Chapter Twelve

_One Month Later_

The cool evening air bit at Kaede's face as she adjusted the straps on her armor. The polished plates hadn't lost their factory shine over the past month, despite the scuffles she'd had during her training.

That was thanks to Artificia's assistance. Apparently, just like in the game, Kaede could integrate one of her skills into her equipment. She quickly ran into a problem though.

_One Month Ago_

"What do you mean you can't?!" Kaede laid down her armour plate on a fold of fabric.

<Answer: Attempting to transfer the Subskill, [Adaptive Reinforcement], derived from unique skill [Absolute Defense], triggered Danger Matrix. It seems skill's structure is intrinsically bound user's soul and cannot be separated without catastrophic consequences.>

Kaede groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Catastrophic consequences? Like what?"

<Clarification: Separation would result in irreparable damage to the user's soul core. Probability of survival: 0.004%.>

"Okay, okay, I get it. Bad idea." She leaned back against the workbench, staring at the armor plate with frustration. All this power and potential locked away, tethered to her very existence. The idea of not being able to share or enhance her equipment directly felt like a massive roadblock.

But Artificia wasn't done.

<Suggestion: While direct transference is impossible, the skill structure of [Adaptive Reinforcement] can be analyzed and replicated to create a functional approximation. This process requires use Ultimate Skill: [Artificia, Lord Machines].>

Kaede's eyes lit up. "Wait. You're saying we can copy it?"

<Correction: Not a perfect copy but [Node]. The resulting [Node] will lack the soul-bound efficiency of original, functionality can achieve approximately 72% original skill's effectiveness.>

It wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing. Kaede nodded, determination hardening her features. "Then let's get started."

_Present_

Her gaze shifted to the camp sprawling before her. Fires flickered in the distance, casting dancing shadows across the canvas walls of dozens of tents. Soldiers moved with purpose, their expressions grim but determined. The sound of clinking armor and muffled voices filled the air, underscored by the occasional whinny of restless horses.

"Kaede!"

She turned at the familiar voice, spotting Kirara jogging toward her. The girl's new scarf fluttered in the wind, its vibrant red a stark contrast to the dull colors of the camp. Unlike Kaede who was all armoured up, Kirara was only wearing her military uniform. Despite the somber atmosphere, Kirara's expression held an air of calm confidence, as though the tension of the coming raid didn't faze her in the slightest.

"I can't believe the old geezer is letting us out of the castle. How are you feeling?" Kirara asked, coming to a stop beside her. She tilted her head, her sharp green eyes studying Kaede intently.

Kaede nodded, adjusting her gauntlet on her shield arm. "As ready as I'll ever be. You?"

Kirara smirked, brushing a strand of auburn hair from her face. "I was born ready." Her gaze softened slightly. "It's not like anything can get past you."

Kaede didn't respond immediately. Instead, she let her eyes wander over the camp again. She'd spent the past month mastering the intricacies of both [Ananke] and [Devour], pushing herself to the brink in every training session (Mostly Artificia, as most of the workings went over her head). While she'd made progress, doubts still lingered. Could she control [Devour] enough to use it without harming Kirara—or anyone else?

"Kaede," Kirara said, her tone more serious now. "You're doing the thing again. Hmmmn..." She leaned in closer, a playful grin returning to her lips. "Are you thinking about Shogo? I guess I can see it. He does have a certain charm."

Kaede couldn't help but chuckle, despite herself. "Yeah. Not in a million years."

Before Kirara could respond, the sound of a horn echoed across the camp. The sharp, mournful note silenced the chatter around them as soldiers turned toward the source of the signal. A figure emerged from the largest tent near the center of the camp—General Ordric. His presence was commanding as ever, his scarred face set in a grim expression as he strode toward the gathered troops.

"Listen up!" Ordric's voice boomed, carrying easily over the camp. "The scouts have confirmed the location of the bandit stronghold. It's a fortified camp in the northern woods, roughly ten miles from here. We'll move at first light, but tonight, we prepare. Ensure your weapons are sharp, your armor secured, and your minds focused. This will not be an easy fight."

A murmur of assent rippled a small crowd, standing a few feet away from the small army. Kaede couldn't help but watch them. They didn't dress like soldiers as they each wore completely different gears even from each other. 'They don't look very organised.'

Ordric continued, his tone firm. "Get some rest while you can. Tomorrow, we show these bandits what happens when they challenge Falmuth."

As the soldiers dispersed, Kirara nudged Kaede with her elbow. "See? No pressure at all."

Kaede rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Come on. Let's check our gear one last time."

"You mean your gear."

"Let's just go."

---

The journey to the bandits' first hideout took the better part of the day. What started as a crisp morning with pale sunlight cutting through the trees gradually shifted into the oppressive dampness of the swamp. The air grew heavy, thick with moisture that clung to Kaede's skin despite her armor's enchantments. She had always thought swamps were just wet forests, but this was something else entirely—a realm that seemed alive in its hostility.

The ground squelched underfoot, each step sinking slightly before the mud reluctantly released its hold. Soldiers grumbled in low voices, their boots coated in a sludge of brown and green. Every so often, someone cursed as they tripped on an exposed root or slipped on a patch of moss. The sound of buzzing insects formed an almost maddening background, punctuated by the occasional croak of unseen creatures.

Kaede glanced around, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar terrain. The trees here were unlike the towering oaks and pines she'd grown accustomed to near the castle. These were gnarled and twisted, their trunks blackened as if scorched, with roots that sprawled out like clawed fingers. Their branches stretched upward but bore no leaves, only clusters of damp moss that dripped like melting candles.

"This place is miserable," Kirara muttered beside her, swatting at a mosquito. Her scarf was tied tighter than usual, her auburn hair tucked beneath a hood. "Why would anyone willingly hide out here?"

Kaede shrugged, keeping her shield arm raised. "Because no one wants to follow them into this mess." Her voice was steady, though she couldn't shake the unease coiling in her chest.

Further up the line, General Ordric walked with the same commanding presence he always had, the swamp seemingly unable to faze him. His armor was caked with mud, but his stride remained purposeful. He'd insisted they take this path rather than risk alerting the bandits by approaching from the main trade routes. "They think this swamp is their shield," he'd said earlier, his tone like iron. "We'll show them it's their grave."

Kaede wasn't sure she shared his confidence. The swamp felt less like a simple obstacle and more like an entity unto itself, watching, waiting. The occasional movement in the water—ripples that broke the surface without visible cause—set her nerves on edge. Artificia's analytical voice echoed faintly in her mind.

<Observation: Presence of subaqueous fauna. Caution advised.>

"No kidding," Kaede muttered under her breath.

Kirara caught the comment and raised an eyebrow. "Talking to yourself again?"

"Just keeping an eye out," Kaede replied, scanning the water again. "This place feels weird."

As if on cue, one of the soldiers at the rear let out a startled cry. Kaede spun around, her shield raised instinctively. The man had sunk knee-deep into a patch of muck, the viscous mud clinging to him like it had a mind of its own. Two others rushed to help, pulling him free with a wet, sucking noise that sent shivers down Kaede's spine.

"Keep moving!" Ordric barked, his voice cutting through the rising tension. "Eyes forward. Stay in formation."

The group pressed on, the swamp growing darker as the day waned. Thick fog began to roll in, curling around their legs and obscuring the path ahead. Kaede could feel her heart beating faster. It wasn't fear, exactly—more like anticipation. Whatever lay ahead, they were closing in on it.

"Kaede," Kirara said quietly, her tone unusually serious. "I think you're right. Something's off."

Kaede nodded, tightening her grip on her shield. Her eyes flicked to the soldiers around her. They were alert now, their earlier grumbles replaced by a tense silence. Even the band of adventurers she'd seen earlier—so mismatched in their equipment and demeanor—seemed on edge.

Then, just as the swamp seemed like it would never end, the trees parted. Ahead lay a clearing, its center dominated by a crude wooden structure half-sunken into the muck. Torches flickered around its perimeter, their flames casting eerie shadows on the water.

"That's it," Ordric said, his voice low but firm. He raised a hand to signal the group to halt. "The bandits' hideout. Remember your assignments. We take them alive if possible, but do not hesitate to defend yourselves. Understood?"

A chorus of murmured assent rippled through the group.

The soldiers began moving into position, their armor clinking softly despite attempts to muffle it. Kaede's eyes stayed fixed on the crude hideout, its makeshift wooden walls camouflaged with moss and swamp vines. 'Why would anyone live there? How could anyone live there? I'd like to see how they even -'

"Too quiet," she muttered to herself.

Ordric raised a hand to halt the soldiers behind them, his scarred face etched with caution. "They know we're here. Watch for traps."

The air hung thick with tension, the swamp's natural stillness amplifying every shuffle of boots and rustle of leaves. But before the group could advance further, a piercing whistle rang out from the hideout.

"AMBUSH!"

The shout came too late. Explosions of swamp water erupted around Kaede's group as concealed bandits sprang into action. From the trees, arrows rained down, coated in a slick, green substance that hissed as it struck shields and armor. Soldiers who tried to deflect them were horrified to find their weapons corroding.

"Poison!" Ordric barked. "Shields up, advance slowly!"

But the bandits weren't waiting for the soldiers to recover. From the undergrowth, figures emerged with startling speed—thin, wiry men wielding hooked blades and slings loaded with small, smoking bombs. They hurled the bombs toward the advancing soldiers, creating bursts of blinding white smoke that stung the eyes and throat.

Kaede raised her shield instinctively, beside her, Kirara coughed but was fine overall. "They've been planning this for weeks. Look at how they've set the terrain!"

Kaede squinted through the smoke, her mind racing. The bandits had the advantage of higher ground, using the natural swamp as a barrier to funnel their enemies into predictable routes. Makeshift barricades of logs and mud slowed the soldiers' movements, leaving them vulnerable to ranged attacks.

From behind the barricades, a guttural laugh rang out. A large, burly man stepped into view, wielding a massive, jagged axe. His leather armor was patched and dirty, but his stance radiated confidence. "Falmuth's mighty soldiers reduced to swamp rats? What a sight!"

Ordric's eyes narrowed. "Hold the line! Pikemen, form a wall!"

The soldiers scrambled to obey, forming a defensive formation, but the bandits pressed their advantage. A group of them leaped from the trees, swinging down on ropes to land behind the pikemen, throwing the formation into disarray.

An adventurer cursed under her breath. "They're forcing us to spread out!"

Without waiting for orders, Kaede surged forward, her shield slamming into a bandit who had slipped through the line. The man crumpled to the ground, but more were already closing in. Kaede turned to face them, her armor responding to the threat by releasing steam with a loud hiss. Her movements became deliberate and precise as she tried to stem the tide of attackers.

The adventurer was beside her, moving with practiced agility. She ducked under a bandit's wild swing and retaliated with a clean slash to the man's leg, dropping him into the muck. Looking around, Kaede saw chaos. "We need to regroup! They're splitting us up!"

The adventurer gritted her teeth. "Ordric won't retreat. Not after coming this far. Men like him don't."

Another arrow streaked toward her, and she raised her shield just in time, the poisoned tip deflecting harmlessly off its reinforced surface. But the soldiers around her weren't so lucky. Several had already fallen, clutching at seeping wounds as the poison worked its way through their systems.

From the corner of her eye, Kaede spotted a bandit kneeling by a tree, holding something small and metallic. Her heart skipped a beat. "Bomb throwers!" she shouted. "Take them out before—"

The explosion cut her off, a deafening blast that sent mud and water flying. Two soldiers were thrown off their feet, their armor dented and blackened. The bandit leader's laugh echoed again, full of mockery. "Falmuth thinks it can crush us? You'll drown in this swamp before you reach our gates!"

Kaede clenched her fist, suppressing the surge of frustration threatening to overwhelm her. "You, flank right with me. We'll cut off their leaders and break their formation."

The adventurer nodded, a sharp glint in her eye. "Got it. The name's Britta."

Together, they charged toward the barricades, weaving through the chaos. Kaede's shield absorbed another volley of arrows, the shield dispersing the impact harmlessly. Britta moved like a shadow, her sword flashing in the dim light as she cut through bandits trying to block their path.

But the bandits were relentless, their strategies shifting rapidly. A pair of them rolled barrels down a slope, the contents spilling out into the muck. The liquid ignited on contact with the swamp water, creating roaring walls of flame that cut off Kaede and Britta from the rest of the soldiers.

"Damn it!" Kaede muttered, skidding to a halt. The heat licked at her armor, and she glanced back to see Ordric struggling to rally the troops against the bandits' continued assault.

Kaede felt the world spinning around her, as soldiers fell in droves. She could easily stop this, apart from maybe the leader, there wasn't anyone here that could hurt her. She had the power to do so, but what would that mean... for her?