Chapter 315: The Gift of War

"What do you think?" asked the tiger. "Simple, right?"

"A little," said Kellar. "But if this is level one, I suppose that to reach the maximum level you will ask me to wipe out entire kingdoms."

"You will find out little by little. My style is blunt and direct. Just fight with all your strength and soon you will have enough power to subdue everything you want."

"I thank you for your blessing, great Goddess of War. I will not fail you."

"Excellent. That is the spirit." The tiger tilted its head. "Here. I will give you this since I liked you."

The air opened and something fell to the dirt floor with a dry thud.

Kellar looked at it.

[Battle Ox Axe]

[Battle axe of the general of the minotaur armies. Grants the Battle Ox blessing.]

[Battle Ox blessing: grants an increase of five percent for every second that passes in battle, up to two hundred percent. On reaching its peak, the user’s body will double its physical size, surpassing its limits.]

"Good God," said Kellar. "What a weapon."

"It is only a general’s axe," said the tiger. "You have the weapon of the lord. Instead of coveting it, you should strive to evolve your own. You will come to see how powerful the Overlord Club is."

"Thank you for your advice, your divinity."

"Fine. Time is running out." The tiger’s shape began to thin at the edges. "Do not fail me."

"Yes, my lady."

The two of them went out, without trace, without sound.

Kellar stayed bowed a moment longer than necessary. When he straightened, Ophelia was propped up on the pallet and had her face turned toward the spot where the tiger had been.

"Who are you bowing to, my lord?"

"It was the goddess of the forest. Or the bear god, as you know him." Kellar hung the axe on his belt. "Seems he did come to see us. He wanted to join, but I did not let him."

Ophelia rolled her eyes.

"Do you want to live in the house with my other women?"

"I prefer to be here, in the temple." She sat up fully. "I have a lot to do. I cannot be far from this place. My mission is important."

"Your mission can be important, but more important is your health. And your happiness. So do not push yourself too hard, will you? I do not want anything to happen to you."

Ophelia reached out, found his cock and held it.

"You are still happy."

"I do not tire of you. You are too beautiful."

"Idiot!" She squeezed and let go. "Go on with your duties. You cannot just waste time here."

"This is not wasting time. It is aggressive cultivation."

"Run." She let herself drop back onto the pallet. "Be here whenever you need me."

Kellar leaned in, put a kiss on her mouth and went out.

Grok was in the corridor with his eyes on the sky, hands clasped in front. At the sound of the door he snapped to attention.

"It must have been hard for you," said Kellar.

"Not at all, my lord. Watching over your safety is my blessing. I do it with all my heart."

"Hearing you say that makes me very glad." Kellar unhooked the axe from his belt and held it by the haft with both hands. "While we were praying fervently to the bear god, he gave me a gift for my most faithful follower. Here."

The axe was double, two-handed, golden, with red touches on the haft and on the blades.

Grok took it. The real weight dropped down his arms at once. It was small and it weighed a monstrous amount.

"It is an impressive weapon, my lord," said he, his voice changed. "How is it possible that it is for me?"

"I just told you. It is a gift from the bear god for my most faithful and devoted follower. This is the answer to your prayers and to the devotion of your heart. The gods do not lose what you have asked for, nor what is in your heart, and they have blessed you."

Grok knelt and thanked him with his forehead nearly on the ground.

"May the bear god be with you," said Kellar. "Rest. It has been a long day for you."

"Not at all, my lord. My loyalty is with you, with or without gifts from the gods. All the same I thank the gods for having their eyes on me. I will strive even harder for you."

"As you wish."

Kellar walked back to his house.

When they saw him come in, the women stood up at once. Some had their hands on their bellies, others half dressed.

"Easy," said Kellar. "Everything is fine. Be more careful. The time to give birth is near."

They all walked to the sitting room and gathered around him. He counted them with his eyes before speaking.

"I have to leave for a few weeks. I do not know exactly how long, but I will make sure to be back before you give birth, so I can help you through it. You must not worry. It is a mission from the bear god, so everything will go according to his will."

"Where are you going?" asked Mila.

Knowing Kellar, the situation did not seem as simple as he had painted it. The instinct she had developed in all that time as his wife told her something was wrong.

"Seems I cannot fool you." Kellar let out the air. "I have the bear god’s mission to go out and subdue every tribe around us. I meant to annex them peacefully, but it will not be possible. Seems the god of the forest wants them conquered at once. It will be a bloody battle. The gods want blood. I fear our peaceful lives are over."

Mila took his face in both hands.

"My love. We have never had peaceful lives. If you do not go after them, they will come after us. We know you do it for the good of everyone. Go without worry. We will wait for your return so you can be here and see your children born."

"Many thanks." Kellar’s voice caught for an instant. "Thanks to all of you for being so good and understanding."

"Thanks to you for not leaving us behind and for keeping on fighting for us."