"We're here."
Feryll spoke, ordering Justinian to stop the horse just by the edge of the forest's outskirts. Bringing a horse inside the forest would only slow it down.
"I'm guessing the hideout isn't far?"
Justinian dismounted, patting the horse's mane, subtly ordering it to stay just by a tree, his skill with horses now unparalleled.
"You look like you could talk with the animal."
"You could say that."
Justinian laughed.
"Seriously?"
"Of course not."
Feryll smirked slightly, amused at their pointless conversation as she looked at the forest's darkness; only danger awaited them.
"Let's get going."
Justinian nodded, unsheathing his sword as he entered the forest first, cutting through the foliage to pave the way.
While the bandits were definitely a problem, Justinian had a different concern, involving the flora that surrounded them.
While most were familiar, some might be dangerous, even lethal; he needed to make sure not to touch any unknown or strange plants while they were on the mission.
"You're acting as if the plants will kill you."
Feryll noticed the strange way he moved, literally cutting everything on his path.
"Because they might."
SWISH!
SWISH!
Justinian's expert swordsmanship was on full display, even if it was only directed at plants; the skill behind it was clear for Feryll to see.
"How long have you been in the adventuring business?"
She asked, at this point, Justinian was still unknown to her, the hood doing wonders at hiding his identity.
"Long enough to become a master."
Justinian cockily answered, a sentence he had always wanted to mutter, a chance to show off as a hidden master to someone oblivious.
A power fantasy.
"Seems like we're here."
Justinian stopped, taking cover behind a tree as he peeked through the bark.
"Seems to be... two of them just at the entrance."
The bandit camp was walled with crude walls, enough to cover those who resided in it, except for those who kept watch just by the entrance.
Feryll followed suit, hiding behind the same tree as she confirmed Justinian's headcount, her heart beating fast at the mention of the number on the entrance alone.
She was a blacksmith, not a warrior; she only came along as a precaution, not as an actual companion. The fighting would mostly be Justinian's job.
"What's the plan?"
"I'm the plan."
Justinian smiled under his hood, getting out of cover to the disagreement of Feryll.
"Are you crazy!?"
"Just watch me..."
Justinian couldn't decide if what he said was cool or cringy; either way, he had the skill to back it up, even if it was unfairly gained through a system.
RUSTLE!
The sounds of Justinian approaching quickly alerted the bandits, making them look in his general direction, with Feryll nowhere in sight, still in hiding.
"Huh...?"
A bandit raised a brow, eating bread while sitting on the ground.
"Looks like we have an unlucky idiot..."
He smirked, eating the bread whole as he stood up, grabbing his mace from a tent.
"You confident you can take him alone?"
Another bandit responded, bow in hand and ready to fire straight at Justinian's heart. They clearly were experienced, considering they managed to ambush the shipment, which was likely protected by armed guards.
"Of course I can..."
The bandit with the mace spat on the ground, a confident smile on his face as he slowly approached Justinian.
The two slowly closed the distance, both confident in their skills.
"Die quickly!"
FWOOSH!
The bandit swung first, an overhead swing with his mace. It was slow, clunky, but definitely lethal.
THUD.
Justinian redirected the swing with his sword, swinging at the mace's shaft before sliding across it and cutting the bandit's hand in one swing.
SLASH!
"AGHH! BASTARD!"
The bandit fell on his rear, screaming in agony as his two arms were now lying on the floor disconnected from his body, dread in his face.
"You should have been careful!"
The bandit with the bow behind him yelled out, firing an arrow at Justinian.
"Nice try!"
CLANG!
The arrow unceremoniously didn't hit his mark, Justinian easily dodging it with a simple sidestep.
After dueling with Cassia and fighting two large battles, the bandits were no longer a threat.
"F-fuck!"
The bandit sensed the difference in skill, seeing Justinian's posture and movements calm and restrained, as if he thought they were a joke.
Enough to make him retreat deeper into the camp.
"I'll call backup!"
The bandit left quickly, leaving his companion behind, still on the ground, as he realized he was screwed.
"Get back here, you punk!"
He yelled out, but soon realized no one was coming.
"We can talk this out!"
The bandit looked back at Justinian, now standing before him, sword already over his head as he prepared to deliver the killing blow.
"I'll give-"
SLASH!
The bandit's head rolled onto the floor, another lowlife gone from his rebuilding capital.
"You coming or what?"
Justinian looked behind him, clearly addressing Feryll.
"Y-you! I swear to the gods I'll kill you!"
Feryll whispered in pure anger, What would he have done if they were too much? He almost got the two of them killed.
"Whatever, I'll watch your back."
She stepped out of the tree with her sword in hand, nodding at Justinian to continue deeper into the bandit camp.
***
SLASH!
SLASH!
"Intruder!"
SLASH!
Justinian killed and killed, it was easier than he thought, none of them even registering as a threat in his mind, as his body remained calm, not a single disruption in his heart rate as he marched through the camp.
SLASH!
"D-devil!"
A bandit on the ground yelled out, his thigh wounded badly, unable to stand.
"H-help!"
SHLK!
Justinian drove his sword deep into the bandit's heart from behind, silencing him quickly.
"Devil? What a creative nickname."
As Justinian continued on his merry way, Feryll, just behind, had her arms on her sides, watching with her jaw open the entire time.
Who the hell did she hire?