Now Detan had prepared half of the team, but what to do about the other two? Mina converted last night, so he had time to prepare a gift for her. To be honest he hadn't expected much when he gave that little speech to the caravanners. While he is excited for the additional two followers, he had to rack his brain for a solution.
While he would like to make them weapons just like he did for Jaycee and Mina, he doesn't have enough divine power for that, leaving him only one option. Magic. Creating permanent items like weapons and crystals cost much more power than a boosting spell.
"I don't have weapons prepared for you two, but this should be more than enough." Detan lifted his hand and activated many unique support spells. Colorful lights incased the two with multicolored lights. Each light represented a different spell that was cast. If there were any experienced mages here they would be shocked. What with him being low on divine power you would think he was going to cast some low-level spell and be done with it, but no. That's not how he works. He was sending them in to fight these bandits to grow. If they died because he was too stingy to give them the proper support then he would never forgive himself. This was just training to him, nothing more.
The same couldn't be said for any of the followers. To them, this was revenge. They were going into the forest to take revenge for all the guards that sacrificed their lives for them, and for the women that were captured.
With every light that shone on them they felt their strength growing rapidly. Their eyes grew sharp like an eagles. Their muscles contracted and made them seem more like full grown warriors rather than the teenage boys they are. Even Lith with his naturally dexterous and light frame seemed like an immovable war god. They couldn't help but let out a roar that shook the forest. They don't have any fancy weapons or techniques, but right now they felt they couldn't lose. They stretched their bodies to get used to the feeling, before shouting out, "Master, we're ready!"
Having done all he could do, he began to lead them toward the camp. All that was left now, was to watch their performance. Detan could not directly attack the bandits on his own. This was greatly frowned upon and if word got out he would be hated by nearly every god for this kind of act. Gods were just way too powerful for humans to fight on their own, they wouldn't stand a chance. So, to keep other gods from assassinating their followers, the gods all unanimously decided to make this a rule. Of course if one of them was stupid enough to attack him, then he could retaliate. There was no rule against self defense.
Gerald and Lith dashed through the forest seemingly full of excess energy. Detan didn't have a mount that the girls could sit on so he had to walk with them at a rather slow pace. Eventually they reached the camp.
"I'll be watching from here." Detan said as he leaned against a tree.
Jaycee wanted to work together with everyone to make sure that the battle went smoothly. Being the senior, she should be the leader. She turned and started to speak but saw that only Mina was there, looking at her worriedly. A resounding shout erupted out from the direction of the bandit's camp.
"You're father's here to discipline you! Get out here and greet him! Haha!"
Even the usually quieter and meek Lith was affected by the strength coursing through his veins as he joined Gerald in insulting the bandits. They ran and jumped around doing many weird actions while cursing loud enough for the whole camp to hear.
Jaycee grabbed Mina and ran over to support them. Over forty bandits came out of their tents, walking toward them with condescending smirks. "My father? Where? How could you be my father? You're far too young!"
"He's definitely your father! He just takes real good care of his skin, so he's often mistaken for a young man."
"Mmm. You're right. Father, why don't you come in and meet the boss? I'm sure you'll have a lot in common!"
They all burst out laughing.
Gerald lowered his body into a sprinting pose. "Father is upset with your actions. Be more kind in your next life!" He pushed off his back foot, launching himself at them as he planted his fist in a bandit's stomach. The laughter stopped and they held their breath as they watched a large bandit turn into a crescent moon as he flew backwards at a shocking speed. They followed him with their eyes as he landed in the side of a tent. It fell in on him. Blood absorbed into the white tent, giving hints to the man's condition. He wasn't going to get back up.
The bandits came back to reality as they heard more of their comrades shrieking and crying in pain. Off to the side Lith had snuck over and started his attack. Although he is not a skilled swordsman, the buffs provided by Detan made killing as easy as breathing. With every swing of his sword another man fell.
They were exhilarated! Before, it was them running away from the bandits. Now they had the power to strike back! Deep down they both knew that this power wasn't theirs. It was Detan's. He had lent them this power to get their revenge. Who else would do such a thing for them? They might have even died at the hands of the bandits if Detan had not shown up with Jaycee at that time. They marked this debt down in their hearts as they continued slaughtering.
Detan watched from his position leaning against a tree on the outskirts of the camp. He might have overdone it on the support spells. This isn't even qualified to be called training. They can't even fight back. He thought about it and realized that this is also the case with Jaycee. She relies too much on the weapons he made for her. She must have gotten many skill points from killing so much. He decided that once this is over, and everything calms down, he would sit them all down and help them choose some skills and techniques that would be suitable for them.
While Detan was thinking about this, a figure faded through the forest as it approached behind him. It's red eyes glowed under the dark canopy. It charged forward, busting through the tree he was leaning against, as it plowed right through. Detan felt something pierce through his stomach as he was sent flying by the attack. Bits of splintered wood flew like needles in every direction. The originally large tree was broken in half as it collapsed grandly into the forest shaking the ground like an earthquake.
Detan smacked the ground with his palm. Flipping his body upright as he dug his feet into the dirt to stop his momentum. Long lines drew out in the dirt before he came to a stop. He reached down toward his wound and felt it.
His opponent was smart, taking the opportunity while he was distracted to sneak attack. He had no time for pain as he locked eyes with his attacker. It resembled a white rabbit with solid red eyes. Two thick black horns curled out of the sides of it's head. They twisted out, and forward, like a capital 'L'. Blood dripped of one of them.
The rabbit saw that it's attack was perfect. It went just like he had planned. He reached his nearly humanoid hand up toward his horn and wiped the blood off. Then he started to lick the blood off his hand as he gave out a moan.
"Yes... this is it."
The earthshattering sound of the tree being split alerted Detan's followers. They immediately created space between them and their opponents. They saw Detan facing off against the beast, but when they saw the wound he had, it sent them into a frenzy.
Detan had a whole in his stomach. A large whole blasted right through him by the monster right in front of them. Gerald and Lith saw the wound on their master and immediately shot out to kill the monster.
Jaycee's eyes were bloodshot. She raised her hand and sent five silver lights toward the beast. Mina had no time to act. When she saw the wound, she was unable to take her eyes away from it. She couldn't comprehend it. They were here to fight bandits, how did he get hurt? The man that saved her, would he die here?
When the rabbit monster saw that his opponents disciples were launching attacks at it, it smiled and prepared to take the attacks. It only had to take one attack from each of them in order to have a reason to retaliate and kill them. It raised it's arms up to block them. It planned to sacrifice it's arms to take the attacks. After all it only needs it's legs and horns to finish them off. A dangerous glint flashed in the monster's eyes as it looked at the delicious meal it would soon be having.
The group didn't notice the abnormality in the monster's actions. They were too blinded by rage.
The first knife was about to land when a black shadow appeared and took the hit in place of the monster. Smoke shot out from the shadow, blowing to the two boys away. The shadow slowly revealed the bloodied figure inside. It was Detan.
Jaycee immediately commanded the knives back. They flew back to her hand still covered in his blood. The blood stained her hand as she started to realize what she had done. Tears swelled in her eyes.
They stood there stupefied as they watched. The monster crouched down, building up power in it's large hind legs. After just a second, it shot out and pierced Detan. His body drew a bloody arc in the air. His body collapsed lifelessly to the floor. Blood poured out from the holes in his body forming a pool around him.