handling one or two 1st rank Warrior. However, if it was controlled by ATHENA personally just like this, handling three or four of them should be easy.

Out of the blue, a thought came across my mind. “ATHENA, does the subordinate A.I. been built?”

[Yes, Master~! Since the Synthesize Hall help on producing complex substances, hundreds of subordinate A.I. chip had been made.] There was blinking in ATHENA's emoticon just now.

“Good. Placed them to the robots that had been made!”

[As you wish, Master!]

Just when I was in the middle of taking a deep inhale, a frosty voice of ATA rang out from the surroundings as her hologram was projected, [Host. This is urgent! An army of roughly 6,000 strong was approaching the base.]

“What?! So, they're coming, huh? Show me the projection.”

Following that, a projection displaying a marching army of medieval age was shown. It was recorded by the drones from afar; thus, I couldn’t see clearly what their formation was consisting of. Sending the drones up-close would be dangerous but since subordinate A.I. had been made, I can deploy those.

“Send those small things to gather information! Then move accordingly to the plan that we had devised previously!” I commanded while swinging my hand to the side in a commanding posture.

[Your command has been received.]

Knight Bertolt’s Perspective

The sun was still high in the sky when 6 thousand strong soldiers were marching with rhythmic footsteps. Although two-thirds of the formation was full of sparsely equipped soldiers, a third consisted of iron armored and strong-willed soldiers. The army was bringing banners of a bright reflective moon on top of a river and other banners that had a crown and a strange mystical creature on it. Behind, there were all kinds of unassembled siege engines such as catapults, ladders, ballistae, and much more ready to be assembled. It was obvious that this army was on a military campaign.

In the middle of the formation, there were a few luxurious carriages guarded by a few knights. Despite its extravagant decorations and furniture, there was only fear and respect on the faces of the knights. Evidently, anyone inside those carriages was of high status.

Suddenly, a blonde-haired handsome man in a knight armor with a charismatic posture approached the carriage with his white horse. He knocked on the window before it was opened and a shrewd plump noble man questioned, “What is it, Bertolt?”

“Lord! We should reach the place in less than an hour. Should we prepared the siege engines?” Inquired the handsome knight named Bertolt in a refined style.

“Finally, we’re here, huh? My bottoms have been hurt for sitting in this god damn carriage!” Lord Andrei complained with an annoyed face.

Shit! If it wasn’t for you stopping on every village that we came across just to have some fun, we would have reached this place days ago! While thinking that, Knight Bertolt didn’t even furrow his eyebrows.

“Anyway, set up a tent and the siege engines! We need to discuss with Sir Houston and the others!”

“Yes, milord!” Knight Bertolt bowed slightly before going elsewhere with his white horse.

Half an hour later, a big tent was set upon an open grassland. Soldiers were patrolling the place and monitoring the surroundings for any signs of enemies. Despite the heat of the sun that made them sweat, they kept up a straight posture and gave a trace of fear directed to the tent. Inside were 8 men wearing myriad kinds of attires, discussing the battle plan that they would adapt. Just when they reached a reasonable outcome, Lord Andrei stared at the gloomy middle-aged man standing in the middle of four black-robed masked figures that never spoke.

He then opened his mouth and inquired, "Sir Houston, are you really sure that there's an army of golems in here? And may I know who's the good sirs over there?”

Sir Houston snorted and rebuked with a murderous glare, “Andrei! Did you just doubt me? I may only be a 5th rank Acolyte but probing is my forte. As for these four sirs, the less you know, the better.”

“N-no… Sir Houston, I didn’t doubt your ability.” Lord Andrei sweated before commanding the elderly aide and a handsome knight at the side, “Charlie! Bertolt! Start the preparation according to the plan!”

““Yes, as you command, milord!””

And thus, they — Charlie and Bertolt — ran out to the outside to do his bidding. Unbeknownst to anyone, there were tons of small bugs spread around the area, monitoring the place.