Chương 8: All Boils Down to This

Wiki and Woof have job. Atti say protect Nami. Wiki do. Wiki get level fighting Woof's pack. Wiki now level 3 [Warg-rider]. We watch. We move on silent Woof paws. Edge of forest. Where see bad men for Atti. [Beast Bond] share Awareness. Nothing sneak up on us. Nothing catch fast Woof. Nami safe. Nami send many birds. Birds to Granny. Birds to Atti. Even birds to Uncle Man. Nami bring everyone together at right time. Wiki and Woof guard her. Good Wiki. Good Woof. Today was the day, according to Namia's songbirds.

It had become a running joke between her guards and fellow cooks that maybe she might actually be a princess, given the number of birds that came to sing just for her. In the six days it had taken for the Atti and Buck to find their uncle and then muster the King's forces, Betty had cooked masterpiece after masterpiece for General Galerus and the camouflaged heirs. She had discovered that while the belt's magical pockets never entirely ran dry, they did refill slowly if they were close to fully depleted.

She had needed this near week to generate enough Brewer's Beast and Wormwart to fill the dozen sachets she would add to this morning's vats of gruel. The soldiers would not even notice a change of taste. Brewer's Beast was a magical oat the monks of the Tangelun Peaks developed to keep their acolytes out of the ale kegs for which the monastery was famous for. Wormwart was a tad bitter, so Betty had added some sugar to the packets to counter the taste.

She also added a few grains of rare salt blessed by the Cathedral of Light to enhance the oatmeal's flavor and cover what she was actually doing. The soldiers were served a beer with lunch, which would be the activating ingredient. Within an hour, they would be overcome by cramps and nausea. The monks did not want to harm their acolytes; they just wanted to teach them a lesson. Betty's addition of Wormwart would enhance the effectiveness of the enhanced oats, though still not enough to be fatal.

The renegade soldiers would be far from their best when the king's army arrived. The food staff had gotten over their general distrust of Betty as she continued to impress them with her culinary creations, as well as her cheerful, and very ungoblin-like, manner. Getting the sachets into the porridge was easier than she expected it to be. She prepared a simple, though not less tasty, dish for the General's breakfast, freeing her to help prepare the massive morning repast for the troops.

She had been teaching the more receptive cooks seasoning tips, so when she arrived at each kettle with something to add, they helped her stir it in without a second thought. Her main apprehension was there would be some idiots who snuck a drink before lunch. That could give her plan away too soon. She worried herself into a state as the hours after the breakfast was served, listening for that cry of alarm. Yet it never came.

It seemed as though either the General did not tolerate drunks or those who snuck a nip and started to feel the ensuing intestinal distress were keeping their discomfort on the down low. Within an hour after lunch, there was no question something was drastically wrong. This was her most dangerous time. If someone put together the pieces correctly, she would die in a matter of minutes. Her colossal Might would not be able to prevail against even a squad of knights at once, let alone an entire pissed-off army.

Just as she thought she couldn't take the stress any longer hiding in her tent, a thunder of hooves and the clarion cry of horns filled the air. All around her, the enemy soldiers groaned and hollered, trying to muster their debilitated units against the force bearing down on the tower and its jailors. Betty took this opportunity to run for the heirs. She was a familiar sight to the tower guards and so mainly was ignored by the wardens of the enspelled prison for children.

For those who questioned her, Betty blurted out that the king had arrived in force. She stated these dire warnings with a highly exaggerated panic, as if she were running here for safety. When the crash of conflict rang out across the camp, Betty experienced the strangest thing: notifications began to appear. You have assisted in defeating 9x [Steelback Slayers] - Level 7.

You have gained a level You have assisted in defeating 2x [Steelback Scalper] - Level 8 You have assisted in defeating 11x [Steelback Slayers] - Level 7. You have assisted in defeating 4x [Steelback Scalper] - Level 8 You have assisted in defeating a [Steelback Commander] - Level 9. You have gained a level She was not getting full experience for these kills, but the system was giving her some credit for weakening the enormous mass of the enemy combatants.

Knowing she might have to protect the heirs and the other children, Betty quickly opened her list of options. She had become aware on the march that her Speed was the same or less than many of the soldiers, so she increased that, as well as Health again. Then she grabbed two abilities: one spell and one skill. The [Iron Chef] spell would give her a short-term Good (3) boost to her Defense, bringing it from its awful Weak (1) to a solid Strong (4) for three minutes per casting.

She also grabbed [Batter Mastery] skill as well. This passive ability gave her expertise not only with baking but, more importantly at the moment, with bludgeoning weapons, like her frying pan, which she had clutched in her tiny green hand. With an [Iron Chef] improved defense, Betty clonked the heads of the nauseated guards that remained in the tower, all the while receiving more and more notifications. She passed level 7 and then 8, but she needed more time to check what other benefits could be acquired.

It was taking all of her focus to drive out the jailors and keep the children safe. If the enemy warriors had not been nearly doubled over with stomach cramps or actively puking, she never would have been able to prevail. She forced the remaining enemy from the tower and stood at the top of the steps that led to the ground. It was clear that the king's forces had overrun the camp. The General's renegade warriors tried to muster the fortitude to fight, but they were failing.

As she watched the one-sided battle, a figure strode up to the tower in his glittering golden mail.

"You did this!" he spat in fury.

"I know it was you. I challenge ye to [Honorous Duel]!" A wall seemed to sweep around the two of them, pushing out everyone else. General Galerus might be doomed, but he clearly intended to make her pay for her treachery first. He was the maxed level 10, but she was rapidly catching up to him. She had passed level 9 and was eaking her way to max level herself. She just needed a bit more time, both to hit that threshold and to choose the tools that would allow her to survive this confrontation.

"You cannot win, gobbie. I have [Untouchable] as my capstone. You would have to be a higher level than I am to even hit me, and that can't happen here in Copper Valley. Duel doesn't end until you're dead, and I am going to make sure you suffer for a long, long time, you evil witch." He was climbing the tower stairs with rapid, deliberate strides. Another ten steps, and he would be on top of her. Betty was about to open her options and grab whatever she could when an idea struck her. She needed time.

Recalling the one point when the whole world stood still, waiting for her to finish making her choices at that first chest, Betty knew what to do. She slapped her hand to her belt and yanked out the ticket residing there. Clenching it tight, she mentally cried out for support. General Galerus could not believe this was happening. He had planned this takeover to perfection. His army had proliferated to the point it nearly matched that of the king's forces.

They had been trained into competent soldiers, all over level 5, the majority of them reaching level 7. Leofrick was on the verge of capitulation. The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. It was impossible to fathom how this one little green wretch had thrown it all into disarray. He may now be doomed, but he would exact his vengeance on her. Then she froze. Just for a flicker of a second. But when she began to move again, something had changed.

She was no longer the fearful, faltering gutter-tripe that had been standing there, paralyzed by indecision. She had gained both confidence and competence in that lost moment. She seemed more solid and more sure. For the first time in ten years, since he had reached the maximum level possible in the Copper Hills, General Galerus had doubts. The support person had been incredibly helpful.

Together, they helped her pick the right attributes and skills to give her the best odds of defeating the man climbing the steps toward her. They started by suggesting she maximize her Magic, allowing her to cast each spell five times instead of five total spells. This had been Atti's suggestion, too. They would need lots of Magic since Might would only help her defend herself from the man. Her most significant advantage turned out to be the General's arrogance.

By informing her of his greatest asset, [Untouchable], she could tailor her choices to overcome that devastating invulnerability. If Betty could not directly damage the man with physical attacks, there were plenty of spells and abilities that she would have probably selected, which would been useless to her in the fight to come. For instance, [Tools at Hand] would return her thrown skillet back to her hand. But she could pass on that ability since there was no reason to throw her frying pan.

The same was true for all the spells that enhanced [Flambé]. There was no point in improving a weapon-based damage boost. [Heat], on the other hand, would be her greatest asset. She would not need to target the man with her spell, just something he was wearing. Even if the General's magnificent golden armor had a built-in resistance to magic, which the support person thought was highly likely, there would be some article somewhere on his body that she could target to cook him with.

She selected the spell [Double Boiler], which if cast with another spell would give her two instances of that second spell. This could double the number of [Heat] spells she layered on the evil man. Betty could also use it to double [Iron Chef], bringing her Defense to a 7. [Pressure Cooker] was a skill she could use to increase her fire damage and add something called force damage if she wanted to.

The last spell she took was [Healthy Snacks], which conjured a tiny morsel of food that would instantly heal a Moderate (2) amount of damage. She spent her last option on one more point of Speed, bringing it to Strong (4). She would need as much time as she could get, hoping the king's army was effective enough to push her to level 10 to match Galerus. The plan was to dodge until she leveled up one last time and then pick a capstone ability that could win the fight for her.

At least, that was the plan until the world started moving again, and the steel-haired warlord launched himself across the intervening space between them in an instant. If Betty had not worked out her first couple of actions in the paused moment, she never would have been able to do anything before he was on top of her. She used her first [Double Boiler] to recast [Iron Chef] on herself, gaining the effect twice. Because she had leveled, the one-hour timer had reset.

She had five uses of each spell available to her. It seemed unlikely she would need another [Iron Chef] as this battle seemed like it would be over long before its effect expired. With an effective Defense of 7, Betty instinctively interposed her frying pan in front of the General's onslaught of sword strikes. He hacked and stabbed in a fierce assault, driving her back toward the tower, leaving her no room to plan or act.

She was forced to a purely reactionary state, just barely preventing his long blade from cleaving her in twain. She had one more action planned, but it took her several seconds of frenzied blocking before she had an instant to invoke it. When the General relented for a brief second, shifting his stance as he transitioned from the stairs to the ring around the tower, she cast. Her attack was a [Double Boiler] of [Heat] with the [Pressure Cooker] enhancement added in.

Betty targeted one at his breastplate and the other at his sword. The first spell audibly thumped into the golden metal and dissipated. The armor was truly warded against magic. Thankfully, the blade was not. The additional force portion of the spell knocked the man's arm off his rhythm, giving Betty more time. She backed away around the ring, not wanting to be pushed into the tower.

The dueling aura the man had invoked would prevent anyone else from joining their fight, but Betty could not be certain she had taken out all of his soldiers inside. Here, in sight of the king's warriors, the General could not safely drop his spell. The mighty warrior was already more than she could handle. She could not chance him driving her into an ally within the building. The only positive note was a sudden refilling of her fire magic. The notification that appeared told her she had reached level 10.

Now she just needed to find a few more seconds. He stalked after her until the pain of the searing hilt in his hand registered through the heavy metal of his gauntlet. Throwing away the blade, he sneered at her contemptuously. Reaching to his scabbard, he drew another sword, identical to the first. Betty's heart sank. She would not be able to disarm him. She would not fall into despair.

Targeting his belt and the clasp of his cloak, she double-cast two more enhanced [Heat] spells, still backpedaling around the landing, circling the tower. Finally, she won herself a moment of reprieve. As he ripped away the cloak, Betty opened her last notification. You have gained the maximum level allowable in the Copper Valley. Please select your capstone ability There were three. Betty skimmed them as quickly as possible. [Finishing Touches] was a weapon-based combat maneuver, so she skipped it.

[Feast of Heros] would offer several long-term enhancements to the whole group. Also, no help. But the last one … Betty selected [Line Prep] and activated it twice with [Double Boiler]. New Spell - [Line Prep]: For 3 seconds, you step out of the flow of time. You can not affect others. Your actions will take effect the moment the spell ends. She wondered briefly if this was offered to her because of her idea about the ticket, but she only had six seconds.

She needed to make the best use of them as she could and not waste her precious instances on idle thoughts. She had one more choice, and she spent it maxing her Speed. Galerus was just too fast; she needed to match his quickness, or she would eventually lose this fight. In the remaining heartbeats, she searched his body for anywhere she could target with her [Heat] spells. Obviously, there were joints between the gilded plates, but they were filled with chainmail of the same golden metal as the rest of the mail.

Then she saw a flash of gray. The buckles holding his leg plates tight to his limbs were steel. She said a quick prayer and moved to the best angle to target two of them as [Line Prep] ended. Her instant shift of position startled the man. He had thrown away his cloak and was holding his endless scabbard in his off-hand. He advanced on her again, but suddenly, his movements were no longer supernaturally swift. By matching his Speed, she was no longer pressed for every second.

With four [Double Boilers] and five [Heat] spells, she decided to send a single enhanced [Heat] into a buckle to see if it would work. The force component of [Pressure Cooker] told her it worked. Galerus stumbled as the buckle jammed sideways from the spell. A second later, the steel darkened to a ruddy, searing red hue. The man screamed at her and charged. Betty used [Line Prep] and ran past him. Turning around, she located more buckles. When time resumed, she double-cast [Heat] into them as well.

She repeated the process twice, saving her last [Line Prep] just in case. The smell of cooking meat had filled the air, yet still, he stalked after her. The warlord was a tough customer. He used a healing ability, but she had seven instances of [Heat] scorching away at him. His restoration was not enough. With time now on her side, Betty just kept backing away. He picked up the pace, and so did she. Soon, they were running laps around the circular tower.

Betty looked down to see she was sprinting along a trail of bloody, cooked globs. How the man was still moving was a mystery to her. She guessed one did not get to be a threat to an entire Kingdom without a severe degree of grit and willpower. He spun around quicker than she expected. Even though he was hobbling at this point Betty ended up running right to him. Snarling, he lashed his sword forward, driving it straight through her chest, only missing her heart by a scant inches. [Line Prep]!

Betty used her last double-casting spell to conjure a pair of [Healthy Snacks]. Sickeningly, she backed off the blade while popping the magic treats into her mouth. That was a mistake she could not afford to make again. She was running low on spells. Settling into the best defensive stance she could, it was time to end this. Time resumed, and Galerus's face shifted from triumphant to fury as he spotted her still challenging him, now several feet away.

"Die," he snarled.

"Why won't you die?"

"I did," she replied calmly, even though she was panting.

"And then I made a promise. I have someone to find before I do it again." The General was trembling in agony until, finally unable to bear the pain any longer, he folded down onto his knees. He roared at the torment of his flesh tearing free of the scorching metal buckles. The steel continued to sizzle; it would for a few more seconds. His magic must not be Prestigious, as no more healing spells followed. He must have used up his spells allotment for the hour.

Betty walked to the discarded cloak and plucked it off the stones.

"Goodbye, General," she stated sadly. She felt no pleasure in this, but for the sake of the many, many children he had tormented, she would see it through. She swooped the cape over his head and set it alight with all of her [Ignites]. Already on his last dregs of health from her [Heat] attacks, the flaming heavy shroud finished the job. A moment later, the veil separating her and the smoldering corpse from the rest of the battle lifted. There, hundreds of knights in red livery were staring up at them.

Atti was there, riding behind what must be his Uncle. She searched for the others, but they were not visible. She met his eyes and was suddenly overwhelmed by the enormity of all that had just befallen her. Atmos slid down and ran up steps to her. He reached just as her first tear fell. All around the tower, the army of Dranadad watched as the elderly goblin matron wrapped her arms around the young hero who had brought them here to rescue the king's heirs. Drawing the boy in tight, she wept.