The forest path was silent, the air heavy with tension.
Floki, Kaida, and Tanaka moved through the trees, their steps light and deliberate.
The mission was simple: kill the bandits and collect proof of their success.
Each ear was worth more than pride; it was a step closer to dominance among the disciples.
Floki's staff tapped softly against his shoulder as he grinned. "Let's see how well this plan works."
Kaida adjusted her grip on her blade, her eyes scanning the shadows. "Just don't mess it up."
Tanaka walked ahead, his twin daggers gleaming faintly. "Focus. We're not alone out here."
Floki raised a hand, signaling for them to stop.
Ahead, faint voices drifted through the trees, rough laughter and curses breaking the silence.
Before they moved, another group of disciples emerged from the shadows nearby.
Bolo, the #2 disciple, stood at the front with a smug grin. "Well, look who we have here. The underdogs."
Floki raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "And here I thought the #2 disciple would have better things to do than follow us."
Zane, the #4 disciple, chuckled mockingly. "Don't worry, Floki. We'll leave you a few scraps."
Jace, the #6 disciple, added with a smirk, "Just try not to get in our way."
Kaida stepped forward, her tone icy. "Maybe focus on your own kills instead of running your mouths."
Bolo's grin didn't falter. "We'll see who brings back the most ears. Don't embarrass yourselves."
"Bandits," Floki whispered, his grin widening.
Kaida crouched low, her blade ready. "How many?"
The system pulsed faintly in Floki's vision, providing a count.
[Hostiles Detected: 7 Bandits. Moderate Threat Level.]
"Seven," Floki said, his voice barely audible. "Perfect for a warm-up."
Tanaka smirked, his grip tightening on his daggers. "Let's make it quick."
Floki took a deep breath, summoning the shadows around him.
He glanced at Kaida and Tanaka, his grin sharp. "Let's make sure they're the ones embarrassed."
Kaida nodded, her blade gleaming. "Let's start by taking the kills right out from under them."
Tanaka smirked, his daggers ready. "Now that's a plan I can get behind."
His clone formed beside him, its shape clear and steady.
At the same time, the Shadow Veil wrapped around Floki, hiding him from sight.
Kaida and Tanaka watched with wide eyes as the clone moved forward.
"Go," Floki said, his voice cold and focused.
The clone stepped into the clearing, drawing the attention of the bandits.
"Who's there?" one of the bandits barked, his hand reaching for his weapon.
The clone moved with purpose, drawing their focus completely.
From the shadows, Floki struck.
His staff cracked against the first bandit's skull, the sound sharp and brutal.
Blood sprayed as the man crumpled to the ground, his weapon falling from limp fingers.
Kaida lunged from the side, her blade slicing through the neck of a second bandit.
The man gurgled as he fell, his blood pooling on the dirt.
Tanaka darted in, his daggers flashing as he stabbed a third bandit in the chest.
The remaining bandits scrambled, their shouts of alarm filling the air.
"It's an ambush!" one of them screamed, backing away.
Floki's clone turned on them, its shadowy form unnerving as it advanced.
A bandit swung wildly at the clone, his blade passing through harmlessly.
"What the—!" the bandit yelled before Floki's staff caught him in the side of the head.
Kaida moved like a ghost, her blade flashing as she cut down another bandit.
Tanaka leapt onto the last bandit, his daggers plunging into the man's chest repeatedly.
The clearing fell silent, the only sounds the heavy breathing of the three disciples.
From the other side of the forest, Bolo's voice rang out. "Nice try, Floki. We're still ahead."
Floki laughed, his tone mocking. "You sure about that? Count your kills again."
Kaida held up a bloody ear, smirking. "Looks like one of yours got away—right into us."
Bolo's expression darkened as Zane cursed under his breath. "We had him cornered!"
Tanaka added with a grin, "Not anymore. Better luck next time."
Floki dropped the Shadow Veil, his grin sharp as he surveyed the carnage.
"Six ears," he said, his tone casual. "Not bad for the first round."
Kaida wiped her blade clean, her expression calm. "We need to move. There will be more."
Tanaka collected the ears with precision, his face set in grim determination.
"Let's go," he said, tucking the bloody trophies into a small pouch.
The group moved deeper into the forest, their senses sharp.
Floki's system pulsed again, highlighting another cluster of bandits.
[Hostiles Detected: 5 Bandits. Low Threat Level.]
"Five this time," Floki said, his voice low. "Should be easy."
Kaida nodded, her blade ready. "We stick to the same plan."
Tanaka grinned, his daggers already gleaming. "Let's finish this."
Floki summoned his clone again, its shadowy form moving ahead.
The bandits didn't notice the danger until it was too late.
Floki's staff crushed the first bandit's knee, sending him screaming to the ground.
Kaida's blade followed, slicing cleanly through the man's throat.
Tanaka moved with deadly speed, his daggers finding soft flesh with ease.
Blood splattered the trees as the bandits fell one by one.
The last bandit tried to run, but Floki's clone blocked his path.
"Where are you going?" Floki taunted, his voice cold.
The bandit froze, trembling as Kaida's blade pierced his back.
The fight ended as quickly as it had begun.
"Five more," Floki said, his grin widening. "We're on a roll."
Kaida shook her head, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Let's keep moving."
Tanaka gathered the ears, his movements efficient and practiced.
As they moved toward the next target, the forest seemed to grow darker.
Floki's system pulsed again, revealing a larger group ahead.
Before they moved, they saw Bolo's team engaging the bandits in the distance.
"Looks like they've found the next group," Kaida said, her tone amused.
Floki's grin widened. "Then let's make their job harder."
Tanaka laughed, already moving into position. "I like where this is going."
[Hostiles Detected: 10 Bandits. High Threat Level.]
Floki's grin didn't falter. "Ten. Now this will be fun."
Kaida's eyes narrowed, her grip on her blade tightening. "We need a better plan."
Tanaka glanced at Floki, his expression serious. "Your clones won't distract all of them."
Floki nodded, his mind racing. "Then we split them up."
He explained quickly, outlining a strategy to draw the bandits into smaller groups.
Kaida and Tanaka nodded, their confidence in Floki's plan clear.
The three moved into position, ready to execute their ambush.
Floki summoned his clone, letting it lead the bandits into the trap.
As the first group of bandits followed the clone, Floki dropped the veil and attacked.
His staff smashed into the nearest bandit, the impact sending a shockwave through the man's body.
Kaida appeared from the shadows, her blade cutting through two bandits in quick succession.
Tanaka moved like a predator, his daggers finding their marks with brutal precision.
The second group of bandits hesitated, their fear evident as they realized the ambush.
From the corner of his eye, Floki saw Bolo glaring at him as his team arrived too late.
"Thanks for softening them up for us," Floki called out, his tone mocking.
Bolo's fists clenched as Zane snarled. "You stole our kills!"
Kaida shrugged, wiping blood from her blade. "You should've been faster."
Jace looked furious, but Tanaka's laughter only added to their humiliation. "Better luck next time, boys."
Floki's clone turned on them, its presence adding to their confusion.
"Run!" one of the bandits yelled, but Kaida was already on him.
Her blade cut through the man's leg, dropping him before she finished him with a swift strike.
Tanaka faced two bandits at once, his movements a blur as he fought them both.
Floki advanced on the final bandit, his staff spinning in his hands.
The bandit raised his weapon, but Floki's strike was faster.
The staff hit the man's chest with a sickening crunch, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The forest fell silent once more, the ground littered with bodies.
Floki wiped blood from his staff, his grin sharp and satisfied.
"Ten ears," he said, his tone almost cheerful. "That's a good haul."
Kaida sheathed her blade, her breathing steady. "We should head back soon."
Tanaka collected the ears, his hands quick despite the gore.
The group regrouped, their steps steady as they moved through the darkening forest.
Ahead, the road to Evergreen City stretched out, quiet and empty.
But Floki couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them.