The days following my return to Valoria were a whirlwind of activity. The new defenses and strategies were implemented, and the villagers trained harder than ever. The enchanted artifacts from Lumis provided a significant boost to our magical capabilities, and the morale in the village was high.
Despite the progress, a sense of unease lingered. We all knew that Malakar would return, and likely with even greater force. The anticipation was palpable, and every moment was spent in preparation.
Eldrin called another council meeting to discuss our ongoing strategy. "We have made great strides," he began, his voice filled with conviction. "But we must remain vigilant. Malakar is cunning and will not be easily deterred."
Aria nodded in agreement. "We need to strengthen our communication with our allies. If Malakar attacks, we must be able to call for support quickly."
I proposed the creation of a network of magical beacons that could be activated to send distress signals to our allies. The sorcerers from Lumis had provided the knowledge and materials needed to create these beacons, and with the villagers' help, we began placing them strategically around Valoria.
The beacons were designed to emit a powerful pulse of magical energy that could be detected by our allies, alerting them to our need for assistance. It was a simple yet effective solution, and it brought a sense of security knowing that help could be summoned if needed.
One evening, as I was working on setting up the final beacon, I felt a familiar presence nearby. Turning, I saw Aria approaching, her expression thoughtful.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked, her voice gentle.
"Not at all," I replied, smiling.
We worked in companionable silence for a while, the soft glow of the beacon casting a warm light around us. Finally, Aria spoke, her tone serious. "Lukas, do you ever wonder what will happen after this is all over?"
I paused, considering her question. "I've thought about it," I admitted. "But for now, my focus is on protecting Valoria and defeating Malakar. Beyond that... I'm not sure."
Aria nodded, her gaze distant. "I've spent my whole life training to defend this village. It's hard to imagine what comes next. But knowing that we have someone like you with us gives me hope."
Her words touched me deeply. "We will face whatever comes together," I said firmly. "Valoria is strong, and with our allies, we will prevail."
The following days were spent finalizing our preparations and strengthening our defenses. The village was now a fortress, with layers of magical and physical barriers protecting it. The villagers were confident and ready, their spirits high.
During this time, I also began to explore the new skill I had gained—Skills Creation. With this ability, I could grant powerful abilities to others, enhancing their strengths and providing them with new powers. However, this came at a cost to my own stats. Each time I granted an ability, I felt a slight weakening of my own power.
Aria was the first to benefit from this new skill. I granted her an enhanced agility ability, making her even more formidable in combat. As I did, I felt a small reduction in my own speed, but the look of gratitude and determination in her eyes made it worth it.
"Thank you, Lukas," Aria said, testing her newfound speed. "This will make a significant difference."
"Just be careful," I cautioned. "Every time I grant an ability
, it takes a toll on my own strength. We need to use this power wisely."
Aria nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'll make sure it's worth it, Lukas. Thank you."
That night, I decided to check my status again, curious to see the impact of granting Aria her new ability.
"System, show me my status."
[ Name: Lukas Gigonos
Age: --
Titles: 'Someone From Another World' 'God'
Job: 'God'
Strength: --
Endurance: --
Speed: --
Mana: ∞
Wisdom: 1,000,000,000
Skills: 'Unlimited Potential' 'Unlimited Magic' 'Can't Level Up? I Just Need To Train' 'Unlimited Appraisal' 'Hide It' 'Training Addict' 'Immortality' '1000x Training Benefits' 'Magic Creation' 'Deadly Weapon Creation' 'Absolute Defence' 'True Immortality' 'Absolute Mind Defence' 'Age Reverse' 'Skills Creation'
Speed: -- (Decreased by 100,000) ]
Seeing the slight decrease in my speed, I realized the true weight of my ability. It was a powerful tool, but one that needed to be used with caution and forethought. Granting abilities could bolster our forces, but it could also weaken me over time, which is of course not true, since my stats are too high to be affected.
The next few days were spent continuing to train and prepare. The villagers, now equipped with new skills and abilities, were more confident than ever. The magical beacons were completed, ensuring that our allies could be summoned quickly if needed.
One evening, as the sun set and the village settled into a quiet calm, I felt a familiar chill in the air. The shadows around us seemed to deepen, and an oppressive energy hung heavy. I knew immediately that Malakar was near.
I alerted Eldrin and Aria, and the village sprang into action. The defenses were manned, and the fighters took their positions. I stood at the forefront, my "Beautiful Katana" ready, my senses heightened.
From the darkness, Malakar emerged, his eyes glowing with malevolent intent. "Did you think you could stop me so easily, Lukas?" he hissed. "I have returned, stronger and more determined."
I stepped forward, unafraid. "You won't succeed, Malakar. Valoria stands ready, and I will protect it with everything I have."
With a wave of his hand, Malakar summoned a legion of shadow creatures. But this time, I was prepared. I activated "Magic Creation," forming a barrier of pure energy around the village, preventing the shadows from advancing.
The villagers fought bravely, using the techniques and strategies we had practiced. Aria moved through the battlefield with lethal grace, her blades cutting through the shadows effortlessly.
Despite the confidence and power that surged through me, I knew we needed a decisive victory. I focused on Malakar, my mind clear and intent. With a single thought, I amplified the power of my katana using the Crystal of Eldoria.
"Malakar," I called out, my voice steady. "Your reign of terror ends here."
He laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "You think you can defeat me, Lukas? You are nothing compared to my power."
Without another word, I dashed forward, my speed unparalleled. In an instant, I was upon him. Malakar's eyes widened in surprise as I struck, my katana slicing through the darkness that surrounded him. The force of the blow was overwhelming, and Malakar staggered back, a look of shock and fear on his face.
"This is for Valoria," I said, delivering the final blow. The energy of the Crystal of Eldoria surged through my katana, and with a brilliant flash of light, Malakar was gone.
The shadow creatures dissipated, their connection to Malakar severed. The village erupted in cheers, the threat once again repelled. Eldrin and Aria approached, their faces a mix of relief and admiration.
"You did it, Lukas," Eldrin said. "We did it."
Aria smiled, her eyes shining with pride. "Together, we can face anything."
As dawn broke over Valoria, I felt a profound sense of accomplishment and unity. The journey ahead was still fraught with challenges, but with the strength of our alliances and the bonds we had forged, I knew we could face whatever came our way.
That night, as the village celebrated, I took a moment to reflect and check my status once more.
"System, show me my status."
[ Name: Lukas Gigonos
Age: --
Titles: 'Someone From Another World' 'God'
Job: 'God'
Strength: --
Endurance: --
Speed: --
Mana: ∞
Wisdom: 1,000,000,000
Skills: 'Unlimited Potential' 'Unlimited Magic' 'Can't Level Up? I Just Need To Train' 'Unlimited Appraisal' 'Hide It' 'Training Addict' 'Immortality' '1000x Training Benefits' 'Magic Creation' 'Deadly Weapon Creation' 'Absolute Defence' 'True Immortality' 'Absolute Mind Defence' 'Age Reverse' 'Skills Creation' ]
The "slight decrease in my speed" was a small price to pay for the strength and unity we had gained. With each battle, we grew stronger, and I knew that together, we could overcome any obstacle.