Ardent currently resting, not planning on going on patrol for now. Those who currently seeing him slacking did not chastise him. Though it's definitely because he earned some much-needed rest and not because they fear his strength. Absolutely the former.
"We need to rest once in a while." joining him, is his fiance, Catlin. The blonde's head find a place on his chest, Catlin enjoying the close contact between them both.
And with how her father is not in the village, she could afford to spend more time with Ardent, and not get into trouble because of it. Oh, sure, her brothers are still here, but they did not dare to go against Ardent. Besides, aside from some more rest, Ardent did not do anything else.
"True, we sho-" Ardent suddenly shot-up like a spring, standing as he shifted into a normal stance for Mage entering combat.
"What's wrong?" Catlin asked, not knowing why her fiance acting that way, but get followed him, regardless.
"A bunch of strong people is circling the village. Some of them are strong. In fact, there are about five 2nd Circle Mage, and one 3rd Circle Mage. And they let out Mana in such way that they seem like preparing to go to battle." he answered before releasing several Flare to the sky, signaling the others of possible intruders.
-x-
"Enemy? Now!"
-x-
"Why would Ardent send in an emergency Flare? ... Unless, there are a lot of powerful opponents!"
-x-
"Obey Mage Ardent's signal! Remember the drill!"
-x-
"Someone must have sensed us, Boss! The villagers already running around like panicked sheep!" one of the bandit said.
The Boss, a stern-looking man with a large bulk narrowed his eyes. He had used his Senses to detect the sole 2nd Circle Mage, but there are more of them.
"There are two 2nd Circle Mages." he said, causing his subordinates to look at him in surprise.
"But the information said there should only one!" one of the 2nd Circle Mage protested.
The Boss turned to the said subordinates, his eyes glaring deep into the man's soul, or so he felt like, "Do you doubt my Sense?"
Realizing his error, the 2nd Circle Mage quickly bowed, his forehead pressed against the ground.
"I'm sorry Boss! I speak out of hand!" he apologized, not wishing to be killed by the larger man.
The Boss scoffed, "Don't do that again, or else." he warned, before returning his attention to the village.
"Since they already noticed us, we should let them know the futility of their action. Kill those guarding the dungeon and those inside of it. However, if they are good looking or beautiful, keep them so we can sell them as slaves." he ordered.
The bandits obeyed, smiling as they rushes to the dungeon. After all, all of them are bloodthirsty and wished for a massacre.
-x-
Ardent winced, sensing some of the bandits heading to the dungeon. He wanted to help them, but he will not get there in time.
Similar to him, Calais had a cramped face while Catlin paled.
"The dungeon group... they will not survive." Calais said grimly. None argue with the truth.
"Tell the guards and Mage to get ready. Make sure to guard three direction. South, West, and North." Ardent commanded.
As the two siblings did as there were told, they stopped to ask him one last question,
"What about the East?"
"The East," Ardent said with a smile, one that promised pain and suffering, "East is where I will go to crush those pest!" he answered with venomous tone.
-x-
Ardent could sense the bandit approaching them. Along with them, are the guards and Mages of the village. Well, some less perfect than others. Namely, only their heads were brought along.
"We brought you your fellow!" one of the bandits said in a cruel voice, before throwing the head of the leading guard posted at the dungeon. Other bandits followed, throwing heads of decapitated guards and Mages.
Though, Ardent could tell there some that still alive, and in better state than thought possible for those who fell into the grasp of bandits.
'Then again, they did not get to be there for a long time anyway.' he reasoned.
Despite that, Ardent was filled with fury. He might not know some of the guards. Hell, he did not even know some of the Mages, but they still his colleagues and subordinates, and he took care of them.
He trembled, to which the bandits took it for him being scared.
"Oh, the wittle fellow want to go back to his mommy, maybe even going to suck on her tits like a baby he is," one them mocked him before laughing loudly, followed by his fellow.
Ardent turned his gaze to the bandit and make a slicing motion. The bandit laughed for two more seconds before his head separated from the rest of his body.
That get the other bandits to scream in terror, shocked at the sudden death of one of their own.
"W-what happened?!"
"I don't know! He suddenly die!"
"Wait, did the person do something?"
They soon remember the presence of Ardent, who let a wicked smile on his face. Seeing this, they trembled, before realizing a weak Mage from a small village manage to make them, one of the most feared bandit group in Cruom City's territory, shook like a fearful child.
This, cause them to immerse themselves in rage, as one of the bandits roared,
"Get him!"
Ardent watched with a bored look before four Earth Wall boxed the bandits in. The bandit, now trapped try to get out, but Ardent did not plan on them doing that.
He then filled it with water, causing them to slip from their now slippery hold. As the water began to fill the space, one of the bandits yelled, "Don't panic! Discard your armor and swim to the top!"
Yelling their escape plan out loud might be stup- no, definitely stupid, but with the bandits panicking, yelling is the only way for the order to be heard.
However, Ardent have prepared for that as well. Just as they about to swim, the water, now ankle-deep, grip their, well, ankles, preventing them from going upward as the water rise very quickly.
"I cant swim!"
"Something is holding me down!"
"Help! Someone! Help me!"
As the bandits submerged under the water, slowly drowning, Ardent watched with a calm expression, even when he use his Water Grip to keep the bandits under the water.