GodWithWings
patreon
Ch 5 - A Duel & Oak Guardian
🕑 Added 2025-05-22 15:08:50 +0000 UTCThe Velmoryns quickly formed a wide circle, giving Roy and Jira space. The two of them moved slowly, circling each other like predators trying to assess their opponent’s strength before attacking.
At first, I thought this would be more like a sparring match, fight until someone got knocked out or surrendered, but my initial impression was changing quickly.
The first move came from Jira.
With a sudden, subtle flick of his hand, he hurled a dagger at Roy. His movement was so quick and concealed that even I had to focus to track it, let alone Roy, who somehow managed to dodge the first dagger but was pierced by the second.
The blade lodged into Roy’s shoulder. Without hesitation, he yanked it out, blood slowly spilling down his arm. His gaze never left Jira as he dropped the dagger onto the ground.
Roy changed his stance, lowering his center of gravity. I caught the faint shimmer of crimson energy around him a moment before he vanished from sight, only to reappear right behind Jira.
Was that teleportation? I need to check his skills later.
I thought that the duel was already over. But instead of finishing his opponent off immediately, Roy grabbed Jira by the neck with his right hand, pulling him backward while sweeping Jira’s legs with a sharp kick.
Jira crashed to the ground, glaring up at Roy, who simply took a step back and waited for him to rise.
Is he trying to humiliate him? Or is this part of Velmoryn’s dueling rules? I was genuinely enjoying the fight, especially now that it was clear Roy completely outclassed him. There was no real danger of tarnishing my image by letting my first ever blessed Velmoryn get himself killed.
Jira sprang up, charging at Roy with a snarl, swinging his daggers in quick, vicious arcs. However, each attack met nothing but air. Roy was quickly retreating, dodging incoming attacks swiftly and making it look like child's play. I got the impression that his goal was not just to defeat, but to show his dominance.
Still, I noticed Roy wasn’t completely untouched. Every swing from Jira created a small burst of cutting wind, grazing Roy and leaving shallow cuts.
Roy kept dodging, wearing Jira down. The small cuts on his chest were nothing but scratches he could ignore. On the other hand, Jira was in trouble. The relentless assault was not nearly as effective as he hoped.
After several more missed attacks, Jira’s movements grew sluggish. His breaths came in heavy, ragged gasps as he struggled to steady himself.
Roy smirked, looking down at him with cold amusement and perhaps even disgust.
“I didn’t kill you instantly because I wanted to show you the difference between us,” Roy said in a low and cold voice. “The blessing He gave me is a gap you shall never overcome.”
He took a step toward Jira, whose earlier smugness had completely vanished.
“Now die.”
Roy’s dagger flashed. In a blink, he was behind Jira, his hand slicing toward his opponent’s exposed neck.
But before Roy could finish the strike, his arm stopped mid-air, frozen by a surge of crimson energy that wrapped tightly around his hand, halting him in place.
"Tribe Warrior, we cannot allow this to be the first life offered to our God," Aria’s voice rang out, calm and almost ethereal, as she approached the dueling ground.
Roy hesitated. His hand was already free from Aria’s restraint. It would have taken only a swift movement to end Jira then and there.
"You are right. We shall deal with him after I return from the hunt." Roy said, lowering his hand and accepting a small vial Aria offered him.
The moment he drank it, a faint green aura enveloped his body, and the wounds on his shoulder and chest vanished without a trace.
So they have healing potions too.
I made a mental note but quickly noticed something even more interesting.
Now that my connection with Roy and Aria had deepened, I could feel their emotions and, in Roy’s case, even catch glimpses of his thoughts.
Aria was perfectly calm, her mind composed and calculating when she stepped in. Roy, on the other hand, was relieved.
This was all an act. Roy didn’t want to kill him. He was waiting for Aria to stop the duel.
I had to admit, I was impressed. I already knew Aria was sharp and cunning, but I hadn’t expected such a subtle play from Roy. I had considered him a little dense compared to her, but it looked like I had underestimated him.
Aria simply nodded to Roy and stepped forward, gently touching Jira’s forehead with her fingers.
He collapsed instantly, falling into a deep sleep without even a sound, and soon, a few Velmoryns dragged him away.
No matter how I looked at it, Aria was impressive. She was powerful enough to stop Roy’s attack mid-air, even if Roy had secretly wanted to be stopped, and now she had knocked Jira unconscious with nothing more than a touch.
But other than Aria, Roy had also impressed me with his teleportation skill.
Oh, I need to check Roy’s skill. I immediately activated Guidance.
It wasn’t exactly teleportation, but it was still a useful skill - especially for Roy, who now specialized in ranged and stealth attacks. He could reposition himself easily and keep up the pressure, as long as his opponent wasn’t radiating overwhelming light or standing in complete darkness.
When I snapped out of my thoughts, quite a few Velmoryns had already stepped forward. Impressed by Roy’s performance against Jira, they were eager to join his hunting party.
But Roy didn’t accept all of them.
He only chose those with crimson markings on their faces, the ones who were my believers, the ones who had already let go of their old god.
Hunting for the god is probably a ritual of some kind. But if that’s the case, why did the others want to follow Roy? They shouldn’t care about doing anything for my sake…
I found myself struggling to understand their reasoning. But by now, it was clear that Velmoryns, or at least this tribe, were a conservative race. That wasn’t surprising. They looked a lot like elves, and elves were easily the most old-fashioned and traditional race I knew in any fantasy setting.
At first, I thought Roy was simply initiating a hunt, but it quickly became clear he was organizing a proper hunting party with him as a leader. His demeanor had changed. When he spoke with Teryo earlier, he had been respectful and reserved. With Jira, he was respectful at first, but then became ruthless and domineering. But now, Roy was authoritative. He wasn’t arrogant or condescending, but the way he moved, the tone of his voice, and the way others looked at him made it clear he was now a leader.
I like this version of him much better. I’d have hated it if the first Velmoryn I blessed turned out lame and a dud.
Roy was a devoted believer, and now he was proving to be capable, decisive, and charismatic. I hoped he would grow even stronger, maybe even become a pillar of my power someday. I didn’t know what path I would take yet, or if I’d stick with this tribe forever, but the thought of my first real investment turning profitable was... satisfying.
Then, a female Velmoryn approached Roy. She wasn’t as beautiful as Aria, but she had a soft charm of her own. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. It was not a gentle peck but a wild kiss. They held it for a few seconds before she pulled back, eyes bright with tears of pride and joy.
“I’m so happy that our God chose you, my love,” she said, her voice shaking as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I was so scared when you decided to embrace His grace… but I’m glad you did. You may have saved our whole tribe.”
She leaned forward, resting her head against his chest. Roy responded by wrapping his arms around her waist and gently pulling her closer.
“Thank you, Vivien,” he whispered, without letting go. Then smiled. “And I know what you’re going to ask and no, I’m not taking you with me. You carry our child, and you must care for him. He shall be the first to be born with His mark.”
His voice trembled slightly, with zeal and purpose igniting his eyes.
What? Will being first give the child more power? Make him stronger than others? Ffs, can’t you just explain what that means, Roy?
I was getting frustrated. I hated when my curiosity was triggered only to be left with no answers. I even tried activating Guidance, but the system didn’t respond at all.
Guess I don’t have enough Rank yet.
Vivien smiled faintly and gently pushed Roy back.
“I wasn’t going to ask that, my love. I’d never risk our child,” she said, her tone growing serious. Then her expression shifted, eyes lighting up with a flicker of excitement as she licked her lower lip and bit it gently.
“My love… now that our child is coming in just thirteen months, we should do what we can to help him grow strong. If you manage to get any Constitution Essences… please, bring them to me.”
Other than the fact that Vivien was apparently going to carry the baby far longer than humans typically did, well, at least in my world… The term she mentioned - Constitution Essence - was the biggest news.
I tried activating Guidance again and this time, the system responded. A familiar blue window flashed before my eyes.
So it’s basically like a game. Very high-level monsters drop Soul Essences, and depending on their type, they also drop specific attribute essences. A tank-type creature would most likely drop Fortitude, Constitution, or Endurance. Assassin-type monsters probably drop Dexterity, Agility, and maybe even Perception.
While I thought about game mechanics, Vivien returned home, leaving Roy surrounded by a group of Velmoryns still competing for a spot in his hunting party. I gave it some thought and came to a conclusion that they were probably doing this because of me.
Roy was the first Velmoryn I’d blessed, who became strong enough to easily defeat Silver Rank Velmoryn. They must have assumed that staying close to him would increase their chances of getting a blessing from me. At least, that’s what I figured. But without a direct connection to them like I had with Roy, I couldn’t sense their emotions to be sure.
“Tribe Warrior, please take me with you. I’m the only healer in our tribe. You’ll need my help,” one of them said.
His voice was so smooth and arrogant that it completely clashed with the words themselves, which were clearly meant to sound like a humble request.
Roy raised an eyebrow, half surprised, half displeased. His disapproving gaze landed on the Velmoryn standing before him.
He wore a thick fur coat. Around his neck hung what looked like the tail of some beast, and in his hand was a tall staff, its top shaped like a claw, though it lacked the gemstone that probably once sat in it.
“Only the faithful shall taste the grace of our God,” Roy said. “That decision isn’t mine. Embrace Him, and I shall gladly take you with us.”
He paused, giving the man time to respond. But when no answer came, he turned to address the others. But before he could speak, the Velmoryn reached out and grabbed Roy’s shoulder, tugging him back gently.
“Roy, please,” he said. “You know I can’t do that. My wife is with the Goddess. If I turn away from Her, I will never see my beloved again.” There was pain in his voice this time. He meant every word. He wasn’t being proud anymore, he was pleading.
His wife is with the Goddess? Do dead believers become part of me in some way?
The thought intrigued me. It added a whole new layer to this system. Would I inherit the souls of my believers? Would they remain conscious? Dormant? Reincarnated? It was hard to say. I figured I’d find out soon enough. With a hunt coming up, someone was bound to die eventually. Maybe it was a wrong thing to think, but I had already come to terms with the fact that empathy was not part of me anymore and honestly? I was fine with that.
Roy’s expression softened. He made a fist and gently bumped the man’s chest.
“The Goddess is gone, Vaelari. Don’t let your pain and hope blind you. You may never see her again, but you can still serve the tribe. We need you.” His tone was so soft and warm, it would’ve made Vivien jealous.
“I can’t…” Vaelari murmured after a brief pause, lowering his head.
I still didn’t fully understand the logic behind this afterlife reunion concept, but if that’s what he believed, it made sense. In fact, it explained why so many Velmoryns hadn’t converted yet.
If anything, it surprised me that so many had.
“It’s alright. Take your time,” Roy said, patting his shoulder. “I haven’t forgotten how you cared for me when I was weak. If He allows it, I shall bring you a magical essence.”
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Vaelari behind.
It didn’t take Roy long to gather fifteen Velmoryns, but even at a glance I could tell the group lacked balance.
Usually, in games, a proper party would consist of scouts, tanks, damage dealers, and supports. But the Velmoryns had no tanks at all, and the only healer in the village wasn’t joining the hunt because he wasn’t my believer. I didn’t know much about how Velmoryns fought or what they were truly capable of, but the fact that Roy was the most burly among them said enough, especially since I knew exactly what his stats were.
What made it worse was that even Aria wasn’t participating. From what I gathered, only one Tribe Warrior could be part of a hunting party at a time. It was probably one of their customs. Aria herself was helping Roy pick the best candidates and even wished him good luck, which wouldn’t have happened if she were sitting out of the hunt out of spite.
I was starting to feel pessimistic about this whole hunt. The thought of losing fifteen of my most devoted and capable believers didn’t sit well with me. I considered stepping in to help for a moment, but changed my mind just as quickly.
I’ll be observing the entire hunt anyway. If I see they’re in trouble, I’ll use Destruction to eliminate their opponent, and this way I’ll also earn their devotion and loyalty.
I didn’t want them growing too reliant on me, but letting that many believers die was out of the question.
Roy and his group made their way to the Crimson Oak Guardian to pray. I wasn’t particularly interested in listening, so I decided to finally check the status window of my first guardian, whatever that really meant.
“Status Window.”
The first and most important thing I noticed was that the guardian's rank was Gold, and its devotion was maxed out.
This one will be my loyal servant. With willpower that high, I doubt anything could influence its mind. And its other attributes are just as impressive. The strongest being in the tribe is my creation, fully loyal to me.
I felt certain that once I figured out how to issue commands to the Guardian, my control over the tribe would become absolute. But then my eyes landed on a skill - Obey the One. And I decided to check it using Guidance.
I had never loved the system more than I did now. This skill guaranteed that my guardian would remain loyal to me forever, and more importantly, it could sense my will, which meant I’d be able to issue commands directly.
Let’s test this.
I focused and tried to will a specific branch to move, but nothing happened.
Hmm… it should be able to sense my will, so why didn’t it work?
I decided to check Orrvyrn’s status window again and noticed its current state: [‘Dormant’].
So it needs to be awakened. Unfortunately, the system refuses to give me more information, which probably means I need a higher Rank or Authority to awaken it.
My excitement dimmed a little, but it was still good news overall.
I wanted to check its other skills, but my attention was pulled away as Roy and his party had started moving. Letting them go alone without supervision felt too risky. I wasn’t going to let them die… well, not all of them. Truth be told, after Vaelari’s words about reuniting with her wife in the afterlife, I wanted to see what would happen if one of my believers died. I wasn’t about to let all of them die, but if just one of them was in danger, I’d not be using my Divinity Points to save them.
Roy walked at the front of the group, each step slow and confident. Whether it was the rank increase or the pride of being the first to receive my blessing, he was definitely carrying himself differently now. He was much more confident and maybe even a little cocky.
“Remember, this hunt is not just a search for food or essences. Today, we seek monsters that might leave behind Soul Essences,” he declared in a commanding voice. “This shall be our tribute to the Velmoryn God,” he added, placing a fist over his chest as he spoke my name.
The others nodded silently, placing their fists on their chests, and then followed without hesitation. One by one, they left the camp and entered the dense, shadowed forest, which was crawling with creatures far stronger than they were ready for.
Finally! This is going to be interesting.
