As Mike, Loran, and Kiera strolled into town, they immediately felt the stares.
And for good reason.
Because right behind them was a parade of Mud Gremlins, happily carrying their ridiculous haul of resources—piles of ores, rare herbs, and even some things they weren't sure belonged to them.
The townspeople blinked. Whispered. Stared some more.
One brave soul finally spoke up.
"Uh… who are they?"
Another villager tilted his head. "Why are they carrying so much stuff…?"
Then a third villager—bless his simple heart—asked the real question.
"…Did we get conquered by them?"
Several people gasped and took a step back, as if expecting the gremlins to declare their rule over the town. One old man even clutched his chest like he was about to faint.
Mike smirked. "Nope. They work for me now."
Silence. Then, even more confused murmurs spread through the crowd.
Kiera groaned and rubbed her temples. "You really need to stop saying things that sound evil out of context."
Loran grinned, throwing an arm over Mike's shoulder. "Oh, come on. Let the legend of Mike, Gremlin Overlord spread!"
Mike chuckled but quickened his pace as he noticed some villagers whispering among themselves—some intrigued, others terrified.
"Alright, enough gawking. We've got work to do."
And so, leaving behind a town full of very confused villagers, they made their way to their next stop—Barrik's Forge.
---
Barrik, the town's master blacksmith, was a massive, battle-worn man with arms like tree trunks. He had seen plenty of crazy things in his life.
But as Mike walked in, followed by a mountain of materials and an army of gremlins, he just… sighed.
He stared at the gremlins. Then at the pile of rare resources. Then back at Mike.
Barrik exhaled through his nose. "Do I even wanna ask?"
Mike grinned. "Probably not."
Barrik muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a prayer for patience, then waved Mike over to his workbench. "Anyway. I have sword's for you."
With a heavy clang, he placed the weapon down.
And it was beautiful.
A sleek, black-and-silver longsword, perfectly balanced, its edge gleaming under the forge light. Its hilt was wrapped in deep crimson leather, and a faint, almost arcane glow pulsed along the blade.
Mike whistled. "Damn. That's sexy."
Loran nodded in approval. "Elegant. Deadly. Perfect for scamming more people—"
"Fighting," Mike corrected. "Perfect for fighting."
Barrik folded his arms. "Go test it out. No point in looking at it if you can't swing it properly."
Mike smirked. "Good point."
And he already knew exactly who to see next.
Brutus.
---
Training With Brutus
Brutus, the town's strongest warrior, was drilling the village recruits when Mike arrived. The ground trembled as men and women sparred, some holding swords, others using spears or bows.
Brutus, towering over them all, barked commands.
"Keep your stances firm! Don't let the enemy read your movements!"
Mike stepped up. "How are they doing?"
Brutus turned, eyeing him with a critical gaze.
"Some are ready." He gestured toward a group of promising fighters—young, determined, and eager to prove themselves.
Mike nodded. "Good. Because tomorrow, we hunt."
The recruits tensed, exchanging glances. Some looked nervous, others excited. A few clenched their fists in determination.
Brutus smirked. "They'll be ready."
Mike grinned. "Perfect. Now, train me too."
Brutus raised a brow. "You need training?"
Mike sighed. "Look, I know how to fight, but this body's still new. I need to adjust, refine my movements." He smirked. "Besides, I wanna see how far I can push this Sword Master skill."
Brutus let out a booming chuckle, cracking his knuckles.
"Then let's begin."
And with that, Mike's real training started.
---
Mike's Status Window
[STATUS WINDOW OPEN]
Name: Mike
Species: Human(Lv6)
Title: Gremlin Overlord (self-proclaimed), Hero of Nothing (official), Professional Scam Artist (Loran's opinion)
Attributes :
Strength: 32
Agility: 32
Endurance: 36
Intelligence: 30
Vitality: 29
Skills:
Skill: Sword Master (Lv.1)
Enhances sword proficiency. Training increases level and unlocks new techniques.
Predator's Sense (Lv. 2): Detects creatures within a wide radius.(50%)
Scam Artist's Charisma :(??? - Loran added this) – Passive ability to convince people of questionable things.
Quick Sprint (Lv.4): Even faster bursts of speed, more efficient.(50%)
Juggling (Lv1): can juggle up to 4 ball with efficient read more..
[Other Skills Unavailable]
Evolution Points Available: 30.34
---
TO BE CONTINUED…