Chapter 12: The Bandit’s Folly

Chapter 12: The Bandit's Folly

As the group caught their breath from the dragon battle, Talon wiped the sweat from his brow and asked, half-jokingly, "So... how much did that thing weigh?"

Anasha, Asher's loyal servant, smirked and replied, "Normally, it weighs about 30 kg, but with the weight spell added, it gets an extra 70 kg, making it over 100 kg."

The recruits groaned in disbelief.

But before they could complain further, Asher clapped his hands. "Pack up. We're heading to the royal palace. There, you'll start with smaller beasts before moving on to real threats."

The carriage ride was smooth, the vehicle itself luxurious beyond the recruits' expectations. Some marveled at the intricate designs, the fine velvet seats, and the golden trim.

Talon whistled. "I guess being a noble has its perks."

However, the peaceful ride was abruptly interrupted.

The horses neighed in distress as a gang of muscular, scarred bandits blocked the road ahead. Their leader, a towering man with an eyepatch and a wicked grin, stepped forward, his menacing presence backed by a dozen equally fearsome thugs.

"Step out of the carriage," the bandit leader sneered. "Hand over your money, jewelry, artifacts... and the pretty lady too."

Asher sighed, rubbing his temple. "You should have just asked for money. Now, things will get bloody."

One of the bandits suddenly lunged at Asher, stabbing him in the back with a dagger—

But Asher didn't even flinch.

The bandit looked up in horror as Asher turned his head slowly, his voice dripping with amusement.

"Oh? Did you just stab me?"

The bandit trembled as Asher continued in a mockingly innocent tone. "If you really wanted to kill your enemy, why not aim for the heart… like this?"

With a swift, precise motion, Asher plunged his hand straight into the bandit's chest.

Blood gushed as Asher ripped out the man's still-beating heart, dragging along intestines that dangled grotesquely. The victim gasped, eyes wide with horror, as his organs were pulled from his body.

Asher held up the dripping mass and grinned. "See? Wouldn't it have been easier if I had just destroyed your heart from the start? Now, you're suffering twice as much for attacking the wrong way."

The other bandits froze in terror.

Some turned and fled immediately, leaving their leader behind.

"HEY! Where are you all running to?!" the leader bellowed.

Asher chuckled, "That's funny. I was just about to say the same thing."

The bandit leader's face twisted in rage. "You think I'm afraid of you?!"

He popped a pill into his mouth.

Immediately, his veins bulged, his right arm swelling unnaturally. His muscles tore through his sleeves as his hand transformed into the thick, scaled claws of a dragon.

"Behold! A dragon's hand!" the bandit leader roared. "With this, I'll crush you in seconds!"

But Asher only smiled."YOU MEAN THIS HAND" He raised his hand and casually held up the severed bandit dragon hand.

The bandit leader stared in shock.

"Wait... how… how did you—"

Pain exploded in his shoulder. He looked down to see his own arm was missing. Blood spurted violently from the stump.

"Aaaaaargh!" he screamed.

It had happened so fast that he hadn't even realized it—when he was boasting about his power, a faint glow of light had passed over him. That light had been Asher's metal chain attack, severing his arm before he could even realise it.

But the bandit leader wasn't done.

In sheer desperation, he shoved more pills into his mouth, veins pulsing as his body began to mutate. Scales spread across his skin, his eyes turned reptilian, and his mouth widened into a grotesque maw.

He was becoming a beast while transforming.

Asher yawned. "This is taking too long."

He flicked his metallic chain.

A single impact.

BOOM!

The bandit leader exploded into a shower of blood and flesh.

Silence.

Asher calmly wiped his face with a towel, completely unfazed, and walked back to the carriage.

Talon swallowed hard. "…Did we just witness a god?"

Lyria shuddered. "What kind of hell training have you been through ."

Asher simply smirked. "Welcome to my world."

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