According to the map that Hektor was using, the next town was only 3 days away. The closest stop before a bigger city. With his mana still sealed his group aimed to go through the parts of the path that have less monsters.

With this as a goal, the Vulture that he summoned is working wonders. While not a fast flier compared to its peers, a flying companion that could give him information was just what he needed.

His group only encountered a handful of goblins and the occasional gnoll.

Souls: 16

"We'll have lunch here, no campfires. The last thing we need is another-" An arrow flew right past his face as Hektor ducked to the side.

"Kill anything that moves." He called out as his group mobilized.

'Arrows... hobgoblins?' He thought as he tried to analyse his situation.

He watched as the insect soldier forced a figure from the bushes. "No, bandits."

The black lizard appears to be occupied as well, while it kept one of the bandits busy. Another arrow flew towards his location, but right as he dodged it something blunt hit his back.

He spun around with an aura-infused spear and managed to disarm his assailant. A scrawny man who wielded a mace. A quick thrust ended this person's life.

[A soul has been added to your collection.]

As he sprung back into action, he heard a distinct thud to his side.

[Your Minion has been slain.]

The Vulture he just summoned was taken out by the archer.

If Hektor was confident in any of his companions, it would have to be the insect soldier. While the lizard had its uses, he knew that the insect soldier could move at breakneck speeds should it need to.

Which was why he headed directly to help his scaled companion. Forced to deflect another arrow, the young man could only do so much as an arrow coming from the opposite direction caught him by the back of the leg.

'I misread the situation.'

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While one archer was trained on him, the second archer was the one who took out his Vulture. "We got him, clean up the rest Sean."

"Hop out boys, we have loot!"

Hektor felt his body shake as sleep took over. They baited him with a non-combatant, he lost from the moment they shot the first arrow.

[Your Minion has been slain.]

"Fuck…"

---

Murgclaw, a group of bandits residing in the forest of Fernthur. A notorious group with close to a dozen former soldiers in their ranks. Though most of the members are common thieves and low lives who never learned magic or martial arts they make up for it in sheer numbers, reported to have 40 members in their group all in all.

"Hehehe, you're not gonna believe the catch we had back in the forest boss." A sly lanky man stated as he presented the muzzled and injured black lizard and passed out teen.

"Did we lose anyone in this hunt of yours Sikal?" The large man, Murgclaw asked.

"Just a green-horn who can't even use aura."

"All right then, report."

"Markluzian Spear Art, Unlocked personal skill." Sikal began. "He had a vulture and a Four-armed Insectoid with him too. This kid likely has [Monster Taming]!"

"And from the looks of it he's a stray who left the frontlines." Murgclaw deduced.

"Great work, skin the drake. Sell the scales, we're having drake skewers tonight."

The bandits drank their ale and had an exotic dinner, drakes are said to be a delicacy from the eastern regions of the Markluzian Kingdom. The meat is said to be a more filling equivalent to the common chicken or turkey, the scales are used for armor and certain medicines making a single drake a bountiful source of coin.

[Your Minion has been slain.]

Hektor woke up in a wooden cage, stripped of all of his gear. Wearing nothing but his pants. His hands were tied behind his back and as he looked around, all he could see were two other wooden cages. With only one other prisoner on the cage to his right. An old man who appears to be in his 70s.

The freedom he gained was gone almost as quickly as he got it. The summons he had were all dead, evidenced by the red notification screens in front of him. But just like always, the battle-hardened young man remained calm.

'They probably want to sell us off to the slave trade, and the nearest town most likely has a shop.' He concluded. He looked below the wooden cages to see that the wooden cages were hanging from a large tree, and that below him is a separate cage filled with captured women and children.

'I see. The old man in the other cage must also be a former soldier.'

Common folk, those who have a choice in the matter would rather not fight at all. The draft was not a necessary thing for most of the populace, just those that are at the bottom. While magic and martial arts were still available, it was almost exclusive to those with the funds.

'I don't think any of my summons can help even if I had them.'

He looked on to the open field where aura users were present. These bandits were led by soldiers that have retired or defected, meaning that they had more than enough aura users to deal with him.

'Even if I did have mana, they would have still won.'

For the first time since unlocking his personal skill, Hektor felt powerless once more.

'If they don't sell me within 2 days, then I can at least test out my new minions…' Hektor wracked his brain for a solution. 'There must be something.'