The morning sun streamed through the tavern's windows, casting long, dancing shadows across the wooden floor. Rez Valdur stretched his weary limbs and yawned, the lingering effects of his arduous journey still evident in his movements. He had slept soundly, the comfort of a soft bed a welcome respite from the harsh realities of the wilderness.
As he descended the stairs, the tavern was already bustling with activity. A new wave of patrons had arrived, their voices mingling with the familiar chatter of the regulars. Rez found a quiet corner table and ordered a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, boar sausage, sourdough bread with jam, and a coffee with milk, his appetite whetted by the tantalizing aromas that filled the air. He threw a pouch of coin to his server and a plate soon found its way onto his table.
While he ate, his mind wandered back to his recent encounter with the Torospine. The memory of the creature's immense power and relentless ferocity still sent a shiver down his spine. He had been lucky to survive, but he knew that he couldn't afford to let his guard down. There were countless dangers lurking in the world, and he had to be prepared to face them all.
As Rez polished off his hearty breakfast of eggs, boar sausage, and sourdough toast with jam, his keen eyes detected a sudden commotion at the entrance of the tavern. The door burst open with a resounding crash, and a group of rough-looking men, their faces partially obscured by hoods, barged into the establishment. The atmosphere grew tense as they made their way toward the bar, their boots thudding heavily against the wooden floor.
One of them, a particularly imposing figure with a menacing aura, stood head and shoulders above the rest. His piercing gaze swept across the room, commanding immediate attention. With a deliberate motion, he unbuckled his worn leather belt and withdrew a pistol, its cold, metallic gleam reflecting the flickering light of the oil lamps. Without hesitation, he pointed the weapon directly at the tavernkeep, a portly man with a receding hairline.
"Everyone get down!" he barked, his voice echoing through the room like a thunderclap. The tavern fell silent, a thick blanket of fear suffocating the air. Panic erupted among the patrons as they scrambled to find cover, diving under tables and behind chairs. Their screams and cries mingled in a chaotic cacophony.
Rez, however, remained unfazed. He had encountered far more dangerous situations during his tumultuous life as a bounty hunter. He calmly took another bite of his eggs, savoring the rich, yolky flavor. The thugs' threats held no sway over him. He was not a man easily intimidated.
The imposing figure, noticing Rez's defiance, narrowed his eyes in anger. "You think you're tough, boy?" he sneered, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "I've seen men like you before. They all crumble when they taste the cold steel of my blade."
Rez merely shrugged, a faint smirk playing upon his lips. "I've seen blades before, too," he retorted, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "And I'm still here."
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The tension in the room grew palpable as the two men locked gazes, each refusing to back down. The other thugs watched the exchange in silence, their hands hovering near their own weapons.
“You know,” With a swift movement, he reached for his backpack and pulled out a small, cylindrical object. “You’re not late for the breakfast menu. No need for the mass panic.”
“Looks like this tavern supplies the entertainment boys!” The leader chuckled and faced his crew before getting closer to Rez. His steps were more like stomps and they boomed loudly with each step. Rez kept his eyes on him, but took a bite of his jam topped bread.
“Well, I didn’t know the tavern hired a circus,” Rez fired back, “Do you guys juggle or what the fuck?”
“I wish I had the patience to continue this fuckin’ idiotic conversation, but I believe we’re in a bit of a time crunch, you understand?”
As the leader of the thugs raised his pistol to fire, Rez tossed the object towards him. It exploded with a blinding flash of light and a deafening roar, sending the thug flying backward. The other men were stunned by the sudden attack, and before they could react, Rez had drawn his sword and charged into their midst.
The ensuing fight was a blur of steel and leather. Rez's skill and agility were on full display as he parried blows and delivered devastating strikes. The thugs were no match for him, and one by one, they fell to the ground, defeated.The ensuing fight was a blur of steel and leather, the metallic clang of Rez's expertly crafted blades and the supple swish of his leather armor cutting through the air. Rez's skill and agility were on full display as he moved with lightning-fast reflexes, parrying blows that would have spelled doom for a lesser warrior. His strikes were like bolts of lightning, each one carrying devastating force that shattered bone and sinew alike.
The thugs, who had once seemed so confident and imposing, were now little more than stumbling shadows in Rez's wake. They had no answer for his relentless onslaught, their crude weapons no match for his honed skills. One by one, they fell to the ground, their cries of anguish swallowed up by the clashing of steel and the thudding of bodies against the unforgiving earth.
Rez moved among them like a dance of death, his blades weaving a tapestry of destruction. Each step he took, each swing of his arms, was calculated with precision, leaving no room for error. The thugs had no time to react, no opportunity to defend themselves. They were simply overwhelmed by the sheer force of Rez's indomitable will.
And so, one by one, they fell. Some died quickly, their lives snuffed out in a single stroke. Others clung desperately to life, their broken bodies slowly succumbing to the inevitable. But for all of them, there was no escape. Rez was a force of nature, an unstoppable juggernaut that would not rest until his enemies lay defeated at his feet.
When the dust had settled, the tavern was silent. The only sound was the calm breathing of Rez and the few surviving injured thugs groaning in pain from their new wounds. The tavernkeep, his face pale with fear, watched the scene unfold with wide eyes.
"Who are you?" he stammered, his voice trembling.
Rez sheathed his sword. "Just a traveler passing through," he replied. "And it seems that these gentlemen were looking for trouble."
The tavernkeep nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude and sorrow as he knew he would have to clean this mess. "Th-thank you," he said, swallowing tears.
Rez merely shrugged. "It's what I do," he replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me, which way is your lavatory?"