Chapter 5 Preview - How I Became The World's Strongest Warrior Book 2!

The guild members were getting closer, their torches bobbing through the snow like fireflies on steroids. I needed to move.

My health was dangerously low, and standing around in the middle of a blizzard wasn't exactly an optimal recovery strategy. I fumbled through my Adventure Pouch, feeling past the 37 Pattern Fragments until my fingers found what I needed—health potions.

[Standard Health Potion]

[Restores 50 Health]

[No Cooldown]

[Value: 25 copper]

I popped the cork and drank the sickly sweet liquid in one gulp. The effect was immediate, warmth spreading through my body as my health bar began to fill.

[Health: 11/200 → 61/200]

Better, but still not great. I pulled out a second potion and downed it too.

[Health: 61/200 → 111/200]

That would have to do. I wasn't about to waste premium potions when I had a return teleport waiting for me. The bleeding effect from the ice spike had stopped, and my frozen arm was regaining some feeling. Not ideal, but functional enough.

The first guild members reached the battlefield just as I finished securing my new loot. A group of five warriors in matching Crimson Vanguard tabards came to an abrupt halt when they spotted me standing amid the obvious signs of recent combat.

"What the hell happened here?" one of them demanded, looking around at the shattered ice formations and the massive depression where the Harbinger had stood.

"I killed it," I replied simply, already heading in the direction of the outpost and my return portal.

There was a moment of stunned silence before they burst into laughter.

"Right, sure," the apparent leader said, wiping snow from his beard. "And I'm the Emperor of Cats. Seriously, what happened? Did it leave? Move to another location?"

I didn't bother answering, just continued trudging through the snow. I had no interest in explaining myself to people who weren't part of my immediate problem-solving circle. Their belief or disbelief was irrelevant to my objectives.

More guild members arrived, these wearing the blue and silver of the Starlight Sentinels. They spread out across the battlefield, examining the evidence with growing confusion.

"There's no body," someone called out. "No loot left behind!"

"Because I took it," I muttered under my breath, not breaking stride.

A hand landed on my shoulder, firm enough to stop my forward motion. I turned to find myself face to face with the woman from the planning tent, the leader of the Crimson Vanguard. Up close, her armor was even more impressive, with intricately engraved crimson plates covered in gold filigree that somehow avoided looking gaudy despite its elaborate design.

"Excuse me," she said, her tone polite but firm. "I need to ask you a few questions about what happened here."

I remained silent, calculating the most efficient path through this social obstacle.

"The Harbinger is gone," she continued. "There's clear evidence of a major battle, but no sign of the creature itself. Since you're the only one here..." She left the question implied.

"I defeated it," I stated flatly. "It dropped loot. I collected it. I'm leaving."

Her eyebrows shot up. "You... defeated the Harbinger. Alone." She didn't bother hiding her skepticism. "A Level 50+ world boss that three major guilds were coordinating to take down."

I nodded once.

"That's quite a claim," she said carefully. "Mind if I check your recent combat log? As guild leader, I have temp access privileges in official world boss zones."

I shrugged. It made no difference to me. She made a gesture in the air, apparently accessing some guild leader function I wasn't familiar with.

Her eyes widened as she read whatever appeared in her interface. "Holy shit," she whispered. "You actually did it." She looked up at me with new respect and perhaps a hint of wariness. "How did you...?" She shook her head, apparently deciding that question was too big for the moment. "What about the loot? What did it drop?"

I started walking again. "Not relevant to you."

"Wait!" she called, quickly moving to block my path again. More guild members had gathered now, forming a loose semicircle around us. "Look, I don't know who you are or how you managed to solo the Harbinger, but those drops are supposed to be divided among the participating guilds."

"I wasn't in your guild," I pointed out. "I completed the quest independently."

"That's not how world boss loot works," a new voice interjected. The dwarf with the mechanical arm pushed through the crowd, his beard coated with fresh snow. "There's a cooperation protocol. Resources are shared to benefit everyone."

"I didn't agree to any protocol," I said.

The elf from the Starlight Sentinels joined the conversation, his glowing runes providing additional illumination in the snowy darkness. "We're not asking, Level 20. The fragments need to be distributed fairly."

Ah. So that was it. Not general loot concern, but specific knowledge of the Pattern Fragments. I should have expected that. If they knew enough about the Harbinger to organize a multi-guild hunt, they'd know about its most valuable drops.

"No," I said simply.

The crowd's mood shifted, tension crackling like static electricity. Hands moved to weapon hilts, and I heard the distinctive sound of spells being readied.

"Don't make this difficult," the Crimson Vanguard leader warned, though her tone suggested she wasn't eager for conflict. "You're outnumbered nearly a hundred to one."

"And you're outmatched," I replied, my hands resting casually on the hilts of my dual weapons. "The Pattern Fragments are necessary for a specific purpose. They're not negotiable."

"What purpose could possibly justify—?" she began.

"Resurrection," I cut her off. "A friend was killed by the Harbinger. Permanently. The fragments contain his data pattern."

That caused a ripple of murmurs through the crowd. Permanent death was rare enough that the concept still carried weight, even among experienced adventurers.

The dwarf stepped forward, mechanical hand whirring as it recalibrated. "How do we know you're telling the truth? It’d be a convenient excuse to keep valuable fragments to yourself."

I didn't bother responding. I'd already wasted enough time on this conversation. My fingers tightened around the hilts of my weapons as I calculated what attack patterns would create an exit path through the crowd.

"Wait," the Crimson Vanguard leader held up a hand, her expression thoughtful. "You said a friend. Someone specific, not just general resurrection research?"

I nodded once.

"Name?" she asked.

"Dartanion," I replied. "Earth Shaper, Level 23. Died protecting another from the Harbinger's attack approximately 30 hours ago."

Recognition flashed across several faces in the crowd, followed by a change in the overall atmosphere. The tension didn't disappear entirely, but it noticeably decreased.

"The musketeer guy?" someone called from the back. "With the fancy talking and the earth walls?"

I nodded again.

The Crimson Vanguard leader exchanged glances with the dwarf and elf. Some unspoken communication passed between them before she turned back to me.

"We had reports of a pair of adventurers caught by the Harbinger yesterday. One confirmed permanent death, one escaped. That matches your story." She studied me for a moment. "Take the fragments. If they can bring someone back from permanent death, they're worth more than any gold we might have gotten."

Not everyone seemed happy with this decision. Several voices raised in protest, but she silenced them with a raised hand.

"The Harbinger will respawn in approximately three months according to historical records," she announced to the crowd. "We'll have another opportunity. For now, we should honor the sacrifice of a fellow adventurer."

I didn't wait for further discussion. With a brief nod of acknowledgment that was about as much social courtesy as I could muster, I continued my journey back toward the outpost.

Behind me, I heard the dwarf ask, "Wait, did he say he was only Level 20? How in the nine hells did he kill a Level 57 world boss alone?"

"Maybe he was lying about that part," someone else suggested.

"No," the Crimson Vanguard leader responded, her voice carrying clearly through the winter air. "I checked his combat log. He really did it. And if he can do that at Level 20, I'm not interested in finding out what he could do if we pushed him."

Smart woman.

The return journey to the outpost took considerably less time than the outbound trip. The blizzard seemed less intense, whether from the Harbinger's defeat affecting local weather patterns or simply the changing natural conditions, I couldn't tell. More importantly, my path was now clear of monsters since everything in the area had either fled or been eliminated by the guilds.

The outpost was buzzing with activity when I arrived with adventurers rushing about preparing for what they still thought would be a dawn assault on the Harbinger. News of its defeat hadn't reached them yet.

I ignored the commotion and headed directly for Mario's return portal, a bright green pipe set up in a small tent at the edge of the outpost. Lou was there, apparently serving as the return teleportation attendant.

"Ah! Crazy solo man returns!" he exclaimed when he saw me, his massive frame somehow looking even larger in the confined space of the tent. "You still alive! Mario owes me fifty copper! He bet you'd be dead within an hour!"

"That explains why you’re here," I said, not bothering with pleasantries. “Checking on your bet, huh? Return portal to the city.”

Lou studied me more carefully, noting my damaged armor and the dried blood visible through the tears. "You actually fought the big ice monster? Alone?" He seemed torn between disbelief and admiration.

"Yes. Portal, please."

"Right away! Very impressive! You tell Mario I want my fifty copper when you a-see him!" Lou activated the return pipe with an elaborate gesture. The pipe glowed green and began emitting the now-familiar "ready" sound effect.

I prepared to jump in when Lou's massive hand touched my shoulder.

"Wait, wait! I almost forget," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small card. "All boss killers get a special discount for the next teleportation! Ten percent off!" He handed me the card with a wink. "Good for one year, not transferable, void where prohibited!"

I pocketed the card and jumped into the pipe before he could say anything else. The disorienting transit sensation felt almost pleasant compared to the near-death experience of battling the Harbinger. A moment later, I emerged back in Mario's shop in the city, the sudden shift from freezing cold to comfortable indoor temperature was almost a shock to my system.

"Mamma mia! He returns!" Mario exclaimed, clearly surprised to see me. "And in one piece too! How very unexpected!" He glanced at a small clock on the wall. "And so fast! Did you even find the big ice monster?"

"I killed it," I said flatly, already heading for the door.

"He WHAT?" Mario's mustache seemed to stand straight out from his face in shock. "Lou! What did he say? The line must be bad!" he shouted into some kind of communication device.

I didn't stick around to hear Lou's response. I had more important things to do. The Pattern Fragments needed to be delivered to Witch immediately, and I wanted to check in with the Guild about the official quest completion.

The Adventurer's Guild was considerably less crowded than when I'd left, the late hour having driven many to seek rest or refreshment at various inns and taverns. Only the most dedicated quest hunters and guild staff remained, along with a few adventurers catching up on paperwork.

I approached the quest counter, bypassing the small line with a directness that earned me several dirty looks. The clerk behind the counter started to protest until she saw my condition.

"Oh! Do you need a healer?" she asked, already reaching for what looked like an emergency bell.

"I need to turn in a quest," I corrected her. "World Boss: Frost Harbinger."

She froze, her hand still extended toward the bell. "The... the world boss quest? But that was just posted."

"It's completed," I stated, pulling the quest scroll from my Adventure Pouch. It was glowing with the unmistakable golden aura of a completed high-level quest.

The clerk took it with visible hesitation, examining the scroll as if expecting to find evidence of forgery. Finding none, she placed it on a specialized verification plate on her desk. The plate glowed in response, confirming the quest's legitimate completion.

"This is... impossible," she whispered, looking up at me with wide eyes. "The Harbinger is a Level 55+ world boss with confirmed permanent death abilities. And you're..." She squinted at my status window, "Level 20?"

I didn't bother responding to what wasn't a question.

"I'll need to get Clara for this," she decided, standing up. "She handles all the unusual cases."

At the mention of Clara, I felt a flicker of something almost like anticipation. Her dry humor and straightforward approach had been among the few social interactions I'd actually found tolerable during my early days here.

A few minutes later, Clara emerged from a back office, looking exactly as I remembered her with perfectly styled brown hair, efficient movements, and an expression that suggested she'd seen it all. Until she saw me, at least.

"Chuck?" she said, genuine surprise breaking through her professional demeanor. "You're the one who completed the Harbinger quest?"

I nodded once.

"Alone?"

Another nod.

She stared at me for a long moment, then burst into laughter. "Of course you did! The guy who hit a dummy for four months straight would naturally solo a world boss that three major guilds were preparing to tackle together." She shook her head, still chuckling. "I should have put money on you like Damien did. I'd be rich by now."

Clara took the verified quest scroll and consulted her records. "Let's see... reward for solo completion is... oh wow, 1,500,000 copper. Normally that would be split among participating members, but since it's just you..." She began processing the payment.

[Quest: World Boss - Frost Harbinger COMPLETED]

[Experience Gained: 5,000]

[Currency Gained: 1,500,000 copper]

[Bonus: Reputation +500 with Adventurer's Guild]

[Bonus: Title Unlocked - Harbinger's Bane]

The sudden increase in my currency was satisfying, but I was more interested in the title. I checked its properties:

[Title: Harbinger's Bane]

[Effects: +10% damage against Elemental entities, +15% resistance to ice-based attacks]

[Reputation: Respected by major guilds, Feared by ice elementals]

[Requirements: Defeat the Frost Harbinger solo]

Not bad. The damage increase against elementals would be useful, and the ice resistance could prove valuable if I encountered similar entities in the future.

"So," Clara said as she finished processing the rewards, "want to tell me how you managed to defeat a world boss that normally requires a full raid party?"

"Dual wielding," I replied simply.

She blinked. "Dual... wielding. That's it?"

I shrugged. "It was unexpected. I discovered I could use both swords simultaneously during the battle."

Clara stared at me for a moment longer, then shook her head. "Only you would discover a completely new combat style in the middle of fighting an unkillable world boss, and then actually use it to win." She stamped the quest scroll with finality. "Anything else I can help you with today, Harbinger's Bane?"

"No," I said, already turning to leave. "I need to find Witch."

Clara called after me, "Whatever you're planning next, I'm putting money on you this time!"

I left the Guild and headed directly for Witch's workshop. The Pattern Fragments were secure in my Adventure Pouch, along with the Ancient Spellbook of Winter and the Soul Ice Core. Together, they represented our best chance at potentially restoring Dartanion.

The streets were quiet at this late hour, most shops closed and only the occasional adventurer or city guard visible. My thoughts turned to the battle with the Harbinger and the unexpected discovery of dual wielding.

[Dual Wielding Proficiency: 15.7]

[Effects: Allows simultaneous use of two weapons]

[Current Penalties: -20% accuracy, -25% damage to both weapons]

[Current Benefits: Two separate attacks per combat round, Offhand strikes deal 75% damage]

[Special: Synergy effects possible between compatible weapons]

The penalties were significant but would presumably decrease as I improved the proficiency. The Void Arcana synergy between the Vampiric Blade and Mana Infused Short Sword had proven particularly effective against the Harbinger. With practice and optimization, this new combat style could significantly increase my overall damage output and tactical flexibility.

It was something to explore further after the more pressing issue of Dartanion was addressed.

Witch's workshop still had no smoke emerging from the chimney, but lights shone from the windows, suggesting she had returned from the inn. I knocked firmly on the door.

"It's open!" Witch's voice called from inside, sounding strained but more composed than when I'd last seen her.

I entered to find the workshop in a state of controlled chaos, which was normal, but with a clear purpose to the disorder. Equipment had been arranged in a rough circle around a central workbench where Dartanion's dust remains sat in a specialized containment field. Various alchemical apparatuses bubbled and steamed around the perimeter, and dozens of reference books lay open on every available surface.

Witch looked up from her examination of the dust particles, her sharp crimson eyes widening when she saw my condition. She was as striking as ever, tall, broad-shouldered, with muscle earned through years of smithing and enchantment work. Her dark hair was pulled back into its usual braid, though more strands than usual had come loose, clinging to her flushed face. The scent of scorched runes and steel clung to her skin, layered with something faintly floral.

"What happened to you?" she demanded, taking in my torn armor and the visible bloodstains. "You look like you went ten rounds with a rock titan."

"Frost Harbinger," I replied, already pulling the Pattern Fragments from my Adventure Pouch.

She froze, her expression cycling rapidly through confusion, disbelief, and then realization. "You didn't," she whispered.

"I did," I confirmed, placing the container of Pattern Fragments on the workbench next to Dartanion's remains. "Thirty-seven fragments, plus a Soul Ice Core and a spellbook that might be relevant."

Witch stared at the fragments, then at me, then back at the fragments. "You... fought the Harbinger?" Her voice rose with each question. "Why would you do something so monumentally stupid?"

"You said Dartanion was gone," I replied simply. "The system message indicated possible reconstruction with sufficient resources. The Harbinger drops Pattern Fragments. It was the optimal solution path."

"Optimal solution..." she echoed faintly, then suddenly lunged forward and punched me hard in the shoulder. "You idiot! You could have been permanently killed too! Then what?"

I considered the question seriously. "Then you would have had no Pattern Fragments and no chance to restore Dartanion. The attempt was necessary."

Witch made a strangled noise somewhere between a laugh and a sob. "That's... that's not the point! You risked permanent death!"

"Yes," I acknowledged. "It was worth it."

She stared at me for a long moment, then shook her head. "I don't understand you. At all. But..." She looked at the Pattern Fragments, her expression shifting to something more focused. "Thank you. This might actually work."

I nodded, then placed the Soul Ice Core and the Ancient Spellbook of Winter next to the fragments. "These might be useful as well. The core seems to contain concentrated essence from the Harbinger itself, and the spellbook has frost magic.”

Witch picked up the spellbook carefully, her eyes widening as the frost patterns shifted beneath her fingers. "This is... extraordinary. Ancient magical knowledge, probably predating the Harbinger itself." She looked up at me. "Do you have any idea how valuable this is? Even apart from our current project?"

I shrugged. "It's valuable if it helps restore Dartanion. Otherwise, it's just a book."

She made that strangled noise again. "Just a... you know what, never mind." She set the book aside and began examining the Pattern Fragments with various specialized tools. "I'll need to analyze these fragments to determine if they contain portions of Dartanion's data structure. If they do, we might be able to use them as a framework for reconstruction."

"What next?" I asked, watching her work.

"Next?" She looked up, slightly surprised by the question. "Next, I need to run these analyses, which will take several hours. And you," she pointed at me with a glowing wand, "need to get those injuries properly treated and get some rest. You look like death warmed over, and I need you functional for the next phase."

"I'm functional now," I protested mildly.

"You're at what, half health? Less?" She shook her head. "No. Go to The Broken Shield. Let Mayra fuss over you. Get food, rest, and healing. I'll send word when I have results.”

I considered arguing but recognized the logic in her suggestion. My current state wasn't optimal for continued operations, and proper recovery would ensure I was at full capacity for whatever came next.

"Twelve hours," I said. "If I don't hear from you, I'll return then."

"Fine, fine," she agreed, already turning back to her examination of the fragments. "Oh, and Chuck?"

I paused at the door.

“Try not to fight any other world bosses while I'm working, okay?” She smiled at me. “One miracle per day is enough."

I closed the door behind me without promising anything. After all, if another world boss appeared with resources necessary for Dartanion's restoration, the optimal path would be clear.

The streets were even quieter now as I made my way toward The Broken Shield. A new notification caught my attention:

[Level Up Benefits Available]

[Attribute Point: 1]

[Skill Improvement: 1]

[Recommended Rest Before Allocation]

Right, I'd leveled up during the Harbinger fight. Level 20 meant I could finally select a class specialization, something I'd never particularly cared about, but which might provide additional optimization opportunities.

That, combined with the new dual wielding capability and the potential restoration of Dartanion, meant my progression path had suddenly expanded in unexpected ways. For once, the grind ahead wasn't just about making the numbers go up. It was about bringing back a friend. And somehow, that felt more important than any stat increase.