Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Please, spare me

After the screen cut, something funky popped up in the member action list.

"Big drought this year, kids multiplying like rabbits, and Mystic Boar Forest's all out of critters. The kiddos are sick of pork, so he decided to venture further out for some new grub. Planning to hunt big time, stock up for the fam."

Check out this responsible kid, huh?

Ethan whipped out the map.

Soon enough, he spotted Nathan trekking through a place called Silver Ironwood Forest on the map.

Before long, Ethan saw Nathan in a standoff with a horse on the screen.

"Nathan battled a mystical Silver Ironwood horse, wounded it, and after a three-day chase, he caught it. But seeing the horse's pleading eyes, he sensed its humanity and let it go, quietly reaching into his backpack, thinking, 'Better walk away before the blood splatters on me.'"

"Little did he know, grateful for the human's gesture with the bow, the Silver Ironwood horse followed Nathan all the way back to Blackwood and became his ride!"

After snagging a mystical beast.

Nathan built a stable, and now there's a horse joyfully galloping around their place.

And soon after,

Blackwood got more good news, making Ethan super stoked.

"Luna gave birth to a boy, named 'Julian Blackwood'!"

"Congrats to Blackwood for the new addition, earning a Spiritual Tribute +10"

Three kids now!

At this rate, Nathan could pop out a basketball team, or heck, a whole class!

Nathan's family was all gratitude towards the Forebearer.

The new kid Julian, he's got some decent stats.

Metal Psychic Constitution: 42

Fire Psychic Constitution: 51

Especially this little guy, must've eaten something wild in the womb, came out with a trait, even yanked out a strand of Nathan's hair!

Trait: Sturdy Bones

"Bigger bones than most kids, strength increased by 5%."

"Forebearer, you seeing this? My boy Julian's got some serious muscle, he'll be great at hauling dung!"

Thanks on behalf of your son Julian...

Ethan was thrilled about the family addition. Nathan was clearly hard at work hunting in Silver Ironwood, though it seemed to be crawling with mystical beasts. Once, Nathan even got a minor injury.

But Ethan quickly hit Nathan with some 'Love of the Forebearer.'

What surprised Ethan was the 'severe drought' in the game world lasted a long time, even affecting the fields next to the house. Blackwood's only daughter, Amelia, was seen clutching the dry soil, crying her eyes out.

Time quickly moved to year nine.

The drought hadn't ended, but Nathan was prepared. His three kids and wife weren't starving, and the well hadn't dried up.

As Ethan watched the family slowly thrive and waited for the tenth year to roll around so he could use the "Divine Gift" from the Mystic Burner,

He furrowed his brow.

"Special Event: Bandits"

"In the drought year, crops failed, many folks turned to banditry. Thirteen thieves hit Blackwood one night. One of them, clueless, tried to steal the Silver Ironwood horse, got kicked to death by it, waking Nathan!"

In the screen, the night lit up Blackwood, and under Ethan's gaze, Nathan, machete in hand, burst from his room.

Yelling at the thieves outside the stable,

"Get off our property, or don't blame me for getting rough!"

In the game, it was Ethan's first time seeing someone barge into the family's turf.

"Looks like farming ain't all peace and quiet; there's some real danger lurking around."

Ethan squinted his eyes, quietly watching how Nathan would handle the situation unfolding in the game.

Above the heads of the bandits, a message popped up.

"Hand over all your cash and grub, or we'll make you regret it!"

The bandits were feeling bold due to their numbers.

But their arrogance didn't last long.

After ten years of honing his psychic powers, Nathan had reached the fourth level of Foundational Energy. The 'Psychic Arts Manual' Ethan gave him included combat skills and some basic magical martial arts. Plus, Nathan had been scrapping regularly in Mystic Boar Forest and Silver Ironwood, so his combat prowess was no joke.

This ragtag group of bandits, hungry and desperate, was no match for Nathan.

And then,

Out of the stables charged the Silver Ironwood horse!

Nathan's wife, Luna, also showed her fierce side. Usually busy farming and taking care of the kids, she now burst out of the kitchen wielding a kitchen knife, ready to defend her home.

Even young Lucas, armed with a wooden sword, dashed out of his room, a message appearing above his head, "Come to our house to steal? We'll beat you to a pulp!"

"They've got a Psychic, stop fighting, mercy, we won't dare again!"

As the family charged, along with a horse causing chaos among the bandits,

The bandits quickly lost the battle and ended up kneeling in front of the Blackwood residence.

"Today, I'll spare your lives. But if you dare come back, I'll break your legs!"

Nathan bellowed with fierce eyes.

"Thank you, sir, we won't dare again!"

In a moment, the bandits, grateful for their lives, scurried away.

Watching Nathan's merciful act, Ethan furrowed his brows deeply. seaʀᴄh thё Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Clearly, up until now, Nathan had been peacefully developing his family, engaging in combat only with wild animals and mystical beasts.

These bandits were still human, and Nathan showed a considerable amount of mercy towards his own kind.

But Ethan felt that Nathan's decision to let the bandits go was a grave mistake.

"These bandits, no matter how they found Blackwood, now know there's enough food here during this severe drought. Even if they don't dare come back, what if they spread the word to other bandits?"

Ethan took a deep breath, muttering to himself, "Even if Nathan is strong enough to defeat these ordinary people, he has to leave home to hunt sometimes. The three kids aren't grown up yet, and Luna is just a bit stronger than average. What if they get attacked?"

The mouse slowly moved to the "Forebearer's Protection."

Ethan found a skill—

"Forebearer's Wrath: Attack from the Forebearer's cards. The more family members, the stronger the skill, the more Spiritual Tribute it consumes."

"Using 'Forebearer's Wrath,' consuming 20 points of Spiritual Tribute!"

Suddenly,

The cards of the Forebearer on the altar shone brightly, floated up, and shot out of Blackwood's gate, tracing a beautiful purple arc in the game's night sky.

This time, Ethan discovered he could control the cards!

"The Forebearer shows his power again!"

The people of Blackwood immediately knelt down, even the Silver Ironwood horse mimicked Nathan and knelt.

"What's this?"

"Looks like a spirit cards!"

The bandits turned their heads in surprise, staring at the cards.

Without a second thought, Ethan controlled the cards, targeting the bandit who ran the farthest.

Then,

The cards pierced right through the bandit's chest!

"Weren't we promised no killing? Run!"

"Help, I don't want to die."

"Please, spare me."

Ethan frowned, still maneuvering the mouse, targeting the bandits daring to flee.