As I rewound time, I found myself back at the point where the elves were fortifying their defenses. The walls, made from random piles of wood they had taken from their tree houses, weren't all that impressive. I recalled how those same defenses had been torn apart by the goblins like a hot knife through butter.
"Are you sure these walls will hold?" I asked, eyeing the makeshift fortifications skeptically.
"We've reinforced them as best as we can," replied Irene, the elven leader, her brow furrowed with concern. "But we must remain vigilant. The goblins won't hesitate to attack again."
"We need something stronger," suggested Mayne, a seasoned hunter among the elves. "Perhaps we could gather stones from the riverbed to bolster the walls."
"It would be useless," I shook my head, unimpressed by her quick thinking. "It was useless without a binding agent, and we only had two months… The river bed was within goblin territory now. I could feel their presence enclosing this village."
The only reason the goblins would attack this village was if they somehow became aware that the elves had lost their three Gifted, which should have been impossible. The goblins weren't really an informed species, which made me think that it was most likely the goblins also had a Clairvoyant-type in their midst.
From what I understood of this world's common sense, the goblins shouldn't be this strong… except if it was one with a Goblin King. The Goblins have a very primitive lifestyle, and would most often rely on their monstrous inclinations, but that would change if they had a King, a powerful Gifted with a vision of the future… The Goblins down south really meant business.
As I pondered the situation, it became evident that the goblins' newfound strength hinted at something more sinister lurking behind their attacks. With a sense of urgency, I approached Irene, motioning for a private conversation. She nodded solemnly, her eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation.
"We have two months until the goblins attack," I informed her quietly, emphasizing the urgency of our predicament.
Irene's expression hardened, understanding the implications of my words. "Two months isn't much time to prepare, but we must make the most of it. What do you suggest?"
"Forget the defenses," I explained, my mind racing with possibilities. "It would be useless, scraps of papers against the goblin's numerous Gifted."
Irene's eyes widened in shock at the revelation that the goblins possessed multiple Gifted individuals. She looked at me with a mix of apprehension and hope, perhaps recalling my recent exploits such as the annihilation of the Frost Fire Sect.
This could be an opportunity for me to play hero and put the village completely under my thumb… I had several opportunities, but there was a reason I didn't take them… I wanted to see the elves achieve a natural awakening of their powers. I kept my thoughts to my own as I told Irene it wouldn't be easy, and a lot of her people would die in the process, but the 'village' would survive.
With a measured tone, I cautioned Irene, "It won't be easy. Nothing comes easy to this. The elves would suffer, and many will die. You'd be lucky if a dozen of your population survived."
Her expression hardened with determination as she nodded in agreement, signaling her willingness to listen to my plan.
"We need to focus on awakening the latent powers within your people," I explained. "I knew a method to awaken you in particular. You need to lead by example, and with you as the spearhead, you should be able to hurt them enough and protect your people while at it."
Irene absorbed my words, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Can you awaken the other elves to become Gifted too?"
"It's a delicate process. However I believe with the right guidance and training, we can facilitate the natural awakening of their abilities. We'll need to identify those with potential and nurture their talents… I knew of two ways: the artificial way, and the pure way."
"Artificially awakening someone would leave them with subpar powers," I said, my voice weighted with caution. "But the pure way would awaken them to their real powers. Though we are pressed for time, I advocated for the pure way."
Irene listened intently, her brow furrowed as she weighed the options. "And what are the risks associated with the pure way?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"It's a more arduous process," I admitted, "and there's no guarantee of success. Some may not survive the awakening, and others may awaken to powers beyond their control. But those who do survive will possess true strength."
Irene nodded thoughtfully, considering the implications. "And what would you need from us to proceed with the pure way?"
"I will need your trust," I replied, meeting her gaze with sincerity. "And your cooperation. We'll have to work together closely to identify those with potential and guide them through the awakening process."
"I trust your judgment," Irene said firmly, her eyes reflecting determination.
To awaken a power, they would need a Catalyst, or most referred to as a Trigger Event while wholly inaccurate, powerful stress that came from the environment would force people to break through their limits. From a more scientific point of view, Catalyst could be anything: a powerful emotion, the alignment of the stars, a sudden lucky streak, or even losing virginity— it was a widely varied tangent as random as the whims of fate.
I was capable enough to do psychic surgery to give them powerful superpowers, but it would eat away at their lifespan, and potential, and on top of it had the danger of a psychotic meltdown. I could also provide them with my Patchwork Technology but that would defeat the purpose of me wanting to actively put them in danger.
"Irene, listen carefully," I began, my tone grave. "I'll only say this once. We need to create three-cell teams with a balanced format to improve survival ability. Each team should consist of a survivalist, a ranged attacker, and a confident close combat specialist. This will maximize our chances of survival in the face of danger."
Irene nodded, understanding the importance of the strategy. "I'll organize the teams immediately," she replied, determination flickering in her eyes.
"But there's something else," I continued, lowering my voice. "We need to constantly put our people in danger, enough to be productive, and enough to be a traumatic experience. One way to do it is to engage in guerrilla warfare… constantly."
The gravity of my words weighed heavily in the air as Irene absorbed the information. "You're asking us to risk our lives," she stated, her voice tinged with concern.
"It's the only way to awaken your powers," I explained, meeting her gaze with sincerity. "We must push the limits of what we're capable of, and that means facing danger head-on. And I dare remind you, the village was at the one at risk every time we dally here."
Irene's expression hardened with determination. "We'll do whatever it takes to survive," she declared, her voice resolute.
There was a good reason why Irene was afraid— she was inexperienced with war. She was a good fighter, and a better leader, but this was the first time she would be engaging with such a large force, while her own was so minuscule, the only way to survival was to escape north which was a far deadlier place than the forest.
The Outlaw King ruled the desert, and it had plenty of strong monsters too. In the alternate timeline, she had suggested escaping north. They would have better chances, but I had lied and convinced her otherwise to stay and defend their home so that I would be able to watch what the goblins were capable of.
"Irene, calm down," I said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We're in this together, and I won't let anything happen to you or your people."
Using my psychic abilities, I conjured a Memory Packet in the shape of a small cube, barely the size of my pinkie. Holding it out to Irene, I explained, "Inside this cube is tactical knowledge on how to engage in guerrilla warfare. It contains theories and strategies I've gathered from my experiences, fighting with supers in my past life."
Irene eyed the cube with curiosity and apprehension. "How will this help us?" she asked, reaching out tentatively to take it.
"These are applicable knowledge that I can embed into your muscle memory," I explained. "They'll become second nature to you, enhancing your combat abilities and strategic thinking."
I made sure to be cautious in my creation of the Memory Packet. I couldn't risk accidentally sharing personal information about my past life. The last thing I needed was to reveal more than necessary about myself.
"Do you accept?" I asked.
Irene's gaze flickered between the cube and my eyes, a mixture of uncertainty and determination evident in her expression. After a moment's hesitation, she reached out and took the cube from my hand, her fingers closing around it with a firm grip.
"I accept," she replied solemnly, her voice filled with resolve.
With a nod of acknowledgment, I focused my psychic abilities on the cube, channeling the knowledge contained within it directly into Irene's mind. She closed her eyes, a faint glow emanating from her as the information embedded itself into her consciousness. Moments later, she opened her eyes, a newfound determination shining within them.
"It is done," I announced, a sense of satisfaction washing over me. "You now possess the knowledge and skills necessary to fight in a guerilla setting."
Irene nodded, her expression reflecting a mixture of gratitude and determination. "Thank you," she said sincerely, her voice filled with determination. "This will greatly aid us in our fight against the goblins."
With Irene's acceptance of the Memory Packet, I knew I could proceed with imbuing the same knowledge into the other elves. It was a delicate process, but one that would provide them with the tools they needed to survive the coming onslaught.
"I will gather elves and have them receive the same treatment," Irene promised, her voice resolute. "We will be ready for whatever the goblins throw at us."
We have two months to pull back and forth with the goblins— I wondered how many elves would be awakened by then.