Ch 64: Night Raid!!

As Hina formed a plan before the attack, she spoke with a commanding presence, her voice carrying authority and determination. "To attack the outside guards of the bandit cave, we must be sneaky," she began, her eyes scanning each member of her party.

Flicker, ever attentive, listened intently as Hina outlined her instructions. "Flicker, use a spell called Noise Cancellation," Hina instructed. "Visualize the spell that cancels noises."

Flicker nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Understood," she replied, her mind already working to conjure the spell.

Turning to Benimaru, Hina's gaze softened slightly. "After the Noise Cancellation is activated, use your sword, but don't kill them," she directed. "Knock them down with the handle of your sword."

Benimaru's expression hardened, his eyes reflecting his resolve to follow Hina's orders. "Got it," he affirmed, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword.

Finally, Hina addressed Kanade, her tone firm yet reassuring. "Kanade, use your sleeping bullets. They're reserved for gunners," she commanded.

Kanade's lips curled into a confident smirk as she nodded, her fingers twitching with anticipation. "Got it," she declared, a glint of excitement in her eyes.

As Hina analyzed the enemy, her mind raced with strategic calculations. "There are about twenty of them," she reported, her voice steady and sure. "Twelve with swords and eight with bows."

With the plan laid out, Hina looked around at her comrades, her expression resolute. "You all understand the plan?" she asked, her eyes meeting each member of her party in turn.

"We got it," came the unified response, the determination in their voices echoing Hina's own resolve.

With their preparations complete and their minds focused on the task ahead, Hina and her party set out, their footsteps silent as shadows as they approached the bandit cave. Each member of the party knew their role, their movements synchronized in perfect harmony.

Apologies for the oversight. Let's revise that:

As Flicker's Noise Cancellation spell enveloped the surroundings in an eerie silence, Benimaru and Kanade sprang into action. Benimaru moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior, swiftly incapacitating the guards with precise strikes from the handle of his sword. Each blow landed with calculated force, rendering the guards unconscious without causing any lasting harm.

Meanwhile, Kanade's expert marksmanship came into play as she picked off the remaining guards with pinpoint accuracy. Her sleeping bullets found their targets with lethal precision, sending the bandits into a deep slumber as they fell to the ground, one by one.

Hina, although unarmed, remained a crucial part of the team, her strategic mind guiding their every move. With a keen eye for detail, she analyzed the enemy's movements, directing her comrades with precision as they navigated through the cavernous depths of the bandit cave.

As the party pressed forward, they encountered increasingly fierce resistance from the bandits lurking within the cave. Benimaru's skillful swordplay and Kanade's deadly accuracy kept their foes at bay, while Flicker's magic provided essential support, disorienting the enemy with dazzling displays of light and sound.

Despite not engaging in physical combat herself, Hina's leadership proved to be invaluable as she coordinated their efforts from the front lines. With her guidance, the party moved with unmatched efficiency, swiftly overcoming every obstacle in their path.

And as they emerged victorious from the depths of the bandit cave, their success was a testament to their teamwork and camaraderie. Together, they had faced the odds and emerged triumphant, their bond as a team stronger than ever before.

In the dimly lit cavern, Hina and her companions stumbled upon the deeper hideout, catching the remaining bandits off guard. Flicker's magic made quick work of the prison locks, freeing the captive girls, while Hina, Benimaru, and Kanade swiftly eliminated the incapacitated bandits.

With the prisoners freed, Hina and Benimaru ventured deeper into the cave, their senses heightened as they approached the heart of the enemy stronghold. Suddenly, they came face to face with the bandit leader and his remaining cohorts, who held Lefa hostage.

The bandit leader's sinister grin sent a chill down Hina's spine as he taunted them with Lefa's life hanging in the balance. "Move any closer, and this girl's neck will be slit," he threatened, his voice dripping with malice.

"Lefa!" Hina's heart clenched with worry as she locked eyes with her friend, her hands trembling with fear and determination.

Benimaru, his hands raised in compliance with the bandit's demands, exchanged a tense glance with Hina. "We need to tread carefully," he whispered, his voice low and urgent.

Hina nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. "Drop your weapons," she called out to Benimaru, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides.

Benimaru complied, lowering his weapons with a resigned sigh. "Alright, princess," he muttered, his eyes never leaving Lefa's form.

The bandit leader's laughter echoed through the cavern, mocking Hina's defiance. "Ah, another princess! How fortunate for us," he jeered, his gaze flickering between Hina and Lefa.

Hina's jaw clenched with determination as she raised her hands in surrender. "I am not royalty," she declared, her voice tinged with defiance. "But I will not let you harm my friend."

The bandits closed in, their weapons poised for attack as Benimaru stood defenseless before them. With each step they took, the tension in the cavern grew thicker, the air heavy with the promise of imminent violence.

But Hina refused to back down, her eyes blazing with resolve as she prepared to face whatever came next.

In the tense standoff, Benimaru's pent-up frustration exploded into action. With a fierce battle cry, he lunged forward, his fists flying in a flurry of lightning-fast strikes. The bandits, taken aback by his sudden assault, scrambled to defend themselves, brandishing their swords in a desperate attempt to fend off his relentless attacks.

Benimaru's movements were a blur as he weaved through their defenses, dodging their slashing blades with cat-like agility. With each punch and kick, he aimed for vulnerable spots, exploiting gaps in their guard with precision and speed.

The bandits, though armed with deadly weapons, struggled to keep up with Benimaru's ferocious assault. Their swords clashed against his fists in a symphony of steel, the sound of metal ringing through the cavern as they fought tooth and nail for dominance.

Despite their best efforts, the bandits found themselves gradually overpowered by Benimaru's raw strength and skill. With each blow he landed, they staggered back, their resolve weakening with each passing moment.

The bandit leader, his confidence waning in the face of Benimaru's relentless onslaught, could only watch in awe as his minions faltered before the hero's might. "Impressive," he grunted through gritted teeth, his admiration tinged with frustration.

The bandit leader's taunts echoed through the cavern, his malicious laughter reverberating off the walls as he held Lefa captive. With tears streaming down her cheeks, Lefa cried out for her sister and the hero, her voice trembling with fear.

Caught off guard by the bandit's threat, the hero hesitated, his instincts warring with his desire to rescue Lefa. The bandit leader sneered, relishing in the hero's uncertainty as he tightened his grip on his hostage.

"Yeah, that's it, good," the bandit leader jeered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Don't move, or the girl gets it."

The hero's fists clenched with frustration, his heart racing as he struggled to come up with a plan. Beside him, Hina stood frozen, her eyes locked on her sister with a mixture of fear and determination.

But even in the face of danger, the hero refused to back down. With a steely resolve, he locked eyes with the bandit leader, his jaw set in determination.

"We won't let you harm her," the hero declared, his voice firm with conviction. "Release her now, and we'll spare your life."

The bandit leader scoffed, his grip on Lefa tightening as he laughed derisively. "You think you can intimidate me, hero?" he sneered. "You're nothing but a mere mortal, while I hold the power of life and death in my hands."

But the hero remained undeterred, his gaze unwavering as he took a step forward, his fists trembling with restrained fury. "I won't let you get away with this," he vowed, his voice a low growl of determination.

As tension hung heavy in the air, the hero and the bandit leader stood locked in a tense standoff, their fates hanging in the balance. But deep down, the hero knew that he would stop at nothing to rescue Lefa and defeat the bandits once and for all.

As the bandit leader callously slit Lefa's throat, crimson blood sprayed from the wound, staining the floor in a macabre display. "Oops, my hand slipped," he muttered, his voice laced with feigned innocence.

Lefa, her life slipping away with each labored breath, choked on her own blood, her eyes wide with terror and pain.

Hina's gaze darkened as a sinister energy enveloped her, transforming her divine powers into a malevolent force. Her eyes glowed a deep crimson as she launched herself at the bandit leader with lightning speed.

With a primal roar, Hina seized the bandit leader's head, crushing it in her grasp with terrifying strength. The force of her attack obliterated the cave, sending debris flying in all directions.

Meanwhile, Benimaru raced to Lefa's side, his heart pounding with fear and desperation. With trembling hands, he gently lifted her limp form, his eyes clouded with tears.

As Hina unleashed her fury upon the remaining bandits, the ground trembled beneath their feet, creating chasms and crevices with each thunderous blow. Her expression remained cold and emotionless, her eyes bleeding with the weight of her power.

With a flick of her wrist, Hina summoned bolts of pure red lightning, each strike tearing through the earth with devastating force. The cavern shook with the intensity of her rage, the sound of her attacks echoing through the darkness.

But just as Hina's wrath threatened to consume everything in its path, Carrion, the god of the five elements, appeared with a solemn determination. With a gesture, he cast a powerful spell, sending Hina into a deep slumber and quelling the darkness that threatened to consume her.

As Hina fell into unconsciousness, Carrion turned his attention to Lefa, his hands glowing with a gentle light as he worked to heal her wounds. Despite his efforts, the sight of Lefa's slit throat filled him with a profound sense of sorrow and regret.

With a heavy heart, Carrion carried Lefa's limp form from the cavern, his mind weighed down by the knowledge of what could have been. As he disappeared into the darkness, the echoes of Hina's rampage faded into the stillness of the night, leaving behind only silence and shadows.

As Carrion teleported back to the castle with Lefa cradled in his arms, Benimaru followed closely behind, carrying Hina's unconscious form with trembling hands. The weight of what had transpired in the cave bore heavily on him, and fear gnawed at his heart as he struggled to comprehend the darkness that had consumed Hina.

Kanade and Flicker, their usually fierce demeanor shaken by the events they had witnessed, hovered anxiously at Benimaru's side. Their expressions mirrored his own unease, uncertainty etched in their features as they grappled with the enormity of Hina's transformation.

As they entered the castle, the air hung heavy with tension, the weight of silence pressing down upon them like a suffocating blanket. Benimaru's footsteps echoed in the empty halls, each sound a stark reminder of the chaos they had left behind in the cave.

Carrion, his face a mask of solemn resolve, led them to a chamber where Lefa could receive the care she desperately needed. With gentle hands, he laid her down upon a soft bed, his touch infused with a quiet sense of sorrow for what she had endured.

Benimaru, still reeling from the ordeal, set Hina down beside Lefa, his eyes never leaving her motionless form. He couldn't shake the feeling of dread that gripped him, the memory of Hina's unleashed power haunting his thoughts like a specter in the night.

Kanade and Flicker exchanged worried glances, their hearts heavy with concern for their companions. The bond that held their party together felt fragile now, frayed by the darkness that lurked within their midst.

In the quiet of the chamber, Carrion turned to Benimaru, his gaze filled with understanding and compassion. "Fear not, young hero," he said, his voice a soothing balm in the midst of turmoil. "Hina's journey is fraught with challenges, but she is not alone. We will stand by her side, no matter what trials may come."

With those words, a sense of calm washed over Benimaru, the weight of his fear momentarily lifted by Carrion's assurance. Together, they would weather the storm that lay ahead, united in their determination to guide Hina back to the light.

*To be continue *