Emmet removed her headband and placed it on the bedside table. She took her phone and left to get some groceries. On the way, she started browsing the forums to see the latest news from the game. According to the forum, a few players had started to take over a noble's land. There were even some high-level players who fought at the royal capital's arena trying to gain recognition from the king to become nobility.

There was even a report about Henry's mother dying. 'That was poor timing. I wish it could have waited till I completed my quest. I guess I'll have to go and meet him when he's down.'

The billboards and TV screens were all playing the beautiful landscape of the new game. Another major news was the cry of those players who attempted to take up crafting professions only to find the quests extremely challenging. One of the players was dipped into a boiling pot and left to die by their master as their poor performance was too poor. Well, his master was an orc. Can't blame the poor creature for making use of a waste of space. The devs completely ignored these protests and said to let it be for now. It was still too early for people to become a master at their profession.

Thankfully, Emmett met Henry. Considering how hard it was to find alchemists in the game, Emmett was extremely lucky. 'I should finish this quest no matter the cost.' She swore. She was already pressed for the money and saw this as a way out.

Once she completed her grocery purchases, she went back to her room and put the headband on logging into the game. Unlike other games, logging outdated didn't remove the player's avatar from the game world. Instead, she was forced to sleep in an inn next door. When she woke up, the innkeeper took 3 copper coins from her as the charge. "Please try not to pass out on the street again. It's hard on the patrolman to bring you in one piece. 'The devs could have at least told us that.' She rushed back to the chieftain's house to complete her quest.

*****

Two weeks passed since she started cooking in the game. And so far her progress has been impressive. 'I should be able to complete the course today.' Emmett thought to herself.

"Kid, you are back." Chieftain Orlac said seeing Emmett walking in through the back door.

"Are you confident?"

"I'm pretty sure I can pass now."

"In that case, I want you to cook these three dishes for the guests outside and make sure they are good." Orlac threw a paper towards Emmett which she opened and started cooking. The recipe was easy to understand. And the ingredients were all available inside the kitchen. 'This shouldn't be too hard.'

She was able to finish the dish in 10 minutes. A fresh aroma rose from the kitchen. "It smells good. Make sure it tastes good as well. And use the crockery on the top shelves. Pour some wine as well." The Chief's orders came back from the living area. Emmett quickly completed what she was asked and took the dish to the front.

There was no one inside the shop. Chieftain Orlac was sitting on the only table that was occupied and pointed at the chair right next to him.

"The only way to appreciate your cooking is to eat it like a customer. Sit down and taste your food and tell me how it is."

Emmett put the dishes down and sat on the chair right next to him. "Is this all right? The ingredients were expensive."

"Ingredients are meant to be used."

"Not the best. I know what not to expect a master chef's standards from you, but for someone who barely started cooking a few days ago, your food it's that bad."

"Well, I suppose that's it. You will do it. Maybe come back once you feel like you want to pursue cooking instead of becoming an alchemist. That's pretty much all that you need to learn. You have my approval now."

Emmett got up and started to take out the dishes with her which the chief stopped.

"Don't bother with it. I plan to eat it anyway. There's no reason to waste good food. Here is your approval. Take the paper and meet Henry. Also, try to not bother him too much. He's already depressed. You know what happened, right? You were there, right?"

"Yes, yes, I'll be careful."

[Congratulations, you have become, Chef (intermediate).]

'So, finally, I've become a cook. Let's go see what Henry is up to.' Emmett walked out of the village happy and headed towards Iron Mountain town.

The number of people joining the game had increased over the weeks and so the population around the Iron Mountain region started becoming much more occupied. This could either be due to the advantage a new player received from Henry's town, or it could also be due to the town's scenic beauty and the region.

Either way, the Iron Mountain town received a much higher rating among the players of the game compared to any other starter towns in the game.

Emmett could see a lot of players walking around, attempting to kill the monsters that constantly respawned in the fields. In most other starting towns, monsters never came back, but here, most of the monsters spawn back immediately as soon as they were killed, making it much more comfortable to power level in the region.

Due to this, a lot of new guilds started forming around Iron Mountain town, making the place a lot more crowded compared to the rest of the region. The fact that up to level 20 monsters could be farmed constantly in the region made it a lot more compelling. The only downside to this was that monsters immediately dissipated and did not drop any equipment or coins as they used to do in other games. The only good part about it was that the adventurers guild paid a decent amount for each monster that was killed.

It was necessary to bring your prey's tail if one were to be rewarded. If it was humanoid monsters without a tail, then it was necessary to bring both ears to report the killing. As Emmett was walking through the toad heading towards the town, she saw a familiar figure sitting closer to the lake. On closer look, she found it was Henry looking at the reflection of the setting sun on the pond. Seeing her soon to be master almost immediately as soon as she left the village, Emmet felt a little happy. She walked towards the Town Mayor.

[Baron Henry*

Level???]

"Are you doing all right?"

"Did you complete it? Did the chieftain approve your cooking?" Henry asked back. There was a cold detachment in his voice as he asked her.

"Well, yes, right. Just a few minutes ago. Here's the paper he gave me."

"Well, it looks ok. Do you know why I asked you to cook? It's impossible to gain good flame control without decent cooking skill. A good alchemist always makes sure not to burn his ingredients. I guess since the chef already approved, you must have decent cooking skills. Here, start trying to create a few potions." Henry took out three recipes for potions and gave them to Emmett.

"You should get stronger fast. The last recipe will be hard for you to cook with your current strength. It will help to progress even faster."

Henry passed on a strength potion, health regeneration potion and finally a level 10 experience potion which he used to make and give to his friends.

The experience potion was extremely rare as it was something that Henry created on his own from the knowledge from the past games. It was all thanks to this potion, Aster and Noah were able to surpass their growth potential and breakthrough relatively easily to the new realms. And he had always kept this a secret from everyone apart from Miss Silvy.

"You can go now. If you want to learn more about alchemy look for Miss Silvy at the flowing water covenant once you have mastered how to make the experience potion. Here you can use these for the time being. Replace it once you find a better one." Henry handed over the alchemy set that he received from Miss Silvy.

Emmett looked at the kid who stood before her. He looked the same. A little mature. As she looked closer, she felt as if she was staring at a stranger. The happy kid that showed her around the town, that helped her pick clothes was gone and replaced with a face that was void of any expression. Even though he was smiling, she could easily recognise that it was fake. His eyes were cold and distant.

"I understand," Emmet said as she left Henry alone to stare at the setting sun.

*****

[Congratulations, you have become a beginner potion master.]

[Avatar: Emmett

Profession: Chef (intermediate), Potion Master (beginner)

Level: 8 (43.2%)

Class: Hunter

Health: 50

Strength: 4

Intelligence: 2

Dexterity: 2

Armour: adventurers outfit.

Weapon: horned rabbit dagger x2]

Emmett walked into the town looking for a safe place to start crafting potions. The three recipes that Henry gave her were all improved compared to the ones available in stalls and she felt that even a little bit of distraction could ruin the potions.

The crafting area was packed with wanna-be blacksmiths and armourers. It was too noisy for her comfort. Finally, she decided to spend some money to pay for a crafting room.

Emmett could only make two of the three potions as the third potion required her to be level 10. She took out the strength potion recipe. Surprisingly, it only required a few ingredients, that too basic ones.

Cooking potions was harder than she expected. Even as an intermediate chef she felt her flame control lacking. After eight failed attempts she was finally able to create a potion. She could tell it wasn't of the best quality, but it was still better than those available at the market.

[Enhanced Strength Potion(impure)(basic)

Uncommon

+10 strength

Craftsman: Emmett]

Looking at the enhancement, which was almost double compared to the ones available in the stalls, Emmett was thrilled. She kept attempting to improve the purity and on her thirty-fourth attempt, she was finally able to create one.

[Enhanced Strength Potion (basic)

Epic

+25 strength

Craftsman: Emmett]

As she kept practising more, she was able to consistently create the pure version even when slightly distracted.

"Thank you," Emmett said looking at a large number of potions in her inventory. She could tell her money issues would soon disappear.

She tried to make the health potions but surprisingly it was a lot easier to craft the purer version.

[Enhanced Health Potion (basic)

Epic

+200 Health

Craftsman: Emmett]

She left the crafting area to list the potions in the player auction. She kept the pure version for herself and listed the impure ones with ten per stack for 1 gold each.

Done with the crafting, she left looking for decent bounty quests to complete at the guild. Due to her slaving away for two weeks in the kitchen, her progress had been crippled heavily compared to the rest of the players. She looked at the leaderboard and noticed the top players were in the 50s.

A smile appeared on her face as she took the hardest bounty quest available at the guild.

[Monster Subjugation: Crescent Jade Wolf

Approach with extreme caution.

Location: Crescent Creek

Recommended: 12 men party, level 10]

*****

There were countless players on the field. But everyone avoided the boss spawn. The players who were strong enough to deal with the monsters had all out levelled the area making the efforts worthless to them. The wolf was extremely hard to kill due to its very high defences and the rough terrain. No one wanted to accidentally kite the monster to the nearby monster fields and become a public nuisance.

Emmett stood on top of the wall looking down at the wolf that was peacefully napping under the large tree.

[Crescent Jade Wolf LVL 25]

With a smile, Emmett downed the two potions she had in her inventory letting her strength go berserk.

[You consumed Enhanced Strength Potion (basic). Strength temporarily boosted by +25]

[You consumed Enhanced Health Potion (basic). Health temporarily boosted by +200]

[Avatar: Emmett

Profession: Chef (intermediate), Potion Master (beginner)

Level: 8 (43.2%)

Class: Hunter

Health: 50(+200)

Strength: 4(+25)

Intelligence: 2

Dexterity: 2

Armour: adventurers outfit.

Weapon: horned rabbit dagger x2]

As if feeling the sudden aura of doom, the wolf slightly raised its head and then feeling silly went back to its sleep.

Emmett jumped off the cliffside and approached the wolf trying her best not to trip. As if feeling the air shift, the wolf let off a low growl and jumped on his feet. It sniffed the air trying to find the source to his tingling feeling which was hidden behind the large tree.

Catching the smell, the wolf leapt towards the tree, only to have one of his eyes spoken with a bastard of a dagger. The thorns etched on it ripped through the wolves eye socket making the wolf squirm in pain. Emmett who couldn't release the dagger was forced to limp along with the wolf as the wild wolf trashed around.

[Critical Hit -200]

[-29]

[-29]

[-29]

The more the wolf trashed around the deeper the daggers penetrated. With no other choice, Emmett penetrated the other eye of the wolf with the spare dagger she had.

[Critical Hit -200]

[-29]

[-29]

[-29]

[-29]

[-29]

[-29]

The wolf attempted to throw off the assailant with added vigour to only end up making the injury worse. It laid a few scratches on the girl but thanks to the now-massive health Emmett had, she wasn't too worried. Instead, it made her more determined to hold tightly onto the daggers making the wolf hurt even more.

Finally, through repeated struggle, she was able to subdue the wolf who was limping weakly on the floor trying its best not to move its head.

[Would you like to tame 'Crescent Jade Wolf'?] A notification popped up making her eyes go wide.

"Yes."

The wolf who was on the verge of collapse finally kneeled and slowly the daggers came off. The name on top of its head turned green and the massive size of the monster reduced down.

[Congratulations, you have tamed a monster. You gained a new title, 'Monster Tamer'.]

[Congratulations, you have defeated 'Crescent Jade Wolf'. You gained 2400 experience.]

[You have levelled up.]

[You have levelled up.]

[Congratulations on reaching level 10. You have unlocked the Guild Panel. Please visit the nearest town hall to register the guild or join an existing one to play with friends.]

Emmett looked at the wolf that stood by her side. Its emerald eyes looked at her with loathing.

[Crescent Jade Wolf *

Level: 1 (0%)

Tamer: Emmett

Owner: Emmett

Loyalty: 5%

Health: 20

Strength: 1

Dexterity: 1

Intelligence: 1

Skills: Wind Cutter. Agility Boost]

Emmett grabbed the wolf to pat it, but the wolf growled, grinding its teeth that had yet to grow, showing its displeasure. Since she didn't kill the monster, she had no way of receiving the bounty rewards from the guild.

*****

"Lord, the crescent Jade Wolf's soul has been stolen." A servant came rushing in and reported to the Acting Town Mayor, Flamel.

"Who cares. Let it be." He dismissed the girl waving her hand. "Don't disturb me unless it's most important." The girl curtsied and left the Mayor alone.

*****

At a guild office to the east of the town.

"Guild Master, it's big news!" One of the loyal servants of the guild 'Winterfall', rushed in. She had a potion bottle tightly grasped between both of her hands. "Guild Master, it's a potion." She said almost panting.

"So?" The guild master was forced to wait for the girl to stop shaking. She was exhausted from running.

"Guild Master, it's a player potion. There is an alchemist now." She said, extending the potion towards him with shaky hands. "I was able to procure one for 30 gold coins at the auction."

"30 gold? Are you nut...?" He was about to scold the girl but stopped looking at the description of the potion. "It's almost double!" He suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs. "Awesome Rider, Go find who this Emmett is. Make sure you recruit her to our guild."

"Do you have to shout? I'm right here, Guild Master Blue Gale." Said a man sitting right on a couch toward the back. Gale threw the potion towards him which he caught mid-air. After a quick look, he placed the potion vial on the table and left the room.

*****

At the high chair in the city hall, Henry sat as a messenger read the latest 'requests' from the king.

"His Majesty, the King has requested an Inquisition on the disappearance of your mother and has ordered you to step down from the title of Baron of Iron Mountain City.

You will comply with the guards and return to the capital. Lord Flamel is to be detained till such time that his innocence is proven."

The messenger stopped as soon as he completed reading. He looked at Henry with a mocking smile and signalled the guards to take Henry away.

"Might I ask what this is about?" Henry asked.

"You don't need to know." The messenger said in his harsh tone.

"I think you are mistaken." Henry slowly got up from his chair staring at the messenger. "Did you forget? This region is not part of Your Majesty's kingdom. And you want to take me, the sovereign of this land, away in chains?" Henry's hands slowly moved towards the sword hilt on his hip. "First, he tries to kill me with poison and now this?"

"How dare you? Guards, kill him." Twenty royal guards rushed in to protect the messenger only to get massacred under Henry's sword. "You traitor, how dare you? THIS IS A DECLARATION OF WAR!" The messenger screamed trying to waver the crowd towards him. "You guys will all be burned to the ground for high treason." He kept going at it.

Henry grabbed the guy's hair and got in his face. "Tell that jealous pig to sharpen the blade and wait. I will soon be there to take his head." He released his fingers. The messenger ran back out scared shitless.

"Guards, clean this filth." Henry gave one last order before leaving through the front gates.

*****

Outside the town hall near the auction centre,

'I didn't expect it to sell this good.' Emmett has checked out the coins from her potion sales. To her surprise, the potions fetched a very high price reaching around 15 gold coins per potion. Looking at the sudden influx of gold in her inventory, a few teardrops left her eyes. 'Finally, I can buy the new immersion cabin…'

"Hello, are you the one who put the potions for sale?" A voice said for her side tapping on her shoulder. Emmett turned around to see an older dude wearing a mix and match outfit. Two dagger hilts poked out from his hips similar to her own.

[Awesome_Rider

Level 53

Winterfall]

'Fuck, I'm already found out.' The face of her partner wolf shifted to a beautiful smile seeing his master fall in trouble.

"What do you want?" Emmett asked, lowering her voice.

"I want to recruit you to our guild. Interested.?" Even though it seemed like an invitation, the eyes of the man-made it clear that it wasn't optional.

"S_sure." Winterfall wasn't a terrible guild. Compared to the few workshops that existed around, the guild had a decent reputation and was one of the few that she planned to apply to.

"Great, I will send you an invitation. Let's go."

And Emmett was dragged away to the town hall to complete the registration.

Emmett entered the guild office followed by Rider. The Guild Master Blue Gale who was busy behind the desk looked at Emmett curiously. His eyes lit up seeing Awesome Rider following closely behind. As if he was sitting on a springboard, Gale jumped up seeing the new member.

"Miss Emmett, thank you for joining us. I swear we will take good care of you." He quickly grabbed her hand, extremely friendly.

"Master, It's a mess." The same girl from before brought another news to the guild master.

"What happened? Is it another crafter?"

"No, Guildmaster. This is bad news. The Fire Canyon Kingdom has declared…"

[Players please note: The Fire Canyon kingdom has declared war on the sovereign land, Iron Mountain Town. Players who align with the winning party will receive rewards based on contribution.]

A regional announcement went off stunning all the players in the area. The game had just started and the world was already at war.

"This… What should we do? Do we go…" While Gale was trying to think of a plan, another system quest appeared for him.

[Event: Rally the troops!

The Town Mayor, Henry was declared a traitor to the kingdom. The kingdom's royal army is marching towards the town.]

[Due to the guild affiliation with sovereign land, Iron Mountain Town, Your guild has forcibly allied with the town. Protect the town from the kingdom's army. To receive instructions, head towards the war council at the town hall.

Success: Guild Territory.

Failure: Disbanding Guild.]

"Shit. Do we have to defend? It's the kingdom's army. What can a little town do to stop them?" Blue Gale smashed the tabletop in anger.

"We still have time, don't we? There should be some way. After all, why issue a quest if we can't even succeed." Emmett said smiling looking at the screen in front of her, invisible to the rest.

On her screen was the new quest that she received.

[Event: Rally the troops!

Your Master, Henry was declared a traitor to the kingdom. The kingdom's royal army is marching towards the town.]

[Event Quest: Supply Run.

The kingdom's army is fast approaching and the town is running low on potions. Craft a few batches of pure potions and hand them over at the war council hall.

Strength potion (12/500)

Health potion (43/500)

Failure to complete could result in losing the war.]

"I received a personal quest as well. Do we have a spare room I could use?" Emmett asked, looking at her now guild master.

"Mili, take her to the room upstairs," Gale said looking at the girl who rushed in to deliver the news.

*****

Two weeks ago.

"Garaga Island territory. That's where the presence disappeared." Ren had been following the scent she felt for the whole night.

"So, it's the Royal Family. They must have killed him to avoid future trouble. If it weren't for my parents, I probably wouldn't have bothered to show off."

"If the tree grows over the house threateningly, it should be cut."

"I know. I would have done the same."

"What should we do now?"

"Nothing. Do you know where my mother went?"

"Yes. It's towards the forbidden grounds, beyond the council of the light's land. It's the demons' holy land. All demons feel attached to that land."

"Then why do I feel nothing?"

Henry turned to look at the silent elf. "It was a rhetorical question. Don't mind it."

"Master, are we going to attack them?"

"No. Let it be. I'm still a little weak. I'm sure they will find excuses to kill me eventually."

*****

Current day.

At the town hall, a war council was formed under Mayor Henry's orders.

"The outer wooden walls can handle a few mortal and prophet monsters, but against Saints, those walls wouldn't last long. We will have to reinforce it." At the town hall, the various guild leaders started taking up tasks to defend the place while the denizens of the town started shifting to the villages nearby to avoid getting in the way.

Winterfall, Rising Sun, Golden Sword and Fire Heart all took various tasks from manning the gates to providing supplies. The few players who weren't affiliated with the guilds helped by spying outside making sure to report back on the army's movement.

"Has Mili come back yet? I asked her to check out the eastern villages." Blue Gale asked one of his assistants.

"Not yet, Guildmaster. Should we send someone over to ask?"

"No, go offline and call her."

"Ok." He left immediately.

"There is a high chance she was interrupted by the scouts of the army," Awesome_Rider said, who was sitting relaxed on the couch.

"It's possible. My scouts haven't returned yet either." Alex, the guild master of Rising Sun said. "It's safe to assume they got interrupted as well."

"Looks like they are trapping us from getting information. I hope we won't lose too much over this war." The muscular guy with a silver sword on his back, Shadow said. "Where are those Golden Sword assholes?"

"Right here busy trying to maintain the solo players. Shadow. Besides, I don't see anyone from your guild. Where did all your top players go? Are these low levels all you got?" A sharp feminine voice reached the three from the crowd. From their middle, a lady in a blue gown and a witch hat popped out. She stretched her casting stick and yelled at the crowd. "Stop pushing me. I can get to all of you at once. Those who are free just go and do the war supply missions. Hey, who touched my butt? I'm gonna burn you!"

"Do you think that brat could fend off the kingdom's soldiers? I'm telling you this is a waste of time." Shadow joined Rider on the couch. "I joined the town since it's the best compared to the rest, but I did not agree to a shitty quest like this."

"Have you guys seen the Mayor? He's been missing for the past few days." Rose, the guild master of Golden Sword asked from the crowd. "It looks like the kingdom's army has reached Furlow County."

"He probably ran away." Shadow snorted.

"The Henry I know wouldn't." Emmett, who came over to deliver her potions, overheard the conversation. "Just wait. I'm pretty sure he will crush the kingdom's army."

"Who asked for your opinion. You are just a member, fuck off."

*****

Henry was patrolling around the town looking at the preparations going on. In the distance, he could sense the army approaching his town. 'Twenty thousand men? Not bad but…' 'Why are they all prophets? Are they trying to test the waters?' The massive rows of men kept marching towards the town.

'I get it. It's probably the first probing. It would have worked, but… I'm no longer a Saint.' Henry looked at the wooden town walls.

'Earth wall.' The earth rose to a height of over 25 meters in front of the wooden wall. The people manning the top of the defensive wooden wall looked stunned at the massive wall that rose out of nowhere right in front of their eyes.

'Strengthen.'

'Polish.' The rough exterior of the mud wall solidified and became polished making it extremely smooth. Climbing over it shouldn't be a possibility anymore.

'For a bunch of prophets that should be enough.' Henry looked at the new wall pleased. He walked towards the gate checking out the preparations the guild were doing. 'If only these idiots would work like this in the real world.' Henry looked at the people lifting heavy weights and strengthening the trebuchets placed around the wall. Due to the new higher wall, all those ones already placed now had to be raised further high. 'It's probably their attention to these new abilities.'

The updated system notification rung in his ears

'''War preparations

The war is imminent. Prepare to defend.

Strengthen the wall around the town. (100%)

Strengthen the city gates. (20%)

Failure: Increases the risk of bad luck during the wars.'''

'At least one part done. I'll just shut the gate with another earth wall when the army gets near.' He walked back into the town gaining a few stares from the players around.

"Let the gates be. I'll raise a wall once the army is near and close it off. Get in the new walls. Let's give them a show." Henry ordered the gatekeepers, the only few non-players left in the town. 'Too many people are going to die. What a waste. I should have just kept my abilities hidden.' Looking at the three guilds trying extremely hard to complete their quests, Henry smiled. 'I'm still too weak. There is a high chance I will lose.' He had already sent his father away with Ren's help. He had already come to terms with his wife's death. Considering the difference in their life spans it will be almost impossible for him to see her again.

Henry saw his student working extremely hard. 'I hope you can handle the town after I leave.' Henry walked over to the top of the wall getting ready to raise a new wall over the front gates.

"Everyone stand back." He screamed as he raised his hands to lift the earth to form the mud wall. "Earth wall, Strengthen, Polish." He looked back at the players behind him. 'That should do. These guys should be safe inside this well.'

*****

Outside the walls of Iron Mountain Town stood the kingdom's second division army formed by twenty thousand infantry. There were a couple of players amongst the soldiers but Henry could only sense a few saint tier soldiers among them. 'Looks like they want to depict me as a slaughtering maniac first. Fine, I will comply.'

From the vanguard, a soldier walked ahead and used his soul magic to announce the royal decree.

"Henry, you have denounced the king and the protection of the kingdom. By the king's decree, I command you to let us in and arrest you. Your trial will be just if you comply."

'Seriously?' Henry could only stand back and laugh internally. A couple of players right next to him chuckles as well seeing the good old lines that were common in all the stories. 'A just trial for treason? That should be the home of the year.'

"That won't do. Why should I comply with the king's orders? This is a sovereign territory. Did your king forget that?" Henry decided to add a little flare to the events. 'A little bit of chat before the killing is a must. I should thoroughly entertain my patrons at least.'

"I see you have no intention to surrender. Let it be then." The soldier walked back and the front line vanguards got into positions.

"Ready the trebuchets" Henry gave his orders.

A massive magic circle appeared behind the vanguard creating massive mana fluctuations in the air. Henry couldn't stop cursing. 'Fuck! Why didn't I think of this?' As the huge magic circle appeared, so did another batch of soldiers all adorned in armour. From the sight, Henry could tell most of them were saints. The two leaders stepped forward and arrived at the front. The aura of rulers emitted from them.

'So they purposefully used the prophets to make me confident? I never was one to use strategy anyways. Besides, you guys are a little late. I'm not the same as I was two weeks ago.' Henry stared at the two rulers who were about to cast AOE spells. 'This could be trouble.' Henry decided to start the fight and jumped off the wall towards the kingdom's army. 'Ren, replace me on my signal.' 'I'm ready, master.' The players looked stunned seeing the town mayor jump off the wall.

*****

"Flame barrage"

"Iron body"

"Water bullet."

Spells kept flying around Henry but they didn't deal enough damage to him. He was surprised to see his body's resilience. 'Guys I just have to worry about the rulers then.' Ignoring the spells that kept assaulting him, Henry ran straight towards one of the commanders.

"Watch it. He's heading for the commander."

"The spells aren't working. What's wrong with him?"

"Maybe he has a defence artefact."

"He's just a Baron. How could he afford one?"

"No, I don't think it's a defence artefact. Use more firepower."

"Hey look where you shoot. You almost burned me."

The battlefield became chaotic as Henry kept running around in circles. 'I should kill a few of them.'

"Remember, you are the ones that chose to invade my lands," Henry said, amplifying his voice. "Flame Meteor."

A large fireball appeared in the distant sky. The ball kept gaining in size as it covered the sky.

"Isn't it a little too large?"

"Crap. It's too big. When did he become a ruler?"

"Activate the shield. NOW!" The commander screamed looking at the gigantic fireball that appeared above their head. The Saints started coordinating to create a defensive magic shield. The two commanders further strengthened the shield by infusing their mana. Since the commanders were merely body cultivators they couldn't infuse the same amount of mana compared to Henry who was a mage of the same tier.

Henry released the fireball and it loomed in the sky for a few seconds before it fell with immense speed. The fireball fell on the ground engulfing the entire battlefield. 'Ren, now.' Secretly Henry sent a message to Ren asking to replace him with the body of his double.

The body of the Town Mayor was later found crisped by the overbearing suicidal fire spell that he had cast. The battle for Iron Mountain Town ended that day with the kingdom as victor facing a heavy casualty of over twenty-five thousand lives. The kingdom's army enjoyed a painful victory as they conquered the defenceless town later.

*****

A few days later at a distant region far away from the Iron Mountain Town.

"Master, will this do? What about the rest?"

"It's fine. They should be able to handle themselves." Henry walked ahead towards the path of the Flower Moon Empire.

"Master, I can teleport us over. There is no need to walk."

"It's peaceful here. Why bother? Let's just enjoy the scene." Henry walked through the border of the kingdom entering the territory of the Flower Moon Empire.

"Oh, by the way, happy birthday, Master." Ren said, seeing the rising sun behind the mountain range.

*****