As the crowd erupted in cheers for Alaric, he dismounted his horse without a flicker of emotion. He walks towards the centre of the ground with all the people surrounding him.
"Why are you celebrating a fleeting victory against an enemy far stronger than us?" Alaric shouted at the crowd.
"What do you mean?" a lady asked, scratching his head in confusion.
"I see you still don't understand what just happened, do you?" Alaric said, his sharp eyes wide with the weight of harsh reality. "Let me spell it out for you, we only managed to protect our iron mine because of a contract with Goldsworth. Without it, they would've taken our land by brute force, and all we could've done was stand by and watch as they seized what's rightfully ours."
When the weight of reality hit them like a punch to the face, the hopeful light drained from the crowd's expressions. Faces that once shone with optimism now looked hollow.
Frederick stepped forward, his voice steady. "Then what do you intend to do, son?"
"I'm recruiting talent. As long as your skills can benefit our dominion, you're welcome to participate," Alaric announced, his voice firm with confidence. "I'll be the one evaluating each of you, one week from now."
"And also for the iron mine, we need capable workers for the extraction process. The job offers a wage of two silver coins per month, with two days off each week. Any additional hours will be compensated at a rate of ten copper coins per hour."Alaric proclaimed to the crowd.
The news spread like wildfire through a dry forest. Within a week, posters promising high wages and two days off each week had caught the attention of people across the kingdom. Even more intriguing was the call for skilled individuals, leaving many to wonder just how much their talents might be worth. Mercenaries, lone travelers, and adventurers from across the continent began to flock toward the opportunity.
When the long-awaited day finally arrived, the once quiet and rugged streets buzzed with life. Young men from all corners of the continent had gathered, some were battle-hardened mercenaries, their scarred muscles telling stories of countless fights; others were fresh-faced youths full of ambition. Cloaked figures kept to the shadows, their identities hidden, while a few hailed from distant races rarely seen in these parts. The air was thick with anticipation and tension.
The streets were lined with bustling stalls, offering warm bread, roasted meats that filled the air with mouth watering aromas, and vibrant displays of fresh fruits and vegetables. It was all organized by Alaric, with the help of his people, not only to welcome the incoming travelers but also to earn a bit of coin from the growing crowd. The atmosphere was lively and full of hope, with merchants calling out their wares, travelers exchanging stories, and children weaving through the crowds in bursts of laughter.
In the old training grounds behind the household, Alaric wrapped up his daily quests while Magnis practiced nearby, swinging his sword in every direction. His movements were focused and fluid, each strike aimed at preserving the swiftness and precision of his blade.
"Brother! Brother!" a distant voice called out to Alaric. Daisy came running, her small legs struggling to keep up, gasping for breath. "Just like you said... There are hundreds of people out there waiting for you. Some of them are even from different races!"
Alaric wipes his sweat off his naked upper body, which gleamed in the sunlight with a clean towel. "Finally, it's time to fight."
"Hahhh! Brother, cover yourself, idiot! Stop showing off your body!" Daisy shouted at her brother's bold appearance
Frederick managed the growing line of people with the help of young foot soldiers, now outfitted in new, sturdy armor. He also arranged for them to sit around the elevated square reserved for dueling.
"Oi, how long's it gonna take to start this so-called evaluation, huh? You gonna pick us for your fancy dominion or not? And lookin' at this ground, it's clearly meant for fighting. Why not just duel me and get it over with?"The mercenary grumbled at Frederick, his tone dripping with disrespect for the Baron's title.
Walking in between the free space between the armed soldiers, Sunlight caught the edge of his frame, casting long shadows towards the ground. Alaric, with a glint face of smirk, "Hey, muscle head, it's me you will have dueling with."
Hearing the taunt from the lean, smaller-built Alaric, the mercenary burst into laughter, his voice loud and rough.
"What can a small squirt like you possibly do?" he scoffed, flexing his scarred arms for the crowd. "You sure you didn't get lost on your way to the kitchens?"
Alaric didn't flinch. He simply tilted his head, that smug grin never leaving his face.
"Scared?" he echoed, voice cool and teasing. "Well, if you're too afraid to fight, I suppose I can always find someone with more spine."As he walked off slowly.
"Stop!" the mercenary barked, eyes narrowing. "If you're that eager to get your bones broken, I'll gladly oblige, you little squirt."
With a low grunt, he grabbed his massive axe from the ground, its blade glinting menacingly in the sunlight.
|SystemNotad*** notification
Quest: Defeat the mercenary
Reward: Increased limit for respect points limits, Removal of [ shut-in ]title
Failure: Loss of all Respect points
"There it is. I was waiting for this," Alaric thought, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes as he stepped onto the dueling ground.
"Rules for the duel - no killing, no severing limbs," Frederick announced, though his voice held a hint of hesitation. He was only saying it because Alaric had asked him to.
As tradition demanded, the two stepped forward to introduce themselves before the duel began.
"I am Goron, been a mercenary for the past 20 years, he man growled, hefting his axe onto his shoulder, "And now's the time for quitting, you little squirt."
"I am Alaric Ashworth, heir to the Ashworth territory," he declared calmly. "We'll see if your actions carry the same weight as that big mouth of yours."
|SystemNotad***
Inspect skill is used on Goron.
Goron, 45, Male
Race: Human
Latent Potential: D
Skills: Axe-wielding(Expert), Body strengthening(Low)
Trait: Rage
As the duel began, Goron dragged his massive axe through the ground, carving deep marks. Like a rampaging beast, he charged at Alaric to smash his head with the back of the axe with terrifying force, aiming to crush Alaric's head beneath his monstrous strength.
[Fighting spirit activated]
Alaric dropped to one knee as fast as he could, but the axe's back still caught his hair with a brutal snap. In the same fluid motion, Goron swung the axe from a horizontal strike to a diagonal slash, aiming directly at Alaric as he stayed low, bracing for impact.
Alaric leapt to his right, rolling across the ground with his shoulder cushioning the impact as he moved swiftly out of the axe's path.
"You run like a damn squirt!" Goron taunted.
With an easy flick of his hand, Alaric wiped dirt off his shoulder, then stood straight, guarding his face in a defensive stance. He beckoned Goron with a single fold of his fingers. Goron rushed forward with the same attack as before, but this time, instead of dodging, Alaric held the back of the axe with a bare strength that rivaled Goron's own.
The Applicants, who were expecting Alaric's loss, were shocked that the small build of Alaric matched Goron's strength.
"Oh, were you saying something? Musclehead." Alaric counter-taunted.
Enraged, Goron threw a rough left punch at Alaric's face. Before the punch reached him, Alaric bent his neck slightly, his left hand still holding the back of the axe, and threw a counter-punch with his right arm, crossing under with Goron's left hand. Alaric struck at Goron's chin, leaving him in a disoriented state, dropping his axe.
"Y-you piece of shit! I'll kill you!" Goron snarled, and he unleashed his Rage skill. Fueled by fury, he charged straight at Alaric, swinging a devastating, rage-fueled punch aimed to finish him off.
[Add 10 points to Strength ]
Alaric caught Goron's charging arm, stepping aside smoothly and using his momentum to throw him off balance. With a powerful twist, he sent Goron crashing to the ground just outside the elevated duel arena.
| SystemNotad***
Alaric:15,Male
Title: Ugly Mosshead
Stats: Strength: 35->45
Dexterity: 29
Constitution: 29
Mana: 17
Bonus Points:30
Skills: Training skill, Boxing skill(Expert), Inspect skill
Traits: Fighting Spirit
Total Respect Points: 350
Frederick's fear that his son might get hurt slowly faded away after hearing the shocked screams of the crowd witnessing his fifteen-year-old son's undeniable power.
|SystemNotad*** notification
Quest: Defeat the mercenary[Cleared]
Reward: Increased limit for respect points limits, Removal of [ shut-in ]title[removed]
|SystemNotad*** notification
[People are seeing you as a prodigy]
[Respect 7+]
[Respect 9+]
[Respect 11+]
[Respect 10+x10]
[Total Respect Points: 350 ]
Alaric flashed a faint, almost sinister smile."Now then… are you ready to be evaluated by me?"
"Y-Yes, sir", applicants replied.