Chapter 1
In the dark of night deep in the woods of the country Eslos in the continent of Jarian ten figures were surrounding a campfire in a clearing. Seven of these figures were bandits the other three were their victims.
“Well, I think we did we’ll today right?” A bandit with unkempt blond hair and a lady killer face said.
“Easy for you to say Cayden, you didn't take a dagger to your arm!” A big bald man with scars covering his body yelled.
“Maybe you should learn you lesson and stop charging in without thinking.” The only female bandit responded.
“I’m more amazed that only Randy got hurt, I mean we were outnumbered three to one!” A bandit with a young face exclaimed.
“Aww you flatter me Shaw of course it was easy, after all you have me on your side!” the woman boasted happily.
“Didn't Cayden and the boss take on most of them though?” another youthful bandit said.
“Cara...Boasting...sign of...weakness” A man with cloth covering most of his face revealing only his eyes said.
“Gah stop taking the newbies side Kenley” the woman, Cara, said.
“My name is Nathan!” Nathan yelled
“Shut up farm-boy, why don't you be like Shaw and show some respect.” Cara said while glaring at Nathan.
“Our guests are waking up.” Cayden suddenly said while looking at their captives.
Not too far from the bandits one of the women that was gagged and bound started squirming as she woke up.
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POV Knight Bella
(W-what happened) Bella thought to herself, the last thing she remembered was the her convoy being ambushed by bandits and one with light brown hair hitting her with the pommel of his sword with a strike so fast she could barely register it, since Bella was a full-fledged knight she was amazed that a mere bandit had so easily gotten the best of her.
(No, impossible there is no way that bandits that strong could exist someone of that level of skill would be awarded an immediate knighthood if they joined a kingdom. Unless he is only posing as a bandit, oh no! Lady Isabel!) When she tried moving Bella realised she had been captured but to her relief she saw that Lady Isabel, the daughter of Duke Lovell, and her maid Miranda were still alive.
“Well, well looks like it’s the knight who woke up first.” A voice said.
Looking up Bella saw a bandit with unkempt blond hair staring down at her, however she also saw that there were only six other bandits, one was a woman, another was a large scarred man, one had his face covered in cloth, two looked like they were farm hands and the last had his figure blocked by the fire but she could only assume that he was the one who knocked her out.
“Hahaha she looks like a feisty one! Hey Boss can I have her for the night!” Bella shivered as she heard the large bandit say that.
“Sure, if you don’t mind having your fucking head cut off afterwards.” the man beyond fire said coldly.
(So not only is he the one who captured me he’s also their leader) Trying to learn all she can about these 'bandits' Bella listened closely to their conversations hoping to find a way out of her situation.
“Y-you should stop joking boss, right Cayden?” The large man said.
“Hey, you know as much as me that the boss doesn't joke about these kinds of things Randy” Cayden replied.
“T-that’s only when it comes to profits though!” Randy yelled with a shaky voice
“...Damaged...goods...less...profit.” The man with his head covered said to Randy
“Kenleys right, they will give us a smaller ransom if you rape them Randy.” The woman said
(Wait, ransom? That means they really are bandits. Why? Their leader is strong enough to be welcomed into any kingdom with open arms.) Bella's thoughts ran wild as she realised that her previous idea of these ‘bandits’ actually being some sort of undercover hitsquad targeting her lady was wrong.
(The leader seems to be against anyone laying their hands on us, for now at least.) Think that she and the other captives were safe for now. That was until the leader stood up and walked towards her revealing a young face, brown hair, green eyes, and the leather armour that all of the bandits were wearing as well as a menacing dagger in his hand.
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POV Bandit Leader Leofric
(I swear one of these day’s I’m going to have Cara cut off Randy’s cock. He needs to learn not to put his dick in the merchandise) Leo thought while listening to his group lecturing Randy. He then turned his attention to his captives.
(Hmm, red hair, green eyes... Knight. That might attract or repulse customers depending on their tastes, the ‘Baron’ has a thing for breaking strong-willed women no doubt he’ll pay well especially since she works for Duke Lovell.) He thought while looking at the knight.
(The young blonde girl is no doubt Isabel Lovell daughter of Duke Lovell, and well out of the ‘Barons’ price range, probably best to ransom her) Leo thought while glancing over the girl in a dirty green dress.
(Plain face, dark hair, less than desirable body, obviously hired to make the Lovells daughter look more attractive. Not worth nearly as much as the other two. I suppose it’s the dark quarter for her- wait, what’s that?) Unsheathing his dagger Leofric stood up and walked towards the edge of the fire's light stopping just before his captives. Scanning the forest he spotted a humanoid figure moving against the dark undergrowth and almost faster than the eye can see he threw his dagger towards figure. As soon as it struck the figure released an ear shattering, pain filled scream before fleeing into the darkness.
“The hell was that!?” Randy shouted.
“Ghoul.” Cayden replied.
“Yeah, and where there's one there’s a pack.” Leo said with a dark face. “Untie the knight and bring the other two closer to the fire, we’re going to need all the help we can get.” He continued as he drew his sword while keeping a watch on the forest beyond his camp.
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Shortly after everyone was in position Leo noticed movement in the forest all around them and readied his sword, the others noticing this did the same, even Bella who was bewildered by the bandits giving her her sword back only to be told to help fight something that she has no experience with. After all, knights are trained to fight in armies against armies not creatures of the night. Not a moment later the first thin light red ghoul came into view only to have a dagger thrown by Cara embedded in its skull, after that the camp became a battlefield as ghouls came rushing out of the forest, but despite being heavily outnumbered the bandits and the knight held strong because with every swing of Leofric sword at least one ghouls head went flying, with every thrust of Caydens blade into a ghouls chest their core was destroyed ending its unlife, with expert precision Kenleys arrows hit their target, with overwhelming might Randy split his enemies in half with his great axe, with unparalleled teamwork Shaw and Nathan covered each other while whittling away at the enemy in front of them and like a whirlwind of death Cara struck with her twin daggers hitting multiple ghouls at once.
Compared to these abnormally strong bandits Bella who barely holding on against two ghouls felt worthless, at that moment a muffled scream resounded through the clearing. Due to her training as a knight knew better than to redirect her attention but Randy wasn’t so well disciplined and he turn to the now awake and scared Isabel, it was merely a glance but that glance was enough for a ghoul to run past him and jump onto Kenleys back biting into his neck with its jagged teeth, at the hoarse scream from Kenley the inexperienced Nathan turned his head only to be attacked by the ghoul he was fighting.
“NATHAN!” Shaw yelled as he desperately tried to defend his partner.
“Kenley! Damn it!” Leo hissed through his teeth.
Raising his blade Leo cut his palm and his eyes glowed red as all the blood turned into mist which shot towards the closest ghoul tearing it apart and growing bigger in the process then it struck the next and the next and the next until all the ghouls in the vicinity had been devoured by the bloody tempest.
“Shaw! Cara! Patch Kenley and Nathan up as best you can! I’m going to hunt down the alpha once it’s dead the pack will be break apart!” Leo yelled his commands.
“Cayden! Randy! Knight! You’re gonna kee-...Where the hell is Randy!” Leo roared once he noticed that the large figure was missing. Looking towards the captives he saw that the maid was missing as well, turning his attention away from where the maid used to be he walked towards Isabel Lovell who was vigorously trying to get out of her bonds.
“What did you see?” Leo asked coldly once he removed the young noblewoman's gag.
“THE FAT FUCK TOOK MIRANDA!!” Isabel yelled using vulgarities that no one expected to hear from a nobles mouth as she pointed towards the direction Randy went.
“Looks like it's not just the alpha I’m huntin’ tonight.” Leo said with a fiery anger.
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POV Randy
(SHIT! SHIT! There's no way he won’t kill me for letting that ghoul through!) Randy thought as he saw Kenley get mauled. Looking down at the captives behind him Randy reached out and grabbed the nearest one which happened to be Miranda, her struggles were futile as he ran towards the woods being ignored by the ghouls who were attracted by the smell of Kenley's blood.
After running none stop for what seemed like an hour Randy dropped Miranda at the foot of a tree while he caught his breath.
“Haah...hah… Well… Now that we’re a fair distance from any interruptions may as well have some fun.” Randy said with a lecherous look towards towards Miranda.
Realising her situation Miranda started shuffling back until the rope around her wrist got snagged on a jagged rock, quickly but subtly Miranda began cutting the rope while Randy approached her.
Randy ripped off Miranda's shirt exposing her breasts with a grin Randy ripped the rest of her clothing off revealing her most private parts, kneeling down Randy turned his attention to removing his own clothes and it was at this moment when Miranda broke free of her bonds and grabbed the dagger on Randy's waist. Before he could react Miranda thrust the dagger at him piercing his inner thigh.
“GAAH! WHORE!” Randy yelled as he violently tackled Miranda onto the ground where her head struck the rock she used to cut her bonds killing her almost instantly. Lifting himself up Randy pulled the dagger out of his thigh with a grunt.
“Damn bitch don't think you're safe now, after all your body is still warm.” Randy said with a chuckle as he pulled down his pants while looking at Miranda's Corpse.
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POV Leofric
Leo looked at the two corpses in front of him with disdain. One was Miranda whose blood had drained into a puddle around her head, the other was Randy whose body was deathly pale his blood turning the ground around him into mud. Turning his head to the bloodied dagger that Randy had thrown away Leo sighed.
“Looks like she pierced his artery… such a waste, that girl would have gotten me a fair amount of coin.” Indeed the reason for Leos sigh wasn't because a member of his gang died it was because he had lost the chance to earn good coin.
“Time to find that alpha I guess” Leo said to himself reluctantly.
Using the blood in front of him Leo activated his magic and using the blood of the ghouls which attacked his camp he used his magic to locate any blood of the same kind, after a few minutes Leo found what he was looking for three kilometers north running at full speed it only took fifteen minutes for him to reach his destination. Ahead of him was a hole in the ground which exposed a small cave system, not bothering to move cautiously Leo charged head on into the cave relying on his abnormal eye sight he bisected any ghoul unfortunate enough to get in his path. Soon Leo was in the middle of a large cavern with red eyes focusing on him from every direction, all at once the ghouls swarmed him only to be pushed away by a fierce wind. Once more the cavern was silent but this time there was an extra pair of red eyes but these ones were glowing a dark crimson.
Leo walked out of the cave covered in blood, with a wave of his hand the blood drenching him was expelled leaving him completely dry.
“Well that was fun but it’s time to head back.” Leo said to no one while stretching and heading towards his camp at a leisurely pace.