Just looking at the group he saw a large amount flaws in their positions. It was ridiculous, confidence in numbers only works for average people. Against professionals they would have already been eating dirt. Moreover the thought of waiting until someone unfortunately walked by here seemed like a huge waste of time.
The confident bandits began their assault, attacking whenever they saw fit. It was child's play to dodge the attacks. Akiol barely used his sword, a small kick there and a push here made the players trip over one and another. Yet confident as they were, they weren't idiots.
They had been clearly outmatched and their confidence began to diminish at a rapid pace. Thoughts began to float around their head.
Akiol tapped the ground with his sword, "Still want my equipment?" He asked.
Sweat formed on their faces. What if they had offered a professional player? What if it was some big shot in a top guild? Yet their pride wouldn't allow them to call it quits.
"Ah you idiots." A voice called out.
The bandits reacted, clearly startled.
A well equipped man made himself visible. A shining dagger in their hand, royal blue armor made them stand out.
"Boss!" The bandits called out.
"Don't you 'boss' me. You fools couldn't take down a single man. Are you all useless? Was all that training gone to waste after a few successful robberies?" The royal blue man lectured.
Akiol stood their and watch the ragtag group of bandits get an earful with a straight face. What was he supposed to do in this situation?
The royal blue man stopped his lecture and turned to Akiol, "My apologies. Allow me to introduce myself. The name's Harlow, leader of the Three Eyed Fox bandit group."
Akiol then remembered, a few posts complained about this group. The one who stood out the most was their leader.
"To think the leader of a popular bandit group would personally interfere."
Harlow laughed, "I couldn't watch my subordinates make a fool of themselves. May I ask, what guild are you in? I would hate to make an enemy unknowingly."
Akiol understood then. He stopped for fear that he would be making an enemy of a top tier guild, "I am not in any guild. At most I am part of a small group."
Harlow stiffened, he lectured his subordinates and personally interfered for someone who wasn't even in a guild?
Harlow's demeanor changed, "Not in any guild? Then what am I doing this for?"
"You're the one who assumed." Akiol pointed out.
Harlow's face darkened, "If your not part of any guild, then why am I apologizing? To think you would trick my like so!"
Akiol closed his eyes in annoyance, it was one of these people.
"I shall take your stuff personally!" Harlow dashed towards Akiol.
Akiol twirled his sword, he still had to fight after all. Harlow thrust his dagger forward, feinted, and spun to attack Akiol's side.
Reversing his grip on his sword and blocked the attack. As soon as the two blades touched Akiol sent a swift kick towards Harlow.
Harlow received the kick and took some damage, but instead of retreating he grabbed Akiol's leg with his free arm. Quickly he moved his dagger to stab Akiol's leg.
Akiol used his other leg to turn his body. Using his captured leg as the main point he rotated like a top. Just before his leg was stabbed his heel contacted Harlow's jaw.
Harlow let go of Akiol's leg and stumbled a few steps back. Akiol fell to the ground and rolled to recover. Harlow spat into a nearby bush.
"Not to shabby eh?"
Akiol didn't respond.
"Fine then." Harlow began moving his dagger in a strange pattern. As Akiol paid attention to it he noticed water like patterns flowing behind it.
He began rushing towards Akiol, the water patterns becoming more prominent. Akiol suspected that it was a skill, though that was probably obvious.
Harlow swung his dagger towards Akiol's throat. Akiol moved his sword to intercept, yet a strange occurrence happened. Harlow seemed to shift sideways. Now on the other side of Akiol his dagger continued its path.
Akiol reacted fast, twisting his body to dodge the dagger he then cut Harlow's arm. Instead of normal markings the entire body of Harlow seemed to dissipate.
Harlow returned to his original position, since Akiol turned Harlow was now behind him. The dagger shone as it was thrust towards Akiol.
Akiol immediately rolled forward dodging the strike. Some sort of evasion Skill, had to be. A water clone or a substitution. Akiol couldn't tell which one it was just yet.
Harlow didn't stop, after missing again he pushed forward. Every attack he made he shifted towards the side. As Akiol fought him he realized something about Harlow's 'shift'.
Every time he shifted in his original position lie a crystal clear water silhouette. Akiol only spotted it when some light warped through it. After attacking the water silhouette it burst into small water droplets.
This disabled Harlow's ability to shift back to his original position. Now understanding his opponents ability Akiol intended to finish off the guy.
Harlow noticed this and called out, "Don't just stand there you fools!"
The original group of bandits snapped into position and joined the battle. Joining in attacking Akiol along with Harlow.
Eyeing the group of bandits with their renewed vigor Akiol rapidly made a strategy. It was clear the leader wasn't a general, and was hardly skilled enough to give good battle advice. Therefor the usual strategy of dealing with the leader might not work.
Regardless it was easier to deal with the ragtag bandit group first. Every time he finished one off it reduced the pressure on him. Eventually only one bandit and Harlow remained.
The bandit noticed his predicament and fled. Harlow cursed the coward under his breath, while also searching for a way to flee.
Akiol wasn't going to let that happen. Swinging his sword he began to increase his tempo. Harlow may have the stats to keep up, but he didn't have the skill. Slowly wounds kept appearing on his body. His health dropping at a visible rate.
Once Harlow's health reached a tenth Akiol pointed his sword at his neck. Harlow began to sweat, he hadn't met someone this skilled in a long time. They weren't even in a guild!
Akiol intended to ask for information, but thought otherwise. He now knew what place this was and didn't wish to stay. Akiol instead pierced Harlow's throat and dealt critical damage. The rest of Harlow's health disappeared and he fell to the ground, dead.
Akiol absorbed his sword, there was a piece of paper that dropped from Harlow. Picking it up he stored it in his inventory for later.
Not wishing to stay in the forsaken place he began to leave.
~ ~ ~
Meanwhile. . .
A particular post on the forums began to gain a lot of attention.
-The Mysterious Masked Challenger! Many professional players at stake?-
The post had given a detailed description of a certain player's actions. With picture or recorded evidence of professional players being challenged and or beaten.
The mysterious player began to gain a nickname. Dot, for the singular black dot on their mask. Guilds were offering hefty sums to obtain any information on the player. Either to recruit or take revenge.
No guild claimed that it was their player. Any guild that was being suspected were soon also challenged. Dot became an unknown uprising star overnight. Professionals grew wary and began traveling with their teammates. No one wanted to be finished off by the mysterious player. It would ruin their career!
And thus Dot became the terror and champion for many players.
~ ~ ~
Desk Guy stretched, after fixing a few bugs he was feeling bored. His favorite team were mostly doing their own thing, and it wasn't very fun to watch.
So he did the next thing to mind, browse the player forums. Unintentional features were usually found here. Regardless if there were bugs or loopholes.
It was then he came across that post. The mysterious player known as Dot. After investigating he noticed the absurd stats of the player. It was a good thing that the player was under surveillance.
Yet he thought to himself, perhaps he could help in the surveillance. So he also began to watch the player as well. While keeping tabs on his favorite team.
Since nothing interesting was happening he set the camera view on a side monitor while he worked on additional things. There was a bug with a certain quest item. He had fixed the bug and sent the patch on its way, but he had to compensate the player who found it.
Since it wasn't a major quest he sent a small sum of gold, double that of the quest reward. With the new currency trading system the player should be pleased.
Now the issue was completely fixed he snuck a glance at his spectating screen. It was at that point he noticed something.
Both the masked player and the slime were in the same area!