Ambush on the Road

After parting ways with Hormizd, a lingering sadness settled over me. He was the only friend I had in this world, and now, for an unknown length of time, I wouldn't see him. But there was no helping it—I had to continue my journey and begin my adventure. The forest where we had last been was in the northern reaches of Turan, so my path lay southward, where I hoped to learn more about the state of this country.

Using my mastery over all things, coupled with a bit of Absolute Insight and some scattered stones, I crafted a bicycle. Yes, a bicycle. Not a car, not a carriage—why, you ask? Well, controlling requires more energy, and as Cyrus once advised, I should rely on Absolute Insight as little as possible. The bicycle ran on wind power, so I converted energy into wind propulsion and continued on my way.

The road stretched ahead, bathed in golden sunlight. A change from the endless nights and the monotony of the moon—a bit of variety was refreshing. As I traveled, the vast meadows and winding rivers filled my view, a peaceful contrast to the turmoil in my heart. Little did I know, however, that from afar, unseen eyes were watching me.

The journey had been uneventful until I suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps. Turning toward the source, I saw twelve men rushing toward me, daggers gleaming in their hands. Their rugged faces, hardened by experience, revealed their nature—mercenaries, or perhaps common bandits.

Their speed was unimpressive—barely a tenth of the shadows I had previously fought. As they closed in, I disarmed the first man with ease, grabbed his own dagger, and severed his head from his body. The remaining eleven hesitated for a moment, fear flickering in their eyes, but then, with furious cries, they charged again. With a single sweeping attack, I eliminated ten of them, severing the arm of the last.

His scream was deafening, an unbearable noise that grated on my nerves. But I needed him alive—at least for a little while. I converted energy into fire and cauterized his wound, drawing yet another agonized wail from him. Irritated, I cast a silencing spell on him and stepped aside to eat, waiting for him to recover. Not to heal—just to speak.

After roasting some rabbit meat I had hunted earlier, I approached the man.

"Hey, bandit," I said. "Tell me, why did you attack me?"

His eyes, wide with terror, darted around as he spoke, his voice trembling. "W-We saw you from afar... and that strange device you were riding. It looked valuable. We thought if we could take it, we'd make a fortune selling it. And then… well, you know the rest."

"I see. Now, tell me—where's the nearest city? And your hideout?"

"The nearest city is five kilometers south," he stammered. "Our base… it's less than two kilometers from here, hidden in a cave within the cliffs."

"Good," I said. "Thanks for your cooperation."

His eyes brightened with hope. "Now that I've told you everything, please… let me go."

I didn't let him finish. A single laser shot from my finger pierced his heart. He fell, lifeless, as I turned away with a cold expression, mounting my bicycle once more. Cloaking myself in invisibility magic, I headed toward the bandits' lair.

Ten minutes later, I arrived at their hideout. None of them noticed me as they went about their usual business. I took my time scouting the area. The cave was filled with various rooms, one of which contained a vast pile of gold and jewelry. Shrinking the treasure with magic, I stored it within the dimensional space that Absolute Insight had created for me. I continued checking the rooms, collecting weapons and spoils of war, until I reached the final door.

The moment I opened it, a wave of nausea hit me.

The stench of decay was overwhelming. Inside, the room was littered with corpses—girls, their bodies torn apart like broken dolls. Blood soaked the floor, staining the walls with dark streaks. Some had been gutted, their insides emptied and hung from the ceiling like grotesque decorations. Others hung upside-down, their blood draining into collected containers.

A sickening feeling clawed at my mind, the sight too monstrous even for someone like me. My vision darkened at the edges. This wasn't just murder—it was something far worse.

Suddenly, Absolute Insight issued an urgent warning: *User experiencing severe psychological distress. Immediate intervention required. If unaddressed, long-term trauma may persist. Mandatory use of Spirit Purification initiated.*

A sudden calm washed over me. The overwhelming emotions dissipated, leaving behind only a cold resolve. I still felt sorrow for the victims, but not in a way that clouded my judgment.

I summoned fire, turning all the bodies to ash, then sealed the door behind me. Steeling myself, I stepped toward the bandits.

With a flick of my wrist, I doubled their gravity. Some collapsed instantly, unable to bear the sudden weight. They were ordinary men—unmarked, untrained, incapable of even momentarily resisting me. Then, I cast additional spells:

- *Amplify Pain*

- *Heighten Awareness*

- *Lower Tolerance*

- *Increase Body Temperature*

- *Weak Flame*

Slowly, their suffering escalated into something beyond human endurance. They screamed, writhing in agony—a pain worse than death. And after ten minutes, every last one of them had perished.

I stored their corpses separately—perhaps they'd be useful one day. Then, with a single blast, I destroyed the cliffside, ensuring their wretched hideout was erased from existence.

Standing amidst the remnants of destruction, I looked around at the untouched beauty of nature. A brief sense of peace filled me, but deep down, a shadow of unease lingered. With a final act of Spirit Purification, I purged all negative thoughts from my mind, preparing myself for the journey ahead.

Perhaps, in the next city, I would find allies—companions to walk this path with me. Maybe I should form a group. Together, we could stand against those like these bandits… though, of course, our true enemies would be far stronger. But only time would tell if this adventure would remain a solitary one or not.