Name: Cheese
Age: 29
Soul Coins (SC): 1
Faith Coins (FC): 12 ? 13 ? 14
Displayed Title: Branded Heretic (Locked)
Displayed Skill: Apprentice [Axe 29]
Quest Rewards: None
Quests:
Clear Out the Riffraff – 12,324 / 30,126 invaders remaining
Closest invader is 1.23 kilometers to the north-northeast.
Skills:
- [Axe 29 Common]
- [Spiritual Manipulation 23 Rare]
- [Spiritual Resistance 13 Legendary]
- [Cooking 11 Common]
- [Climbing 10 Common]
...
Abilities:
- [Cleave 11 Rare]
- [Spiritual Binding 1 unique]
Cheese scrolled through the skills and abilities list, noticing each entry’s unique classification. No extra information or skill descriptions were available, but he felt he knew each ability well enough to make use of them. Shifting to the Shop tab, he noted that items could be bought with either Faith Coins or Soul Coins. His Faith Coin count had slowed after an initial surge, now ticking up by about one coin per minute, resting at 32 for now.
In the Shop, only eleven items were unlocked—all Divine Message Scrolls, each priced at a single Faith Coin. He hesitated, considering the purchase but decided to explore another option. Moving on to the Divine menu, he saw an entry for his standing with the gods:
Pantheon: Heretical Usurpers
Deity Rank: 1/1
Planetary Rank: 4th among all planetary pantheons
Available Divine Actions: None
The menu was... underwhelming. Its starkness left him pondering; he might need to make contact with one of the gods and get some answers. After a time, he managed to flit through his abilities and skills and came to a few conclusions.
The skills seemed to have a rarity, and a ranking. That ranking was determined by the level, which was also shown, whereas Cheese was unsure what determined the Rarity. He was able to piece together that the skills were ranked Novice, then Apprentice. As he asked about, he discovered that a few had passed the barrier at 30 including his mother. She had gained a level 32 skill in cooking and was a Journeyman. Cheese wondered to himself what the next level was and concluded that it must be past the barrier at 50. Sadly, the old man who had broken that barrier was not here to ask, so Cheese was forced to leave the question of what was past the barrier at 50 unanswered for now. However, due to the gods' conversations he knew that the barrier at 75 was the one to mastery, so Cheese was left with this incomplete understanding of skills.
Level 0-15 Novice
Level 15-29 Apprentice
Level 30-50 Journeyman
Level 50-75 Unknown
Level 75-Unknown Master
Cheese was inclined to assume that the levels capped at 100, but he had no basis for that. Also, he did not know if master was the highest ranking of the skill. He simply didn't have any information on the topic.
Before he could worry on the matter more, Cheese realized the elders seemed to have concluded their discussion.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Rook took center stage, as was his custom, his voice steady as he addressed the crowd. “I have spoken with the new king,” he announced, his words prompting hushed murmurs to ripple through the assembly. “Prince Aleon has taken the mantle, and his orders are clear. We are to reclaim the port of Fairhaven in the coming weeks and rid our lands of invaders. He will be moving in our direction after they meet with other forces. Are there any questions?”
Rook’s gaze swept over the gathered townsfolk, but no one dared speak up. Satisfied, he nodded. “Very well, let it be so. We’ll rest for eight hours, then gather our things. Tomorrow night, we march. Once we reach Fairhaven, we’ll set up and begin ferrying supplies. I’ll remain here if anyone wishes to speak with me.”
With Rook’s command, the people of Timberbrook moved quickly. Though not a town of soldiers, the people were accustomed to hard work and discipline. A tide of purposeful movement swept out of the amphitheater as villagers made their way back to prepare, each eager to contribute as best they could.
Cheese, however, felt a strange draining sensation as he walked with his family back toward his small, weathered hovel. His heart wrestled with all that had happened—only days ago, he’d stood before beings of divine power, and now he found himself here, at home, in a town forever changed and soon to be abandoned. Yet he was not scared.... he was excited.
It was true, the Heretical usurper title rocked him, but besides that he had few qualms, a new path was open, and he finally felt as if he was growing.
Cheese woke while it was still dark. That surprised him, he had hardly slept yet he felt refreshed. As he sat up, he skipped the customary lethargy and then thought for a moment on how strange that was. He walked outside and saw his lovely hens clucking away in the morning. He went about his normal schedule and began slowly making arrangements for his breakfast. Cheese had been away, but his friend had kept the hovel stocked and the chickens fed, so he ate a small meal of meat and eggs with wine, then he began preparing like the elders had told them. He packed his things neatly in a logger's ruck, a thick backpack made of leather.
Cheese opened his ruck, placing each piece of gear carefully inside. There wasn’t much to take, but he packed his essentials with methodical care: a sturdy bedroll, dried provisions, a flask, and a few tools. His hand hovered over the spot where his axe should be, only to remember he’d stored it using his ability the night before. Cheese took a breath and focused on his core, summoning the blade using [Spiritual Binding].
Taking a deep breath, he focused on summoning it. A strange, tingling sensation sparked in his chest as he reached out to the weapon, willing it to his hand. At first, nothing happened. He furrowed his brow, concentrating harder, until suddenly the axe was there—solid, tangible, and almost warm in his grip. The Susine wood haft felt steady in his hand, the runes faintly glowing in the dim light. He gave it a few test swings, admiring the balance.
He then focused again, thinking only of storing it like he had last night. The axe shimmered slightly, then faded from view, returning to the void of his spiritual space. It was far easier to store the blade than it was to manifest it, and Cheese had found that he could only do this with the axe. After a few more tries, the summoning felt easier, more natural. A grin broke over his face as he muttered to himself, "That fight with the Nekomata was almost worth it just to get this skill."
Satisfied, he headed outside to his hens, tossing them feed and filling their troughs generously. "This should last you all a few weeks, ladies," he said softly, watching them peck at the ground. He would miss their morning clucks, but Timberbrook would change drastically by the time he returned—if he returned at all.
From his storeroom, he selected the best of his food: dried meats, cheeses, and hard biscuits. He bundled everything neatly and made his way to the mill, where he loaded the provisions into the family’s old wagon. The streets were empty and unnaturally silent as he walked, his footfalls echoing off the shuttered homes and deserted storefronts. He’d woken before the others, and Timberbrook lay in a pre-dawn hush, as though holding its breath.
Just as he finished loading the wagon, he felt a presence behind him. He turned to see Rook standing nearby, arms crossed, watching him with a quiet pride in his eyes.
“Didn’t expect to see you up already,” Cheese said, nodding to him. “Everything from last night still on your mind?”
Rook nodded. “That meeting… it marks a new chapter for our people. This System announcement has stirred things up. People are restless, unsure, but you—” he paused, his gaze sharpening as he studied Cheese, “seem almost eager.”
Cheese chuckled. “I am. It’s strange, but I feel like I finally have a purpose. I know it’ll be dangerous, but… I’m excited to see where it takes me.”
Rook’s expression softened. “Then I have something I’d like you to do, son.” He gestured to the supplies in the wagon. “We will march for Fairhaven, yet I ask that you lead your bothers and take out those invaders. If it's the giants simply fall back, but if you can I want you to take whatever you find down. Don't take risks and then come home to me.”
Cheese’s eyes widened. “You want me to lead them? Really?”
Rook nodded. “This isn’t the world we knew. I need men I can count on, and I know you’re ready. Will you do this for me son?”
A wave of determination filled Cheese, settling into a steady resolve. He straightened, nodding back. “Alright, I’ll do it.”
Rook clapped him on the shoulder, and with a nod, he turned to leave, disappearing back into the silent streets. Cheese stood there a moment longer, watching his father’s figure fade into the dawn mist. Then, with a steadying breath, he prepared to meet whatever came next.