"Daisuke, duck."
Raiden's words immediately registered on my mind and yes. I felt it. This Adaptability made me adapt to sudden changes in the atmosphere. It suddenly became full of killing intent.
I ducked as Raiden instructed. From his hand, a huge sledgehammer made from some unknown metal materialized.
He swung it in 360°, he spun once and blood immediately rained down all around.
"Stop the assassins!"
Someone shouted from the crowd.
I looked up and saw Raiden nonchalantly swung his weapon once again. And sounds of bodies dropping rang out among the screams of people.
Then I felt a lone killing intent directed at me.
I immediately unsheathed my sword and used it to deflect an arrow.
I succeeded but the force from it was so heavy that I got blown away.
"Tsk."
While rolling, I saw Raiden pick up an axe from the ground and threw it to the guy who shot an arrow at me.
Then someone stopped me from rolling further, I looked up and he nodded at me. He looked old but his eyes are still that of a warrior and it didn't hold an ounce of killing intent. He's an ally.
I stood up and saw the spectacle happening. More and more people in beast skins as clothes jumped at Raiden. But all of them were either smashed or blown away. He hasn't even used his ability yet.
"Why did you come back?! You shouldn't have come back. Now, this will be your grave!"
Someone appeared who looked more terrifying than those people attacking Raiden. He took a glance at the speaker and smirked.
"So, it's you this time, Braagav. You guys. Do you still remember what's the name of this tribe?"
"A young chieftain who often leaves and clearly someone not from this world, you don't have the right to lead a large tribe like this Heavenly Lightning Tribe!"
The man he called Braagav looks grand with his beast skin clothes that are more colorful than others. Ah. He must be someone with an ambition to become the next chief. So this thing is now a normal occurrence for him.
"Enough talk and come here. It's all about strength here, right? Let me show you true strength. I am supposed to be your Hero but since most of you are like this. Don't blame me for subjugating each and every one of you."
This Raiden. I see. He's really something else. He might be friendly at the surface but right now, with blood splattered all over him, he's enjoying it. He's enjoying this bloodbath. And the way he looked at the barbarians, he's clearly looking at someone lower than him.
"Stop talking big! Freal, Daarun and Ploode, it's time!"
From the other 3 corners, 3 figures appeared and they almost looked the same as that Braagav with one who's clearly a woman. I don't know who is who from the names he called out. I'm just waiting if Raiden will be needing my help.
"Those four are all Chieftains of their own tribes before Lightning Chieftain absorbed their tribe along with them, putting them to a General Position. But with his absence, the ambition to be free led them to this situation right now."
The old man who stopped me from rolling started talking.
What the hell? So this kind of person really exists? A member of the Peanut Gallery explaining to the main character. Ah, I'm not the main character though.
"They're all at Saint Realm but towards the Chief, they all fall short. Just like the other ones from before."
Saint Realm? I'm still not sure about the power level of this world but Saint Realm already sounds amazing. How about Raiden?
"Young man, you came from the portal along with the Chief. Who are you?"
"Uhm. I'm his Support."
"Support? What's that term? It sounds weak."
Well, it is weak. I am weak.
"It's a term from our world. It means I'm here to help Raiden."
"You should stop calling the Chief using his name."
"No, he's the one who told me to call him that."
"Just trying to give you a piece of advice. Some people will be offended."
Eh? Who will be offended? His lovers? Or his loyal followers? Well. I guess I won't call him by name if there are other people around.
"Why aren't you helping him?"
"He'll be mad later if we helped."
What the hell? So he left instructions not to interfere. So, is this some sort of welcoming ceremony? He could be someone more dangerous than that incarnation.
This world. It really is ruled with strength. Politics sounds trivial, anyone can lead if you're strong enough.
I watched on as the four ganged up on Raiden. It was only at this time did he use his ability. The Temporal Acceleration.
From our eyes, Raiden suddenly moved so fast that no one could see his moves. A second later, the four former-chieftains were either blown away or dropped down to the ground, their figures indescribable. They're still alive at least but to fight further, no.
The old man didn't say anything like it was the determined outcome. Maybe they already saw this many times before?
That guy waited for the bigshots who were aiming for him to appear first before he used that ability. He's clearly aware of the weakness of it, the long cooldown time.
When the surroundings recovered from the surprise they got from that instant victory. Loud cheers rang out.
"Lightning Chieftain! Lightning Chieftain! Lightning Chieftain!"
Now I see why he was called Lightning Chieftain, that was really a lightning-quick battle, in a second, four Saint Realm Barbarians were defeated.
Then Raiden turned to me or rather to the Old Man behind me.
"Old Man Reol. Execute these four and send all their former tribe members to do slave work."
"As you command Lightning Chief."
The old man he called Reol bowed. Ah. Is he someone important? Maybe his aide?
"How was it Daisuke?"
Raiden, still stained with blood asked me.
If not for my Adaptability, I will probably look terrified from the spectacle I witnessed but yeah, I adapted real quick. It's like a normal thing for me to watch limbs flying or people smashed to a pulp.
"Compared to Yuko's world. Your welcoming party is this grand. I'm amazed."
Hearing my response, he laughed.
"Great. I'm liking you, Daisuke. I was skeptical by bringing you here. But you proved to be an interesting guy. No wonder Sugawara was like that towards you."
"Well. It's mostly because of my ability. Something like this can't faze me."
Except for terrifying strength like that Smoke Giant from before. My Adaptability understood the difference between me and that incarnation.
"Right. You have that needlessly useless but convenient ability."
This guy. He's honest. It's really useless but convenient.
"You got that right. What do we do now?"
"They told me to let you move as you please. I guess I'll let you do that."
Surprisingly, he heeded what they said. I guess I'll take a look around his tribe.
"Ah. Right, this ability of yours is a bit useful. That Support Bonus you gave me. It increased the time of my ability."
Oh? It's only 0.3 intelligence. Did it make the difference?
Because I added him as another Supported Individual, the 5% boost changed to 10%. That added another 1.8 Strength and 1.5 Endurance to me. And well, no added Intelligence. It meant that Raiden's intelligence stat is lower than Yuko's. That didn't raise their average stat instead it lowered hence no additional stat. At least his Strength proved to be higher than Yuko while their Endurance is about the same.
"I'm a Support after all. I'll follow you for now. I still don't know a lot about this world."
"Okay. Let's go to the Great Hall. You stand behind me."
Behind him? Well, that sounds like the highest honor for the barbarians here. Considering they all value strength. Is he trying to put a clear target on my body?
If I factor what I understand about the Brute Energy and the automatic accumulation that started just by stepping into this world, I can feel my strength and endurance growing albeit slowly. And it's a permanent effect. The inherent energy of this world is continuously nourishing my body.
And because of my Adaptability, controlling the Brute Energy is as easy as controlling Psyche and World Energy. I can make a ball of pure Brute Energy if I so wished for it but right now, I won't. I need to hide some cards up my sleeve. I'll do it when I'm alone. It might accelerate my progress in this world.
Unlike the World Energy that was being regulated by 'The World', Brute Energy ran rampant and unchecked. Anyone can dip their head into it and set foot on the path of Physique Cultivation.
Let's take a look to my current status.
[Level 2 Support Character System (18%)
Ability: Level 1 Adaptability (25%)
Contained Energy: Psyche Energy (100%), World Energy (100%) Brute Energy (0%)
Physique Cultivation: Pre-Mortal Realm (1%)
Strength: 1.4(6.7)
Endurance: 1.7(5.7)
Intelligence: 3.1(3.2)
Supported List: Sugawara Yuko, Takahashi Raiden (2/2)
Support Bonus: Level 1 Psyche Boost
Number of Supported Individuals: 2
Current Stats Bonus: 10% of the average stats of Supported Individuals
Skills:
Psyche Boost (12 charges left)
Knight Skill (2/2)
- Level 1 Movement Skill : Flash Step
- Level 1 Special Skill : Energy Shield (10%)
Wizard Spell (1/2)
- Level 1 Wind Spell : Air Bullets
Masteries
- Level 2 Basic Sword Mastery (26%)
Pledges
-Ongoing Pledge: 0
-Completed Pledge: 1
-Completed Pledge Bonus: (Tap to Open)
Status: +2 Strength, +1 Endurance(World Bonus); Brute Energy Automatic Accumulation (Running)]
Ah. I grew a bit stronger again. Just from adding Raiden in the supported list and that World Bonus, my strength rose by almost 3 points.
Because of that Automatic Accumulation, even if I don't do anything, it will reach 100% by itself. What will happen if it reaches 100%?
I should ask Raiden or someone knowledgeable about their cultivation system. But yeah, I already had a gist. But it's better to get definite information.
For now, I'll entertain this guy and follow him. If I became a target because of this. I have to prepare for that. I only brought the Sword given by Yuko and those bits of armor to protect my vitals. The Orb of Concealment as well. This Orb will be useful here, this is another card for me.
Unlike Yuko, I couldn't put myself to fully trust Raiden even if he's that friendly, just the way he enjoyed killing and looking down at the denizen of this world, that's already a serious issue.
Well. I'm a Support and I will still do my job. Not just for him, it is to level up this system.