The guards too weren't completely useless, as they were able to eradicate the wolves. However, the bandits were a big threat on their own.
Counting the number from each side, the guards together with the merchants they were protecting amounted to fifteen.
The bandits, however, were about thirty, rugged, and better equipped than the guards.
'' I'll wait until their number dwindle to ten. '' Jerouch yawned lazily.
'' The strongest bandit is only an E rank, hmph. '' He snorted.
'' Argh! '' He heard another cry not long after, and he finally decided to act.
He then summoned the sceptre he got from the system for the first time.
The sceptre was two metres long and made of a grey antique metallic material that smelled of the long cycle of time.
It had a purple orb attached to the top which also shimmered with miasma similar to the grimoire, and nine thin grey snakes twirled around the orb and the upper part of the sceptre forming a creepy enclosure.
Even Jerouch himself got cold chills from the sceptre.
The snakes might not have life in them, but they looked and felt so alive and realistic. Each of their mouths had little purple miasma clouding them, and that wasn't all.
As for the handle of the sceptre, it was actually made of the head of a grey dragon. It had its mouth opened, half swallowing a big purple orb similar to the one the nine snakes were enclosing at the top.
The body and tail of the dragon now twirled around the body of the sceptre, giving it a more ominous vibe.
' Hehehe. ' A soft giggle left Jerouch's mouth as he appeared in the open.
A heavy wind blew his long platinum hair backwards, and his dark robe flapped in the wind.
He held the sceptre in his right hand and spread his left arm outward.
The battle abruptly came to a stop as the two parties looked at him with wariness.
The bandits were hoping that it wasn't a strong expert who would disrupt their operations.
The merchants and their guards, though, were praying that the new figure was going to be a strong ally and was not going to side with the bandits.
'' Hey man, may you proceed with your journey and interrupt us not? '' The person who seemed to be the bandits' gang leader spoke in a domineering tone and a wild accent.
He had a dark Mohawk and a rusty breastplate. His face was full of wrinkles and his thick muscles were there to show off.
'' Old sir, please help us out and our merchants' guild will be forever indebted to you. '' The one in charge of the transportation of the goods muttered in a pitiful tone.
' Morons, as though I'll buy his bullshit. ' Jerouch sneered inwardly. ' Humans are constantly looking for advantages. And when you're no longer useful, they dump you. Old sir, my arse. '
' However. ' He landed his gaze on the bandits and a creepy grin surfaced on his pale face. ' Who said I can't be the one taking advantage, hehe? '
''One-third of the total worth of your goods for my service.'' Jerouch muttered, faking a serious and haughty countenance.
'' This. '' The one in charge of the transportation, who looked to be in his forties, opened his mouth.
'' Hey, I must warn you to interfere not in this. '' The bandits' leader warned sternly in annoyance.
'' And if I do? '' Jerouch frowned. To him, whether the merchants' party agreed or not, the bandits were dead meat.
He wasn't helping out for any heroic cause. Humans tend to give him better exp points, and it was even possible that the absorption would work on other beings too.
Hence, he wasn't willing to let go of his experimental subjects.
'' Dear sir, can we make it one fourth? Please be considerate of our losses. '' The man again pleaded to Jerouch after briefly discussing with the others.
'' Are you sick? '' Jerouch asked in a flat tone. '' Who said you're in a position to negotiate? ''
'' You bastards, don't you dare ignore me. '' The bandits' leader bellowed in exasperation as he watched those two discuss as though his presence didn't matter.
'' What's the rush? '' Jerouch laughed.
'' My patience is limited, oldie. '' Jerouch frowned again, looking at the sorry figure of the brown-looking man who was trying to tell him crap.
'' Fine, but can only you…''
'' Say no more. ''
Jerouch used sprint and quickly appeared between the two parties.
The wind he brought along brushed their faces, sending them chills.
The bandits had an alarmed look, and some of them took a few steps back.
'' This lad is simple, not. '' The bandits' leader's forehead crisped.
Before he could even think of the situation clearly, a cry of agony reached him from the back.
Instinctively turning his head backwards, he saw a decapitated corpse lying on the ground.
'' Huhh. ''
All of them were stunned. Both the merchants and the bandits.
They were still wondering how Jerouch was going to defeat the bandits all by himself when they heard a cry followed by a decapitated figure.
A wooden arrow came charging at Jerouch at a great speed, but with his new level of perception, the arrow appeared slow, and he could even figure out his trajectory.
Swinging his sceptre in a forty-five degree, he smashed the arrow away.
' Let's do it the arrow way then. ' Jerouch laughed inwardly.
' Fire arrows.'
Five blazing arrows hummed in the air before projecting forward. A few seconds later, and they already fried two bandits.
'' I-isn't he of the warrior class? '' One of the bandits, who appeared to be young, muttered shakily as he cowered in fright
The biggest advantage that warlocks of the warrior class had, was that they usually have immense strength and use less mana.
However, their biggest disadvantage is their lack of long-range attacks, at least for those at the lower ranks.
Seeing Jerouch with a long sceptre had made them erroneously believe that he was of the warrior class. However, seeing him use two spells, again, confused them.
'' What the fuck, this person is? '' The gang leader cursed in his twisted accent.
Their mission was going to completion until this ghost appeared from nowhere.
'' Hey, you dimwits! From all directions, surround him — now. '' The leader roared.