Malcolm busied himself over the next few days, storing his completed pieces into Veyl and working on new drawings. The process was both exhausting and exhilarating, as each piece he stored felt like a step closer to mastering his newfound abilities.
On the third day, Malcolm woke up and heaved himself into his wheelchair, rolling toward the kitchen. As he entered, he was greeted by an unexpected sight: the Stickman Legion was hard at work, stacking on top of each other to cook breakfast. One stickman was flipping pancakes, another was frying eggs, and a third was carefully heating a pot of coffee.
Leonidas noticed Malcolm and immediately knelt, his voice respectful. "Good morning, My Lord. Your breakfast is almost ready."
Malcolm blinked, surprised but touched by their initiative. "Uh… thanks, guys. I didn't expect this."
Veyl floated closer, its pages fluttering with pride. "My Lord, the Stickman Legion took the initiative to serve you. They've been practicing their culinary skills in the Mindscape. Also, the Stickman Platoon has requested to be summoned."
Malcolm nodded, a small smile forming on his face. "Yeah, after breakfast, I guess. I think it's gonna feel draining to summon them, though. I only have a little mana left."
Leonidas stood up, his stick-figure face serious. "We understand, My Lord. We'll ensure you're well-fed and ready for the task."
Malcolm chuckled, rolling his chair to the table. "Alright, let's see what you've got."
The Stickman Legion presented him with a plate of pancakes, eggs, and bacon, along with a steaming cup of coffee. Malcolm took a bite, his eyes widening in surprise.
"This is… actually really good," he said, impressed.
Leonidas puffed out his chest with pride. "We aim to serve, My Lord."
After breakfast, Malcolm called Veyl over, and the notebook floated obediently to his lap. He opened its pages, his mindscape unfolding before him. Inside, the Stickman Platoon stood in perfect formation, their green helmets and rifles gleaming. Lieutenant Winters stepped forward, saluting Malcolm with crisp precision.
"Good morning, Commander. We are ready for deployment," Winters said, his voice steady and confident.
Malcolm glanced at the holographic screen that appeared, displaying the Stickman Platoon's details:
Stickman Platoon (Bounded)
Mana Cost to Summon: 25
Team Overview
The Stickman Platoon, under the leadership of Lieutenant Winters, is a highly disciplined and battle-hardened unit. Known for their tactical precision and adaptability, they operate with exceptional coordination, combining infantry maneuvers with overwhelming firepower and support from the skies and ground.
Lieutenant Winters
Role: Platoon Leader
Appearance: A stick figure in an officer's cap, with a decorated belt carrying tactical tools and a radio headset for commanding allied forces.
Personality: Tactical genius, calm under fire, and an inspiring leader who never leaves a soldier behind.
Abilities:
Airborne Reinforcements: Summons an additional squad of stickmen equipped with parachutes.
Aerial Support: Requests tactical airstrikes or supply drops.
Artillery Strike: Directs long-range artillery to shell a designated area.
Armored Company: Summons a small contingent of armored vehicles.
Tactical Planning: Increases the Stickman Platoon's accuracy and evasion by 20% for three turns.
Battle Command: Orders maneuvers like flanking, defensive formations, or coordinated attacks.
Signature Weapons:
Custom Pistol: High-precision sidearm for close to medium range.
Combat Knife: Reliable for close combat.
Binoculars of Command: Allows him to mark targets or scout the battlefield for tactical advantage.
Stickman Platoon Units
Core Units:
Riflemen: Standard infantry with suppressive fire and cover abilities.
Heavy Gunners: Area control and high-volume fire.
Medics: Healing and revive capabilities.
Engineers: Deploy turrets, traps, and repair vehicles.
Snipers: Long-range precision shooters.
Scouts: Stealth and recon specialists.
Stats per each Soldier:
STR: 7
AGI: 6
END: 9
VIT: 5
Armored Support:
Light Tanks: Equipped with a rapid-fire cannon and machine gun.
APCs: Lightly armored but highly mobile.
Tactics and Dynamics
Synergy: Lieutenant Winters shines when coordinating infantry with air and armored support. His tactical abilities enable overwhelming multi-dimensional attacks.
Weaknesses: Relies heavily on preparation and strategic positioning. Vulnerable to fast, unpredictable close-quarter combat.
Malcolm took a deep breath, placing his hand over the Stickman Platoon page. A surge of energy flowed from his body into the notebook, this time more intense and draining than when he had summoned the Stickman Legion. The page glowed brightly, and one by one, the Stickman soldiers hopped out onto the floor, lining up in perfect formation.
Finally, Lieutenant Winters emerged, saluting Malcolm with a crisp, "Commander!"
Malcolm felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him, more pronounced than before. He slumped slightly in his wheelchair, breathing heavily.
"That… took a lot out of me," he muttered, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.
Veyl floated closer, its pages fluttering with concern. "My Lord, summoning the Stickman Platoon requires more mana due to their advanced capabilities. You may need to level up to increase your mana reserves."
Malcolm nodded, his determination unwavering. "Yeah, I really need to consider leveling up. I can't keep getting drained like this."
Lieutenant Winters stepped forward, his voice calm and reassuring. "Commander, we're here to support you. Just give the order, and we'll be ready."
Malcolm smiled, feeling a sense of pride despite his exhaustion. "Thanks, Lieutenant."
Malcolm rolled his wheelchair to his bedroom, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing on him. He turned to the Stickman Platoon and Legion, who were standing at attention, awaiting his orders.
"You guys can continue your joint training while I rest for a while," he said, his voice firm but kind. "Sooner or later, you'll receive your first mission together. I suggest working together and learning each other's strengths and weaknesses."
He paused, his tone turning serious. "If there's a knock on the door, go back to the pages. I don't recommend revealing yourselves to other people just yet. Understood?"
Both Lieutenant Winters and King Leonidas saluted in unison. "Understood, Commander!"
Malcolm nodded, satisfied. "Good. Carry on."
As he closed the bedroom door, he could hear the voices of Winters and Leonidas barking orders to their respective units.
"You heard the Commander!" Winters shouted. "Let's get to work!"
"Spartans, form up!" Leonidas commanded. "We'll show these newcomers what we're made of!"
The sound of marching feet and the clatter of weapons filled the apartment as the Stickman Platoon and Legion began their joint training exercises. Malcolm lay down on his bed, the noise oddly comforting.
"They're in good hands," he muttered to himself, closing his eyes.
As he drifted off to sleep, his mind wandered to the future. He knew that his creations would soon face real challenges, and he needed to be ready to lead them. But for now, he allowed himself a moment of rest, knowing that his loyal stickmen were hard at work, preparing for whatever lay ahead.
Malcolm woke up later, feeling slightly refreshed. He heaved himself into his wheelchair and rolled toward the door, eager to check on the Stickman Platoon and Legion. But as soon as he opened the door, he froze, his eyes widening at the scene before him.
The living room was in complete disarray. The sofa was damaged, small craters dotted the walls, and the Stickman soldiers and warriors were bustling about. Some were pouring coffee for Ms. Luna, who was sitting at the table, chatting amiably with King Leonidas and Lieutenant Winters.
"Ahhh… What is this?" Malcolm said, his voice a mix of confusion and disbelief.
Luna looked up, her face lighting up with a smile. "Mr. Heart! I didn't know you had such adorable guys in here."
Winters saluted sharply, while King Leonidas knelt respectfully. "Commander," they said in unison.
Malcolm pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to process the situation. "Didn't I tell you guys to hide when there's a knock?"
Winters stepped forward, his tone calm but matter-of-fact. "There was no knock, Commander. This beautiful guest just came in. We thought she was a thief, so we apprehended her. We got into a little bit of a fight."
King Leonidas added, his voice filled with pride, "It took longer to apprehend her because she was strong, but it was mostly my legion who was responsible for tying her down. We successfully restricted her movements. If she hadn't said she was a friend of yours, we wouldn't have let her go."
Malcolm's jaw dropped. "You defeated an A-Rank player? What?"
He looked at Luna, who was indeed injured, though she seemed to be taking it in stride. Her arm was bandaged, and there were a few bruises on her face, but she was smiling as if nothing had happened.
"They're quite the fighters," Luna said, her tone amused. "I didn't expect to get tied up by stick figures today, but hey, it's a good match."
Malcolm rolled his wheelchair closer, his mind still reeling. "I'm so sorry about this, Luna. I had no idea they'd react like that."
Luna waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. It's actually impressive. Your little army managed to take me down, and I'm not exactly a pushover."
Malcolm glanced at the kitchen, where the platoon medics were tending to the injured soldiers and warriors. "I see you lost some men," he said, his tone somber.
Winters nodded. "Yes, Commander, but they're in good hands. The medics are doing their best."
Malcolm sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, let's get this place cleaned up. And you two," he said, pointing at Winters and Leonidas, "we need to have a talk about guest protocols."
Both leaders saluted, their expressions serious. "Understood, Commander."
As Malcolm began to assess the damage, he couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and exasperation. His creations were powerful, loyal, and… a little too eager to prove themselves.