The first light of dawn barely penetrated through the curtains when Samuel opened his eyes. With a silent gaze, he observed Helydia, still immersed in a deep sleep. For once, he decided to let his team rest a little longer. The day promised to be eventful, and they would need all their energy.

He got up quietly, stretching to release the tension built up during the night. On the floor of his room, Samuel performed a few push-ups and daily stretches, a routine he had never abandoned, even in this new world. Then, he put on a lighter outfit.

A jacket, contrasting with the usual gear he wore. This time, he had chosen to relax a bit before hitting the road again.

After getting ready, Samuel left his room and went down the stairs leading to the inn's reception area to have his breakfast, but a strange feeling washed over him when he found no one at the front desk.

The places were strangely empty. He walked through the corridors, expecting to see at least one staff member or a client, but the inn was deserted.

Intrigued, Samuel left the establishment and was greeted by an equally bewildering sight. The streets of Harama, usually bustling, were deserted.

A heavy silence reigned over the village.

Samuel set off, wandering through the narrow alleys in search of someone he could ask what was happening. As he continued his exploration, he suddenly heard distant piercing screams, the howls of a woman.

His body tensed immediately, a painful memory surfacing in his mind. The face of Leila briefly appeared before his eyes. Without wasting a second, he started running towards the screams.

The alleys passed by quickly, and around the corner, Samuel suddenly stopped, his gaze landing on a macabre scene. Corps lay on the ground, their bodies twisted in grotesque positions, limbs dislocated, faces frozen in expressions of ultimate terror. The blood stained the ground, forming dark puddles that glimmered faintly in the morning light.

But it was the scene at the center of this horror that caught Samuel's attention.

A woman was lying on the floor, her top torn at the chest, revealing her vulnerability. Above her, a corpulent man, his face twisted by a sadistic smile, he had placed his hands on her chest and was playing with her breasts.

"Awakened speed " Samuel's body transformed into an indistinct blur as he leaped forward, striking the man with devastating force. His fist crashed against the attacker's face, propelling him into the air before he slammed heavily against the wall of a nearby house, motionless, knocked out cold.

Samuel, without paying attention to the man's fate, took off his jacket and offered it to the woman, who was trembling all over, in a state of panic. "It will be alright now," he murmured in a calm voice, trying to reassure her. "Tell me what's going on."

The woman, still in shock, took a few seconds before responding. But when she recognized Samuel, her expression changed. She knew she could trust him : after all, he had helped Canon, the protector of the village, kill a mountain orc.

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"Bandits," she managed to articulate, her hands gripping Samuel's jacket tightly against her. "They attacked the village. Canon, he is facing them all alone."

Samuel nodded his head. As he was getting ready to leave, a metallic sound echoed in the distance, like the clash of steel against steel. Intrigued, Samuel glanced at the main avenue.

Canon, the protector of the village, was in the middle of the street, standing alone against a horde of bandits. His body bore the marks of the confrontation, deep gashes striped his arms and chest. He was out of breath, but he continued to fight with fierce determination, standing up to his opponents despite the overwhelming numbers.

Samuel observes for a moment.

Canon, despite his courage, was about to give in. He launched into one last desperate attack, aiming to take down the bandits one by one. The fight was brutal, each blow resonated with a deadly intensity. Canon was using all his skills, "rooted foot","flame spitter", "Armed Arms" to fend off his enemies, but it was clear that he wouldn't hold out much longer.

Suddenly, one of the bandits, a thin man with cold and calculating features, probably their leader, stepped forward. He wore a light dress, dark red, matching the color of blood. His face was pale, almost cadaverous, with piercing eyes that betrayed a wicked intelligence. His long black hair was tied in a ponytail, and a cruel smile twisted his lips.

"Blood blockage" murmured the leader with a cold assurance.

Canon, in the midst of the attack, suddenly collapsed to the ground, unable to move. A visible terror distorted his features. He tried to get back up, but it was as if his body no longer obeyed him, as if the control of his limbs had been taken away from him.

"Why can't I move ?" screamed Canon, his voice shattered by anger.

The leader of the bandits approached slowly, savoring his victory. "Did you really think you could defeat a blood element user ? Who do you think you are ?"

With deliberate slowness, he delivered a violent kick to Canon's face, sending him rolling to the ground. The protector groans, powerless.

The leader then jumped heavily onto Canon's back, savoring his victory. "You should have agreed to give us your village, you had potential, but now..." He let out a cruel laugh. "We will massacre every inhabitant, down to the last one. And rest assured, I will make sure you witness all of this. The protector, you say ? Me, I just see a loser."

He knocked again on Canon, the sound of his fists echoing in the deserted street, accompanied by the mocking laughter of the other thugs. Canon, tears in his eyes, screamed, desperately trying to regain control of his body.

But suddenly, a glimmer of hope crossed his gaze. Through the pain, he caught sight of a familiar figure. Samuel stood there, arms crossed, watching the scene with cold indifference.

"Samuel ! You are here ! Help us, please !" screamed Canon, a smile of hope appearing on his face twisted by pain. "Come on, let's go !"

The bandits turned their heads towards Samuel, surprised by his presence. Their leader straightened up slightly, his expression changing upon seeing this calm and impassive man.

Canon, despite his desperate situation, found a bit of courage. "Come on, damn it ! What are you waiting for ?"

Samuel, his eyes fixed on the scene before him, replied in a cold and detached voice: "No"

Leaving a heavy silence to settle as the gazes turned towards him, a glimmer of confusion and terror was evident in Canon's eyes.