Dan cannot believe on happen with their current situation. He knows that his men were taken down already by this group.
Even this man that he was facing is someone that he can not take down easily. Specially that he was wounded by the surprised attack before. The pain was still throbbing, he can feel the draining of his blood.
"Tell me, who are you?" He asked again, trying to prove and to learn the identity of Eduard's group.
Captain Martin did not mind to answer his question. He only continued his attacks towards Dan. There fight was only on a stalemate, where his enemies was defending using his blade.
At the side, Estrella was now concentrating in chanting her spell. She were having a hard time spotting the position of Dan before because of darkness, she was only able to spot them when she heard his voice.
"O' flame that burns everything, give me your power, Fire Ball" she chanted.
Three fire balls in a size of baseball ball appeared on top of her head. The three fireball merges after, creating a large fire ball in a size of soccer ball.
The place suddenly lightened up by the appearance of Estrella magic.
Eduard who is busy in his task as look out for Estrella was amazed by her magic. This was his first time seeing someone chant a magic closer.
In the memories of old Eduard, he also saw someone cast magic in their house at the Chris family Household.
But, he was just too timid to come close and watch the action of mage. Leaving him to only glimpse from a far.
Right now, he could feel a sense of danger just by being close to the fire ball created by Estrella. He could feel an intensifying heat coming from the fire.
Eduard turns his attention to the direction of Captain Martin and the Bandit Leader.
"Martin, It's time" he noted to Captain Martin.
Captain Martin did not neglect the words of Eduard. Using his sword, he met the blade of Dan with his full strength, making Dan to step backward.
He keep his distance away to the position of Dan. Estrella on the other side, saw her opportunity and throw the fireball to Dan.
The fireball travel quickly, pointing the chest of its target.
Dan was still regaining his balance from their last clash, he was baffled seeing that a blinding red light travel to his direction.
He was not able to dodge in time, the fireball had hit his body. Due to his chest having no armor to protect, the fireball created a hole on it.
He cannot believe to what happened to him, regrets was filling his mind while his vision turned blurred.
The three saw how Dan received the attack of Estrella. It was a tragic death. His heart was eaten by the raging fireball.
The destructive power of mages, could really destroy a higher level Warrior. Eduard was looking at Dan corpse with a sense of respect. Even Captain Martin was giving Dan a pity and salute.
Even if he was surrounded, he never yields and turn his back to run.
The sun already started to shine, it was already morning. They can now see the faces of the bandits that they killed.
Estrella who cast the fireball felt a tinge of anxiety in her heart. This was her first time killing someone. She knows that someday her power would be used to take someone's life. But the first time was the hardest time for her to accept.
Eduard started to make his arrangement to his next plan.
"Men, is there anyone who is still alive within their group?" Eduard asked.
The knight brought out a man that is unconscious. He has wound in his waist and on his right leg. The cuts were not serious, but their is also a mark of sword handle under his neck.
This man was the one who brought out the message to Dan before. During the fight, he was not able to respond after his fall on top of his horse, he was hit by a sword on his leg and another slash on the waist coming from the knights.
Due to fear and pain, he shouted with all his might during the fight. The knight who is dealing with him got irritated to his voice and hit his calf using his sword handle. He had fallen unconscious after he was hit.
After Eduard pour the water, he started to get conscious. He was shocked to see the group of people standing around him, he thought that they already killed him after his vision blurred.
"What's your name?" Eduard query.
The man was staggering in fear while answering the question.
" I am Jacob" he weakly replied.
"What is your position on the bandits group? And how many are your members?" He questionned again to the man.
The man heart suddenly fallen from the question of Eduard. Instead of answering Eduard question, he replied with another question.
"Will you still kill me if I tell the information you wanted?"
Eduard smiled at the man's response. This was totally the mindset of someone who wants to survive. He gave his response to the man.
He dipped his finger to the wound of the man and repeat his question.
"What is your position on the bandits group? And how many are your members?" his voice was a bit higher than before.
The man howl in pain, his face flushed in red from enduring. "Ill tell it, Ill tell it."
Eduard remove his finger from the would when the man give up.
He was drenched in sweat after Eduard remove his finger.
"I am just a messenger to call the Captain of our Bandits group from the Cape Town. Someone attacked our hide out yesterday, killing 3 of our members which alerted our group. I am assigned to call out our Captain over that Town to inform him of the situation. For the case of our bandit group, we are only left with 11 members excluding myself" the man explained in one go.
Eduard smiled hearing the information. The count of enemy on the lair was not too much for them to deal with if the information is correct.
He faced again the man to ask him. "Tell me, what is the Cultivation of the strongest within your lair and the other member?"
The man cooperated this time and tell the level of each members.
Eduard learned that the group vice Leader was on Peak Iron while the rest was below the 8th Tier Iron. This was a good news for him, only the Vice Leader was the one that can considered as a threat to his knights.
"good job, here is your reward" Eduard mumbled. He gave a Karate chop to the other side of the man neck, making him fall unconscious again.
"Men regroup, we will attack the enemies lair" he said to the Knights.
Everybody get on their knees to respond to Eduard's order.
Eduard suddenly face Eren, who is in the group of knight.
"Eren, go back and bring this man to my territory. Treat him, I will add him to the slaves. Also, escort my sister and keep her safety. We are enough to manage the enemies" he inquired.
Estrella disagreed to Eduard's arrangement when she heard his order to Eren.
"Brother, I can help you guys in clearing the enemies. You should bring me with you" she explained, trying to give sense to Eduard.
Eduard helplessly explained, "Sis, you need to go back. The enemies are already manageable for us. Beside, the defense of the territory right now is weak. Specially that we are absent over there. You need you look out to my people safety".
Estrella didn't continue her tantrums after listening to Eduard advice. She knows that they are vulnerable in the territory. Leaving only two knights to guard the place was really irresponsible.
"Okay, just be careful"
....
In the bandits lair.
Mario was outside their hideout. He was standing at the entrance with a restless expression. He is nervous about the enemy appearance, the absence of their Leader gave him a great pressure.
He is not confident to keep the safety of everyone with his Level of Cultivation. Especially that the enemy discovered their location and may come at anytime.
A subordinate suddenly came back to switch with his scouting duty. This subordinate has a large eye bags on his eyes and was tired.
They did not slept last night and were keep on standby to wait for Dan's group return.
"Is Leader already came" asked by Mario in an angry tone.
He was hiding his fear by showing his angered expression to his subordinates.
"The leader hasn't came yet, but he may come back soon" the subordinate replied with assurance to ease Mario's anger.
They are in the middle of their conversation when one of the scout from the forest rushly came to them.
"Vice Leader, three men suddenly came in from the vicinity wearing a knight armor" the scout reported.
Mario started to worry, he frowned and commanded, "Gather everyone, we will attack that group with our full force."
Everyone adhered to his command and move together to the intruder direction.