The bandits stood in tense silence, exchanging uneasy glances. Kael observed them from his position near the carriage, his calm demeanor masking the sharp mind always at work. Victor, his guardian, held his twin blades steady, exuding an unshakeable confidence that seemed to unnerve the scarred leader.
The leader, after a moment's hesitation, smirked and raised a hand, letting out a sharp whistle. From the surrounding forest, the undergrowth rustled violently. Shadows shifted as more bandits emerged, their boots crunching on dried leaves, the air thick with the scent of sweat and iron.
As the last of them stepped into view, nearly three hundred bandits surrounded the carriage. They wielded a motley array of weapons—rusted swords, jagged daggers, crude spears, and worn bows. Their numbers and demeanor made it clear they were accustomed to winning by sheer intimidation.
The scarred leader spat on the ground, drawing a serrated sword from his belt. "You've wandered into the wrong forest. Leave your valuables, and we might let you crawl out alive."
Victor glanced over his shoulder at Kael and Keira, a faint glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "Finally," he murmured, "something to test my new swords on."
Keira stepped out of the carriage, her Veilbreaker Staff in hand. The crystal cores at its head shimmered with latent magic.
"And here I thought this journey would be dull," she said, a sly grin playing on her lips.
Kael rolled up his sleeves, revealing the faint glow of runes etched into his Arcane Gauntlet.
"Let's not get too carried away," he said, though he could feel the adrenaline building within him.
The leader's smirk widened. "Three against three hundred?" He barked a harsh laugh, echoed by his men. "This'll be over before it even starts!"
Victor unsheathed his twin blades, 'Nightsbane' and 'Dawnbreaker.' The dark blades shimmered like obsidian, absorbing the sunlight as though hungrily.
Keira raised her staff, her expression turning serious. "Kael, stay close. Victor and I will handle most of this."
Kael nodded, though his eyes remained sharp. "I can fight too," he replied, activating the adaptive amplification of his gauntlet. The Amplithyst Crystal within began to glow, attuning to his mana flow.
The leader snarled, "Take them down!" His men surged forward, a chaotic wave of bodies armed with crude weapons and bloodlust.
Victor moved first, a blur of motion that left the nearest bandits scrambling to react. His twin blades danced through the air, 'Nightsbane' delivering rapid, precise strikes while 'Dawnbreaker' followed with heavy, sweeping arcs. Bandits fell, clutching deep gashes or staggering back in fear.
The leader's confidence faltered. "Spread out! Don't let them control the field!"
But it was too late. Victor spun, his blades a whirlwind of deadly slashes. The clash of metal against metal echoed as he carved through the ranks, leaving no opening for counterattacks.
Keira floated above the ground, her Veilbreaker Staff pulsating with a radiant, intense energy. The staff's crystal cores shimmered ominously, releasing a barrage of pre-saved spells. With a commanding flick of her wrist, a fierce torrent of wind roared forward, scattering a cluster of bandits like leaves in a storm, slamming them into the trees with brutal force.
"Argh!" one of the bandits screamed, clutching his face as debris from the blast struck him.
"Young master, this staff is incredible!" Keira shouted, her voice echoing with awe and exhilaration as she hovered majestically above, her silhouette framed by the shimmering aura of magic.
Another group attempted to flank her, but she countered with a volley of fireballs. Each explosion lit up the battlefield, forcing the attackers to scatter or be consumed by the inferno.
"Kael, cover me!" she called, retrieving a red mana crystal from her pouch to replenish her mana.
"I'm on it!" Kael responded, firing a series of thunderbolts at the advancing archers. His bolts struck true, knocking them off their feet.
Kael's gauntlet pulsed with power, the Dynamic Resonance property allowing him to adjust his spellcasting in real time. As a group of bandits charged, he activated a concentrated mana pulse, sending them flying.
"You're wasting your time!" Kael shouted, erecting a shimmering mana barrier around the carriage.
Victor and Keira showed no signs of slowing. Victor's blades continued their relentless assault, leaving the bandits retreating in fear.
"They're not human!" one screamed before fleeing into the forest.
Keira's precision with magic was equally demoralizing. An archer took a shot at her, but she deflected the arrow mid-flight with a gust of wind and retaliated with a fireball, sending the archer sprawling.
Many of the bandits froze, staring at the chaos unfolding before them. The leader's face twisted in rage and desperation.
"Cowards! Keep fighting!"
But the remaining bandits had seen enough. They began to scatter, retreating into the forest. The leader growled in frustration, hesitating as Victor locked eyes with him. Victor approached slowly, his blades at the ready.
"You've chosen the wrong opponent," Victor said coldly.
The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackle of lingering fire spells and the groans of injured bandits. Victor sheathed his blades with deliberate precision, his gaze sweeping over the defeated attackers.
Keira landed gracefully beside Kael, brushing ash from her robes. "Well, that was entertaining," she said, though her tone carried a note of boredom.
"Too much fun," Kael muttered, lowering his gauntlet as its glow dimmed.
Victor turned toward the scarred leader, who had collapsed on his knees, clutching a bleeding arm. His defiance had vanished, replaced by fear.
"You won... Just let us go, and we'll disappear," the leader pleaded, his voice trembling.
Victor smirked, raising a blade. "You think you can just walk away after attacking us?"
"Wait," Kael interjected, stepping forward. His voice cut through the tension, drawing both Victor's and Keira's attention. "Not a single one of them goes free."
The leader flinched, his face growing pale. "W-What are you planning?"
Kael ignored him and addressed Victor. "Disarm them all. Keira, make sure none of them tries to slip away."
Keira raised an eyebrow. "We're keeping them alive?"
"Yes," Kael affirmed. "They won't just walk away and try this again. We're taking them to the nearest town."
Victor's brow furrowed. "To turn them over to the authorities?"
"No," Kael said, his gaze steady. "We'll sell them as slaves. Bandits like this don't deserve freedom."
The leader's eyes widened in horror. "You can't do that! You have no right—"
Kael cut him off with a sharp glare. "You lost the right to protest when you chose to ambush travelers. Consider this mercy compared to what others might have done."
Victor shrugged, a faint smirk returning. "Fine by me. I'll make sure none of them can resist."
He moved swiftly, disarming the bandits one by one, tossing their weapons into a pile near the carriage. Those who resisted received a swift, calculated blow, leaving them too stunned to argue.
Keira floated above the group, her staff shimmering with latent power. "If anyone tries to run," she said with a chilling smile, "I'll make sure you regret it."
The bandits froze, too terrified to move.
Within an hour, the survivors were rounded up and tied together in a line with rope from the carriage. Victor ensured the knots were secure, his efficiency undeniable.
As the last of the bandits was restrained, Keira touched down beside Kael, dusting her hands.
"So, what's the plan once we reach the town? Do we really have time for this?"
Kael nodded. "We're passing through anyway. Selling them off won't take long, and the money will be useful for supplies. Besides, leaving them out here isn't an option. They'd only cause more trouble."
Victor chuckled. "You're practical. I like that."
The leader glared at Kael, his expression a mix of anger and desperation. "You're monsters," he spat.
Kael met his gaze, unflinching. "Call us what you like. It doesn't change what you are—a criminal paying the price for your choices."
Keira twirled her staff, her expression casual. "Honestly, you're lucky. If Kael hadn't been feeling generous, Victor and I would've left you as ash and corpses."
The leader fell silent, his shoulders slumping in resignation.
With the bandits secured, their confiscated weapons were loaded onto Kael's infinite storage. The group began their journey toward the nearest town, the sound of shuffling feet and muttered curses following behind as the bandits trudged along, chained like livestock.
As they traveled, Victor glanced at Kael. "Think the townsfolk will care about where these guys came from?"
"They won't," Kael replied. "They'll see a steady supply of labor. It's not our concern what happens after we're paid."
Keira sighed, leaning back against the carriage. "I guess this trip won't be as boring as I thought."
Victor smirked. "At least we're turning trouble into profit."
Kael glanced back at the defeated bandits. Their attack had been reckless, their punishment harsh but fair. They wouldn't trouble anyone again.
As the carriage rolled on, the forest returned to its serene state, the echoes of the battle fading into memory.