Chapter 9: The Hunt

The Hunt

After the storm of grief and rage subsided, clarity returned. I needed a plan. *Where did they take the women? And who the hell is House Veyra?

The bandits had taken their fallen comrades' bodies, leaving no trace of their allegiance. But after searching, Sir Krow and I found faint tracks leading into the forest—in the opposite direction of our escape route.

"They wanted it to look like bandits," Krow said, his voice grim. "They'll hide in the forest, sell the women as slaves, and wait for things to calm down."

I looked at him, hope flickering. "If we cut them off, we can save them, right?"

He sighed. "They know I'm a Level 3 knight. They'll have sent at least one Level 4 soldier, maybe a few Level 3s. The situation's desperate."

I clenched my fists. "Let's assess the situation first. Maybe they've already left. Or we can assassinate them if they're careless."

We followed the tracks for hours, the forest growing darker and denser. Eventually, we stumbled upon wreckage—a merchant's carriage, torn apart and abandoned.

Krow crouched, examining the debris. "They took their role seriously. They even raided a merchant caravan to sell the goods alongside the women."

My stomach churned as I recognized the carriage—the same one that had carried the elf slave.

"Another reason to kill them," I said, my voice low with anger.

**The Bandits' Camp**

Deep in the forest, the bandits' temporary camp buzzed with crude laughter and the clinking of stolen goods. The women huddled together, bound and gagged, their eyes wide with terror.

The leader, a hulking man with a jagged scar across his face, leered at the elf slave. Her silver hair shimmered in the firelight, her reddish-purple eyes wide with fear. She was young—too young—but her ethereal beauty had caught his attention.

"You're a rare one," he sneered, crouching in front of her. "Worth a fortune. But maybe I'll have a taste first."

Jol, tied beside Metha, struggled against her bonds, her green eyes blazing with defiance. After struggling out of the gags she said "Leave her alone!"

The back of his hand struck her cheek, silencing her. Metha flinched, her heart breaking for the girl who had become like a daughter to her.

"Quiet, little bird," the leader growled. "Your turn will come."

Metha's mind raced, torn between despair for her husband and Jol but determination. *Alex… please be safe. Don't come back. Don't risk yourself for us.*

The elf girl crouched in the corner of the bandits' camp, her silver hair catching the firelight like molten starlight. Her eyes—reddish-purple, like the twilight sky after a storm**—flicked nervously between the bandits and the shadows beyond the fire.

The leader leered at her, his scarred face twisting into a cruel grin. he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Those eyes… they'll fetch a pretty price."

She flinched as he reached for her, her gaze darting to the forest. *Please,* she thought, her lips forming a silent plea. *Someone. Anyone.*

Unseen in the shadows, Alex's golden eyes glowed faintly as he watched the scene unfold. The contrast between his piercing gold and her haunting reddish-purple was stark—a collision of two worlds, two destinies.

**The Shadows Close In**

Unseen, Alex and Krow crouched in the underbrush, their eyes locked on the camp.

"There's the Level 4," Krow whispered, nodding toward the scarred leader. "And at least three Level 3s. The rest are fodder."

Alex's golden eyes glowed faintly, his mana heart pulsing with barely restrained fury. "We hit them fast. Take out the leader first."

Krow glanced at him, a flicker of pride in his gaze. "You're learning, boy."

As the bandits' laughter echoed through the trees, Alex's grip tightened on his blade.

*They took everything from me. Now I'll take everything from them.*

The Showdown

The elf girl crouched in the corner of the bandits' camp, her silver hair catching the firelight like molten starlight. Her eyes—reddish-purple, like the twilight sky after a storm—flicked nervously between the bandits and the shadows beyond the fire.

The leader loomed over her, his axe resting against his shoulder. His scarred face twisted in a cruel grin as he reached down, grabbing a handful of her hair.

The leader said yanking her closer. "Those eyes… they'll fetch a pretty price."

The elf girl flinched, struggling against his grip, but the surrounding bandits only laughed. The fire crackled, sending embers spiraling into the cold night air. She clenched her teeth, her gaze darting to the darkened treeline.

Please, she thought, lips forming a silent plea. Someone. Anyone.

Unseen in the shadows, Alex's golden eyes glowed faintly.

He exhaled slowly, gripping the hilt of his sword. Sir Krow crouched beside him, his own gaze locked on the scene, muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike.

A single nod.

The first arrow flew.

It struck the leader's shoulder, sinking deep. He roared in fury, releasing the elf girl as he staggered back. The bandits scrambled for their weapons, but Sir Krow was already there.

The knight stormed into the firelight, his blade carving a brutal arc. The first bandit's throat split open—a spray of crimson against the dirt. Another lunged, but Krow twisted, slamming his armored elbow into the man's temple before burying his sword deep in his gut.

The leader snarled, wrenching the arrow from his shoulder. His axe ignited with fire-imbued mana.

Steel clashed. Sparks erupted. Krow blocked the first swing but was sent skidding back, his boots carving trenches in the dirt.

The level three knight surrounded him and started attacking in coordination, sir Krow noticed something in there fighting style.

He was not giving away any opening.

But he was searching for one, just one opening…. till he found an opening to jump at the leader, he took it, but the leader was ready with the reflection.

The leader pressed forward, firelight reflecting in his bloodshot eyes.

I was watching, waiting.

AUTHOR POV:

With a laugh the leader leaped towards sir Krow saying "Trying to play Hero….You knights are all the sa—"

Mana surged into Alex's brain.

Time slowed.

The flames flickered in sluggish waves. He saw it—the overextension in the leader's stance, the tightening of his muscles, the exact moment his balance tipped.

Alex moved.

His blade sliced deep into the man's thigh.

The world snapped back into motion.

Blood sprayed, vivid and hot. The leader stumbled, roaring in agony.

Krow took his chance.

His sword sang through the air. A clean, brutal decapitation. The leader's body slumped to the ground, lifeless.

For a heartbeat, there was silence.

No one in the bandits could believe What just happened.

With their moment of shock Alex and Sir Krow didn't waste a second and targeted all the level threes around them.

In an instant Everything changed.

the killing began.

Alex and Krow became monsters.

Their blades danced through the camp, cutting down bandits like wheat. Alex fought with deadly precision, his hyper-focused senses making every movement a killing stroke. Krow was a force of sheer brutality, his sword a relentless storm of steel and blood.

Panic set in.

"They're not hurting the slaves!" the last Level 3 bandit shouted.

Desperation flickered across their faces—then they grabbed their leverage.

"Drop your weapons!" one snarled, dragging Jol forward with a knife pressed against her throat. Others followed, gripping Metha and Alice.

Jol's blue eyes burned with defiance. Metha's blue ones shimmered with tears. Alice's reddish-purple gaze locked onto Alex—desperate, pleading.

Krow stilled, his jaw tightening. "Let them go."

The bandits sneered, stepping back toward the treeline.

One by one each of the bandits stepped into the dense forest till we couldn't see them.

The last level three still holding the elf girl was the last person to retreat while Alex and Krow watched their hands clenched on their swords just waiting for an opportunity and opening anything…

While the level 3 bandit retreated the elf girl stumbled to the ground.

He yanked the elf by her hair, wrenching her head back.

"Useless cargo," he spat, raising his blade aiming to severely insuring or worse decapitating her, he said "Slowing us down."

"STOP!"

Alex's voice ripped through the night.

Golden light exploded from his eyes.

The bandit froze, his arm trembling as if bound by an unseen force. His breath hitched, his fingers slackening. Alex used his unknown skill yet again and he stopped him like an invisible hand.

Krow lunged.

A silver blur—his blade cleaved through the man's throat.

The elf stumbled free, her gaze flickering between Alex and Krow—relief, fear, awe.

Alex staggered, blood trickling from his nose and eyes.

The elf approached, her voice soft but shaking. "You… saved me."

Alex wiped the blood from his face. "Not yet." His gaze flickered toward the dark forest. "We need to move. They should have gone far yet."

Krow gripped his arm, steadying him.

And then he walked to the elf girl ,And hauled her to her feet. "Name?"

"Alice," she whispered.

He nodded. "Stick close, Alice. We're not done yet."

As they vanished into the trees, Alex cast one last look at the carnage.

This was just the beginning.