Chapter 129: Aaaaaand, we’re back to work

A month. That’s all the time Kanan managed to get off work. It wasn’t that his break was over; rather, the lurking danger that hung over everyone’s heads didn’t give him any more time to relax than a month.

Vertrin and Glacia were blessings to him, so much so that it made him ill to depart from them. But duty was calling, and he had no choice but to answer, especially if he wanted them to grow up safely.

Reconstruction of the Village’s outer edges had been completed. Livestock were replaced, and a newer, smaller wall was built around the farmland to protect it. Though the wall was more like a giant fence than a proper wall.

With the reconstruction out of the way, this only left three things to do before leaving for the Helsik Tribe: better the village’s defences, form an elite squad and begin their training, and finally, destroy the flesh plant underneath the Typhon Tribe’s old village.

The carpenters, blacksmiths, lumberjacks, miners, and others were fast at work building and improving the village’s defences. Kanan had given them certain things to improve on, such as the means to build massive stone structures.

That was still a ways away, though.

Iron was found some time ago, but it was so little that it wasn’t able to be used widely. Kanan determined that it was simply a small iron deposit, enough to make a sword or two if smelted, but not enough to fully transition into the Iron Age.

On the plus side, being completely in the Bronze Age gave way to a lot of new inventions such as the syringe, which was made some time ago when making the cure to the Verminus Plant.

Weapons were crafted with care, forged better than ever, especially after Kanan learned that objects forged with spirit energy have higher durability and resonate better with people’s abilities.

But one thing Kanan made a standard was the crafting of armor.

Leather armor existed, and they’ve managed to craft some good leather armor, but bronze was still better. Though, for the time being, Kanan only focused on having bronze armor for arms and legs so movement wouldn’t be limited. Heavy armor wasn’t very popular among the warriors when he suggested it.

Finally, after visiting multiple places around the village to ensure that everything was going according to schedule, Kanan made his way to Telah and Selin, who were in charge of training up the Elite Squad of warriors.

For the time being, the recruits consisted of twenty people, ages ranging from 16 to 25. Ten were from the Typhon Tribe, while the other ten were from the Nemean Tribe.

The Typhon Tribe had it pretty easy compared to the Nemean Tribe. Their chosen recruits consisted of five people with basic spirit manipulation, like Telah, three witches, and two sorcerers. Risha wasn’t one of them.

As for the Nemean Tribe, they were all over the place. A wind, water, earth, fire, and lightning user. Selin told Kanan that she thought it would be best to have people who could use the elements since they were the most destructive during battle.

After them were people with Chlorokinesis, Telekinesis, Telepathy, Super Speed, and Force Field abilities.

It was like getting multiple clowns with different talents for a circus performance.

"This is going to be tough." Kanan already regretted agreeing to form an elite squad. The amount of effort it was going to take to train each of them individually was going to be tiresome.

’Think about the future.’ He told himself, knowing that once this group was taught everything, teaching would not only become easier, but these twenty could also teach as well.

"While you were on break, Telah and I went over the different styles of combat we know of. Together, we created a uniform style that incorporates both Nemean and Typhon principles. It’s still in the early stages, but it’s something."

Kanan nodded after hearing Selin’s report. She also told him that they merged training methods as well, not just combat styles.

"What about spirit energy?" Kanan asked

"Well, we didn’t really focus on spirit energy too much over the past month. Though we did learn that both tribes can suffer from spirit energy reflux."

Kanan already knew that, but it was still good to have it clarified.

"We’ve also learned that the spirit energy we use is the same as the Typhon Tribe, as well as the way it is absorbed," Selin added.

Once again, Kanan knew that, but this would make things easier for the actual recruits.

"Tell me, Telah, when you absorb spirit energy, how do you concentrate it into your body? For example, with us Nemean Tribesmen, we absorb spirit energy into our entire beings, filling every corner of our bodies. We then refine and control it so it’s not just raging inside our bodies."

Basically, the Nemean Tribe had spirit energy flow through them as if it were their own blood, instead of having it rage through their bodies as if they were radiating a ton of heat like a furnace.

"That’s very odd. We refine our abilities into what’s called spirit cores."

Kanan raised an eyebrow. "Spirit cores?"

"Yes. Generations ago, when our tribes were warring, the chief of our people lost badly against your people. Because of that, he spent countless days learning how to become more powerful. He meditated, trying to uncover the secrets of spirit energy, and as a sorcerer, he conversed with the spirits. But it wasn’t until he saw a dead body that he realized what should be done."

"What did he do?"

"I wasn’t aware of this until recently, but do you remember when Risha told you about the flame she can see inside people, as well as the misty void she sees in dead people?"

Kanan nodded.

"Well, the chief at that time concluded that if he were to concentrate spirit energy into where his flame flows, then his power should grow. This is what the spirit core is. It’s located in our chests, where the spirit flame is the strongest."

"A spirit core, huh? I think I have an idea of what we should focus on." Kanan couldn’t wait to start experimenting.