As we ascend to the second floor, we find ourselves surrounded by several beds. No corpses are in sight, and both Josh and Rue are nowhere to be seen.

"They must already be ahead. Let's hurry," I remark, following Alpha as we make our way toward another set of stairs.

"Took you long enough!" Josh's voice greets us as we climb the stairs. "Things are about to get interesting!"

I glance ahead and spot three bandits blocking our path. The one at the front stands out with disheveled hair, a rugged beard, and he's clad in iron armor with an iron helmet. He wields a hand axe and holds a slightly glowing metal round shield. Scars on his body hint at past battles. The other two bandits stand behind him, both armed with bows.

It's safe to assume that the one at the front is the leader of this bandit group.

"Well, well. More warriors?" the bandit leader sneers. "I suppose the capital has sent you to drive us out of this tower."

"That's not entirely accurate," Alpha replies, pointing his sword at the bandit. "Our orders are to eliminate all of you to prevent such incidents from happening again."

Hold on a second. Something doesn't add up. The quest clearly states that we only need to take out the leader, and the rest will leave the tower.

Josh puts a finger to his lips, signaling me to remain silent.

Ah, I get it now.

The bandit leader's face betrays a hint of nervousness as he stretches his arms out wide in sweat.

"So, what's your plan? Kill me?" he taunts, sporting a smirk.

"We're going to do... this!" Rue declares, launching a wind arrow at the bandit leader. The leader swiftly blocks it with his light green glowing targe shield, but Rue's arrow ricochets off, piercing the lungs of the defenseless bandit archers behind him, sending them lifeless to the ground.

"An enchanted shield? This just got interesting," Rue remarks playfully. "Step aside, boys. Let us handle this."

"Wait, ‘us’?" Josh questions, tilting his head in confusion.

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Rue emits a sinister aura, transforming his bow into two deadly daggers. His cheerful expression fades into a fierce and menacing treat. His eyes sharpen, and a deadly grin spreads across his face as he stares down the bandit leader with a chilling intensity. A unique symbol shaped like C, E backwards and V-shaped crossing it, followed by the I-shaped at the end of the bottom.

"Prepare to entertain us before you meet your end, weakling!" Rue taunts in a deeper and sinister tone, charging at the bandit leader with a wicked laugh.

The bandit leader struggles to parry and block Rue's relentless dagger strikes, finding it increasingly difficult to defend himself against the relentless onslaught.

"I suspected as much," Alpha remarks.

"Alpha, do you know what's happening?" Josh asks, his expression filled with shock.

"I've read about it in books. It seems he was lying when he claimed his parents gave him that weapon. The weapon itself houses a corrupted soul that was used to seal Ergardia. Based on what we've just witnessed, it appears the weapon has taken control of his body. And assumably... He is way older than he looks."

"The what!?" My jaw drop as I am in shock.

"Swordsman in red!" Rue shouts towards Alpha. "Get ready, we're going to shatter that shield!"

Alpha seems to understand Rue's plan. He plants his sword firmly into the ground as Rue jumps back, creating distance between them.

"Now, let's rid ourselves of this nuisance, shall we?" Rue declares, his daggers poised both in front and behind him. He spins rapidly toward the bandit leader, striking at the same spot on the shield. The shield emits loud cracking noises as Rue's daggers relentlessly assault it. Then, with a powerful kick, Rue shatters the shield, rendering it useless.

"Now you're vulnerable!" Rue shouts, leaping away.

Alpha seizes the opportunity, rushing toward the bandit leader. He grinds his burning sword against the stone floor, creating sparks and igniting the blade.

"[Burning Thrust]!" Alpha exclaims.

Pointing his sword directly at the bandit leader, Alpha thrusts it forward, piercing the bandit's stomach before slashing upward. The flames engulf the bandit leader, swiftly ending his life as he crumples to the ground in a gruesome manner.

Alpha swings his sword to extinguish the flames and glances towards Rue, who has gradually returned to his cheerful self, and the faint glow on his twin daggers is gone.

"I believe an explanation is in order," Alpha states while staring menacingly at Rue, his tone tinged with bitterness.

"Aha.. Ahahahaha..." Rue scratches the back of his head, closing one of his eyes and sticking out his tongue.

#

End of Chapter 17