CHAPTER 4

[Warning] I heard the system [Sensing animosity and malicious intents from multiple sources]

Thanks a lot, I thought, though even without a heads up from the system it had been transparent that the intentions of these men were far from noble. I wasn’t quite sure what gave it away the weapons clutched in their hands, ready for use, or the not-so-subtle maniacal grins their faces had as soon as they spotted us. These slimy bastards, a fight could hardly be avoided though perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to try.

I counted ten different men, all haggard in their appearance, hoods squalid and ripped and their faces and hair just as dirty. Though their swords seemed clean enough, I thought bitterly. They were some sort of bandits that I had been able to deduce but anything else that they might ask for or try to take away without asking, I couldn’t predict.

I stepped ahead of Remen who didn’t protest at being pushed to the side, he seemed very afraid.

“G’day good men, how are you faring today.” I spoke up.

The men looked at one another and chuckled as if I had just shared a joke.

“Oh you are speaking to us, we were confused because you said good men, good day to you too, boy.” one of the bandits, a man who didn’t seem to have much of his teeth left, was courteous enough to grace me with a reply.

“Where are you men headed?” I continued.

“That’s none of your damn business, I will be the one asking the questions here,” the same man replied, twisting the sword in his head as an act of warning.

Don’t get cocky, I reminded myself again, you do not know your strength just yet, play it nice and cool.

“My apologies, I meant no disrespect,” I said, “if you have questions then ask away, I’ll try to answer to the best of my abilities.”

“Aye, that’s better,” he smiled a toothless smile; he thought I was his prisoner of fear now and I would do as he pleases. I wouldn’t be so confident if I were him. “Where are you coming from?” was his first question.

Once again I was inept to answer such questions, considering that I had just arrived in this world recently and all places and locations were unknown to me.

“We come from that direction.” I pointed behind us.

“I see, up until recently there was a giant floating fortress in the sky in that direction.” The bandit said.

“Yes, we are aware; it was kind of hard to miss it.” Once again I was playing with fire by giving these kinds of replies but there was a certain thrill that came with it, one I could hardly resist.

The bandit was at least smart enough to recognize the mocking tone as he grew more furious. Then I noticed it. Yet another man was with them, I only saw him now, an eleventh member. He remained in the shadow of one of the trees with a hood still over his head, obscuring his face entirely. He seemed different from the rest, not only with the stealth which had escaped my attention but also in the way that his robes appeared clean and elegant.

“Do you hear me?” The toothless man pointed his sword at me. “Don’t play smart, you bastard. I’m asking you if you know anything about that fortress.”

“Know anything? I am not sure what you mean kind sir, I know that it is gone now.” I pushed it one step further, I was testing him at this point.

The man fumed and the rest of the bandits did not seem to be amused either, save for the last mysterious members who hung behind them like a shade.

“I know it is gone, do you think I'm a fool? Did you bastards have anything to do with it?” the man spat.

Now it was time for the final nail in the coffin, it was time to discover what it is that they truly wanted though I already had an inclination. I could feel my three companions shift nervously behind me; they did not think of this as a good idea, it was clear.

“And what if we did?” I smiled.

Come on get angry and attack, I was itching to test out my strength at this point, they could be the perfect next level trial after the ghouls, some human scum could not be all that more powerful from those corpse eating fiends.

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“I’ve had enough of you, let us inspect you and see what you have on yourselves, right this instant.” He said.

He all but confirmed by suspicions now. It still wasn’t certain but they most likely waited in ambush here, waiting for someone who had emerged from the floating dungeon in order to rob them of any treasure that they might have come across inside the dungeon. Whoever was driving the ruined carriage was probably just someone that found themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time.

I slowly pulled out my knife.

“This is all I have on me if you want it, you will have to get it yourself.” I teased.

“That’s enough,” the bandit frowned, “you are all done for.”

Before he had the chance to approach and strike I leaped with my enhanced speed and got the bandit right in the temple with the hilt of my knife. Before he could even grasp what transpired, he collapsed to the ground. I jumped again and did the same thing to the next bandit.

“Don’t stand there,” I yelled to my three companions who were standing huddled together, too scared to move, “Fight, but make sure not to kill anyone.”

The girl moved to action first as she stepped away from her two friends. I continued to defend and strike the bandits as they came at me. I couldn’t see when the attack was initiated but I soon noticed a small ball of fire fly over my head and hit one of the bandits in the chest as he caught on fire. I didn’t see how she did it but I knew that it was the girl.

Next I saw Remen jump high into the air, higher than was humanly possible, almost reaching the top of the giant trees as he fell onto one of the bandits, incapacitating him instantly. Alt eventually moved to action too, he held his large shield in front of him and with a scream; he advanced towards three bandits at once crashing into them and mowing them down like they were patches of grass under a sickle.

I was starting to get unnerved by the mysterious man who still did not move into action even as we nearly beat all the bandits. I thought of going after him as well but the sickening aura that seemed to cling around him made me pause. Other than that I felt a new sense of confidence in knowing that these bandits were no match for me, I moved and hit faster and harder than any of them. I hoped I was getting some good exp from this encounter.

By the time we were done I was glad to see that none of the bandits had been fatally harmed, even the ones who were on fire a few seconds ago and were now rolling in the grass, extinguishing the flames. I knew that they were nothing more than scum but I did not feel it was right to take their lives. They grunted in pain and would not be able to fight anytime soon.

“Yes, how do you like that, you stinking bastards?” I heard Remen say while poking one of the bandits with the tip of his shoe.

You idiot, I thought as I leaped forward, the laying bandit reached for his sword and jumped up, aiming for Remen. Luckily, I got there in time; I pushed Remen out of the way and stepped on the bandit’s hand. He dropped the sword and began wincing and twisting in pain. That’ll do, I thought.

“Well, well,” I heard someone speak.

It was the hooded man from the shadows, he stepped forward while removing his hood as he fully revealed himself. Dropping the gray hood, his long blonde, almost silver hair dropped across his shoulders. He was a handsome man, I thought in a moment of confusion, clean beardless face, a sharp jawline and a pair of golden eyes that seemed to glisten as he stepped out of the shadows. He had a smirk across his lips.

“You have my deepest gratitude for providing me with some much needed entertainment, though my only complaint is that I wished it had lasted a bit longer.” The man spoke, his voice was smooth though unnerving, like a snake wiggling through sand.

“And who would you be?” I asked.

I felt Meili gasp as she grabbed me by my elbow.

“No, that can’t be…” she whispered, as if she was too scared to speak.

“You don’t know me, and I thought I was more famous around these parts, though your friend seems to know me, judging by her reaction. Go ahead sweetie, tell him.” The man spoke.

Meili was shivering at this point. I placed my hand on hers.

“It’s alright, he won’t do anything.” I tried to console her.

“No you don’t get it, that man…” she swallowed, afraid to continue, “that man is Arrin the Twisted, the second in command of the Brazen Brothers, one of the most notorious gangs around here.”

“We have to run…” she added at last, in a barely audible tone.

“Don’t worry,” I said as I pushed her back towards her friends.

“Listen,” I began, “we apologize for doing this to your comrades but they were the ones who decided to attack first…”

“Comrades,” Arrin let out a deep laugh, “these fools are no comrades of mine, I quite enjoyed watching you take them out though I wouldn’t have minded a more violent approach, but there will be plenty of time for violence, something tells me.”

I felt uneasy, his voice, his appearance, his manners, it deeply unsettled me, even when faced with the ghouls I felt like I had more confidence than I did now. But I would not simply back out. I would fight if that’s what it takes, I did not come into this world to be bested by someone like this.

“You won’t let us go without a fight, I assume.” I said.

“No,” he shook his head, “where would be the fun in that?”

“Very well then,” I held out my blade.

“I’m so glad that I remembered to bring this with me.” He said as he pulled out a dagger, not too different from mine.

System, activate “The Layer of the Abyss” I ordered the system telepathically.

And it worked; thick dark smoke quickly enveloped my blade.

“I have high hopes for you; I expect you to entertain me.” Arrin grinned.

And with that our battle began.