Samuel, feeling the weight of the severed arm still clinging to his wrist, detached it with a neutral expression and casually tossed it over his shoulder, as if it were nothing more than a trivial piece of waste. The broken mug lying on the ground briefly caught his attention, but he didn't have time to dwell on it.

The armored woman, a witness to the scene, shouted a torrent of insults at Samuel. His eyes were filled with rage. With a swift motion, she drew her sword, a sharp blade that shimmered in the light of the tavern. Without hesitation, she threw herself at Samuel.

Samuel, unflappable, drew his rusty sword, his weapon worn by time but still reliable in his expert hands. The blade crossed that of the woman with a shrill metallic sound, the clash echoing in the tavern. The force of the blow was such that the customers instinctively stepped back, fearing they would be swept up in the fight.

Seeing that the woman was more skilled than he had initially assumed, Samuel decided to put an end to it quickly. He activated his "Awakened Speed" skill, and his body seemed to move almost instantly behind his opponent. Before she could react, Samuel delivered a violent kick to her back. The force of the blow propelled her forward, crashing her brutally to the ground. The woman collapsed with a muffled groan, her blade slipping from her hand.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The chaos was growing in the tavern, the customers were watching, and Samuel knew that the situation was likely to escalate further. He took a moment to concentrate, closing his eyes to better connect with the necklace around his neck. He felt the familiar warmth of Helydia's paw against his skin, and in his mind, he called out to her.

"Helydia, we have a problem." Her thoughts were calm yet urgent, quickly explaining what had just happened in the tavern.

The chained man, still kneeling on the filthy floor of the tavern, watched Samuel with palpable terror. His eyes shone with instinctive fear, as if he couldn't believe what he had just seen. The torn arm, the lightning-fast attack against the armored woman, all of this was beyond his imagination. He tightened his chains further, stepping back slightly, hoping not to draw Samuel's attention.

Meanwhile, outside, Helydia had already received the telepathic message from Samuel. Without hesitation, she had started running towards the tavern, her quick steps kicking up the dust from the path. Unlike last time, when she wore the skin of the infernal bear, Helydia had now swapped that outfit for an elegant white dress, which she had probably bought recently. The dress floated behind her as she moved with palpable determination. At his size, a well-filled pouch was securely attached, the sound of coins ringing with every step.

She was quickly approaching the tavern.