Is that...?
Lloyd unconsciously gulped. Hundreds of messages continued to appear with no end in sight, making it impossible for him to give them a proper read. But skimming through them was enough to awaken his fading consciousness.
Unbelievable... My RP is rising like the stock market during the 2008 housing bubble.
Utterly dazed by the whole thing, Lloyd rubbed his eyes, his hands shaking. When he read the messages again, he once again confirmed that he wasn't dreaming.
Ding Dong! Ding Dong! Ding Dong!
[White Cavalry member Tivoli holds up his shovel to protect you.]
[Orc warrior Equinox roars and his heart is burning with spirit.]
[Elf archer Mehari hardens her resolve as she remembers the meat you grilled for her previously.]
[Engineer Camaro convinces his friends that he cannot lose you here.]
[Skeleton One Leg Short rushes forward, clacking its bones.]
Everyone burned with an eager resolution to protect Lloyd and held up their shovels and pickaxes to fight the angel. Seeing this, he grew apprehensive.
Will they be all right?
Their opponent was a mighty angel, whom even Javier couldn't easily defeat despite his status as a grandmaster. Lloyd wasn't sure the White Cavalry members, orc warriors, elf archers, Engineering Corps, and Skeleton Corps would be safe. Soon, his concern materialized.
Boom! A noise came from Javier and Raphael's collision. It was a collision between two transcendental powers, with Javier making history by showcasing his superhuman powers and Raphael unleashing his full capabilities after absorbing the angel ring. Their clash produced fierce, tsunami-like shock waves, knocking down and pushing away everything and everyone in their way.
"Ackkk!"
"Eek!"
"O-oink!"
Despite their bravery, agility, and strength, the White Cavalry members, elf archers, and orc warriors, as well as the Engineering and Skeleton Corps, were all scattered away and rolled on the ground like styrofoam beads in front of a fan on its highest setting against the strong wind. But they didn't easily give up.
"The White Cavalry... Never backs down in front of an enemy!"
"Orc warriors, fight! Oink!"
"We will not retreat without a fight!"
"Engineers! Let's show him what our well-built muscles can do!"
Those rolling on the ground quickly got to their feet, their eyes burning with resolution. They once again picked up their shovels and pickaxes, and each time they did, a string of messages appeared in front of Lloyd's eyes.
Ding Dong! Ding Dong Dong! Ding Dong!
[White Cavalry member Berlingo has made a resolution to fight for you.]
[Your likeability with Berlingo has increased by 1 point.]
[Current RP with Berlingo: +41]
[You have earned 3 RP by improving your relationship with a main character.]
[Current RP: 17,673]
[Orc warrior Tycan's muscles are bulging with more intensity.]
[Your likeability with Tycan has increased by 2 points.]
[Current RP with the Tycan: +39]
[You have earned 2 RP by improving your relationship with a main character.]
[Current RP: 17,675]
[For you, Elf archer Cayenne will...]
[Engineer Cherokee swears to protect you...]
[Current RP: 17,891]
[Current RP: 18,741]
[Current RP: 20,1...]
[Current RP...]
“...”
It was outrageous. He couldn't believe how much his RP increased. Lloyd found himself dryly swallowing again, and only now did it plainly dawn on him what had happened while he was half-conscious on the ground.
It looks like I've been able to form a good network at the very least...
Lloyd pieced together what had happened. He fell. Then Raphael tried to end him. But Javier fiercely defended him against Raphael. That was when everyone was provoked to raise their weapons and protect him by joining the battle. It didn't matter to them that they were going against an angel. This eagerness of theirs to fight for him must have been what sparked the increase in likeability.
Thanks to that, I'm raking in RP now.
The 500 members from the White Cavalry. The hundreds of orcs and elves working on the dam construction. And the Engineering Corps and Skeleton Corps. Even though the rewards of RP weren't much individually, they added up to an extraordinary amount together.
Ha. It's like collecting a dollar from each resident in a city with a population of one million.
The outcome was incredible. Feeling his heart pound, Lloyd looked at the last message.
[Current RP: 23,534]
And at last, Lloyd was able to garner a shockingly large amount of RP. It was so large that it had immediately jerked his fading consciousness back to life.
I need to do something with this. Anything.
Just then, his gaze traveled to Javier's back and Raphael wielding the iron mace to break the former's defense. He then watched another shock wave scatter everyone into the air.
Do I have enough to become a swordmaster?
He could be able to help if he became one. Even though he wouldn't be able to fight at the same level as Javier, Lloyd presumed he would at least be able to help somewhat. He knew this was the time to be clever, and racked his mind for a plan.
I did manage to amass a lot of RP. But is investing most of it to become a swordmaster a good idea? What if it requires me to use all of my RP? Then what? What happens afterward? What if I need the RP to stop the restoration of destiny?
Such concerns suddenly filled his mind. But soon, he shook his head.
No. This isn't the time to think about the future. Tomorrow has yet to arrive, and the current moment is what's in front of me.
Right now, it was time to stop Raphael. Otherwise, the Jewel of Truth would be demolished, and it would be game over for them. As such, right now...
I will pay dearly if I act like a cheapskate in this situation.
Grit! Lloyd made a decision. With some struggle, he raised his body and opened his manaheart skill window.
[Skill Name: Manaheart.]
[Stage: High-Level Sword Expert Lv. 1]
[Physical Ability Improvement Rate: 1,500%]
[Currently Owned Optional Skills: 1. Shock Neutralizer / 2. Complete Resistance to Poison / 3. Frenzy / 4. Half-Human Half-Dragon / 5. Time Freeze / 6. Swordmaster Syndrome]
[Required RP to level up: 2,000]
[Current RP: 23,534]
Let's give it a try.
Having decided, he selected the level-up button.
[You can invest a small portion of your RP to level up a skill. ]
[Would you like to invest RP in your Manaheart Skill?]
[YES / NO]
Yes!
There was no time to be on the fence. He had to quickly level up as high as he could and help Javier out. Lloyd nodded.
Ding Dong!
[Skill Level Up!]
[Manaheart: High-Level Sword Expert Lv. 2]
[Physical Ability Improvement Rate: 1,700%]
[Required RP to level up: 2,200]
[Current RP: 21,534]
Boom! His heart gave one big thump when his manaheart expanded. At the same time, everything around him suddenly grew clearer.
Hmph!
As his manaheart leveled up, his syndrome worsened. But Lloyd held on by clenching his teeth.
It has begun. I have to see it through to the end.
Right now, it was a do-or-die situation. He thus poured all of the RP he had to level up his manaheart skill. From level two to four... Then level five to six... From level eight to nine... But when he reached level ten, he found himself short on RP.
[Manaheart: High-Level Sword Expert Lv. 10]
[Physical Ability Improvement Rate: 3,300%]
[Required RP to level up: 3,800]
[Current RP: 334]
"Tsk... I knew this would happen." The corners of Lloyd's lips rose bitterly. But since he had predicted this would happen already, it didn't rattle him.
This isn't my first time leveling up with RP. It's just simple math. I needed 2,000 RP to level up from level one to two. Then I needed 2,200 and 2,400 next. So, the required RP rose in increments of 200 for every level up.
Lloyd could easily calculate the numbers while he poured his RP into the system, thanks to that.
I knew I'd lack 3,500 RP to reach the last level. Just like now.
And since he had predicted this, Lloyd had a solution for it as well.
This is how I will solve it!
Jumping to his feet, Lloyd suddenly yelled aloud enough for everyone to hear. "Everyone! Except for Javier and Yong Yong! Let's evacuate to somewhere safe!"
SAFE! SAFE! SAFE!
He shouted at the top of his lungs, and his booming voice caused everyone to stop. Not missing the chance, Lloyd shouted once more.
"I like you all! Thank you! For fighting for me! I'm filled with gratitude! But you see! This isn't a fight I want! Why?! I don't want you all to get hurt because of me!"
Lloyd feared his vocal cords and eardrum would burst and shatter. His own shout sounded too loud in his head as his swordmaster syndrome was now at its peak. Instead of giving up, however, Lloyd flexed his legs and waist, stood at the top of the Jewel of Truth, and bawled louder so everyone could hear him even more clearly.
"You all were brought out here to work, not fight and get hurt! The White Cavalry! The engineers! Orc warriors and elf archers! Everyone! I don't want to see a single one of you get injured and die!"
He was sincere in his words. Everyone had come here to help construct the dam and the Jewel of Truth. He didn't want them to be sacrificed in a battle they never planned to join. That would also be inefficient.
Duh. The angel is as strong as Javier, who's a grandmaster. The White Cavalry? Orcs? Elves? Engineers? Regardless of their big number, they would hardly be any help. They'd just get hurt from joining in.
It'd only lead to unnecessary casualties. As such, he had to prevent that kind of disaster from happening.
"So, stay back! Evacuate to somewhere safe! I will protect you instead! I will go to the front and fight for you!" Lloyd shouted at the top of his lungs as if he were testing how long his lungs and vocal cords would hold out. This time, there were some lies mixed in between his sincere words. Furthermore, he put on a dramatic performance that he had planned in advance.
Everyone's starting to get moved. Okay, the time is now. Here I go!
Ziiing! Lloyd rotated his mana circles, amplified a small portion of mana, and sent it to his right temple, where there was a bloody scab from being thrown on the ground. He sent the mana to the area behind his injury, causing his scab to pop.
With a popping sound like a cork being removed, the bloody scab was pushed out by the mana and widened until a stream of blood gushed out. It was also significantly more than he had expected.
All of a sudden, everyone was invited to a bloody fountain show. But Lloyd pretended to be all right even when his cheek was now wet with blood. He instead used it as a prop to make the situation more dramatic.
"I am all right!" yelled as he wiped his cheek with his hand. "Even if I'm beaten and hurt! Even if I have to give away my life! If it's to protect you! For the happiness and well-being of the fiefdom! For you! I'll sacrifice myself! And fight for each one of you!"
Lloyd's voice boomed across the sky. He then raised his shovel high as the final act of his dramatic performance. This set everyone's heart on fire.
"Waah!!!" everyone shouted, their voices sounding like a clap of thunder. And when they raised their fists up high, Lloyd saw messages he was glad to see.
Ding Dong!
[Your passionate and iron-will eloquence and actions stirred up strong emotions in everyone at the site!]
[Your likeability with Wrangler from the White Cavalry has increased by 1 point.]
[Orc Warrior Targa...]
[Elf archer Cayenne...]
[Engineering Corps Panamera...]
Ding Dong! Ding Dong Dong! Ding Dong!
His likeability with countless individuals went into a frenzy. As a result, Lloyd earned a massive amount of RP, much more than he needed.
[Current RP: 4,612]
This is what I'm talking about. Haha! Every little bit helps!
Lloyd clenched his fists and opened the system window. Now, he had enough. At last, the time had come for him to become a swordmaster.
