<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Strength</td>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">54(64)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Agility</td>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">45(53,4)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Vitality</td>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">64(70)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Mana</td>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">50(58)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Charisma</td>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">45(48,6)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Defense</td>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">40(65)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Spark: Fallen Knight’s Armor( Intermediate Grade, growing)</td>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">*Can generate armor around the body.
*Increase all stats by 20 percent.
*Increases defense further by 15.
*Will form armor automatically in danger.
*Gives resistances:
-Darkness 35 %
-Fire 25%
-Curse 26 %
-Instant death 70 %
-Poison 28%
-Ice 30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Spark Skills</td>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Night Vision B(Passive)
Shadow Melt A (Passive&Active)
Shadow Walk D (Active)
Armory of the Fallen D (Active)
Shadow Storage E (Passive&Active)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Personal Skills</td>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Full Combat Mastery C (Passive)
Combat Sense A(Passive)
Iron Will A(Passive)
Monstrous Strength B(Active)
Rapid Healing B (Passive)
Indomitable Marksmanship C (Passive)
Armor Collapsing Claw B (Active)
Mana Erupt C (Active)
Synchronization ?(Passive & Active)
Mana Manipulation B (Active)
Unwavering Focus D (Passive)
Beastification E (Active)
Roar of War Goddess E (Active)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">Titles</td>
<td style="width: 48.7568%">The One Who Have Seen The End
Mythical Beast’s Partner
Divine Touched
Aliera’s Champion
Dragonic Slayer
Guardian of the Forest</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
I looked at my status screen as Larve slept, her head on my chest. She haven’t stopped clinging to me after I got out of the time dilation chamber. It was normal, she was in a new place and she hadn’t seen her only guardian in a month.
G?kb?rü, very uncharacterically wasn’t sleeping with us. He has been running around non-stop ever since we exited that damn chamber. Again, I couldn’t blame him. Larve stirred slightly, her tiny hands gripping my shirt. I squeezed her tighter and gave a soft kiss on her forehead. I was going away soon again so I wanted to spend as much as time I could with her even though it was inconvenient for me. For example, I only needed sleep around 3 to 4 hours a day unlike her who needed at least 8 hours. Of course, I could just leave her to do my own thing but it didn’t seem right.
So, I lay down and inspected my status window. Roar of the War Goddess was the new skill I was barely able to acquire on the last day in the chamber. It was the same skill Artemeni used to buff Arslan and me against Bloodbane. According to Artemeni, learning it was like a rite of passage. Unlike many other skills, it required Aliera’s divine power instead of mana. While Amazons were blessed by Aliera, not all had enough divine power to cast it which made the ones who could cast even more impressive. I on the other hand was basically overflowing with her power so it was rather easy for me to learn.
(You can let out a powerful battle cry infused with Aliera’s divine power, capable of cleansing all debuffs from the User and their allies while boosting combat skills by 40% until the end of the battle. This skill also temporarily increases Strength and Vitality by 20%, making the User a formidable force on the battlefield. If one has Aliera’s divine power embedded in them, hearing this roar will increase their stats by 5 percent.)
Mine was slightly weaker than Artemeni’s as her’s was C ranked according to her. I also managed to learn what exactly counted as “combat skills” as it was really vague.
1-Full Combat Mastery
2- Combat Sense
3- Indomitable Marksmanship
4- Armor Collapsing Claw
5-Mana Erupt
Those were counted as combat skills according to her. I wasn’t sure why Monstrous Strength or Mana Manipulation didn’t count but I kind of accepted that this world was weird at this point.
A soft sigh escaped Larve''s lips, and I looked down at her peaceful face. She was so small, so vulnerable, and yet she held so much trust in me. It was a reminder of why I fought, why I pushed myself to the brink in that chamber, and why I would continue to fight, no matter the cost.
“You said the same for your own sister.”
A drop of poison dripped into my mind. It was like a loose tooth making itself known every time I tried to enjoy a treat.
“It is okay.”
I tried to assure myself but the voice lashed out, snarling and barking in hatred.
“Okay? Okay? You were nearly assassinated. How long until they came for your obvious weakness, for her? What would you do if she disappeared when you were gone?”
The voice in my mind felt like a dagger twisting in a wound I’d tried to forget. It was a voice I’d grown accustomed to—one that reminded me of my failures, of the people I couldn’t protect. When I was roaming the ruined Earth as the last human alive it was loud but it was diminished to a quiet whisper when I first arrived here. Yet, as I spent more time here, it started to grow louder and louder.
“It won’t happen,” I whispered to myself, though the words felt hollow. I’d made promises like this before, and the weight of those broken vows still hung heavy on my soul. Larve stirred again, her tiny fingers gripping my shirt even tighter as if sensing my unease. I took a deep breath, letting the warmth of her presence ground me. The world outside was unforgiving, and I knew the dangers all too well. But I couldn’t let fear paralyze me. I had to be strong, for her, for every soul unable to defend themselves.
This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.Gently, I shifted my position, careful not to wake her. She mumbled something incoherent, her breath warm against my chest, but she didn’t stir. I allowed myself a small smile. She was safe, here in my arms, and I would keep it that way. I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion of the past month finally catch up with me. The whispers in my mind faded, drowned out by the steady rhythm of Larve’s breathing. For now, at least, I could rest.
…
“Rise and shine, Champion! Waking up late is a sign of a bad leader! A good leader must wake up before their subjects!”
Memories of being waken up by our drill sergeants when I was still a low-rank soldier filled my head as I gasped awake. The first thing I saw was a middle-aged maid with a mean-looking mug looking at me. 3, younger and much softer-looking maids were behind her and it looked like they wanted to avoid her fury.
The sudden intrusion of the maid’s voice jolted me from the brief, comforting silence that had surrounded Larve and me. I blinked, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, as the older maid stared down at me with a stern, almost disapproving expression. Her iron-gray hair was pulled back into a severe bun, and her uniform was immaculate as if she took great pride in every detail of her appearance.
"Good morning," I managed to say, my voice still groggy from sleep. Larve stirred in my arms, her little face scrunching up as she began to wake as well. I could feel her reluctance to leave the warm cocoon of sleep, and I couldn''t blame her.
The older maid’s expression softened just a fraction when she saw Larve, but her tone remained firm.
"It''s already past dawn, Champion. There''s much to be done today, and you have responsibilities to attend to. The same goes for little lady too. She has lessons to attend.”
I gently stroked Larve''s hair as she groggily opened her eyes, the light of the new day slowly filtering into the room. Her grip on my shirt relaxed as she yawned, blinking up at me with a bleary gaze. She still seemed half-asleep, her tiny body slumping against me as I swung my legs off the bed. The maids moved efficiently, the younger ones stepping forward to help with Larve, but she clung to me, not yet ready to let go.
“Little lady. Let your father go. Both of you need to be bathed, groomed, and prepared for breakfast.”
The older maid demanded, her harsh tone waking up Larve.
“Do I have to go to lessons today?” she asked, her voice still thick with sleep. The old maid seemed to take a personal offense to Larve’s question.
"Proper ladies must always attend to their lessons with diligence," the older maid said sternly, her eyes narrowing as if she were addressing a room full of disobedient recruits rather than a sleepy child. "Education is the foundation of a strong and capable mind, and we cannot afford to neglect it."
Larve frowned, clearly not pleased with the idea of leaving the warmth and safety of my embrace for another day of rigorous lessons. While I personally didn’t ask for it, most people here seemed to see her as my daughter and treat her like nobility. With that came lessons about etiquette, history, and a bunch of nonsense stuff.
"Lessons are important," I said gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "But if you’re not feeling up to it today, we can take it slow. How about that?"
The older maid’s eyes narrowed further, but before she could say anything, I added, "Of course, we won’t neglect her education. Perhaps a more relaxed lesson plan for today, something that eases her back into the routine after such a long separation?"
The maid pursed her lips, clearly not pleased but unable to outright dismiss my suggestion. She nodded curtly. "Very well, Champion. We shall adjust the schedule for today, but tomorrow it’s back to the full program. Little lady mustn’t fall behind."
Larve’s eyes brightened a little at the compromise, and I could feel her body relax against me. I stood, still holding her close, and nodded to the maids. "Thank you. We’ll be ready soon."
I entrusted Larve to younger maids and got ready to move to the bath for myself.
“Where do you think you are going, Champion?”
The older maid’s voice halted me in my tracks. I turned to face her, a slight frown tugging at my lips. "To prepare for the day, as you said," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. The maid’s expression remained stern, her eyes narrowing with the kind of authority that brooked no argument.
"You may be a Champion, but that doesn’t mean you’re exempt from the proper protocols of this household," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "As the one who oversees the care of the little lady and the household under your charge, it’s imperative that you set an example. You’ll be groomed and prepared in the manner befitting your station."
I sighed. Damn, this thing again. Why are people so eager to help me bathe?
“I can bathe myself.”
The older maid’s stern gaze didn’t waver. She was clearly a woman who took her duties seriously, and it seemed she had no intention of letting me slip out of the routine she had meticulously crafted for me. But I also was pretty keen on bathing myself. If I had to battle her for the right to scrub my own body, that’s what I would do.