(Author’s Note: Heads up! This chapter is packed with stats and information. Feel free to skip if you’re not interested in the new Knights who will serve the main character.)
***
Taking a deep breath, Broken approached the six Knights kneeling in front of him. “Please, raise your heads and stand,” he said gently, wanting to see the faces of those who would stand for him in battle.
“Yes, my Lord,” responded Igor, the Knight Commander. Igor appeared to be the eldest among them, likely in his thirties. His short brown hair framed a face marked by calmness and determination, traits befitting his leadership role.
As Broken appraised Igor’s stats.
[Name: Igor]
[Level: 174]
[Strength: 610 | Agility: 230 | Intelligence: 220 | Constitution: 453 | Stamina: 530]
Impressed, Broken nodded approvingly. “You seem to be an expert in close combat, Igor.” “Yes, my Lord,” Igor replied, his voice steady with confidence. “I have trained with the sword since childhood. I have led several assaults and rescue missions. While I have yet to fight in a massive battle, I assure you, I am ready to lay down my life for you.”
“Thank you for your dedication, Igor. As the only Knight Commander among the six, I expect you to help manage and lead the others.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Igor affirmed.
Broken then turned his attention to the remaining five Knights, three men, and two women, all standing with disciplined poise. With genuine curiosity, he asked, “Could each of you explain your areas of expertise to me?”
[Name: Karl]
[Level: 135]
[Strength: 550 | Agility: 123 | Intelligence: 190 | Constitution: 311 | Stamina: 410]
Karl’s voice was firm and confident as he began to speak. “Yes, my Lord,” he said.
Karl, a mid-twenty, stood as tall as Broken, and his well-developed muscles were a testament to his physical fortitude.
“I have been honing my sword skills since I was a child,” Karl explained. “I’m proficient in close combat, and I pledge to prove my dedication and service to you, my Lord.”
Broken took a moment to reflect on Karl’s stats. They revealed a well-rounded knight with a focus on close-range combat, much like Igor, but at a slightly lower level. Nonetheless, Karl’s qualities seemed quite satisfactory.
“Good, Karl,” Broken acknowledged with a nod of approval.
He then directed his attention to the next Knight in line. “Next,” he said.
[Name: Yann]
[Level: 136]
[Strength: 320 | Agility: 650 | Intelligence: 213 | Constitution: 211 | Stamina: 211]
The next Knight stepped forward, a slim young man. “My Lord,” Yann began, his voice clear. “I specialize in using the bow and fighting from a distance.”
“Good, Yann,” Broken responded, pleased with the diverse skill set his Knights seemed to possess. “I look forward to effective cooperation from you.”
“Ready to serve, my Lord,” Yann replied confidently.
So far, Broken felt quite satisfied with the composition of his Knights. With two close-range fighters in Igor and Karl and now an archer in Yann, it was apparent that these warriors were chosen with specific roles in mind. It lent credit to the thought that his Knights were not randomly selected.
With one Knight Commander and five skilled Knights at his disposal, Broken realized he had a competent team capable of operating independently in various combat scenarios. Though he had yet to assess the remaining three Knights, he was optimistic about the capabilities and roles they would bring to the group.
[Name: Damir]
[Level: 119]
[Strength: 211 | Agility: 120 | Intelligence: 540 | Constitution: 213 | Stamina: 315]
The next Knight to step forward was a young man named Damir, not yet twenty but brimming with determination and loyalty.
“My Lord,” Damir began respectfully, “I am a sword-wielder, and I dedicate my life to serving you.”
Broken examined Damir’s stats closely and found it intriguing that despite his notably high Intelligence, he had chosen the path of a swordsman.
“Damir,” Broken addressed him.
“Yes, my Lord,” Damir replied, bowing his head slightly in a gesture of respect.
Broken pondered for a moment before asking, “Have you ever considered learning magic?”
After a thoughtful moment, Damir responded, “My Lord, I apologize, but we haven’t had the opportunity to learn magic. However, I would be more than willing to learn if given the chance, especially if it is your command.”
A pleased smile tugged at Broken’s lips. “Excellent,” he said. “I shall introduce you to a Mage who I am certain you can learn a great deal from. And I hope you will be eager to learn.”
“Thank you, my Lord,” Damir replied.
This revelation was another pleasant surprise for Broken. With a knight possessing such high Intelligence, he now saw the potential for adding a Mage Knight to his team.
The dynamics of his group were getting more exciting by the minute. Two Sword Fighters, one Archer, and one Mage. But what about the other two, the female knights?
[Name: Anna]
Level: 106]
[Strength: 511 | Agility: 211 | Intelligence: 190 | Constitution: 120 | Stamina: 210]
Anna, an 18-year-old girl with shoulder-length blonde hair, spoke up loudly, “My Lord, I am also a sword user. I’ll work hard and won’t let you down.”
Broken glanced at Anna’s stats and was surprised to see such a high Strength stat for someone
so young. However, he noticed her other stats needed work.
“I believe you’ll become an exceptional Knight in the future,” he said with confidence.
“Thank you, My Lord,” Anna responded gratefully.
[Name: Inggrid]
[Level: 113]
[Strength: 213 | Agility: 393 | Intelligence: 220 | Constitution: 210 | Stamina: 290]
The final Knight was Inggrid, a twenty-year-old woman with long, jet-black hair.
“My Lord,” she declared resolutely. “I, too, am a sword fighter, and I dedicate myself to doing my best to meet your expectations.”
Broken was pleased to see that Inggrid’s stats were evenly distributed. He thought she might be even more formidable if she tried using a bow or agility-type weapon.
“Have you ever considered trying something other than sword fighting, Inggrid?” he asked.
“My Lord, I’ve never had the opportunity to use any other weapons, but if you command it, I would be more than willing to learn,” Inggrid replied.
He smiled, excitement in his voice. “Very well. I will give you the chance to gain experience with a different weapon.”
“Thank you, My Lord,” she said, nodding appreciatively.
Broken was quite satisfied after reviewing the overall stats of the six knights. Although there was no Tanker among them, he thought Igor might be able to take on that role. Meanwhile, Karl would focus on being a close-range physical damage dealer. Yann would serve as the archer, keeping an eye on the battle from a distance. Damir would delve into mastering magic. With Anna’s high Strength, she seemed suited for wielding a greatsword or a hammer. As for Inggrid, she appeared to be a better fit for fighting with daggers or knuckles.
He was intrigued by the six Knights standing before him and determined to utilize all his resources to maximize their potential. They could prove to be invaluable in the future. He even thought, who knows? Maybe they could become Imperial Knights one day. “Alright, Igor, Karl, Yann, Damir, Anna, Inggrid,” he said in a steady voice, “I’m confident you’ll all become great knights in the future. I hope we can work well together, and I hope I can meet your expectations as your Lord.”
“Yes, My Lord,” they replied in unison. “We are ready to serve you.”
Broken surveyed the average levels of the six Knights and realized that they were sufficiently powerful to assist him in hunting. However, he was aware that they weren’t strong enough to tackle high-level monsters, not to mention the risk if there were players intentionally trying
to harm them.
“At least these Knights can work more independently,” he mused to himself, unlike Spirit, who always sticks close to him, or many of his summons that could only be called for a short
duration and required intense control.
“Broken?” Princess Alora’s voice broke through his thoughts.
He turned towards her, “Yes, Princess?”
“I will prepare the necessary equipment and weapons for them if you truly want them to learn
new types of weaponry,” she offered.
“Is this too much of a burden, Princess?”
“No,” she replied. “I’m glad I can help.”
“Thank you, Princess,” Broken said gratefully.
He then checked the information in his Manage Employees menu and found additional details about his knights, specifically their Talents?! What are talents? Are they different from skills?