chapter 68 cleaning

Kaelith: The Silent Reaper

As the bandits scrambled, blinded by smoke and panic, Kaelith moved with calculated precision. The chaos was perfect—and now, it was time to eliminate the weak.

From his hiding spot, he watched as some of the panicked bandits tripped over one another, weapons drawn but with no clear target. Others, still too dazed from the explosion, stood in shock, unsure of who to fight. The fear in their eyes only served to fuel Kaelith's resolve.

> This is just too easy.

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The First Kill – Poison Arrow

One bandit, staggering out from behind a stack of crates, barely managed to stay on his feet. He swung his sword wildly, slashing at the air, searching for anything to fight. His bloodshot eyes darted around frantically.

Kaelith didn't waste time. He nocked a Poison Arrow onto his bow, the tip glowing faintly in the dim smoke-filled air.

With a single, smooth motion, he loosed the arrow. It whistled through the air, hitting the bandit square in the chest.

The bandit gasped, his eyes widening in realization, but it was too late. The poison spread quickly, causing his veins to blacken as his body went rigid. He dropped his sword and fell to the ground, gasping for breath as the poison took its toll.

Within seconds, he was still—another casualty of Kaelith's calculated strike.

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The Second Kill – Focus Shot

Kaelith's keen eyes scanned the camp for more targets. His next victim was a large, hulking bandit swinging his sword at a panicked group of his own men. The beast of a man was bellowing, unaware of the death closing in.

With a focused breath, Kaelith pulled back his bowstring, his body still as stone. The Focus Shot ability kicked in—his vision narrowed, his heart rate slowing. The world around him became still, and his target grew larger in his sights.

He released the arrow. It flew with deadly precision, piercing the bandit's throat in one clean shot.

The man choked, his hands instinctively clutching at his throat. Blood poured from the wound, but his massive frame kept him upright for a moment longer.

> Not for long.

The bandit crumpled to the ground, gasping and bleeding out.

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The Third Kill – Shadow Step

Kaelith's feet were light as air as he crept through the smoke and confusion. His Shadow Step ability let him melt into the darkness, moving without a trace. His next target—a young bandit with a bent dagger—was struggling to get back to his feet, having tripped in the chaos.

The bandit muttered to himself, unaware of Kaelith's presence.

With a swift motion, Kaelith reappeared behind him. The bandit didn't even have time to react before Kaelith's poisoned blade pierced his side, sending him to the ground with a gurgled scream.

Kaelith quickly pulled the dagger free and blended back into the shadows.

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The Final Clean-Up

The smoke from the Mini Bombs began to settle, revealing a scene of utter mayhem. The bandits were still in disarray, some fighting amongst themselves, others in search of their lost comrades.

Kaelith continued his work, systematically cutting down the weak and those distracted by fear. His arrows found their marks—heads, throats, hearts, wherever he could land a strike. The bandits' numbers thinned rapidly.

His movements were fluid, each step an invisible dance of death.

The camp was quieting down, now. Only a few voices remained, cursing, shouting for help, but it was clear—their end was near. Kaelith took his time, hunting them down with deadly accuracy.

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The Final Target

Kaelith's last victim was the leader—Scar-Face, the one who had been barking orders earlier. The scarred brute was covered in blood, shouting at a group of remaining bandits, trying to organize a counterattack.

Kaelith perched on a high crate, watching him from a distance, his bow drawn. Scar-Face was focused on the panic, unaware of his imminent death.

Kaelith took a breath, aimed, and loosed the final shot.

The arrow struck true, right between the eyes.

Scar-Face staggered, his hands reaching up to his face in disbelief, and then fell to the ground with a dull thud.

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The Aftermath

The camp fell into silence. Only a handful of the bandits remained, scattered, broken, and dying. The rest were either already dead or incapacitated. Kaelith stood amongst the destruction, the last of his enemies fallen at his feet.

His work was done.

> Too easy.

Kaelith wiped the blade clean, his expression calm as he surveyed the camp. The treasury was his to claim, the bandits' plans in ruins, and the goblin prince safe for now.

But this was just one battle in a much larger war.

Kaelith smirked, knowing he had only begun to weave the web of chaos.

As the last bandits fell around him, Kaelith stood still for a moment, his eyes scanning the wreckage of the camp. The silence after the chaos was a rare peace, and yet, Kaelith's mind was racing.

> Their leader is off on some mission… leaving his second in command, a fool, to clean up the mess.

His thoughts sharpened. The bandit leader's absence meant opportunity—and the second in command, desperate and misguided, was likely wasting time on a futile search for the goblin prince.

> A fool who doesn't even know the prince is already safely in my kingdom.

Kaelith's lips curled into a smirk. His plan was in motion, but it needed to be executed carefully. The bandit leader would return soon enough, but Kaelith didn't intend to wait around.

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A Swift Decision

The treasury was close now, and the bandits' gold, loot, and weapons were all in one place. Kaelith knew the longer he waited, the more likely it would be for reinforcements to arrive or for the situation to spiral out of his control.

> If I stay any longer, the fools might even bring the leader back to ruin all this.

Quickly, Kaelith made his decision and moved toward the treasury. He slipped through the shadows, his movements precise and quiet. The entrance to the treasury was just ahead, guarded only by a few distracted bandits—who were busy trying to recover from the explosions.

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Kaelith Reaches the Treasury

As Kaelith neared the door to the treasury, he could hear the faint chatter of the remaining bandits still alive, most of them disoriented, some trying to count the loot. Their attention was divided, and none were focused on their surroundings.

With a silent gesture, Kaelith signaled for his Shadow Step. His body became a blur, vanishing into the darkness of the shadows. Within seconds, he was at the treasury door, which was unguarded.

> Perfect.