With the rising of the sun, Blight was already awake and beginning his morning training.
If there was one thing he could have learned from this vision, it was just how weak he was in this world.
He was like an ant among giants. He was so far behind!
That one attack from the clan leader could decimate rivers and hills.
That one attack from the flying horror could incinerate the entire clan fortress.
What could he do other than predict it would happen two seconds earlier?
Heck, he doubted he could fare even against a single horror!
'I'm too weak, too helpless. Far too weak.'
He kept on shaking his head subconsciously every time his thoughts became like this.
Blight slashed with his sword, repeating sword strikes and dodging imaginary foes and attacks. [Gaze into the Abyss] was activated constantly, showing him minute variations from his preferred action or position.
It allowed him to refine his every movement and become unexploitable.
It wasn't anything special or flashy. No bursts of power or cheers from spectators. It was only he and [Gaze into the Abyss] training silently on this bleak winter morning.
He wanted to eventually reach a point where he did everything perfectly, with no mistakes or flaws, but it seemed like he was still very far from such a thing.
In a way, he didn't know what it meant to be perfect yet. His current definition was his fighting in such a way that he didn't intuitively feel that he had any openings or misactions.
But who was to say his intuition was correct?
And would such a plan work against Horrors?
He lacked the experience and knowledge to determine that fact.
Marsuu soon joined him, and they trained together until Breakfast.
When Marsuu brought up how hard Blight was pushing himself these days, Avil asked him why.
He didn't know what to say. It's not like he could tell them: "We're all going to die in five months."
Instead, he shrugged and simply said, "I need those ether fragments to get stronger."
Leyhart chimed, "Don't forget, we still have the missions. You can still earn ether fragments in other ways."
This was news to him.
"The what now?"
Shazbot joined, "Yeah, they haven't announced it yet, but every year after the competition is completed and our rankings are decided, we'll be able to complete one mission per week and redeem a reward including ether fragments."
Well, this was a welcome surprise. It gave him an idea
"What are these missions like?"
Shazbot looked at him strangely and shrugged. "How am I supposed to know? It changes every year depending on where they want to put us."
"These missions," Blight stuttered, "can they be expeditions beyond the walls?"
Shazbot nodded.
"Sure. Most of them should be."
Blight felt a wave of relief wash over him.
The more he thought about it, the more he realised that while strength was important to survive in the world beyond the walls, what he needed first and foremost was:
A plan to escape and survive.
There was no point in having strength if he could not escape the impending doom
He couldn't know for certain if it was the coming summer that the fortress of the Red Legion would be destroyed, but he could not take any chances.
"And are these missions assigned independently or to a group?" Blight continued.
It was Marsuu who replied this time.
"There are both missions that you can complete alone, and others that need to be completed by a group, sometimes up to a group of ten."
'Hmmm,' Blight fell into deep thought.
This could be his way out.
Blight took a long, deep look at these people whom he had recently come to know.
Would he let them all die?
Leyhart noticed him.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
Blight chuckled and shook his head
"You're uglier than usual."
Everybody laughed.
Was he so heartless?
After survival tactics, he asked the instructor for books on the geography of the forsaken chain and the surrounding regions, and one that recorded attacks on human settlements.
He offered Blight two books, one of which was written generally and depicted the overall human zone of influence and another of the mountaineous region containing the forsaken chain in the northwestern boundary of the human zone of influence.
However, regarding attacking horrors:
"Why are you asking? It's very unlikely we'd ever be attacked if that's what you're worried about."
He misunderstood. Of course, how could he understand?
Blight shook his head, stating, "I'm only curious and wanting to learn more about human history."
The instructor handed him another book, which detailed records of attacks from the horrors.
Blight thanked him and left. But when he skimmed over the books, he found that they lacked great detail.
There was very little useful information about the geography of the northern mountain region or the human zone, and the other book only recorded attacks before the human zone of influence was established during the ancient era.
Next, he opted to skip swordsmanship today altogether and headed to the library instead.
It was the first time he visited the place despite spending many weeks at the barracks.
A striking red carpet stretched across the floor, lined with long rows of tall bookshelves.
Near the center of the room were a few low-set tables, surrounded by simple chairs.
Up front, a woman sat behind a wooden desk in this otherwise deserted library, however, she stood up when she noticed Blight.
Blight felt a sense of urgency to look for answers and prepare. Hopefully, she could help him with this.
"How can I help you, young man?"
Her voice was strangely warm and evoked a calm feeling.
He put on his nicest fake smile.
"Good afternoon, miss, I'm looking to borrow a few books on different subjects."
He asked the woman who looked like she was in charge, and she offered him twelve different books on the geography of the forsaken chain, and the paths connecting them to other clans, including middle fortress.
This time, unlike with his survival tactics instructor, he changed his request to 'attacks on the human zone of influence'.
"I was also wondering... do you have any records on horror attacks on clans within the human zone of influence?"
She piqued, "Huh, why?"
Blight didn't know what to say.
"I'm just curious."
She leaned back a little.
"Horror attacks on the human zone... That's an odd request." She blinked slowly. "We have accounts of the great battles throughout history, of course."
Her voice softened, "But as for anything recent, the human zone has never really been attacked since it was created. Most of the powerful ancient horrors are far, far away, and any nearby horrors are constantly culled."
Blight couldn't understand
"But one just did?"
She was silent, and then she ushered him to come closer with her hands and whispered to him.
"That was the first time the great wall was ever reached. They don't know yet how it managed to go by undetected, or why it would present such weird behaviour to attack the wall."
"So that would normally never happen?" Blight asked.
She smiled at him and laughed lightly while patting his shoulder.
"Yes, dear. You don't have to worry about that ever happening again, you are safe behind these walls."
He didn't think it was appropriate to laugh with her.