Clark awoke to the sound of shouting outside the tavern. His instincts kicked in, and he bolted upright, his muscles aching from yesterday's work. The thin mattress beneath him offered little comfort, but it was better than the forest floor.
Throwing on his tunic, he rushed downstairs. The tavern's common room was nearly empty, save for Maren and the burly man who had directed him here the day before. They were speaking in hushed but urgent tones.
"What's going on?" Clark asked, stepping toward them.
Maren looked up, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Stay out of it, boy. This isn't your fight."
Clark didn't budge. "Tell me."
The burly man—who Clark now realized was the village blacksmith—crossed his arms. "Bandits. They raided one of the farms near the edge of the woods. Took what they could carry and set the rest on fire."
Clark's stomach tightened. "Is anyone hurt?"
"A few, but nothing too serious. The real trouble is that they're getting bolder. This is the second raid in a week."
Maren jabbed a finger at him. "Which is why you need to keep your head down. You're an outsider, and outsiders don't make it long in Eldhaven when trouble comes knocking."
Clark clenched his fists. He couldn't ignore this, not after what he'd seen back in Metropolis—or whatever world that now felt like a distant dream. Powers or no powers, he wasn't about to stand by and do nothing.
"Where did they go?" he asked.
The blacksmith raised an eyebrow. "What are you planning to do? Fight them off with that rusty dagger?"
"If I have to," Clark said firmly.
The blacksmith snorted, clearly unimpressed, but Maren seemed to notice something in Clark's eyes—determination, maybe even recklessness. She exhaled sharply.
"They're holed up in the old mill just north of here," she said. "But you're a fool if you think you can take them alone."
Clark didn't argue. He turned and walked toward the door.
…..
Night fell quickly as Clark made his way toward the abandoned mill. The road was eerily quiet, the only sound his footsteps crunching on the dirt path. He gripped the dagger tightly, knowing it was woefully inadequate for what he might face.
When the mill came into view, he crouched behind a tree and surveyed the area. The building was barely standing—its wooden beams cracked and leaning, its windows shattered. A fire burned outside, and he could make out four figures sitting around it.
Clark's mind raced. Rushing in headlong was suicide, but waiting for reinforcements wasn't an option. He crept closer, moving from shadow to shadow, until he was near enough to hear their conversation.
"Boss says we hit the next farm tomorrow," one of them said, chewing loudly on a piece of meat. "No one's gonna stop us. Not with that joke of a guard patrol."
Another laughed. "I say we torch the whole village and be done with it."
Clark's jaw tightened. These weren't just thieves—they were predators, feeding off the fear of helpless people.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Quest Received: "Defenders of Eldhaven"
Objective: Eliminate or drive off the bandits.
Reward: ???
The glowing text hovered in Clark's vision for only a moment before fading. He exhaled slowly.
"Guess this is it," he muttered.
He picked up a loose rock and threw it toward the opposite side of the camp. It clattered loudly, drawing the attention of two of the bandits.
"You hear that?" one asked, standing up and grabbing a crude sword.
"Probably just a deer," the other replied, but he followed anyway.
Clark moved quickly, circling around to the now-distracted pair. He caught one off-guard, slamming the hilt of his dagger into the back of the man's head. The bandit crumpled instantly.
The second turned just in time to see Clark charging. He swung wildly, and Clark barely ducked in time. Grabbing a fallen branch, Clark jabbed it into the man's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
The man fell to his knees, coughing. Clark hesitated for only a moment before knocking him out with another blow.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Combat Skill Unlocked: Improvised Weapons (+1 Dexterity).
....
The remaining two bandits noticed the commotion and drew their weapons.
"Well, well," one sneered. "Looks like we've got a hero."
Clark didn't respond. He tightened his grip on the dagger and braced himself.
One of them lunged, swinging an axe. Clark dodged, but the weapon nicked his shoulder, drawing blood. Pain flared, but he gritted his teeth and kept moving.
The second bandit rushed in, and Clark barely managed to parry the blow with his dagger. He kicked the man's knee, sending him sprawling, but the first bandit was already coming at him again.
Desperation kicked in. Clark ducked low and drove his shoulder into the man's stomach, tackling him to the ground. The dagger clattered out of his grip, leaving him unarmed.
The bandit pinned him, raising his axe for the killing blow.
"Not today," Clark growled.
He grabbed the axe handle and twisted, adrenaline surging through his veins. For a moment, he felt a flicker of something—strength that wasn't there before. The bandit's grip faltered, and Clark shoved him off.
Grabbing the axe, Clark swung, not to kill, but to disarm. The bandit yelped as the weapon flew from his hands. Before he could recover, Clark knocked him unconscious with the blunt end.
The last bandit, seeing his companions defeated, fled into the night.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Quest Completed: "Defenders of Eldhaven"
Reward: Strength +2, Reputation in Eldhaven Increased.
Clark slumped against a tree, his chest heaving. The fight had drained him, but he felt something stir within—an ember of his old strength, faint but growing.
He stood up, wiping the blood from his shoulder. The bandits might be dealt with, but this was only the beginning.
Clark Kent didn't need his full powers to be a hero. And tonight, he had proven it.