"Sir is there no plan of action."
"Of course there is, make sure not to face anyone to strong. If what you said about their being more than 100 bandits, that would mean their leader has to be pretty strong. They would need someone who was at least at pro level. Especially to keep all his men and women under control. I'll leave half the men to you men and the other half will go to me but remember if you believe you're going to die retreat immediately I want all of you to make it home to your loved ones. Now let's go.
The men gathered around Sono who was clutching the artifact that would allow him to teleport to the other artifact. He could only smile to himself when he looked upon all the soldiers faces which held determination and manly pride. Distortion held the space around them and then they were in a rocky cavern which seemed to be carved out into a fort or a castle. They stood in a room that could only be labeled a throne room with how big it was. Dust, dirt and blood was everywhere on this cracked floor. They stood right in the center of this very large room.
"Sir something is wrong when I hid the artifact I hid it outside."
Sono had already realized what this was and he felt the presence of the many on the second floor balcony hiding. He didn't want to let them know that though before he figured how they found the artifact which even he couldn't find if he tried. It would have to mean they have at least a novice mage. It wouldn't really affect a senior tier 4 martial artist like him. Although if they had multiple of them and some of the men had to fight them it would be bad. Even worse they had martial artists or mages of his level then he could really only worry bout himself.
"Listen I'm General Sono of the Marona Kingdom. You have been attacking a village that is under her highness. In the outer lands we usually let you keep to yourself. So if you stop attacking that one village will let you do you. If you don't we'll be wiping you out."
Out of nowhere he heard a burly manly voice over a small rock throne balcony. "You expect us to believe that that crazy woman who you call queen will leave us alone after killing some of her soldiers. Do we look dumb. Your not leaving here even if you wanted."
"Sir?" Do we attack now they're resisting?"
"Hold on, what is your level maybe you should know I'm a senior level fighter."
The man scrunched is face in shock. "Fire the arrows, tell the men to storm the room now we can't let him get up here he'll kill us all!!!" Spit was flying from the mans mouth who seemed to already start crying from fear.
"Men put up the mobile barrier."It would only protect from projectiles. If a mage was here they could destroy it but that was a if. He would usually be able to sense it but he didn't so he wanted to test his theory. "Do not attack before I do." As he saw the men filling up the chamber he could tell almost none of them were very remarkable. "I could kill 30 of them with a single attack this is pitiful. As arrows and rocks hit upon the barrier he decided enough was enough. "Fire god kick" and just like that 43 of the rushing men were killed. His martial art style was the "Fire God style" which was considered long lost until he discovered a soul book. After becoming a senior it was known martial artist could usually start using projectile moves which was usually what set a mage far above a fighter. His men had started to fight some of the men who weren't hit by the move because they were to far away. "Really why did she send me to this." He loved to fight but only when his enemy actually stood a chance. This felt more like just killing. He had jumped to the second balcony with ease staring their leader straight in the face ready to kill this man. A multitude of his men ran at him while he killed them with ease. Almost splattering their body parts with ease from his strength difference. He almost felt that he was in the wrong from just killing some of these men who were just trying to survive in these harsher lands. He finally made his was to the leader looking him straight in his eyes realizing he was the weakest among all these men. It almost infuriated him how much this man was crying while ordering his men to sacrifice his life for him.
"Daughter please protect your father if you don't you'll be punished again remember what your mother said about listening to me no matter what, do you want to disgrace her."
Sono peeked behind him staring at a girl who at most was maybe 14 -15. She was completely naked her body covered in scars and blood. Her body seemed to be abnormally skinny but her eyes is what scared him the most. It was the eyes of women he had seen on the battlefield or in camps after being prisoners. They were usually Totured and raped to the point of breaking mentally. These were the same eyes this girl had.
"What have you done to your own daughter." Sono's voice was filled with rage. He could only think about his own kid.
"Yes father." Out of nowhere she had jumped at him with a dagger with precision and speed. Of course he saw her movements and were able to easily dodge. She slashed at his abdomen while spinning into a quick kick at his face while he blocked each attack.
He was stunned because of the flexibility and power she showed. She was definitely at pro level but her style was so animalistic. He had decided that that was enough and he would take her away from here. He ended the fight with a punch to her gut knocking her completely out.
"How did you control her she was definitely stronger than you. And why would you do something like that to your own daughter. The man started laughing crazily with tears and fear on his face.
"Of course she's not my daughter we actually had a force of 700 men but her mother made sure to cull those numbers. When we had finally wore her down we captured both of them and killed the mother. That runt has been sleeping with her dead mother's carcass. And as long as we let this happen she does whatever we say whenever we say."
"How long have you had her?!"
"3 years." He said this while snot and tears were streaming down his face.
Sono squashed the mans head with his foot. He picked up the girl and had jumped back down getting ready to fight.
"Sir you done too?"
Sono looked around at all the dead bodies then the girl. He felt bad at first for killing these men but he looked at the girl and his hatred for this world started once again. He threw on that general Sono smile and looked at the soldier. "Let's leave men the job is done."
"Who is that young lady sir?"
"I don't know but for right now lets get her somewhere safe. First search around for any loot for the kingdom."
"Sir shouldn't we tend to her wounds first."
"She'll be ok she's a pro martial artist. Her body will heal from those broken bones before anyone else here. Other than me of course. Did we have any casualties."
"No sir although you did take out more than half the men so of course there weren't many for us to deal with. We'll take a look around this hideout then."
"Try to go in groups of 3 or more in case their are still people lurking here. I don't want any casualties from carelessness. Mage!"
"Yes sir."
Take her back and make sure she is ok. Treat her like a tortured soldier."
"That mean you want us to tie her down too."
"Yes, she is a pro level so use material fitting of that." He looked at her scars one more time before handing her off feeling turmoil in the pit of his stomach. "I should've tortured that man."