The bandits were at least a dozen, surrounding Samuel and Canon. One of them, holding the girl hostage, yelled, "Hey, old man, stop, or she's dead !" A knowing smile crept onto Samuel's face. "I figured you were already awake."
The bandit frowned, perplexed by Samuel's words. "What the hell are you talking about, motherfu...." He didn’t get to finish his sentence. An arrow pierced through his skull, killing him instantly. The girl, now freed, escaped in a panic, running toward Canon, who was still on the ground, watching the scene in awe.
The remaining bandits, stunned, turned their heads toward where the arrow had come from. Kai stood on the rooftop of a house, looking down at them with a smug grin. "Can I join the party, boss?" he called out.
Samuel grinned. Kai tossed something toward him—it was his sword, which he had left back at the inn. Samuel unsheathed it, and the blade instantly became imbued with darkness, shadows writhing around the steel like a malevolent force. He tossed the scabbard aside and said, a chilling smile on his lips, "Kai, boy, can you cover me ?"
"Count on me !" Kai replied, wearing the same eerie smile.
Samuel charged forward with blinding speed. The first bandit didn’t even have time to raise his sword before Samuel slashed him with his darkened blade, leaving a gash that would never stop bleeding. Another bandit, startled, activated a skill called "Steel Armor", hardening his body like metal. But that didn’t stop Samuel from using "Wind Slash." A gust of wind shot from his blade, slicing through the bandit’s defense and sending him crashing to the ground, dead.
Another bandit attempted a flanking maneuver, using a speed skill called "Phantom Celerity," briefly vanishing before reappearing right next to Samuel. But Samuel activated "Awakened Speed," moving faster than the eye could see to dodge the attack, and plunged his sword into the bandit's shadow with "Shadow Strike." The bandit was paralyzed, unable to move, as Samuel finished him off coldly with a swift stab.
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Meanwhile, Kai was shooting arrows from the rooftop, systematically taking out bandits who dared approach him. A group of three archers tried to fire back at him, but Kai dodged every single arrow with ease, his grin widening as their futile attempts continued.
At one point, as Samuel was focused on an opponent in front of him, another bandit sneaked up from behind, raising his axe high, ready to strike. But an arrow whistled through the air, hitting the bandit in the shoulder. Kai then muttered, "Blazing Arrow." The bandit immediately burst into flames, writhing in agony and screaming. Samuel glanced at Kai, slightly amused. "That's your new skill ?"
"Yeah, I wanted to surprise you" Kai replied with a shrug.
The battle raged on with deadly precision. Despite their numbers, the bandits were disorganized and panicked. They tried desperately to hit Kai with arrows, but he dodged every shot with almost mocking ease, continuing to pick them off one by one from his vantage point.
Samuel, on the other hand, was coldly efficient, eliminating each enemy with ruthless precision. His sword, imbued with darkness, cut through flesh and bone as if they were nothing, each strike leaving incurable wounds. The bodies of the bandits piled up around him, blood staining the earth. Canon, still on the ground, was captivated by the sheer power and destruction unfolding before him. It was a massacre, and the flawless coordination between Samuel and Kai was terrifying. They were like a well-oiled war machine, merciless and unstoppable.
Finally, the last bandit fell, leaving behind a scene of carnage. Kai hopped down from the roof, joining Samuel, who calmly wiped the blood from his sword on one of the fallen bandits.
Suddenly, a heavy sound echoed. The leader of the bandits, the one Samuel had previously sent crashing through a house, was back. Despite his weight, each of his steps was filled with rage, his eyes locked on Samuel, blazing with fury.
Kai, already prepared, nocked an arrow and aimed at the leader, but Samuel raised his hand to stop him. "Leave him to me," he said calmly.
Samuel walked forward, closing the distance between him and the bandit chief. The two stood face to face, the air between them thick with tension. The chief’s face was twisted with anger, but Samuel remained impassive, his eyes cold and unfeeling.
The real fight was about to begin.