Assuming that there would be nobody there, I decided to take a casual stroll through the camp and continue. To my surprise, not only was the camp not empty, but there were dozens of bandits along with a well-built cage full of about 10 prisoners. I quickly took cover behind some shabbily built huts and tried to assess the situation and decide what I wanted to do.
Given the camp's layout, I realized I could stealthily navigate around its perimeter and avoid detection, which seemed like the wise course of action. However, I had no knowledge of my location or the proximity of the nearest town or city. Despite their limited usefulness, the prisoners might be able to provide guidance. Meanwhile, the remaining bandits were gathered around a bonfire on the opposite side of the camp, while the prisoners were situated at the camp's edge, approximately a hundred feet away from my hiding spot.
I made my decision and proceeded with utmost stealth, skirting the perimeter of the camp until I reached the prisoners' enclosure. To my surprise, the prison was constructed with a much sturdier build than I had anticipated, featuring a thick locking mechanism securing the door. While observing the cage from the cover of the woods, one of the prisoners spotted me and discreetly gestured for me to approach. She was the epitome of beauty, surpassing any woman I had ever encountered in this world or the one before. Standing at almost 6 feet tall, she possessed a slender waist, an athletic physique, and perfectly shaped softball-sized breasts. Her long, flowing reddish-gold hair added to her allure, despite her disheveled appearance.
Taking advantage of the waning sunlight and the concealment provided by the low shrubbery, I cautiously approached the cage until I stood right beside the bars, next to the captivating woman. Upon closer examination, she appeared to be no older than 18, barely an adult. In an almost scolding whisper, she hissed, "Who are you, and what are you doing sneaking around this camp? Don't you realize how dangerous these men are? You should just run and leave us before they capture you as well, or worse, you end up dead."
"I did consider that, honestly, but the problem is I have no idea where the hell I am, and nightfall is approaching rapidly," I whispered back, feeling the urgency. "If I manage to free you all from this cage, will you help me find a nearby town or city? I'm a capable fighter and quite strong." Despite my attempt to reassure her, she maintained a skeptical expression and remained silent for a moment. "Just tell me how to unlock the door, and I'll handle the rest. Your task is to keep everyone quiet. We need to hurry because I may have already angered a group of them on my way here, and they won't be far behind me."
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"So, you've already encountered their scouting party? Were you responsible for the loud noises they investigated earlier? Well, forget about that for now. What's your level?" The young woman's anxiety became more pronounced as she cautioned me to be cautious. "Their leader is a level 45 Berserker, and if he captures you, he'll obliterate you." She stressed the importance of being careful. "Unless you possess the lockpicking skill, there's no way you can free us. The only person with the key to this cage is Bragda, their leader, and it's impossible to sneak up on him and take it."
"I have no clue what my level is. How am I supposed to know that?" I retorted in frustration. "And is 'Berserker' a job title or just a description of his psychopathic personality?" I paused for a moment, realizing that our discussion was leading us nowhere. "You know what, all this talking won't help us. I need to attempt to pick that lock and free you all so we can make our escape." With determination, I carefully crept towards the lock, scanning my surroundings for something that could serve as a makeshift lockpick. Spotting a moderately thin, long rock, I thought it might work if luck was on my side. I picked it up and approached the bars, attempting to insert it into the key slot and use it to manipulate the pins and turn the tumbler.
"With a mere pebble, you'll never be able to open a Titansteel lock, you foolish boy," sneered a fat, middle-aged man. "What you need is the key to release us. I am Baron Hundescheibe, and if you can free me right now, you will be generously rewarded. However, should you fail, I will make it my mission to destroy your life and bring harm to everyone dear to you." As my gaze shifted to the balding, overweight man, I couldn't help but draw a stark contrast between him and the captivating woman I encountered earlier. Where she embodied perfection, this man embodied nothing but repugnant filth. His attire, though once fine, now appeared tattered, and he carried himself with an arrogant air, believing himself superior to all others.
"Jabba, I could simply tell you to fuck off and walk away. I'm doing my best here, but I have no idea how you expect me to retrieve the key when it's in the possession of a large group of shitbag bandits on the other side of the encampment. So shut your obnoxious mouth and let me handle this." As I finished admonishing Baron Dipshit, my frustration peaked as the rock I was holding snapped in half. Losing my temper, I forcefully yanked on the cage door. To the astonishment of everyone present, the sound of metal screeching filled the air as the door ripped off its hinges, akin to tearing a page out of a notebook. "I hope no one heard that," I muttered, though fully aware that luck was not on my side.
"Hey! What the hell is happening over there?" I quickly turned my head and noticed that all the bandits had abruptly shifted their attention. To my horror, I locked eyes with the most colossal man I had ever laid eyes on, striding menacingly toward me, wielding two massive two-handed battle axes. It was evident from his demeanor that he was more than willing to use them against me.