Chapter 3: The Hunt & The Birth of Monster Blades

Jaxon was born in the Promia-Midgar Kingdom, a powerhouse among nations. It was formed when Queen Beatrix Midgar and Queen Lucia Promia married, uniting their two kingdoms after their husbands died fighting the Demon Dragon King.

Promia specialized in magic, boasting the strongest arcane army in the world, while Midgar was home to elite magic knights—many of whom were chosen to slay demon kings and other rising threats.

Jaxon lived in Velzano, the new capital of the United Kingdom. The city was beautiful—or so the merchants and traders said. Jaxon wouldn't know.

He lived in the slums, near the Outer Wall, in the forest district.

Velzano was divided into several rings based on class. The Upper Ring housed the nobility and the rich, the Middle Ring was for skilled workers and merchants, and the Lower Ring was where the poor and struggling lived. The Outer Wall, where Jaxon resided, was home to the worst of it—slums, refugee districts, and neglected outposts.

His particular area reminded him of Texas—flatlands, scorching heat, and wild beasts that could kill you before breakfast.

But that was fine.

Because Jaxon had a goal.

And to achieve it, he needed money, power, and influence.

His next step was clear. He had to gather enough resources to form his own mercenary guild, one powerful enough to hunt and defeat the world's strongest monsters. He needed to train, research, and build connections. He needed to get stronger, smarter, and richer.

-----

Muttering to himself, Jaxon decided, "Let's hunt some animals for now." It was the sixth day of the week, so he hunted animals and magic beasts to sell back in the market.

All animals and magic beasts have magic power in them, even though it's of a paltry amount, as Passive Detection can detect them. Hunting is still hunting, so a bow and some hunting dogs. Every day, Jaxon finds that this world and Earth share many similar things, from animals to even plants.

Because it was the hottest time of year, Axis deer and wild game birds were on the menu for today's hunt. This year was something special.

Bandits raid merchant deer meat shipments for Promia-Midgar Kingdom guards. Doing some investigation and having the Wild Dogs track some leads him to a makeshift camp for the bandits.

Jaxon had avoided gangs and criminals, but now was the perfect time to use his new weapon. Contrary to the games he had read, the world's people did not use monster components in their weaponry. People find iron and other metals in dungeons and monster lairs.

He can't really blame them for not using them as materials. The process of disassembling monster parts was worse than that of animals and magic beasts.

Plus, Jaxon hates bandits and will fight them with open arms. It's not like the guards or magic knights would find them soon.

The standard for bandits is for the villages around the kingdom to deal with them on their own, while the magic knights handle genuine threats, like Orc invasions, monster floods from the dungeons, and wild beast attacks. The magic knights are too busy to deal with minor threats, like bandits and goblins. But most of them, they get away with their actions and commit more crimes.

Congrats, villains; today you will meet your end with Jaxon's new weapon. The monster blades. It took months of experimenting and equipment to make simple D-rank weapons.

Contrary to the fantasy games and books Jaxon had read in his past life, the people in this world did not use monster parts in their weaponry. Instead, they relied on iron and rare dungeon metals found in monster lairs.

Jaxon couldn't blame them. Disassembling monster parts was ten times harder than cleaning a regular animal or magic beast. The process was disgusting, tedious, and, if done wrong, dangerous.

He even made his own weapon grading system: It starts from F all to SSS. Each rank had sub-ranks of minus (-), regular, and plus (+) to refine the quality differences. 

The process begins with shaping the weapon by blacksmithing, or, if it's wood, by deepening its bows, arrows, and hammers with woodworking procedures. Soak the mold in slime liquid and grind down the magic core about the monster slain. Everyone uses magic in this world, even the beasts; some metals can conduct mana well, while most cannot.

Iron, the standard method, has a 40% mana conductivity rate. Even a Mithril sword has a whooping 55% mana conductivity, which is just sad to Jaxon.

At the tender age of eight, Jaxon killed some slime monsters. It was easy as hell. Just put mana into your fist and crush them. Firing magic was a no-go because of the slime's known magic resistance. Thanking a guess, he coated an iron sword in slime goo, and the conductivity rate went to 100 percent. Then the sword broke after a few swings through a Raptor pack.

So he bottled different types of slimes into bottles for weapon smithing. After soaking the mold, he shapes the metal using the standard blacksmithing process—heating, hammering, and refining. But what made his Monster Blades different was the infusion process, something no blacksmith in this world had even attempted.

Instead of simply cooling the weapon in water or oil, he submerged it into a slime-infused solution, allowing the monster essence to bond with the metal. This step alone increased the weapon's mana conductivity and durability, but he didn't stop there.

The next phase was material infusion.

Each weapon type required different monster parts to enhance its properties. Over time, Jaxon learned how to extract the best components to create superior weapons. Well, from the monster's rank, F and D. 

There is a process for the D-rank weapons standard. 

Slime Cores: The base for all his weapons. They increased mana conductivity to 100%, but the downside was that the weapons became fragile without reinforcement. So using slime jelly, which is wild because regular slime monsters are already jelly-like, but the process was a pain in the ass. 

So a slime jelly sheath or slime jelly inline quiver is always needed. 

D-rank carnivorous bird Gunner Beak Feathers enhanced arrows and blades, giving them a natural piercing ability that surpassed regular steel.

Iron Fang Wolf Teeth. This slightly improved the durability of all weapons, reducing the rate at which they dulled.

Mud Tortoise Shell Powder. Mixing crushed material into the coolant slightly increased weapon durability, lessening wear and tear.

Moss Boar Hide. Boiling and treating it yielded superior handle grips with improved wet grip.

Raptor appendages, as in the ending process, these slightly improved edge retention and cutting power.

The last step was stabilizing the mana flow.

Early on, Jaxon learned that monster-infused weapons were too unstable without a mana circulation pattern. His first few swords overloaded and shattered after absorbing too much mana.

He engraved shallow mana channels into the metal to fix this, creating a pathway for energy to flow smoothly. This allowed him to prevent mana surges while ensuring the weapon didn't fall apart after just a few swings.

After forging the weapon, he hardened it, reheating and quenching it in a mix of slime liquid, powdered monster bone, and mana-infused water.

Mana stones were not that expensive or hard to find. They came from magic beasts which were regular animals, just enhanced with mana. 

The result?

A weapon that was stronger than normal iron, conducted mana far better than any standard blade, and had minor special effects based on the monster materials used.

Jaxon held the finished short sword in his hands.

This wasn't a masterpiece.

It wasn't even B-rank or C-rank.

But for a twelve-year-old using F-rank and D-rank materials, this was a damn suitable weapon.

axon couldn't rely on weapons alone. He needed armor.

Since metal armor was expensive, heavy, and required higher-tier materials than he had access to, he opted for lightweight, flexible protection made from monster hides, bones, and reinforced leather—materials he could hunt and process himself.

The first step was selecting the right materials. Not all monster parts were useful for armor, and some hides were too stiff, too brittle, or too weak to offer proper protection. After months of trial and error, Jaxon had figured out the best combinations that balanced durability, flexibility, and weight.

The first step was using slime jelly as a lined coating for the armor. He had originally tried making a slime bodysuit, hoping it would act as a second skin, providing shock absorption, flexibility, and minor magic resistance.

That experiment failed epically.

The slime dried out too fast without constant mana use and the rate it ate mana was too much. When dried it becames sticky in the heat, and worst of all, smelled horrible after a few hours of use. It also made it impossible to move properly, restricting his joints like half-dried glue.

So instead, Jaxon modified the process, using slime jelly as a thin lining inside the armor, preventing it from stiffening over time while keeping it flexible and resistant to water and heat.

With the base set, the next step was reinforcing the outer layers.

So instead, Jaxon modified the process, using slime jelly as a thin lining inside the armor, preventing it from stiffening over time while keeping it flexible and resistant to water and heat.

With the base set, the next step was reinforcing the outer layers using sea monster materials.

He started with Tide Serpent Hide, a thick but flexible material that was naturally water-resistant and provided decent slash resistance. Though not as tough as land monster leather, it was lightweight and perfect for mobility.

For additional protection, he layered small plates of Sand Crab Shell across the chest and back. A full shell was too heavy, but when cut into overlapping plates, it provided solid impact resistance while still allowing movement.

Jaxon reinforced his arms and legs with Razor Clam Shells, which had a natural edge resistance, making them decent bracers and shin guards. The shells were light but strong, making them perfect for blocking attacks.

For cushioning impacts, he lined the inside with Sea Otter Fur, which absorbed blunt force well, reducing the risk of bruising and muscle fatigue. The fur also had a natural insulating property, keeping him warm in cold waters or storms.

Finally, he coated the outer layer of the armor with Coral Slime Extract, a special liquid from mana-infused coral slimes. This gave the armor a hardened, glossy finish, making it resistant to minor fire-based attacks and some magic damage. The slime also had a self-repairing property, meaning small cuts or tears in the armor could mend themselves over time.

After securing everything with kelp-woven bindings, Jaxon tested his movements—his speed was unaffected, his balance unchanged, and his strikes still precise. 

Now it was time to test his new gear in actual combat.

He set out toward the bandit camp with his monster-forged hunting knife strapped to his waist and his new Monster Blade in hand.

The tracks his Wild Dogs found led deep into the dense forest, far from any patrol routes.

It's a perfect place for slaughter.

Jaxon wasn't a hero. He wasn't a knight. But bandits deserved no mercy.

His grip tightened around his weapon.

Time to see if his invention could handle its first proper battle.

----

Jaxon's heart raced as he crept closer, the sounds of raucous laughter and clinking bottles growing louder. He gripped his dagger, muscles tense, ready to strike at any moment. Shadows danced around the flickering fire, concealing the faces of the ruthless outlaws. With a deep breath, Jaxon prepared to unleash his fury upon the unsuspecting bandits.

Crouched behind a fallen log, he observed them through Mana Sight. He counted sixteen men, most lounging around a poorly built campfire, laughing and drinking as though they didn't have a care in the world.

A few were standing guard, lazy, distracted, and completely unaware that their night was about to turn into a nightmare.

Jaxon cracked his knuckles, feeling the the carange is about to begin. 

Jaxon didn't wait. He moved.

One of the guards barely had time to react before Jaxon's dagger slit his throat. The man collapsed with a gurgle, and before his body even hit the ground, Jaxon had already slipped into the camp, his steps silent on the damp forest floor.

Another bandit—drunk and half-asleep—turned just in time to see Jaxon's foot flying toward his face.

Crack.

His nose shattered, and he collapsed backward into the fire, screaming. Chaos erupted.

"What the hell?!"

"We're under attack!"

Jaxon grinned. He loved that part.

Three of them rushed at him. He met them head-on.

The first swung a club—Jaxon ducked low, sweeping his leg under the man's knees and sending him crashing onto his back. He rolled over him, using his weight as leverage to drive his dagger into the second bandit's gut. The man coughed blood, eyes wide with shock.

The third bandit managed to slash at him with a rusted sword, but his Razor Clam Bracers caught the blade, deflecting it with a sharp clang. Jaxon retaliated, slamming his reinforced knee into the man's ribs.

A sickening crunch. The bandit crumpled. The preteen stomp the next and it broke easy. 

The remaining men, now fully alert, spread out, surrounding him.

Good. That meant they weren't running.

Jaxon licked his lips and drew his short sword.

His Monster Blade, Short-Fang, felt light in his grip—almost an extension of his body. He lunged forward, slicing through the nearest man's thigh.

The bandit screamed, staggering back. Jaxon didn't give him time to recover. He pivoted, slamming the flat of his blade against another's head, knocking cracking his skull. 

One of them managed to swing at him from behind. He felt the impact against his back, but his Sea Beast Armor absorbed most of the blow. He twisted around and drove his blade into the man's shoulder, ripping it free in a spray of blood.

Ten down. Six to go.

The remaining bandits hesitated. Their bravado was gone, replaced by fear.

Jaxon chuckled. "Come on, now. You were all so confident a minute ago."

Two of them bolted.

Cowards.

Two daggers made sure they didn't escape too far.

That left four.

The largest of them, clearly the leader, growled and charged at him, wielding a massive greatsword. Jaxon met him head-on, raising his own blade to block. The force rattled his arms, but his Mud Tortoise Plating dispersed the impact.

He countered by kicking the man's knee inward, forcing him off balance. Then, with a quick twist of his wrist, Jaxon slashed across his chest, tearing through fabric and flesh.

The bandit leader gasped, clutching the wound. Not deep enough to kill, but enough to cripple.

The last three decided to rush him together.

Jaxon exhaled, tightening his grip. This was going to be close.

One of them swung an axe—he ducked, rolling to the side, but the second landed a punch against his ribs. He staggered, pain flaring up, but his armor held.

The third tried to stab him. Jaxon twisted, barely avoiding the blade. Too slow.

Pain bloomed in his side. A deep, searing cut.

He grit his teeth. He had previously experienced being stabbed. This was nothing.

Ignoring the pain, he retaliated with a quick backhand slash, severing one of their arms at the elbow. The man howled in agony.

Jaxon used the momentum to slam his forehead into the second attacker's skull. A sickening crack—he collapsed instantly.

That left only one.

The final bandit, breathing heavily, stumbled backward, dropping his weapon. His hands trembled as he looked around, seeing his fallen comrades.

Jaxon sighed, sheathing his blade. "Smart choice."

The man turned and ran.

Jaxon let him go.

Chances were that the coward would run straight to his boss and come back with reinforcements.

More loot for him.

So that was a real-life battle?

Kind of a letdown, really.

Jaxon shrugged, wiping the blood from his blade. He was expecting more of a challenge, but these bandits were sloppy, undisciplined, and weak. They relied too much on fear and numbers, but the moment things turned against them, they broke.

He kicked one of the bodies over, checking the man's gear. Rusty weapons, torn armor, and nothing of real value. He sighed. Figures.

Since he went through all the trouble, he might as well loot the entire camp. It's not like the bandits were going to need any of this anymore.

Jaxon ransacked the camp clean, turning over crates, sacks, and hidden compartments. These guys were scum, preying on the weak, so he had zero guilt taking everything.

The haul was better than expected.

There were gold coins, a few decent weapons, and even a couple of magical items.

But what really caught his attention were the scrolls.

Jaxon picked one up, unrolling it carefully. The parchment was smooth and dense, covered in intricate mana-infused ink. His Mana Sight flickered, confirming it was still active.

"Why do bandits have magical scrolls?" he muttered.

Scrolls weren't something the average thug carried. They were expensive, mainly used by merchants, nobles, and craftsmen who weren't capable of casting spells on their own.

Magical scrolls were everyday magic for the rich. Think of it like Fuinjutsu from those old ninja stories. Instead of chanting spells, you just activated the magic embedded in the paper.

The process to create them was ridiculously expensive.

First, you needed paper made from tree bark grown in mana-saturated soil—the kind found only in highly magical regions.

Then, you needed magic ink, extracted from a combination of ground-up mana stones and Magic tree sap, which was even harder to get.

The final step? The actual inscription. A skilled mage or scribe had to carefully infuse magic into the symbols without disrupting the flow of mana, otherwise, the scroll would either fail or explode on use.

That's why even the cheapest scrolls cost at least one silver, while higher-tier ones could go for up to five gold.

And yet… these bandits had several.

That meant someone supplied them.

Jaxon narrowed his eyes, pocketing the scrolls. This wasn't normal. Bandits usually stole food, weapons, and gold. Not enchanted paper.

Something was off.

But that was a problem for later.

For now, he had loot to sell and a body to heal.

Jaxon's wolf ears twitched, immediately zoning in on the weak voice. His body tensed.

Someone was still alive.

He turned toward the source of the sound, moving quickly through the wrecked bandit camp. His instincts screamed caution, but curiosity—and maybe a bit of conscience—pushed him forward.

Past the collapsed tents and overturned crates, he found a cage tucked near the supply carts. Inside, barely clinging to life, was a young woman, around his age her body bruised, her wrists bound with crude rope.

Her clothes were tattered and dirty, but beneath the grime, Jaxon could see she wasn't just some random peasant. She had finely embroidered sleeves, the kind only merchants or nobles wore. 

His sharp eyes scanned the cage. No locks. These bandits were lazy, just using thick rope to keep their captives tied up.

"Hey, you still breathing?" Jaxon asked, kneeling next to the cage.

The woman stirred, barely able to lift her head. "P-Please… they took… everything…"

Jaxon clicked his tongue. Great. Another problem.

He didn't know if she was noble-born or just an unlucky trader, but one thing was clear—if she was taken, she was valuable. And if someone valuable was kidnapped, then someone dangerous would be looking for her.

Still, he couldn't just leave her here.

Jaxon pulled his hunting knife and sliced through the ropes, then swung the cage door open. The woman staggered forward, barely able to hold herself up.

"Tch. You're in bad shape," Jaxon muttered, moving to support her before she collapsed face-first into the dirt.

Her body was light, almost too light—as if she hadn't eaten in days.

"…Who are you?" she croaked, her voice barely more than a whisper, rough from dehydration and exhaustion.

Jaxon adjusted his grip on her, keeping her from collapsing completely. "Just some kid who doesn't like bandits," he said, glancing down at her bruised face. "More importantly, who are you, babe?"

The girl blinked slowly, her mind sluggish, as if struggling to process his words. Up close, Jaxon could tell she wasn't just some random villager—her clothes, though torn and dirty, had once been finely embroidered, the type of material only merchants, nobles, or high-class travelers wore.

Also the elf ears... Holy shit she is an elf. 

Jaxon's eyes widened slightly as he finally took in the details. The pointed tips of her ears peeked through her messy, dirt-streaked silver hair, twitching faintly as if reacting to his voice.

That changed things.

Elves weren't exactly rare, but they weren't common in this part of the kingdom either. Most elves lived in independent forest territories or worked as scholars, magic scribes, or high-ranking artisans in human settlements. Seeing one out here, captured by bandits of all people, was… unusual.

"My… name is Selene," she murmured, wincing as she tried to straighten up, only to lean heavily against him. "Selene Varrow."

Jaxon exhaled sharply. Varrow? That name sounded familiar. He had overheard it before, back in the markets. The Varrow family was one of the wealthiest merchant clans in the kingdom, trading in high-end magical goods.

No wonder the bandits kidnapped her.

He shifted his hold, adjusting her so she wouldn't put too much pressure on her injuries. "Huh. You're a long way from home, merchant princess. What the hell were you doing out here?"

Selene let out a dry, humorless laugh, her breath shaky. "Trading caravan. Bandits… they raided us. Killed the guards. Took everything." She swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if anyone else survived."

Jaxon's sharp gaze flickered back toward the burned-out remains of the bandit camp. His stomach turned slightly—he hadn't seen any other prisoners. If Selene was the only one left, then…

He sighed. "Yeah… doesn't look good."

A pained expression crossed her face, but she said nothing.

Jaxon clicked his tongue, his wolf ears twitching as he listened carefully for any signs of movement in the forest. "Alright, Selene, let's make this simple. You're hurt, I've got loot to haul, and there's a good chance those bandits had friends. If we stick around, we're both screwed."

Selene gave him a weak nod, her breath shallow. "Agreed…"

"Good. Then we move."

Without another word, Jaxon hoisted her onto his back, her slim frame nearly weightless compared to the boulders he trained with. Thinking maybe this girl could be his slav—ahem, he means friend—because goddamn, he was bored of just training and farming.

The preteen had to pick his words carefully and needed to act cool to impress her. Anime logic, don't fail me now. ADHD, do your thing.

Jaxon cleared his throat, adjusting his grip on her as he carried her through the dimly lit forest. The air was cool and damp, thick with the earthy scent of moss and fallen leaves. Night was creeping in, the sky turning deep violet, and the trees cast long, shifting shadows that danced with each step.

Jaxon took a deep breath, preparing to fully commit to the bit. "There is a threat on the horizon, my dudette. Across the world, the criminal underworld is making moves, running 'em pockets, and performing blood rituals like a bad Hostel movie."

Selene blinked, still woozy from exhaustion. "The… underworld?"

Blinking, Jaxon hurried to think of something. Improv was not his best skill, but damn it, he was committed now. "Yeah, the Underworld. A criminal organization made up of twelve crime lords, who are, in reality, the reincarnations of the past Demon Kings. All twelve of 'em."

His voice dropped into a dramatic narrator's tone, letting it rumble low and foreboding. Thank god for all the voice acting lessons. His delivery was on point. His stance even adjusted slightly, carrying Selene like he was some brooding protagonist from an old legend.

This was peak storytelling.

Selene's tired emerald eyes widened slightly, her fingers twitching against his shirt. "But… how do you know such things?"

Jaxon internally panicked.

Oh, shit. She's buying this. Uhhh okay… He could work with this.

He forced a serious expression, gazing off into the distance like he was recalling some tragic, hidden past. "Because my father left me a note revealing the truth," he said, letting his tone carry weight and mystery. He paused just long enough to make it seem important before continuing, "He was part of the Underworld before he met my mother… and fell in love."

Selene sucked in a sharp breath. Her body tensed slightly, and Jaxon felt the faint tightening of her grip on his shoulder.

She was hooked.

"Your father left a powerful organization… for love?" she asked, voice hushed.

Jaxon nodded, his face completely serious. "Yeah, babe. Because my mother… was part of Camelot."

Selene's ears twitched. "Camelot?"

Oh, hell yes. This was getting good.

Jaxon deepened his voice, making sure every word dripped with gravitas. "Camelot is the rival organization to the Underworld. Just like the Underworld, they are filled with dangerous criminals and powerful warriors—but they seek the path of Magic Kings. Both organizations are fighting a shadow war over the fate of the world."

Selene's brows furrowed, her fingers tightening against his shirt. "But… what do they want? Why fight?"

Jaxon exhaled, shaking his head as if burdened with knowledge too heavy for a mere child. "Both groups are trying to take over the world through sleeper agents, rewriting history, and—" he let the tension hang, watching her expression carefully, "—slaying the descendants of the heroes who once slew the Origin Demon King and the Origin Magic King."

The moment he said it, Selene's body went rigid.

Jaxon felt it.

Something shifted in the air between them.

His storytelling skills were always awesome, but this? This felt next-level. 

"The hero bloodlines," he continued, voice softer now, "They've been hunted for centuries. Their blood is powerful. It's different. It carries the legacy of battle, of magic beyond comprehension. But Camelot and the Underworld fear them."

Selene said nothing.

Jaxon smirked internally, keeping his expression serious. "Those ten bloodlines have mixed over generations, and when the stars align in the form of a dragon, their descendants will awaken." His voice dropped lower. "They will be known as The Noble."

He was a fan of Halo, so sue him.

Jaxon had no idea how long he could keep this up, but damn, this was fun.

Selene's breathing grew unsteady. She swallowed hard, her mind reeling. "How do you know when you're a hero descendant?"

Jaxon timed his pause perfectly, making it weighty. "I believe they captured one before I rescued her," he said, his voice dropping to an almost reverent whisper. Then, delivering the final blow:

"A hero's blood, when exposed to mana, shines red-gold."

Oh, that was good.

He should be a game writer.

Selene's face went pale.

She remembered the bandits cutting her. Pouring her blood into a bowl. Watching as it glowed.

It was true.

She was one of them. This changed everything about her. 

Jaxon, meanwhile, was completely unaware that he had just accidentally dumped centuries of lost knowledge into the night air like some kind of prophetic bedtime story.

He continued, completely serious. "Camelot and Underworld have rewritten history, babe. The descendants of the greatest warriors and mages of mankind are born with absurd magical potential. But these organizations? They're terrified of that power. They're eliminating all hero-blooded children before they awaken."

"I will not let them revive the greatest threats to humanity!" Selene barked, her injuries forgotten as she clenched her fists.

Jaxon laughed. A sharp, amused bark of a laugh.

"That's the spirit, love."

And because he was a showman at heart, he switched his accent—letting a smooth, noble drawl take over.

Selene froze.

Then, her face turned beet red.

Jaxon almost broke character.

Oh, this was too easy.

Rich girls loved this accent.

He knew from experience. 

Selene tried to act normal, clearing her throat, but her pointed ears twitched wildly. "S-So… now that I know… what do we do?"

Jaxon slowed his pace, letting the moment stretch. Then, as if delivering the words of fate itself, he said,

"Will you help me stop them? To protect this world from the evil? From the light?" His voice softened just enough. "Will you stand by my side and start a life of danger and adventure with me?"

Selene's eyes burned with conviction.

Her answer was already clear.

Yes.

A thousand times yes.

Jaxon's eyes shined.

He had a friend now.

A real friend.

Not just some merchant who haggled him for vegetables. Not some sweaty farmer who only cared about crop rotations and soil quality. A friend who would actually talk to him about cool shit.

Obviously, Underworld and Camelot don't even exist.

That was just some nonsense he made up on the fly to sound mysterious and badass.

But Selene looked so into it.

Her emerald eyes burned with determination, her hands clenching into fists like she was ready to fight for the cause.

Jaxon resisted the urge to laugh. Damn, I'm good.

The most they were going to do was kill some random bad guys, steal their stuff, and move on.

No way this would turn into something bigger.

Right?