The morning sun bathed the forest in golden light as Rodensky and Emmanuel began their trek toward the mountain ruins. The map had grown even more detailed, highlighting specific paths and potential dangers. Every step brought new challenges—mutated beasts, ambushes from territorial monsters, and the constant pull of the unknown ahead.
By midday, they came across a small village nestled in the forest clearing. But something was wrong. Smoke billowed from chimneys, not in a comforting way, but as though the village was on the verge of ruin. The streets were eerily silent save for the faint sound of sobbing.
Rodensky's sharp eyes caught sight of several people gathered in the square. Armed figures stood guard while villagers, dirty and frightened, scurried about, carrying out menial tasks under harsh orders.
"Slavers," Rodensky muttered, his expression darkening.
Emmanuel clenched his fists. "Disgusting. This isn't a random attack. Look at them—they've taken over completely."
The two quickly decided to act but knew they had to proceed carefully. They hid Rokura and Abaddon in their subspaces, disguising themselves as ordinary travelers.
---
The Confrontation
As they approached the outskirts of the village, two armed challengers stepped forward to block their path. Both men wore cocky smirks, radiating an air of superiority.
The first, a burly man with a large broadsword slung over his back, was clearly a warrior. His armor was crude but effective, marred with scratches and dents from past battles. The second, a slender mage clad in flowing robes, carried a staff adorned with a glowing red crystal.
"Hold it right there," the warrior barked. "This isn't a place for riff-raff like you. State your business or turn around."
Rodensky gave a calm, measured look. "We're just travelers passing through. What's going on here?"
The mage scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "As if that's any of your concern. Just leave before you get yourselves killed."
Rodensky's instinct told him there was more to these men than met the eye. Knowing his Eye of Truth skill was still on cooldown, he subtly signaled to Emmanuel, who nodded and activated his version of the skill.
A faint shimmer crossed Emmanuel's eyes as he studied the two challengers. After a moment, he leaned closer to Rodensky and whispered: "The warrior is C rank, the mage is B rank. They don't have levels like us, but their strength is significant."
Rodensky frowned but didn't react outwardly. "Strange... but good to know," he muttered.
The challengers seemed to notice their subtle exchange but didn't comment on it. Instead, the warrior sneered. "What's with the whispering? You two scared or something? Don't tell me you're here to play heroes."
The mage laughed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Just a couple of trash-tier wannabes. Why don't you turn around and save us the trouble of dealing with you?"
---
Pushing for Answers
Rodensky remained calm, though his patience was wearing thin. "We're only asking a simple question. What business do you have in this village?"
The warrior's grin widened. "And why would we tell you that? You think you have any authority here? You're nothing but insects to us."
Emmanuel took a step forward, his tone sharp. "Maybe because the villagers don't look like they want you here. Or are you afraid we'll expose whatever it is you're doing?"
The mage's eyes glinted dangerously. "Expose us? You really think we care what anyone else thinks? This is our territory now, and you're lucky we're even bothering to talk to you instead of crushing you where you stand."
Rodensky exchanged a glance with Emmanuel. The challengers were clearly drunk on their own power, but their ranks couldn't be ignored. A direct fight would be risky without more information about their abilities.
---
A Strategic Retreat
Realizing they needed more time to plan, Rodensky decided to de-escalate—for now. "We'll leave," he said, his tone neutral. "But don't think this is over."
The warrior laughed, clearly pleased. "Smart move, trash. Now get lost before we change our minds."
As they turned to leave, Emmanuel muttered under his breath, "I hate backing down to scum like them."
"We're not backing down," Rodensky replied quietly. "We're just making sure we don't act recklessly. Let's find a place to regroup and figure out our next move."
---
Regrouping in the Forest
The two retreated to a secluded spot deeper in the forest. Emmanuel leaned against a tree, his frustration evident.
"Those people need our help, Rodensky. We can't just let those slavers keep running things."
Rodensky nodded, his expression serious. "We won't. But we need to be smart about this. Those two alone are strong, and there's no telling how many more of them are inside the village. If we rush in without a plan, we could make things worse."
Rokura and Abaddon emerged from their subspaces, sensing their masters' tension. Rokura padded over to Rodensky, nudging him gently as if to offer reassurance.
"First, we need to gather more information," Rodensky said. "We'll use the Eye of Truth when it's off cooldown to learn everything we can about their forces. Then, we'll decide how to strike."
Emmanuel nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But the moment we have a plan, I'm going all out. Those villagers deserve better."
"Agreed," Rodensky said. "Now, let's rest and prepare. Tomorrow, we start turning the tide."
The night settled over the forest as the two strategized, their determination burning brighter than the campfire before them. The slavers had made a grave mistake by underestimating them, and Rodensky and Emmanuel were ready to prove it.