The ground trembled under the heavy sound of Arzael's sword being dragged. Crimson Edge, that blood-red blade, carved deep lines into the earth. Each time its steel scraped against small stones, faint red sparks leapt like hellfire dancing in the night.
The bandits, who had been laughing before, now swallowed hard, though they still tried to look brave. One of them, a large man with a gaping scar across his face, took a step forward.
"You can use spatial magic, kid?" the man said, narrowing his eyes. "And that… that's a fine weapon. If you surrender now and hand it over, maybe I'll—"
The words were cut short.
The man's body remained standing, but his head had already been severed, rolling across the ground and leaving a hot spray of blood upon the dry earth.
Arzael now stood behind the headless body. None of them had seen how he moved. Only his whisper echoed in the air.
"Shadow Step."
The bandit camp fell silent. Then—
"W-what just happened?!"
"He… he disappeared and then—"
"Impossible! That's impossible!"
Panic spread, yet Arzael did not stop. His gaze was sharp, cold, and merciless.
Seraphina, standing at a distance with Puff on her shoulder, watched without much reaction. Her long white hair swayed in the wind, her eyes following Arzael with chilling calmness.
"HUH?! Did you see that, Seraphina?!" Puff squeaked, her voice shrill. "He blinked! Like… like teleportation! HHHHHHH, insane!!!"
"Yes," Seraphina answered flatly, her eyes never leaving Arzael.
Meanwhile, one of the bandits tried to rally his companions. "Don't be afraid! He's just one man! If we rush him together, he won't have time to move again!"
His words sparked false courage among the remaining bandits. They roared, brandishing weapons, desperately trying to mask their fear with bravado.
Arzael only smirked, his lips curling into a thin, mocking line.
"Pathetic."
His grip on Crimson Edge tightened. Then, in a near whisper, he muttered
"Scan."
His eyes glowed faintly. His gaze swept across the bandits. A green aura enveloped most of them, no real threat. But in the far back, a blonde man with tanned skin shone yellow.
"Hm. So you're the leader."
Arzael stepped forward.
The first bandit charged, swinging a heavy axe. "Die!"
With one movement, Arzael deflected it, then slashed Crimson Edge sideways. The axe shattered instantly, the bandit's body cleaved in half.
Another lunged from the right with a spear. Arzael merely ducked slightly, his crimson blade rising in a swift arc. The man's head flew.
Screams of terror erupted. Blood sprayed in every direction.
"He's a demon! He's a demon!" one cried, just before his stomach split open, entrails spilling onto the ground.
Arzael moved like a shadow. No wasted motion, no unnecessary magic, only raw strength and brutal speed. Crimson Edge danced, slicing flesh, shattering bone, tearing souls apart.
With each swing, a life vanished.
With each strike, fresh blood stained the earth.
+5 EXP
+5 EXP
+5 EXP
Their numbers dwindled swiftly, twenty became fifteen, then ten, then eight.
On Seraphina's shoulder, Puff trembled, her eyes wide. "WAAAAH! Look at that! He's like a meat grinder! I-I don't know if I should be proud or terrified, Seraphina!"
Seraphina didn't answer. Her face remained blank, though her eyes narrowed slightly. "That's Arzael."
"He's… like a demon, isn't he? He's not even sweating! And there were so many of them!" Puff squealed.
"Hm."
The remaining bandits began shaking. One of them dropped to his knees. "Please! Spare me! I swear I won't do this again!"
Arzael walked toward him slowly.
"Mercy?" He lowered his gaze, staring into the man's eyes with hollow indifference. Then, a faint smile tugged at his lips. "You beg for mercy… from destruction?"
Crimson Edge fell. The head rolled.
While Arzael drowned the camp in blood, a shadow crept toward Seraphina and Puff.
A sneaky bandit emerged from the darkness, gripping a dagger.
"Heh… jackpot," he muttered. "A cute little bunny… and a girl pretty as an angel? I'm rich."
Puff's ears shot up, and she spun around. "Seraphina, behind you!!!"
Seraphina turned slowly. Her expression didn't change at all. The bandit chuckled, trying to intimidate her.
"Give up, and I promise I won't hurt you…"
Puff hissed, her tiny voice sharp. "Back off, or you'll regret it!"
The bandit froze, eyes wide, shocked to see a rabbit talking. "W-what the…? This animal… jackpot for real!"
But before he could move further, Seraphina lifted her hand. Mana surged around her, swirling like a whirlpool.
"Mana Burst."
BOOM!
A controlled explosion erupted. The bandit was obliterated, his scream dying in the blast.
"Done and dusted," Seraphina muttered flatly, lowering her hand.
Puff's jaw dropped, her eyes sparkling. "SERAPHINAAAA!!! That was amazing! You're incredible! You were like—like—BOOM! AAAAH, I can't even!!!"
Seraphina only turned her head slightly, her expression still blank. "Hm."
Arzael glanced toward the explosion. Seeing Seraphina standing calmly through the dust, a faint smile touched his lips. Then he turned back to the remaining bandits.
Now, only one was left, the blonde leader. His hands trembled, his face pale. He grabbed a small boy tied near a tent, pressing a knife to the child's throat.
"Don't come closer!" he screamed hysterically. "If you move again, this kid dies! I mean it!!!"
Arzael stopped. He stared at them. Then, he smiled faintly.
"Oh, I see…" his voice was low. "In that case, I'll leave."
He dropped Crimson Edge to the ground with a heavy thud, then slowly turned away.
The bandit leader grinned, thinking he had won. "Yes! Run! Or else—"
[Skill Activated: Shadow Step]
In an instant, Arzael's shadow flickered. He appeared right behind the bandit.
CRACK!
With his bare hand, Arzael seized the man's head, and tore it from his body. Blood gushed wildly, splattering the child's face as he screamed in horror.
The bandit's body crumpled. The severed head hit the dirt, its eyes still wide in shock.
+20 EXP
Arzael stood silently, blood dripping from his hand, his gaze cold.
"B-Boss…" Puff shuddered. "That was… too cruel… You killed him right in front of the child…"
Seraphin looked at the boy briefly, then turned her gaze back to Arzael. Puff immediately glanced at her. "Hey, Seraphina! Shouldn't you tell him not to be so brutal? That poor kid will be traumatized!"
"There's no need," Seraphina replied icily.
"Whaaa?! You two are both cold-blooded!!!" Puff covered her face with her tiny paws.
They returned to Leya, with Arzael carrying the boy and untying his ropes. The child ran ahead, sobbing loudly, toward the city. The three of them followed behind.
When they arrived, a crying woman rushed forward, hugging the boy tightly.
"Thank you… oh, thank you, kind people…" she sobbed.
She handed Arzael a pouch of gold coins with trembling hands. "As promised… this is all I have…"
Arzael stared at the pouch. He was silent for a moment. Then he shook his head.
"No need."
"B-but…"
"No need."
The woman fell silent, then bowed her head, crying again.
Arzael turned away, walking alongside Seraphina and Puff.
On the road, Puff glanced up at him curiously. "Boss… you're really weird. You said you wanted a reward, but then you refused. Hhh, so naive."
"Shut up, Puff," Arzael replied coldly.
Puff winced. "Seraphinaaaa, I don't understand Boss at all…"
Seraphina looked straight ahead, her voice flat. "You don't need to."
"AAAAH! You two are driving me crazy!" Puff yanked her own ears with her tiny paws, while Arzael walked on calmly, the faintest curve on his lips.
That day, destruction had danced.