The World of Tactics

Chapter Twenty-Two XI: Dire Homecoming

"S-Savannah, we will escape for sure. D-don't be scared. S-see, H-Hugo is not scared at all. Come on, h-hold Hugo's hand. Don't let go, okay? A-after this wall, I-I'm sure of it. Hugo is sure of it, only after this wall. D-don't worry, H-Hugo remembers that it was here. Eldest b-brother once showed Hugo. Yes! Savannah, i-it's here.

*Ouch!*

D-don't be too loud, okay? H-here, j-jump down here. C-come on, S-Savannah can do it. Hugo will c-catch you. O-or Savannah could fall on Hugo, okay? B-be good Savannah, brave Savannah, okay?

*Ugh*

S-s-shush, d-don't cry. H-Hugo is here. D-don't cry, okay? Hugo is sorry, okay?

W-wait! Savannah, s-someone is approaching. O-over there. B-bush, hide, b-be good Savannah, okay?"

Thirty minutes later...

"O-okay, that-that person is g-gone now. Good Savannah? Throat? Hehehe, H-Hugo is strong. Hugo's t-throat is b-better, see?

*Cough-ugh!* *Cough!*

H-Hugo doesn't hurt. C-come on, g-good S-Savannah, let's go now. H-Hugo is fine. H-hurry, good Savannah."

---

For the first time, he felt that he should carefully and carefully check all of the enemies' status screens. He had only briefly remembered that all of the zombies only had ten or eleven points in their defense stat. While at that time, he was more focused on the strongest might of the six zombies to be able to clearly remember the defense of the first zombie. He was a bit careless for not spotting this from the beginning. He promised that he would reflect more on this aspect during battle. He was given this advantage and yet he was not able to fully take advantage of it.

The second zombie zooms to the north adjacent to Goon and attacks Goon. Goon naturally suffered no damage while being able to counter-attack twice. Each counter-attack of Goon's, Goon was able to deal thirteen damages each. The second zombie had a higher point of defense than the sixth zombie, which is why Goon could only deal a total of twenty-six damage (Goon, EXP +70, Level Up). Since the two of them were at the same level. In this bout, Goon only gains seventy points of experience.

Even so, Goon was still able to level up with this. He allocated one point to Goon's maximum health points and the remaining two points to Goon's magic resistance stat. Once Goon's magic resistance is maxed out, he will then only focus on increasing Goon's maximum health points. He also thought about the luck stat, but he saw that there was no obvious need for it as of yet. So, he did not plan on increasing the luck stat unless he needed to increase it.

The third zombie moves toward Uzi, the only one to be within open attack range. Uzi easily dodges the vain attempt of the third zombie. It was no surprise seeing that Uzi had a maxed-out speed stat that sits at twenty-four points. In Uzi's first attack, Uzi easily ripped off the whole right arm of the third zombie. In the second counterattack, Uzi completely tore off the neck of the third zombie. The first attack was just normal attack damage, sixteen damage. As for the second attack, it was a critical attack that resulted in a total of forty-eight damage (Uzi, EXP +100, Level Up).

As for this level, he continues to ramp up Uzi's maximum health points by one, while the remaining two unallocated points are allocated to the skill stat. At a point like this, he had seen the difference between Uzi. Uzi used to aim for the chest or the thigh and usually would not aim for the joints. This time, he had seen how useful the skill stat had been for Uzi. Uzi had been able to completely tear off the left arm of the third zombie and also had completely torn off the neck of the zombie, which resulted in a critical attack.

The fourth zombie was just a square away from Uzi, which is why there was no more battle. The fourth zombie moved to the square that was north adjacent to the second zombie. The same goes for the fifth zombie. The fifth zombie continues to stack on the square that was north adjacent to the fourth zombie. There were no more bouts and the enemies' turns ended just like that. He felt a lot relieved as the zombies were slowly being grounded down in numbers. He waited for a split second before it was [Player's Turn][9].

It turned nine right at that moment, this might have been the longest battle turn that he had up to date. Usually, a battle would be quick and over. Just like a flesh bang. A battle would never last as long as this unless it was a battle that was a drawn-out battle of attrition. It was obvious why it was this long as well. The number of undead monsters just keeps being reinforced at the start of the battle. He was also glad that there were no longer any more monsters reinforcing or appearing on the battlefield. He was also getting slightly tired, physically and mentally.

As the battle was nearing its end in sight, he did not have to mentally suffer while keeping track of everything on the battlefield. He first commands Lawrence to keep attacking the seventh flesh walker, while Dork is to attack the first zombie. Of course, this time he commanded Lawrence to equip the earth draco lizard's strength earrings. Then, he finally moved on to attacking the first zombie. He should be able to grind down twenty of the first zombie's health points before Dork can get the last hit on the first zombie. He did attack the first zombie and the outcome was as he had expected. He attacks twice and deals a total of twenty times the damage to the first zombie, just like previously (John Smith, EXP +20x2, Level Up).

During his bout against the first zombie, he felt that there was a gradual feeling of being able to perform all sorts of thrusts and stabs. It was not instant like the strength stat or the speed stat. The skill stat works and operates differently while gradually revealing itself. It was like he was gradually improving his utilization of the lance. Even now, he feels that as long as he continues to practice for one or two rounds. He would be able to do all sorts of spins, twists, flicks, and thrusts that are capable of rotation. It was a strange feeling of realization and knowing that he was capable of it. His only comment on this strange feeling was confidence. Hence, he allocated all of the three points to his skill stat.

Once he had confirmed his feelings, he moved his attention to Goon and Uzi. He would like to push and completely get rid of all of the remaining zombies first before letting Lawrence grind for some levels. He first moved Uzi north one square so that Uzi could finish off the second zombie, then Goon could take over the second zombie's place before attacking the fourth zombie. By the time it was their next turn, he should have been able to easily get rid of the final zombie, the fifth zombie. At the same time, he could help Dork gain another level.

Uzi easily tore the neck of the second zombie that was already limping, Goon had already cut through the neck of the second zombie halfway off (Uzi, EXP +100, Level Up). At the same time, he saw that Uzi's improvement in skills was very obvious. A direct jump on toward the second zombie, a body twist midair, a head turns, then fangs shaking on the neck spine bone that was still hanging, and once the twist abruptly ends. The neck of the second zombie has already been torn off. It was like he was seeing the alpha male direwolf in place of Uzi. Other than that, the attack speed of the Uzi was done within the blink of an eye. He was able to see it because of his high-speed stat that sits at twenty points.

He was becoming glad that he had Uzi on his side. He felt a bit terrified thinking about what Uzi could have become if Uzi were to evolve once more. By then, he believed that even if Goon were to evolve as well. Uzi's stats limit would be completely beyond anything that he had seen up till now. He was also excited to see the increase in Uzi's innate weapon. He felt that Uzi's current innate weapon mastery may just rank up once more within the next few battles. He also felt excited about Uzi's improvements.

He moved Goon to the position that the second zombie was previously in. Then have Goon attack the fourth zombie. The current Goon also does not lose out on ax utilization now that Goon's skill stat has reached the maximum of twelve points. Goon easily deals thirteen damage with each attack and a total of twenty-six damage with two attacks (Goon, EXP +70, Level Up). He perfunctorily allocated one point to Goon's maximum health points and the other two to Goon's magic resistance stat. There is only one more level before he can max out Goon's magic resistance stat.

He could not help it. Unlike living beings, they were the souls that he summoned within the soul core. He already knew that their rate of gaining experience points and leveling up did not follow the limitations of a living being. That is what he had been envious of. A single bout against a higher-level enemy would raise a level by one. Not only that, he was able to easily allocate the status points that his summons gained at each level. That also means that he could easily build whatever he wanted with his new gains in status points.

He took a breather before their turns ended. [Ally's Turn][9], Lawrence attacked the seventh flesh walker again. The outcome was naturally the same. Even the experience that Lawrence gained was the same. Of course, with the additional increase in strength by two, Lawrence was able to deal five damage to the seventh flesh walker (Lawrence, EXP +25). It was a significant increase in damage to the seventh flesh walker, who had a high defense stat of fourteen.

Lawrence's turn ends and it was Dork's turn to enact, [Neutral's Turn][9]. Dork launches a fireball at the first zombie. The first zombie was easily roasted by Dork's fireball explosion (Dork, EXP +60). Since he was quite close to the first zombie, even then he could still feel the intense heat coming off from the fireball explosion. With the additional increase in levels, Dork's magic stat should be able to easily reach the limit. That was one less zombie to deal with now.

Their side took their turns to act and now it was the [Enemy's Turn][9] to do the same. The seventh flesh walker attacked Lawrence and the outcome was the same (Lawrence, EXP +25). Next was the ninth flesh walker which had the same outcome, but Lawrence was quite good and barely managed to dodge the ninth flesh walker's attack by a fluke (Lawrence, EXP +25, Level Up). [STR+1][DEF+1] Somehow or another, it felt Lawrence favors the strength and defense stat.

It was unbelievable that Lawrence would be able to achieve such gains with just this one battle. He felt that it was better this way when he took a look at Lawrence's missing arm. He felt saddened by it, actually because of their sacrifice, he was able to escape unscratched and alive because of the hobgoblin encounter. It also felt better knowing that his small effort to help increase Lawrence's strength's growth rate was not in vain. Likewise, the necklace of experience was helpful too.

If Lawrence were able to regenerate another limb. Then, most likely, Lawrence's base strength would reach a terrifying fifteen. Adding on with the earth draco lizard's strength earrings, he reckoned that Lawrence's strength stat would reach seventeen points. Once, Lawrence had a good rank B lance weapon equipped. Lawrence might be able to pierce through his defense. It was unimaginable, but not an impossibility. That is, only 'if.'