After cleaning up the battlefield, we immediately set out without resting.
The ones who first arrived were corrupted barbarians, there's probably more that will come next. Especially those Dark Beastmasters and their corrupted beasts.
If we were surrounded again, there's no way we can fight like before. Physique and Psyche Boost can only momentarily relieve ourselves, if we keep pushing, our bodies might break.
And with the wounds they got from the previous battle, especially the ones inflicted by the Saint Realm, we're down to less than 50% of our strength.
We're already halfway on our journey anyway and the mounts we brought were back in their optimal condition.
But along the way, I once again lost consciousness.
I don't know what happened next after that. I only remembered the worried voices of both Avelin and Erin.
Because of the series of exhaustion and the tension being released after the battle, my body almost collapsed. If not for the Automatic Energy Collection which aided me from falling apart by continuously collecting Brute Energy to nourish my body, I would've been bedridden after forcing myself to break through from 4th Stage Mortal Realm to 1st Stage Augmented Stage in less than one day.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the same tent where I slept a week ago.
Ah. We managed to reach the Heavenly Lightning Tribe.
The place was lit by a lamp which means it's night again.
I looked at the corner and there she was, the slave woman sent here. She looked better than I first saw her. Looks like Old Man Reol did what I asked.
Then I saw the heads of Erin and Avelin resting at my side.
They probably carried me throughout the journey and waited here for me to wake up.
I shouldn't rush it like that again. I shouldn't exhaust myself from trying to reach a new stage. With the appearance of the Orb of Enhancement, I already achieved my initial goal.
This time I have to do my job to try and support Raiden.
"Daisuke?"
Erin's eyes opened and upon seeing me awake, she beamed with joy.
"Hey. Good morning."
I greeted her with a smile as I got up from lying down. I'm fully refreshed now.
I don't know how long I was asleep but seeing them here means there were not any problems during the rest of the journey.
"This monster. Don't casually smile like that. We were worried."
Erin nagged but her smile didn't leave her lips
I observed both of them and saw that their wounds were already treated.
"Thank you, Erin."
"Save that. Old Man Reol told me to bring you to him when you wake up."
"Alright, let's go. Ah, wait."
I picked up the sleeping Avelin and settled her to my bed. This girl was finally relieved from being the Chieftain, her growth will finally be accelerated. Now that she's at this tribe, it's the perfect stage for her.
I noticed the system message informing me about the completion of my pledge to her.
That meant Old Man Reol already accepted them into the tribe when I was unconscious.
Because of the ongoing war, the tribe was not as crowded as before. Despite the situation, none of the tribe members was showing signs of uneasiness. They're still going on with their daily life like the war is not their concern. They're confident about the Lightning Chieftain's chances of winning the war.
Erin led me to Old Man Reol's tent once again. Unlike before, she went in with me.
The same as the first time I went here, Old Man Reol was behind his table full of beastskin scrolls.
"You're finally awake."
That was the first words he uttered before he scrutinized my appearance.
"Not only you saved them but you also brought that small tribe here with you."
"Ah. I decided to take them in. Is it bad?"
Old Man Reol shook his head to my question.
His gaze then rested on me. Nothing changed from this Old Man. The look he's giving me was the same as before.
I still can't gauge his stand. The only thing I know about him is that he's the one managing the tribe whenever Raiden goes back to Earth.
Since Raiden's time here is always limited, in a sense, he's the real Chieftain of this tribe. Everything will pass his ears first and most of the time, he's the one deciding for the tribe.
"Erin already told me about everything that happened. And I guess you're right about the threat the foreign invaders are posing us."
He admitted. The misconception they had towards those from the Invading World finally got cleared up. Now they won't neglect them.
"I see. It's great that you finally changed your views about them."
"But currently, the war can't be stopped. Do you know why?"
Eh? So I won't have the chance to see it for myself.
"Is it already reaching its conclusion?
"Yes. The Chieftain will launch his final attack tomorrow. And he told me to tell you that you have 4 days left before your return to your world."
"I see. Then can I go to the frontline?"
"No. He's only bringing Saint Realm and above with him to storm the opposing tribes' headquarters. As you are now, you won't be able to keep up and will just become a burden."
Burden. Ah. The woe of the weak. With four days left, can I still increase my Physique Cultivation?
It's easy for me to control the inherent energy but I could feel that, like before, I will need more and more condensed energy as I go up the stage of the Augmented Realm.
"…You're right. Then what am I to do?"
"Here."
He handed me another beastskin scroll. Written in it was a scouting report. It's about a marching army of Dark Beastmasters and Corrupted Barbarians towards the plains where the war is currently happening. There's also a detached force and their destination is this tribe and they will arrive soon.
Most of the soldiers were sent to the war so right now, apart from the few guards left behind, the defense of this encampment is currently at its lowest.
Well, there's still a lot of tribesmen here but they're not specialized in fighting. Most of them are still in the Mortal Realm.
"They started moving up their plan, their target should be Raiden err… the Chieftain and his tribe."
I handed the scroll back to the old man.
"I already made the Chieftain aware of every information you brought us. That's why he decided to end it tomorrow."
"So the problem right now is how to defend this place?"
"Yes. So, I have to apologize to that small tribe you brought. They will have to assist us in defending this place."
"I guess they won't be against it, they also wanted to be accepted here."
"Ah. I forgot to inform you. I put them all under your command. Your position in this tribe right now is special and I have high hopes for you. Actually, much higher than the Chieftain."
"Eh? What do you mean by that?"
"They're now your subordinates, and Erin here is your Assistant. When you go back to your world, she'll manage them for you. Just like how I am managing the whole tribe for the Chieftain."
In the end, I really ended up putting down my roots in this tribe.
"I don't know what to say. Thank you?"
"You're amusing. It's not free of course. I want to know..."
"Know what?"
"About how you reached the Augmented Realm in less than 2 weeks."
"I see. You're also curious."
"For us barbarians, that feat is impossible. Your cultivation speed is more monstrous than the Chieftain, you know?"
Err...
He might be right. Raiden is still in the Saint Realm despite the 3 year gap between us. But unlike him, I couldn't fight a Saint Realm alone with my Augmented Realm Physique Cultivation. Even if his realm is lower, he's stronger than those higher in realm.
"Only the speed I guess, his strength is far more monstrous."
"Who knows? You're still far from his current Physique Cultivation realm. Don't assume it that easily."
"Err… you also assumed that I'm as monstrous as him, you know?"
"Maybe but that's just how I see it, looking at your current progress. So, is there a secret? Is it something you can't say?"
"Erin already knew about it and as someone she respects, I guess I'm going to trust you to keep this a secret, Old Man."
I still don't know their connection to each other but it's safe to assume that this Old Man is someone she looks up to. This secret might be shocking to some but I need someone as strong as him to trust me.
"Alright. Your secret is safe with me."
"I can freely control the inherent energy of this world. Hence the reason for my fast cultivation."
After saying that, I willed the surrounding Brute Energy in our surroundings and created a ball of it on top of my palm.
"T-that!"
For the first time, I saw a shocked expression from Old Man Reol.
Ah. He understood what I'm doing and the significance of it. Just like how that Saint Realm reacted when I showed him the stabilized ball of Brute Energy.
He stared at that ball of energy until I dispersed it. Only then did he recover from the shock.
"I'm at a loss for words. But seeing that spectacle with my own eyes, I'm convinced. That's the only explanation."
"Old Man, I already decided on whose child I will bear."
Erin suddenly broke her silence.
This girl, why are you telling him that? And we agreed to wait for two years.
"This boy, right?"
Erin was taken aback when the Old Man correctly guessed it.
"You don't have to act like that. You're my granddaughter, do you think I won't notice?"
I see. So they're really related. No wonder Erin could act casually before him. Then it's really safe to trust him for now.
"Erin, didn't we agree to talk about it after 2 years?"
"Huh? I'm only informing this Old Man so he won't try to pair me with someone when you go back to your own world."
This girl… Now I'm the one at a loss for words. Well, let's think about that again in two years.
After that, we were sent back from the Old Man's tent.
Right now, I have the whole Whiteshade Tribe under me. Erin and the Old Man already settled them in an area near my tent.
When the detached force arrives, we will once again be thrust into another battle and this time, we won't be fighting alone. It will be a larger scale than the ones we've gone through.
I don't know if Raiden will succeed on ending the war tomorrow but I guess I have to wait to meet him again and ask him of his plans for this world.
We have 4 days left but the enemy have stopped hiding and are now encroaching this world.
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