ii - A Blade for Every Betrayal

Months later, X descended upon the village. Vallei's wings kicked up clouds of dust as they landed, the dragon now grown to the size of a horse, her feathers rippling in the breeze. With graceful motion, Vallei lowered herself, making it easier for X to dismount. X moved fluidly, her hand reaching for the massive sword strapped to Vallei's saddle. The hand, now fully regenerated, bore no trace of its previous injury—not even a scar remained.

The sword itself, forged by Korin from the rare Ethral ore X had retrieved from the perilous mountains, was a monstrous creation. Nearly as tall as a Thrydian and just as wide, its thickness made it clear—this was no ordinary weapon. Only someone of X's immense strength could hope to wield such a blade.

As she slung the sword over her back, Korin approached, wiping the sweat from his brow after an intense training session. "Anything out there?" he asked, his voice hopeful yet steady, his eyes searching X's face for any sign of trouble.

X shook her head. "Nothing today," she replied, her tone calm but vigilant.

Korin smiled, though a hint of concern lingered in his gaze. "You know, you don't have to do this alone."

X's expression softened, appreciating his words. "I know," she said, glancing around the village. "But I wouldn't be out there if I didn't believe you and the others could handle things back here."

The village had transformed dramatically over the past few months. Wooden walls now surrounded the settlement, with guard towers stationed at each corner. A watchtower stood proudly by the gate, keeping constant watch over their home. What was once a vulnerable village had become a well-fortified stronghold.

Their conversation was interrupted by a villager rushing toward them, slightly out of breath. "X, this is for you," the villager said, handing over a letter.

X unfolded it, her eyes quickly scanning the contents. "It's from the scouts," she said, her voice growing serious. "They've found the bandit camp."

Later that day, X and Korin met with the scouts, crouching behind thick brush as they observed the bandit camp from a distance.

Korin peered through a spyglass as he watched the bandits come into view.

"Looks like they've been busy," he muttered, as some bandits returned with two horse-drawn cages filled with captives rattling behind them, and a third carriage, likely packed with stolen loot, trailed behind.

"We can't just leave them like this."

X remained silent for a moment, her sharp gaze fixed on the bandits.

"No," she agreed, her voice low. "But rushing in now isn't an option."

A scout leaned in closer. "With this new group, there's about four dozen of them, heavily armed. They rotate shifts at night but keep only a few on guard."

Korin raised an eyebrow. "So, what's the plan? Wait until they're all asleep?"

X shook her head slightly. "Not just yet. We need to time this right to avoid risking the captives."

As night fell, the bandits erupted into celebration, their guard lowered by drunken revelry. Meanwhile, X and Korin sat together, eating their rations while the scouts kept watch on the bandit camp.

X seemed lost in thought as she started at the night sky.

"I don't know if you've heard," Korin began casually, glancing at X, "but some of the villagers think you were sent by the gods."

X looked at Korin in shock before bursting into laughter. "Wait, what? Is that why they keep making me meals? Hold on..." She gasped, her eyes widening in mock horror. "Are those offerings?"

Korin chuckled, shaking his head. "Could just be their way of saying thanks."

"Yeah, and I appreciate it," X replied, her tone shifting as her gaze hardened. "That's why every one of those bandits needs to suffer for what they did."

Korin's expression grew serious. "What if she's... you know..."

X cut him off with a firm voice. "Don't even think about that."

Korin laughed, the mood lightening. "You're right. Let's go relieve the scouts."

They stood and approached the scouts to switch shifts, ready to continue their watch over the camp.

Just before dawn, X, Korin, and two of the scouts infiltrated the bandit camp. The camp was eerily quiet, save for the occasional crackling of dying embers from the bandits' fires. Many of the bandits were sprawled out, slumped over tables or lying beside their tents, drunk from the night's revelry.

"We'll split up here," X whispered, her sharp gaze scanning the camp. "Korin, take one scout to the cages. I'll head for the bandit chief's quarters with the other."

Korin nodded, meeting X's gaze with a reassuring smile. "Be careful out there."

X offered a small smile in return. "I know you've been training hard. Don't let it go to your head."

Korin chuckled softly. "It's a little too late for that."

With a final nod, they parted ways. Korin led one scout toward the back of the camp, where the makeshift prison was hidden. They moved stealthily, avoiding the scattered, drunken bandits. They soon reached the prison, a crude metal structure with barred windows.

Korin crouched low and peered through the bars. Inside, a group of prisoners huddled together, their faces marked by dirt and bruises.

"Stay low," Korin instructed the scout, then turned his attention to the prisoners. "We're here to free you. Is anyone from the village in the mountains?"

A gaunt man with hollow eyes shook his head. "No… they took us from Dawncreak," he rasped. "We've been moving for over a week."

Korin frowned but remained focused. "We'll get you out anyway. Stay quiet."

The prisoners exchanged glances of disbelief as Korin deftly worked on the lock with a small tool. A weak-voiced woman asked, "You're really freeing us?"

Korin's hands didn't falter. "We don't leave anyone behind."

With a soft click, the lock gave way. Korin signaled for the scout to help the prisoners. "Let's move quickly and quietly."

The group started to slip out of the prison, making their way toward the tree line. But Korin suddenly froze, hearing voices approaching.

He pulled everyone behind a stack of crates just as two bandits appeared, dragging two battered women behind them.

"Boss keeps all the best for himself," one bandit grumbled, his voice thick with bitterness. "We do all the work, and he hoards the prime loot."

"Yeah," the second bandit replied with a scoff. "He always saves the best for his 'special buyers.'"

The first bandit spat on the ground. "He's untouchable in his own mind. Wouldn't kill him to share a bit more."

"Good luck challenging him," the second bandit muttered, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "I'll stay out of it."

They laughed as they dragged the women closer to the cages, but then the first bandit stopped abruptly, his gaze narrowing at the empty cages.

"Wait… something's not right."

The two bandits dropped the women and rushed over to inspect the empty cages.

"They've escaped!" one bandit yelled, panic rising in his voice. "Sound the alarm!"

The camp erupted into chaos. A shrill horn pierced the air, rousing the remaining bandits from their stupor. Korin cursed under his breath as the drunken bandits scrambled for their weapons.

"We're out of time!" Korin hissed to the scout, drawing his crossbow. "Get ready for a fight!"

Sometime earlier, in another part of the camp, X arrived at the bandit chief's quarters, a trail of slain bandits marking her path. He lay sprawled on a large bed, snoring loudly, two women—likely captives—beside him, their hands bound. X's steps were quiet but filled with purpose as she approached, her eyes cold with unwavering intent.

Without hesitation, she grabbed him by the collar and yanked him awake. His bleary, drunken eyes struggled to focus on her.

"Who...?" he mumbled, too disoriented to register the danger he was in.

X, uninterested in waiting, raised her massive sword and, without another word, swung it down. The blade severed his leg cleanly at the knee, slicing through flesh and bone with ease and driving deep into the ground. His leg fell to the floor with a dull thud, blood pouring from the wound.

The bandit chief's scream shattered the silence of the room. The women cowered in fear, scrambling to the corner as he writhed in pain. At that moment, the horn sounded, signaling that Korin's group was in trouble.

"Do you remember attacking my village?" X asked, unbothered by the alarm.

The warlord, drenched in sweat and agony, stammered through his shock. "I—I don't know! We hit so many villages—I can't—"Before he could finish, a group of bandits rushed into the room. X's attention snapped toward them. To her surprise, they were armed with plasma rifles, technology she believed was foreign to the Thrydians.

With practiced ease, X maneuvered her sword deflecting the plasma shots aimed at her. Sparks flew as each blast bounced off the enormous blade. In seconds, she cut them down, their bodies crumpling to the floor. She turned to the scout at her side.

"Guard the door."

The scout nodded and took position, while X returned her attention to the bandit chief, who was now clutching the bloody stump where his leg had been. His breath came in ragged gasps as he tried to comprehend what had just happened.

X approached him, her towering presence overshadowing his prone form. This time, she placed her sword lightly against his other knee, showing him exactly what she planned to cut next. The weight of the blade alone was enough to make him squirm in terror.

"You attacked my village," X said, her voice colder than ever. "But you don't seem to remember."

"I—I don't know! We raided so many!" he cried, his voice shaking.

At his words, X's patience evaporated. With a swift motion, she slammed the sword down, piercing through his leg and driving the blade deep into the ground. The sheer force of it severed the limb clean off, blood splattering across the floor. The bandit chief let out a guttural scream, his body convulsing from the pain.

X didn't give him the chance to scream again. She stepped forward and placed the tip of her sword in his mouth, silencing him instantly.

"When I take this sword out," X said, her voice dangerously low, "the only thing I want to hear is who gave you those weapons."

The warlord's eyes bulged with terror, his breath shallow as he nodded frantically, doing everything he could to stop the shaking.

"S-Sancuster! The kingdom of Sancuster gave us the weapons!" he stammered, spitting out the words as quickly as he could. "I—I provide them with captives! I swear, I don't know what happens to them after that, I swear on my mother! Please, I'm telling the truth!"

X watched him for a moment, her gaze unflinching. "So you sell people," she muttered, more to herself than to him. The warlord's pleading continued, his words growing more desperate. But X had no more interest in what he had to say. With one clean motion, she sliced through his head, leaving only his jaw intact, while the rest of his head rolled away.

X wiped the blood from her sword, calmly sheathed it, and walked out of the room without sparing the corpse another glance.

X exited the leader's quarters and followed the sound of plasma fire. As she emerged into the camp's main area, she was met with a grim scene—bodies of both prisoners and bandits lay scattered across the ground. Among the fallen was the scout who had been with Korin, his lifeless form slumped against a wrecked cart.

Korin, wielding a plasma rifle, was entrenched behind a stack of firewood with the surviving prisoners. The makeshift cover was partially ablaze from the barrage of plasma shots streaking through the air. Plasma fire illuminated the early morning sky with searing light.

X swiftly moved to flank the bandits, her sword gleaming in the chaos. She struck from the side, catching the bandits off guard. With their lines broken by X's sudden attack, Korin and the prisoners seized the opportunity to finish off the remaining enemies.

"I'm sorry I was delayed," X said, sheathing her sword as she surveyed the fallen prisoners.

Korin, catching his breath, replied, "You made it in time. We can't always save everyone."

The surviving prisoners, visibly shaken but safe, approached X and Korin with expressions of deep gratitude. A young woman, her face bruised, stepped forward. "Thank you… both of you. We owe you our lives."

X nodded, her stern expression softening. "You're safe now. That's what matters."

After a brief pause, X addressed Korin. "Let's gather what we can and leave. We shouldn't linger here any longer."

They began to collect anything of value from the wreckage. The scout, burdened with the loot—comprising weapons, armor, and gold—set off toward the village at a brisk pace.

X turned to the prisoners. "We'll escort you back to your village. It's safer that way."

Korin adjusted his plasma rifle and nodded. "Let's get moving. The sooner we get you home, the better."

With that, X and Korin led the weary prisoners away from the ruined camp, making their way toward the distant village of Dawncreak as the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon.