I ran with the large bag on my back, full speed ahead. Logically, I should have been exhausted by this heavy burden, but thanks to the Blessing of Fortitude: Michael, I wasn't tired at all. In fact, I could still run several dozen kilometers at the same speed.
Then, I stopped abruptly, creating deep tracks in the snow as I arrived at the village gate. It turned out this village was under attack by bandits.
[Indeed, and these bandits are not ordinary,] Ciel said with a serious tone.
I raised an eyebrow at Ciel's response. "Wait, what do you mean?"
[There are wizards and a Rank Saint swordsman among these bandits,] Ciel replied.
I didn't fully understand what the intelligence in my head meant. Rank Saint?
Ignoring the thought, I lowered my bag and stored it in a safe place. Then, I assembled my spear. Bringing an intact spear from the hut felt cumbersome, so I separated the blade from the shaft. I carried the shaft during the journey, while the blade I stored. After a quick assembly, I wasted no time and immediately dashed across the snowy field towards the chaos.
...
-Point of View N-
"Help!" a woman screamed desperately.
ZRAASH!
"Spare me!" a man cried as a sword swept through the air, leaving a trail of blood.
"Anything, but not my child!" a mother pleaded with tears streaming down her face.
"No, mother!!" a child screamed in fear and helplessness.
Various cries filled the village as the bandits mercilessly slaughtered the villagers. The smell of blood, smoke, and iron filled the air, creating an utterly miserable atmosphere. The village guards had long been dead, no match for the Rank Saint swordsman who led the bandits.
Not only that, but there was also a wizard involved in the attack, making the situation even worse. The villagers were like sheep surrounded by hungry wolves.
"Bwahahaha! Excellent, Ramon! Thanks to you, it was so easy to conquer this village!!" a bandit laughed loudly, his voice full of triumph.
"What are you saying, Boss? Those village guards were no match for you. As expected of a Rank Saint," Ramon replied, praising his leader.
The village was in total chaos. Fires burned houses, while bandits looted everything they could find. The surviving villagers tried to flee, but most were powerless against the fierce and well-trained bandits.
"Kukuku! You're always entertaining, Ramon, but it seems this time I don't need you for this conquest." The bandit leader patted Ramon's back several times, a sly smile on his face.
"No, I need to see this beautiful sight myself!!" Ramon replied with an excited smile, his eyes gleaming as if his hormones were soaring high, like he was witnessing something truly captivating.
"Beautiful, huh? I always knew you were strange despite your education," the bandit leader remarked, rolling his eyes.
As they walked leisurely, with flames blazing on either side of them and the desperate cries of the villagers filling the air, they reveled in the sight of the massacre.
"Hey, who are you—"
SWOOSH!
One of the bandit minions suddenly shattered as a streak of golden light pierced him at incredible speed. This happened just as the bandit leader and the wizard Ramon were walking in the village square.
"GYAAAH!"
Both immediately became alert upon hearing the scream of their minion. Their eyes met with confusion, and they finally reached a conclusion.
"It seems there's something entertaining here," the bandit leader murmured, assuming a defensive stance, his sword drawn and ready for battle.
Ramon also prepared his magic staff, ready to cast a spell when he saw the approaching enemy. Ramon, a slender man with long black hair tied neatly, wore a wizard's robe adorned with mysterious symbols. His sharp face showed intelligence and a cruel heart.
One by one, the screams of the bandits echoed around the flames. The bandit leader, who had previously appeared relaxed, began to feel anxious, as did Ramon, whose lascivious grin disappeared with sweat dripping down his forehead in fear. The bandit leader was a large man with a muscular body and scars adorning his face. His hair was short and graying, his sharp eyes reflecting extensive combat experience. Thick leather armor protected his body, and in his hands, a large sword gleamed under the firelight.
"Hey, Ramon..."
"Yes?"
"Whatever comes next, be ready to cast a spell. That monster is coming."
In front of them, amidst the blazing flames, a figure with dog ears and a tail appeared. In his hand was a spear.
"A beastman?"
"Be cautious, he's going to do something. Are you ready?"
"Give me time!"
The bandit leader nodded, stepping forward first. Someone capable of taking down 25 of his men wasn't an ordinary person. If it was a beastman, it made sense because beastmen were known for their strong physiques. However, that didn't mean they were invincible.
In truth, for the bandit leader, it was very easy to defeat one or two beastmen. But the problem lay in the aura emitted by this beastman, making his combat instincts scream to stay away. However, that would tarnish his pride. He still thought this beastman was merely intimidating him with all the tricks behind him. But that would be what destroyed this bandit group, because they underestimated their enemy.
The figure walked closer, passing through the blazing fire as if it was nothing. Seeing the figure more clearly, the bandit leader was astonished. How young this beastman was, yet his figure in his perspective was enormous like a mountain.
"So only two remain," the young beastman spoke in an unknown language.
This added to his astonishment, as the beastman's dialect he heard from the young boy was very different from the beastman language he knew. The bandit leader had met other beastmen before and knew their dialect, but this one was different.