As they left, the sky was an ominous orangish-red. The trio clearly felt the presence of several small figures in brown robes, their eyes the only visible part, indicating they belonged to the same gang. The guards at the north gate frowned as they saw the trio depart, murmuring among themselves about the gang following them.
"That's the Sack Gang," one guard said. "They're known for attacking small merchants and travelers, and they're pretty ruthless; they have an official backing them so they can escape the law."
They both sighed deeply.
The trio continued cautiously, fully aware of the danger. As they reached a small valley, a barrage of glowing white arrows suddenly rained down on them. Prepared for an ambush, they swiftly deployed shield magic, creating an invisible barrier.
The arrows exploded upon impact, but the joint shield created by Alec and Harry held firm, easily withstanding the attack.
"Stay focused," Alec instructed, his voice steady.
"Let's find an opening to counterattack," Sasha added, her eyes scanning their surroundings for the source of the arrows.
They braced themselves for the next move, knowing that the battle had just begun.
Alec recognized the faint aura of the attackers—they were the same individuals who had been staring at them from the corner earlier.
Suddenly, a massive pointed rock fell onto their shield, shattering it and causing the trio to suffer a painful backlash. Emerging from the giant stone not far away, the gang leader appeared, looking as if he had been part of it.
Alec was using a dart tied with illusionary wire containing electricity appearing on its surface to fend off the bandits, which were caught by the gang leader. He served Alec's connection with it and threw it aside.
He approached the trio, eyeing their pale faces with a threatening demeanor. "Surrender all your valuables, and I might let you live," he snarled.
For ordinary people, this might have seemed like a lifeline. But Alec, Sasha, and Harry knew better. Surrendering to the Sack Gang often meant certain death or, worse, being sold into slavery.
Why would a sheep listen to a wolf's preaching?
As the gang leader came within Sasha's attack range, she swiftly cast a spell, creating an illusionary shield and dashing toward him. Underestimating the trio's remaining strength, he was taken by surprise.
"Mountain Push!" Sasha shouted, driving her shield into the gang leader, sending him crashing back into the giant stone from which he had emerged. He slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Despite their leader's defeat, the rest of the gang didn't retreat. They lunged at Sasha, but she swung her large sword with such force that they hesitated and recoiled.
Taking advantage of their hesitation, Alec launched another pointed dart tied to an illusionary wire imbued with lightning. The dart drilled holes in the heads of two gang members, who fell dead before they could comprehend what had happened.
Harry followed up by conjuring several red, thumb-sized beads of magic. These beads flew toward the remaining gang members and exploded upon contact, creating a gruesome mess of blood and gore.
The trio stood amidst the chaos, their attackers defeated. They quickly regrouped, ready to move on and leave the scene behind before more trouble could find them.
The fight came to an end with only two gang members left standing. The gang leader, groggy but alive, slowly got up. Alec, Sasha, and Harry weren't surprised by his recovery; they knew that having a vial of healing potion in their mouths during fights was common for fighters.
Even if they fell unconscious, a potion could be activated by piercing the pouch with teeth, allowing the healing liquid to enter the body and restore them in time.
Harry quickly sent several magic bombs toward the gang leader. Though he dodged them skillfully, he couldn't evade Alec's precise dart. The dart struck true, and the gang leader fell dead.
Seeing their leader defeated, the remaining two gang members panicked. Without looking back, they turned and fled toward the city, hoping to escape the same fate.
The trio took a moment to catch their breath, their eyes scanning the area for any further threats. They knew they had to move quickly before the commotion attracted more attention.
"Let's get out of here," Sasha said, her voice firm.
Alec and Harry sensed the presence of others encircling them, their expressions turning grim but devoid of fear. The two bandits who had fled were thrown back near them, their chests caved in with deep, bloody fist marks.
They were dead.
This new threat consisted of auction hall workers, some of whom didn't bother hiding their faces, confident that no witnesses would be left alive.
The trio wasn't surprised. They quickly formed their defensive triangle, with Sasha at the front and Harry and Alec at the rear for support. Figures emerged from the darkness, encircling them.
The sky was now dark, but numerous floating magic orbs provided a gentle light, casting an eerie glow over the tense, palpable scene.
The second phase of the fight began when a bulky man lunged from the shadows towards the trio. He was repelled by a barrage of red magic bombs from Harry.
"Alec, take care of the rest. We'll handle him," Sasha commanded, her voice resolute.
Harry and Sasha engaged the giant man, while Alec focused on the remaining attackers. He quickly modified his spell, reconnecting the dart's severed wire.
From his bag, more darts flew out, attached to illusionary wires, and started their deadly dance. Alec moved with precision and speed, his darts striking true, each one guided by the wires that were resilient against normal attacks.
Now he was controlling four darts at the same time, but the group of 15 people encircling him didn't have a chance to react much. They observed the trio's strength from the side, but right now Alec was using four times more speed and power than earlier.
This caught them off guard.
Sasha and Harry faced the giant with unwavering determination. Sasha's sword clashed with the man's brute strength, while Harry supported her with spells, ensuring Sasha wasn't overwhelmed. The giant's every move was met with swift counters, and their teamwork was impeccable.
Meanwhile, Alec's darts weaved through the air, taking down foes with deadly accuracy. The auction hall workers, confident moments ago, now find themselves outmatched. The wires were nearly invisible, cutting through their ranks with lethal efficiency.
Sometimes he focused on a specific dart and made it reach an unimaginable speed. That couldn't be caught by normal people's vision.
Caught the robbers off guard again.
One by one, the attackers fell. The air grew thick with the scent of blood and the sounds of battle. Alec's relentless assault left no room for retaliation, and soon, the ground was littered with bodies.
Finally, the giant man faltered, weakened by Sasha and Harry's combined efforts. With one last push, Sasha drove her sword into his chest, ending the fight.
But he struggled a bit before Alec's dart drilled his iron-like head and put him to rest.
The trio stood amidst the aftermath, breathing heavily but victorious. The magical orbs still floated around them, casting a ghostly light on the battlefield.
"We need to move now," Alec urged, knowing they had to escape before more enemies arrived.
With no time to waste, they quickly gathered their things and slipped away into the night, their journey far from over but their resolve stronger than ever.
After collecting their loot from the fallen gang members, the trio quickly departed without looking back.
They traveled another 20 kilometers before encountering a figure enveloped in black fumes, his features obscured. Cautiously, they attempted to pass by, but the figure suddenly conjured a massive fire spell, blocking their path.
The trio was momentarily dumbfounded but quickly prepared for the worst. Before they could engage in battle, the figure spoke, "Do you want to die or live? Choose."
They felt the power from the spell, and after a minute, Alec said, "How can we live?"
"Escort me to the capital," said the mysterious figure.
But the trio quickly recognized the figure as Jane Vyl, the rank 7 mage who had bought the mysterious item at the auction. They knew she could easily kill them if she wished. Her request to escort her to the capital was unexpected, and from her posture and voice, it was evident she was injured.
"She's Jane Vyl," Alec whispered, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"She could kill us in a second," Sasha murmured. "But why does she need our help?"
Alec said, "She is injured."
"Maybe she's more injured than she lets on," Harry suggested. "Still, if we refuse, we're dead. If we help her, we might gain a powerful ally."
The trio huddled together, discussing their options in hushed tones.
"We should help her," Alec finally said. "It's risky, but it could benefit us in the long run."
Sasha and Harry nodded in agreement. Alec stepped forward cautiously and addressed Jane.
"We'll help you, but we need to know what kind of danger we're facing."
Jane's eyes, barely visible through the black fumes, glinted with pain and determination. "I'm being pursued. They want what I have. If you help me get to Lymhurst, I'll make sure you're rewarded."
"Deal," Alec said firmly, but inside his heart was in turmoil. He didn't have much sense of justice for others, but he kept the people he helped dear from danger.
Jane gave a curt nod and lowered her hand, extinguishing the fire spell. The trio moved closer, now with an additional member in their group. They continued their journey towards Lymhurst, more wary than ever but united in their common goal.
As they walked, Jane occasionally winced in pain, confirming their suspicion about her injury. The trio remained vigilant, aware that the journey ahead was fraught with unknown dangers and potential enemies.
"We need to move fast and stay alert," Alec said, glancing at his companions. "No mistakes."
Alec, always the strategist, couldn't help but analyze Jane's pained and angry expression. It became clear to him that the forces pursuing her were formidable enough to challenge even the kingdom's power.
He pondered her condition: if she was genuinely injured, it could attract predators due to the scent of blood. But even if she was injured, Jane could easily defeat them if they tried anything foolish.
And if she wasn't injured, their best option was to help her. In the worst-case scenario, Alec was prepared to use his most powerful trump card to escape with his friends.
While Alec's mind raced with plans and contingencies, Jane muttered an incantation. Suddenly, her presence vanished. Though she was clearly sitting behind him, Alec couldn't sense her at all. This spell was so effective that it filled the trio with a deep sense of dread.
"She's gone," Harry whispered, his eyes wide with fear.
"No," Alec replied, his voice tense. "She's still there. She just erased her presence. We need to stay on our guard."
Sasha nodded, her grip tightening on her sword. "If she can do that so effortlessly, we have to be extremely careful."
They used a spell to directly transmit their thoughts to others, which didn't get into Jane's ear.
They slowed down a bit.
Jane's voice cut through their thoughts. "Keep moving. We're not safe here."
The trio obeyed, their steps quickening. Alec's mind continued to race. If they were attacked, they needed a plan to protect themselves and Jane. Her presence was both a shield and a sword; it offered protection but also brought danger.
Clearly indicating her as a magic swordsman.
"Jane," Alec said cautiously, "we need to know what we're up against. Who exactly is after you?"
Jane hesitated before responding. "You just need to know that it's a powerful foe at my level, but there are many of them. Or I wouldn't use this method to escape."
Alec's suspicions were confirmed. The situation was more dangerous than he had anticipated.
"Stay close," Alec instructed Sasha and Harry. "We can't afford any mistakes."
As they continued their journey, the sky darkened, and tension hung in the air. The group was silent, each member lost in their thoughts, preparing for the inevitable confrontations that lay ahead.
Alec kept a sharp eye on their surroundings, ready to use his trump card if necessary. They had to make it to Lymhurst safely. Jane was a total stranger, so he didn't need to be concerned about her safety too much.