Welcome to Hero of Rome, a litRPG historical fantasy set in Ancient Rome. If you’re new here, start the story in Chapter 1.
Enjoy the chapter!
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Emperor Elagabalus spices things up from the imperial palace with a lucrative 'Wanted Dead or Alive' ad targeting Bulla Felix, turning the notorious bandit leader into the empire's most unwanted yet oddly popular celebrity overnight.
By the morning of the next raid six days later, much had changed.
I was now powering through books at a ridiculous pace, finishing twelve in the same time that it would have taken me to do only five. It was almost addicting, really. Feeling time slow around me as I scoured every book was a feeling I had never experienced. I was especially encouraged because of how generous the System was once I reached ten books and then twenty books under my belt.
Historical Insight (+lvl 20): See 20 seconds into the future of any decision.
System Message: “Max, ever so wise you are! You really can’t resist a good book, can you? Hopefully, it helps you to forget what you’re lacking down there… oh, too soon? Well nevertheless, you’ve grown in wisdom. For every ten books you read, you gain ten wisdom points and ten glory. It won’t replace your masculinity or allow you to have an heir, but at least you can impress Camilla with how smart you are!”
Wisdom (+20): lvl 2 (0/30)
I had blushed with shame at the ever-mocking System, the void between my legs reminiscent of my confidence and pride. But resentment would only further weaken me, as I’ve been reading from the stoics that Marcus recommended. I needed to welcome the pain, the struggle, the adversity. It was not my identity but my opportunity to rise above.
“Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men,” Seneca had written.
In addition to growing in wisdom and prophetic insight, my library had made me a modest sum leading up to the caravan raid.
Wealth (+300): 10,300 Denarii
Similarly slow, even though I had trained roughly three hours each day solely on sword, shield, and now a new pilum throwing ability thanks to my new skill book, I had only gained a fraction of the reward for training so much due to my emasculation. At least I received a new pilum to carry with me and to use in battle, along with a new skill.
Strength (+60): lvl 5 (0/60)
New Ability: Piercing Rain (lvl 1)
Description: Throws three pilums simultaneously in a spread pattern, covering a wider area and increasing the chance to hit enemies.
Accuracy: 60%
Damage per pilum: 30 + base weapon damage
Stamina Cost: 20 stamina points
Area of Effect: Covers a 5-meter radius
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Legionnaire's Pilum (Common):
Damage: 22
Durability: 40/60
Weight: 6 kg
Worth: 120 denarii
Special Effect: Grants a 10% increase in armor penetration and a 5% chance to knock back the enemy.
What had grown the most was of course my Stamina, given how relentless Bulla was with training us with stones. For two hours every day, my legs burned without rest as I carried them with Camilla and Titus up and down the same mountain again and again. As much as I hated my mornings now, a masochist part of myself enjoyed the pain, especially as my once formerly weak legs began to show muscle striations and size. Seeing the other bandits push themselves to get stronger encouraged me to do the same.
Stamina (+100): lvl 6 (50/70)
Stamina now 100/100
To make sure I was fully prepared for a possible invasion during our raid, I also spent an afternoon with Decimus and Titus repairing my sword to its full durability, increasing my knowledge of the craft and my health.
Health: lvl 3 (0/40)
Health now 70/70
As the twenty of us rode our horses down the mountain and made our way to the ambush point on the Via Aurelia, I looked at the total increase in power I received thus far, smiling in the crisp morning light.
Glory (+60): 430
Level: 8 (80/100)
“What are you smiling about?” Camilla asked beside me, her face contorting into a teasing grin.
“Nothing,” I said, enjoying the moment as Seneca taught in his teachings. “Just happy to see myself growing in a positive direction.”
“Will you be just as happy when we cut down some caravan guards?” Titus said on my other side.
“I don’t look forward to it, but it’s a necessity that can’t be avoided,” I said, which I fully believed. I still had nightmares of the first man I killed when we raided the senator’s house, of him choking on his blood at my hands. A part of me wanted to live in disbelief that he was only a simulation of some sort, and maybe he was. But after being here for several weeks and no hints about my previous life being reconcilable, I had to accept this new reality. If I were to live, I would have to become dangerous, deadly even, to survive a world of monsters.
“Will you always kill?” Camilla asked more quietly, her eyes batting in curiosity. They glowed in the bright sun, catching my breath.
“Not if I can avoid it. I see no point in needless slaughter. It wouldn’t make me any better than the emperors or caesars.”
Camilla nodded in respect.
The journey to the Via Aurelia would take about three days according to Bulla. Given the expected conflict would not be for a while, I was completely caught off guard by my vision the second day.
I was on my horse, testing out my Historical Insight to now see twenty-two seconds into the future. Bulla had decided to have us traverse a rugged, forested area just off the road to avoid detection or Roman patrols. It was when we were cutting through a narrow path of dense foliage of ancient trees with roots snaking across the ground that my visions alerted me to the danger. There, at the end of many of my visions, as we passed through a small clearing basking in the golden sunset, Bulla was cut off mid-sentence as he stumbled upon a Roman patrol camp. From my point of view and the end of my visions, all I could see was the surprised scouts numbering twelve turning to look at Bulla with fear. Their reactions were just beyond my view.
With twenty-two seconds till impact, I kicked my horse into a gallop and raced to Bulla, waving for all to be quiet.
“What is it, Max?” Bulla said as I interrupted him with one of his senior officers.
“Roman patrol, twelve in total,” I whispered. “Just around the clearing!”
Bulla didn’t stop to ask me how I knew this but he trusted me nonetheless. He held up his fist, quieting the bandits and stopping their tracks. He motioned for us all to dismount. With urgency, we obeyed and tied our horses to the following trees, each of us withdrawing our weapons.
Camilla equipped her bow, Bulla his gladius and shield, Titus his battle hammer, and I took out my pilum, with my shield on my left and my sword on my hip.
Bulla quickly devised a strategy for us to follow. If my vision was correct, we would outnumber them, but that didn’t mean that we were guaranteed a victory. Like with myself, any one of them could have a blessing or enchantment that could turn the tide of battle.
As one and without a sound, Bulla slowly guided the twenty of us through the underbrush, each of us taking careful steps to avoid snapping any twigs or leaves. My eyes darted between the trees while I cloaked myself with invisibility, as did another of Bulla’s bandits who shared the same blessing of Pluto. We moved around the camp to strike them from behind while the rest of the bandits took the front. Camilla moved to find a spot with the other archers and waited for Bulla’s command.
The Roman patrol camp flickered into view between the leaves. The smell of roasting meat wafted in the air, along with quiet laughter and the clinking of utensils. One of the Romans was standing before the campfire where most of them sat around, boasting of one of his war stories. Their armor and weapons were stacked on the ground beside them. We would have to be quick if we wanted to prevent retaliation.
My heart was practically beating against my lungs as I forced myself to stay calm. Sweat loosened my grip on my pilum as I picked my target who was ten feet away, leaning against a log. With bated breath, I waited for the signal.
A bird call suddenly filled the air.
Immediately I activated my prophetic gift. In a few of the visions I completely missed my throw, but I took a moment to study the ones in which my pilum struck the neck of my target.
Back in reality, I threw the pilum as I had practiced dozens of times before in the build-up to this mission. A cold gasp escaped the Roman’s lungs as arrows and other pilum found their targets, most of them fatal blows.
Another bird call sprang out as the Romans leaped up in alarm. I barely had time to shield my eyes as a blast of light blinded the camp, adding more screams of pain to the mix.
The patrolmen were cut down easily in their stupor by Bulla’s crew. Only one of them, whom I presumed had the blessing of Mercury, suddenly vibrated with energy and bolted with inhuman speed from the group. As if it were a mere nuisance, Bulla commanded another bandit to activate his Mercury blessing and chased after him, joy gleaming from his face in the excitement.
The patrol group was vanquished in what felt like no time at all. Only the whisper of an abandoned crackling fire remained.
“Good job men,” Bulla said, cleaning the blood from his blade. “Now, let’s see what we got. Whatever you find, you can keep.”