The moon had reached its peak, its gentle light sprawled all over the silent, peaceful forest. Indeed, it was too peaceful, not even a threatening monster to find. Now that Tina realized how free of dangerous monsters this area of the forest was, it was already a sign that some people were living here.
Tina and her party stealthily traversed the area, the bandit base was only ahead. With them were Ayana — positioned ahead of the group — and the rest of the knights, and also Bertos. The other adventurers were somewhere else, tasked to target bandits that would try to run away.
After Ayana and her team gets inside, one adventurer party would start enclosing the base.
Ayana’s knights, Dune’s party, and Bertos were basically the advance group that would assault the base.
Tina’s steps were silent, not of any spell, but of skill. Considering that the enemies were mere bandits, there was no need to use her silent spell. Besides, everyone was managing well. She had not also mentioned she could cast such a spell. It was for the church.
A moment later, they saw traces of light coming from the distance. Tina moved slower and the team began spreading out. Faint voices sounded, coming towards them. Everyone hid behind cover.
Tina hid behind a tree and took a peek, there were two bandits coming. They only carried swords, but not a gear to protect their flesh.
“Been boring,” said one bandit.
“Yeah. Don’t know what’s up with the boss. Still, we have plenty of supplies and treasures left.”
“Guess so. But I miss the action, you know. And the women, especially the women. I miss the touch.”
“Heh, same. You remember the carriage we robbed a few months ago? One with the father and two daughters.”
“... I think so, yeh.”
“Damn, that oldest daughter was the best hit I had!” he grinned widely. “So fucking delicious, I tell you. Left her crying afterwards.”
“Lucky bastard, I was stuck collecting the loot. What about the other girl?”
“Dunno, someone else took care of her.”
“Oh. The boss better let us go out and get some action again. Don’t know how the other lots will hold on.”
“At least let me go to a whorehouse.”
“Kinda hard to find a decent one these days.”
“Fucking Wisteria and all its decency.”
Tina furrowed her brows, her fists clenched as she listened to the bandits’ conversation. How could they talk about something horrid so casually?
They were evil. Nothing different to demons.
Anger grew in Tina’s heart. She couldn’t even begin to imagine the torment their victims suffered in their filthy hands.
The two bandits each approached a tree and were about to lower their pants, but then two knights swiftly rushed towards them. When hands suddenly covered and gripped their mouths, the bandits’ eyes widened in shock and they squirmed for release, but the knights pulled out their knives and stabbed them into their throats.
The moment the bandits stopped moving, the knights dropped their lifeless corpses to the ground without a care of them.
Tina left her tree and stepped forward.
Ayana quickly spoke to the team. “Two minutes. Get into position.”
The knights moved out.
Tina joined in with her party. She glanced at the corpses for a moment. “You think those daughters lived on?” she asked no one in particular.
Dune was the one to answer. “Maybe… maybe not. Let’s go, Tina.”
“... Yes.”
Tina followed onward until the bandit base was plain in sight. They all hid themselves behind the objects of the forest. There were small wooden sheds and cabins, tents, and campfires. Bandits filled the area, casually talking, laughing, while others were already dozing off.
At the edge of the base was a cave.
It was a decently sized cave that could let a dozen bandits enter at once. The reports didn’t say anything about what’s inside the cave, so once they were inside, it would all be surprises. The bandits could have renovated and expanded the inside. Who knows how long they’ve been here.
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At any rate, everyone was in their positions, only waiting for Ayana’s signal. Once it begins, the knights, Dune’s party, and Bertos will launch the assault. Tina would stick to her role as a support, that was why her party was included in the main assault team. Her healing abilities were top-notch. Ayana knew that well.
Tina controlled her breathing, anticipating the start of the assault. She was nervous, as how it would be for every mission. Although not entirely for herself, but mostly for her friends. Thinking about it, that’s how she always felt.
With her being present, however, and should be the best healer around, they will be fine. Many times their lives would have ended if not for Tina’s abilities.
It was then at that moment a bright light of white flashed and lit up the entire forest around them. That light signal shone from Ayana’s palm, and all saw the sheer intensity of it. The bandits fell into confusion, scrambling and looking around to figure out what’s going on. But before they could process everything, several slashes of light sliced through the air, cutting through wood, fabrics, and people.
Screams echoed throughout the base as the mystical blades cut through their flesh, dismembering them.
“WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!”
“SOUND THE ALARM!”
“AAAAH!”
“MY FUCKING LEG!”
The knights charged forward with no relent. Cutting down anyone who would stand in their way.
Another man charged forward, bashing through people, and slashed a defenseless bandit without mercy. The man, Bertos, fired a wave of light with the swing of his sword.
Tina and her party didn’t stay behind.
Anita sent balls of fire at a group of bandits trying to flee, unable to even try to defend themselves without weapons in hand.
Tina stayed a couple of meters away from her, watching everyone from the rear.
Dune took the foremost position, pointing and relaying his command. He clashed with a bandit, blade by blade. However, Dune was faster and stronger with the help of physical enhancement, and he sliced through the bandit’s guts with ease. His sword techniques were nothing to be trifled with as well, he had trained hellishly just to reach what he was now.
Derin, on the other hand, moved swiftly and elegantly with his spear. Almost as if he was dancing. A white mist engulfed the sharp tip of his weapon, and with every thrust, the touch of frost emerged. Being touched by his frost covered spear would be ill advised, a proper hit could cause immediate frostbite. He pierced through the bandits with not a sweat on his brow.
Iruyu heavily swung down his axe, unleashing a large wave of mana, cutting through dirt, wood, and men. He punched a bandit up close, sending him flying far away with broken bones. The strongest man in the party. Capable of both armament magic and physical enhancement technique.
From what Tina could see, with the element of surprise, they were having the advantage. However, it didn’t take long. More bandits emerged from the buildings, geared with weapons and armor. And they began their counterattack.
To Tina’s dislike, some bandits could cast magic. A bandit with out of the normal strength and lightning engulfed sword ran and slammed his blade at Bertos, not a hint of fear after witnessing Bertos easily slaying several bandits.
“Bastard!” shouted the bandit, eyes full of anger.
Bertos merely smirked and swung back. They exchanged powerful attacks. However, Bertos didn’t look worried at all, almost like he was playing with his opponent.
Tina’s friends fought with more skillful ones, too. They have expected this level of resistance. Dune faced two opponents at once, he was managing surprisingly well, and as always, Tina was impressed. Suddenly, a third one jumped in and was about to stab him from behind.
Derin saw this, and he instantly threw his spear towards the bandit, successfully piercing through his chest. But that left him without a weapon, giving a bandit a clean chance to attack, swinging against him with a sword.
Derin was dodging well, but the bandit unexpectedly pulled out a small dagger.
As the bandit attacked with his sword, he searched for an opening to Derin’s defense. And when he did, he threw the dagger. It did not miss. The blade dug into the unprotected part of Derin’s shoulder. He grimaced and grunted in pain.
“No!” Anita saw what happened, and she fired lightning magic at the bandit, sending a single strand of lightning, blasting the enemy away with a burnt chest.
Anita was about to rush over to Derin, however Tina called out to her. “Don’t Anita!”
Anita abruptly turned towards her, and Tina saw the utter concern on her face. Tina was a bit surprised, she had not seen her this worked up over a minor injury. It would seem their relationship has changed, or rather, progressed this much. Still, with only that small inconvenience, she shouldn’t break formation. Tina was here, an injury like that was nothing to panic about.
“Let me handle it!” Without waiting for her reply, Tina rushed towards the injured spearman. About two meters away, she extended her hand forward and a green stream of light emerged from her palm, flowing into Derin. “You need to pull the blade out.”
With a wince, Derin hesitantly — because of the pain — pulled out the blade. He exhaled deeply the moment it was out, and the wound closed up, then the bleeding completely stopped. Not a sign of the wound left, but a tear on his clothes.
“Thanks.” Derin smiled.
“Derin, here!” from the distance, Iruyu threw back the spear to Derin, its point landing and sticking into the ground.
Derin waved at Iruyu. “Thanks!”
As he pulled out the spear, Tina returned to her post.
Slowly, they advanced forward. Facing challenges on the way, but nothing they couldn’t handle. A couple of knights received minor wounds. But Tina was immediately there to mend them all.
Tina looked at the surroundings, filled with blood and torn flesh, the ground littered with corpses. Human corpses from the scums of the world. Normal people would have felt at least disturbed, if not repulsed, by seeing this scenery. Even Anita’s face twitched at the gory sight.
But Tina was not really affected, saddened, or disgusted. Part of their training as battle priests was to kill humans. Humans that threaten Wisteria. And this scenery was not the first of its kind that she had seen. However, she instead almost pitied the men — not because they died a gruesome death, but because the battle was basically one sided.
Indeed, it was an extermination. Was it because they were weak? No, it was likely because of how powerful the knights were, add to it the adventurers. All people with abilities of their own. Still, the knights were on an entirely different level. If Tina’s brother’s and sisters were the ones here instead, the outcome would not be too different.
The field turned silent, with little groans coming from somewhere. They would let the others take care of them.
And now, Tina and the others stood before the entrance of the cave.