The Bandit

I was almost getting dizzy just kicking around like that. It's been half an hour and they are still hunting petty monsters. Although was doing quiet good with this new sword of him. He just slashes an ent like it was a piece of paper for him. He was using that skill of him what was the name... "Sharp Light" I guess.

The brat was there trying to shoot some monsters wasting his arrows as they were proving to be ineffective. And lastly Aisy, she was with Erio reviving up the monsters that Erio kill and fighting with them. It seemed as if she had a restriction of how many monsters she could carry with her. Well of course, otherwise that would be quite a problem. 

So they were doing particularly well, I say leaving me gravely bored here. I was spending the time watching those druids walking around, they are silly. Soon I got tired of this, lost patience and decided to kill the druid. I mean, it's a monster, I am not being mean.

"Devaste!"

And to my shock! Barely a thing happened to them. My party looked back at me from their places with Erio sighing as they heard the explosion, I couldn't care less about them at the time.

That was weird, there was not even an scratch on their body. It happened once before when the Giant slime absorbed the ground that eradicated my explosion. But what did druids do? I was dumbfounded wondering if actually their defence is simply that high.

The druids were then looking around hoping to find who invaded them but alas, both of us failed. But I decided to not give up just yet, and maybe neither did they..? 

"Devaste, Devaste!"

With two more explosions, I was finally sure that they are immune from my explosions. The only plus point was that they are slow so after I explode the ground beneath them it takes a while for them to get back.

Poor druids, they looked peaceful.

I hatched another strategy, using my latest skill, Rogue Light. Druids are wooden monsters so if I could burn Iron with my skill they should die like instantly right?

"Rogue Light" I uttered, and it did impact one of the druids. It maybe screamed too but I was too far to be able to hear that and but soon another druid came up almost immediately and whatever the hell it did, almost as if it activated a barrier, my rogue light didn't impact it anymore. Also I was reaching my limit so I closed it off.

Oh, so they are mage monsters, I thought. And I, simply lacked any skill to beat them so I gave up. 

That sounded wrong. I have reincarnated into a whole another world then and I would still live like a easy goer? Even when I have no risk? Well, untill they notice me at least. I tried to brainstorm a strategy again. Let's see, I thought. Was there any way to make use of both Crystal Eyes and Rogue Light at the same time? Combination skills tend to be far more powerful than their base form in the novels.

Had I the time to revise my plans! Suddenly something struck my stomach. Before I could understand anything, I groveled and kneeled down. It wasn't the druids as they were still searching for who did it. I was in excruciating pain, and as I looked at my belly I found blood although there wasn't any weapon. It felt like an arrow, but there wasn't one. Like a magic blow... A spellcaster? I struggled to look around and I did and failing to grasp a hint, I had lost. 

All of a sudden, I lost all my strengths, almost falling subconscious. I looked back at where my party was and blasted a tree near them. Hoping they understand the signal and come here. Blood was still coming out and I layed down on the muddy soil. If I was hit by a similar attack on a more vital part, that would be the end for me. With no idea as to who did whatever they did to me, and eyes barely open yet suddenly out of nowhere an... Elf perhaps, appeared before me. It had a bow at hand, not any normal bow, it was glowing purple light as if it's made with a cast spell. That's right, I thought, he was the one who hit me. I stared at him as it seemed to show pity to me, smirking. 

With the last bit of strength I had left, I pulled my head up to focus at his dress and uttered my word, "Devaste, Monster!"

Elves aren't really monsters though, are they?

I don't know, I couldn't know. I blanked out.

***

Slowly opening my eyes I found myself in a dark place, closed in all sides. I immediately opened my Crystal Eyes, to find that I was in a box, but still in Deadland. I was being carried by two unicorns in a cart, I expected them to a more rare animal. And in front and back of me, there was two other boxes one with an elf and the other was empty. Although this guy who supposedly 'kidnapped' me was an elf too. I felt weird and looked further to see if my party could be seen but they were far out of my sight.

Ah, yes right. I got kidnapped and am going to be sold as a slave. "Seriously!?" I sighed silently pondering how weird my fate is.

Quickly however, I realized that my injury was almost gone. They healed me too? That was absurd. And they even used such a weak sleeping potion that I woke up halfway in their journey. Clearly dumb people.

Or maybe they want me to wake up. Well, of course they don't know that I could see them from here and the place was quiet hot too so...

'Bam!' with one big hit harming my skull I opened the box lid and showed them my dignified presence... In a box.

The elves looked at me, both adult male in their late twenties and shared a stare at themselves. 

"You sure you used the right sleeping potion?"

"I can bet!"

The second one was the one who hit me with his bow. His dress, I looked, much of its outer part was shattered completely.

"You insolent! I am going to teach you a lesson for tearing my dress once we reach Hushvil. Wait.. Wait... Your eye color changed?"

Uh, did it?

"How weird, I know." replied I. 

As if getting composure back, the other elf said, 

"Whatever, as of now, we are taking you to the slave market. Behave well, and you are probably going to end up in a good house. You are handsome for your age, you know what that means?"

"I hope I don't,"

"Exactly."

Yes... There was my biggest blunder. I thought as if my eye magic would be an overpowered skill to just look and beat through the whole quest. I have no idea what sort of restrictions are there to this magic and what my limitations are. I was growing arrogant now I am paying the price for that.

They weren't even mentioning my Devaste as if it's a form of attack they are used to. I decided to comply for the moment, I didn't expect to beat these two and return safely to my party. I was about to take quiet the detour then.

"I will comply," I even admitted.

Laughed, the... Let's call him attacker elf for now. 

"What, was your caravan members that abusive?"

"No, I want to explore the world."

The other elf responded with, "Oh, he has mental problems, tch. Value lowered."

"Come on, they wouldn't know it."

I just told them the truth though... 

I proceeded to come out of the box entirely this time. They didn't resist me. I sat leaning behind the cart to an other box. Of couse that wasn't the expected attitude coming from a slave. 

"Don't think you are going free here. DON'T LEAN." 

Oh, he shouted, the other elf. He wasn't chill...

"Let him, what's wrong?"

"Do. Not. Let. Him. He will soon take your head he is just waiting for the moment to get closer to us. You are still new to this so listen to me."

Attacker elf didn't argue against that. I again rounded myself and sat in the center this time. Looking around with a bored look hoping for the other fellow slave to wake up. I mean, okay I might be weaker than them yet somehow, but that shouldn't mean I am generally weak. Fiad, the possibly strongest adventurer in Antarah said I almost belong to the A rank.

Hmm... Oh... The guild settings are different for each village or city.... No wonder he didn't mention a S rank.

Minutes passed, as we travelled through the deadland as they avoided all the places that hoarded monsters. My curiousity only increased over time to understand how did their skill really work. Truth be told, if I were to choose between going back to my party or learn their skill I would most likely choose their skill.

I remember saying it before, I can't really hold affections for anybody too long. I liked my party, having them by my side would surely be convenient. But at this moment... I want to explore the world. Alone.

Not many people get the feeling but, I do. I decided to look out for an opportunity to escape to comply to them until the time comes. Crossing one path after another at last we reached the city of Hushvil. Quiet prosperous I say. Maybe not as vaste as Antarah but, it looked like a far more civilized city. 

Children were playing around, men at their works. Some using telekinesis magic and such impressive to see things. We went inside the city after a brief check by the town guards. The city was colorful, beautiful and yes! Symmetrical!!

Although the cart wouldn't go the way I want it to go. It rather after a while entered a shady area. First a market place and then a thin road ending up at a black, but quiet large... Slave market.