I smirk at the similarites in our current condition, Serenity and I moving about on wobbly legs. Victoria is hiding it well, but the others notice the change about her and take verbal jabs whenever they can. I'm simply amazed at the job and speed of which Dawn and Rachel managed to complete such a monumental task.

"I have to keep- I have to keep- I have to keep mana flowing through it, but look!" she exclaims as she takes step after step.

Rachel explains further, "So, like, this particular model works by lowering the max available MP. Its funny cuz it doesn't count against the regen? Even though she's actually using it constantly. It was just an idea and luckily she was the first person we worked with!"

I nod my head, smiling, but look over at Victoria, "Unfortunately that means the soldiers won't be able to benefit from this kind of prosthesis."

She silently agrees, but Rachel interjects, "For sure, but this one isn't built for combat anyway. Yeah, it'll get her to where she wants to go? But, like, she can't really run with it or kick someone, you know?"

I gesture to Ramona, "Speaking of kicking someone, can you teach me your Roundhouse ability?"

"Sure! Just give me a second here…" She brings up her menu and I get the prompt. It's only 200XP and since I got level 11 it doesn't phase me at all.

And just like I suspected, it works with my Tempest Fist, the Strength modifier changing to Dexterity so now I'll have a range of movements and not just claws and spells!

Dawn cocks her head at me, "What did you just do?"

"Basically, I bought one of Ramona's skills with my own XP. It doesn't lower my level, but it does take that much more to get to the next one."

She ponders it for a moment.

"Anyway, I got a message on the way back here from Richter saying that they're moving out early tomorrow morning which means they'll probably be here in the early evening. Now, my idea is to hit them before they can even see the cave so they can't connect it to us which means we'll have to be out there early as well. Now, we're not all trained together enough to fight as a single unit so I think its best if we split into three groups and create a funnel. Two groups will be the walls that force them in, coming in from their side and making sure that they can't flank us. The main group will meet the invading force head on in the middle."

"I forsee two main issues. One, the enemy splits, forcing us to divide the main team. It's still not bad since we can still sandwich the split enemy. The second issue is having the team in the middle holding their ground until the other two sides can close the trap. I don't have a problem being on the main force, especially since I'm the highest level here so far."

Everyone nods their heads in agreement. "But who will join me? I'm thinking I'll lead the soldiers, Victoria, but will they listen to me?"

She snorts a short laugh, "Of course! You have War Party Leader and they are all trained to follow their leader's orders."

"Okay, makes sense. Vic, you'll take one of the side parties, but who will take the third?" Minus Victoria and me, there are only six currently in the main group. Of course, this includes a mage and rogue we have yet to see in battle, not counting Rachel and my first encounter.

Dawn raises her hand, "Rachel and I will team with Serenity, that way if something were to happen with her leg we are probably the only ones who can fix it."

"Great! Ramona, you will accompany them in case they require cover. Sounds like we have our teams. Now, we should go to bed early. I want us well rested. I'm going to inform the soldiers of our plans and send them to bed too. Anyone have any questions or concerns?"

Everyone is already stowing their equipment, but Dawn turns back to her anvil, "Just one more thing to do…"

Of course it would wind up this way. I had no doubt the men would follow my orders, but simply following orders isn't the same as loyalty. These men pledged loyalty to Victoria and if she ordered them to follow me they would do so unto death. But, that doesn't mean they trust me. I asked their price for loyalty, and they responded: defeat.

That is how I find myself, surrounded by seven heavily armed soldiers in nothing but my plain clothes and Wanderer set. Originally I was to be in just my pants and boots except I told them my set is cursed, though only the mask is.

Unfortunately for me, they're all equipped with the newly created gear and the object of this game is to knock my opponents of a large circle while they try to kill me. Delightfully barbaric, I know, but I need them to trust me. Victoria stands on the sideline making sure I don't go too far.

My Wolf Sense is active, and my claws are bared, though I'll only be using them to protect myself. A make small hand gestures and my feet glow a dim yellow. Victoria claps her hands once, and they set upon me.

If you find yourself surrounded, the best option is to target who you think is the weakest link and attack them full force. Hopefully, you are able to break the circle. Then, you force your opponents to face you as few of them at a time as possible, one being preferable.

No matter how great a fighter someone may be, their attention cannot be divided too many times without suffering the quality of that attention. What should make this battle more difficult, is the fact that I cannot kill any of them. But the way I see it, the wording of the rules is only slightly altered from kill, to remove.

They don't move like in a movie and they try to strike me all at once from different angles as a well practiced unit would. But with my superior Agility and sense I pick out somone who is ahead of the rest by half a heart beat. Unfortunately, its one of the one armed soldiers and I use his off timing to my advantage.

I pull him in by the spear and trade places with him. The others stop abruptly. I Roundhouse one closest to me, sending him flying into another and both out of the circle.

"Five left," Victoria shouts, tone neutral.

Three spears come sweeping in, but I deftly dodge them in mid air. I swat a fourth, stepping in and kicking him out of the circle. Two kicks left. I parry a flurry of spear thrusts from two of them. I see two behind me on the radar and change tactics. Grabbing both spears and driving them into the dirt with my speed and momentum. I launch at them, sweeping them both off their feet. I notice almost too late that one would hit the ground with his head and neck at a bad angle.

Using another Roundhouse, I kick him out of the circle and he lands on his back. A spear thrusts into my leg while my attention is drawn.

[Boulder deals 34 piercing damage]

I spin the spear out, stopping near the circle's edge. One tries for a finishing attack, but I sidestep and push him out. I leave my back to the others as they rush me, but I wait till the last minute and teleport away and behind them. I kick one out and the other swings back at me. I dodge, flattening myself on the ground. I kick myself up, headbutting him and he catches himself from stumbling over the line. His arms are flailing as he tries to regain his balance. I look him square in the eyes and poke his forehead.

Victory is mine.

They pledge their allegiance to me and I swear to lead them with honor and to not waste their lives in battle. Boulder, the Ursine (bear) Faunus kneels before me, "I am sorry for stabbing you, Sir Ardacen."

I concede the small victory to him, "It was a good shot and I deserved it for averting my attention from the battle."

He stands, towering over me and shaking with frustration, "No! I realized too late that you used the attack to save Conner's life, preventing him from breaking his neck. You are a superior fighter and your combat awareness is a thing of wonder. We strive to be more like Lieutenant Victoria, but you shall also be an example for us as well."

I thank him awkwardly and we all retire for the night.

"I knew you could do it, though I'm a bit impressed you could after the bath house," Vic says as we're holding hands and nearing the Town Hall.

"You know, one day I'm going to ask you about your past, Lieutenant. I want to get to know you."

Her hand slips out, but I reach out for her and hold it firmly.

Her tone is melancholy and bitter, "That Victoria is long gone, her ghost lingers only in the memory of those who knew her." She presses my hand to her heart, "This is the Victoria Grandersil that you need to know. This is the only Victoria left for you."

I smile at her, stopping and holding her, "Then she is more than enough for me."

[Reputation +150 with Victoria Grandersil]

[Reputation increased to Loved]

"Come on, Vic. Let's take one of the beds into one of the wings of the Town House and see how well it was constructed," I say with a wink and we run off like teenagers.

******

Heavy banging and clanging sounds ring out in the Smithy. Having moved the materials back in their rightful place, Dawn works on two ingots of Umbramium. There are no blueprints, only an idea and the will it takes to form it. Her mace had served her well in the previous fights, but in essence it wasn't her. She wanted something that would shock and awe the enemy forces and with this lightweight material she had an idea.

When she used to cosplay for conventions there was a certain female character with a large hammer that she and many others enjoyed portraying. She viscerally remembered the thrill of swinging the large prop around and the faces of the people nearby. Though that object is not ideal for battle, the true warhammer is perfect. Having discussed it with Rachel, who admitted to being a veteran tabletop role player, she liked the idea of the hammer wielding cleric. Her small stature and plain looking armor will throw her opponents off guard and then

BAM!

She'll smash them with a hammer!

While crafting her weapon there was a prompt asking if she wanted to add any additional crafting materials. This was new and she didn't know how to respond.

"Sonny, can you see this prompt? What should I do?"

[You have reached Apprentice level in Blacksmithing, so now you are allowed to experiment with one additional customizer. You may try adding pretty much anything, such as the wolf fangs, poison sacs, or even an ankh.]

"What does the ankh do?"

[Ankh's are symbols of faith, used as a spell focus much like the orbs are for Arcane. They may do a number of things based on their rank, but the minor ones in our posession may increase the strength of spells or the rate of MP recovery.]

"Let's give it a try. Not a lot of people around here seem to use the Faith stat anyway." She pulls the ankh, a hand sized black circle with eight, short protruding rays probably symbolizing a spider of some kind and adds it to her developing weapon. It glows a pale violet and she continues to work it. She can almost sense the shift in design with each strike, as if the picture in her own head was changing along with the item in front of her.

[Success! You've created an advanced item!]

[Battle Hammer of the Faithful, advanced apprentice

[Str/Melee/1

[Dura: 150/150

[Base: 8

[The Sanctuary spell is +1 in level as long as you weild this weapon. Once equipped, you have the option to Attune it to you.]

The dark metal weapon glows ominously on the anvil. It reminds her of a ball peen hammer, only thicker and bigger and ten times more threatening. She's almost afraid to pick it up. Thinking about it, she didn't have the Sanctuary spell, but she remembered it and what it does.

Essentially, it created an Area of Effect that lowered regen wait times in allies and dealt damage to undead creatures. Since they aren't facing skeletons or zombies just yet, she didn't think it would be useful in the upcoming battle.

"Sonny? What does attuning a weapon do?"

[The weapon will be bound to you. As long as the weapon is on the same material plane as you, it will be attracted back to your hand when you summon it. This particular weapon will form as a shadow, reappearing in your grasp.]

"Thank you. Well, at least that part will be helpful for tomorrow."

Dawn equips the hammer and is prompted right away. She chooses yes, puts on her tunic, and walks outside. She picks an empty spot between the pillars and hurls her weapon into the wall. Flexing her will into the palm of her hand, a dark smoke flows into it and the hammer forms from the dark air. The smell of a campfire fills her senses. She flings it again and again, testing it's return speed and a new style of fighting. She throws the hammar into the pillar, spins, resummons it, and strikes in one fluid movement. She twirls the jet black hammer, thinking about asking Ardacen to give the handle a nice leather grip.