by Jackson Bale
Nodding---towards---them,---Rathic---watches---as---Gen---comes---closer---on---horseback,---the---young---man---looks---ready,---clearly---having---grown---up---in---the---years---to---come.
“Rathic,---what's---the---situation?---You---called---an---ambush?”
Rathic---nods,---his---eyes---turning---towards---the---location---his---skill---is---activating---towards…---and---considering---the---strength,”---large---enemy---force,---I---would---guess---a---hundred---strong.”
Gen---turns---towards---the---location---Rathic---is---gazing,”---Do---you---know---how---long?”
Rathic---Shakes---his---head,”---No,---but---not---too---long,---especially---considering---they---probably---have---a---[scout]”
A---smile---forms---on---Gens'---face,”---What's---the---plan---[General]?”
Rathic---turns---towards---the---[---Mercenaries],---all---of---which---are---on---horseback.
He---activates---his---[Silent---Analyze]---skill,---looking---into---their---levels,---and---nods---slowly.
“We---will---wait.---Unless---they---have---a---high---level---[Archer],---they---will---need---to---get---out---of---the---woods---and---into---a---closer---position---to---strike---at---us,---so---I---need---you---to---hide---about---half---your---mercenaries---behind---the---carts---and---carriages.”
Gen---nods---and---immediately---orders---his---mercenaries---hidden.
About---a---couple---minutes---later,---a---large---swarm---of---people---exits---the---woods.
[Bandits],---about---a---hundred---of---them,---dirty---and---bedraggled,---they---walk---forward,---brandishing---their---unsheathed---low-quality---weapons.
At---the---front---of---the---group---is---a---[Bandit---Leader],---a---rather---dangerous---class---known---for---being---very---underhanded---in---a---fight.
The---leader---walks---forward,---his---frame---seen---in---the---firelight.---A---large---man,---his---face---scarred---and---hair---messy,---he---walks---confidently---forward---as---he---unsheathes---a---large---battleax,---glinting---menacingly---from---the---moonlight.
The---[Bandit---Leader]---looks---towards---the---group,---noticing---a---rugged---[trader]---and---about---twenty---mercenaries---on---horseback.
A---smile---blazes---on---his---lip,”---Well,---look---wat---we---has---here,”---the---[Bandit---Leader]---exclaims,---his---teeth---yellow---and---disfigured---due---to---lack---of---care.
The---leader---scratches---his---beard,---eyes---staring---hungrily---at---the---sacks---of---supplies---on---the---wagons.
He---flicks---his---hand,---[Bandits]---trained---in---archery---come---forward,---unsheathing---their---bows.”---It---be---a---wee---bit---unsettlin,---with---you---knowing---were---I---be.---I---was---pretty---sure---me---man---was---nat---seen.”
The---[Bandit---Leader]---looks---towards---his---men,”---Gessan,”---he---calls,---immediately---having---a---young---mouse---demihuman---come---forward,---fear---evident---on---his---face---as---he---looks---up---to---his---leader,”---I---swear---on---me---mum's---grave,---I’s---not---seen.
The---bandit---leader---shakes---his---head.
With---a---burst---of---speed,---the---[Bandit---Leader]---yells---“[Axe---Throw]”,---which---causes---his---ax---to---fly---through---the---air---and---impale---the---[Bandits]---chest---with---impressive---speed.
Rathic---just---watches---calmly,---finding---the---threat---of---violence---not---demoralizing---at---all.
A---pathetic---display---to---cause---fear,---to---make---us---panic.---On---top---of---that,---that---skill---probably---has---a---long---reuse---time,---probably---longer---than---this---battle---will---last.
The---leader---walks---towards---the---corpse---and---rips---his---ax---out,---his---eyes---turning---towards---Rathic.---A---bloodthirsty---smile---on---his---face.---And---then---the---level---76---[Bandit---Leader]---activates---a---skill---called---[Killers---Smile],---an---aura---skill---whose---intents---and---purpose---is---to---cause---fear---and---uncertainty---towards---the---enemy,---but---requires---a---fresh---kill---to---activate.
The---aura,---invisible---to---the---naked---eye,---travels---the---thirty---meters---between---them---and---then---the---aura---strikes---Rathic,---a---feeling---of---fear---takes---him---and---the---[Mercenaries]---on---horseback.
But---that---only---lasts---for---a---moment,---at---which---point---Rathic’s---own---aura,---a---[Generals]---aura,---expands---out---from---him,---easily---eliminating---the---[Bandit---Leaders]---skill,---ripping---it---apart---like---wet---paper.
Immediately---the---[Mercenaries]---relax,---their---eyes---focusing---as---a---sense---of---power---and---courage---emanates---into---them---from---Rathic.---A---few---of---the---mercenaries---look---at---[Rathic]---confusedly,---a---man---they---had---expected---to---be---but---a---wealthy---[Trader].
The---[Bandit---Leaders]---face---takes---on---a---frown---as---he---notices---that---his---skill---did---absolutely---nothing.---A---skill---which---he---had---used---several---times---with---great---effect---against---even---a---large---force.
Rathic---just---folds---his---arms,---eyes---glazing---past---the---pathetic---[Bandits].---Other---than---the---leader,---the---bandits---are---barely---level---twenty,---maybe---one---or---two---of---them---are---in---their---thirties,---but---overall,---the---enemy---force---is---extremely---weak.
“Pathetic”---Rathic---says---tauntingly,---his---words---carrying---the---distance---with---seeming---ease.
Snarling---angrily,---the---[Bandit---Leader]---screams---and---runs---towards---the---caravan,---arrows---quickly---leave---the---strings---of---those---[bandits]---with---bows---while---all---of---the---others---run---forwards---with---their---leader,---a---crazed---glint---in---their---eyes.
Do---not---engage.
Rathic---says---with---his---aura,---focusing---it---only---on---the---[Mercenaries]
“[Steel---Skin]”---Rathic---says,---activating---a---defensive---skill,---one---which---extends---to---those---protected---by---his---aura.
The---thing---that---makes---[Generals]---so---feared---and---powerful---is---a---unique---ability---prevalent---to---them.---They---are---one---of---the---very---few---classes---that---can---utilize---single---target---skills---on---a---mass---scale.---So---something---like---[Steel---Skin],---which---for---a---moment---strengthens---the---skin---of---an---individual,---can---have---the---effect---activate---on---others,---even---entire---armies---if---the---[General]---is---good---enough.
The---arrows---strike---the---[Mercenaries],---bouncing---off---harmlessly---while---Rathic---side---steps,---easily---avoiding---the---arrows---with---an---expert---movement---of---someone---who---has---a---massive---amount---of---experience---in---combat,---the---arrows---moving---slowly---against---his---trained---eyes.
Rathic---waits,---holding---his---hand---up,---waiting---as---the---[Bandits]---get---far---enough---from---the---forest.
Twenty-five---meters.
Twenty---meters
Fifteen---meters
Attack---the---[Bandits],---Leave---the---leader---alone.
The---order---comes---in---like---a---wave,---and---Gen,---hiding---behind---with---his---[Mercenaries],---activates---several---skills---in---quick---succession.
“[Riders---Calm],---[Riders---Sprint],---[Riders---Footing],---[Charging---Sprint]”
Like---a---gunshot,---all---of---the---horses---charge---forwards---at---incredible---speeds,---the---wind---whipping---at---their---faces---as---the---[mercenaries]---blaze---forward,---ramming---into---the---charging---[Bandits]---from---all---sides,---completely---breaking---whatever---little---organization---they---have---had.
Rathic---just---watches,---slightly---amazed---at---the---sheer---organization---of---Gen’s---men,---but---even---more---so---with---Gen---himself.---As---a---[General]---who---has---had---several---[Cavalry---Captain’s]---under---his---command.---The---officers---would---usually---have---about---a---hundred---mounted---[Soldiers]---at---their---command---with---at---least---one
---or---two---skills---that---assist---in---making---the---mounted---soldier---more---effective.
But---four---is---extremely---rare---and---impressive.---Any---[general]---would---be---proud---to---have---such---an---individual---with---such---a---skill---set.
What---Gen---is---doing---is---splitting---his---forces,---striking---with---speed---and---precision---from---several---sides,---each---time---taking---several---lives---and---leaving---before---a---counterattack---can---be---done.
The---[Bandit---Leader]---is---no---exception---as---he---runs---towards---a---[Mercenary],---only---to---find---them---moving---away---from---him,---circling---around---and---striking---at---the---backs.
Three---of---the---[Mercenaries]---can---be---seen---far---towards---the---treeline,---quickly---killing---off---the---[Bandits]---with---bows.
Rathic---walks---forward---confidently,---his---aura---blazing---forth---from---him,---applying---a---mental---pressure---on---the---[Bandits],---making---them---panic---while---also---slowing---their---movements.
At---this---point,---the---[Bandit---Leader]---finally---notices---Rathic,---calmly---walking---forward,---a---contemplative---look---on---his---face.
Angered,---the---[Bandit---Leader]---immediately---charges---out---of---the---dwindling---bandit---group---and---runs---straight---for---Rathic.
Gen,---noticing---this,---attempts---to---intercept,---but---stops---as---Rathic---shakes---his---head.
Rathic---stops,---watching---as---the---leader---gets---closer---and---closer.
At---ten---feet---between---the---[Bandit---Leader]---and---himself,---Rathic---activates---two---skills---at---once,---whispering---them---beneath---his---breath.
“[Accelerated---Strike],---[Accelerated---Mind],”
The---world---slows---around---Rathic---as---his---body---accelerates---forward.
He---activates---two---magical---items---on---his---person.---An---enchanted---ring---with---the---effect---[Blink---Step],---allowing---him---to---teleport---a---very---short---distance---in---a---direction.---A---very---useful---skill---to---survive---[Assassins].---The---other---item---is---actually---the---sheath---to---his---sword---with---the---effect---[Instant---iaido],---a---rather---weird---name---for---an---amazing---skill---which---allows---him---to---unsheath---and---strike---faster---than---when---his---sword---is---already---out.
Thus,---his---form---disappears---and---reappears---in---front---of---the---[Bandit---Leader],---whose---eyes---widen---as---he---attempts---to---activate---a---defensive---skill,---unfortunately,---Rathic---arm---blurs,---creating---a---sonic---boom---as---his---enchanted---sword---flicks---out---and---removes---the---[Bandit---Leaders]---head---in---an---instant.
Re-sheathing---his---sword,---Rathic---looks---towards---the---battle,---finding---that---the---panicked---[Bandits]---are---on---the---run---and---in---full---retreat…---unfortunately,---Rathic---aura---is---still---slowing---them---down,---making---the---already---fast---[Mercenaries]---catch---up---and---finish---them---off---with---ease.
Overall,---no---death---was---reported---through---a---few---cuts---and---bruises---can---be---seen---on---the---mercenaries,---one---of---which---has---a---relatively---large---gash---on---his---side,---but---he---is---already---using---a---healing---potion---on---the---wound,---something---that---is---exceptionally---expensive---to---buy---as---it---requires---rare---ingredients---and---a---high---level---[Alchemist]---class---just---to---produce.
Gen---walks---forward,---his---smile---bordering---on---ripping---his---face---open.
“So---[General],---how---did---we---do?”
Rathic---takes---a---look---at---Gen---who---is---covered---in---sweat---while---his---horse---isn't---even---out---of---breath,---a---testament---to---the---impressive---breed---of---battlemare.
“Pathetic,”
Gens---smile---widens---further,---something---Rathic---believed---wasn’t---possible.
Rolling---his---eyes,---Rathic---points---behind---him,”---You---completely---left---the---caravan---alone,---not---even---leaving---any---of---your---men---to---defend---it.---If---there---was---even---a---small---force---coming---from---another---direction,---I---fear---many---innocence---would---have---died---because---of---your---carelessness.”
Gens---face---immediately---takes---a---complete---one-eighty,---realizing---the---error---of---his---ways.---In---truth,---Gen---had---wanted---to---impress---Rathic,---to---show---how---powerful---his---group---really---is,---how---effective---they---truly---are.---His---pride---and---joy---[Mercenary]---band.
Gens'---shoulders---sag---as---he---looks---towards---the---caravan,---finding---that---in---truth,---he---could---have---cost---many---lives.
*Sigh*,”---Other---than---that,---your---offensive---was---expertly---done.”---Rathic---continues,---his---head---looking---towards---the---[Mercenaries]---as---they---kill---off---wounded---[Bandits]---and---strip---them---of---their---possessions.
At---his---words,---Gens---smile---returns,---only---to---immediately---be---replied---by---a---scowl---from---Rathic.
“Your---aura---is---shit,”---Rathic---quickly---adds,---having---noticed---the---huge---weakness---to---the---mercenary---group.
Half---smiling,---Gen---places---his---hand---on---the---back---of---his---head,---a---goofy---smile---on---his---face.
“Well…---yea,---but---I---have---the---skill---[Riders---Calm]-”
“Which---is---no---excuse---to---have---a---pathetic---aura.”---Rathic---interrupts.
“Your---skill---is---temporary,---and---the---moment---it's---gone,---your---[Mercenaries]---will---panic,---making---your---entire---tactic---useless.”
Nervous,---Gen---looks---away---to---Rathic,---finding---that---his---men---have---started---looting,”---I’ll---uhh,---go---help---my---men.”
And---with---those---last---words,---Gen’s---horse---moves---towards---the---dead---bodies,---Rathic---eyes---staring---at---the---young---man---as---he---escapes---his---former---mentors---gaze,---a---gaze---accompanied---by---a---now---proud---smile.
____
An---hour---later---and---the---sun---set’s---lower,---the---caravan---recreates---their---camp---at---another---clearing.---The---reason---is---that---of---the---blood.---The---smell---of---blood---is---so---prevalent---that---it---will---attract---both---monsters---and---beasts.---And---normally,---for---their---group,---it---would---not---be---a---problem---considering---how---close---they---are---towards---the---borderlands,---a---place---known---for---lacking---any---good---resources---and---having---the---average---level---to---be---within---the---single---digits.---Even---the---monsters---and---beast’s---are---extremely---weak---with---levels---averaging---at---around---13---or---14.---Regardless,---it---is---better---to---be---cautious.
Remaking---the---camp---was---a---quick---affair---and---Rathic---finds---himself---in---the---same---situation---before---the---attack,---sitting---with---his---daughter.---Except---for---this---time,---a---barrel---of---beer---was---opened---and---many---of---the---[Mercenaries]---are---indulging---with---gusto,---including---his---people---as---well.
“Do---you---know---if---they---were---after---you?”---Henrietta---asks,---her---arms---carefully---around---Izabelle---who---is---doing---her---best---to---stay---awake,---constantly---wiping---her---sleepy---eyes.
Rathic---shakes---his---head,”---No,---such---a---force---is---too---weak---to---be---sent---to---stop---me.---We---were---merely---at---the---wrong---place---at---the---wrong---time.”
Henrietta---goes---silent,---her---eyes---watching---one---of---the---drunk---mercenaries---as---he---attempts---to---flirt---with---one---of---her---maids.---The---maid---in---question,---Anessa,---a---young---looking---cat---demihuman,---acts---uninterested---even---though---her---tail---swishes---in---excitement.
“Coooo”
A---soft---sound---interrupts---Henrietta’s---musings---as---she---notices---that---Izabelle,---Nafisa’s---daughter,---has---fallen---asleep---in---her---lap.
Silently---nodding---towards---her---mas
ter,---the---fox---demihuman---lifts---up---the---child---with---ease---and---takes---her---to---the---carriage,---opening---the---door---with---one---hand---and---entering.---She---slowly---places---the---child---on---the---seat,---laying---her---down,---admiring---the---looks---so---similar---to---her---mistress…---and---former---lover.
Utilizing---her---skill---[Delicate---Touch],---the---head---[Maid]---strips---the---young---mistress---of---her---clothing---and---immediately---puts---on---sleeping---clothes.---All---of---this---was---done---extremely---quickly,---accurately,---and---without---waking---Isabelle---up.