I instinctively backed away from the bandit. For some reasons my gut feeling said that I must get away from him and I did so. My instinct’s never have failed me as far as I know, I’m still alive and breathing thanks to that.

“Oi heads up! It’s not over of yet.”, I exclaimed aloud warning everyone,

"I guess we’re gonna have to postpone our victory celebration. That bandit's still alive, heads up.”

It’s mind-boggling that the bandit survived the enchanted gauntlets blow at a point-blank range. That gauntlet put a hole in the horse saddle so I was pretty sure he should be downright a dead man. I even saw blood splashing around when William landed the blow.

Was he some kinda zombie who doesn't need a brain to function?

The more I think about that guy, the creepier he gets.

“What are you talking about?”, asked William, “What's the matter? Is this the first time you saw death? Don't worry he's down for the count.”

This guy ain’t buying it!

Why am I even going in such length to save their sorry ass?

I let out a sigh,

“See it for yourself, that guy will be up in his feet any second now.”

Thalia raised her guard and unsheathed her sword,

“Master. You must stay back, just in case.”

“Are you serious? Even you think that guy could survive my attack?”, asked William, “Desmond’s just being hysterical. It’s the first time he saw such death, so I can’t blame him.”

He thinks I’m being paranoid. Many people who had seen such death for the first time starts to panic. That traumatic state leads them to be in a delusional state where they also could see dead people. Indirectly he was stating that I was mentally feeble!

It’s not like I haven’t witnessed death but also have been through a close death experience myself. Well, I can’t blame him for being in a state of denial. William who was an ex-military soldier also was the bodyguard of the proud house of Marshfield. This guy was inflated with pride and ego. Hence, if his enemy did survive his mightiest attack then it would be a huge blow to his self-esteem. I am sure one of these days his proud ass will get the better of him.

Soon the dead bandit started to move. His hands grabbed the cold ground and with its support, he frees his head which buried stuck under the ground.

William dropped his jaw wide as he viewed this scene. He removed his cracked glasses which seemed to have damage while he engaged in battle. I guess, he couldn't believe his eyes.

William was in a state of shock which was a scene to behold!

Seeing him in such a state was a treat to my eyes. Little shit thought he was one of the best soldier or some shit. Now his ego was in tatters.

Although I know I was cheering for the wrong side but still, I gotta thank this bandit to give me such sight to see.

“This cannot be happening! He should have been dead, right now! I saw his brains splatter across! No human can survive that! How is he…” William started to ask numerous question while being in a state of hysteria.

Wasn’t this guy lecturing me of being paranoid a second ago?

Uh, this proud noble shits!

If you ever wanna land a fatal blow to noblemen, that should be on his/her self-esteem. In that way, you can strip them butt naked and kill them thousands time over.

If some aristocratic nobleman was somehow left in a jungle. I bet that he won’t even survive for a half an hour before losing his sanity. In a survival, Pride ain’t worth jack when the life is on the line.

The bandit rose from the ground like some kinda zombie. His face was a mess. I couldn’t see much because of all the blood splashed around on his face. Although William’s attack failed to kill, it still did a number on the bandit.

Still even able to stand on its feet with that condition, that bandit had some insane amount of tenacity.

“You coward little shits!”, exclaimed the angry bandit, “I shall make sure to skewer every little Rublian pigs, tonight. Just you wait!”

The bandit's voice boomed throughout the alleyway. We had raised our guard but my instincts were screaming to get the hell away from this place altogether.

“Oi guys what about the battle pill, if you are saving it for a special occasion than now’s a right time,” I suggested the Bruno group.

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I took out my pill stashed from my pocket.

This battle pill was like a regular battle pill but it boosted one’s potential to fourfold. It looked like a spherical little ball, the size of a fingernail. The half side of the pill was bright red and the other half was white.

I was ready to intake the pill any second.

Thalia looked at me with a worried smile,

“We used up all our pills in the battle before.”

We were royally fucked.

That guy took head on a blow of William’s gauntlet attack which was enhanced with the battle pill to a fourfold. There's no way that bandit dude could have survived that. Such a sturdiness isn't humanly possible.

But only if he was wearing an enchanted headgear. I am pretty sure that the hood he was wearing was enchanted. It could be iron class or higher but that's just rough guess.

William was still in a daze mumbling to himself, how he failed to kill that dude,

“How can that be, he should have been dead. My fist went numb on impact so how come he still standing, this cannot be. I am the proud butler of Marshfield and bodyguard of Sir Bruno, this is unacceptable…” and so on he babbled. It was a rejoicing scene but I had no time to enjoy his pitiable scene.

I gave him a nice smack on the face,

“Snap out of it! That guy’s headgear is an enchanted gear so no point on frowning over a spilled milk. MAN UP”

William somehow returned to his senses and nodded.

I really wanted to slap him like that for a long time! I could have slapped him some more if needed without any hesitation.

Just when amidst the commotion Thalia tried to slip away in one of the passageways but the bandit’s whip struck the passage walls which fell down and obstructed her only path. I guess she was trying to escape in order to approach the bandit from behind and then launch a surprise attack. She was not trying to flee, she’s not the person to leave her master behind like that.

“Nice try! But there’s nowhere to run is there.” said the bandit as he grinned creepily.

The bandit’s face was a mush like some kinda crushed tomatoes.

How the fuck is he grinning with that face?

It just hurts by just looking at him.

Despite the grave injuries, he was still standing tall.

“Oi, William, Thalia! Can’t you search in your deep pockets? Maybe there could be some pills left, just try searching, goddamit!” I suggested.

There could be an incy-wincy chance that we might still survive this ordeal. Who knows we still have some pills left like a typical drama where the good prevails on evil thanks to the luck of the hero and his friends. That’s how most of the fairy tales end all the time.

What we need was an element of luck.

Thalia didn’t even bother to respond to my suggestion and stood headstrong facing that zombie bandit.

“Oi! Thalia, William! Just try checking, there could be two-three pills waiting for us!” I re-suggested.

“No point!”, answered Thalia “We had only bought 3 pills each and we used 2 pills and gave the other to you.”

“Seriously! Aren’t you noblemen can’t you just milk out more pills than that? With all that wealth, only 3 pills?” I asked in a disappointed tone.

“We had trouble getting hands on these pills as it is. The military faction tends to keep a good track of their goods. If we were to purchase in bulk then that might have blown our cover.” added Bruno.

“What good is a cover? If we end up dead, anyway!” I replied with a frown.

Bruno was standing behind us alongside the midget soldier.

The midget soldier was armed with his crossbow aimed at the bandit.

Despite the odds, that shrimp held his ground. He didn’t show any type of fear.

Even Bruno had a strong resolve on his face despite his hand was trembling. Armed with nothing but a dagger with intricate designs. Looked like a costly dagger.

I guess his body wasn’t as brave as his mind.

William also had calmed down and back to his usual self.

He seemed to ready to take another round to go toe to toe with that mushy faced bandit.

“Alright time to end this in one swoop!”, exclaimed the bandit, “Change gear!”

Suddenly the jewel on the whip’s handle started to glow and it started to erupt a strange light. The energy oozed out from the jewel and spread out throughout the whip.

We were all little confused and puzzled with the sudden change in his weapon.

Soon after pointy spikes appeared on the rope of the whip. The spikes looked pointy and sharp and it was long as my little finger.

But that's not the end of it.

Strange enough the spikes also started turning in high speed.

What the heck was this new form?

One strike from that can easily take out a chunk of our skin with ease.

Despite that everyone was ready to take him on. We were like some kinda patriotic soldier doing a suicidal mission without any regrets.

I don’t plan on throwing my life for this shit. I don’t give a crap about patriotism. My patriotism lies only till the border of my apartment room and the only people I promise to protect was Armin and Rose. I didn’t sign up for this crap! I got along with them because I wanted to find my old man and not to march to my death.

If it came to worse, I will consume my battle pill to make my escape.

You think its cowardly of me to leave my allies behind. Oh like I care!

I don’t wanna die and leave Armin and Rose behind like that. I still have to secure a place where they could live their lives happily while holding their head high.

Until that, I don't plan to die for anyone else.

Everyone braced themselves to attack while I took the battle pill on my hands.

The Bandit stretched back his arm behind with full force to launch a strike. The whip’s spike which was rotating at high speed slashed apart all the walls and the ground that it touched.

“Hey Razor, what do you think you doing?” a feminine voice interrupted.

The bandit stopped right in his tracks and glanced at this new stranger who butted in,

“Huh? Saskia? What are you doing here?” asked the Bandit.

There was a woman standing on the roof of a near building. She had a covered her mouth with a veil and was dressed in some kind of black long tights with a tight black blouse. Her purple eyes looked as it was glowing. I can definitely bet she wasn't here to help us.

Just when I thought this situation get any worse, another ally of the bandit had jumped in the fray.