The closer they got to the first village, the more the trees seemed to close in, and the road grew narrower. Sid couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease as he surveyed the dense foliage around them.

Then, without warning, a group of bandits appeared from within the trees, standing before the caravan with their weapons drawn. The bandits were a motley crew, their clothes tattered and their bodies emaciated, but their eyes gleamed with malevolence and greed.

"Hand over your goods and money, and no one will be hurt," growled the bandit leader, his voice harsh and threatening. The bandit leader was a tall, muscular man with a thick beard and greasy hair that fell in wild. His clothes were in better condition than other bandits, and his eyes were cold and calculating as he surveyed the caravan with a predatory gleam

The sense of panic in the caravan was evident, with everyone except Sid feeling the sense of impending doom as they were surrounded by a dozen bandits.

The two warriors, who thought this would be an easy job, were at a loss as to what to do.

"Should we surrender?" Lob asked, his voice laced with fear.

But George, the merchant, was not about to let his last savings be stolen. "No, I can't let them take these goods. It's my livelihood," he pleaded.

"Dont let them take away my goods, please, help me. My daughter is sick, and I couldn't afford to be robbed" he added, his voice shaking.

'I suppose I can consider this as an opportunity to train.' Sid sighed, thinking to himself. He had made a promise to George that he would protect the caravan, and he was not the type of person to go back on his word. Additionally, he recalled Vincent's teachings, that true improvement could only be achieved through actual combat experience.

"Stay in the caravan. I will handle this," Sid declared, surprising everyone. They had never heard him speak with such confidence before.

"What do you think you're doing, boy?" Rey asked with concern in his voice. "There are a dozen of them. You can't just take them all on by yourself."

"Dont worry about me," Sid replied calmly. "I can handle this."

"Don't be foolish, kid. We should all stick together and come up with a plan."Lob shook his head.

But Sid had already made up his mind. He jumped down from the carriage and slowly approached the bandits without fear in his footsteps.

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"Kid's got some guts," one of the bandits muttered under his breath.

Sid stopped a few feet away from them and stared at their leader. "I'm giving you one chance to leave," he said, his voice steady and firm.

The bandit leader laughed. "And why would we do that? We outnumber you."

"Because if you don't, you'll regret it," Sid's voice was low and ominous. Before the bandit leader could even respond, Sid drew his sword in a single, fluid motion. He knew that he needed to take the initiative and seize their momentum.

As he dashed forward, the bandit leader's eyes widened in surprise. He never expected this young man to move so fast and attack so suddenly.

Sid's sword whistled through the air, and the bandit leader barely had enough time to draw his own weapon to defend himself. The two blades clashed, sending sparks flying.

As he study his opponents, he hesitated for a moment. He had never taken a life before, and the thought of doing so made him feel sick to his stomach. But in that moment of hesitation, the bandit leader saw an opportunity to strike.

Before Sid could react, the bandit leader lunged forward, his sword raised high. Sid's instincts kicked in, and he parried the blow with ease. In the same swift motion, he called upon his inner strength and focused his energy, unleashing a burst of power that surged through his body.

The bandits recoiled in fear as they felt the intensity of Sid's power. The bandit leader had barely enough time to react before Sid's sword came crashing down upon him. The force of the blow was so great that it broke the bandit leader's sword, and with an effortless motion, Sid sliced him in half.

Sid felt a wave of nausea wash over him as he struck the bandit leader, his sword cutting through flesh and bone. It was the first time he had killed someone, and the experience was more gruesome and unsettling than he had ever imagined.

For a moment, he wanted to vomit, to turn away from the sight before him. But he knew that he couldn't afford to show weakness. He had to keep his focus, to stay calm and in control. With his willpower, he pushed aside his feelings of disgust and fear,

"What the..." Lob's eyes widened in shock as he watched Sid's swift and deadly attack.

"That was Ignite! That young man can use Ignite," Rey exclaimed, his eyes fixed on Sid's figure. Using Ignite was not a skill that could be learned simply through training; it required talent and skill to wield it the way Sid had.

"I'm not blind, I can see it too," Lob retorted.

The bandits were taken aback by Sid's sudden boost in power, and for a moment they hesitated. But as soon as the bandit leader fell to the ground, their fear turned to panic and they fled in all directions, dropping their weapons as they ran.

The other bandits saw their comrades run and grew even more afraid. They turned and also ran as fast as they could, disappearing into the forest without a backward glance. Sid watched them go, his swords still raised, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

But the bandits did not return. They had been defeated, and the caravan was safe once again. Sid felt a sense of relief wash over him as he lowered his swords, the power within him slowly dissipating.

Sid took a glance at the dismembered body of the bandit leader, his mind reeling from the events that had just transpired. He felt a sense of unease wash over him as he realized just how dangerous the world could be. It was a place where violence and chaos could erupt at any moment, where danger lurked around every corner.

"If I had been weaker, I would have been the one in your shoes," Sid muttered to himself.