Chapter 149 Bandits
Chapter 149 Bandits
The ruins were outside the city, past the Outer Wilds, a dangerous territory filled with rogue Ascenders, wild beasts, and lawless zones where Tower rules didn't apply.
Milim cracked her knuckles. "This is gonna be fun!"
Leon smirked. "Let's see what the Fifth Floor has in store for us."
With that, the group left the safety of Velka's walls, heading toward their first real challenge on this floor—the Crimson Fang Bandits.
As Leon and his group moved toward the Eastern Ruins, the atmosphere gradually shifted. The bustling, structured energy of Velka faded behind them, replaced by an eerie silence. The Outer Wilds stretched before them—vast rocky terrain with crumbling stone pillars, ancient broken roads, and occasional remnants of what seemed to be an old civilization.
"Feels like something straight out of a war zone," Roman muttered, scanning the surroundings.
Liliana nodded. "And a perfect place for bandits to set up camp."
As they advanced, Milim suddenly stopped, her sharp senses detecting something ahead.
"Something's watching us," she said, her voice low but excited.
Leon activated Aether Sight, his eyes glowing faintly as he looked into the distance. Several red markers appeared on his vision, hiding behind the remains of crumbled walls.
"Ambush," Leon stated. "Five of them, lightly armed but fast. They're scouts, probably from the Crimson Fang."
Roselia placed her hand on her sword. "Do we engage?"
Leon smirked. "No need. Let them come to us."
As if on cue, the bandit scouts lunged from their hiding spots, charging forward with dual daggers and short swords. Their movements were quick, enhanced by mana, but to Leon and his group, they were nothing but easy prey.
Bandit 1 dashed at Leon, aiming to stab his side—only for Leon to sidestep and counter with Samsara Strike, his sword cutting through the bandit's mana shield like paper.
Milim jumped into the air, spinning mid-air before delivering a devastating Fist of the Tyrant, sending one bandit crashing through a boulder.
Roselia moved with lethal precision, her Wind Cutter Slash decapitating a bandit before he could even react.
Roman let out a laugh, dodging attacks with ease before using Infernal Chain Bind, locking two bandits in place before snapping their necks with a single strike. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire
In less than thirty seconds, all five scouts were either dead or unconscious.
Leon wiped the blood off his blade and smirked. "If this is all the Crimson Fang has, I'm almost disappointed."
Liliana knelt beside one of the unconscious bandits. "Should we interrogate him?"
Leon thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. Let's see what kind of trouble we're dealing with before we charge in."
"Next time, we're taking care of the small fries," Naval said, dissatisfied that she didn't get a chance to fight any bandits, while Liliana calmly followed the group.
Roselia crouched beside the unconscious Crimson Fang scout, gripping his wrist tightly as her magic pulsed through her fingers. The energy from her Binding Hex seeped into his body, preventing him from moving even if he woke up.
"Wake up," she said coldly, slapping him lightly across the face.
Milim chuckled. "That was fun. So, straight to the Obsidian Archway?"
Leon's eyes gleamed as he turned toward the ruins. "Yeah. Time to pay Drevan the Crimson Butcher a visit."
The team moved swiftly through the ruined outskirts of the Obsidian Archway, their steps silent against the cracked stone. The deeper they ventured, the more the air grew thick with the scent of blood and steel, remnants of countless battles fought in this place.
Leon held up a hand, signaling the group to stop. Using Aether Sight, he scanned ahead, his vision piercing through the shadows. He could see the Crimson Fang's base—a fortified camp nestled within the remains of a once-great temple. Several Ascenders patrolled the area, their red-cloaked armor marking them as Drevan's elite.
Roselia leaned closer. "How many?"
Leon narrowed his eyes. "Fifty in total, but they're spread out. The real threat is Drevan."
Roman smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Then let's make some noise."
Liliana shook her head. "No, a frontal assault is reckless. We take out their scouts first—eliminate their ability to call for reinforcements."
Leon nodded. "Agreed. Milim, you and Naval handle the left flank. Roselia, Roman, take the right. Liliana and I will clear the central tower."
Without hesitation, they split into their respective teams.
The team moved swiftly through the ruined outskirts of the Obsidian Archway, their steps silent against the cracked stone. The deeper they ventured, the more the air grew thick with the scent of blood and steel, remnants of countless battles fought in this place.
Leon held up a hand, signaling the group to stop. Using Aether Sight, he scanned ahead, his vision piercing through the shadows. He could see the Crimson Fang's base—a fortified camp nestled within the remains of a once-great temple. Several Ascenders patrolled the area, their red-cloaked armor marking them as Drevan's elite.
Roselia leaned closer. "How many?"
Leon narrowed his eyes. "Fifty in total, but they're spread out. The real threat is Drevan."
Roman smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Then let's make some noise."
Liliana shook her head. "No, a frontal assault is reckless. We take out their scouts first—eliminate their ability to call for reinforcements."
Leon nodded. "Agreed. Milim, you and Naval handle the left flank. Roselia, Roman, take the right. Liliana and I will clear the central tower."
Without hesitation, they split into their respective teams.
**
Milim crouched behind a broken pillar, watching as three bandits played dice near a stack of stolen goods. She turned to Naval, whispering, "Wanna handle this the fun way?"
Naval grinned. "I was hoping you'd say that."
With a flick of his wrist, his Shadow Chains shot out, wrapping around one of the guards and yanking him into the darkness. Before the others could react, Milim vanished in a flash of pink light, reappearing behind them.
BOOM!
A shockwave exploded from her fist, sending the remaining two crashing into the stone walls.
"Too easy," she grinned, dusting off her hands.
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