The sun had begun to set by the time Sho and Quinn finished gathering information from the villagers. They had spoken to shopkeepers, farmers, and travelers passing through the village, piecing together the truth behind the attacks.
"They come every night," an elderly merchant had told them, his voice trembling. "Always after dark, like shadows creeping into our homes. They take what they want, and if anyone resists… they disappear."
Sho clenched his fists. "How many are there?"
"A dozen, maybe more," the merchant whispered. "But their leader is the real threat. No one who faces him lives to tell the tale."
Sho and Quinn exchanged glances before leaving the shop. The sky had darkened, and an eerie silence had settled over the village. The streets were empty, doors locked tight, windows shuttered. The people were afraid.
Sho sighed. "We'll wait. When they come, we fight."
Quinn nodded but said nothing. Sho could tell he was nervous.
Night fell.
The village remained silent for a while—until the distant sound of hooves and heavy footsteps shattered the stillness. The ground trembled slightly as shadows moved along the dirt roads. Then, the first torch was lit. Then another. And another.
The bandits had arrived.
Quinn's hands trembled as he crouched behind a bush, watching the figures approach. His breathing was uneven, his chest tightening. "This… this is real…"
Meanwhile, Sho stepped forward, drawing his sword. The torchlight revealed rough-looking men clad in mismatched armor, their weapons gleaming. The leader, a massive brute with scars across his face, sneered at Sho.
"You must be the fool sent to stop us," the bandit leader mocked.
Sho raised his blade. "You'll leave this village, or you'll die here."
The bandits laughed. "Brave words for a dead man."
Without another word, they charged.
Sho moved swiftly, cutting down the first attacker with ease. He blocked a second strike, kicked an opponent away, and slashed another across the chest. But there were too many.
A bandit's blade sliced across Sho's arm, drawing blood. Another tackled him to the ground. He struggled, but the leader stepped forward, pressing a dagger to his throat.
"This is where you die, hero."
Sho gritted his teeth, trying to break free—but he was pinned down.
"Drop him."
A cold, commanding voice echoed through the night.
The bandit leader turned, frowning. His men followed his gaze, spotting a lone figure standing at the edge of the battlefield.
A man with dark hair, a long coat swaying in the wind, and an unreadable expression.
Sho's eyes widened. "Escarion-sama…?"
The bandits laughed. "Who the hell is this guy?!"
"Look at him! His power level is only 500!"
The leader smirked. "You dare challenge me, weakling?"
Escarion said nothing.
The leader scoffed and strode forward. Without hesitation, he kicked Escarion in the gut, sending him stumbling back.
"That's all you've got?" the leader mocked, arms crossed.
The bandits erupted into laughter. "This guy is a joke!"
But then—
A crackling sound filled the air.
Escarion exhaled. His muscles tensed. His coat fluttered as a sudden surge of energy exploded around him.
Power Level: 10,000.
The leader's face paled. "What…?"
Escarion's eyes burned like embers. He rolled his shoulders, the ground beneath him cracking.
The bandits took a step back.
"W-We should run!" one stammered.
Too late.
In an instant, Escarion moved. His figure blurred. A bandit screamed as his body was torn apart by a single strike. Another's head hit the ground before his body realized it was dead.
The leader barely had time to react before Escarion appeared in front of him.
"W-Wait—"
A hand gripped his face.
CRACK.
The leader's skull shattered like glass.
The last bandit tried to run. He made it three steps before Escarion's blade carved through him.
Silence.
The battlefield was littered with corpses.
Sho stood frozen, watching the massacre in shock.
Escarion exhaled and turned. "Weaklings like them don't deserve mercy."
Sho swallowed hard, but before he could respond, a soft thud caught his attention.
Quinn had collapsed.
The young boy lay unconscious, unable to handle the sheer presence of Escarion's power.
Sho sighed. "You really scared the kid, Escarion-sama."
Escarion smirked. "Fear is a powerful lesson."