System Break

The distance wasn't ideal, but I focused my qi sight on the orks. A feral could not compare to the size of their core and qi pathways. They were too far away for me to see any techniques they used so my estimation of their power was based on their cores alone.

From the humanoids I'd encountered the beastmen were by far the toughest and if orks were anywhere near their capability there would be no need for the ferals as grunts. They'd be able to overrun the entire island.

The protectors from Dawnharbour were next followed by mountainfolk warriors and guardians. Adventurers varied, but the majority who paid to play left a lot to be desired.

Dokkalfar had the smallest cores, but I figured they made up for their lack of qi with equipment and technology. No one had siege weapons except for them. Their armour and weapons were second to none and I was missing the spears they were making for me more every day.

My rudimentary estimation of the orks was they were close or equal to the guardians. There was fifty of them and I didn't know what innate techniques they possessed. I felt like I could bash through fifty ferals not a problem. But fifty guardian level warriors who were full of tricks would be mission impossible.

Carney leaned on the parapet next to me. "What are you looking for?"

"I'm gauging the enemy," I said. "But we're too far away."

"You should rest, I will wake you if they move. Do you think the orks will swim in the lake?"

"I would if I was them," I said.

"I can watch them, I can see the orks," she said.

"Good eyesight. Okay, I'll rest a little." I sat down with my back to the parapet and Carney's legs next to me. My stomach growled.

"Have you eaten?" she asked.

"No."

She handed me something. I sniffed; it was beef jerky. "I can't eat this."

"What do you eat?"

"Vegetables."

One of the men handed her a carrot. She passed it to me.

"Thanks," I said and munched it down. I closed my eyes and feel asleep in minutes and slept for what must have been a few hours.

She tapped my shoulder. "Protector," she said. "Wake."

I blinked and chuckled. I never told her my name. "How long did I sleep?"

"Hours," she said. "They move. I saw one move. But they're sneaking. I think I missed quite a few others."

I stood and saw the line of cores making their way through the ferals towards the lake. "Good work Carney. They're making for the lake."

Climbing down the inner wall took me moments and then I searched for the captain. He was nowhere to be seen. I went back to Carney who was climbing down the ladder. I whispered instructions in her ear.

"Can you do this?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Okay go. I'm relying on you."

She smiled shyly and walked calmly along the ramparts.

I went in the opposite direction. I quietly moved some of the lakeside torches situated above the wall. Then I climbed over and hid in the darkness. My knees were bent, and the soles of my feet and my back were hard up against the wooden wall. My skin was the same colour as the timbers, and I melded in with the wall itself. I had an unlit torch in my hand, and I watched the waters with my qi sight.

There were a few noises above me, but they were nothing compared to the normal noises coming from the fort itself. The noises boded well for Carney's task. I'd only just met her, and I already relied upon her to fulfill an important mission.

I smiled within my mask when I saw the twenty four cores bob and weave through the waters. There were no ferals, just orks. They were cunning - it was early in the morning when most people would be lulled to sleep from an uneventful night. The only thing which nagged at me was - what were the other twenty five odd up to?

They were clumped together with only an arm's length separating them. I watched them as they swam closer trying to discern any techniques. Their eyes glowed with qi and I wondered if they could see me. But even if they had vision like the shaman or Alejo - I was still well hidden. I placed my faith in Mother's stories that I was almost alone in possessing qi sight.

I could see familiar techniques similar to the mountainfolk – qi body and warmth. They were blessed with quite a few. I was glad their body technique was rudimentary like the initial adventurer ability.

I waited patiently and they showed no signs of spotting me. The leader almost swam directly under me as I had intended. It was the darkest spot on the wall, the deepest part of the lake and bereft of torches. Except the one in my hand.

I waited for the lead ork to be directly beneath me and with the torch under my arm I quickly used flint and steel to light it. As soon as it flared to life I let it drop.

The sheen of oil reflected in the light with a distinct blue tinge at certain angles. The torch hit the water and instead of being squashed the water burst into flames.

Carney was a Rockstar.

The orks grunted and shouted in surprise, while their surprise attack backfired. They were being burned in the water and dozens of civilians wielding crossbows stood on the ramparts. They were sitting silently waiting for the signal and now they could easily see the orks flailing about in the water. Not all were caught in flames, but the flames did a great job lighting up the area and the crossbows began to hum.

I reached a hand up in the air and a long spear was lowered down to me.

"Thanks," I said and then I began to poke at orks from my safe position on the wall.

It wasn't a great spear. It wasn't made from ebony or living wood. But it had a job and it did it well enough. I sent my qi down it to break down their defences and while they tried to swim out of the way - I could move a lot faster running along the wall.

The spear was ten feet long and with my height it reached another five from the wall. I stabbed and sent my qi down the shaft. The ork's surprised scream ended abruptly when the spear pierced his brain. I stabbed another in the shoulder and pushed the spear down into his chest  before ripping it free.

I killed the third and lost the spearhead inside its body, but they were routed and instead of charging inside the fort - they swam like mad orks for the lake's edge.

The civilian's roared and reloaded. After the initial barrage they took far too long before they fired their second bolt. Crossbows were weapons for the unskilled and inferior to bows in every way. Their only saving grace was they required no strength and little skill. It was point and shoot.

I climbed up to the rampart and looked at all their happy faces. I didn't want to chase the orks I was fine with whittling them down until my friends arrived.

Carney jumped for joy, shouted, and wrapped her arms around me. "That was fucking awesome!"

I laughed. She swore like a trooper. I lifted her and threw her in the air like a child. She squealed and I put her down. I put my finger to my lips and most of those watching me quietened down. "That was just round two."

"But we kicked their ass. Did you see their faces? They were scared," an old man said.

"I really couldn't tell, but you all did fantastic. Especially Carney that oil was perfect."

"That was the cheap cooking oil," she said. "It's always catching fire."

I put a hand on her shoulder and met her jubilant gaze. "See, coming from the kitchens yields many useful skills. I couldn't be happier with my trade manager."

She hugged me again and we walked past the civilians who were smart enough to follow her lead. She gathered them all and the oil in half an hour. I was impressed and she was proud.

"Whose spear did I break?" I asked.

She grinned. "That was the sergeants; he better not be cross."

I laughed. "I hope not, we just saved their arses."