"Hahaha! That's right! We are the Mud Hand Bandit Gang, rulers of this desert!"
My eyes gleamed at the bandit's voice, which sounded like that of a leader. Though the voice was rather rough, it was unmistakably feminine.
I peeked around the pillar to observe the bandit leader. The bandits were dressed in loose, concealing robes, typical for the desert. With their faces covered, it was difficult to distinguish men from women at first glance.
But they can't fool my eyes. Hmm... that slight curve in her back she's definitely a woman. It's just a hunch, but I bet she has an exceptional figure.
By physique, she was smaller than the other bandits. Yet her position as leader could only mean she was stronger than the rest.
"The Lord of the Heavens is curious about the female bandit's face."
I'm dying to see it too.
But I won't act yet. This many enemies would be too much for me alone. I'll wait for them to show a major opening before striking.
"Mud Hand Bandit Gang! I've heard of your reputation!"
"Oh, really...? Well, we've been robbing around here for over a year now."
"I heard the Mud Hand Bandit Gang lets travelers pass safely if they pay the toll! We'll pay you the toll, so let us through!"
"Ah, that? Sorry, but we don't take tolls anymore. It's been a while guess the rumors are slow to catch up?"
"W-what are you saying?!"
The merchant's face turned ashen. Instinctively, he knew things had gone terribly wrong.
"What do you mean? Hand over everything you've got or die, Merchant. Hahaha!"
"Madman! Where does such a thing exist?!"
"Right here, of course. Did you really think you could just bribe the Bandit Gang and walk away? Bandits are supposed to plunder, you know!"
"...Do you think you'll get away with this?!"
"Ha! You little shit. You talk too much. Enough. Hand over everything and get lost. We'll spare your lives. We don't want to risk getting hit by a stray blade in a pointless fight."
"These are our possessions! We even went into debt to buy them! Taking everything from us is no different than killing us!"
"Why waste so much breath saying you don't want to hand them over? Enough, boys! Kill them!"
As soon as the Bandit Leader's words fell, the bandits charged at the merchants.
"Yaaahhoo!"
"Die, you cripples!"
"This is what it means to be a bandit!"
Clang! Clang!
"Aaaaaah!"
The clash of blades and screams filled the air, and chaos erupted. Seizing the opportunity, I dashed toward the nearest bandits.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Silent Void Strike.
Thwack!
I struck a bandit's head. Staggering from the blow, he regained his balance and glared at me.
"I don't know where you crawled out from, but you'll re "
Boom!
The bandit's head exploded.
Silent Void Strike is a technique that channels Demonic Heavenly Energy into an opponent's body, causing it to explode. This can either kill the target outright or blast them away with the force of the explosion. However, if the opponent rapidly neutralizes the Demonic Heavenly Energy using mana, the explosion will not occur.
Heh. They're much weaker than I expected. Then again, if they could use mana, they wouldn't need to resort to banditry.
I regained my composure. I had been slightly intimidated by the ten bandits, but now that I was facing them, I realized I could easily slaughter them.
"What the fuck?! Where did that clown-masked bastard come from?!"
The Bandit Leader glared at me, his face contorted with rage. A closer look revealed the truth: this was definitely a woman. Despite her loose clothing, the distinct bulge of her breasts was visible beneath the fabric.
She aimed a sharply curved scimitar at me.
Was this weapon called a scimitar?
I moved closer, intending to pull aside the cloth covering her face, but paused. I sensed the movement of Mana emanating from her.
Whoosh.
A blue aura coalesced around her scimitar.
"What's wrong, kid? Scared?"
"Scared? No. This Sovereign was merely contemplating how to dispose of you."
"Dispose of me? Arrogant brat! Since you killed my men, I'll hunt down your family and make sure they don't die easily. I'll sell your brat as a slave, turn your women into whores, and then cut off your limbs before throwing you to the Sand Hyenas!"
"Hmph. If you think you can, go ahead and try."
At that moment, the bandit beside her spoke up.
"T-Team Leader! That bastard's the Heavenly Demon! The clown mask, black robes, and that skill... He's definitely the Heavenly Demon!"
"Heavenly Demon?"
She glanced at me again, her gaze sweeping from head to toe.
"What's that?"
She clearly didn't recognize me.
"He's been making a name for himself in the back alleys lately! A merciless killer who slaughters people without hesitation! A super-rookie with a 90% mission success rate!"
"Hmm. It seems you know This Sovereign."
I had taken on many assignments for Pesica, most of which involved killing people. I rarely knew why they had to die, nor did I care. I killed them simply because it was the job.
"What the fuck? He was just sucking on that old hag's tits! Haven't we killed enough of these merchant bastards yet?!"
I glanced at the merchants. Two were dead, and two were still alive, their breathing ragged and clothes soaked in blood. They were clearly in no condition to fight.
"Everyone except two, come here! Let's finish this bastard off!"
"Ye, Team Leader!"
The bandits moved with practiced efficiency.
If they surround me, things could get troublesome. I should act before that happens.
I finally stirred from my leisurely stance. Feigning an attack on the Bandit Leader, I suddenly swung my fist at the male bandit beside him.
The woman can wait!
Demonic Heavenly Art: Silent Void Strike.
My fist struck the bandit squarely in the solar plexus.
"Ugh!"
The bandit flew backward. Moments later, his body exploded, scattering blood and entrails.
"You bastard!"
The Bandit Leader roared in fury, swinging his sword, now charged with sword qi, at me.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Heavenly Demon Step
My feet moved in a dazzling dance, retreating effortlessly. Her sword slashed uselessly through the air.
"Filthy show-off!"
She spat, then barked orders at the surrounding bandits.
"Charge him all at once!"
"Hmph. Your numbers are too meager to challenge This Sovereign. You'd need at least three thousand men."
"Shut your stinking mouth, you mutt!"
Saying that only makes me want to open my mouth wider.
I opened my mouth as wide as I could and took a deep breath. As I felt the air filling my lungs, I channeled the Demonic Heavenly Art.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Heavenly Demon's Roar.
"SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Bandits wielding swords charged at me.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Heavenly Demon Step
I moved with footwork that resembled a tap dance, dodging the bandits' blades while searching for an opening.
My mastery of the Heavenly Demon Step was still lacking, making it difficult to attack simultaneously.
"Damn it! Stop flitting around!"
The Bandit Leader pulled a slender needle from his robe and hurled it at me. Alarmed by its speed, I recoiled sharply.
"Hah! Hah! Who are you?!"
A merchant stood beside me, sword in hand. I had retreated until I was beside him. The other merchants lay dead, their bodies cold.
"This Sovereign is Cheonmada."
"...I don't know who you are, but you're certainly an odd one. I'll cut to the chase: how about we cooperate?"
"Hmm. Fine."
"Then I'll take the rear. Heavenly Demon, you take the front..."
"No, you take the front."
"What...?! Uh-oh?!"
Thwack!
I kicked the merchant's hind leg. As he lost his balance and began to fall, I reached out and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. Using my left foot as a pivot, I spun him around with centrifugal force and hurled him at the bandits charging toward me.
"Aaaaaaah!"
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The merchant's body was pierced repeatedly by the bandits' swords, killing him instantly.
The Lord of the Heavens frowns.
The King of the Demonic Heavens lets out a pleased chuckle.
The King of the Demonic Heavens cheers you on.
Go for it!
Ignoring the notification windows, I seized the opening the merchant had created.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Heavenly Demon Asura.
Whoosh!
Black Demonic Heavenly Energy blazed like flames from both my hands.
I curled all my fingers into hooks and swung them in wide arcs.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Heavenly Demon Flying Claw.
Ten streaks of black sword qi shot toward the bandits, slicing through them like butter. Legs, necks, chests, heads nothing was spared.
Only three bandits remained alive. Two lay motionless on the ground, while the Bandit Leader, who had blocked the Heavenly Demon Flying Claw, was the only one still standing.
"D-damn it... I thought you were just a cripple... How could you possess such power?!"
Thud.
I took a step toward the Bandit Leader. Startled, he gripped his scimitar tighter.
"Unexpected. I thought you'd run away..."
I noticed she was still concerned about the surviving bandits.
Bandits showing loyalty?
Using the Heavenly Demon Step, I dashed toward the Bandit Leader. He swung his scimitar at me.
I didn't dodge. Instead, I reached out with both hands and grabbed the blade.
Clang!
The scimitar's blade was caught in my grip.
"You caught a sword imbued with sword qi?!"
"I'm using Fist Qi too. There's no reason I couldn't catch it."
She didn't realize one crucial thing: Demonic Heavenly Energy was no ordinary Qi.
Kaang!
With a surge of strength in my hands, the scimitar's blade shattered.
"Ah...?!"
As she murmured in disbelief, my fist slammed into her abdomen.
"Gut punch!"
"Gah!"
She flew backward, rolling across the ground. She writhed but couldn't get up easily.
I slowly walked toward her.
The King of the Demonic Heavens has donated 1,000 AP.
"Kill~ her! Kill~ her~! Kill~ her!"
A cute junior girl's voice urged me on.
This isn't some drinking game...
The worst part was that the voice was so damn alluring.
"Did you say you wouldn't kill my family outright if I found them? I'll honor your words. But before that... I'll personally sever your limbs and inflict the Asanagi-style punishment upon you."
This woman was a bandit. She'd likely been selling children into slavery and forcing women into prostitution.
Honestly, I didn't care how she'd lived her life. What mattered was that this bitch had hurled insults at me.
Thud, thud.
I strode up to the Bandit Leader and reached out to rip off the cloth covering her head.
She was a stunning beauty with fiery red hair that blazed like flames and ruby-like eyes that sparkled like jewels. Her crimson skin was smooth, and her features were sharp and striking.
What truly captivated me were her bold, sweeping eyebrows. She reminded me of an Arabian beauty.
Tingle!
A fierce reaction surged through my groin.
With a swift motion, I tore off her upper garments.
"Argh! You bastard! Just kill me!"
I ignored her words.
She wore a breastplate, revealing breasts that were at least a D-cup. Below them was an abdomen bruised in the shape of my fist. Her body was completely devoid of excess fat.
I swallowed hard. She was even more breathtaking than I'd imagined. This was like stumbling upon a gold nugget... no, a diamond, while walking down the street.
I'm so lucky after all.
The King of the Demonic Heavens proposes a mission to you.
Mission Condition 1: Kill the woman.
Mission Time Limit: 5 minutes
Mission Success Reward: 10 million AP
Mission Failure Penalty: None
Do you accept the mission?
"Fuck off."
Mission rejected.
I wouldn't do it even for 100 million AP.
The Lord of the Heavens is watching with sparkling eyes, full of anticipation.
"...Didn't you frown earlier? You seem to dislike me. Why don't we cut the broadcast for a bit this time?"
The Lord of the Heavens donates 10,000 AP to you.
The Lord of the Heavens clears his throat.
Ahem. Ahem.
"Well, sometimes the sunlight is just too intense, you know?"
Before her, her red eyes burning like flames as she glared at me with murderous intent, I pulled down my pants.