Fighting Bandits, Sam's Gauntlet in the Forest

Sam and his crew of volunteers began heading toward the bandit's hideout. But as they were traveling, they spot smoke in the distance.

"Ramon, is there another village in the distance?"

"Yes, but the bandits didn't look like they were heading toward that location!"

"Strange… You two, lead the volunteers to the bandit base and wait for me, I need to investigate!"

"Wait, Lord! Too dangerous, what if the bandits did raid?!"

Sam pats Dale's shoulder, "Leave it to me, I won't die to these weaklings that's for sure!"

His charm reassured Dale somewhat and Sam winked before heading toward the smoke in the distance.

As Sam left their vicinity

**

Soon, Sam arrived at the village and saw that the bandits did indeed raid it. Bodies were on the floor, and many villagers who were alive were being rounded up into a corner with the bandits staring at them with eyes similar to a wolf looking at prey.

He knew he couldn't just stand there and watch, so Sam equipped his shield and sword and was about to charge before someone tapped his shoulder, catching him off guard.

"It's me, Lord!"

Behind Sam were Dale, Ramon, and the rest of the volunteers.

"What are you doing here?"

"We couldn't just let Lord go alone, couldn't we!"

The volunteers nod their heads, and Sam shook his head.

"I did give you an instruction."

"You did"

"And you didn't follow my orders."

"That I did not."

Sam sighed before staring at the village in the distance.

"Looks like we gotta charge in and attack by surprise. Let's roll!"

"RAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The volunteers began to give out a warcry before running into the village with their swords equipped.

The bandits, who didn't expect Sam's group to appear were caught off guard as Sam's crew began slaughtering them from behind.

"Who… who are they?!"

"I don't know!"

The volunteers, all trained by Sam began killing any bandit they see without hesitation.

"This is for my mother!"

"My father!"

"My son!"

"My daughter!"

"My husband!"

"My wife!"

Each person screamed a loved one, while the bandits began scattering around the village, hiding from the people who were adamant about murdering them.

But they could not escape them, as the villagers from this village began screaming their location as they go in, causing many to be spotted and killed.

"Remember to take their weapons! They will aid you better than the terrible weapons I started you out with!" Sam cried.

Ramon with his bow began killing the bandits who were nearby the villages who were held hostage by them.

Each arrow hit its head perfectly like they were animals ready to be hunted.

Dale also was killing as many as he could find, but he was shocked to see more men than what he speculated when he spoke to Sam.

"Lord, there must be forty people in their crew, with many probably with Mankirk!"

Sam nods his head, not caring about the number of people the enemy had, he was extremely confident now seeing how the volunteers' performance was excellent and that he could complete the quest.

Meanwhile, Sam continued to kill as many bandits as he could. Slash after slash, parry and shield slam, and so on and so forth.

[[You have leveled up!]]

[[You have leveled up!]]

"Rescue the villagers, get them to safety! Move move move!" Sam gave out his orders like a seasoned veteran and continued his slaughter.

Soon, the bandits who were in the village began running off into the forest.

Sam seeing this knew he couldn't let them be, "Everyone stays here! Keep the village safe, I'll be back!"

Without listening to anyone give objections, Sam rushed into the forest, chasing after the bandits.

"Lord wait! Goddamnit!" Ramon then looked at the scared villagers.

"Listen to what the leader says! Keep the villagers safe and finish off any bandits in the region! Move it!"

**

In the forest, Sam continued to run after the bandits, following the footprints on the ground as he goes.

But soon, the footprints disappeared and what was left was just trees surrounding him and the quiet breeze.

'Ambush.'

Sam knew this was one tactic any rogue would learn when they begin robbing caravans. He didn't expect it would be used for combat like this.

'Let's act as if I can't find them and see where they will come out from'

Sam knelt on the ground and began touching the ground, acting as if he was surprised at the bandits escaping.

He turned around and walked slowly back in the direction he came from, and soon three bandits appeared behind him with daggers in their hands.

"There you are!" Sam smiled and turned around before parrying the three attacks with one parry.

They staggered, and Sam shield-slammed each of them before finishing it off with a stab in the heart.

Soon, another group of bandits appeared and attacked him, and Sam followed up with attacks once more.

"Any more?" Sam taunts, and yet even more bandits came out of nowhere and attacked him.

More and more, they kept spawning out of nowhere leaving Sam slightly annoyed and tired.

The bandits on the other hand were in a similar situation, but seeing Sam getting irritated and visibly tired they decided it was best they continue the tactic until Sam falls from exhaustion.

[[You have leveled up!]]

[[You have leveled up!]]

Kill after kill, Sam continued to kill a further ten people before things quieted down.

Huff… Huff…

Sam continued to breathe in and out, catching his breath.

"You are a dead man, you shouldn't have attacked us!" 4 more bandits walked toward Sam with weapons in their hands and bandanas covering their faces.

Seeing that they were getting closer, Sam knew he couldn't continue doing the same move on and on, he hasn't even faced Mankirk yet he was getting tired of trash mobs before the boss.

'System, what level am I?'

[[DING! You are level 12]]

'Don't I get a reward for getting level 10…'

[[DING! You have reached LEVEL 10! You gain a new skill 'Thunder Clap'!]]

'Thunder Clap? This early? This is odd, but it is welcome.'

Sam stared at the four bandits before taking a deep breath.

He raised his shield high up in the sky, causing the four bandits to flinch.

"What… what are you going to do?"

"Sorry, you shouldn't have attacked me" Sam said smiling.

BOOM!

Sam slammed his shield to the ground, causing lightning to evoke on the ground, stunning the four men.

SLASH!

A clean beheading for each man, and their heads began rolling on the ground.

Sam, seeing that they were dead and no more bandits were going to head his way then knelt on the ground with his hand on his chest.

'My body can't handle combat for that long'

The bandits weren't trained at all compared to those Sam faced in the future. To him, it was like fighting children, but his body wasn't the old man's body he had before with all the experience built up in it.

It was young but untrained. His stamina nearly couldn't handle the gauntlet that he had to face, but at least he killed most of the bandits bar a few.

His next target was now Mankirk, who must be hiding somewhere in this vicinity.

Sam turned around and began heading back to the village so that he could check on the volunteers and see if he needed to give any extra orders.

As soon as he arrived, Dale and Ramon rushed toward Sam and saw that Sam was covered in blood.

"Not mine, do not worry. The villagers?"

"Afraid, but alive and well. Many died here, and the volunteers are now burying them as we speak."

"Good, good. We need to head to Mankirk now before he gets wind of his crew getting killed here. If he escapes, who knows what he might do next in the future."

Ramon smiles, "Killing Mankirk is doing the right thing yes?"

Sam chuckles, "Not sure if I believe in right or wrong, but yes if right means taking down a disgusting criminal who kills innocent men, women, and children for fun."

"Alright, I'll be heading out to face him myself. You two take the villagers to-"

"HAR HAR HAR!" A loud deep laugh came out of the forest, and soon the trees began to shake as someone walked over toward the village.

Soon, Sam saw an orc that was so tall that it towered him, with bulging muscles and two tusks coming out of his mouth pointed upwards. Its torso was covered in tattoos in writings that Sam couldn't understand. He had red eyes, which Sam noticed straight away for how mesmerizing it is.

"Speaking of the devil… this is bad, you two get all the villagers and head out now. Do not wait for me."

"Lord wait we can fi-"

"Just go! He isn't at your level."

'System, analyze Mankirk's level.'

[[DING! Mankirk is level 15]]

'I'm level 12, 3 levels below him. This will be tough, and I can't guarantee everyone's safety

"Just go, I can take him out. If you stay then someone will die and I promised you all that you'd live. Now go!"

Dale and Ramon seeing that Sam was serious and wanted them gone then rushed toward the villagers and volunteers before organizing them to retreat.

"Mankirk, the banished orc!"

"Human, you killed most of my crew! For that, I commend you. My blood boils thinking about the fact you killed so many people. Makes me want to test your strength!"

Sam with his shield covering half his face held a stance, reading for the battle against Mankirk.

"Puny human, I shall give you the honor of facing me in an honorable duel!"

"You were banished from your home, I do not trust your duel."

"HARHARHAR! You seem like you understand orc culture! Well, even if you don't believe me I shall treat it as an honorable duel! Fighting is what makes my blood boil, and after months of killing puny weaklings, I just feel an itch for combat on equal footing!"

"Well, if you want a fight then you got one. I will kill you Mankirk, you disgusting animal"

"No, you shall die human! COME AT ME!"

'Let the battle begin!'