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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nPfftt.

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nBlood splattered as the short sword was pulled out of the Jackalan’s eye socket.

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nKant flicked his forearm, splashing blood staining the blade onto the ground. He kicked the Jackalan that was kneeling and dead in front of him. His face looked rather relaxed and tired. “It’s over.”

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nThe thick stench of things being burned permeated the air.

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nEven thicker than that was the stench of blood in the air, so much so that it felt as if it was solid.

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nBodies were all over the ground where Kant stood.

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nMost of the bodies belonged to dead Jackalans. The occasional perished Swadian warrior was also seen.

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nUnder the valiant and suicidal charge of Kant’s forces, the battle was finally over.

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nAt that moment, the ownership of the Nahrin Desert was finally decided.

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nThe Jackalan Tribe was engulfed by the flames. Heatwaves swept all over the place, lighting up the dried, ragged tents around and turning the place into a sea of flames. Any Jackalan that did not manage to escape in time was quickly burned or suffocated to death in the flames.

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nThis was the place where the Jackalans had lived for generations.

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nIt was also the grave marking the end of their reign.

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nIt was a totally different story for Kant.

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nThe man stood at the edge of the flames, enjoying the scene of the roaring fire engulfing everything in its path. He sensed the heatwave dispelling the chill of night in the desert while lamenting the brutality of war.

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nHe had been the victor.

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nHe had been the one who had conquered the Nahrin Desert.

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nHe was a noble and a baron of the Dukedom of Leo.

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nThat was enough for him.

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nThe Swadian troops who survived stood behind Kant. They watched the flames before them.

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nThe roaring inferno before their eyes did not scare them. Instead, it made them feel rather warm.

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nThey were all very tired from all that fighting mere moments before.

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nTheir bodies were covered in blood and grime. Many limped along as they helped each other out. If one looked close enough, it was easy to tell that almost everyone had ended up injured. It was a testament to the extent of brutality witnessed in the battle that had just ended.

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nKant’s forces had taken the lead with their initial ambush.

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nHowever, when the Jackalans resisted, his forces were still severely devastated.

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nCasualties were high in their ranks.

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n“Two-thirds of us will be left behind in this place.”

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nKant turned around and made a rough count.

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nHe let out a deep sigh. Less than 100 men were standing behind him, and all of them were injured.

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nHe turned his gaze on the eastern horizon.

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nA beam of the dawn’s light pierced through the thick darkness. A faint round white bulb gradually rose on the horizon.

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nDawn was approaching.

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nGallop, gallop, gallop, gallop…

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nThe rushed gallops of the horses were heard coming from the great fire.

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nFirentis took the lead and led four or five Elite Desert Bandits out of the sea of flames. They pulled their reins when they came near their lord, ordering their horses to halt with a vocal command.

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n“You’re back.”

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nKant nodded to Firentis. He looked rather relieved. “It’s good to see you around again.”

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nFirentis was his only general.

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nThe general had been scalded by the flames as he emerged from the sea of flames. If it had not been for the fact that he was wearing an iron helmet, all of his hair would have probably burned off. Based on how the horses’ manes were almost half-burned and injuries were everywhere on their bodies, the same would have happened to him. The wounds from both the fire and the spike clubs looked very harrowing.

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nFirentis expressed his gratitude in a very solemn manner. “Thank you very much for your concern, Lord Kant.”

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nFirentis got off his horse and took a package from one of the bags hanging on the horse’s back. He handed it to Kant and said, “Here are the belongings of that Jackalan shaman, My Lord.”

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n“Huh?” Kant took hold of the package.

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nHe opened it and found a staff that was broken in several places in it, as well as a book that looked rather old.

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nKant’s expression was serious.

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nThe staff was made of some sort of thin wood. It had been snapped into several pieces after it was stomped on. Firentis had collected it in its entirety. The most eye-catching part was the top end of the staff, which contained a black gem that was about the size of an egg.

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nKant had seen one of those back in the Dukedom of Leo. It was where the staff’s power came from.

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nThe royal mages in the castle all had similar staffs to aid with spellcasting.

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nThe old book caught Kant’s attention the most.

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n“What is this?” Kant was unable to help but frown.

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nHe held the book in his hand. It felt rather soft. The cover of the book seemed to be crafted with a soft goat pelt. While the book had dirt and dust on it, it still made Kant’s heart race. It was as if he was holding some incredible item.

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nAt the same time, a dialog box from the system appeared.

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nDing… You have secured victory after fighting a bloody battle.

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nMain Quest: The First Powerful Enemy is complete.

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nReward: 10,000 Denars, 1,000 Reputation, 10 Honor

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nIntroduction: The act of defeating a powerful enemy was but a steppingstone. A new journey awaits, so please keep working hard. Believe in your abilities. None of your enemies will be as terrifying as your first powerful enemy. None will be able to stand in your way.

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nIt was obvious from the dialog box that the quest from the system had been completed.

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nKant grinned.

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nHe had expected this.

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nThe Jackalan Tribe before him had been engulfed in flames. When the fire was extinguished, nothing but ruins would be left behind.

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nIt was no longer a place where any Jackalan would live.

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nEven the ones that had survived the battle and made it out would not be able to survive long in the harsh conditions of the Nahrin Desert. Furthermore, the extreme heat and cold between day and night were enough to take their lives.

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nWhen he was still mulling over the aftermath of the battle, a new dialog box appeared on his retina.

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nDing… You have obtained stunning results due to having won the battle despite heavily outnumbered.

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nEvaluation Acquired: Epic Victory

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nReputation acquired x 100

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nHonor acquired x 1

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nThe result of that battle was evaluated by the system to be an epic victory.

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nKant grinned at the results.

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nHe had crushed a Jackalan Tribe that consisted of 2,000 Jackalans with only 300 men. He won despite being severely outnumbered and at a disadvantage. That evaluation was well within expectation.

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nKant turned around.

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nHe saw his limping troops behind him. The grin on his face gradually disappeared.

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nDespite being an ambush, his forces had suffered heavy casualties.

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nOnly 10 Swadian Footmen were left.

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nOnly 31 Swadian Militia members were left.

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nOnly 46 Swadian Recruits were left.

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nFinally, only five Elite Desert Bandits were left.

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nThe total of his surviving units was a mere 92.

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nIt was as if he had been robbed clean. All of the reward he gained from the last battle was gone in that one battle.

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nWar had a way of burning through one’s resources quickly.

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nDing… Your forces have upgradable units.

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nIt was a consolation and relief that his surviving forces were at least able to get upgraded.

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nAll troop classes after the upgrade would become elites.

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n“Open the list of troop classes.”

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nKant connected his mind with the system. A dialog box immediately appeared on his retina.

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n…

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nUpgradable Troop Class: Swadian Recruits x 46

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nSpend 10 Denars each to upgrade to Swadian Militia.

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nDing… You have surplus experience. Your forces can be upgraded consecutively.

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n…

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nUpgradable Troop Class: Swadian Militias x 31

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nSpend 20 Denars each to upgrade to Swadian Footman

/Swadian Skirmisher.

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nDing… You have surplus experience. Your forces can be upgraded consecutively.

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n…

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nUpgradable Troop Class: Swadian Footmen x 10

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nSpend 50 Denars each to upgrade to Swadian Man-at-arms

/Swadian Infantry.

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nDing… You have surplus experience. Your forces can be upgraded consecutively

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n…

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nUpgradable Troop Class: Elite Desert Bandits x 5

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nSpend 40 Denars each to upgrade to Sarrandian Horseman.

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nDing… You have surplus experience. Your forces can be upgraded consecutively.

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n…

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nThe upgrade routes of the troop classes were clearly shown on the system’s dialog box.

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nHowever, Kant’s heart was racing.

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nThe fruit of victory was indeed sweet.

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nAll of his troops were available for upgrades.

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nBetter yet, all of them were able to be upgraded further.

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nEven if they were to not be upgraded to become troop classes of higher levels, the quality of Kant’s forces would be enhanced.

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nKant only needed to make it through the exhaustion period after the war to take in the fruits of his victory and gain a second explosive growth in his forces.

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nIt was just like how it had been with the night invasion back then.

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nHowever, a new dialog box appeared on his retina before Kant had begun to upgrade his troops.

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nDing… Extraordinary things were discovered after a careful inspection.

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nSpecial Quest: Explore the Mysterious is complete.

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nReward: 5,000 Denars

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nIntroduction: You have received loot from the Jackalan Tribe, which contained mystical powers.

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nKant was slightly stunned by what he saw in that dialog box from the system.

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nSpecial quest?

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nAfter a short while, Kant finally recalled something of that sort.

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nIt was a special quest given by the system when he scouted the place the week before.

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nKant had forgotten all about the special quest because he had been preoccupied with invading the Jackalan Tribe. He only came to suddenly remember the quest when he was reminded by the system.

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nHe lowered his head and looked at the broken staff in the package, as well as the mysterious old book.

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nKant knew deep down that those two things were what the system was talking about.

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nThe system gave him the answer he sought.

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nDing… Side Quest assigned

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nSide Quest: Help from the System

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nReward: Upgrade the village

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nIntroduction: This is a world with mystical powers at work. Items holding conceptual powers contain energies that the system desperate needs. Will you allow the system to absorb the items?

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nRemark: The system will be amplified after absorbing the items.

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nWill you allow the system to absorb the items?

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nKant was thoroughly dumbfounded.

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nThat side quest from the system did not even give him any choice regarding the matter.

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nThe reward offered was the upgrade of his village.

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nFurthermore, there was also the remark, which he had never seen before. All of that meant that the system was in desperate need of those items.

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nKant nodded and made his choice without hesitation. “Yes, I will.”

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nThe system was the only help he had in that world and the only thing he was truly able to rely on. Boosting the system led him to prosperity. Losing the system led to his downfall. Kant was not foolish enough to hold anything back from the system.

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nBesides, the system was his cheat.

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nIt was held in such great importance that Kant deemed the cheat to be more precious than his parents in that world.

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