Lucky Prodigy

7: Subjugation

^^ Bandit Chief ^^

— James —

Over the next six months, I didn't let up on their training. Not even for a day. Days of 'rest' were given once per week, during which time they had to go to each tribe and do manual labor, but they were spared their normal hellish training with me; though, their magical binds remained in place. Every month, I released their binds and sparred with them, to show them their progress, then replaced them. In this way, they didn't get discouraged, but also didn't get cocky.

In the end, I increased all their base stats, including weapons and fist Arts, by double, where it was possible. Their levels rose slowly, but considering they weren't killing anything, -which was apparently the main way to gain Levels, normally,- they were actually raising very quickly, according to Thoth's Voice of the World.

Winter here was full of wonder, for me; I had lived in Iraq and later Iran for so long, I think I forgot what Snow looked like.

By the middle of winter, at the peak of six months since I'd begin training them, I began noticing that their Ur was strong enough to break the Chi Blockers themselves, if they so wished, but I had gotten a great degree of obedience out of them, so they willfully chose to leave the blockers in place, which made me proud.

It was also at this point that I was reminded that Criminals existed in this world, which shouldn't have surprised me.

—

I woke up in the middle of the night, and sat up slowly. 'That's odd... why am I awake?' I wondered, standing up and walking out into the outside of the grove, where there was no moonlight; thick cloud cover and a new moon made it essentially twilight.

<Presence Sensing, warning of Evil Presences.>

I raised an eyebrow, and let out my Chi in a thin, nearly-imperceptible web, to Identify anyone within a few miles.

<Individual: Zoken Katachi
Race: Fair Oni (Ultra-Rare Evolution Path, 3rd)
Ur: 5th Form
-
Status: Seal
-
Class: Magician
Level: Max
Class: Clan Heir
Level: Max
-
Class: Spirit Warrior
Level: 97/100
Class: Clan Hero
Level: 42/100
Class: Hero Seed
Level: 1/100
-
Strength: 10%
Speed: 30%
Stamina: 4%
Defense: 20%
Intelligence: 75%
Weapon's Skill: 20%
Unarmed Skill: 15%
-
The Sage-Guardian Kijin Clan Heir, Kendo Student, Hero Seed, Sage's Disciple.>

<Individual: Mika Katachi
Race: Ogre (near Evolution)
Ur: 3rd Form
-
Status: Seal
-
Class: Shrine Maiden
Level: 99/100
Class: Shrine Warrior
Level: 40/100
Class: Saint Seed
Level: 5/100
-
Strength: 50%
Speed: 30%
Stamina: 6%
Defense: 40%
Intelligence: 85%
Weapon's Skill: 5%
Unarmed Skill: 25%
-
Shrine Maiden of the Sage-Guardian Kijin Clan, Young Earth Mage, Sage's Guardian, Saint's Seed, Sage's Disciple.>

<Individual: Maze Lily
Race: Gilded Dryad (Ultra-Rare-evolution Path, 2nd.)
Ur: 6th Form (prodigy)
-
Status: Seal
-
Class: Archer
Level: Max
-
Class: Pyromancer
Level: 99/100
Class: Spirit Archer
Level: 55/100
Class: Clan Heir
Level: 2/100
-
Strength: 10%
Speed: 20%
Stamina: 4%
Defense: 40%
Intelligence: 100%
Weapon's Skill: 30%
Unarmed Skill: 10%
-
Gilded Lily, Prodigy, Pyromancer, Sage's Disciple.>