Chp-25 The Hunters get Hunted.
3rd pov:
A few hours have passed after the Adventurers formed a plan to ambush the Bandits. It was almost time for the sun to set and darkness to cover the world.
Meanwhile in the Bandit Encampment.
The Place was bustling with activity as people went about from one tent to another delivering weapons supplies, some sharpening their weapons and some forming groups gathered around bonfires chatting away.
"Hey, I heard that those adventurer groups have beautiful women with them?", One of the bandits in a group said with a lustful look in his face.
"Me too, I hope leader can spare some for us too.", Said his friend who together dreamed of several ways to enjoy their 'goods'.
"Don't be stupid, by the time they are finished not even crumbs will be left behind.", a third member who was more rational than the former lustfilled dogs spoke.
" You're right, it seems we are too weak to even have happiness here.", Having some sense from his words, the first bandit's friend spoke.
"*sigh* yeah", finally after coming down to earth, the first degenerate bandit sighed.
" Oi, I heard that Boss is almost at the rank of special A?", From behind them, another bandit approached their group and simultaneously asked a question.
"Me too, if he truly became a Special A ranked then maybe we can take control over this small country.", acknowledging the newcomer's question, the degenerate spoke.
"Yeah! We'll be the rulers of this lands and then we'll have all the women we like.", the degenerate's friend shouted which attracted some glares from the nearby groups.
"Hahaha! Let's toast to this dream together!", The newcomer, wanting to
de-escalate the atmosphere toasted.
"Yeahhh!!"
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Unbeknownst to any of these bandits, a kilometre away hidden behind the bushes shrouded by Darkness and utilising [Perfect Unknowable] Team Golden Tear was observing them.
" They are quite a lively bunch huh? Casually talking about capturing slaves and laughing.", Armin casually remarked, observing the Bandits.
Armin and Ari with their superior physical constitution could perfectly hear them from such a distance away.
" If you command My Lord, then I will wipe them away instantly."
"Let's not do that Ari, I want to see the capability of Team Kibou. They seem interesting."
"I don't understand my Lord, they seems to be weak to me. How can worms be interesting?", Genuinely confused, Ari spoke.
"It's not about their physical or magical capabilities but if they have any interesting Skills. I hope you remember what I said that time? About this world's skill system."
"Absolutely My Lord, your every words are engraved in our minds. How could I forget it?"
"*chuckles* Right... let's listen for more information. The others should be arriving soon."
Armin and Ari reached this place much earlier then the rest because they wanted to gather more information and they were given the task to create a distraction among the Bandits so that the rest could take advantage of the Chaos to launch the assualt.
"Cheh, making you wait for this long and even ordering you with such a menial task. I want to shred them to pieces those Insufferable-", before Aria could continue her profound words, she promptly got interrupted by Armin.
" W-well, it is needed for my plans so don't do anything without my permission okay?"
" Yes!"
Getting a Jovial reply, Armin sighed in his head
'*sigh* crisis averted'
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As Armin struggled to hold Aria from doing something regrettable, we move towards the tent where the leaders of the Bandits were present.
It was situated in the middle of the encirclement of numerous tents and was the largest among the rest. It was surrounded in a Triangular formation with three other larger tents, the resting place for the leader's direct subordinates.
Inside the largest tent, four figures could be seen sitting on a table, discussing.
" Boss, it is almost night time and those adventurers should have already halted their advance and set up camps."
One of the figure, sat beside the figure at the head of the table spoke. He had a face that described his nature as a cunning and deceitful person. His small but scheming smile and those narrowed eyes emphasized his character further.
"We should use the midnight's absolute darkness to Attack them. "
One of the more normal looking figure among them, but still dressed in an Adventurer style clothing with a small scar below his chin proposed.
"Why do it at night time with such an unscrupulous means? I'd much prefer to just head on attack them, with my hammer they will all turn to mush."
The largest of those figures present in this room, with a small frown and crossed hands spoke up. His sitting stature alone was enough to make an average person's standing height seem small. Next to him was a large hammer, leaning against his chair.
"It is as Will has said, midnight will be the most advantageous for us, Billo. With it we can reduce the amount of wasted fodders."
The last of the figures, but the most important one judging by him being seated at the head said.
His face, a representation of the brutality this person might have gone through in his life, had three long parallel scar along his right eye. His right eye was white, showing he was blind in his right eye. He had a beard and his face was showing signs of wrinkles.
"Whatever Boss.", crossing his hands, Billo huffed.
"Well, even if we fight head on or by petty means, ultimately we will win. With Boss Victor's rise to power and almost becoming Special -A rank, I believe it will be a breeze. This battle might just solidify Boss's succession to Special -A."
The Narrow eyed person spoke.
" Shut up Gil, we all know you are just trying to suck up to boss. It's disgusting even seeing you, you should hang yourself for the good of all humanity." Clearly showing disdain against Gil, Will retorted.
"You should shut up, you good for nothing who only desires to sleep with women.", Replied back Gil.
" What's wrong with that? Women are life you know?", without any shame in his face, Will replied religiously.
"Noone's that obsessed with it as you are you perverted phsyco!", Almost screaming comically Gill replied.
" You-!"
Before Will could say his comeback, they were interrupted with an underling rushing inside the tent. He clearly looked panicked.
"Boss! Two unknown guys have approached us!! They seem to be Adventurers! some of the patrols tried to capture them but they beat them up! Come and look!!"
"What!? You idiots can't even handle two people and earlier were so pumped up about fighting the whole adventurers group.", Scolded Billo.
" Where are they?", While the rest were in a panic, Victor, the leader calmly but with a sense of urgency in his eyes asked the question.
"They are -!!"
*Boom!*
Before the underling could finish a resounding sound of an explosion was heard. Along with it the ground was shaking intensely as if any moment fissures will open up and engulf them.
" What the Hell is going on there!!!"
All of them quickly rushed out towards the origin of the explosion. When they reached it, all they could see was a large crater with cooling molted rocks and at the edge of it on the other side was two figures, one and armoured figure with a long sword at hand and the other a female mage.
" Was it you who did this?"
Looking at the female present Victor asked. Judging by their appearance and equipment, it was common sense the male was a swordsman and the female was the mage. Hence he deduced it was the female who caused this explosion.
This made him vigilant as such a large sized explosion could have drained even a majin low of reserves and that female looked just fine.
Seeing the Female still silent he decided to continue but was interrupted by the male.
"I believe there is a misunderstanding here, you seem to think it was my Companion here who caused the explosion."
"Is it not true though?", with his eyebrows raised Gil asked.
"No, it was infact me who did this"
" Ha!? Don't joke around scum, clearly you are a swordsman!", thinking that they were being underestimated Billo spoke.
"Who said Swordsman can't cast some simple magic? All I did was cast a simple fireball really. And it is disrespectful to call others what you yourself are."
Hearing his statement, the Bandits couldn't help but think "What type of Fireball can cause even the earth to shake, you bastard!?"
" You seem to like to Jest, sword guy. Won't you introduce yourself?", seeing that it was going nowhere, Will tried the diplomatic way
Of talking with this newcomer.
" Then let us introduce ourselves, We are Team Golden Tear, an A rank group. My name is Armin and my companion here is Ari."
" Then Armin, seeing you are a swordsman, why don't I test if you really quality to be an A ranked?", Asked Will.
" I would be happy to take you on the offer any other day, but you see, I am here to deal with your Leader here.", Pointing his hands at Victor, the newcomer declared.
" You-"
" Zazazazah! You have amused me young man! I am Victor by the way, but you won't need it anyways since you will die now!"
" It is yet to be seen Victor. Meanwhile, my aquaintences will be fighting your direct subordinates."
As he said that four more figures suddenly became visible to them, standing behind Armin and Ari. This surprised the Bandits, as they did not even sense a snuff of their presence.
The most shocked was Victor. As someone who was almost at the Special A ranked he had a higher senseing ability then the rest and it was difficult to hide from his eyes.
'I must be serious with this Group, they spell trouble ', thought Victor, with a slightly more vigilance in his eyes and his hands on the hilt of the sword, hanging on his waist.
"Although I don't recall any team being Golden Tear, but I do recognise you. Team Kibou huh? Although everyone hails you people as rising heroes, don't get dillusional that you guys will win.", Gil said with a look of contempt.
"We hope not to. But we will give our best to subdue you.", Riku with a determined look said.
"Heh, I now understand why they call you with such titles. Just the way you speak gives off a vibe of bravery and valour.
But will your strength back what you said?"
Will grinned as he suddenly jumped at Riku, decided to take him as his opponent.
With that the fight officially began, with Bilo engaging Ari and Haku together and Gil taking on Tsuzu in a mage fight. Misu was left behind as everyone understood the lying weakness of a Holy Attribute user.
The Bandits, thinking that she won't be of much a threat cause of her only specializing in healing magic and decided to take on the immediate threats present. How wrong they were, soon they will find out how she will be instrumental in helping her friends heal and raise their stamina for a prolonged fight.
As the rest started to start further, taking their fights in their own spaces, only Armin and Victor was left. Both standing opposite to each other on the edge of the crater.
One of the Underling tried to speak
"Boss-"
"Stay down, you guys will only hold me down against him. He's too strong for you. Go there and help them. I sensed a larger presence there. Most probably the rest are there and have already launched the full attack."
Victor interrupted the guy, pointing towards the direction further away from where they were. He guessed that the large presence he felt must be the Remaining Adventurers attacking from that side.
"H-hai!!"
With a quick affirmation they ran off, intending to be as helpful to their boss as the can.
" Looking at you, you don't seem the kind of Bandits I imagined you to be.", Armin said.
"It comes with experience and a long years of living that you understand the worthlessness of life at the same time their importance. " Victor said calmly.
"True...I hope you can shed some light to your past? I am curious how you got that scar.", Asked Armin
" If you win then I will gladly tell you. You acted as a distraction to draw us here right? The main force should be there."
" Obviously. Now, enough of chit-chat."
" Then, Armin! Let me show you why I was called a Swordsaint in the past!"
With that Victor lunged forward in a speed his image became a blurr, picking up wind as he went he reached Armin who was still relaxed. But at the last moment, when it seemed like the sword Victor was striking was about to connect with Armin's neck, it was blocked by another Sword.
As soon as it was blocked, Victor reacted in a millisecond and distanced himself from Armin. What looked like it took a long time was actually just a short 4 second assault.
"Not bad, truly you deserve to be almost close to Special A rank."
" And I don't understand how you are still A ranked. My strike was enough to kill any A rank and you still blocked it with ease."
Victor started to re-evaluate Armin's power in his mind.
"What can I say, I am somewhat of a Swordmaster myself."
Finished with his answer, Armin now decided to counter attack. Blinking at Victor which widened his eyes in surprise, Armin struck at Victor only for him to dodge it at the last second solely by his honed instinct.
" Good Instinct."
Victor clearly confused and surprised jumped back, now holding his sword infront of him in a defensive stance.
'I was careless, he talked with me to let my guard down! That attack could have been the end of Me!'
Victor was Doubtful if This Armin guy was even a Simple A rank and not a True Special A rank. His strength put a lot of pressure on him and his speed was hard to even trace the trails.
'How can such a guy exist without me knowing? Just who is he?'
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