Darius spends the next week preparing for the army to come along, saving up the settlement points. He practices his magic every day for 5 hours and spends another 3 practicing his swordplay. Darius levels up to level 17 from his training and settlement taxes, he places his attribute points into constitution which gets him the [Robust] trait which doubles his health regen from Constitution and doubles his lifespan.

Darius manages to get Firebolt up to level 15, Ice Shard to level 21, Rock wall to level 18, Air blade to level 13, Arcane Shield to level 25, Arcane Tendrils to level 33, and Mana Overcharge to level 35. He also gets his Sword Use, and Focus: Sword skills to level 27.

Darius starts his day by going out to his practice range, which is an area that he has cleared of trees himself, mostly by using his Arcane Tendrils. He goes through his practice regime for a couple of hours before one of the scouts he had recruited approaches him. “Sir, the army is approaching, the will be here in a few hours.”

“Very well, then it’s best that we prepare for them to arrive, bring everyone into the hamlet.” Darius then walks back towards the village, opening the settlement screen.

Settlement Control Screen

Name: ColdMist

Type: Hamlet

Population: 35

Settlement Points: 1425

Buildings: Small cabin x6, Storehouse x1, Well x1, Workhouse x1

Defenses: Stone Wall, Defensive Array x1

Upgrades:

Darius walks up to the top of the stone wall, unlocking stone towers and placing them at the corners of the walls, taking 600 points. He then unlocks and builds automated ballista on the towers, taking 800 points. Once Darius is finished he sits on the wall over the gate, looking out into the forest as he waits.

Soon Rinar comes up and tells Darius that everyone is inside the walls. Darius nods, standing from where he is and walks over to face inside. “Alright everyone, the army is coming today, I know we can stop them from taking what is ours, after all, we aren’t their target, and we are much stronger than they would think. Still, it’s best to be prepared, so everyone who can fight, get on the walls, we have a bit of waiting to do, but we want to be ready.” Darius then returns to his position facing the forest, hearing the gates close beneath him.

Everyone waits for an hour before movement is spotted out on the main trail leading to the road. Darius’ people ready themselves while Darius himself continues to sit on the wall. Soon a group of men in rainbow coloured armour walk into the clearing around the hamlet.

Darius looks down at them as they look up at the walls and towers with clear shock on their faces. “Now, let me guess, you all are here to gather supplies for your army heading to attack your enemy?” Darius calls out as he stands up. A man steps up from the group of soldiers, looking to be the leader if his slightly fancier armour is anything to go by. “That’s right, so open the gate and we’ll take what we need.”

“That’s not happening, we are a neutral third party, we don’t belong to your people, or theirs, so I respectfully ask that you leave and go back to your army.” “I can’t do that, and if I could they would just send more men to take this place forcefully, which we both know they can do.”

Darius laughs out loud at that “They can try, but they’d have to take my place over my cold dead body. How about I give you a good reason to run along, like the fact that I am much stronger than all of you.” “I highly doubt that you are 8 levels below us, you can’t be stronger than any of us.”

Darius shakes his head “Then how about I give you a bit of a demonstration.” He draws his sword and points it at a tree near the group of soldiers. He starts to cast Ice Shard through it, overcharging it by 300%. The Ice Shard blasts from his sword, blasting through the tree he had pointed at, as well as a few behind it. Each of the trees he had hit creaks before they fall over.

The group of soldiers pale as they watch the trees falling, the leader slowly nods “Right, men, let’s go back.” He says before he leads his men back through the forest towards the road.