Chương 35: Crazy Preparations

"What did you have in mind?" Franko asked excitedly.

"I can plant some plants that will explode on touch. We can sow the whole field," Maximus said, smiling.

"Wow, I've never heard of such an ability. Let's do that!" Franko clapped.

"We can also dig ditches and holes and fill them with water if we have a water mage, and then I could sink my vines into it and electrocute anything that falls in," Maximus explained.

"If we then litter the holes with sharp stakes or earthen spikes, we can cause additional damage!"

"Hmmm, we have mages. I'll have to check if we have any that can cast earth and water spells. Good ideas. Alright, I'll go and look for mages. Can you go plant your exploding plants?" Franko asked as he stood up.

"We have ourselves a plan, then!" Maximus clapped and let Franko out while he headed to the backyard to let Silex know he was leaving for a bit.

"So…?" Maria tapped her foot nervously against the cobbled ground.

"That odd dude will help us tremendously. He has some very useful skills, and I even got us some of his bombs. We might actually survive all this," Franko said with a long sigh.

"I still think that he is strange and suspicious, but as long as he is willing to help…" She turned and stared at the door for a moment before leaving with Franko to start the preparations.

Twenty minutes later, the guards stood atop the fortified walls, observing a redheaded man summoning thick roots and carving ditches into the massive field in front of the settlement. He continued to dig countless holes and trenches for almost an hour before sitting down to meditate for half an hour, then rising to repeat the process. An hour later, the man created a man-sized pile of red, glistening seeds, and from his shoulder, a plant leapt off and sprouted vines, using them to plant the seeds and assist him.

Like that, the two planted hundreds of seeds before sitting again to rest and meditate.

"What is that guy doing?" One guard asked.

"That's the druid who arrived a few days ago. I think he's planting something. God knows what," the other guard shrugged and continued watching. Then, as the man stood up, he began shouting something, and the entire field shimmered crimson, almost as if set ablaze. Suddenly, deep red plants burst violently from the earth, each as thick as an arm, and then they bloomed, releasing a dense, crimson mist-like energy across the field. As the flowers opened, the wind carried a faint scent of lilies into the settlement.

"Mmm… That smells nice. Like a summer evening." One of the guards muttered, his eyes growing distant.

"I'm not sure what he's doing, but the sight and the smell take me back to better times. Jorge… do you remember how simple everything was before all this insanity?" The guard asked. The second guard turned, his eyes wet with tears.

"I remember, Jay. It was summer, just before the first news broke about the disappearances. I was sitting on the porch at my grandma's place in Málaga when she suddenly vanished. I'll never forget that day," Jorge said quietly, leaning against the wall as he looked over the sea of crimson blooms.

A good distance from the town gates, Maximus stood in front of his trap field, smiling in satisfaction.

"Sprout, my friend… doesn't this look beautiful? Yet such beauty carries death. Life truly is mysterious." He muttered softly and turned to head back toward the settlement as he noticed groups of people watching from the walls. Looks like I have an audience. He smiled faintly and nodded solemnly toward them just as the gates opened and Franko stepped out with Maria and a handful of robed figures carrying staves.

"You really did it! So, these flowers will explode like mines?" Franko asked as he approached.

"On a single touch, they will ignite the fire mana and erupt with immense heat. In nature, the only way to harvest them would be to freeze them, then cut the roots to stop the mana flow," Maximus explained.

"Aren't you a clever one?" Maria chuckled.

"Anyway, these are mages who can help with the preparations. George, please assist Maximus with what he has planned," Franko instructed before leaving with Maria back toward the settlement.

"Hello there, my good men. I'm Maximus. So, this is what I had planned. Do you think you can help me with that?" Maximus asked as he explained his plan. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Oh, that's smart. Just like those traps in games. You got it from there, right?" George the mage asked, clearly amazed at the idea.

"Ah, yes. From the games! Indeed!" Maximus nodded. What in the nine hells are these 'games'? The mages then followed Maximus's instructions, using earth spells to carve out deep holes and split the ground to create large ditches, linking them together in an intricate web. The others assisted by filling everything with water and earthen spikes. Once the mages were finished, Maximus summoned regular Thorn Whip vines, dozens of them, and tied them together before submerging them.

He also crushed some of the thorns on purpose, letting their poison slowly drip into the water. Then he planted Seedlings from his enormous storage, using their leafy bodies to cover up the traps and surround the whole field with thick mist-like energy. By the time he was done, the sun was already beginning to set as he dragged the last vine closer to the gates.

"So, you can then channel electricity through the connected vines and create electrified water?" another mage asked.

"Yes, that is the plan. The vines are also dripping poison into the water, so hopefully the combination of poison and electricity will deal significant damage to the beasts. And that's if they don't already die from the explosions and the poison bombs," Maximus said seriously.

"Haha, you are crazy. I love it! We will work together once the battle starts. Let's make it rain, buddy!" George slapped his back firmly as he led the mages back into the settlement to rest.

"Sprout, buddy, we did the best we could. I have no other ideas that my current spells can help with. Let's just hope we can deal with the wolves before the horde arrives." He petted Sprout on the shoulder and left the fields as well, exhausted.

"Good job out there, friend!" The guard, Jorge, shouted, giving him a thumbs-up as Maximus waved him off with a nod.

Maximus returned to his house and checked on Silex, who had finally come inside and was relaxing in front of the fireplace.

"I know that you are bored, but soon we will have a big part to play. I don't doubt that you will find something nice to eat, but before that, here, take this. I've earned a lot anyway," Maximus said as he purchased a simple goat carcass for 300 tokens. Seeing the skinned goat drop to the floor beside him, Silex growled happily and began tearing into the meat.

"Glad you like it that much," Maximus smiled and purchased a simple meal for himself as well, a large pot of stew for 100 tokens, and he even got to keep the pot. Like that, the two ate while Sprout absorbed spirit energy from the surroundings; he didn't need to eat anything, being a spirit of nature and all that.

"We heard that a druid planted a large field of red flowers. Would you know anything about that?" Felix asked as he barged in, Oscar behind him, grinning.

"Our little Max is making mates like a proper big lad!" Oscar chuckled.

"Very funny… Do you want to eat with me? There is plenty of stew," Maximus said, simply ignoring their teasing.

"Eh, you're a right bore, you. But I'm not turning down free food!" Oscar hurried over and sat at the table, noticing Silex ripping apart the goat.

"Bloody hell, that is proper grim!" He gulped and grabbed a plate from his inventory, pouring some stew for himself.

"I'll have some as well, then," Felix added.

"So, you really helped them prepare traps? What about that poison you mentioned?"

"We have two sets of traps: first, the minefield of lilies; then the deep holes and ditches filled with poison, and soon electrified water. If all that fails, my new product, Screaming Death, will be our last line of defense before the melee fighters need to step in," Maximus explained.

"Screaming Death, you say… I don't even want to know," Felix shivered.

"So, you got any of that poison for us as well?" Oscar asked greedily.

"I'll give two to each of you. The rest I will keep," Maximus said as he took out four bombs and handed them over.

"Pour mana into the glyph and toss it before it detonates," Maximus explained.

"Give over, I know how grenades work, I'm not daft," Oscar laughed.

"Max, we have a little more than a day… If they do not attack by the time we need to leave…" Felix paused, his thoughts racing. He had grown attached to this weirdo they now called a friend. He figured Maximus came from a different place and time, but they had still found common ground. And now they would have to leave him behind in a situation that felt increasingly hopeless. If a pack of beasts from the Wildlands attacked alongside the horde, even these fortified walls might not be enough.

"You don't need to worry about me. I will make sure to survive. You two focus on yourselves in the second trial," Maximus said with a warm, reassuring smile.

"I'm not leaving, mate, not 'til I know you're not gonna get yourself done in!" Oscar shot back.

"My young friend, you know that's not how this works," Maximus replied softly.

"Young? Ha! Listen to this muppet, I'm older than you, mate!" Oscar laughed loudly.

"Ignore this idiot. I'll watch over him; don't worry. You just make sure you pass the first trial and survive so that we can meet again someday," Felix said, his eyes shining with determination. Maximus nodded, saying nothing more, quietly appreciating the care the two had shown him despite everything that had transpired.

"Boss, your cousin druid has been helping everyone prepare for the attack. Isn't he nice?" Amy teased.

"It runs in the family," Toby chuckled.

"So, what's the plan, boss? Amy and I leave soon," Brock said, a hint of worry in his voice.

"Once the fighting starts, we join in to 'help' them, and when everyone is spent, then we strike the survivors. Be it beasts or humans, we grab everything we can and run toward the Wilderness. You two leave, and Andre and I pass through the Wildlands in the commotion. Good, right?" Toby smiled evilly.

"That's messed up, even for you, boss. I like it," Andre laughed.

"Oh, the corpses I'll be able to harvest." He added, grinning, white teeth glinting in the dim light.

"Well, that only works if it happens while we're still here. I doubt the two of you can pull it off alone." Amy shrugged.

"With my army? We can do anything," Andre said coldly.

"Army? You have five minions, man… What bloody army?" Amy laughed.

"Each one is as strong as you, so want to test that?" Andre snapped back, his tone turning sharp.

"Enough, you two. It's always something. Every single day. I've had enough of all your nonsense," Toby snapped and stormed out of their hideout.

"Good job, you made the boss mad." Brock frowned.

"As if that's hard," Amy smirked.

Toby walked through the torchlit streets, cursing under his breath as he kicked a small pebble along the way. Suddenly, he paused, lifting his head toward the night sky, his expression tightening. What do you want from me now? We had a deal, didn't we? He shouted inwardly. Spare him? Dafuq are you on about now? I already paid for your help; don't try to meddle in my affairs now… Damn pale bitch. Toby spat onto the ground. His body suddenly seized, and he screamed in pain as he dropped to his knees. Oh, really…

You'll smite me?! Ha… Fuck off! He forced himself back up, sweat soaking through his clothes, his limbs trembling as he staggered forward down the street, barely steady on his feet.