[Kill count] : Each enemy killed grants a permanent damage bonus

Current kill count: 168

A simple but frightening ability, almost as powerful as [Plunderer], if given enough time this skill could become the most effective buff in his arsenal, kind of like having a second experience bar.

But once again, all his progress was based on the death of his opponents, he glanced at the battlefield where dozens of men laid, a shadow fell on his face, a nagging question danced in the back of his head ‘was there no other way?’ ‘were they all truly worthy of death ?’. Then he saw Era coming down the cliff to join him and his heart calmed down.

It was cruel, but if he hadn't fought, the people of the village would be the ones lying in a pool of blood. Ran could see them, all alive and well, and relieved to have escaped the storm that was coming for them.

Era threw herself into his arms and let soft tears run down her cheeks,

“It’s over now right ? We won…right ?”

Ran didn’t answer and held her closer to his chest. He wanted to give her kind words but now was not the time for it anymore, they took the first step with bravery and now they all had to follow through.

After stepping on the lion's tail, either you killed it or it killed you.

He calmed her down and asked her to gather the main characters of the village to discuss what to do next.

"Congratulations to all, tonight is our victory, but the hardest part is still to come. I will go to Hua tomorrow to explain the situation to the princess to prevent any aftermath.”

Concern passed on the faces of everyone that heard him and a man spoke up.

“By doing this you would doom us all ! Admitting that we all participated in the murder of a nobleman, isn't it better not to say anything and keep it a secret?”

“I will be blunt, yes not saying anything right now would give us some respite in the short term but if…no… When someone finds out later on the situation will only get worse by having hidden the facts. Be it the mercenaries, other nobles or even the empire, one of them would know of this operation or would deduce it, you can’t mobilize that many people and hope that no one else involved noticed.

I think there is a decent chance the princess will listen to me and you don't have to worry…I will say I acted alone.” The various heads looked slightly ashamed at his words, they couldn’t deny the slight sense of relief him taking the responsibility offered them.

“Just tell the residents to hold their tongues about what really happened tonight and everything should be fine."

They mulled over Ran's speech but in the end they had no choice but to agree with him.

He exchanged a few more words before setting off, Era insisted again on coming with him but Ran outright refused this time, his discussion with the princess promised to be eventful, he didn't want her to witness this.

If push came to shove, he didn't want her to see what he looked like when he had to be "convincing".