Chapter 51 - Surrender

The clearing exploded into chaos in an instant as the bandits charged forward, their mismatched armor clattering against their crude weapons as they rushed toward the group from all directions.

Seraphina's violet eyes locked onto the leader before she sidestepped the swinging axe of a burly bandit. Her blade moved like lightning, slicing through his exposed arm from underneath, his howls of pain erupting in her ears as he stumbled back.

Edwin surged forward, his sword clashing violently against the leader's blade.

Sparks flew as their blades collided, the sound of metal on metal ringing out across the riverbank, it was loud enough to even momentarily draw the attention of everyone.

Edwin's movements were precise and disciplined, a stark contrast to the leader's brutish, wide swings. The bandit leader wasn't a proper knight, but it was clear he had some level of training, otherwise he would've lost easily, the issue was his fighting style.

He played dirty, using sand, nails, and anything he could get his hand on to try and take advantage, and while Edwin was strong, he wasn't used to such a way of fighting— street brawling.

Samuel held his ground against two bandits who rushed him even despite his injuries, his agility and sharp instincts gave him an edge and the bandits were just normal humans without any training or aura.

He ducked under a wild swing, driving his blade into one attacker's thigh before twisting away from the other's blade and decapitating him in one heavy swing.

Seraphina spun around just in time to block a dagger aimed at her side.

The wiry bandit sneered, pushing against her blade with surprising strength, licking his lips, and spoke to her with saliva spewing from his mouth.

"I can't wait to taste that silky skin of yours."

She gritted her teeth in disgust, her muscles tensing as she shifted her weight and drove her knee into his stomach. He doubled over, gasping, and she didn't hesitate to follow through, her blade cutting across his back in a clean arc.

"Focus on the leader!"

Edwin's voice cut through the clamor, his tone sharp and commanding.

Seraphina glanced at him, seeing the leader fighting with reckless abandon, his anger fueling his strikes, he was even using his own men as shields of weapons if he had to.

Edwin was holding him off, but he couldn't get to him to deal a finishing blow, not with how tricky the man was.

Another bandit lunged at Seraphina, forcing her to redirect her attention.

He swung a rusted mace toward her head, but she ducked low, the weapon whistling over her. Using the momentum, she swept his legs out from under him and grabbed his armor from behind.

She had an idea as she saw the man coming towards her, grabbing the man's body she threw him in the direction of the bandit leader, causing them to both crash into each other.

Meanwhile, Samuel managed to disarm one of his opponents, kicking the bandit's weapon into the river. The unarmed man hesitated, fear flashing in his eyes, but his companion lunged forward, swinging a curved sword at Samuel's side.

Samuel managed to block it, the impact jarring his already weakened body he gritted his teeth, sidestepped, and countered, slashing his blade across the bandit's chest.

Edwin, seeing an opening, struck hard against the leader's sword, disarming him and causing the man to stumble back onto the floor, falling into the other bandit. 

His eyes widened in shock as Edwin's blade pointed directly at his throat.

"Call them off."

Edwin ordered.

The leader growled, his pride keeping him silent for a moment too long. Edwin stepped closer, pressing the edge of his sword against the man's neck and drawing a hint of blood.

"Do it. Now."

"Stand down!"

The leader barked, his voice rough with anger but he cared more for his life than he did for his pride.

The remaining bandits hesitated, their gazes flicking between their injured comrades and the leader's desperate expression.

Seraphina's gaze swept over the scene with the moment of stillness that had come to the battlefield.

Three bandits were down, either dead or injured, while the others stood frozen, their weapons lowered but still in hand.

"This is your only warning." 

She said to everyone before her, her tone cold.

"Leave everything you've stolen and run. If we see you again, there won't be a second chance."

The leader snarled, his jaw tightening, but he nodded.

"Fine. You've made your point."

One by one, the bandits dropped their weapons and started to empty their pockets of everything they had on them, eventually once they had taken off everything of value, they began retreating, dragging their injured comrades with them.

Seraphina watched them as they began to retreat, her hand remaining on her blade.

"Kill them."

Before the leader had time to react to what was said, a blade impaled his body from behind, blood gushing out as he fell to the ground; soon enough the others followed him as well.

"W-why?"

He muttered, blood dripping from his lips as he looked up at them, betrayal and hatred in his eyes.

But Seraphina didn't bother to give the man the reply he wanted before death, instead, with another slash she removed the man's head, ending the encounter with victory.

She stood silent for a moment, before sheathing her sword.

Edwin lowered his sword, exhaling slowly.

"That could have gone worse."

Samuel limped over, wiping blood from his dagger.

"We're alive. That's what matters."

Seraphina glanced at the smoldering campfire and the scattered supplies around it, killing them was necessary, it was the only way— that's what she told herself.

"Let's search the area. They might've left something useful."

The group quickly combed through the camp and everything the bandits left behind, finding a small stash of food, a few copper and even silver coins, and some basic supplies.

It wasn't much, but it would help sustain them for the journey ahead, everything that wasn't needed or couldn't be carried was ditched into the river, along with the bodies.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the riverbank, the group moved on, leaving the clearing and the blood that had been spilled there behind.