Ninth Quest (4)

"Shit! 2 are escaping!" Vivian cursed as she saw the other 2 bandits run away in 2 opposite directions without transforming, while the remaining 2 charged at her and transformed.

Tch...!

Well, I can't do anything about that…

She tightened her grip around the handle of her sword and charged.

However, she didn't use her full speed in order to not scare the enemy away.

One of the demon bandits who already transformed raised their hand and activated a spell.

[Ice Arrow].

Woooh!

An arrow made out of ice came bursting out of his hand and aimed at Vivian.

Vivian easily evaded it without stopping.

When they were all about to clash, both demon bandits cast [Lesser Chaos Enchant], causing light-red-colored lightning to appear on their weapons -- one with a sword and the other with a spiked club.

Vivian used her full speed and activated [Poison Strike], causing a green water-like aura to appear on the blade of her sword.

Whoo-Psssh!

One demon bandit was immediately sliced into 2 pieces and poisoned. But as his body began separating into 2, an ethereal pale grayish substance appeared inside the demon bandit's body and pulled it back together, healing him.

However, the poison was still in effect on his body so he couldn't run away and was still on the verge of falling down to the floor, incapcitated. 

Vivian activated another skill.

[Power Fist].

Ba-riiiip!

The demon bandit's entire head was completely shredded into pieces.

Whooozzz!

Vivian quickly took a step back when the other demon bandit finally got close and swung his Chaos-enchanted spiked club at her which was sparkling with light red lightning.

She also wanted to see if the first demon bandit was finally dead.

Thud.

The first demon bandit finally fell to the ground and didn't regenerate.

Does this mean they can only heal themselves once…?

She turned to the remaining demon bandit.

The demon bandit charged once again to deliver another blow with his Chaos-enchanted spiked club.

Should I to try block it with my sword…?

She shook her head mentally.

I already used a Physical and a Magic Art on it in this single fight alone...

I can't afford to destroy this weapon…

Ugh…

He's moving too slow…

I have no patience to wait for --

Wait…!

Or maybe their head is their weakness…?

Vooom!

She dashed to meet the demon bandit halfway and activated a skill.

Whooosh!

She swung her sword at the demon bandit's neck. A thin red line appeared and the head began to separate from the body.

And just as expected, an ethereal pale grayish substance appeared once again and pulled it back together, healing the wound.

Whooozzz!

The demon bandit swung his Chaos-enchant weapon and other arms wildly and his face was painted with horror before turning around to run away.

Maybe I have to literally obliterate the head…?

Or maybe their weakness is electricity...?

She recalled the first bandit she killed with her [Lightning Arrow]. 

She stared at the escaping demon bandit.

Do I kill it with [Lightning Arrow]...?

She shook her head. 

I think I'm going to pass...

I need to reserve my mana in case some emergency happens... 

Voooom!

She burst into a run to catch up with the escaping demon bandit and got to his side.

"Going somewhere?" she asked with a smile.

The demon bandit almost lost tripped and stumbled but managed to regroup himself. And before he could even slap Vivian away with his arms, she already activated a skill.

[Power Fist].

Ba--riiip!

The demon bandit's head was completely shredded into pieces.

Whooozzz!

Thud.

Its headless body still swung its weapon and arms once last time and Vivian had to step away to evade them before finally it fell to the ground.

I need more samples…

She swept her gaze around to see if there were other enemies.

The carriage is still there…

She turned to the old woman and her grandchildren.

"Go retrieve the carriage right away before the other 2 remaining bandits return and bring reinforcements."

In Vivian's head, although she was confident that she could face the demon bandits on her own and could simply run away in case they're too many, it was a different story for the old woman and her grandchildren. And if the enemies decided to use them as a hostage, although she already knew what would be her response, she would at least want to avoid such a situation and not drive her reputation to the ground.

A worried expression appeared on the old woman and her grandchildren's faces.

"Don't worry, the other remaining 2 aren't around. One ran away as a distraction, while the other ran away to get reinforcements."

I think…

I also can't go near the carriage and cause that animal to run away…

"But they will return," Vivian continued. "So hurry up and retrieve the carriage."

"Yes, Priestess!" the old woman and then ran to retrieve the carriage.

Meanwhile, the grandchildren waited and guarded the corpses of their grandfather and the driver with worried expressions as they watched their grandmother.

Vivian stared at her left hand and examined her fingerless glove. 

It was made out of simple leather, had many cracks on it and there was a small hole on it from the Chaos-enchanted [Earth Arrow] that she tried to catch earlier.

I used [Power Fist] and yet this didn't break…

She recalled using [Power Slash] on an enemy with a stick and it left the other end of the stick to shatter into pieces after one hit.

Does this mean that Physical Arts doesn't affect simple clothing…?

Or is this only applicable to leather…?

She stared at the many cracks and the hole on her glove.

I think it's time I buy a new pair of gloves…

She was about to glance at her boots when she noticed something. 

Was I always this pale...? 

Given Vivian was wearing a pair of fingerless gloves, her fingers were exposed and she couldn't help but notice the abnormally pale skin of her fingers, even her nails were purple. 

Well, I guess this is what I get from abusing my body...

I need to get some proper sleep... 

She finally glanced at her boots.

Maybe I should also get some new boots…?

Thanks to her kicking things recently, the metal covers on the tip of her boots were already slightly bent. 

Auuurrr…

"Stop! Stay put!"

Vivian's thoughts were interrupted by an animal's whining and the old woman's voice.

The old woman was driving the carriage and the animal was thrashing around.

Vivian let out an exasperated sigh and then returned her sword inside the scabbard.

This is really annoying…!

Vooom!

She appeared right in front of the animal and grabbed the reins on its face.

Bam.

Aur!

The animal groaned in pain as Vivian lightly punched it in the face.

"Behave!"

However, it continued to struggle.

Vivian's face contorted and she gritted her teeth.

A-u-u-r-r…!

Vivian violently shook the animal's head.

Only God knew how much she just wanted to drag the animal's head to the ground and start pummeling it to death with her fists.

Bam.

Aur…!

She threw another light punch on the face and then pointed at it.

"You fucking behave you fucking stupid animal or I'll fucking kill you!"

[Heal].

A faint yellow light enveloped the animal's body.

Bam.

She threw another punch.

The animal was about to groan from getting hit but stopped when Vivian pointed a finger at it.

"You understand me?!"

The animal didn't say yes or no, or made any gesture to indicate that it understood what Vivian said. All Vivian could see was that its eyes were filled with fear and it didn't dare to make any fuss.

That alone was enough for Vivian.

"Stupid fucking animal!"

She shoved the animal's face away as she let go of the reins and then stepped away.

Vivian's eyes were still locked on the animal's face as she ordered the old woman.

"Try ordering it to move," she said with a voice filled with murderous intent.

In Vivian's head, if the animal continues making a fuss, she will kill it right away.

"Y-Y-Yes, Priestess…" the old woman stammered. 

Even she could tell that Vivian wasn't in a good mood and would no doubt kill this animal if it continued to misbehave.

Whip.

The old woman whipped the reins and the animal moved obediently until it finally reached over the grandchildren and the 2 corpses that they were guarding.

Vivian went over to the old woman.

"Where does this road lead to?"

Vivian had never been on this road so she wasn't even sure where she was.

"It leads to the Western gate of Luxen City."

"Is it far?"

"About less than an hour if we move quickly."

"I see. You will drive and I will walk by the side in case an enemy appears."

The old woman nodded.

Vivian then ordered the grandchildren to step inside the carriage and helped in carrying the corpses inside.

"Priestess…" said the old woman.

Vivian turned to her.

"We won't bring the corpses of the demon worshipers in order to resurrect them and extract information from them and collect the reward?"

"Oh… right… Yes, yes, I forgot about that. Sorry, I was too concerned about you and your family's safety."

"Priestess...!" the old woman said and then bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears.