As he narrowly made his way through the uneven surface littered with dried branches, shrubs, dried leaves and trees of various kinds, he heard a slight growl of Korach. They were weak rank 2 monsters but stupidly brave. Having spent much time hunting he knew how to avoid them as they would generally leave you alone if you stay out of their zone. They had some 15m mark of from their abode and the last thing one would want was to encroach on their territory.

Sensing an opportunity, he knocked an arrow on his bow. Just as he was about to pass through its territory he released it in its general direction. Saho had made sure to release it when Ronny was at the right distance behind him.

So that when he passed by the same spot he would be greeted by an angry Korach.

"fuck" Ronny exclaimed as he knew he had fallen into a trap. Be didn't have time to think anything else as the Korach was upon him and he was forced to engage.

Korsch were furless 4 legged monsters who survived the winters with their thick skin. Big brown eyes and a nose that was dented inwards, they couldn't be more ugly.

They were not that big but for a human being their size did pose a threat. He pounced on Ronny with his front legs. Thick strong legs with small craws made it the perfect weapon for attack. But Ronny wasn't phased he easily stepped aside while hacking downwards with his sword. Even Korach was surprised to see the power behind the blow as it forced him to the ground. But it quickly got up and showed his fierce teeth, which kept Ronny at a distance. By now the archer had caught up and he started pelting it with arrows. Although they didn't do much damage but provided the ideal distraction for Ronny to sneak several blows. And quickly the duo started beating the Korach with ease. Their flawless teamwork showed how they had done this countless times. With the archer at the back and Ronny making use of every wound the arrows caused. He even used blunt attacks on the already sticking arrows to make them go deeper into the body of Korach. Any other animal would have already run but not Korach. It continued coming with even more ferocity.

Saho stopped and climbed a tree at the appropriate distance to see the fight. His plan had worked. If the Korach had attacked him instead then he would be dead now.

'Should I run? I could get a significant distance between us but there is that archer, he could follow his tracks.'

He looked at the position of the sun and the distant kanchamanjaro mountains trying to roughly guess his position. He was quite some distance inwards from the edge of the forest, so that wasn't an option.

'I need to get rid of that archer'

So he pulled his bow and got into a position on the tree where he could get a clear shot at the archer and started waiting for the perfect opportunity.

The fight was nearing its end. Ronny looked exhausted, his leather armour had various gaps and there were shallow wounds all over his body. But he looked even angrier now.

The archer was saving his arrows only occasionally chipping in. As the Korach slowed further he thought it was the perfect chance. He knocked his most powerful arrow, it will pierce deep inside due to the steel cover. Fully focused and right when the Korach jumped forward to strike at Ronny he released the arrow.

Saho keeping a close eye on the situation realised this was the perfect opportunity for as just after releasing that arrow there would be a lapse in the archer's concentration. A perfectly timed arrow crushed his windpipe. Bewildered, he couldn't believe he would die just like. It didn't matter though, he would have to join the dying Korach.

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After delivering the final blow to Korach Ronny looked back at the now-dead archer. Being constantly outsmarted, Ronny was close to losing his mind. He pulled his sword from the Korach, blood dripping from it and looked at Saho who somehow had the gall to stand there.

'Did this motherfucker think he could go against him?'.

Saho knew that there was no use running now. Ronny was wounded and exhausted from fighting 2 rank second monsters. So this was the best opportunity for him.

He pulled his knife and steadily moved towards Ronny.

There were no more words to be said. He calmed his nerves and carefully started observing the wounds on Ronny's body looking for any weakness he could exploit.

But Ronny was done waiting so he rushed forward and slashed hard at Saho. Shao stepped aside but was forced to defend the next strike and it felt as he was defending against a raging bull. The sounds of the sword colliding with his knife echoed in his bones.

But Saho kept deflecting the hard strokes and using the weight behind them to his advantage. He moved around Ronny, poking at the old wounds.

And Ronny bled. Like everyone does. Seeing it Saho fought with more ferocity. His confidence grew and that mental wall of defeating a rank 2 was crumbling. Like a wolf, who had smelled weakness he kept nagging Ronny.

But it didn't matter to Ronny. All he needed was one hit. Using his experience he forced himself to remain calm. He had a rank advantage against Saho so he utilized this to draw Saho in.

And just as Saho looked to stab at another wound he was met with a massive strike on his knife making him defenceless as his knife was knocked downwards.

Ronny quickly slashed across his chest, destroying his armour. There was an inch deep wound across his chest and he would have gotten bisected if he didn't jump backwards on time.

Pain flooded his mind but Ronny gave no respite as he followed with a kick to his gut which made him crouch down. Ronny hacked with his sword which Saho managed to avoid somehow but was hit with the hilt of the sword instead. He nearly passed out. Lying on the ground he could feel death approaching.

He bit his tongue forcing himself to stay awake as he gathered his momentum with a jerk of his spine transferring it to his knife which he had picked when he fell on the ground. His knife missed the incoming Ronny as he easily tilted his body sideways. But it gave him time to get up on his feet.

Ronny struck with his sword again, Saho parried the blow and sneakily threw a hand full of soil in his eyes. The oldest and the simplest trick. It worked. It allowed him to slash at the sword arm. Ronny screamed as the bleeding arm made it difficult to focus.

They both backed up. Like wounded animals intent on fighting to the death, slowly gathering the last bit of energy. The final strike to end it all.

Like an arrow from a bow, they darted towards each other, with weapons clutched tightly in their hands. At just the last moment Saho changed his direction slightly. The change in momentum was so fast that he felt his ankle twisting. But it didn't matter, the swords passed by his neck narrowly avoiding it. His knife though had pierced the gut of Ronny. Ignoring the loud cry from Ronny he left it there and with his left hand put the dagger in his neck.

He fell, exhausted from the fight. The mental strain to focus in such a close fight was tiring. But it had ended. The life leaving Ronny's body was a huge relief.

So much that he wanted to reward himself with sleep.

Taking deep breaths he stabilised himself. He couldn't rest now. He was bleeding, quickly tearing a piece of cloth from Ronny's body he bound it around his chest, after removing the broken armour. 'It would have to do for now.' The blood would attract other monsters and he had no idea how many more philanders had come to hunt.

He got up and started searching their bodies. He had left his sack behind in a hurry to run away but thankfully his pouch was still there.

Leaving their sword and armour aside. He couldn't carry them. He picked pouches filled with coins and healing medicine from both bodies. Quickly drinking up a healing tonic, probably a rank 2 level. Immediately he started feeling a little better. So slowly, he limped out of the forest.