Chapter 22: Summer Heat Activity and Celebrating the 11th Year
Year 0002, VI-VII Month: The Imperium
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The Scorching Summer Heat
Several days had passed, and the summer heat now enveloped the land in its full intensity. The sun's rays burned mercilessly upon the earth, especially when it reached its zenith, casting down waves of scorching heat that seemed to ripple through the very air.
During these peak hours, the atmosphere around the village became almost unbearable. The heat lingered stubbornly even as the sun began its descent, creating a blanket of warmth that persisted well into the evening. The villagers' skin glistened with sweat as they moved about their daily tasks, their movements deliberately slowed to conserve energy.
Fortunately, the dense forest surrounding their settlement provided some relief. The ancient trees, with their sprawling canopies, created pockets of shade that helped mitigate the worst effects of the summer's wrath. Without this natural barrier, life would have been considerably more challenging during these sweltering months.
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Adapt and Overcome
In response to the oppressive heat, they had constructed a modest lounging area within the forest, approximately a kilometer from the village proper. Though merely a temporary shelter, it had become their sanctuary during the hottest periods of the day.
The structure they've put ip was ingeniously built within a natural depression between two massive boulders, providing both stability and space. The rocks, cool to the touch even in the worst heat, helped maintain a more comfortable temperature within. During the peak hours of sunlight, one would invariably find the group seeking refuge there, their faces showing visible relief as they escaped the sun's direct assault.
A fortuitous discovery several weeks prior had significantly improved their summer situation. While constructing the defensive wall around their village, they had stumbled upon a hidden spring at the base of the nameless mountain that partially encircled their settlement. The water emerged from deep within the earth, cool and refreshing even on the hottest days.
This discovery proved invaluable, perhaps their most significant find to date. They utilized this natural blessing throughout the summer months, using it to cool their overheated bodies, especially following their training sessions when the sun began to set. The spring became both a practical resource and morale booster, a reminder that the land could provide comfort as well as challenges.
To adapt to the summer's demands, they had reversed their training schedule, now conducting their exercises as the sun descended below the horizon. Though the temperature decreased somewhat by this time, residual heat remained trapped in the air, making even these adjusted sessions physically demanding.
Their outdoor activities had been reduced by half due to the intense heat. Making the most of the cooler hours, they rose with the early dawn to tend to their garden fields, working efficiently before the sun climbed too high.
Meanwhile, August and Erik ventured into the forest to hunt under the cover of darkness. August had passed down his previous bow to Erik, who had made remarkable progress in his hunting skills over recent days.
During Erik's first hunting expedition, August had needed to intervene when a Boarat threatened to overwhelm the novice hunter. By the second day, however, Erik had managed to fell two of the creatures independently—though one had already been weakened when he encountered it. Now, he could almost single-handedly hunt with ease any Level 1-5 Common Rank Boarats, with August merely providing guidance for specific scenarios.
Typically, Erik required approximately five well-placed shots to bring down one of these beasts. Occasionally, his confidence bordered on carelessness, allowing a charging Boarat to clip him and leave minor bruises. These small injuries served as effective reminders of the dangers that lurked even in familiar territory.
They had observed that the Boarats had altered their behavior with the changing season, no longer foraging on the forest floor during daylight hours. Acknowledging this pattern, the hunters likewise adjusted their routine, ceasing their hunts once dawn broke fully across the land.
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The Garden
The garden fields suffered considerably from the extreme temperatures, their productivity reduced by half in the sweltering weather. This necessitated constant monitoring and frequent watering as the soil rapidly dried under the relentless sun. Even with their diligent attention, they anticipated reduced harvests during the summer seasons to come—a sobering reality they would need to plan around for future survival.
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Getting Comfortable
August had gradually acclimated to his new equipment, though he only wore his complete hunting gear during actual hunts at dawn, when the three moons still hung visibly in the dark sky. Upon returning to the village, he promptly changed back into his more comfortable commoner attire, which proved far more suitable for daily activities and sleep.
He stored most of his specialized hunting equipment in his personal chest, keeping only his dagger with him constantly—a precaution that had already proven its worth on multiple occasions.
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Integrating New Combat Tactics
His training sessions at dusk now incorporated the short sword and shield, as he developed strategies to integrate these weapons into his combat techniques. These adaptations proved particularly valuable for emergency situations similar to his previous close encounter.
August had also begun to tinker and practice with his only active skill, gradually developing a practical understanding of its applications. Once he established the basic concepts, he applied them with increasing effectiveness. To properly test these developing abilities, he sought an unwilling test subject—another stray Commander Rank Boarat of Advanced Rarity.
With his enhanced equipment and growing skill, this encounter proved significantly less challenging than his previous confrontations. He subdued the creature within an hour, choosing to rely primarily on his newly acquired skill.
Later, a resounding thud echoed through the otherwise silent forest. August stood menacingly on a distant tree branch, his hunting gear giving him the appearance of a shadow assassin as he looked down upon the fallen Commander Ranked Boarat. He had expended approximately two-thirds of his mana points to bring down the beast from a safe distance, adding several more attacks as a precaution—a lesson learned from his previous careless approach.
[MP 300/900]
[*INFORMATION PANEL: WITH EACH LEVEL GAINED, AUGUST'S BASE MP INCREASES BY 100 POINTS*]
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Mastery of Weapons
The following day, August tackled another Commander Rank Boarat using only his bow. This approach required his entire quiver of arrows plus nearly half of a second quiver to finally bring the creature down. Throughout the encounter, he remained hidden approximately 150-200 feet away, crouched stealthily beyond the range of the Boarat's acute senses.
His subsequent experiments yielded mixed results, though his final test successfully incorporated his short sword and shield strategy. He deliberately recreated scenarios similar to his first Commander Ranked Boarat encounter to validate his theories regarding weapon combinations.
The results confirmed his suspicions—his initial struggle would have been considerably easier had he possessed a secondary weapon. This additional armament would provide crucial damage-dealing capability when his arrows were depleted or during forced close-quarter combat.
During this final test, August executed a perfect sidestep maneuver, simultaneously thrusting his short sword into the side of the Boarat's head while using his shield to propel himself away from the creature's charging path. The blade penetrated deeply, reaching the brain and causing immediate death.
This particular scenario differed significantly from his previous encounters, as the Boarat retained most of its strength and fighting capability. In contrast, his earlier opponent had been severely wounded and only managed to land a blow due to August's exhaustion and delayed evasive action.
Satisfied with these results, August single-handedly dragged the massive carcass back to the village. This latest victory brought his Commander-ranked kills to five—an impressive tally that did not go unnoticed by his companions. Later, they would butcher this beast along with his previous two kills, meticulously utilizing every part: meat for food, while bones, skin, and hide were carefully stored in their designated warehouse—a repurposed house they had stripped of beds and blankets for the trio's use.
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A Day of Celebration Mired by the Weathers Heat
On this particular day, the five friends gathered in their forest lounging area, attempting to cool themselves by fanning one another. Suddenly, August's expression changed as realization dawned on him—today marked his birthday.
They had reached the secenth month of the year, and he had been born on its final day, the 28th. His birth had occurred during midsummer, according to his parents' recollections. His name, "August," held significance in this context—"Au" representing a golden fire, symbolizing the golden rays of the summer sun, while "Gust" referenced the strong wind that swept during the windy yet fiery summer day of his arrival into the world.
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A Revelation
The already subdued mood within the shelter suddenly shifted to something more somber. His companions noticed the change immediately, feeling the atmosphere cool despite the physical heat. They exchanged confused glances, silently questioning what might have caused August's sudden melancholy.
They looked at one another questioningly, wondering if they had inadvertently said or done something to upset their friend. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, it was Gel who finally voiced their collective concern.
"What happened, Gus?" she asked, her voice gentle with genuine concern.
"Oh, nothing. I just remembered something... I guess you could say it's important, I think..." August replied distantly, his eyes focused on some invisible point in the distance.
The others exchanged relieved glances, mentally confirming they hadn't caused offense.
"Hmm, so what is it, if you don't mind telling us?" Gel pressed carefully, her expression curious yet respectful of his privacy.
His friends watched him earnestly, their patience evident as they awaited his response. August remained motionless for several moments before sighing deeply. He lifted his gaze to meet theirs and finally shared his thoughts.
"Today... is the day I was born..."
Their eyes widened in unison, mouths falling open in surprise. This revelation had caught them entirely unprepared. They struggled to maintain their composure, attempting to stifle their shocked gasps.
They exchanged meaningful glances and nodded in silent agreement—they would need to acknowledge this occasion properly. For now, the most appropriate response seemed clear.
Together, they broke into an improvised birthday song, their voices forming an endearingly discordant melody. Despite—or perhaps because of—their lack of musical coordination, the gesture brought a genuine smile to August's face.
"Thank you, everyone," he said warmly when they finished. "This is actually the first time anyone has sung for me on my birthday. Back then, we'd often forget about it entirely during the height of summer. We were always too busy trying to survive the heat." His voice softened with nostalgia. "My mother only remembered it once, late in the evening. She prepared a special meal for me that night."
This additional revelation struck his friends deeply, evoking both guilt and sympathy. Each of them had experienced regular birthday celebrations in their previous homes, something they had taken for granted until this moment.
"Happy Birthday, Gus! We wish you strength and good health always!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices carrying genuine affection.
From that day forward, they silently vowed to celebrate his birthday whenever possible, especially when they were all together. It would become their tradition, a small but meaningful ritual to strengthen the bonds that had formed between them in this challenging new world. The promise hung unspoken in the air between them, more binding than any formal oath could have been.
As the day continued, the summer heat persisted, but something had changed within their small group. The shared moment of connection had created a warmth different from the season's oppressive temperature—a warmth of belonging that would sustain them through whatever challenges lay ahead in this eleventh year of August's life.