Kael barely had time to react as the bandit leader raised his weapon.
A massive axe swung toward him with terrifying speed. The air seemed to ripple with the force of the swing, and Kael dove to the side, barely avoiding being cleaved in two.
The ground where the axe struck exploded into a gust of dirt, the impact leaving a deep gash in the earth.
"You've made a big mistake, kid," the leader growled, his now dark eyes fixed on Kael.
Kael scrambled to his feet, gripping his blade tightly. Around him, the remaining bandits formed a loose circle, their weapons at the ready.
"Fragments cannot be destroyed by ordinary means but it can when corrupted." Neo said in his head.
"That fragment on the back of his neck, it's the source of his incredible strength. You need to disable it. But be careful—he's stronger than anyone you've faced so far. The more he uses the fragment the more unstable he becomes"
Kael nodded. "Got it," he whispered under his breath.
The leader charged, closing the distance between them in an instant with an ground shattering jump.
Kael brought his blade up just in time to block, the clash of metal reverberating through his arms. The force of the blow sent him skidding back, his boots struggling to find it's footing.
He twisted away, using the momentum to avoid a follow-up strike. The axe came down again, carving through the air with a deafening roar.
Kael ducked low, rolling to the side and slashing at the leader's leg. His blade struck, but the armor absorbed most of the impact, the fragment-infused metal creating sparks on contact.
The leader laughed, his laugh was a deep, rumbling sound that sent a chill down Kael's spine. "Is that all you've got?"
Kael didn't respond. He couldn't afford to waste breath on words. Instead, he focused on staying one step ahead, his mind racing as he analyzed the leader's movements.
The other bandits began to close in, getting bolder thanks to their leader's confidence. Kael's fragment pulsed faintly, warning him of danger from all sides.
"Stay sharp," Neo urged. "Don't let them surround you."
Kael lunged toward the nearest bandit, his blade flashing in the moonlight. The man swung clumsily, but Kael ducked beneath the attack, driving the hilt of his blade into the bandit's gut. The man fell to the ground, wheezing for breath.
Another bandit charged from behind, his spear aimed for Kael's back. Neo's warned him just in time, and Kael spun around, deflecting the spear with his short sword before delivering a sharp kick to the bandit's chest.
The leader roared in frustration. "Stop playing with him! Take him down!"
Kael's breathing was ragged, his muscles burning with exertion. He couldn't keep this up forever.
The bandits attacked in waves, their movements uncoordinated but relentless. Kael used every ounce of his training, every survival lesson his father had taught him, and the instinctual movements caused by the fragment to stay ahead.
He dodged, parried, and struck with precision, his blade moving faster than he thought possible.
But the numbers were overwhelming. For every bandit he knocked out, two more seemed to take their place.
"Neo," Kael gasped, his chest heaving. "I can't hold them off much longer."
Neo's spoke to him in a calm voice. "You need to disrupt their formation. Force them into chaos."
Kael's gaze darted around the clearing, searching for an opening. His eyes landed on a stack of fragment-powered crates near the edge of the camp. An idea began to form in his mind.
"I've got a plan," he muttered.
Neo's tone turned sharp. "I see. So that's what you want to do, you'd better do it fast."
'Wait! She can read my mind?!' Kael thought for a brief second before turning back to the crisis at hand.
He pretended to loose his balance and stumble, drawing the bandits closer. Then, with a burst of speed, he sprinted toward the crates, dodging their attacks as he went.
He reached the stack and swung his blade with all his strength, striking the dark glowing fragments in the crates.
This was just an assumption and if the Gods could hear his pleas then he prayed that it was right.
And they were.
The reaction was immediate. The fragments pulsed wildly, their energy destabilizing in an instant. Kael dove and covered his head as the crates exploded in a brilliant flash of light and sound, sending shockwaves through the camp.
The bandits were thrown into disarray, as they scrambled to avoid the blast.
Kael seized the opportunity, charging back into the fray. He moved like a whirlwind, taking out bandits one by one while they were still reeling from the explosion.
Seeing this, the leader roared in fury, his eyes blazing with rage. "Enough of this!"
He raised his axe, the dark energy swirling around it intensifying. The air grew heavy, the ground trembling beneath his feet as he unleashed a devastating strike with his merged fragment's ability.
A black orb materialized in front of him, then, a second later shot towards Kael in the form of an energy beam.
Kael barely managed to dodge, the impact of the bean hitting the wall behind him sent a shockwave that knocked him off his feet.
He hit the ground hard, the breath forced from his lungs.
"Kael!" Neo's voice was sharp with urgency. "Get up! He's coming!"
Kael rolled to the side just as the axe came down again, narrowly missing him. He scrambled to his feet, his body screaming in pain.
The leader advanced towards him. Kael's mind raced, searching for a way to turn the tide of the battle.
"Neo," Kael said through gritted teeth. "I need help."
Neo's voice was calm but firm. "You know what to do. Trust your fragment. Let it guide you."
Kael closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the fragment's pulse. He felt its energy flowing through him, a steady current that seemed to sync with his own heartbeat.
When he opened his eyes, the world seemed sharper, clearer. The leader's movements slowed, every step and swing became more predictable.
Kael lunged forward, his blade moving with newfound precision. He struck at the leader's exposed joints, his attacks fast and relentless.
The leader growled in frustration, his swings growing wilder as Kael dodged and countered with ease.
"Damn it!" the leader bellowed, his dark energy surging as he raised his axe for one final strike.
Kael didn't hesitate. He leapt forward, his blade aimed for the fragment on the leader's nape.
The strike was precise, the blade piercing the fragment with a burst of energy. The leader froze, his body convulsing as the fragment's glow flickered and died, leaving the fragment empty and clear.
With a final, guttural growl, the leader collapsed, his massive form hitting the ground with a thunderous crash.
The remaining bandits stared in stunned silence, their weapons falling from their hands as they took in the sight of their fallen leader.
Kael stood over the body, his chest heaving up and down.
Neo's voice was soft in his mind. "It's over, Kael. You did it."
Kael nodded, his grip on his blade loosening. But his eyes remained sharp, his body tense.
"There's still more to do," he said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "The captives need help. And the outskirts... I can't let it fall."
With one last glance at the fallen leader, Kael turned toward the edge of the camp, ready to finish what he had started.