Bailout Failed

Meanwhile, inside the cave, the bandits are hacking away at the debris to escape where the majority of the group were exhausted by clearing the debris.

"This...this might take longer than a day." one of the bandits said, panting.

"Yeah, these rocks are heavy and hard to crack."

"At least there are no monsters around here. But most of us are at least rank C."

The bandits stopped mining and remember when they were clearing out monsters for their hideout, led by Zaneth. They stepped back to sit on the ground to catch their breath.

"Let's take a breather...we'll get it done, but it ain't gonna be today." one of the bandits groaned, staggering from fatigue. He hung his head in exhaustion until he heard heavy footsteps and shifting armor. The bandit stood straight and became wide-eyed as if fatigue was blown away.

"Is it not finished?" Zaneth said with an irritated expression on his face.

"N-no sir. I did say it'll take more than a day." the bandit said with a nervous smile.

"Then how long? A week? A month?" Zaneth asked impatiently with faint growling from his voice.

The bandit has no answer for it.

Zaneth's expression became angry and the lion's growl became more evident. His patience has run out.

"I do not have time for this!" Zaneth yelled.

*Shing!*

Zaneth pulled out a greatsword from his back sheath. The greatsword has a brown hilt and hand guard, a lion's head at the very base, and the double-edged blade with the red edges and white center.

Zaneth began emitting a pale red aura around him. This alerted the bandits immediately and began running.

"Arzus, Fredrick, Grundel, and Eidra are missing and so is my Rock Bull!" Zaneth growled as he raises his greatsword.

"Boss Zaneth has gotten serious! Take cover!" one of the bandits yelled.

"Once I find who did it..." Zaneth's aura surged violently

"THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY!" Zaneth roared and swung his blade downwards.

The blade covered in his red aura released a large wave of aura at the rubble. The bandits braced for impact, waiting for the imminent explosion.

*BOOOOM!!*

{Meanwhile...}

*Clack!*

A noise was heard despite the massacre from the two crows, but I was focused on observing the battle which I didn't notice.

But Hyoran did, Hyroan's right ear twitched which caused her to turn around to look at the buried entrance. On surface level, there were no difference in any way, making it easy to dismiss it, but her instincts as a Beastkin says otherwise.

She quickly runs over to the buried entrance to listen for it again. Very faintly, she hears heavy footsteps. She presses her ear next to the rocks and suddenly...

*Thooom!*

A low thud was heard, it was loud enough for her to yelp in surprise as she was pressing her sensitive wolf ear against it. Hyoran wanted to think she was hearing things, but before she get's close, her tail began to stiffen and the hairs began to spike.

She began to sprint back to warn the bad news.

"Kain!!" Hyoran yelled.

"What is it!? What's wrong?!" I asked with urgency, I looked at Hyoran's panicked face that she is sensing danger.

*Crumble...*

*Breep! Breep!*

[Warning. Powerful hostile detected.]

Shit, already!? That Zaneth guy must've no doubt heard the battle going on since he is a Beastkin. Back in one of these games before the MMO, there was a bug where one of Zaneth's skills lets him chase you down to the ends of the earth unless you kill him first, teleport to a different realm, or die.

"Get on Zala's back." I said. I ran towards the buried entrance and saw the rubble move.

"Not on my watch, kitty cat." I said.

I launched a defensive Tier VII Earth Magic Spell, Stone Wall Phalanx to erect a spiked rock wall and modified it to point the spikes at the entrance. Next, I rigged it to blow with my Tier III Fire Magic Spell, Explosion if the wall were to break. Lastly, a few Tier II trap spells, Heat Mine in front of the walls.

*Rumble....*

"Everyone scatter! We're done here!" I yelled while running. I jumped on Zala and she started sprinting downwards, back to where we came from. "Vampa, Burya, Groza, buy us some time!"

Gris, Noire, Mavros, Schwarze, and Viridesca scattered to every direction away from the cave to make them think they're monsters of their own.

*CRUMBLE!*

*BOOOM!!*

The entrance exploded outwards towards my stone wall.

*BOOOOM!!!*

My wall was destroyed instantly, but I expected it to happen. I never intended to fight Zaneth in the first place.

*KA-BOOOM!!*

Good, he stepped onto the Heat Mines. I just needed Vampa, Burya and Groza to hold him back for us to make some distance.

*BREEP BREEP!*

[Warning. Incoming attack from behind.]

What!? But he stepped on the mines! Unless...oh crap.

*Vyooom!*

A red energy wave began chasing us while I am riding Zala. I jumped behind Hyoran and took out my Red Moon Halberd to intercept.

Concerned for their safety, I jumped off of Zala's back towards the energy wave. Hyoran looked back and noticed I'm going to jump off.

I imbue my halberd with Dark Magic, jumped off, and struck at it.

*KYZOOOM!!!*

A red flash exploded upon impact. My Dark Magic evaporated at the wake of the red light as it is obviously stronger...way stronger. Oh fuck, it's too strong!

*BOOOOM!!*

I was sent through the air, above the trees. I still have my Halberd in my hand, but the worse part is, Zaneth has no doubt spotted me.

*Whoosh!*

I see Zaneth with his mane flowing rapidly from the wind as he matches the altitude of me flying in the air. Without hesitation, he swings down his blade.

In response, I go on the defensive and tried to block it with my halberd.

*CLANG!!*

I blocked it, but the force from his strike flung me downwards to the ground.

*CRASH!!*

I crashed into the ground hard, causing craters upon impact. I rolled and tumbled, kicking up dust and skid to a stop.

I tried to stand up, but I stumble clumsily as if my legs are noodles. I look down to see my legs are in angles that are not supposed to be in and bent in many places.

[Caution. Both legs are fractured.]

[Now regenerating...]

"Kain! Are you alright!?" Hyoran said with telepathy.

"I'm fine, get back to the city!" I told to Hyoran.

*Thooom!*

Zaneth landed on the ground with his feet and stood over me. He looks just as I remembered. Golden mane attached to his beard, orange eyes, muscular body, towering stature. He gots it.

But the most important part, he has that red and black spartan-like armor, his belt having the head of a lion painted gold, and his red cape. Let's not forget that greatsword of his!

Brown metal handle, a pommel with a lion's head, the base of the blade having the lion's head and the six foot long double edged blade with red edges surrounding a white center.

"Lionheart." I said under my breath.

Zaneth walked towards me and points his giant blade at me and looked at me with a gaze of anger mixed with composure. He almost looked regal in the sunlight shining upon him.

"Check his stats, system."

[Checking...completed.]

Damn, of course it is Weapon Ki. It is a different form of magic for those who cannot use typical magic. Now for the weapon named Lionheart.

My first Legendary weapon up close...it's still amazes me even after 10 years here. Lionheart is a Legendary weapon that has a 10% drop rate upon killing him. 5% on getting a Mythical grade.

Zaneth began speaking to me, with his sword still pointing at me.

"So, you're the one who caused all this?" Zaneth said in a deep voice.

Fuck, every time he talks, he puts a wide smile on my face. So deep, commanding, and mature. Hell, girls who play this game simps for this dude. Even Ashley, despite her stoic demeanor.

"Who knows?" I said as I look up at him while sitting in a pretzel position. "It was the monsters."

Zaneth's eyes widened on how my voice is not trembling in fear. Most low ranked adventurers and even knights fear this man on how he dominates the battlefield.

"You even managed to block my strikes twice, you're no ordinary child, human." Zaneth said.

Of course, because of his sense of smell as a Beastkin, he can depict who's who. Well, no point in hiding...for now.

Now...how do I get out of this situation?