I hopped off the wagon, feeling the weight of the sword at my side as I dusted myself off. The dirt and grime from the long journey clung to my clothes, but I didn't care much about appearances anymore. I glanced back at the old farmhand, his tired eyes watching me closely.
"Thank you, I appreciate the ride," I said, genuinely grateful.
He gave a weary sigh. "Don't thank me, kid. I'm sending you to your death."
I smirked. "Not yet."
He leaned forward on the reins, his voice dropping to a low grumble. "People disappear around these parts. Word is, there's a bandit stronghold nearby."
I hesitated for a moment, then asked, "If you're so worried, why agree to bring me along?"
He looked off into the distance, his face hardening. "Because you might've killed yourself if I didn't. I saw the look in your eyes. Reminded me of my son... never got the chance to let him go after his grudge, 'cause I stopped him. Next day, he was dead. Got himself killed anyways."
I swallowed hard, not expecting that. "I see…"
He flicked the reins, the horses snorting as they prepared to move on. "Go give 'em hell, son."
I nodded, tightening my grip on the sword hilt as I turned and started walking down the dirt path.
The trees loomed ahead, and somewhere beyond them, my revenge awaited.
I unsheathed my sword, tossing the scabbard aside, finding it more of a nuisance than anything else. The sword was about 31 inches long and weighed roughly 3 kilograms—a hefty weapon, but one I had grown comfortable with. Delilah had taught me a lot over the past months, filling every free moment with lessons on everything from reading and writing to numbers and combat.
"Delilah, are you there?" I asked quietly, my grip tightening on the hilt.
[I am,] her voice responded, emotionless as always, though I'd grown used to it.
The ruins finally appeared on the horizon, dark and crumbling. I had been working toward this moment for weeks, raiding smaller bandit dens, gaining experience, and slowly building my confidence. That was how I came by this sword in the first place. It had only been a month since I'd completed my training, and I felt ready for what lay ahead.
The bandits I'd fought so far had been easy pickings—no match for the skills and strength I had developed. But I knew today would be different. If the rumors I'd overheard from other bandits were true, this ruin was the stronghold of the Gorosum Bandits.
"I still remember that night," I muttered, my voice hardening as memories of the massacre flooded back. "All the deaths, the abuse... I'm going to avenge my village."
[As a Combat AI, I can only offer technical augmentations with the nanomachines in your bloodstream. If we had access to gunpowder production, dealing with the bandits would be easier,] Delilah added.
I didn't fully understand what she meant, but I could detect a hint of pity in her tone.
"Don't be so down, Delilah," I said, trying to keep my focus. "You're all I need."
[I am flattered,] she replied, her usual monotone tinged with just the slightest hint of warmth.
The ruins grew larger as I approached.
I crouched low beneath the bush, carefully observing the scene ahead. The ruins of what seemed to be an ancient castle stood before me, though most of its grandeur had long crumbled. The bandits had added their own makeshift wooden fortifications—hastily built, but effective enough to keep out anyone who wasn't prepared.
[Do I have your permission to use the strange energy to enhance sight?] Delilah's voice echoed in my mind, calm and precise as always.
"Yes," I whispered back.
Instantly, my vision sharpened, as if the world had been brought into focus. I could see the cracks in the stone walls from where I crouched, the faint outlines of sentries patrolling the perimeter. I noticed how the sunlight reflected off the crude metal of their weapons, and the tension in their postures, indicating they were ready for trouble. They were on high alert, but they hadn't noticed me—yet.
I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. This was it. The Gorosum Bandits were here, holed up in this fortress of decay. I had to be smart about this—charging in headfirst would get me killed. But with Delilah's help, I had the edge.
"How many do you think?" I asked under my breath, not really expecting an answer.
[At least twenty visible hostiles, not counting potential reinforcements inside,] Delilah responded almost instantly. [Recommendation: avoid frontal confrontation. Infiltration or stealth tactics are advised.]
Twenty. That was a lot more than I had fought at once before. My grip tightened around the hilt of my sword. The blade was solid, but if I was being honest, it had seen better days. It would have to do.
"Alright, Delilah. Time to see what I'm really made of."
[Recommendation: Attack during the night.]
Delilah's voice was calm and calculated, as always. I knew she was right—it was the smarter choice. Still, something inside me churned at the idea of waiting. My heart wanted revenge, not patience. I gritted my teeth and pushed down the impulse to charge in recklessly.
"Fine, your suggestions and recommendations are always on point," I muttered, knowing that she had my best interests in mind. I took a deep breath and decided to do some reconnaissance instead. Delilah guided me through the process, teaching me how to move undetected, how to listen, how to observe.
The bandits were lax in their patrols, unaware of the storm brewing around them. Slowly but surely, I memorized the layout of the ruined castle. It wasn't much, but it was enough for me to plan an attack. A small map appeared in the corner of my vision, courtesy of Delilah's systems.
[This is your map, created in a bird's point of view. The red are the hostiles. It will automatically expand as you explore more of the ruins.]
"That's convenient," I whispered. "Delilah, can you enhance my hearing? I want to know what they're saying."
[Gladly,] she responded.
The strange energy flowing through me—the same energy I had discovered during my training—remained a mystery. But with Delilah's guidance, I had found ways to use it, or rather, to benefit from it as she did all the work. As my hearing sharpened, I began picking up snippets of conversation from the bandits.
They were talking about the spoils from their last raid, laughing about the riches and the people they'd killed. My blood boiled as I listened. Every word felt like a knife twisting in my chest, reminding me of what they had taken from me.
The bandits were close, their careless chatter reaching my enhanced hearing.
"Where's Red? Haven't seen him," one of them asked.
"I dunno… anyways, boss just announced we'd be raiding tonight."
That changed everything. I felt a surge of urgency. There was no way I'd let them tear apart another village, not after what they did to mine. My fingers tightened around the hilt of my sword as I weighed my options.
"What are the chances I can defeat this bandit group if I wait until night and ambush them on the road?" I whispered.
[Please note, the estimate provided may suffer from a lack of accurate data,] Delilah's voice warned.
"It's fine, just tell me."
[55%.]
I frowned. Not ideal.
"What if I attack them now?"
[75%.]
That sounded better, but I still wanted to know more. "Any suggestions?"
I had learned that Delilah categorized her input into suggestions and recommendations. Suggestions were broader, often tailored to my desires, whereas recommendations were purely logical, technical advice based on available data.
[Infiltrate and assassinate.]
I nodded. "And your recommendation?"
[Retreat. Based on the current lack of information, the possibility of encountering someone capable of using the strange energy like you is high. Extreme caution is advised.]
I inhaled deeply and let out a slow, steady breath. Delilah was right to be cautious, but my path had already been decided.
"I've made up my mind," I whispered, standing to my full height. "Let's brave this ordeal."
With that, I moved toward the ruins, heart pounding, ready to face whatever awaited me.