The Final Desperation

War is an ugly event. Injuries and deaths are commonplace in this brutal conflict. Yet, compared to the wars Genji had seen, this one was simply a child's quarrel. Neither side went all out, striving to exterminate the other. Rather, they kept the conflict contained between the hunters and warriors of the tribes, preserving a semblance of peace among the common folk.

However, that doesn't mean there were no injuries. Though casualties were minimal, as the hunters covered each other's weaknesses in combat, the medical tents of the kuniars were tightly packed every day. On one day, it became so crowded that many had to wait outside and tend to their own wounds, necessitating the expansion of the tents.

The kuniars scrambled around their tents like chickens with their heads cut off, exhausting themselves daily. Genji was no different from them, but he easily endured the rush.

Many of the women became nurses to help with the workload, while young warriors led teams to gather the medical plants required to fuel this cycle. It was fair to say the tribe had fallen into a new rhythm, one of battle and revenge.

Amidst this chaos, Astros gave in to his inherent curiosity and wandered off alone. This surprised Genji, as the furball was normally quite clingy and refused to leave his side. So, to see him take the initiative was unexpected, to say the least.

It was only later that night that Genji realized why Astros wanted to do so when he returned with a knotted rope. After placing it down, Astros looked up at him with adoring eyes, wanting to be praised. Astros had somehow gotten a record of another tribe's history.

Unable to decline his good intentions, Genji let out a mirthful smile and praised the critter. "Thank you. This is very helpful."

Astros let out some happy yips before asking for dinner and snuggling around Genji's neck. The following morning, Astros left again to repeat his thievery, only to bring back a normal rope.

The two ropes looked identical to the untrained eye, so Astros couldn't be blamed for the mistake. In fact, Astros only brought these ropes to Genji because Genji seemed to attach a lot of importance to them, despite finding the fixation weird. But Astros decided to accept this strangeness and support Genji in his rope fetishes, unaware that Genji had already given up his endeavors.

Over the next few days, Astros brought back a wide assortment of items. From clothes hanging out to dry to reins used for the natives' mounts, he collected them all as long as they bore some resemblance to ropes.

Genji, seeing how much fun Astros was having, didn't have the heart to tell him that these items were useless. Hence, the miscellaneous items piled up in his inventory, awaiting disposal.

The conflicts between the two tribes intensified during this period, culminating in a final battle. The only unexpected factor was that the opposing tribe attacked first, shifting the battle's location to the tribe's territory. Warriors from both sides confronted each other, and the battle devolved into a gruelsome melee.

Enraged shouts and the clanging of weapons filled the area, putting all the spectators on edge. The most intense battle was between the two chief hunters, whose strength rivaled Genji's in every aspect. They were evenly matched in capabilities and carved out an open space on the battlefield, creating an arena of their own.

They exchanged fierce attacks in rapid succession, leaving many onlookers in awe of their strength. Following that, the supporters were inspired by their valor and attacked with even greater potency.

All of a sudden, the rival chief hunter used a powerful skill, hurling his spear at breakneck speeds. Out of instinct, the tribe's hunter narrowly avoided a fatal injury. However, his left shoulder was caught in the attack, crippling it and swinging the battle in the opponent's favor.

Normally, this would have decided the battle, but one unexpected circumstance changed this result: the spear was flying toward Genji's tent. More specifically, directly at his chest, inadvertently threatening to impale him. Genji immediately sensed the threat and moved to catch it.

*Boooooommmm*

The ground shattered like glass, and the tailwind blew the tent apart. The sound of sticks crumbling and cloth fluttering filled the air. A sonic boom followed, and the air screeched in pain before the spear came to a trembling stop, its tip mere centimeters from Genji's chest.

"Now, that wasn't very nice, was it?" Genji asked, tossing the weapon aside and giving the distant fighter a cold glare. The next moment, he materialized beside the tribal chief and asked, "How much to kill that guy right now?"

"Unfortunately, we can't afford your help. We can only spare 10 miracles at the moment," the elder replied sadly, having become accustomed to Genji's requests.

"Okay, deal," Genji instantly agreed, surprising the chief.

It was an insultingly low price for a warrior of that stature, but Genji didn't care. He merely asked to see if he could earn other rewards for the task. That's because Genji intended to take action, even if the chief had rejected the offer, as he had been attacked unwarrantedly. He wouldn't be himself if he quietly endured that provocation; no one would.

Genji appeared beside the enemy hunter like an elusive phantom and swung his newly materialized dagger, disrupting a deadly attack on the tribe's hunter. A streak of blood and several chain attacks flew through the air, putting the man on the back foot.

Then a saber came down, drawing more blood and injecting a numbing poison. The barrage of attacks continued, and soon, the man collapsed in a puddle of his own blood. Unwillingness flashed through his eyes, but a heavy stomp on the chest snuffed out his light.

"Next time, don't involve the bystanders, you asshole," Genji said, hovering over him and delivering the final blow.

[You have slain Koloki, Chief Hunter of the Goildi tribe]

[Your maximum energy has increased by 22 points.]

[You have obtained 329,102 coins.]

[You have obtained: Koloki's Spear (rare)]

"Genji's actions brought everything to a standstill, with each side reacting differently to the outcome. The friendly units were astounded by his strength, never having considered him anything more than a competent doctor. Meanwhile, the enemies were terrified by how effortlessly Genji dispatched their strongest fighter, a sight that demoralized them all.

Genji glanced indifferently at the frozen fighters and coldly asked, "Don't you know it's impolite to stare? Now frick off before I poke your eyes out."

His words ignited chaos on the battlefield, sending disorganized enemies scrambling for escape while relentless pursuers hunted them down. Now that the tide of battle had turned, the tribesmen were determined to hold the enemies accountable. 

While this happened, Genji appeared beside the chief and reminded him of their deal. 

The elder nodded absent-mindedly as his glazed eyes reflected Genji's retreating figure."What just happened?" he asked no one in particular when Genji disappeared from his sight.

Genji and his team departed later that night, having earned a sizeable income. The tribe didn't have many vitality stones left after these transactions, so it became impractical to stay any longer. Genji obtained 381 stones from his stay, 350 of which were absorbed to increase his health by 2853, bringing his total to 10,613. The numbers are uneven because the actual increase fluctuated between 7 and 9 points per stone. The remaining stones were kept as monetary items for potential trading.

 

---

 

As they journeyed, Genji encountered many battles and occasional hostile attacks. At first, he attributed these encounters to mere xenophobia, but he quickly discovered this abnormality had become commonplace. It was only after communicating with a milder group that he learned war had broken out across the plains.

Turns out the mastermind was more ambitious than Genji expected, instigating conflict between numerous tribes. Genji realized he could capitalize on this and headed toward a nearby tribe.

"Halt! Identify yourself," the patrol shouted with drawn bows and raised spears as he approached, guarding against unknown attackers.

"I'm a sword for hire. I will fight your enemies for a price," Genji replied.

"No need. We don't need a stranger's help right now," they said with unwelcoming scowls. It was evident that they didn't think highly of the mercenary profession.

"You sure? I'm pretty confident in my abilities. I can take care of almost anyone."

The guards hesitated, indicating they weren't completely against the idea but were uncertain about Genji's statements. After a few more seconds, they said, "Wait here. We'll get someone you can talk to."

Minutes later, they returned with a burly man in his 30s. He was shirtless from the waist up, revealing numerous tattoos and vigorous muscles. Genji suspected this was the chief hunter or someone of similar standing from the intense aura he emanated with each step. His strength certainly qualified him for such a position.

"I heard you're strong?" the man asked, evaluating Genji's demeanor.

Genji explained his offer again, emphasizing his specialty in single confrontations. He had no interest in slaughtering the weak, as it was redundant and not worthwhile.

"Is that so? Then how about Vadra, the chief hunter of the Yohagans?"

"How much are you offering?"

The man stated his price, and Genji countered with an offer of his own. This sparked a series of back-and-forths until they reached a mutually acceptable amount of 52.

"Vadra has three scars running down his face. Bring me his scalp, and this is all yours," the hunter said, providing a brief description of the target.

Although curious about this requirement, Genji kept these questions to himself and merely stated, "I need a guide."

The hunter glanced at a trusted assistant, who understood the request and prepared his mount. Then they set off for the rival tribe, where they would initiate a duel against Vadra. That was the plan at least, but Genji had different ideas. Instead of rushing in to confront his opponent, Genji stopped at a distance and set up camp, confusing his partner.

"Hey, what are you doing? Aren't you going to fight?" The hunter asked.

"I will, but not now. You just need him dead, right? It doesn't matter how?"

"I mean... no?"

"Then I'll do it my way. I'm more used to it."

Although still baffled by this development, the hunter obliged since Genji was the one performing the task.

Night soon fell upon them, and it was time for Genji to move. Disappearing under the cloak of darkness, Genji snooped around the tribe until he found a hunter matching Vadra's description. After confirming there were no other matches, Genji returned to the tent and released an odorless poison.

Time slowly ticked by, and Vadra's complexion became increasingly pale. Eventually, this discomfort became too much to bear, and Vadra awoke. His eyes instantly dilated as he realized something was amiss. But before he could cause a commotion, Genji appeared behind him with a firm clasp on his mouth.

A dagger swiftly followed, severing the neck and stopping all possible resistance. Genji wrestled with the headless body until it stopped moving and then disappeared from the settlement.

As Genji returned to the campout location, he heard his guide ask, "Hey, it's already night. When are you going to move?"

"I already did," Genji's voice came from behind, startling him.

Genji gave him a few moments to regain his composure before tossing over the still-bleeding head. "It's not a scalp, but this shouldn't make a difference, right?"

The man visually gulped and replied with a trembling voice, "N-no. It's all good."

"Then let's go back." Genji walked past him, and mists of blood flaked off his stained clothes, gathering beside Bruce.

The man rubbed his eyes in disbelief, but quickly dismissed it as the dim light playing tricks on his eyes. 'Yeah, that must be it...'

When they returned, they met with the same hunter who issued the request. After seeing the gruesome head carried by his subordinate, the man asked Genji to wait aside as he and the guide went to retrieve the promised payment.

"How is it? Can we beat him?" The hunter asked immediately after they left Genji's earshot. Now that their rival is dead, the hunter intends to renege on his side of the deal. After all, 52 vitality stones is not a small sum, even for him. If possible, he didn't want to pay this bounty, especially when it took him years to save this amount.

"I don't know. He didn't fight in the duel."

"I see. How cautious. Then let's do this. We'll find some excuse to test his strength. If he's strong, we'll accede. Otherwise..." The man trailed off, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"Understood," the assistant replied and pushed aside the tent's flap. Yet before he could take another step, he froze, as Genji was directly in his path. Chaotic thoughts whirled around inside him, wondering how much of their conversation Genji had overheard.

"What's wrong? Why are you so pale?" Genji asked with a gentle smile. "Are you perhaps not feeling well?"

Hearing this unexpected voice, the other hunter approached and answered on behalf of his panicking subordinate. "Thank you for the concern, but it's nothing serious. He's just tired from the travel."

"That's good. For a moment, I thought he was terrified because I 'accidentally' caught you two planning something behind my back. How ridiculous of me. You wouldn't do something as dishonorable as that, would you?"

"No way! How could anyone do such a despicable thing?" The hunter played along, acting indignant.

"Exactly! It would hurt me greatly if our cooperation broke down because of greed. Then I would have no choice but to take matters into my own hands. It's good you didn't put me in that dilemma. After all, it would be a shame to wreak havoc on such a friendly tribe."

The hunter's eyelid twitched at this blatant threat, but he maintained his cordiality. "Of course not. We honor our words."

"I'm glad we're on the same page. I'll take my payment, please."

Left with no choice, the hunter retreated into his tent and retrieved a satchel containing years of his savings. After removing the extra pieces, he handed Genji the bag.

"I don't get a tip? I worked hard to fulfill your request." Genji's smile widened into a grin, which prompted the man to lash out.

"Don't push your luck," he hissed between clenched jaws.

"That only applies if you're stronger than me, which I doubt is the case. You're free to call my bluff though. But be warned, I don't take kindly to attacks."

The man's fist clenched and unclenched multiple times, followed by several deep breaths before he gave in and chucked the stones at Genji's face. "Get out!"

Genji caught the projectiles and calmly said his signature phrase, "Pleasure doing business with you."

"Perceptive bastard," the hunter muttered as Genji faded into the horizon. 

"People never change," Genji commented around the same time. "Always making me take these extra precautionary steps. Can't we have an honest deal for once?"

Bruce rolled his eyes again, knowing that was impossible given the nature of the exchange. 'Plus, there's nothing honest about that entire interaction. You legit just coerced him into it. That won't change, no matter how polite your words are.'

Genji tapped his neck, signaling that Bruce shouldn't belittle his methods. They are effective because they blur the line between threats and bluffs, intermingling them well enough that they can be swapped without notice.

Bruce agreed with the sentiment but still snorted in response, arguing simply for entertainment - a playful bickering between good friends. 

At this moment, Astros proudly presented another satchel of vitality stones, causing both Genji and Bruce to freeze momentarily. 

'When did he steal that?' They both wondered. 

Then a strange thought came to Genji. 'Did I accidentally encourage a little kleptomaniac? Am I a bad influence?' But that thought left as quickly as it came, leaving him indifferent to its implications. 'Ehhh, who cares. I'm not losing out, so why should I stop him?'

 

---

 

Word of Genji quickly spread across the plains, making his future deals much more pleasant. Everyone knew of the strange mercenary at the peak of the inscribed warrior realm, who would fight anyone his employers requested.

Many hunters looked down on his capitalistic behavior, but they often didn't have a choice. Warriors of such capabilities were hard to nurture, so being able to hire someone for a moderate price was often enough to turn the tide of battle.

His value was further boosted when he held his own against multiple peers. His employer did pay a hefty sum for this result, but they won the battle because of it.

Since then, Genji's upper limit has been tested time and time again, but he remained an enigma to the natives, having yet to fail a mission. As of this moment, his current record is simultaneously fighting seven warriors at the peak of the inscribed realm to a standstill. One could imagine the joy that tribe felt when Genji fulfilled that request.

This has become so common that people say, 'Fear not the price he demands, but the price he doesn't. After all, you are getting a quasi-awakened for a mundane price.'

Genji was only considered quasi-awakened since awakened fighters had demonstrated significantly higher combat prowess. He would remain that way unless he revealed more about himself or fought a beast king. However, this didn't detract from his reputation, as many realm members copied his methods and became mercenaries.

As a result, competition for resources became much fiercer. Many realm members found themselves on opposite spectrums of the battlefield as they accepted conflicting requests. Battles became more complicated, and eventually, the tribes made a silent agreement to have mercenaries fight against mercenaries. That was the best they could do given the high influx of powerful people.

The rewards also went down as the supply of fighters overtook demand. The tribes still needed the helpers, but there were people willing to work for lower, more competitive prices. The others were forced to follow suit since they wanted to remain relevant. After all, earning a little is always better than none. That was how much they coveted the vitality stones.

Genji was also impacted by this gold rush. As the days went on, it became harder to find tribes with ample resources. Those that do already have people under their payroll and don't need another one, despite his astounding reputation.

Rather, it was because of his reputation that he wasn't hired. The tribes felt he was overqualified for the position and didn't want to pay such a high amount, especially when they could obtain the same results for less with more people.

This put Genji at an impasse and limited him to two options. If he wanted more stones, he could either attack a tribe in hopes of plundering their wealth or find a situation that required his exceptional strength.

Nothing else would give him the same income rate, except for finding a vitality stone mine. However, he eliminated that option since it was unknown if such a mine even existed. As far as he could tell, there were no signs of mining anywhere. Plus, he didn't have the equipment to mine the ores, even if he did find such a place.

Fortunately for the natives, Genji encountered the second scenario as he considered becoming a bandit. The tribe asking for him, the Bofas, were relatively affluent since they hadn't exhausted themselves in war, a result achieved by maintaining good relations with their neighbors.

However, this changed recently when a distant tribe, the Xacans, became ambitious and sought to expand their territory. They had already conquered the nearby areas, and the Bofas were next.

According to the chief, the aggressors achieved this by having two quasi-awakened warriors in their ranks. One of them was the chief hunter, while the other was hired from outside, similar to Genji.

For context, the natives define quasi-awakened as anyone at the peak of the inscribed warrior who could fight multiple opponents of the same rank, either through superior weapons or advanced combat techniques.

It is typically the latter, as people generally possess weapons of similar levels, but there are occasional outliers crafted from unique materials. These include but are not limited to, discarded parts of beast kings, meteorites, and condensed rock.

The Bofas don't have any of that, but they do have a decent number of peak-ranked inscribed warriors. Their request for Genji is also relatively simple: defend against the attackers until they give up on the invasion. For this request, they are willing to offer half their wealth, a sizeable amount considering how long they've been saving.

"So you just want me to stall until they get too frustrated to continue? Am I understanding you correctly?"

"Yes, that's exactly it," the chief nodded happily.

"..." Genji gave him a blank stare, not expecting his biggest commission to be so easy.

The chief smiled back at him, awaiting his decision.

A few seconds later, Genji shrugged and agreed, "Okay. You're the one paying. I won't complain."