Well, I had expected that the bandit would have been armed in the worst case scenario with enchanted equipment but certainly, he’s way more powerful than I had imagined. Thalia and William were taken down in an instant.

The most problematic was his enchanted equipment. The whip’s special attribute and long length kept close combatant like Thalia and Bruno at bay. No wonder they were taken down so easily.

I could try to help them but I wasn’t even able to save soldier 2 who died right in front of my eyes. If soldier 2 had been a bit gutsier, he could have been still alive.

I paid my last respects to the dead soldier 2 whose body was crushed underneath the rubble flung by the bandit. The scene was pretty gore as the blood was splattered all around along with the pieces of his flesh.

So this was just a mere glimpse of the power of the enchanted gear.

I should be terrified right now but my mind was calm than ever before as I started to think about my next move.

I remember being in such a pinch situation before. Even when the elite soldier cornered me with my limbs and ribs crushed despite being wriggling in pain and fear. I felt really on an edge and I enjoyed that thrill. Since childhood, I have been numb to pain. I don’t feel pain as other’s do. Only if the wound were very severe than only the pain kicks in.

You could say I have a high tolerance against pain. You must be thinking I’m some kinda masochist but I assure that I’m not, at least I think I am not one.

Nevermind, I don’t have much time to waste.

The situation as it is, not even the three us can stand a chance against this rampaging bandit, let alone capturing him alive. He’s way out of our league.

The bandit started to laugh a creepily as he celebrated in joy,

“Hahaha! Bullseye! Now, look at that pitiful sorry guy.”

He raised his arm as he made a victory pose. It’s not like anyone here to witness your victory dance! I guess he’s the one seems to enjoy killing. People like those are very hard to deal with.

If I hadn’t agreed with them, I would have been sleeping in my warm bed instead of saving these corrupted good for nothing soldiers.

We should make our escape while the bandit’s busy with his victory celebratory.

Just when I saw the short stack who was riled up and angrily giving the death stares to the bandit. He was the only survivor among the three and he doesn’t feel like escaping. I know where this was heading.

“Oi, short stuff! We should get moving before he on to us.”, I called out to him.

But he seemed really pissed,

“That asshole is laughing! He’s having fun while killing my comrades! I am going to kill that bastard!”, he answered aggressively with a teary eye. He even gritted his teeth while clutching his fist tightly.

He looked like a typical vengeful typical protagonist from the famous tales and dramas. His anger was clearly visible and it might have been intimidating if it wasn’t for his tiny stature.

“I know you’re angry and want to avenge your comrades. Face the facts, right now we tried to take him down will be like a suicide. You don’t wanna end up the same as your friends do you?”, I said with a serious and coldly. I know I was being insensitive but if I tried to channel his anger instead on me, at least he won’t charge at that bandit angrily.

“You fucking shit!”, the midget grabbed on my collar, “You’re the same! Cold-hearted shits! I should kill you in his place!”

For a tiny guy, he managed to grab hold on my collar while standing on tiptoes. Joke apart, his stronghold on my collar explained how angry he was.

But there’s no time for drama.

I grabbed on the shorty’s collar in return and lifted him in air,

“Now listen, you arrogant twerp! You should have thought about the consequences before making a deal with those bloodthirsty whackos! You guys are the reason, we’re in this mess in the first place.”, I said angrily.

He made a remorseful face and looked away from my eyes.

I continued,

“If you really wanna avenge your friends then try to be co-operative. If we work together we might have a slim chance taking down that lunatic bandit, once and for all!”

The midget started to reassess my suggestion and after taking some seconds to think he agreed with a nod.

At last, he listening to reasoning.

“You’re not going anywhere but to the afterlife.”, exclaimed the bandit who was standing in a distance. I guess he was eavesdropping in our little conversation. Crap, I almost forgot about him while explaining the shorty.

We were almost in the range of his whip. This situation seems grim and I don’t think we can escape unscathed. If it came to worst, I would just abandon this midget. I have plans of my own for the future, so I won’t die in an alleyway so soon. I will only do that only if I run out of options. If this guy also dies, then all this hard work would be for nothing.

The bandit approached us as he struck his whip on the ground trying to be all intimidating but it was working.

We raised our guard and stood firm. I continued to glare back at the bandit,

“Oi, short stuff!”, I said softly, “Be ready to make a run.”

“But what about him?”, he asked.

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To his question, I answered with silence. I didn’t have clue myself, what should I be doing. I was just trying to act cool as always while wearing my poker face. The bandit had cornered us and we were in his whip’s striking range.

“Say your prayers, I’ll be sending to the gods you people worship so eagerly. Hahaha!”, said the bandit as he licked his whip. That’s fucking gross, you were just striking that on the ground, a second ago.

Just when he pulled his arm backward in an attempt to strike us with his whip, suddenly the balcony on top of the bandit collapsed. The big rubbles from the balcony started to fall on top of the bandit. Those were some sizeable rocks that could cause some serious damage.

But it seemed the bandit was quick, he changed the whip’s target and sliced the falling big rubbles to a size. This caused a lot of dust and rubbles to cloud the area which created a smoke screen. At that moment I saw a shadowy figure leaped from the first floor to attack the bandit’s blind side. I recognized that it was none other than Thalia who charged with her short sword. She was using the momentum and height in her advantage to land a critical blow.

I guess she was the one who brought down the balcony on top of the bandit. She’s one scary girl, I give her that. When she jumped on the bandit to attack, she rotated twice mid-air putting all her weight in the sword in one single swing. Other than her voluptuous body, she also possessed toned muscles. With that type of attack, she could easily slice a human in half like butter.

By the way, we wanted this dude alive. That was the whole point of our mission to extract intel. Well, nevermind.

Just when the bandit,

“Nice try!”, and he quickly turned facing towards Thalia and blocked her sword with the whip’s handle.

“Tch”, let out Thalia.

Thalia grabbed on the whip’s handle and landed on the ground. Then she started to attack with volley’s of kicks while holding the whip’s handle in her hand.

Whereas, the bandit easily blocked her kicks with just one hand easily. He had a firm hold on the whip with his other hand.

“Child’s play!”, exclaimed the bandit with a creepy grin.

Just when the bandit was blocking Thalia’s kicks, I noticed William. He quickly went behind the bandit’s back and leaped on him,

“Try stopping this!” exclaimed William as he placed an overhead punch with his enchanted gauntlets.

He used his full power that the bandit fell flat on his face with a loud thud. The impact was powerful that the bandit’s head submerged down on the ground and blood was splashed all around.

After seeing the bandit’s lifeless body.

“Now how do you like that?! You filthy crook.”, exclaimed William. I guess this was his victory line.

William shirt was in tatters and he was wearing armor underneath. So that’s how he survived the whip’s attack.

“Oi? Making a victory pose after making a cowardly attack like that. You have no shame do you?”, I asked in a taunting manner.

If he had done this before, we wouldn’t have to go through all this hassle.

“Shut up! Desmond! As if you did anything today.”, William made a strong point, I hate to admit but he was right.

“At least, I did much better than Bruno. Where is he? Did he ran back home?”, I asked while I looked around.

“Master doesn’t need to do anything. We’re here for his sake.”, added William.

“Good work!”, said Thalia as she patted William’s back.

“No sweat.”, he replied as he fixed his glasses proudly.

“What good work? We were supposed to apprehend that guy, ALIVE. That was the whole point. What good is a dead carcass?”, I said.

There was no point in killing this guy. At least, there was no benefit for our main mission in hand.

Thalia placed her hand on my shoulder and had a cheerful cute smile,

“Now, now. Don’t sweat small details.”

“If you think you can get by this with just your cute smile then you have another thing coming miss.”

What does she think I am? This was a big deal, also I had to sacrifice my good night sleep so there’s that. If this all turns out for nothing, I’m sure I’ll make them pay for sure, count on it.

Just when everything had calmed down. I saw a goofy young man approaching in our direction.

“Glad you made it. You could just have arrived in the morning after having breakfast and shit.”, I suggested with a fake smile.

Where the fuck was he, all this time?!

The battle died out and now he makes an appearance!

“If I did that than the bandit would have escaped already.”, answered back Bruno with his goofy voice.

He didn’t pick on my sarcasm. I guess banging my head against the wall would have been more productive than insulting him.

“Sorry it took me a while, I lost my way in the alleyway. These alleys are like a maze, I thought I would never make out from that. Phew.”

William stepped forward,

“We should get moving. The patrol guards will come marching here, any second.”

“You shorty!”, Bruno called out to the midget soldier, “You are coming with us, we have a few questions that need answers. We at least deserve that much for going through all this trouble.”

“Stop calling me shorty! The name’s Simon!”, answered the midget sternly.

“Bruno, you’re almost the same height as this midget.”, I said as placed one hand on Bruno’s head, “Also you didn’t do squat! The only trouble you had was to find your way through the alleyway which sounds like bogus. You were just hiding in a corner.”

He didn’t do shit! Acting all high and mighty after missing the whole fight and then you come acting high and mighty. That just pisses me off!

Just when William butted in like usual to save his master,

“You mongrel! I won’t let you-”

“Desmond! There’s no time to joke around. If the guards catch up, we might even lose Simon, which is our only lead.” answered back Bruno with a serious expression.

“Before going, at least let me collect their name tags. As a memento remembers by.”, requested Simon.

Bruno nodded,

“Sure go ahead but be quick.”

With Bruno’s approval, Simon went to the corpses of his deceased friends to collect those tags. These name tags were handed to every soldier in the army. These tags had information regarding the soldier like his name, blood type, even religious preferences, etc.

“Are you guys alright?”, asked Bruno to Thalia and William with worrisome eyes.

“I am alright! Don’t need to worry about us,” replied Thalia.

“This was nothing. Piece of cake.” answered back William haughtily.

He pulled a sneak attack. If he was spotted by that bandit, he would be the one lying down on the ground instead.

Just when Bruno was busy chatting with Thalia and William I approached the dead bandit.

Today everything was for nothing. I don’t think Simon had much dirt on these group of bandits.

But if I just take his whip for myself that this endeavor would be worth it. This weapon was pretty powerful and I might even rise in ranks and make me closer to reach my goals.

It’s not like I’m stealing, this was scavenging, spoils of war. Also, I’m taking from the thieves so that doesn’t count as stealing.

I glanced back to check if anyone was watching me. Bruno and the bunch were gossiping and planning ahead whereas Simon was occupied while trying to find the name tags.

I quickly bend down to grab the whip but it seemed to be glued on the bandit’s hand. Even after death, he was being so stubborn piece of shit.

“What’s with this grip! I have to chop his hand to free it. I guess.”, I said softly with a scornful tone.

Cutting his hand would be a bloody mess but I have to take this whip for myself. I should do it quickly before the other three lays eyes on it. They might barge in for their share too.

Just when I trying to take the whip for myself, I heard growling sounds coming from the hole where the bandit’s head was buried.

Then all of a sudden, the bandit started to ooze out a strong bloodlust that it sent chills on my bones. I backed away in distant.

“Oh! Heads up! This isn’t over of yet.”, I exclaimed and warned others.