The next three nights were safe but their captain had to wake up soon. Nightwalkers are guaranteed to come back on the 4th night.
A few of the others have already recovered, potions are a wondrous thing. Though their scarcity has made it so that they are an extremely precious resource. The lower ranks are back to an even 6, with 4 still recovering from their wounds.
Potions are available only for the higher ranks due to the ongoing war. Anyone with the ability to make potions has been hired by the palace to provide it for those in the war. The pay is good and they didn't have a choice.
The kingdom forced a monopoly on the resource.
Though the concentration of it has been in the frontlines for years, access to it in other regions is still available.
It's just costly to even get a single one. Costing about 4 or 5 gold.
Matthew has shown no signs of waking up, he has been stationary for the past few days. Like a statue of some sort.
During the past few days, the rest of the group has set up multiple traps and magic circles within the area.
Malik prepared as much as he could, the state that his Captain entered is a state in which he is trying to gain control over mana that he has no business controlling.
They could only hope for his success.
"How many traps do we have so far Rokhan?" Malik asked as he finished placing another magic circle.
"The boys dug a few extra holes, the injured are working on sharpening more spikes for the pits. The makeshift watch tower is almost finished too. "
These are people who have fought in countless battles, this time around they were ready to do anything to win.
"At the rate we're going, I believe that even if the boss doesn't wake up yet, then we have a good chance at surviving."
What they are right now is comparable to an basketball team who just lost their Ace. While comparatively way weaker without the Ace, they are still considered professionals for a reason. Powerful in their own right, with merits befitting of the titles they held in the military.
People often underestimate soldiers, but surviving in the military for a long period of time means one thing. It means that they are all doing something right. Surviving dozens of battles, making do with the rations provided. The soldiers are resilient, they can survive off of beef jerky and a single waterskin if they needed to.
From spiked pits to logs tied up to trees like a battering ram. They prepared for war as much as they could.
They lasted for hours. The first half of the night the barrier forced the nightwalkers out.
The remaining second half is one that's filled with battle. Their usage of tactics gave them an upper-hand, the nightwalkers became easier to deal with.
And in the last few hours their captain finally woke up.
They watched as the "Dark Queen" and the "Blue Tiger" puppets moved together. The boost in mana giving their captain the ability to manipulate two of them at once.
Advanced puppets said to rival the B-Class. For every wave that stood in their way, a blue light would take them out in a split-second.
Adrenaline filled their veins, excitement and renewed vigor.
That night the Virtuoso's Band was born once again. Some would say that this is where the start of the virtuoso's journey truly began.
...
He reached the frontlines with his entire party alive.
Given the rank of Legion Commander, taking control over an army of 4,000 soldiers. His last months in the new world is where he grew the most.
Not in the physical or magical sense, but as a leader. He took his losses with grace, and when he won he was humble enough to bring the praise to his soldiers.
Under his leadership a city in the frontlines held its ground. A city that was meant to fall.
He met Mag and was taken in as a disciple.
Multiple named demons fell to his puppets.
Songs were made in his name.
While he is not the biggest hero to come out of the war he is one that will be well remembered.
2 weeks before his stay is over.
"They have done it commander, the fourth and last heavenly king has fallen, it's just the demon king now. If everything goes well then the city will be free of war soon enough"
1 week.
"You've done it sir, a Demon Commander is no match for the Virtuoso! Rise one and all as the hero of the City of Lukmash has taken the head of their commander!
Come one! Come all, you are in the presence of a great hero!"
"Huzzah! Hoorah! This is the puppet master. Huzzah. Hoorah! The Hero of Lukmash!
Huzzah Hoorah! The Defender of Nikaos!"
Name: Matthew Khan
Title: The Virtuoso, Demon's Bane, Goblin's Bane. Legion Commander.
Mana: 18,970/18,970 [Third Circle]
Ki: 500/500 [Untrained]
Unique Ability: (Locked)
Skills: [Puppeteering] [Mana Threads] [Puppeteer's Mind] [12-Puppet Manipulation] [Puppet Making]
A/N: End of Prologue
We have reached the end of the prologue, I will be going on a bit of a hiatus due to commitments I have with work. I would like to thank those that were here for the prologue. The hiatus is indefinite but thank you for staying with us up until this part. If you enjoyed the story so far and want to support, just add the story to your collections and you'll be updated once the new volume is out.