Lucas observed his surroundings with a bored expression, diligently performing his duty as a lookout for the bandit camp. Although he didn't possess an imposing physique, his previous training in the army had honed his skills, making him quite proficient at his job.
"Hey, Jack, how much longer until our shift ends? This is so dull," Lucas complained.
"Lucas, you should focus on the task at hand. If something were to happen and it's your fault, you'll end up like that kid from the mercenary group we killed," Jack replied, a middle-aged man with a muscular build and a scarred face. He sat about ten meters away, perched atop a tree.
Fear flashed across Lucas' face at the mention of the fate that befell the boy, causing him to suddenly pay closer attention to his surroundings.
"Just kidding, mate. Besides, it doesn't matter if anyone comes here. With the Captain around, even if magical creatures showed up, they would only meet their demise," Jack reassured, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
The two men continued their conversation while keeping a constant vigilance over their surroundings.
"By the way, speaking of that boy, is he still alive?" Lucas inquired.
"The last time I saw him, he was still breathing. The Captain won't let him off easily after drawing blood," Jack replied nonchalantly.
"I must admit, it was impressive. Such skill at such a young age. Although it was just a superficial wound, he managed to cut the Captain. Well, he's doomed anyway. It's his own fault for hurting the Captain," Lucas remarked with indifference.
Lucas was going back to looking at his surroundings when he felt something approaching him from the back. He was startled by the fact that someone came so close to him but still, as an ex-soldier and a bandit, he was used to life-and-death situations, so he immediately reached for his sword.
But before he could even take it out, a heavy punch landed on the back of his head knocking him out.
....
When Lucas finally woke up, he realized that he was tied to a tree alongside Jack, who had just regained consciousness. Before they could talk and assess the situation, someone approached them.
"Good, you're both awake. I have some questions. Answer them, and this won't have to get ugly," a young man with a strong and handsome appearance said, addressing Lucas and Jack.
Initially scared, Lucas managed to calm himself down and started considering a way out of the situation.
'This person is strong, but he's young. Maybe I can intimidate him,' Lucas thought, attempting to find a way to gain the upper hand.
Unbeknownst to Lucas, Zatiel, being a demon, found the notion of a mortal human trying to frighten him rather amusing.
Before Lucas could make his move, Jack intervened, speaking first. "Listen up, you little brat. Release us immediately and cut off a limb as an apology, or we'll show you what hell looks like. We have over 100 brothers who will hunt you down, and they'll take their sweet time with a pretty boy like you if anything happens to us."
Lucas never diverted his gaze from Zatiel, noticing the coldness in his eyes as Jack made the threat. Lucas wanted to intervene and defuse the situation, but when Zatiel looked at him, fear washed over him, silencing his words.
Zatiel's voice broke the tension. "Which limb do you want me to cut off?"
"W-What?" Jack stammered in surprise.
"I asked which part you want me to cut off!" Zatiel repeated, his tone cold and resolute.
Caught off guard by the question, Jack instinctively responded. "The right leg."
In an instant, Zatiel's hand began to emit a dark glow. Before Jack could fully comprehend what was happening, Zatiel's grip tightened around his leg with incredible force, nearly snapping it. But the true horror had yet to unfold. Jack felt his muscles decaying and his bones fracturing, overwhelming pain coursing through his body.
"Ahhh!... Stop, stop! I'll tell you everything you want to know. Please stop!" Jack pleaded, his screams echoing through the air. Foam began to form at the corners of his mouth.
Unmoved by Jack's cries, Zatiel refused to release his grip until the leg had turned into nothing more than a pool of blood. Finally, Zatiel retrieved his hand, leaving Jack unconscious from the excruciating pain.
Terrified by the gruesome scene, Lucas trembled, fully aware that the same fate could befall him at any moment.
"I hope you can be more useful than your friend," Zatiel remarked with indifference as he approached the trembling Lucas, seemingly regarding torturing someone as natural as breathing.
...
"107 bandits, most of them mere thieves, and killers lacking formal training. There are ten lookouts stationed around the camp's perimeter and approximately twenty ex-soldiers who possess some proficiency in vital energy. The man they call the Captain is likely a Warrior, judging by his displayed strength,
Analyzing the information provided by the bandit, Zatiel contemplated his options for attacking the camp. A direct assault would be suicide, as defeating a Warrior with his current abilities would be challenging, let alone if another 100 men joined the battle from the periphery.
However, having access to better spells or magical equipment could change the situation.
Zatiel focused on the camp's water source, a well located next to the river in the northwest corner. According to the bandit, three guards protected it at all times. If he could deposit the powder he had tied to his waist into the water, it would greatly aid him in defeating the group.
Waiting for nightfall, Zatiel stealthily approached the well, skillfully avoiding detection by the bandits. With the assistance of the AI chip, scanning his surroundings, he easily reached his destination undetected. Knowing that killing the guards to sabotage the well would raise suspicions among the camp, he needed a distraction.
Spotting an alligator by the river, Zatiel picked up a rock and hurled it with all his strength, shattering the creature's eye.
The injured alligator let out a pained roar and charged in the direction of the projectile. Zatiel continued throwing rocks, luring the beast closer to the well, alerting the guards.
"Boss, an alligator!"
"What in the world is this beast doing here?"
"It's injured, kill it quickly!"
Although the alligator was a formidable creature, it lacked magical abilities. Moreover, its injuries weakened it, leading to an easy victory for the bandits. Celebrating their triumph over the giant foe, none of them noticed the powder that was dissolving in the well, slowly spreading its effects.