Failure, defeat, and obliteration describes the state of events for the joint campaign of knights. Hundreds of thousands of trained knights, half a million knight aspirants, and millions of merchants, lore wardens, bakers, potion makers, enchanters, artillery mages, warders, stone masons, wood workers, and etc were lost in the battle. A mere 50,000 knights survived to ride their horses to death escaping the battle. But a single order stood tall. The knights of might united under the hero the order swore their fealty to. They took what craftsman they could and raised a castle on the farm. They dug up massive deposits of ironcite and the blacksmiths worked constantly to repair and build better weapons. Stone masons worked to build a keep and the hero stood against the army of the two demon lords. But still the kingdom did not recognize the possibility of two demon lords working together. The hero wasn’t given his artefacts back and he wasn’t recognized for his actions.

In every tavern and inn in haven bards sang of the coming end. People dropped like flies and Markus saw posters with the sovereign sigil on them. The time of knights are over the time of the citizen began. A new army loyal only to the king will be established commanders are needed.

In the coming days any who couldn’t pay tuition where drafted. Those who had slipping grades were drafted. And those who walked the streets alone were drafted. Groups of women calling themselves the dove club cornered boys not wearing a kingdom uniform with the white feathers of dishonor.

Markus walked the small intestine that made up the 3rd floor of pestilence dungeon. He carried a small wagon behind him filled with amulets, rings, swords, axes, plate armor, and shields. Several wrapped bundles of arrows were stacked along with a multitude of bows and crossbows. All were made to deal disease damage.

Rashes, boils, and fevers were debilitating in battle. Markus was confident he could sell his new loot for a decent price. None of it could resize, so he was unlikely to use any. He took up one of the bows and wore a quiver of arrows, but they were poorly made.

He activated a stone of teleportation and appeared back at the entrance with all his stuff.

The lot of it only sells for 10k but that’s ok. Farming the dungeon has yielded him quite a bit of points already. But with tuition increasing to 100kpoints he needed to find a new dungeon if he wanted to really get some points. Maybe he should go to the war dungeon and play through its story.

Taking a rest, he showered and went to the academy. There were less people than ever. Classes were down to ten people apiece. Only the nobles were left. They stared at him as he passed by. “Mr. Might,” Markus turned to see his MoM teacher Dracul. His red eyes looked him over.

“I wanted to know if you were having trouble paying tuition. You wear the ring of a member of my family. It’s unlikely you took it off her corpse, so I assume she gave it to you for protection. The Dracul are willing to adopt you into the coven. You won’t have the rights of a true Dracul, but it will afford you protections. Can you see through my glamour?” His professor asked him.

Markus nodded his head. “I am of the dark.” Markus allowed an eye to appear on his forehead.” His professor covered it quickly.

“Stupid, arrogant boy, do you want to draw attention from the king. I can see why Marie would take you in. Powerful, intelligent, and arrogant to a fault. But you can’t act as if you’re untouchable someone will eventually show you how wrong you are.” Professor Dracul said.

“Thank you for the offer but I won’t betray my family.” Markus said.

“If this was a betrayal of family, I wouldn’t suggest it. Do you think we would take in a betrayer of family? We haven’t imbedded ourselves in human society by being stupid. One who betrays without consequence will do so again without pause. No, we are adopting you and your family. This is an alliance between the Dracul and the hero.” The Professor said.

“I need time to think about this. No, this isn’t my decision to make. Can you inform Pa? If it is an alliance with the Dracul I doubt he would say no. He’s trapped on the front line holding back the demon lords.” The Professors face took a hard line.

“We want you the new hero not your father. This deal is between us.” Markus straightened took a breath and let it out. For a second he was a child talking with Marie.

“Then I would like to speak with Marie.” Markus said.

The Professor smiled. “She has traveled far to the south. We can’t reach her. It is believed she saw this invasion coming and prepared you for the battle to come. A gift to leave her alone.” Markus frowned it didn’t sound like Marie.

“There are others who she trained in her dungeon. None of them have that ring.” Markus held up his hand. Three rings adorned it. His psychic ring that boosted skill development, the boosting ring that increased endurance and vitality by 30%, and the Dracul ring.

He towered over the professor. His weight was closer to 14 tons now than 10. Puberty had hit, and he was shooting up. “I will get back to you professor, with my decision. I need time to think about becoming a hero.” The professor nodded.

Classes had been going well. He could identify most spells now with a glance. They were to begin 4 layered seals spells that had 4 steps in them. High tier magic was something he had wanted to practice.

Markus had just over 250,000points. It was time to use his points to better himself. He dumped 90k in strength. His stat points in strength reached 1000 and he could purchase two abilities.

Destroyer

You seek and obliterate everything in your path. +100% to strength after point calculation 2x physical damage.

Symphony of Might

Your muscles sing a song of struggle to the top. +1000% to strength after point calculation 2x physical damage.

Markus felt his net strength increase beyond a net 1000, for the first time in a long time, he took a breath and felt his muscles move his chest instead of his mind. Tears fell down his face. He did the same with dexterity.

Machine

You move with precision like a machine. No mistakes every movement is calculated. +100% to dexterity after point calculation x2 aim.

Deus Ex Machina

You move like a godly machine. No mistakes, everything is calculated to a divine degree. +1000% to dexterity after point calculation x2 aim.

He moved around the room and balanced telekinetic surface areas with every step. Markus marveled at the simple act of walking. His balance was perfect.

Taking his sword, he went through a few forms and found them smooth, even perfect. He dashed forward and stepped back. Dancing on platforms of telekinesis. He had to get more points and increase his other stats to this level. If it felt this good with only two stats buffed up.

It was a shame that every further point in stats over a thousand priced at a thousand. But if he could increase each stat to a 1000 he was certain the treasures in the four apocalypse dungeons were as good as his.

“Hey Markus, you seem excited what happened?” Margarette asked. He stood up proud.

“I brought my strength and dexterity up by a thousand points and bought both abilities for them.” He flexed his muscles feeling them ripple. They were large but lean. He was wiry but not too wiry. Every movement was so precise, his muscle control was perfect.

“How do you want to celebrate. You’re as powerful, as an elite knight. There is a nice restaurant near the center. I’ll buy. You’re probably broke after spending all those points.” Markus smiled sheepishly he was kind of broke now.

They walked to the center and saw a group of women wearing white. Markus and Margarette were quickly surrounded. “Look another one without a uniform. You sir are a coward and we are here to award you the white feather of cowardice.” One of the women walked over and took his vest and pinned a white feather on it.

The woman smiled smugly. “Even if you rip it off it will leave a hole in your cloths showing it was there.” Markus ripped it off and tossed it, his vest quickly patching itself back together. One of the women was about to pin another one on him when he reached back for his sword.

Three soldiers walked up. “Hey, they are ladies you’re not about to pull a sword on them are you.” They put their hands on their weapons. “That’s right just take the cowards pin and go on. Or you can sign up and show you’re a real man.”

“Did they just all challenge me to an honor duel Margarette Leonidas?” Markus asked.

“So, what if we did there are three of us and only one of you.” One of the soldiers said.

“Not only did they challenge you they accepted in front of a noble lady. Their lives are forfeit.” Margarette said. Before they could utter another word or pull their swords. Markus bisected the lot of them. The women in white stood there. Markus slashed his sword letting air pressure wipe the blood away. Placing the weapon on his back, he held it there with psychic power.

One of the women ran off for the local constable. They spent the rest of the evening dealing with the nonsense of the local arbiters. Finally, night had fallen, and they made it to the inner ring of the city only to find a closed restaurant. They returned to the apartments promising to go out again and hopefully make it there on time.

His room was always devoid of lamps and candles, yet tonight there was a light. He walked in to see Trixie there lighting candles. “I heard humans like candles, so I bought some.” She looked up at him and her eyes drank him in. “You’re breathing without psychic power.” Her tentacles wiggled about in all directions they hung four feet from her head each as big around as his thumb. He scooped her up and laid gently on the bed with her in his arms. With a flex from his thoughts the candles went out.

She laid on him for a while. Her tentacles wrapped around his face as they enjoyed each other’s company. Then his stomach gurgled. “You’re hungry?” She asked. He nodded.

Trixie hopped up and lit the wood in the iron stove and grabbed a few eggs from the icebox. “How long has it been since you ate anything but jerky?” She asked him. He mumbled out his answer. “Yes, I already know the answer is months. The point of the question was to shame you into taking better care of yourself. If you humans don’t eat your vegies you can’t poop and that causes problems.” She took a head of lettuce out of the fridge. “Are you sufficiently embarrassed or must I go on?” Trixie said.

“Please do, it’s cute.” She smiled in an endearing way. Her tentacles moved to tie her ribbons around themselves but couldn’t quite manage it while she was cooking ham and eggs.

Markus rose from the bed and gently tied her ribbons how she like the,. “You are less clumsy.” She said. Markus nodded in agreement.

“Enjoy,” She said and handed him a plate of mostly burnt eggs, half raw ham, and a seared head of lettuce. Markus dumped the all in his mouth and chewed it like a champ. “I’m cooking your breakfast from now on. If I don’t you will just eat jerky.” He was about to say something, but she stopped him with a tentacle. “Human society considers it rude to talk with your mouth full. Mental conversation counts.” Trixie said and gave him a look. She was getting ready to become an adult this had to be a sign. “No, I’m taking care of my Markus.”

She was too cute to be annoying, he stroked her tentacles and pulled her into bed with him. Her body was stretchy as ever. Trixie rubbed her slime all over his chest and fell asleep on top of him. The goopy mess cooled on his chest. He often used the stuff for hair jell in mornings. Once is cooled it was like concrete. His hair never moved once it dried. It was fortunate the stuff dissolved in water.

He had dreams of Trixie. They were strange and exciting. Together they did things and it felt right in his dreams. No embarrassment or anxiety, just Trixie and him together.

“Markus wake up, you gooed everywhere.” His eyes snapped open and he ripped up a section of damp sheets. “I know how to solve this Markus don’t worry. There is a place in the slums that take care of this for people. Its expensive but it should help.” She poked his member much to his embarrassment it wouldn’t go down.

That was one of the most awkward mornings of his life.