Chapter 28 – Major Success! Bifurcated Needle. Vilesinda.

Starting from day 0, when the immunization test started, I carefully recorded and monitored my test subjects.

Day 0: Initial introduction of diseased material into the slaves. No reaction except for a red area.

Days 1: Minor to no reactions in all subjects. Waiting.

Days 2-5: Finally, small, raised, red bumps appeared on the skin, and the slaves complained about itching. I warned them against scratching it, that it might spread to other areas of their body. But some wouldn't listen, probably. On another note, only 14 developed the bumps, while the others didn't. I attributed it to a failed immunization. Hence, I called the process of developing a reaction a "Take".

Additionally, I had slaves who failed to have a "Take" do it again.

Days 5-8: The bumps became blisters around the size of a pea, and those who scratched them produced some pus. The slaves had no other negative reaction. Additionally, four of the six remaining slaves had a Take, proving my previous conjecture. I then had the remaining two vaccinated again.

Incidentally, the legion left on day 7.

Days 8-10: The blisters were now around the size of an As coin and stopped growing... at least for those who didn't scratch. Those who scratched had larger or additional infected areas, but not many. On the bright side, I confirmed that it takes some more time to develop immunity across the body. Also, the remaining two slaves finally had a Take.

Days 10-14: The blisters scabbed over.

Days 14-21: The scabs fell and were properly collected and contained. Each of these scabs is enough to produce 10 more doses. The slaves are healthy and are only left with a small pitted scar on their arms(Except the few who scratched). The remaining slaves display similar reactions, all their blisters scabbing over by the 21st day, and even some falling off.

First Test results: No death, all vaccinated within three attempts. They only had minor symptoms and a small, unnoticeable scar on their arm. Both Vaccination and Equinization from either animal or human sources worked equally well.

To test if it worked, I subjected them all to a new round of vaccination and equinnization in tandem, wanting to see if cross-immunization was possible... And it was a success! A major success!

Among the 20 slaves, only one of them reacted to Equinnia, but the reaction was minor, having developed resistance. The rest proved to be completely immune. I proved my hypothesis!

When I showed these results to Primanus, I greatly enjoyed his reaction.

"Really? Does it really work?!" The old general widened his eyes, excitedly standing up as if he had taken stimulants.

"Worth it." I mischievously thought.

Of course, I still retained my professional air.

"Yes, it works. It is a major success." I solemnly said.

"Good... good..." Primanus muttered, unable to hide his excitement.

Sitting back on his chair, he regained the air of a commander.

"Okay, since it works, I order you as Camp Prefect to continue the research, and I will prepare 100 slaves along with the required medical personnel."

However, I didn't immediately respond. Instead, I took out a rolled paper, unrolling it on the table.

"I want blacksmiths to make this tool from steel. Do you think that is possible, Sir?" I said, looking at my father-in-law.

Primanus looked at the drawing and raised an eyebrow.

"A two-pronged needle? The blacksmiths should be able to make it, but why do you need this?" He curiously asked.

"I noticed that the method of administering the vaccine is too crude, less efficient, and wasteful. We have limited vaccination material, and I figured that only one in ten or twenty might actually return the scab required for more vaccination. Additionally, the time required is too long, so we need to shorten it. This prototype of mine should be able to hold a tiny droplet of vaccine and also prick the skin enough to infect the area in a more controlled manner. At least, with this, a dose might last several times more than usual, and the time to vaccinate could be halved." I explained.

Primanus quietly looked at me with complicated eyes.

"You even thought this far?" He warily asked.

"I had a lot of time on my hands, and I noticed how forks sometimes retain liquid between the tines, so I came up with this idea. I call it a bifurcated needle." I admitted.

Likely due to prestige, I noticed these details and suddenly had this idea. As a result, my Immunity Researcher class and Immunity Hypothesis class instantly skyrocketed in levels by 20!

If this wasn't a clear sign, I didn't know what was. Naturally, I immediately designed it. Luckily, I was good at drawing sketches, so it was easy.

"Okay, I will have the blacksmith prepare them. I will first have 10 samples made for the next round of tests, and we will see how things go from there." Primanus nodded.

"Thank you, Sir." I smiled.

"By the way, I hear good things about your cavalry training. Are you ready?" Primanus changed the subject.

"Yes, Sir! I can join the rapid-response detachment." I smiled.

Every legion had a small unit of cavalry attached to it, consisting of 120 soldiers from elite backgrounds. However, they were all taken by the dispatched legion. Luckily, we had a considerable auxiliary compared to other legions due to being stationed at the borders. Our auxilia amounted to 22 regiments! Among them, a full eight were Cohors Equitata(480 infantry and 120 cavalry). And out of the remaining cohorts, we had 6 Cohors Alae(512 cavalry) and 2 Cohors Alae Miliara(1,008 cavalry)! The other six were regular Peditata cohorts(480 infantry). Along with a legion, it was a sufficient force to guard Lower Pannonia from the Iazyges.

But now, after the legion left, these forts had to contribute around half of their forces in vexiliations, especially from the cavalry parts, leaving a reduced skeleton crew to man the forts and show presence.

Even worse, other border legions that didn't need to send most of their legion also dispatched a few regiments to supplement the three dispatched legions. And to garrison Aquincum, they sent a two-cohort strong vexillation to help guard it.

In other words, we are severely understrength and with little aid. It was barely enough to prevent a rebellion, let alone stop northern raiders from pillaging the countryside!

Knowing that this isn't a sufficient force, and that I was eager for merit, Primanus generously gave me one of his finer horses and let me train as a cavalryman. While I initially trained as a heavy foot soldier, a Legionary, most Centurions also knew how to ride horses. Some Centurions were Decurions(32-man cavalry commanders) before their promotion, which is one of the best stepping stones for rapid career advancement.

Of course, while I was confident that I could be a good Decurion, I lacked the merit since it was a rank above Optio but below Centurion. Even if I made the vaccine, it wasn't combat merit, only specialized merit. Honestly, the legions didn't have a standardized reward for my research. And if they did, I don't know what they would even give me. My best bet is a small bonus, a medal, and a pat on the shoulder.

But I didn't really care. I can always earn merit by killing barbarians, but I don't want to die to a fucking plague, dammit!

Anyway, I obtained several cavalry-related classes, which were listed separately from the Military branch, and I quickly mastered them up to the Elite variant over the past month.

The classes and abilities were:

Except for Horse Rider, which wasn't a military class, but rather a civilian class, all the other classes count as Cavalry classes and abilities.

Like in the Legionary class/ability path, the first two classes were more about the role itself, while the following classes and abilities focused more on single combat. Additionally, Deadly Charger also required me to kill people, as it focused on merciless killing. Although Prestige forcefully started raising it, it was still painfully slow like Tempered Bloodlust.

However, I also believe that the system could have easily placed something unrelated to killing in the ability section. This also made me realize something.

"The system is encouraging me to kill."

I didn't know why it encouraged me to kill people... but it works out well for a soldier, so I reasoned that being a true elite soldier meant killing.

After hearing my answer, Primanus smiled.

"Good. I predict that those desperate bastards will strike within two weeks. When the time comes, be ready for deployment. I wish I could see how they would react when an Epic Warrior hunts them personally." Primanus said with a malicious smile.

I also had a malicious smile, as I knew that most small raiding parties only had 1-2 Elite Warriors leading a dozen Veteran Warriors and several dozen Warriors at most. While this wasn't an insignificant force, able to match a Century, an Epic Warrior could slay an entire century by himself! And I would be together with a cavalry squad, so I wasn't even alone. It would be a slaughter if they were unfortunate enough to encounter me.

Of course, even an Extraordinary Warrior going after such a raiding group is rare, let alone an Epic Warrior! Honestly, this is a bit overkill... But I want merit! They can only blame themselves for being unlucky!

.

.

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Meanwhile-

Beyond the borders, in the Quadi village of Denderlaas-

Fredilli returned to his house, carrying a disemboweled boar he had hunted with one of his older sons, ready to skin it and hand it over to his wives for cooking.

Just then, he noticed that several youths ran back from the west.

"Seems like the boys finished their scouting for today." Fredilli's eyes flickered.

"Let's hope those Romans didn't return to their forts." Eldegeses, a 16-year-old youth who was about to become an independent adult, smiled.

After dropping the boar to the side of the house, Fredilli and Eldegeses started skinning it. Meanwhile, one of Fredilli's sons, a 14-year-old ginger-haired boy named Teodulfus, who was among the returning youths, excitedly reported to him.

"Father! The Romans are still not returning! After that huge army marched out, I could barely see anyone guarding their stone forts. I think there are barely 100 per fort! The patrols are now also few, and some of their outposts are abandoned!"

That information brought a smile to Fredilli's lips.

"Good... the shepherds really left the flock defenseless, likely going on some campaign. For the next two weeks, we will start investigating their territory and monitoring their patrol schedule. And once we find a suitable, less-guarded target... we will strike!" Fredilli said with a vicious look, like a hungry wolf that smelled blood.

"Father, can I come? I am already a General Warrior, and I can also fight!" Eldegeses pleaded.

Fredilli thought for a moment before nodding.

"Okay, you are old enough, and you should see some bloodshed. If luck would have it, we can even find you a wife."

"Thank you, father!" Eldegeses smiled.

"Hey! What about me? I am also a General Warrior..." Teodulfus requested.

Fredilli frowned for a moment in thought before reluctantly nodding.

"Okay, you could use the experience. However, you will not join the fighting, and if I tell you to run, you run. Got it?"

"Thank you, father! You won't regret it!" Teodulfus brightly grinned.

Fredilli lightly smiled and was about to return to skinning the boar when he heard a female voice.

"So you really plan to raid the Romans?"

Fredilli's smile vanished as he looked at his 20-year-old, snow-white-haired, only surviving niece from his dead brother, Vilesinda, who was casually carrying a whole deer on her shoulder as if it were nothing.

She was tall, as tall as he, athletic, and relatively muscular. She was a huntress covered in slightly worn leather armor and had a bow slung over her shoulder. Her face, like sculpted ice, was the most beautiful in the surrounding villages, and her long, wild hair was like the wild north, cold and untamed. Coupled with her icy white eyes, she was a true albino beauty.

Naturally, suitors almost lined up at the door, wanting to claim her as their wife. In response to their courtship, Vilesinda gave them a condition: "The Goddess Skadi told me in a dream that the first man to beat me fairly will be my husband."

As for the result? She never married. At the time the challenges started, she was only 17, and now, she was 20. This result didn't surprise him or anyone within the village.

This is because Vilesinda was born with Divine Strength, matching an adult's strength at 7, and being comparable to ten men when she was an adult. As for her Warrior Talent, it was ridiculously high! He couldn't sense her realm by the time she turned 16, meaning she had already reached the Extraordinary Warrior Realm by then. Many debated whether she was born with awakened frost giant blood or if the goddess Skadi herself blessed her when she was young, as Vilesinda was also an extremely proficient huntress. Some were born blessed by the gods, so it wasn't too surprising.

Given that their village's Northern Wind Breathing Technique can reach the Epic Warrior Realm, although she never said anything, he reckoned that she was already at that realm!

In other words, if he was the strongest man in the village, then she was, by far, the strongest in all the surrounding villages!

Normally, she would have the privilege of claiming regional leadership as the strongest warrioress. However, she lacked any ambition and preferred to be a lone wolf. She also ate enough to feed three grown men and hunted by herself since she was ten, when one of Fredilli's younger children complained about her eating all the time and not contributing enough. Since then, she hunted to feed herself and traded for everything she needed.

Additionally, she was very aloof and refused orders, doing things as she pleased. When he went to war with a rivaling tribe, she never joined, just staying to defend it... And this is because she knew that he killed her father, who wanted the village to defect to the Romans, and his sister-in-law committed suicide. She naturally didn't want to follow the orders of the man who killed her father and caused her mother to die. However, she also never took revenge on him, as he also took good care of her as a child.

Hence, she was, at most, an occupant in the village whom he couldn't drive away and couldn't command as the war leader. But at least the safety of the village was guaranteed.

Now that this taciturn niece asked this, he was naturally wary.

"Why? Are you going to convince me otherwise?" Fredilli asked.

Vilesinda shook her head.

"No, I just wish to give you a warning. The Romans are not as weak as they seem."

Fredilli sneered.

"Ridiculous. While their combined force, even in their weakened state, isn't something that we can deal with, their scattered forces are like dry dirt, loose and soft. By the time they react to a raid, we will be long gone."

Vilesinda looked at him for a moment before speaking.

"As you wish, war leader. I shall continue to protect my people." She lightly said before returning to her house with her catch.

Fredilli sniffed in dissatisfaction and returned to his work.

Meanwhile, after dropping the dear near her house, Vilesinda glanced at the west, in the direction of the river, in deep thought.

"I sense danger on the other side of the river... Hopefully, they don't encounter it."

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