Cruzer kept his eyes on the Silver Hawks as they joined Group A. Something about the timing of their arrival felt off. He shook off his unease, hoping it was just a feeling, and focused on the task at hand. The groups moved out swiftly, heading towards the western route.
The night was cold, and the air was thick with tension. Cruzer, now in Group C, stuck close to Captain Reinhardt. The captain was a seasoned adventurer, a recently promoted Rank 2 Beginner Adept tier Mystic.
He moved cautiously but steadily, looking out for any traps or wild monsters along the way. This action of his instilled a sense of security amongst the members as they found their leader to be quite reliable.
He had done so because, like Cruzer, Team C was composed of newbie adventurers. Their mission was to flank the bandits when they were confused by the surprise attack by the members of Team A and B, who were hiding inside the caravan that consisted of automated vans and trucks posing as a merchant caravan.
Reinhardt mentioned this to the members of Team C, which consisted of nine people. Tessa, the girl that Cruzer had rescued, was also in the group. She showed a sweet smile when she realized she was grouped with Cruzer, her lifesaver.
As the mood was tense and under repeated reminders from their captain to not let their guard down, Tessa decided to talk to Cruzer and thank him appropriately.
As they approached the designated area, Reinhardt signaled for the group to halt. "We need to be cautious," he whispered. "Wait for the other teams to do their mission. We will act after we receive the signal."
Cruzer nodded, his senses on high alert. The night was eerily quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves breaking the silence. He scanned the surroundings, his eyes narrowing as he tried to detect any movement in the shadows.
He was anxious. While he had fought and killed monsters, this would be the first time he was engaging in a fight with living, breathing humans in a battle to the death. He, who had two different memories, couldn't find any memory where he had ended a man's life. This thought had never crossed his mind until now, as his life was quite chaotic since he awakened.
Minutes felt like hours as they waited for the signal. Cruzer's mind raced, considering all possible scenarios. The Silver Hawks' involvement still nagged at him, and the thought of killing haunted him, but he pushed those thoughts aside. Now was not the time for doubt. If he didn't kill, he might be the one dying, he thought.
Suddenly, a faint glow appeared in the distance, the signal from Group A. Captain Reinhardt nodded to his team, and they moved forward with purpose. The western route lay before them, shrouded in darkness and uncertainty.
Finally, after what felt like a long time, he could see the outline of the caravan made up of slightly armored vans and trucks, carrying goods.
The moment of truth had arrived. Cruzer's eyes darted around, seeking any sign of movement. He caught sight of shadows creeping towards the caravan, confirming the bandits' presence. They slowly enclosed on the caravan and surrounded it.
The caravan was then forcefully stopped by the bandits. Some went to the driver side door first, while others went to the back door of the vans and trucks.
"Hehe, now let's see what kind of fish we caught," grinned a bandit with crooked teeth, extending his hand towards the driver side door, hoping to see a beautiful passenger inside. Other bandits were also doing the same.
As soon as the bandits opened the doors of the vans and trucks, they noticed the driving seat to be empty, startling them. The crooked bandit then turned towards the group trying to open the back door. What he noticed left him startled. The door of the truck was sent flying along with three bandits that were trying to pry it open.
Blood spurted everywhere as they were sent flying, their heads caved in, leaving them dead on the spot. He then heard a scream full of pain, and he turned to look around. One of the bandits was having his head squeezed by a muscular adventurer, blood seeping out of his orifices, as he let out blood-curdling screams.
Then he felt a pang of pain around his chest, and when he looked down, he coughed a mouthful of blood, realizing he had turned into a donut, with a hole the size of a basketball in his chest area. He slumped down, his eyes turning heavy as the sound of metal clashing against metal was the last thing he heard before departing for the afterlife.
Meanwhile, Cruzer, who saw all of this from his position, turned pale. This was the first time he had seen such a thing in reality. He felt a churning feeling in his stomach. He fell to the ground on all fours and started vomiting.
The remaining rookies were also the same; a few even directly passed out. The only person who was fine with what was happening was Tessa. She had seen such stuff many times, and she even had the blood of a few people on her hands.
Reinhardt glanced at Tessa, showing his surprise at her reaction, and then looked around at the rookies. The sound of the clash was still going on; adventurers were fighting with the bandits. Explosions, screams, and metal clashing against metal were heard in the background, while the rookies were showing intense reactions.
"Now do you understand why you were placed in this team? You're all greenhorns who haven't seen real combat. You might boast about your skills, but until you face life and death on the battlefield, you will never be true Mystics and adventurers," Reinhardt shouted in a commanding tone.
"You think you know what it means to be an adventurer? You think swinging a sword around and casting a few spells makes you tough? Look around you! This is the real world, where blood is spilled and lives are lost in the blink of an eye. Your arrogance and inexperience make you a liability, not a hero.", he kept going.
"But this is also your chance to change that. This is your trial by fire, your opportunity to prove that you can handle the horrors of battle and emerge stronger. It's time to grow up and face the reality of our world. Use this fear, this nausea, as fuel. Let it sharpen your senses and harden your resolve."
"Pull yourselves together! Stand up, grip your weapons, and remember why you're here. You have the potential to be great, but only if you push through this and fight like your lives depend on it—because they do. Show me that you're not just greenhorns. Show me that you can become true Mystics and adventurers."
"Now all of you get up, get ready to fight. We are moving out," he commanded. This command made some of them wince. They wiped their mouths and shakily stood up.
Tessa, noticing Cruzer, went towards him and helped him stand up. She then told him, "Most sane people react like this when they see people killing people for the first time. Don't think showing emotions makes you weak; it just makes you human."