In the Prime Material plane, reaching the Silver Domain qualifies one to become an imperial knight, ensuring a decent job and income. If a professional gains the favor of nobility or advances further in strength, they might be granted a small piece of land or a manor.
In the world of Delrano, professionals entering the Silver Domain are collectively known as mid-tier. Melee professionals can earn a silver medal carved with thorn grass from the adventurer's hall, known as swordsmen. As for magic users, only after stepping into the Silver Domain can they truly be called mages, entitled to wear a tulip medal. Before reaching the Silver Domain, magicians are undifferentiated and without mastery of elemental power to merge with their bodies, they remain perpetual apprentices.
Delrano retains a significantly ancient system. In terms of professional classification, it lacks the intricate categorizations of the Prime Material plane. Mages are slightly better off, at least acknowledged as apprentices. But other melee professionals don't even have that recognition. Until they enter the Silver Domain and begin to harness what's known as 'battle power' in this world, they are always considered low-tier, nameless in the adventurer's hall.
Felix, watching two individuals negotiating not far away, pondered in silence about how to intervene for the best outcome.
Dam, the leader of the mercenary group, a towering figure, was negotiating with a bandit chief, a man with a vicious scar across his face. Such encounters are common on journeys. If an agreement is reached, the caravan only needs to pay a substantial toll to pass smoothly. However, this rarely happens.
In Delrano, human development hasn't flourished as much as in the Prime Material plane. Not to mention lands occupied by other races, even among territories owned by humans, a large portion remains unexplored and ungoverned. Coupled with numerous principalities and internal strife, impoverished serfs often band together, turning into roaming bandits.
If overpowered, a quick retreat to the forests along national borders offers an escape from military pursuit. For those stronger, temporarily leaving the human world for the chaotic lands bordering other races is also an option.
This landscape results in Delrano's bandits sprouting like weeds in a field, quickly regrowing after being cut down.
As expected, the negotiation failed, aligning with Felix's prediction.
A large shipment of valuable goods, yet guarded by only twelve escorts. Observing the bandits' greedy gazes, Felix was certain they wouldn't let such a plump sheep slip away.
Stolen novel; please report.
In the distance, as the bandit leader suddenly drew his sword and attacked the mercenary leader, signaling his men to charge, the bandits surrounding the caravan rushed forward.
Years of mercenary experience allowed Dam to narrowly dodge the bandit leader's surprise attack. Cursing the cowardice, his long history of adventuring led him to promptly gather his men into a defensive formation. In such situations, the cargo is irrelevant, let alone the merchants.
Recognizing the opponent's treachery during negotiation, Dam deduced that the bandits valued the cargo more than the merchants.
Hostage-taking wasn't uncommon for these roaming bandits.
Within moments, three mercenaries were cut down under the bandits' assault, and Dam, with a roar of grief and fury, unleashed a surge of flaming battle power from his two-handed sword.
With battle power activated, Dam's strength skyrocketed, utterly overpowering the unenhanced bandits. In just a few moves, several bandits were cleaved in half by his powerful swings.
"Such a primitive burst of power." Although battle power in this world holds some intricacies, its accumulation and release are still too rudimentary. On the Prime Material plane, such a burst of energy wouldn't even be considered notable. Even a knight barely grasping elemental power could easily defeat Dam. Delrano's combat techniques remain in the realm of basic, heavy strikes, lacking the intricate and extensive knightly skills of the Prime Material plane.
With numerical advantage forcing the opponent to utilize battle power first, the scar-faced bandit leader couldn't help but reveal a cruel smirk. As a whirlwind suddenly enveloped him, his speed skyrocketed, almost creating afterimages.
"Wind attribute battle power, huh?" Felix frowned slightly. Against the explosive speed of wind attribute battle power, the mercenary leader stood no chance. Felix realized he might need to intervene sooner than planned, as the mercenary leader seemed unlikely to last much longer.
Battle power in Delrano has a unique aspect: it allows those barely reaching or just touching the Silver Domain to wield formidable elemental power in combat. The instantaneous burst of strength could even match a central knight of the Prime Material plane.
However, the downside is clear: lack of stamina, unable to sustain a fight for more than a few minutes.
For those accustomed to the knightly training of the material plane, relying on battle power is akin to a mutual destruction strategy. Because even a knight's squire could easily finish them off after the battle power burst fades.
This bandit group was clearly well-trained, as they didn't attack the merchants and helpers gathered by the carriage. Instead, they encircled them from a distance to prevent any escape.
The bandit gang focused all their main force on attacking the caravan guards. They chose to deal with the formidable guards first, rather than taking down the merchants. Once the guards were eliminated, the remaining merchants would have no chance to resist.
This strategy was meant to minimize casualties, considering that the merchants were still armed.
"Ahh!"
A scream echoed from the melee—a guard, caught off-guard, was ambushed by a bandit, his head almost entirely severed. Meanwhile, the guard captain, distracted, got his arm pierced by the bandit leader.
Surrounded, a hint of despair appeared in the merchants' eyes, while the bandits let out excited cheers.
At that moment, Felix dusted off his hands and leisurely stood up, thinking to himself, "After all this waiting, it's finally my turn to make an entrance."