Although there were two or three first-rate masters among the bandits, but they were quickly killed by Captain Edward with a few arrows. The entire battle was one-sided; in fact, it was an exaggeration to say it was a battle, but it was more of a one-sided massacre.
The surviving bandits, realizing the hopelessness of their situation, began to panic. They clearly hadn't anticipated such an outcome. Many tried to flee, but there was no escape. The soldiers showed no mercy, cutting them down as they ran.
Ash, focused on efficiency, took out his bow and arrows, joining in by swiftly shooting down the retreating bandits with precision.
And in a minute or two, every bandit that attacked was killed without leaving a single one alive.
"Phew, Ash, we won." Jin came to him with a smile, as it was his first life-and-death battle where carelessness can result in death. Though quite a few got injured at the beginning due to the ambush, they still managed to win without a single loss of life.
Within the carriage, Luna and her uncle didn't seem to bat an eye on this battle. They didn't even look out from the carriage. It was clear to them this battle wasn't worth a single glance.
"This wasn't the one we expected," Luna said with a calm expression.
"Indeed, but it may not be unrelated." Her uncle said calmly that this attack could be considered cannon fodder used to gauge their strength and know more about them.
Knowing this, they both said nothing more, as they could feel the enemy they wanted to find might be coming soon.
Outside, the soldiers and other members of the caravan quickly tended to the injured, offering aid where they could. Meanwhile, a few opportunistic individuals began checking the corpses of the fallen bandits, hoping to uncover clues about their identities or, perhaps, stumble upon valuables worth some money.
Ash and Jin were among the scavengers, though Jin was even faster at looting than Ash when it came to this sort of thing.
Unlike Jin, he didn't feel the need to rely on the scraps of these bandits—homeless, desperate men without a place to call home. His current status was far above such concerns. However, he still moved calmly through the scene, observing the bodies with a purpose.
His real goal wasn't treasure but information. He carefully noted the locations of the stronger bandits' corpses and mentally marked where they would be buried.
Later, he planned to use these corpses to bring forth new subordinates, adding more strength to his growing power.
After some time and tending their wounds, the group slowly started to move. They didn't have time to waste. A few minutes later, a mysterious group appeared at the same place where the battle between the soldiers from Black Iron village and the bandits took place.
"There seems to be no hidden expert among the soldiers." One figure in the shadow murmured slowly.
"Yes, and it seems we just have to take care of the two, and it will be done." Another figure in the shadow said with a slight excitement in his voice.
"But just the two of them alone wouldn't be easy, as they aren't ordinary people."
"Yeah, but we need to be careful of the old man," one of the shadowy figures whispered. "The woman, on the other hand, isn't much without her status. But I heard she's a top-grade beauty. We could enjoy her too."
The group laughed quietly, their voices laced with excitement and malice as they conspired in the shadows.
At that moment, neither Ash, Luna, nor anyone else in the caravan had any idea they were being followed. Unaware of the lurking danger, they continued their journey steadily, with the dangers coming closer towards them every step.
The trouble didn't end there. The group was attacked again by another band of bandits, much like before. However, this time, they were more prepared. The soldiers were alert, and the ambush resulted in negligible injuries as they quickly dealt with the attackers.
But the respite was short-lived. On the fifth day, yet another group of unknown bandits launched an assault. Once again, the caravan annihilated them with overwhelming strength.
By now, every soldier and member of the caravan realized something was deeply wrong. One attack could be chalked up to coincidence, perhaps even two. But a third? No—it was clear they were being deliberately targeted.
And everyone's eyes were drawn to the exquisite carriage. There was only one thing—or rather, the person—inside it who could warrant this much trouble.
They knew it had something to do with Luna and her uncle, as otherwise, it didn't make much sense, as they knew what the carts and carriages had, and it wasn't worth a shit to go through such trouble and so many cannon fodders.
Now that they were close to their destination, all of them knew that the most dangerous battle was coming, which might be nothing like before.
Ash wore a grave expression, fully aware of the danger they were in. He knew he needed to stay extremely cautious, but having Grim by his side gave him some reassurance. Grim remained in his subdued, pet-like form, not revealing his true strength. And while Ash himself wasn't as strong as some of the others, he was far from weak now.
'I should be able to handle it', he thought, though a small part of him hoped that would truly be the case.
A tense atmosphere hung over the caravan as the group continued their journey, each step taken with growing caution. Finally, the next day arrived, and with it, the faint hope of safety—they were now just a day away from reaching Rock Castle City.
All the young soldiers were ready as today they might face the most challenging battle of their lives.