Fight against thieves

Kyle moved toward the forest, his figure gradually disappearing from the guard's sight atop the city wall.

The forest he was about to enter wasn't extremely dangerous, as it was cleansed yearly of monsters and bandits. But the danger never fully vanished — it merely lessened.

Kyle walked along the edge of the path, watching wagons take other routes to skirt around the forest. He also saw a few parties heading into the woods, just like him.

Soon, he reached the forest's edge and blended into the shadows of its towering trees.

He moved with agility and caution among the shadows. He wasn't arrogant enough to strut alone through the forest like some conceited fool. The scent of damp earth and decaying leaves filled his nose, sharpening his senses even more.

As he moved, he sometimes heard the cries of beasts and the rustling of wind through the branches.

Kyle stopped atop a thick tree branch, standing firm as he surveyed the dark depths below him.

"Crossing this forest will take at least two days…"

He looked into the depths of the woods, holding a small compass in his hand to guide his path.

In a heartbeat, he leapt from the branch and began running lightly among the shadows of fallen leaves covering the moist ground.

His chest rose and fell with every cool breath he drew in, laden with the scent of mud and trees.

While he ran, he suddenly felt a sense of danger looming over him. His [Danger Sense] trait activated, but he didn't stop running — though the sense of danger pricked at his chest like needles.

"Who unleashed this aura? They must be ahead…"

While he pondered, a glint of light flickered ahead of him.

Before Kyle could retreat from the source of the light, an arrow shot straight at him!

The arrow was incredibly fast — he had no time to dodge completely, but his body moved on instinct. He narrowly avoided a fatal shot, though the arrow tore into his left arm, leaving a deep gash. Warm blood with a sharp metallic scent dripped down.

But it was clear the other side wouldn't let him rest — a volley of arrows came flying at him at the same blistering speed.

Kyle knew he couldn't dodge them all, so he muttered to himself:

"If I can't dodge them… I'll cut them down!"

He quickly drew his sword, swinging it skillfully. He smashed several arrows midair and evaded the rest, retreating nimbly between the trees to hide and pull out a small vial of diluted holy water. Even though he had a [Natural Body] trait to help him heal, this wound was serious enough to need immediate treatment.

His attackers didn't notice, as Kyle weaved left and right, his sword slicing through the air with sharp metallic clangs as it deflected arrows.

Suddenly, without warning, he broke through a dense bush and vanished behind it, escaping the hail of arrows.

He hid behind the trunk of a giant tree, wincing at the pain but enduring it thanks to his [Cold Heart & Mind] trait. He pulled out a small flask from his storage ring — diluted holy water. Quickly, he poured the cool liquid over the gash on his left arm, as the fresh scent of blood mixed with the faint aroma of the sacred water.

His wounds began knitting together slowly under his ragged breaths. He leaned his back against the tree's sturdy trunk, eyes watching the direction the attack had come from.

Through the bushes, he saw a group of about ten men stepping out cautiously.

They wore simple clothes but carried leather armor, swords at their waists, and bows drawn tight in their hands.

A skinny man spoke in a low voice to a tall, broad-shouldered man clad in mediocre iron armor:

"Boss, where did that brat hide?"

The burly man flashed a vile grin, revealing yellowed teeth.

"Don't worry… He can't run far. The arrows that hit him were poisoned."

As they spoke, Kyle suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. His hand trembled as he touched his head, vision blurring.

"Damn it… What's happening…"

Suddenly, a translucent screen flickered before his eyes:

> [Poison Resistance Activated]

[Acquired: Common Sedative Poison Resistance]

Kyle felt a bit better but had no time to dwell on what he'd gained. He tightened his grip around his sword, muttering:

"The one who's the real threat… is their leader."

> [Name: Zou

Rank: Close to becoming a trainee knight

Description: Leader of a newly formed bandit gang. They don't have much money but possess an old map.]

"He's not yet a Bronze-Rank Knight… so he's below me."

Kyle quickly calculated his odds and crafted the perfect plan.

Once he felt his wound had fully closed, he dashed deeper into the forest, leaving footprints on damp leaves behind him.

The bandits heard his footsteps and sneered mockingly. One of them shouted:

"Run… That'll make the hunt more fun!"

"Yeah, yeah… this will be fun!"

Their leader, Zou, barked: "Come on, brothers — after him!"

They dashed after him through the shadows, thinking he was fleeing far away — but Kyle had already perched high atop a massive tree they passed under. His plan was simple: trick them into thinking he'd fled, then ambush them from behind with their own weapons.

He drew a bow and a few arrows from his ring. Swiftly, he nocked an arrow, his cold eyes piercing through everything ahead.

He drew a deep breath, lungs filled with the forest's ancient scent.

"I kill to live… no, I won't lie to myself. I kill because they tried to kill me. I won't let my enemies off easily."

His hand was steady, his heartbeat strong. A strange warmth pulsed in his chest despite the forest's chill.

"An eye for an eye… blood for blood… death for death."

Fwhip!

A sharp hiss cut through the air, followed by a shriek of pain and tearing flesh.

An arrow pierced one bandit's throat, dropping him to the forest floor amid the others' stunned cries.

"Damn it… Brother! Brother!"

"Where did that arrow come from?!"

Kyle didn't grant them time to think — another sharp hiss split the air as an arrow bored through the skull of another, his brains bursting into the night.

Kyle moved swiftly, shifting positions from branch to branch like a living shadow while Zou barked orders to regain control.

He slapped one trembling man whose pants were soaked yellow with fear: "Damn you! Take cover now!"

They scattered, hiding behind tree trunks, the stench of urine and fear mixing with the iron scent of fresh blood. Meanwhile, Kyle crouched on another tree, calmly watching their actions, his breaths steady despite the carnage.

"Looks like they've never killed before…"

Kyle muttered to himself, his inner voice cold and terrifying. The initial surge of tension and annoyance had faded — his [Cold Heart & Mind] trait kept him composed, even as the fresh scent of blood drifted with the forest breeze.

Without wasting thought, he drew back the bowstring once more and loosed an arrow that seemed to carry a piece of his soul — like a reaper's scythe, harvesting their lives one by one.

The exchange dragged on for half an hour that felt like an eternity to both Kyle and the bandits.

Arrows flew back and forth. Some of theirs struck trees, some grazed Kyle's shoulder, but he remained as wary as a wolf in the night. In the end, only Kyle and three bandits were left — Zou and two others, backs pressed close together, but Kyle saw the fear gnawing at their eyes.

Bodies lay scattered, arrows jutting from earth and tree trunks alike. Blood stained the grass dark red, the air thick with the suffocating scent of iron.

Kyle reached for his quiver and felt only emptiness.

"Seems I'm out of arrows…"

He exhaled slowly, resting his back against a cold tree trunk. His hand slid to the hilt of his sword, which had yet to taste blood. His eyes fell on the three bandits ahead — leaving them alive never crossed his mind.

"How did they know my route when I told no one…?"

A cold glimmer sparked in his eyes. He drew a dagger from his waist and slipped silently through the shadows like a ghost.

He crept up behind a bandit trembling beside a tree trunk, hearing him mutter in fear between choked sobs:

"Why did I listen to Zou… His brother said he was just a spoiled kid… damn it… this isn't a kid, it's a cold-blooded monster…"

Kyle's lips curled into a thin smile — his suspicions confirmed. He had been tracked. No time for regret now.

He extended his hand like a wolf's claw, clamping it tightly over the bandit's mouth. The man's eyes widened in horror as he tried to scream, but Kyle's grip was iron.

He dragged him into the shadows, whispering in his ear:

"Unfortunately for you, there's no next life… Think before you act."

His voice was so cold it felt like the devil whispering to a dying man.

He swiftly drew the dagger across the bandit's throat. Warm blood spurted with a harsh scent, splattering Kyle's cheek.

The bandit's body spasmed then fell limp. Kyle laid it down gently to avoid drawing attention.

He reached into the dead man's quiver and found three arrows. He drew his bow again, nocked an arrow, and locked his icy gaze on another bandit whose back was partially exposed.

"Fool… an exposed back is a grave."

He loosed the arrow — it sliced the air with a sharp line. Zou's heart leapt into his throat at the sound, and then the silence shattered as flesh tore and fresh blood spurted. The bandit crumpled wordlessly.

Kyle vanished into the shadows again.

Zou raised his hand and let out a shout, but it dissolved into the night — all he got in return was the hiss of another arrow tearing at his sanity.

Minutes dragged on like hours. All they heard was the wind and the whistle of death.

"Damn it… I shouldn't have come!"

Zou's legs trembled, his whole body quaking. Suddenly, a shadow loomed behind him — a strong hand seized his neck with crushing force, bones creaking under Kyle's grip.

A warm breath brushed his ear, and a chilling voice whispered in the darkness of his soul: "Is this all you've got…?"

Zou felt a terror so deep that hot liquid trickled down his thighs.

Kyle let out a mocking laugh as the foul stench reached his nose.

"Disgusting. You wish you could kill me, yet you piss yourself?"

He leaned in closer, his mouth near Zou's ear: "Do you want to die peacefully… or shall we play a little?"

No sound came from Zou's throat — only the darkness devouring his heart.

Kyle tightened his grip on Zou's neck and whispered: "Who told you about me?"

Zou couldn't speak, so Kyle tilted his head and drove the dagger into his shoulder, blood spurting with a harsh metallic reek.

"Will you talk now, or shall I continue?"

This time, a broken voice stammered out: "It was… it was the waiter at the inn… my brother works the servants' quarters… he said you were some rich kid who'd never seen the world… we followed you… set the trap…"

Kyle narrowed his eyes slightly. He hadn't expected his lowly servant to leak his movements. He shook his head slowly, pressing the blade closer to Zou's neck.

"In your next life… choose your enemies more carefully."

He raised his sword and with a single stroke, severed Zou's head.

Warm blood splattered across Kyle's face as he stared at the corpse without the faintest flicker of emotion.

"Returning to the city now would be a waste of time… but I hate unpaid debts."

He muttered to himself, gathering the bandits' arrows, weapons, and battered armor. He pulled a map from Zou's corpse, though it was soaked in blood — and suddenly, it glowed with a golden light.

> [Name: Ancient Map

Description: By following this map, you will reach forgotten ruins buried in the pages of time.]

He gazed at it with faint surprise, catching the scent of blood dripping from it. He murmured: "An unexpected gain."

An insight flashed in his eyes:

"This must be a blood-sealed secret map."

He quickly collected some DNA samples from the bandits, crafted a crude copper mask, and used a drop of blood to activate it. Disguised as Zou, he ran swiftly back to the city. By the time he reached the gate, the afternoon had already passed. He crossed through calmly as the bandit leader, cleared inspection, then slipped into the alleys.

He grabbed the waiter in a dark alleyway and, without a word, slit his throat with a cold blade. Blood spilled over the old stone wall — the waiter's eyes widened in shock and fear as he clutched at his throat, trying to stop the flow, but Kyle didn't spare him a glance. He stepped through the other side of the alley, disguised as one of the gang members, and slipped out of the city gates once more.

"When they find the body… I'll be far away. I'll have to be more careful from now on."

He whispered to himself as he disappeared into the distance — toward deeper secrets… toward the ancient ruins.