Chapter 4 - Manifest

Located in an underground cellar, Prewell stood as he stared at his system. Waiting for this month's reward distribution. 

Unlike other systems from the fiction of his previous world. This system neither communicates with him nor gives him tasks. 

Like those uncaring superiors in his previous world. As long as he does his 'job' he will receive points, just like a salary. Every month he receives a random number of points.

Though, 'Random Amount' is an odd way to describe it. He doesn't really receive a random amount. It's just that the way the system distributes the amount of reward is unknown to him at the moment. Various parts of the system are locked. 

As much as he would like to increase his points, but without the means to do it. He is stuck in the cycle of doing what he did the month prior, trying to identify whatever the rule the system has regarding the points' distribution.

*Beep*

As a sound echoed in his ear, the number of points in the system panel increased.

Points: 10 → 73

Satisfied with the amount he received, his mood, which had been heavy since his arrival in Waldr lightened a little.

'73 points, it should be enough. Summoning 73 Tier 1, with the addition of the already summoned Tier 1. The amount of Black Halberds will increase to 237, that and the volunteers from various settlements. Around 800 ~ 1000 men will be mobilized to deal with the security issue of the Barony.'

'It will probably take Lucius and Lancel more than a week or two before they return, training them in standard formations and basic command will most likely take more than a month. I'll have someone order the men to be prepared to rally in a month at Hatr.'

'The men of Waldr together with the Black Halberds will march towards the crossroads. Then began by visiting each settlement and finally marched towards Hatr and began patrolling the vicinity of the forest.'

Finalizing his plans for the goblin incursion, he waved his hands as figures suddenly appeared in the open space of the cellar.

"One of you go and find Wiegraf, let him deal with where you'll be staying and how you will be fed. The rest of you, arm and familiarize yourself with your duties. From now, you'll be a part of the Black Halberds. Only taking orders from me and me only."

Prewell told them as he walked towards the stairs leading out of the cellar.

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After leaving the cellar, Prewell headed towards a study in the town center. Turning this part of the town center as his temporary office.

Arriving at the study. He rang the bell on the table, and in a few moments, a member of his entourage appeared before him.

Turning to the man, he asked him to call Wiegraf. As the man left and Prewell was left into his own devices, he began to wonder about the sudden change in the number of points that he received this month.

Compared to months before, this month's income almost tripled. "Manifestation system… Manifest… If it were truly a system regarding manifestation, why is it that I'm only able to manifest life forms? The act of manifestation is to make something, visible or real… but why can't I manifest a material object, then?"

His eyes squinted and his face flat, he racked his mind as to how the system calculates his monthly points salary. What action has he done before that warrants more points, is it killing goblins, leading his men, or more menial stuff like writing or reading?

It can't be because of his daily practice. He barely touched his sword last month. He is neither a knight capable of performing actions with twice the power and reaction speed as an ordinary man nor a mage capable of harnessing the power of magic.

Heck, he is barely able to fight a goblin. Only through formations and tiring his enemy out can he go toe to toe with them.

"Trouble, why can't the system just tell me what I need to do? I have better things to do than racking my brains on this matter."

Fingers tapping the table in rapid succession as annoyance gradually took over his mind. Finally, as he couldn't figure out how to earn more points, he sighed in defeat.

"Oh… if only the system can tell me what it wants me to do. I'll do it without a second thought. Sigh, in the end, points (money) run the world."

As he finishes his words, his eyes widen then with a bang! His hands slammed into the table.

His eyes twitched as he realized that what he was doing was no different from how a day-to-day worker is thinking of a way to increase his salary by figuring out how to do his job better. Either to show that as a hardworking member of the company that he is eligible for a raise or that he is qualified for a promotion for a better career.

In a way to show his hard work and to satisfy his superior (System).

'This world, and the one before, both requires me to satisfy my immediate superior.'

'Oh, the life of a wageworker.' Wiping an imaginary tear as he pitied himself and his counterparts in his previous life.

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The Great Forest of Pluma

As Prewell was busying himself regarding the matter of points. A battle is taking place in the Great Forest of Pluma.

In the middle of the ancient trees, a band of rugged warriors is surrounding a giant bear. With a towering ancient tree to its back and various traps littered on the ground, the bear is unable to escape.

Its giant paw is unable to maneuver the various poisonous blades and traps that the band of men has laid before. Trapped and cornered it can only fight back, only by slaying the band of warriors will it be able to escape to its lair.

"HAAAAAA!" With a shout, a combatant with two hands holding a massive axe slashed his weapon into the right eye of the giant bear.

The giant bear let out a pained roar as it was forced to take a step back due to pain.

As the bear took a step back, the band of warriors took chase. Arrows, Bolts, and javelins were thrown. Taking turns, inflicting as much damage that they can on their foe.

The bear, fed up with constant harassment, let out a crazed roar. Turning to the men as it charged towards the closest men that it could find.

The warriors scrambled one more time. Kiting the beast, taking turns attracting its attention. Harassing the beast and preventing it from reaching one of their own.

The bear, frustrated, once again took a step back. Crazed and wounded, the bear was unable to do much.

Trapped in the cycle of stepping back and being harassed, wounds kept accumulating as the bear grew tired and bloodied. As the rugged band and beast took the stage in a glorious dance of life and death.

In the rear, a short man, both hands holding a glowing staff. Murmuring words of mystery as the staff glowed brighter and brighter, and finally, as its brightness reached its peak, he shouted as he slammed the staff to the ground. "Earth Golem!"

The ground in front of the short man trembled, a hand formed from dirt and rocks. Reaching up as it slammed its hands towards the ground, it used its newly formed arm to support itself as a head and shoulder began to form.

Slowly, a humanoid made of dirt and rocks is formed.

Watching his creation come to life, the short man pointed his staff towards the giant bear. As if willed by its creator, the earthen giant moved. Dust spread through the air, causing a cloud of dust to appear.

The giant bear noticed such a commotion from its peripheral vision. Gone was the annoyance and crazed state from before. Only desperation can be felt as it feels the looming threat of death.

The men cheered as the earthen giant moved, they readied their weapons, prepared for a final assault.

As the earthen giant neared the bear, the bear swiped one of its paws towards the earthen creation. Stones and dirt turned into debris, flung away as the giant paws made contact with the Earth Golem.

The giant, as if unfazed by the bear's attack, grabbed the bear by its neck. Pushing the bear as the bear tries to wrestle out of the Earth's hold on its neck.

As the two giants wrestled with each other, a man with long, flowing golden hair and golden locks walked out of the band of rugged men.

Lowering himself as he gathered his strength in his lower body. Then, as the bear was able to get out of the Earth Golems' chokehold, he released his accumulated strength.

*Swoosh*

A golden flash appeared below the bear's line of sight. Then the golden flash stopped, as the golden-haired figure once again gathered his strength in his lower body.

Another golden flash appeared, this time just below the bear's chin. With two hands holding a sharp giant sword. He swung his giant sword in a spinning motion.

As the edge of the blade made contact with the bear's thick skin. It cut through it, as if the blade were cutting an apple. A sharp horizontal wound appeared in the bear's neck. As the spinning motion continued, the golden locked figure spun once more.

This time separating the bear's head from its body. Blood shot through the air as the men around were showered in blood.

Despite being showered with the bear's blood. The men cheered, they, together with the mage and golden knight, slew the giant beast. A feat done by knights in the silver realm.

As they cheered, the golden-haired man, used the bear's body with a kick to push himself towards the earthen giant. Seeing this action, the short man tapped the ground with his staff as the golem let go of the bear and turned to catch the man.

In the air, the golden-haired man turned his sight towards a bright light coming from behind the giant tree that the bear was surrounded by.

His eyes dilated as he muttered. "Finally…"