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Chapter 13: Brandon's Starting Point
Not going to Green Village?
That was impossible. Brandon knew something that would greatly impact his future plans. Therefore, whether it was to stock up on food or to verify that idea, he had to make a trip to the village that may have already been occupied by Madara.
So he thought for a moment, calmly asking, "If I don't go, do you know how to start? Infiltration and search are not trivial matters; they require careful planning and reconnaissance."
Infiltration and search were the specialties of those who had undergone extensive training in the shadows in the game, such as Nightingales and Hunters. As a warrior, Brandon didn't know much about them, but after all, he had teamed up with these people and completed missions with them. With just those memories, he was already stronger than these militiamen.
Freya shook her head. She naturally understood, but Brandon's injuries were too severe. "You can tell us what to do. Leave the rest to us—"
Brandon wasn't surprised by Freya's refusal. He knew he had to choose the persuasion method he was good at. For example, the wisdom of a seasoned warrior. "Roma."
"Here!"
"Give me your sword." He held out his hand.
"Yes, Brandon." Roma handed over the sword immediately.
"Thank you."
Brandon took the sword, inhaling deeply as he tried to adjust his state to the optimal. With his life below 40% and the corpse poison preventing him from using another 20% of his strength effectively, he could only use about 0.6 units of strength.
Roughly equivalent to a fourteen-year-old boy.
"We don't have much time. To prove that I am capable of participating in the task, let's use an ancient and traditional method to decide." He drew his sword. "The way of warriors."
Su Fei looked around and noticed the incredulous expressions on everyone's faces.
After all, among this group of militia in Buchi, Freya's superiority in swordsmanship was undeniable. Even Ethan couldn't rival her skills. Did this guy truly grasp the severity of his condition? They all couldn't help but wonder silently in unison.
"Brandon, don't joke around," Freya snapped angrily. Confident in her swordsmanship, she couldn't fathom his delusion. Did he genuinely believe himself to be a seasoned veteran of the November War, capable of defeating her in his current state?
Brandon remained silent, gesturing with his sword as an invitation.
Freya was seething with rage, her vision nearly darkening with fury. She had believed there was a boundary to one's foolishness, yet reality proved otherwise. Clenching her silver teeth, she made a firm decision to teach Brandon a lesson he wouldn't soon forget.
Freya raised her sword, delivering a vertical slash without hesitation. Her foundational skills were impeccable, the sword steady as it generated a thin blade of wind.
Brandon parried with his sword, feeling the tremendous force almost dislocate his wrist. But he immediately turned his blade and countered with a swift slash. Although his strength wasn't great, it still surprised Freya as his sword was almost reaching her guard before she even entered striking range.
Although reluctant, she retreated without landing a hit.
In fact, it was not unjust for her to lose. Brandon's move was very famous in warrior swordsmanship. It originated from Cruze's Battle Formation Swordsmanship and was called the Carto Reversal in the game. It was an advanced combat swordsmanship technique, and although Brandon could only rely on the basic foundation of his current body to perform it now, it was more than enough to deal with Freya, who was only a half-baked swordsman.
Brandon remembered learning this move from a mercenary after a long journey, at the cost of two barrels of Madara's bone wine.
Now it seemed that those two barrels of bone wine were worth it.
Freya retreated, preparing to counter Brandon's next attack. She gripped her sword with both hands, trying to push aside his blade. Her reaction was quick, but not smart enough. Brandon had already stepped back, and when she realized it, his sword was pointing at her chest.
Freya gritted her teeth, knocking Brandon's sword aside with the hilt, then followed up with a strike. But for Brandon, this strike was already out of any proper form; it was purely out of refusal to accept defeat. With a gentle tap, Freya lost balance and fell to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"It seems that you have lost." Brandon retracted his sword, calmly replying.
Freya raised her head, wearing an expression of disbelief.
Not only her, but the nine members of the Buchi militia also had dumbfounded looks on their faces, except for Roma, who remained nonchalant. Was that still militia swordsmanship? It was clearly no less impressive than that of the veterans in the formal army.
"How could this be?"
"It's not that strange. I am the top swordsman among the thirty-third batch of militia in Braggs," Brandon casually replied. "Then it's your turn, little Phineas, let's solve your problem."
Little Phineas hurriedly shook his head, "I-I changed my mind. You guys can go."
Seeing his panicked reaction, Brandon couldn't help shaking his head.
...
After agreeing on the time and meeting point to return with the others, Brandon, Freya, and Ethan quickly set off. Time was of the essence, forcing them to hurry.
Green Village was approximately to the east of Clear Lake, not too far away. As they ventured deeper, they could see several smoky pillars rising in the eastern sky through the dense canopy. The sky was gradually darkening, which didn't bode well.
According to Brandon's memory and advice, they approached the area where Madara might have occupied from the north of the village. And indeed, his speculation was correct. The undead army had just swept through here, leaving behind only scorched earth.
Watching the flames and smoke rising from the ruins below, even Freya's last glimmer of hope was dashed. The Madara's army indeed seemed to have reached ahead of them, making it a distant hope for them to arrive at Ridenburg before them. She couldn't help but glance at Brandon, wondering what this young man was thinking.
But Brandon hid in a bush, watching groups of skeletal soldiers patrolling past and carefully counting the trees in a dense grove ahead. He counted to the twelfth tree and noted its appearance—
Green Village, the twelfth beech tree to the south in the grove. He remembered very clearly that there should be a key buried under it, an independent mission in the game to enter a crypt in the village.
He recalled that it was a priest who had initially unearthed that mission. Yet, such details were inconsequential now, for he was certain it was the tomb of a Knight Templar. If the game's progression remained faithful, there ought to be valuable treasures within. Nevertheless, his primary objective lay within the crypt—a legendary sword known as the Lustrous Stinger.
That was a sword infused with the power of light, wielding it at his current level would be akin to a low-level undead slayer. Of course, regarding this legendary artifact in the game, he could only imagine its potential.
Confirming this, Brandon turned back and said to the two beside him, "Did you see it?"
"See what?" Ethan and Freya were both puzzled.
"The number of patrolling skeletons. It looks like there are two squads of Madara in the village now." Su Fei analysed skillfully. "Twenty-two to twenty-four skeletal soldiers, two skeletal wizards."
"That many!" Ethan was startled.
"It's okay, but that's not the point. The point is they control the cemetery and the square, and the skeletal wizard left behind will definitely use resurrection spells there. They will continuously replenish their forces. That's where we need to be careful." Brandon continued.
"This is desecrating the dead!" Freya clenched her fists in anger.
"Indeed, but they have the right." He sighed and then pointed to a nearby grove. "Do you see over there, that pasture? You can sneak in using the shadows of the fences and bushes. There should be a cellar under the barn in that pasture, which shouldn't be hard to find and probably hasn't been burned down. You can hide there, and we'll take action when it gets darker."
Freya nodded subconsciously but then realized something was wrong. "How do you know?"
"I've spent some time in this place in the past." Brandon replied casually. He wasn't lying; it just wasn't in this world.
"And then, what do we do?" Ethan asked.
"Wait for me there. I'll come find you when it's dark. Those monsters should be focused on summoning skeletons and won't bother you for the time being. If you do attract attention, be mindful of your breathing and heartbeat—undead can see your vitality." Brandon advised them step by step.
"Wait, aren't you staying with us?" Freya keenly seized on this detail.
"I have my own things to take care of."
"You—" She was about to speak when she noticed Su Fei patting his sword, a signal not to forget the recent defeat. But could that even be counted? Freya wanted to retort, but Ethan pulled her aside, cautioning her about the Madara patrols below.
"Do you trust me?" Brandon asked softly.
Freya shook her head, but paused for a moment before nodding.
"That's enough. Now, go, and don't worry; I'll come back safely." He answered seriously.
Freya glanced at him, wanting to say something but hesitated. In the end, she was unwillingly pulled away by Ethan. Brandon watched them pass through the grove and hide in the bushes below. Then, they moved along a fence and crossed a long meadow, finally successfully sneaking into the pasture.
Only then did he heave a sigh of relief.
But when Brandon turned his head back, gazing down at the expanse of grove below, a sense of unease quickly enveloped him; this would be his first solo mission in this world. It might seem no different from before, but here, there was no room for failure, only death.
Actually, he would prefer to act with Freya and the others. But how would he explain the key? He couldn't say he buried it there before; even Ethan probably wouldn't be fooled by such a clumsy lie, let alone the observant Freya.
After weighing the options, he decided to act alone.
"It's no different, old buddy. Just treat it as a fresh start." He rubbed his forehead, mentally encouraging himself.
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