The final pre-battle briefing took place in a secluded clearing deep within the woods. The air was thick with tension, the scent of damp earth mixing with the faint traces of mana residue from their previous enchantments. Gwendon knelt on the ground, his fingers sketching a crude map in the dirt. Above them, a shimmering magical ward flickered—a protective veil against prying eyes and invasive spells. It wasn't an actual incantation but rather a web of runes and instinctual coordination, a testament to their growing synergy.
"We need to move fast and hit hard," Gwendon muttered, his finger tapping on a ledge overlooking the camp. "If Ngieri and Rinku can get to this vantage point first, they'll be able to pick off key targets and throw the bandits into disarray. That should give Larin and me a clear path to handle the rest."
Ngieri checked the tension on her Ironwood bow. It thrummed with mana, the fibers of the string humming as she pulled it taut. "We'll make it work," she assured, her voice steady. "Rinku and I can hold that ledge as long as you need."
Rinku ran her fingers over her Witchvine bow, the reinforced layers of seasoned Ironwood pulsing with embedded runes. "These bastards won't know what hit them. But let's make sure we're not walking into a trap."
Gwendon nodded and handed each of them a pair of potions. "Volatile Nexus and Eclipse Essence. One for emergencies, the other… you'll see."
Rinku raised an eyebrow. "Cryptic as always."
Larin checked their communication runes one last time, the enchanted stones faintly glowing. "We're clear. Let's move."
The bandit camp was alive with noise—raucous laughter, the clinking of metal mugs, and the occasional shout as men jostled around the central fire. Behind them, a cave loomed, its entrance glowing faintly with runic light. These weren't mere highwaymen. Their movements were sharp, trained.
"These aren't amateurs," Ngieri whispered, crouching behind a rocky outcrop.
"They're disciplined," Larin agreed. "Here's hoping our plan holds."
Ngieri and Rinku uncorked the Eclipse Essence, letting the liquid pool into their palms before splashing from the top down of their bodies. The potion shimmered, then vanished, coating them in an ethereal mist of shadow. Within seconds, they melted into the darkness, their outlines barely visible even to trained eyes.
From her vantage point, Rinku spotted an older man in a red and blue cloak emerging from the cave. The laughter died down, the bandits turning to him in attention.
"Ready?" Ngieri whispered, nocking an arrow.
Rinku nodded and pulled her bowstring.
The signal came in the form of a low hum as Larin and Gwendon unleashed their combined spell—[Flux Chain]. Bolts of crackling energy erupted from their fingertips, jumping between bandits in rapid succession. Flesh seared, bodies convulsed, and screams filled the air as the surge of raw mana twisted through the camp.
Ngieri fired. Her arrow streaked through the air and embedded itself deep in the older man's shoulder. He staggered, eyes wide. Rinku's shot followed an instant later, piercing his chest. He fell back, choking on his own blood.
The camp erupted into chaos.
Bandits scrambled to their feet, some reaching for weapons, others trying to flee. Ngieri and Rinku's arrows rained down in precise, brutal volleys, pinning enemies to the ground and piercing vital points. Some shots maimed rather than killed—bounties were more valuable with live captives.
Below, Larin and Gwendon tore through the battlefield. Larin ducked beneath a wild swing, countering with a burst of [Oceanic Pulse]. A ripple of force sent two bandits sprawling, their bones snapping as they hit the ground. Gwendon followed up with a hammer strike, his weapon glowing as he cast [Verdant Aegis]. A barrier of shimmering green energy absorbed an incoming slash, allowing him to counter with a devastating overhead swing. The attacker's skull split open, blood spraying across the dirt.
"They're forming ranks again!" Larin shouted as he deflected an incoming spear with a well-timed ward.
"Not for long," Gwendon growled, slamming his hammer into the ground. Blooming Bastion erupted beneath their feet, vines laced with mana snaring the bandits and dragging them down. Some screamed as thorns tore into their flesh, while others fought desperately to escape.
A group of bandits charged toward the ledge where Ngieri and Rinku were positioned. Rinku narrowed her eyes and whispered a spell—[Shadow Requiem]. Dark tendrils of energy coiled around the bandits' feet, draining their strength as they struggled against an unseen force. Their momentum faltered, and Ngieri finished them with pinpoint shots to the throat.
One of the surviving bandits, realizing the battle was turning against them, smashed a rune-stone into the ground. A shockwave burst outward, dispelling some of the restraining magic. A towering brute wielding a mana-infused axe stepped forward, his eyes burning with rage. He swung at Gwendon, his weapon crackling with unstable energy.
Larin darted forward, his hands glowing as he cast [Mana Threading]. The magic weaved through the brute's form, momentarily disrupting his movements. Gwendon took the opening, driving his hammer into the man's ribs with a sickening crunch. The brute coughed blood and collapsed.
The remaining bandits scattered, those who could still move vanishing into the night. The battlefield fell eerily silent, save for the crackling flames and the groans of the dying.
The red-and-blue-cloaked man lay in a heap, his breath ragged. Ngieri knelt beside him, casting [Floral Surge]. The soft green light of the spell flowed over his wounds, stopping the worst of the bleeding.
"Why… heal me?" he rasped.
Ngieri's gaze was cold. "Because we need answers."
The cave was damp, the air thick with mana. Glowing runes lined the walls, pulsating like a heartbeat. The deeper they ventured, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
"What the hell is this place?" Larin muttered, his grip tightening on his weapon.
The captive sneered, his bindings tight around his wrists. "We built it. Our stronghold. Our last stand."
"For what?" Gwendon pressed.
"To stockpile. To trade. To prepare for the real war," the man spat. "All for the rebellion."
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
"And who guards this rebellion of yours?" Rinku asked, her tone icy.
The man chuckled weakly. "You killed them all."
The tunnel opened up into a massive cavern. Houses carved from stone lined the walls, their interiors flickering with dim light. The mana in the air was thick—ancient, alive. It clung to their skin, whispering secrets in a forgotten tongue.
Soft whimpers echoed from one of the structures. The group tensed.
"What is this?" Ngieri whispered, her grip tightening on her spear.
Larin stepped forward, his heart hammering. "Stay close. We have no idea what else might be down here."
As they moved deeper, reality struck them—they had come to clear out bandits. But what they had found was something much, much worse.