Steel Hasta - Lv 21

Bonus Damage: 65

Armor Nullification: 65

Durability: 50/50

Free Points: 00

Raiden used ten thousand points of fortune to make his weapon reach that level, and he immediately felt the difference. He could feel an energy coming from the weapon, and there was a glint in the tip as well...

Fortunately it didn’t look like the changes were obvious enough for everyone to sense it. Raiden looked for a place to test his weapon and he could clearly sense the weapon cutting the air with more power. When he swung the spear in front of him, the movement felt smoother as well... that definitely would be pretty useful.

"I thought that I would feel bad for cheating like this, but I actually don’t," Raiden thought.

When faced with a dire situation, any advantage can be crucial. Raiden has felt that the immediate benefit of enhancing his weapon outweighed any moral qualms about cheating. The urgency of the battle made him prioritize practical results over ethical concerns.

Raiden believed that using every available resource was necessary to turn the tide. In his mind, the situation could justify bending the rules if it meant gaining a critical edge. It was better than letting his friends or family get hurt and then feeling bad later for not doing enough.

The immediate positive effects of the weapon’s upgrade, such as improved performance and smoother handling, also boosted Raiden’s confidence. This newfound assurance also decreased his feelings of guilt or doubt about his unconventional approach.

"The world isn’t one where I can take my time building my strength," Raiden thought. "My power exists to be used, and just like everyone uses their own powers to influence the world, I will also do the same."

Raiden returned to the camp and soon found Harth looking around for him. He raised his eyebrow and then took a deep breath before saying something harsh. Raiden messed up a bit since it wasn’t time to disappear...

"Where were you?" Harth asked. "Never mind... we are forming a front to stop the enemies. You will come with me... we will organize the groups so those that are close to each other will watch each other their backs."

In such an combat scenario, organizing fighters based on family units, where members of the same family fight close to each other, had both merits and demerits. Family members are familiar with each other’s fighting styles and tendencies, which can lead to better coordination in battle. They can anticipate each other’s moves and support each other more effectively.

Fighting alongside family members can boost morale and determination. The emotional bond may provide additional motivation to protect each other and fight more fiercely.

Families can offer strong mutual support, both emotionally and strategically. They can cover each other’s weaknesses and provide immediate assistance if one member is in trouble.

Still, If a family unit is targeted or overwhelmed, the loss of multiple skilled fighters at once can have a severe impact on the group’s overall strength and effectiveness. Families might become too focused on protecting their own, which can limit their ability to adapt to broader strategic needs. They may prioritize their own safety over the larger tactical goals.

Emotional ties can sometimes lead to distraction or hesitation in critical moments, especially if a family member is injured or in danger. This emotional burden might affect their combat performance.

If family members share similar weaknesses or fighting styles, an enemy could exploit these shared vulnerabilities more effectively. All in all, deploying that kind of thing could be a game changer or could cause their downfall as well... Raiden wanted to believe that his mother thought things through, but he couldn’t say for certain this time.

In the worst-case scenario, Lenore would be blamed for many deaths and lose her position in the village if her main goal was only to protect her family. In any case, the units began to get formed, but Lenore didn’t join them since she was also the commander of their whole army.

Raiden, Harth, and Iri moved to the frontlines of their group, and soon, the reserves also joined them. Before long, the warriors fighting began to retreat, and then they began to advance.

"Remember, we are aiming for their exhaustion," Harth declared while looking around. "Don’t exhaust yourselves and aim to defeat the enemies as a team... don’t expose yourselves."

Harth also wasn’t very certain of that strategy, so he emphasized those words while looking at Iri and Raiden. If he kept that kind of attitude, it was obvious that he was going to get hurt in the battle, no matter how skilled he could be. In the end, Raiden had to show his skills and power...

The frontline passed by them, looking visibly exhausted and severely wounded... although they had made a lot of potions, it was obvious that they wouldn’t last two days at that rate.

When the red spearmen appeared on the battlefield, their unsettling presence caused many of the village warriors to flinch. The enemies were a terrifying sight: covered in blood, with some limping due to severe wounds, yet they continued to march forward with a relentless, almost zombie-like determination.

This weird display of resilience and brutality unsettled the village warriors, as it showed a formidable and terrifying opponent. The sight of such battle-hardened foes, moving despite their injuries, could easily shake the morale of those who had to face them.

Raiden’s curiosity about the origin of this army, how they could be so battered yet continue to fight, reflected a deeper intrigue about the nature of their adversaries. He recognized that understanding the mechanisms behind such a relentless force could be crucial for the future, but with the immediate threat at hand, those questions will have to wait. For now, his focus shifts to surviving the battle and dealing with the formidable opponents in front of him.

When both armies were one hundred meters away from each other, they began to dash for the incoming melee. Iri looked at Raiden and then nodded... they had to come out of that alive in one way or the other.

When the two armies collided, the sound couldn’t be described with simple words... it felt like a mix of bones breaking, weapons cracking, and the sound of lungs losing the air inside them... it was simply chaotic.

Harth in the front, swung his sword to disarm the enemies around or cut their arms, but he also insisted on swinging his weapon and cutting the legs of the enemies as well to make them as easy targets as possible for those two behind him. He knew that those guys also wouldn’t hesitate to use their heads, mouth, or any part of their bodies as a weapon if they had to.

Still, in the next moment, he opened his eyes widely when Raiden thursted his spear forward with lightning speed and then pierced the hearts of three of the red spearmen...