Bandits (1)

Ragnar noticed a small girl approaching him in the village. She seemed nervous, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her dress as she edged closer. He greeted her with a gentle smile.

"Are you lost, little miss?"

The girl hesitated, her eyes darting back and forth. "Uhmm... uhmm... uhmmm..."

Ragnar tried to put her at ease. "What's your name, missy?"

The girl took a moment to gather her courage. "I'm Nala," she finally replied.

"So, little Nala, what did you want to ask me?" Ragnar asked, crouching down to her level to seem less intimidating.

"Uhmm... Is mister a bad guy?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

Ragnar was taken aback. He wondered where she might have gotten that impression, then remembered that when he first arrived, the villagers had surrounded him with farm tools, treating him like a threat. He chuckled wryly. "You can call me Ragnar. And no, I'm not a bad guy. I promise."

Nala's face lit up with a smile. It was the first time she'd shown any sign of happiness since approaching him.

"Do you have other questions?" he asked, trying to engage her. She nodded eagerly.

"Are there big bad monsters in the forest?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Ragnar nodded. "Oh, definitely! I once fought a big, bad wolf with flaming manes—" He began to recount his encounter with the flame wolf, adding a touch of flair to make the story more exciting. Nala's eyes grew wider with each sentence.

"Wow! Big bro is awesome!" she exclaimed; her enthusiasm clear in her voice.

"Hehe, aren't I? Don't worry—you can be like big bro one day. Just grow up quickly and always listen to your parents," he said, playfully ruffling her hair.

Nala's smile faded as her eyes dropped to the ground. "But I don't have mom or dad. I lost my dad last week when the bad guys came."

Ragnar's heart sank. This little girl was the daughter of one of the villagers killed by bandits. He gently patted her head and said, "I'm sorry, Nala. But you still have your nanny, right? If you listen to her and be a good girl, you'll grow up strong, just like big bro."

"Yes!" she said, nodding earnestly.

"Good. Now, go back to your nanny. I'm sure she's worried about you." Ragnar suggested.

"Uhm! Bye-bye, big bro!" Nala waved as she ran off toward her home.

Ragnar watched her go, a heavy feeling settling in his chest. This world was harsh, and only the strong could protect what they loved. He resolved to get stronger, not just for himself but for the innocent people like Nala who depended on others for safety.

Suddenly, a scream echoed from the center of the village. Ragnar's instincts kicked in, and he sprinted toward the commotion. As he arrived, he saw a group of bandits causing chaos—harassing the villagers, destroying property, and looting whatever they could find. The villagers fought back with farming tools, but they were clearly outmatched. The bandits seemed to enjoy toying with their victims, taking their time to inflict as much fear as possible.

Ragnar wasn't a hero, but he couldn't stand by and do nothing. He saw the village chief, Elder Moran, struggling to hold his ground against a bandit. The old man was slow, and the bandit was laughing at his feeble attempts to fight back. Ragnar spotted a machete on the ground and quickly grabbed it. He stealthily approached the bandit and delivered a quick slash to his back, causing the man to drop to his knees in pain.

Ragnar didn't hesitate. He delivered a swift strike to the bandit's neck, ending his life. A small notification appeared in his vision.

[+17 Soul Points]

Ragnar frowned. Why didn't he feel anything? It was as if killing had become a natural reflex. He shook off the unsettling thought and focused on the situation at hand. He scanned the area and saw that there were still four bandits left, along with their leader, a rank one awakened. The villagers were trying to hold their ground, but they were being pushed back.

Elder Moran, breathing heavily, turned to Ragnar and said, "Thank you, young man. But there's an awakened among them. We can't hold out much longer. You should run while you can."

Ragnar could see the villagers' resolve to fight, even though they were clearly overpowered. He took a deep breath, considering his options. He knew facing a rank one was risky, but he had a plan. He quickly explained it to Elder Moran, who initially thought it was a suicide mission but eventually agreed. At this point, they had little to lose.

"What are you all doing? Kill that boy! He's taken down two of our men!" the bandit leader shouted.

The remaining four bandits instantly charged toward Ragnar. Everyone thought he'd be overwhelmed, but to Ragnar, it felt like he was seeing in slow motion. His senses were heightened, and his reflexes were sharp. He dodged the first attack with ease, tilting his shoulder just enough to let an axe swing past him. As the bandit stumbled, Ragnar struck back with a quick slash to the neck, taking him down.

'One down, three to go,' he thought.

The remaining three bandits grew angrier at seeing their comrade fall. Two of them charged at Ragnar from opposite sides, hoping to trap him. Ragnar quickly maneuvered behind one of them, pushing him into the other. In the confusion, Ragnar plunged his machete into the first bandit's chest and then snapped the second bandit's neck with swift precision. It all happened in a matter of seconds.

[+34 Soul Points]

The last bandit hesitated, realizing he'd picked the wrong fight. That brief moment of uncertainty was all Ragnar needed to charge toward him, tackle him to the ground, and pierce his head with the machete.

[+17 Soul Points]

Ragnar stood up and swung his weapon to clear the blood. His gaze was cold, almost as if he were a different person. He knew he still had to deal with the rank-one bandit leader, but the odds were better now that the others were taken down.

He glanced around, searching for the last enemy. This might be his biggest challenge yet, but he felt ready for it. He then called out, "Status Window."