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Name: Zirgon Sasq
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Title: Bandit Leader (lvl. 10)
Strength: 50 (1000+)
Resistance: 100 (500+)
Stamina: 50 (500+)
Agility: 70 (1000+)
Magic: 0
Magic Resistance: 100
Skills:
-Swordmaster (lvl. 15)
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It was a set of stats that could only be described as belonging to a monster.
"How is this possible?" he asked Eve in his mind.
"I suppose I will be playing the role of a history teacher for you now, Master. Well then, allow me to explain. The Demon Lord of Wrath, in his malevolence, granted Galahad this cursed weapon as a tool for his betrayal. The sword's power is designed to amplify the physical attributes of its wielder to monstrous levels. As you can observe, that man's strength, resistance, and agility have all been significantly heightened. However, while it bestows incredible physical prowess, the sword doesn't enhance magical abilities."
The sword was growing more and more valuable in his mind. Would it be more worthwhile to sell the sword, or would it hold greater value if used in his adventuring endeavors? The latter seemed a compelling choice. It could potentially secure him a position as a knight or a similar role, leveraging the enhanced stats even without prior combat experience. A knight's profession outweighed the prospect of gaining a million gold coins through a sale.
'No...'
However, upon reflection, that might not be the best course of action. Immediate financial needs due to his sister's mysterious illness urged him to seek a substantial sum quickly. Selling the sword could be a more lucrative option.
"Master, if you are contemplating selling it, I advise against it. Selling that sword poses risks. Possession of a weapon linked to a traitor in humanity may not be viewed favorably."
That was understandable. Possessing such an item could lead to him being branded as a heretic by the Church, and that was a label he wished to avoid.
"Can you please focus on this rather unfavorable situation instead of contemplating what to do with that sword if you get your hands on it? Your sense of danger is as low as your comprehension of everything, Master..."
Did she just criticize him? Yes, she did. It stung a bit. Leon could still grasp a thing or two. Regardless, she was right. The current situation was indeed unfavorable. He decided to analyze Diana's status.
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Name: Diana Pendragon
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Title: Knight (lvl. 9)
Strength: 200
Resistance: 150
Stamina: 400
Agility: 80
Magic: 10
Magic Resistance: 150
Skills:
-Swordmaster (lvl. 10)
-Martial Arts (lvl. 15)
-Fire Magic (lvl. 7)
-Wind Magic (lvl. 7)
-Spiritual Energy Manipulation (lvl. 10)
Ultimate Skills:
-Sword Light Blast (lvl. 1)
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Her status was incredibly impressive. Leon hadn't thought she was this capable, at least not until now. There were two things that intrigued him, and Eve as well.
Eve said, "Pendragon? So she's a descendant of that human hero, huh?"
Pendragon was the last name of the hero who defeated the God of All-Evil, Mercura, in the hundred-year war and prevented the world's end. The name was so famous that even Leon, as illiterate as he was, knew it.
"What's this Sword Light Blast, Eve?"
Diana's last name was intriguing, but what intrigued him more was that. It was stated in her status that it was an Ultimate skill, something he did not have in his own status.
"Sword Light Blast is an advanced sword technique that channels and concentrates spiritual energy into the blade, allowing the user to unleash a powerful beam of light with a single swing," explained Eve. "It's a formidable skill, especially at higher levels. Considering her heritage, it's not surprising that she possesses such a technique."
Intrigued by the concept of an Ultimate skill, Leon couldn't help but inquire further.
"What exactly is an Ultimate skill, Eve?" he asked.
Eve took a moment before responding, "An Ultimate skill is a powerful and rare ability that surpasses ordinary skills. These skills are often unique and can have a significant impact on battles. They are typically unlocked after reaching a certain level of mastery in specific areas. In Diana's case, the Sword Light Blast is her Ultimate skill, signifying her exceptional proficiency in swordsmanship and spiritual energy manipulation."
Leon nodded, absorbing the information.
"Master, you may one day unlock your own Ultimate skill if you continue to develop your abilities and gain experience," Eve added. "That is, if you wish to continue honing your skill."
Leon went silent at that as he went back to look at the stare-down between Diana and the bandit leader. They were all displaying bloodlust. The other bandits that were still standing took steps back away from them, as the bloodlust they were emitting was like something that could make someone faint if they received all of it.
"Do you think the knight had a chance?" Leon asked.
Diana's skill and stats were incredibly high, but they still fell short of the enormous bonus that the sword gave to the bandit.
"It's doubtful. Not even a knight of that caliber can defeat the man," said Eve, her voice filled with certainty.
As the tense standoff continued, Leon couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The bandit leader, Zirgon, appeared confident and powerful, especially with the enhanced stats granted by the sword of Galahad.
Diana, on the other hand, stood her ground with determination. Her eyes locked onto Zirgon, and her body radiated an aura of unwavering resolve. The bandits who had stepped back seemed to sense the impending clash between two formidable forces.
Leon muttered to himself, "What should we do, Eve?"
Eve replied, "For now, observe."
The tension in the air grew thicker as Zirgon took a step forward, his scarred face twisted into a malicious grin. Diana tightened her grip on her sword, ready for the impending confrontation.
The bandit leader spoke with a tone of arrogance, "Well, well, a knight with quite the reputation, but you're just a pawn in this little game. Let's see if you can handle the power bestowed upon me by the great Galahad himself!"
With those words, Zirgon lunged forward with incredible speed, his sword aimed at Diana with deadly precision.
"...?!"
Fast! He was fast! Incredibly so. Leon had never witnessed a human move with such agility.
Diana was as shocked as he was. Her eyes widened momentarily at the bandit, who seemed to vanish before her, but she quickly regained her composure, blocking an attack that had seemingly materialized out of thin air.
"Kuh...!"
"Gehehehe, you're not half bad, young miss. Looks like you're not all talk. Still, is that all you've got?"
Diana gritted her teeth, maintaining her defensive stance. The bandit leader, Zirgon, chuckled darkly as he continued to press the attack. His movements were unpredictable, making it challenging for Diana to anticipate his strikes. Her determination, however, shone through. She parried Zirgon's relentless assaults with skill and precision, a testament to her years of training as a knight.
Zirgon taunted, "Come on, knight! Is that the best you can do? Galahad's power is unstoppable! You can't escape your inevitable defeat!"
Diana remained silent, her focus solely on the battle. Spotting a brief opening in Zirgon's assault, she seized the opportunity to counterattack. Her sword sliced through the air, aiming for Zirgon's side.
Yet, the bandit leader sidestepped effortlessly, evading the blow with a mocking grin. "Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that!"
It became increasingly evident that Diana was growing overpowered. While she managed to defend herself in the present, concerns arose about her long-term stamina. It was apparent that exhaustion would eventually lead to her defeat.
Leon questioned himself rather than directing the query to Eve, "Must I stand idly by and witness this?"
Despite the internal nature of Leon's question, Eve offered a response, "You can't intervene. Your strength isn't sufficient to confront him. Perhaps with prior battle knowledge, you might stand a chance, but presently, you're insignificant to him. Interfering would likely result in your demise."
Leon was well aware of his limitations. If he were to step in and aid Diana, it would likely result in his immediate death, potentially jeopardizing Diana as well. Yet, was it not his responsibility, as the adventurer appointed to safeguard the carriage, to protect it and its occupants until reaching the destination? Why then was he merely observing Diana's struggle against the bandit threatening the carriage and its occupant without intervening?
Clutching the already fragile sword on the verge of breaking, Leon contemplated his options. A single blow, and the sword would undoubtedly shatter.
"What's your plan, Master? Do you intend to join the fight as well?" Eve sounded a bit surprised by Leon's determination. "You're not at the skill level yet. You haven't even mastered swordsmanship. If you rush in without any skills, you'll surely be killed!"
"I understand that, but is there really nothing I can do in this situation?"
"There is nothing."
"So Diana is going to die here, along with the people inside that carriage?"
"I suggest you escape while the bandits are preoccupied with her. Ensure your safety first, before thinking about anyone else!"
Was that truly the best choice? Just running away from the fight? But how could he abandon these women? Hadn't he promised himself to save his sister from whatever illness she had? If he left these women, it would be like giving up all hope of letting his sister see sunlight again, forever confining her to the house and depriving her of the outside world. Was that what he wanted? No. If leaving was the best choice, he would rather make the wrong choice.
"Are you kidding me, Master? You're just going to get yourself killed!"
The moment Eve uttered those words, a light as bright as the sun enveloped Leon's vision.