"Huh, huh, huh," Dory exhaled, tired from using the sword artifact. Even if she has a powerful artifact, using it is a different story, as the only way to unleash the full strength of the artifact is by possessing cultivation at the Spirit Grand Realm.
Besides her, Brya is in a much better state, as she only used a weapon at the Genesis Grade, making her consumption less than her cousin. The only reason for her being tired is she had been pushing all her qi into the last two attacks, which drained her greatly.
As the two regained their strength, absorbing the qi in the surrounding area, the two guards head towards them and feed them some Qi Replenishing Pills, making their recovery easier.
"Let's see if there are any young in the area," Dory said after recovering, the two princesses flying towards the area in question, hoping to better spot something by having a vantage point.
As the two princesses search the area, Ryker released his aura, engulfing the area with his aura. The sudden action caused the two guards to look at him warily, their hands on the hilts of their swords.
Ryker did not heed them any mind, instead starting at a spot before grasping it, pulling something with his qi. The something turned out to be two men, both at the 8th Stage of Genesis Sea, someone that is too strong for the princesses to take care of.
"I leave the interrogation to the two of you. There are some more 'pests' in the area so I am going to make sure it will be pest-free by the time I'm done," he said before sinking into the shadow.
The two guards looked at the shadow, before exchanging glance. After a quick stare off, Adia flew towards the princesses while Sela looked at the captured men, a whip of lightning in her hands.
-x-
When the princesses returned, with Adia in tow, they watched as Sela wipe the blood off her sword, the two men having a terrified look on their face, even as corpses.
"What happen?" Dory asked, clearly wary after seeing one of the guards killing what is likely bandits.
"Well, it is something like this-" Sela and Adia alternate between telling them of how Ryker sense the bandits, something Sela later confirmed, before going away.
Adia then told Sela of how she joined in with the princesses and looked around, before spotting the nest on top of the tallest tree in the area. In it, a hatchling was sleeping, with an egg besides it. With no trouble, aside from the hatchling trying to fight them off, there is no compilation.
Sela then told the trio of how she, after a series of brutal torture, manage to learn of the number of bandits, along with the strongest members being the same as the two guards. One of the key information she manage to gain is the name of the bandit group.
"The Crimson Leaves, there are one of the more powerful bandit group with members under the Spirit Grand Realm. To think they are close to the capital city. Do you learn of the reason of their presence?" Adia asked.
The purple-haired guard nodded. "Yes, they are here to sell something to someone who ordered the thing. I am not sure of the person, as the two said even the boss did not know of the employers' face, the man always wearing a mask," she answered.
"Hhmm, this make it harder. Should we go and help the adventurer, your Excellency," to the surprise of the two, they shake their heads.
"He is strong, so a bunch of people below Noble realm won't be much of an issue," Brya said, her voice is filled with confidence on the man.
The two guards wondered why would they have such confidence. After all, while they knew of the person being a powerful Master that allied with the Crown Prince, and able to defeat Noble realm experts, they have thought it to be an exxaguration.
The two actually is not present during the match, as they have been cultivating in seclusion to reach the peak of Genesis Sea.
"He is much stronger than you can imagine, for someone with his cultivation realm," Brya defended the dual-haired man. After all, they have seen him defeat a lot stronger foes before, some being stronger than their guards.
Sela wanted to continue asking of the man when the heard rustling in the bush. They looked at the direction, weapons in hand in case they need them. As they get closer, a slender man run towards the group, clearly out of breath.
When he spot the women, a lecherous smile formed on his face as he head towards them, clearly having despicable intent towards them.
Yet, before he could do anything, a the two women unleash their cultivation, easily forcing him to fall on the ground, a loud thud can be heard from it.
"Give me one good reason why we should not kill you," Dory asked in a cold tone, the sword in her hand exude a powerful aura.
The man quickly realize he must have bitten more than he could chew, "Spare me! I will do anything!" he pleaded, his fearful tone being real.
"Why should we, when we knew of what you are planning to do with us we are any weaker," Brya retorted, glaring at the man.
The man clearly unable to refute. With him being silence, showing his desire, Sela about to cut of the man's head before a blur appeared and hold the tip, preventing the blade from descending towards the neck of the man.
"Don't," Ryker said, "Not yet," he then struck at the back of the man's neck, putting him in a state of unconsciousness.
"Why?" Adia asked, as Sela glared at him.
"It is better to show you," after saying that, Ryker walked away. The two guards did not move, though the same could not be said about the two princesses.
"Your Excellency, we sho-"
"My eldest brother, father, uncle, and aunt believe in him. So, do we," Dory exclaimed, before continue to walk behind the dual-haired man. Bryan nodded, showing her agreement with her cousin.
The guards looked at one another before sighing in synchronization, following behind the princesses afterwards.
-x-
Ryker lead them to a cave, though it is bloody, the corpses and blood of the bandits everywhere, at least near the entrance. Once they got deeper, there are less corpses, but each one is strong.
They soon get into the depth of the cave, where the bodies of the leader of Crimson Leaves are. Though, he merely kicked them away, before pointing to a map. The guards and princesses take a quick look on it, before a grave expression appeared on their face.
"This is why," Ryker said before continuing, "It seem the large bandit groups are planning an attack of some kind, or cause a disturbance at the very least, inside the capital city,"