The World of Tactics

Chapter Twenty-Two VI: Dire Homecoming

"Trap! We've fallen into a trap. Guys, be on your guard! That undead is no joke!

The battle is getting hopeless... Damn it! Where are Grey and Froggers?

Jason! No, you can not fall here! I have already promised to get everyone back!

There are too many undead monsters! Retreat, we can't lose someone else!

Guys! We'll open a passage of escape on the south side.

No, Marco! Not you, too!

Why, argh...

Pablo! Get moving! Don't worry about me! I'll cover the back!

Not you, too, Pablo... Ugh...

Run...

Don't look back...

Henry... Lad..." Lance within his final moment.

---

He was happy that Uzi had maxed out the strength stat, like the speed stat. Two more levels and Uzi could easily be compared to the earth draco lizard that got buffed from defeating his hobgoblin summon. Think of the earth draco lizard that got buffed. He felt that Uzi could defeat it, but Uzi would suffer some major damage in return. Just these thought flashes, four misty shadows slowly pixelated on the southern edges. He was spooked, that was not the same pixelation as a flesh walker. He checks one of the new reinforcement's status screens. The status screen reads:

[Name: Lance][Race: Bone Walker (Grade 2)][Level: 31/31][Rank: 3][HP: 24/24-34/34] +10

[STR: 8(20) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][][][][][][][][][][][][] ] +1

[MAG: 1(10) / [1][][][][][][][][][] ] +1

[SKL: 9(20) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][][][][][][][][][][][] ] +1

[SPD: 11(20) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] [10][11] [][][][][][][][][] ] +1 +2

[LCK: 1(20) / [1][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ] +1

[DEF: 8(20) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] [][] [][][][][][][][][][] ] -2

[RES: 1(10) / [1][][][][][][][][][] ] +1

[Hidden: [CON: 4][MOV: 6][SKILL: [Undead Turning][Darkness Gift][Bone Body]][EXP: --/100][WEA: Sword E]]

[Equipped: Rusty Sword]

[Rusty Sword: Might +1, Hit +70, Crit+0, Weight=3.0, Durability: 14/20]

[Undead Turning - Turns a skeleton into an undead monster. All stats -2. All growth rates -10. Max level -5.]

[Darkness Gift - Instantly levels up by ten, cannot exceed the limit. Health points +10. All stat +1. All growth rates -5. One time only.]

[Bone Body - Defense -2. Speed +2. Constitution -4]

He had just finished looking through the status screens and it was [Player's Turn][4] again. He looked behind him and saw four complete skeletons that were equipped with rusty swords. Their armor is mismatched against their bones. Within the skull, within the eye sockets, there was an eerily reddish glow of flame. Those bone walkers had slightly lower health points than the flesh walkers, but their speed was over nine points. None had a speed stat that was lower than ten and only two in the center of the lane of the four bone walkers had the speed stat of eleven points. His main concern was not the lower health points of the bone walkers, but the speed stat of the bone walkers. On his side, all except Uzi could currently double attack a bone walker. That is unless he or Goon level up.

Sooner or later, they will all be cornered by the incoming reinforcements of the undead monsters. He knew Uzi and Goon would be fine, but Lawrence and Dork would be in danger. He had to rethink the plan because they were all within the attack range of the bone walkers reinforced from the south edge of the map. It was especially so for Dork, who was just one square movement away from the nearest bone walker. He wished that the map would be bigger next time so that he could be better positioned within the map. He measures the distance that the bone walker can travel and many positions crop up. However, he finally got the answer to his dilemma.

He looked at the map and saw that there was a discrepancy. The four bone walkers are neatly stacked in a straight line at the very edge of the southern map, but there was a difference in the distance of their positioning. It was very noticeable because, to the west edge, the westmost bone walker was two squares away and to the east, most bone walkers were four squares away. If he were to move the north adjacent square to the fifth flesh walker that was in between Uzi and Goon. Send it to the thereafter, then his position would be exactly three square north of the bone walker that was the closest to Dork.

Likewise, this is where Uzi comes into play. Uzi would then have to defeat the fourth flesh walker that was north of Uzi. Then Goon could move over to defeat the sixth flesh walker to the west of Uzi. Once all of the flesh walkers are defeated, then Lawrence can move into the location where the fifth flesh walker originally was and trade with Uzi. The remaining two herb batches in the stack could fully heal up Lawrence. As for Dork, he would move Dork north of him and a square away. This would allow Dork to get away from being attacked by any bone walkers. In the end, he, along with Goon and Uzi, would become the prime target of the bone walkers. Thus, Lawrence and Dork would be freed from any sort of attack.

Using this turn, he did not exactly go into the same order as his plans because he needed to get rid of the fifth flesh walker first so that he could command Lawrence to move in. He moved to the north adjacent to the fifth flesh walker. He was not hesitant and immediately attacked with a thrust. He stabs right through the fifth flesh walker and awkwardly blocks the counterattack. Finally, his last thrust was the final blow that finished off the fifth flesh walker (John Smith, EXP +60x2 (100), Level Up). He knows that the speed stat is a must and he did not hesitate to allocate all three of his points to his speed stat. With that increase, he could now double attack all of the bone walkers present.

Uzi easily got rid of the fourth flesh walker, dealing twenty-six damage in total (Uzi, EXP +100, Level Up). He allocated one point to Uzi's maximum health point and the last remaining two to Uzi's defense stat. It was Goon's turn to take action. Naturally, he took care to move Goon north adjacent to the sixth flesh walker. Goon's first strike causes eight damage, which is over half of the sixth flesh walker's remaining health points. Likewise, Goon's defense is high and naturally suffers no damage from the sixth flesh walker. He only sighed relief once he saw that Goon's second attack was connected to the sixth flesh walker (Goon, EXP +100, Level Up). He confidently allocated the three points to max out Goon's speed stat.

He did want to allocate a point to Goon's maximum health points, but in a situation where he did not know if there were more undead reinforcements. He allocates accordingly and considers that an additional attack means a turn less in defeating an undead monster. He did not want to be swarmed by undead monsters.

[Ally's Turn][4], Lawrence went to the position that he had been given and traded with Uzi. Lawrence took the two remaining herb batch stacks from Uzi and directly ate them to recover the eight missing health points that Lawrence lost before this turn. [Neutral's Turn][4], Dork did as commanded and that is what he liked about Dork. Up to date, all of the commands that he gave to Dork. Dork would single-handedly follow through with almost no complaints. What he did not notice was that it had to be the command that does not put Dork in danger, which is why Dork always follows his commands. This is the same situation and condition. Dork's turn ended just like that.

It was a turnover and the [Enemy's Turn][4]. The first bone walker moved directly to the south of Lawrence. He knew that the bone walkers were quite weak in strength and weapon might. Lawrence got a petty s***h scar on the right arm, but Lawrence paid back for the attack with a stronger counterattack that dealt seven damage (Lawrence, EXP +25). The second bone walker directly targets Lawrence as well. He already knew that Goon and Uzi were not attractive to Goon and Uzi, but it was quite interesting how the bone walkers could pinpoint the weakest person to attack. Lawrence took another two damage and dealt back another seven points of damage (Lawrence, EXP+25, Level Up). [STR+1][DEF+1]

It was at this moment that Lawrence was surprised. He knew that Lawrence would level up with two more bouts, but for Lawrence, who advanced a level in battle. It was a surprising event. Just two nights ago, Lawrence knew that Lawrence had just advanced a level. It took him a lot of effort to hunt down goblins and a few hobgoblins to barely advance. However, just this battle and four bouts. Lawrence had advanced in strength and power again. At this rate, Lawrence felt that achieving further advancement was not an impossibility. Lawrence was secretly happy inside, even with the two new aching wounds.

The third bone walker moves to the south adjacent square of Goon. Compared to Uzi, Goon was slightly lower in terms of levels. As for the result, it was one-sided. Goon did not manage to dodge, but Goon suffered no damage at all. Meanwhile, it was not true for the third bone walker because each of Goon's counterattacks deals twelve damage. That means that the third bone walker suffered unfair twenty-four damage (Goon, EXP +90). Likewise, due to Goon's rapidly increasing levels. Goon was already level twenty-nine at the moment, which is why the experience that Goon got was not one hundred. Adding ninety experience points to Goon's current experience pool of four experience points. Goon did not level up this time.

The fourth bone walker targeted Uzi because Uzi is the only one open to attack. This time, the unfairness showed itself because each of Uzi's counterattacks dealt seventeen damage while Uzi barely felt anything from the fourth bone walker's attack. In total, the fourth bone walker suffered thirty-four damage and left the fourth bone walker hanging with just five health points (Uzi, EXP +100, Level Up). He allocates one point to Uzi's maximum health points, a point to Uzi's skill stat, and a point to maxing out Uzi's defense stat.

For Uzi, who had three stats that were maxed out, he plans on continuing to increase Uzi's maximum health point by one while increasing Uzi's skill stat by two points. By calculation, by the time Uzi reaches max levels. Uzi would be able to easily max out the skill stat with some remaining unallocated points for resistance. Of course, for now, that is only 'if' Uzi does reach the maximum level at forty. Compared to Goon and Uzi's rapid growth, Lawrence and Dork were on the slower side of things. He was also included, but he got the dragon stone crystal's help, which smoothed his increase in levels.

[Lance - A soldier under Sir Roylis Smith. He used to be under Sir Roylis Smith during the previous war. The only reason why he was still alive now was because Sir Roylis Smith had covered his backside when they were besieged on all sides. He swore his loyalty after Sire Roylis Smith became a noble and faithfully fought for the fief under Sire Roylis Smith. He found a wife five years after coming under Sir Roylis Smith. However, he only had one son.]

[Jason - A soldier under Lance, a family soldier. He was a great soldier, simple, loyal, and faced death head-on. Sadly, at the moment of death. He finally found fears. His wife was still pregnant with his child. He fears that there will no longer be a father idol for his unborn child. He knew that if he fell, his wife and unborn child would also be in danger. However, he was helpless. He closes his eyes with fear, not of death, but fear for his family.]

[Marco - A soldier under Lance, a stubborn soldier. He was an inflexible soldier, straightforward, and would do anything that he set his mind to. He was not as good-looking as those in the squad, which is why he never got a wife. He never intended to have a wife anyway. However, that was not true. He was envious of those other soldiers that had a wife. He was especially envious of Jason, a family soldier. All this time, he had nothing to hold him back. Hence, in death, he smiled. He was a good soldier, but one that was not too smart nor as good looking as others.]

[Pablo - A soldier under Lance, a mercenary soldier. He was a soldier that turned maverick, mercenary, and placed gold above anything. However, the day that he found his place. He completely changes. He wanted a new start in life in a small corner without people bothering him, to become a father, and to live a peaceful life once more. He places his history behind him, peacefully married a wife, and is a father of five sons and four daughters. He had wanted peace, but since he was not allowed his peace, he got a piece to pick against those that were destroying his peace. However, he failed and died with worry for his family.]

[Henry - A newly promoted soldier under Lance, the talented soldier. He was a new soldier that had just come back from the capital. It has been one year since he came into the service of Sir Roylis Smith. His capability is nearing an average soldier. However, he falls short compared to Lance, Jason, Marco, and Plabo. Bred and born in the village under Sir Roylis Smith's fiefs. He luckily manages to survive the start of the turbulence. Though he falls short in age, he is high in talent and potential.]