Stenson’s eyes were bright as the older man stared at Francis.“You’ve grown from what you’ve told me. And a day earlier than usual. All so you can have some armor to fight in. It appears that you are taking what you say I’ve taught to heart.”“I need to get stronger,” Francis replied. “This is going to be the new norm. While the fighting naked has worked well, I’m sure I can improve in other ways if I stay alive longer and push deeper into the enemy lines.”The general shook his head slightly. “No, not yet. I would keep fighting without armor. Try a few dozen more times and then see what happens.”“Why?” Francis asked, surprised at the older man’s response.“Because you might gain another skill or two,” Stenson said. “You could miss out on if you give up the path you’re on. I probably wondered if you’d ever get thick skin. No one ever gets thick skin. Combined with Strong Bones and Pain Resistance, you’re a walking juggernaut and that’s what you’re aiming for. The Juggernaut skill.”“What does that skill give?” Francis asked.“I don’t know. I just know if you get it, things will change for you in a big way,” Stenson replied. “It’s one of the skills of legends. Rumors swirl that there are variations of it, but you possess enough of the defensive skills that you could possibly unlock either the legendary or perhaps mythic one.”Francis coughed, shaking his head.“I’m sorry, did you say mythic?”“Still want that armor?” Stenson asked with a grin.“Hell no!”***The green liquid dripped off his skin as Francis yanked the sword from the second snake-kin’s chest. Carnage lay everywhere and in the middle of the night, he was the creature these beasts started to fear.Roars came from all over and once again, Francis imagined what was being conveyed.Another armored rhino-kin thundered toward him, and in under a minute, the creature he had once (...)