Battle in City of Desert Part 1

When the manager heard his words, he was so stunned that he couldn't even move for a moment.

"So, just go down and act like nothing happened. Don't worry about us!"

Shin patted his shoulder and asked him to leave.

The manager was still stunned but he thought for a moment and left. Although he knew that living like this was hard, he didn't want to die.

He had no idea about Shin's strength so he didn't believe that Shin would be able to deal with the bandit boss.

After he left, John asked.

"Are you seriously going to make a move? You should know that this isn't going to help you in any way."

Hearing his words, Shin shook his head and said.

"You are wrong. This will help me in every way."

"What do you mean?" John frowned and asked.

"First, what do you think of our previous enemy?" Shin asked.

"You mean that bandit guy? Do you mean his strength or something else?" John didn't understand his intention so he continued to ask.

"I mean his ability."

When John heard that, he was stunned. He thought for a moment and said.

"His ability was certainly good. If he had developed it even further, you could be in a difficult situation."

"Indeed! If he had increased the density of the metal, he could make the stronger needles with smaller sizes. He could even make powerful weapons but he didn't do that."

"Instead, he just focused on making it bigger. That's why I was able to win so easily."

Shin nodded his head.

"I understand. You want battle experience."

Barry suddenly spoke with large eyes.

Hearing his words, John also understood his reason.

"You want to fight him just for the sake of experience?"

John felt like his mind couldn't comprehend this reason. What kind of person gets the trouble for himself just for the experience?

Wasn't he trying to help the town?

Isn't that the reason why I didn't think he would be suitable for the Zodiacs?

So, why is he proving me wrong now?

Damn it! This guy is so freaking hard to understand.

Even in that battle, I thought he was trying to play with his opponents but in the end, he killed that bandit in a flash.

Right now, John's mind wasn't working properly. He was thinking of thousands of reasons why Shin was acting like this but couldn't come up with a proper reason.

'Could it be that he really wants to understand the abilities better to prepare himself for the future?'

'Then again, he isn't wrong. Most of the time, people with low intelligence die because they can't understand their opponent's ability. Even with high intelligence, if you don't have battle experience and IQ then you can't win against stronger opponents.'

'Right now, his opponent shouldn't be that powerful so he is trying to use this opportunity to increase his battle experience. That makes sense.'

'If that's the case, I can invite him to join our Zodiacs. It's just that let's wait until I can confirm his mentality.'

Finally, John decided on this plan and waited for the proper time to ask John to join them.

On the other hand, Shin was also properly analyzing his every movement, especially his emotions.

It is said that emotions can tell you more than you could possibly learn.

Right now, Shin could see some kind of amazement and confusion in John's expression. But this made it even worse.

Because now, he didn't know what exactly was John planning. After thinking for a moment, he decided to wait and see.

After all, he could only read emotions, not his thoughts.

As they started discussing, they heard quiet noise downstairs. Soon, they heard loud footsteps coming toward them.

"It seems like they are coming really soon."

Shin muttered.

He turned his head at Barry and said.

"How about you finish them before they could damage this hotel? After all, we are normal adventurers, destroying properties is not our style."

Hearing his words, Barry nodded his head and walked toward the stairs. He saw the group of nearly ten people on the stairs coming toward him.

"It seems like you guys are bandits. So, have you come to rob us?" Barry didn't attack immediately but rather calmly asked.

"Hehe! Boy, it seems like you have some self-knowledge. How about you give us all of your wealth and we will let you live?"

The bandit at the front showed a cruel smile and spoke.

Barry nodded his head and put his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"It seems like you came here with the motivation to die. Then, I don't have any regrets."

[One Sword Flow]

Whoosh!

His body disappeared in front of those bandits like vanishing air. He moved like the breeze as he passed through those bandits before even they could react.

Each time he passed through a bandit, his sword will move and slash the bandit in front of him.

Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!

Several of the bodies started oozing blood as those bandits' eyes turned white. They could no longer breathe as their body turned soft and they fell to the ground.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

[Flash and Slash]

"Job done!" Barry raised his head toward the second floor and shouted.

"That's good! Let's finish this job properly."

Shin spoke as he walked downstairs, passing through the dead bodies of those bandits.

When they came down, they saw the hotel manager looking at them in horror.

"Don't worry, Hotel Manager! We will either end this bandit group or we will simply lose and die. It's as simple as that."

Shin showed a smile toward the hotel manager as he slowly walked.

But, his words made John tremble. His heart started beating faster as his eyes darkened.

'How could a man face death so calmly? No, this is impossible! Everyone must be afraid of death.'

John's consciousness couldn't accept Shin's smile toward death.

Of course, it wasn't just Shin. Even Hina and Barry were completely aware of death. If they die, then for them, it shows nothing but their incompetency.

But, still, they didn't want their friends to die before them.

As their group walked out, they saw a lot of bandits gathering outside the hotel.

"Hey, why did they come out so soon?"

One of the bandits quickly noticed them and shouted.

"More importantly, they do not have any kind of injuries at all."

"Damn it! Did we mistake their power?"

Suddenly, one of the bandits quickly ran while shouting.

"Everyone, block them with all your might! I will inform the boss as soon as possible."

Hearing his words, the other bandits' faces turned green. They didn't expect this bandit so shameless that he wouldn't hesitate to run away.

But, they knew that they can't run away anymore otherwise, their boss will kill them.

"Damn it! It doesn't matter if they are powerful. We have numbers. Let's go and kill them!"

The bandit at the middle shouted while raising his sword.

He immediately ran toward Shin and his group.

But, at this moment, Hina walked in front of Shin as she said.

"These people aren't worth your shot. So, let me take care of them."

She said as her Qi started violently moving around her body. The intense release of Qi was so strong that it formed a powerful aura around her body.

"What happened?"

Those bandits' legs suddenly stopped and started shaking. The immense aura coming out of the woman in front of them caused them to panic.

"Impossible! How can she release her Qi Pressure?" John who knew more or less about the Qi couldn't help but shout.

"Qi Pressure?" Shin and Barry turned their heads at John in confusion.

John realized that he had spoken loudly. He quickly explained.

"Qi Pressure is something that a powerful person with an immense amount of Qi can release. It is formed by releasing the overwhelming amount of Qi but her Qi isn't overwhelming at all."

"So, how can she do it?"

When Shin heard his words, he realized something.

'So, that's how it is. There are two kinds of people who can be considered Best with Qi. First, those who have an immense amount of Qi. Second, those who can control their Qi at a cellular level.'

'Obviously, she falls into the second kind. It seems like her training is really paying off.'

Shin nodded his head with satisfaction.

In front of him, Hina also listened to John's explanation and realized her ability. Before, she didn't know the name of this ability.

She only realized this ability after vastly increasing her Qi Control. It allowed her to explode the Qi outside her body in a violent manner.

So, this ability isn't exactly Qi Pressure but rather it should be called Qi Momentum.

Of course, she didn't plan to rely on this ability to defeat those bandits. She only released her Qi violently in order to gather all of it into her fist.

The immense amount of Qi was finely controlled as it reached her fist. She pulled her arm and the next moment, a spark emerged on the top of her fist.

With the spark turning her Qi crimson, she thrusts her fist forward.

[Fire Fist]