Chapter 15: 15. Entering the Farmlands.
'Hmm, my attributes seem to have increased in some way.'
'The plus sign hadn't been there the last time I checked it, and seeing as how all three attributes had increased, I guess this means my body has grown a lot stronger than before, and it hasn't even been a week since I arrived in this world.'
'I wonder just how strong I'll be after I've spent a year in this world,' Aaron wondered how things would be in the future, but he didn't think too much about it.
Instead, he brought his gaze towards the things that he needed to have if he wanted Glimmer to evolve.
'Hmm, I still need 30 bond energies and five red mana crystals if I want to make Glimmer evolve. Of course, Glimmer's loyalty would have to increase to about 50% as well.
'Unfortunately, I only have a yellow mana crystal and this isn't what is required to help Glimmer evolve.'
A red mana crystal was different from a green mana crystal, and each mana crystal helped a monster grow or evolve in different ways. This meant that each magical beast had a mana crystal they preferred.
In a nutshell, the yellow mana crystal was of no use to Glimmer.
'I guess this means that there's still a lot of work to do,' Aaron said to himself, making up his mind and accepting that he wasn't in any rush to grow stronger.
He knew he had to be careful in any plan he was going to make as to the way forward, and that was exactly what he did as he relaxed his mind before thinking about what his next plan of action would be.
The next few hours were uneventful, and by the time it was evening, Aaron called the girls to the dining hall once again.
A large map of the farmlands was currently sprawled across the table, and different markers could be seen on the map as well.
Each marker indicated the areas Aaron wanted them to target.
Diana leaned against a pillar with her arms crossed as usual while she looked at the markers Aaron had placed on the map.
Aurora, on the other hand, continued to sift through her potions. She was also muttering some calculations under her breath, but no one disturbed her as she remained in her own little world.
Meanwhile, Luna stood not too far from the table with her brows furrowed in concern.
"We know the farmlands are crawling with demonic beasts," Aaron pointed out. "But if we're going to stabilize the town, reclaiming the area is our only option. The people need food, and the farmlands are our only chance," he said, reminding everyone of what was at stake.
Diana stepped forward before tapping on a location on the map. "This path here," she pointed to a narrow trail leading into the fields. "This place is a choke point, and if the beasts are smart, they'll use it to trap anyone approaching."
"I understand," Aaron nodded in understanding. "And that's why I want us to avoid it. We'll take the western route, which goes through this thicket instead. I know it's riskier, but we'll have the element of surprise on our side."
Listening to what they were saying, Aurora glanced up and asked. "And what if we encounter more beasts than we can handle?"
"Then we retreat," Aaron replied firmly. "I won't be taking any unnecessary risks."
Luna walked closer to Aaron, and her voice wavered as she spoke. "This sounds very dangerous, big brother. What if you... you don't come back?"
Aaron went down on one knee before placing his hands on her shoulders. "I'll be back, I promise."
Luna nodded in response, but her eyes betrayed the worries she had on her mind.
With everyone agreeing to the plan, they all called it a night, and the next morning, Aaron, Diana, and Aurora set out to the farmlands.
It had barely been more than a week since the demonic beasts took over the farmlands, but everyone could see how everywhere had changed so much.
The once-thriving fields that used to be filled with crops were now filled with weeds; there were also a lot of broken carts and tools scattered around the dirt.
The stench of rotten flesh also lingered in the air, which forced the three of them to cover their noses as they passed through.
Aaron crouched down when one of his holograms detected something close by.
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[System Notification,]
Beast Type:- Demonic Beasts {3 in number}
Detected Specie:- Hell Wolves.
Threat Level: Balanced.
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The Hell Wolves were huge, like the ones Aaron saw the previous day, but these wolves had crimson-colored skin that made their bodies seem like they were covered in blood.
Aaron raised one of his hands and signaled to the girls not to say anything. Aurora and Diana subtly got closer to him before asking. "What's wrong?"
"We have company, and they're Hell Wolves." He whispered and pointed to where the three Hell Wolves were.
"Just three? That's easy enough for us to handle," Diana said as she gripped the hilt of her sword.
"Let's not underestimate them," Aaron said before turning towards Aurora. "Your Highness, stay back. Diana, you take the one on the right while I'll handle the one on the left, and Glimmer, I need you to distract the one at the center."
Glimmer let out a soft yip, and her tail wagged in acknowledgment. Aurora nodded in understanding, and Diana did the same as well.
Both ladies were actually surprised to see Aaron giving them orders as though he was their leader, but they didn't really say anything about it because they liked Aaron's plan on how to attack the beasts.
A few moments later, the Hell Wolves emerged from their hiding place, their crimson-colored eyes glowing.
The wolves had noticed them, and they lunged straight for them.
"Go!!!" Aaron ordered, and Glimmer darted forward first. Her speed and agility drew the attention of its target, which was the wolf in the center.
Meanwhile, Diana charged towards the one on her right while Aaron focused on the one on the left.
The wolf on the right tried to take a chunk off Diana's arm, but her blade struck it just in time. Meanwhile, the wolf on the left lunged toward Aaron, but he sidestepped it before using his blade to slice the wolf at its flank.
The wolf howled in pain before whipping around with razor-sharp claws, aiming for Aaron, but Aaron swiftly ducked and drove his sword straight into its side. The wolf fell to the ground as its body twitched and finally turned to ashes.
Glimmer, on the other hand, continuously nipped at the last beast's legs, doing her best to distract it long enough for Aaron to land a killing blow.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone