Pawpaw swiftly obeyed Broken's command, slipping into the shadows to survey the area. When he returned, his report was grim: there were a dozen bandits scattered strategically throughout the forest.
They appeared poised to attack at any moment, and their arsenal included long-range weapons, giving them the capability to launch a coordinated assault when needed.
Escape was not an option. If Broken attempted to flee, the bandits would undoubtedly pursue him, dragging the situation into an unavoidable battle. Confronting them head-on seemed to be the only path forward.
But time was against him. He glanced at his system clock, realizing he had only twenty minutes left before a forced logout. Worse, with battle mode still active, there wasn't enough time to safely enter the Unseen Universe of Moonlight and ensure Princess Alora's protection.
