Heck

Flames started to erupt around the bandits from the dry grass that was coated in lighter fluid. The flames quickly jumped up to waist height and the bandits shrunk back out of fear. Fire was almost always a universal sign of danger in large quantities. It means destruction and chaos, yet when tamed to a small campfire or a bonfire it could be one of the most comforting things in the world.

In this case, it was the latter one that the bandits saw. They had all raided a village at least once, and they had usually set things on fire while pillaging. So looking at the grass next to them that burned with an abnormal flare, they quickly backed up scared. The only time fire was burning this big was when there was a large amount of stuff being burnt. They were no way the could jump into those flames and hope that they landed on the grass.

The bandits started to imagine the rest of the valley was completely burnt up, they didn't know how they were able to set everything on fire so quickly though unless they had a fire mage, but even then they would struggle to create this large amount of fire in a short amount of time.

The hooded figure then immediately thought about the one fire mage that could easily do this sort of thing. Cold sweat went down his back as he thought of her. The fire started to approach the bandit army threatening to swallow them up in its flames.

The hooded figure next to him waved his saber and shouted to the bandits

"let's go, unless you want to be charred alive"

The bandits all started to run away as fast as they could from what they thought was a sea of flames. From the bandits on foot to the bandits that were riding on horses, they all went as quickly as their mount of legs could carry them. To the front where they could see something besides the wall of flames that started to get steadily bigger and bigger.

The dagger-wielding figure rode on his horse, his brain started to quickly run through the list of people who were able to create an entire sea of flames like what he assumed to be on the outside.

The only one that was closest was the lady of the rose knights, and if she personally appeared, well they were screwed anyway.

The hooded figure tried to get himself out of the scary thoughts and rode on with the bandits behind him.

Jason couldn't see through all of the smoke and fire. But with his map, he could locate their positions, everything was in position, it had cost him allot and he was pretty sure the cashiers of the stores he had been to had labeled him as an arsonist for the literal bucket tons of lighter fluid he had bought.

As first he only wanted to use the tools he had currently, but then Boops just asked him

"Why aren't you getting stuff from the real world? isn't that sorta a cheat in of itself?"

Jason remembered raising his head and hugging the nearest wolf as his simple plans of making a simple pit with spikes in it, became a more elaborate one with, well more pits and spikes. He was still pretty limited on resources huh.

Thankfully the cost for the lighter fluid and shovels for the green barrack members to dig with were paid for by the investments Boops had poured into the MH company. Already the value of the company had doubled and Jason and Boops were racking in the money.

He created a large buffering zone so that the fire couldn't spread throughout the valley. But with the lighter fluid, it was more than enough to give a big flame. The flames burned brightly and Jason was able to lead the bandits to where he wanted them to be.

At the city gates of Muno, the entire rose knight platoon was laid out, even though they had just run for 3 or so days straight right after battling the bandits and another large march. They were still up after an hour or so of rest. In fact, most of them didn't even seem tired at all, if you took one aside and ask them why they could do this sort of thing, they would sadly answer with a trembling expression on their face,

"I've lived a month in a simulation fighting off monsters and running away from the stronger ones I only had my weapons and the clothes on my back. This is nothing."

The platoon went into their standard formation the red barrack was the tanks with their bulky forms and large shields and would be the vanguard that would first collide with the enemy.

The green barrack members were more specialized in reconnaissance and the majority of their members were skilled long-ranged archers.

The blue barrack was a mix of the red and green barrack, they were the allrounders which was why some of them were even magic swordsmen, one of the most adaptable classes. They with their long swords guarded the flanks ready to assist the red barrack or defend the green.

The bandits approached quickly, they only saw the city gates and the flames behind them. The platoon that was in front of them and the gates was only a small fleeting thing on their minds.

The dagger-wielding figure reached into his belt and pulled out what looked to be a black sphere. He carefully palmed it in his left and waited.

The fire had claimed the lives of several bandits and some of them were still wheezing after taking in to much smoke.

Out of desperation the bandits charged with their swords and axes raised high above their heads. The rose knights' reputation of the strongest knighthood in the country wasn't on their minds. They jumped towards the rose knights like vicious animals and the rose knights didn't move at the loud and chaotic charge of the bandits but in the back, you could hear the audible sound of bowstrings being drawn.

Back on the cliff, Jason watched the events unfold, the fires started to slowly die down leaving a burnt rectangle in the center of the valley. The ground there looked completely scorched.

The bandits realized that they were tricked when they were already embroiled in a skirmish with the rose knights.

Jason could hear Boops ask him in a concerned voice

'dude, shouldn't you help the rose knights?'

Jason shook his head

"na, I've spent what? weeks? months? with them, the strength of that NPC unit is something that will be etched into my heart for a long time. Plus they are the strongest knighthood so they won't get beaten by some bandits"

Boops paused and asked

'Well, what's the point of making all of these traps then if the rose knights are going to win this skirmish even without your help?, oh wait nevermind I think I know why'

Jason answered without any hesitation

"yup Exp, and loot"

Boops laughed

'yeah, I should have seen that coming mile away anyways let's just enjoy the show'

Jason turned his eyes to the front of the gate where the two forces were skirmishing.

The red barrack members weren't giving the bandits an inch. They stood firm with their ginormous shields everyone of the bandits struggled to get past them. Occasionally one of the red barrack members would swing his shield blasting a few bandits back. The bandits wailed as they were faced with the insurmountable wall of the barrack members.

The twang and the sight of arrows flying into the sky to arc down at the bandit's heads were very common to see. Most of the bandits had no armor so they were easily taken down by the arrows.

Whenever a group of bandits decided to circle around the platoon of rose knights, a furious charge by longsword wielding trainees would await them. Driving them back and leaving many of them wounded. The city archers helped too adding to the rain of arrows the green barrack members were creating.

Most of the bandits that were currently charging though seemed to be cannon fodder, and Jason could see in the back behind where all of the fightings were, were 2 hooded figure surrounded by about 400 mounted bandits most of them were wearing armor and looked more like soldiers than actual bandits.

Jason looked at that group for a while and thought to himself as he munched on some jerky

"that's totally going be a final boss sorta thing right?"

'you said it, not me'

Jason called out to the wolves that were relaxing next to him after a long day of running and digging

"Alright, we're heading down"

The group of figures walked towards the gate and to where the group of armored bandits stood with gleaming swords and large shields. The hooded figure seemed to look at Jason and give him a deep and dark glare.