Whoosh!!!
Ten arrows streaked through the air, their trajectories unerringly aimed at the unprepared bandits. The impact was immediate, a brutal symphony of thuds and cries as ten bodies crumpled to the ground, life extinguished in an instant.
"This?!" The remaining bandits froze, their charge abruptly halted. The leader, her one good eye wide with shock, stared at her fallen comrades, then lifted her gaze to Kyle, a mixture of fear and confusion etched on her face.
Gabriela, too, was taken aback. She watched the fifteen soldiers, a silent and deadly force, their movements so swift and precise that she hadn't even registered their approach, let alone their attack.
"I told you, I'm in a bad mood," Kyle muttered, his voice a low, dangerous rumble.
{MS: Military Capacity Increased from 67,002 to 67,012.}
{MS: Quest updated: 10/100.}
"Kill them all," Kyle commanded, his tone as cold as the winter wind. 'You know what to do.'
{BS: Conversion process activated.}
Before the stunned bandits could react, the pile of worn clothing began to glow, an ethereal light emanating from the fabric. Then, in a flash, the clothing vanished, leaving behind an empty space.
{BS: Host gained 10,000 cotton... Total cotton: 1,000,000.}
'I regained the 10,000 cotton I used to train the soldiers,' Kyle thought, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.
{MS: General's Buff used: +5 increased in all stats.}
{MS: Quest Updated: 15/100.}
The announcement drew Kyle's attention back to the battle. He turned his head, his eyes scanning the scene, only to see Gabriela locked in combat with two bandits, her movements fluid and precise, but clearly struggling against the combined assault.
'Uh? Wait, a general can provide stat boosts?'
{MS: Yes.}
He shifted his gaze to the bandit leader, who stood frozen, her eyes wide with terror as she watched her forces being systematically decimated by Kyle's soldiers. In less than a minute, the battle was over, the ground littered with the bodies of the slain bandits.
"You!!" She took a shaky step backward, her eyes darting between the fifteen soldiers and Kyle.
"Your soldiers are good... but compared to my King's soldiers, you're nothing," Gabriela said, her voice laced with a hint of triumph as she approached the female bandit leader.
"You?! I'm still stronger than you!" the leader hissed, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance.
"True... but what if we attack together?" Gabriela asked, a smirk playing on her lips.
"You! Attack me alone!" The leader demanded, her voice laced with desperation.
"Why the hell would I do that?! Do you think I'm a fool? I can easily kill you with their help, why would I have to fight alone?" Gabriela retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You bitch!!"
"Shh... why am I a bitch? Because I chose not to fight you alone?" Gabriela asked, her smile widening.
"Leave this fool to me," Kyle said, his voice cutting through the air like a razor. Gabriela and the soldiers stepped aside, creating a path for Kyle as he approached the woman.
"You?" Recognition dawned on the woman's face, her eyes widening in horror. "Kyle Blade!" She took a step back, her body trembling.
"I give options once, and I don't give second chances, especially when I'm angry," Kyle said, his voice a low, menacing growl.
"You... Lord Kyle... I didn't know you were the one," she stammered, her voice pleading.
"Shut up... I'm now known as King Nemesis of Celestia, Lord Kyle is a memory," he said, flicking his wrist. A half-mask materialized in his hand. 'I made this with the help of BS, just requires some Metals, Cotton, and Bs coins...' he thought, placing the black mask over his face, revealing only his lips.
He raised his hand, and the leader instantly dropped to her knees. "Please... please forgive me!" she begged, her voice choked with tears.
"I don't give second chances to my enemies," Kyle said, his voice devoid of emotion.
SNAP!
He snapped his fingers, and a wave of crimson flames engulfed the woman. Her screams echoed through the air, then abruptly ceased as her body turned to ash.
{MS: Quest updated: 30/100.}
{MS: Capacity Increased from 67,012 to 67,032.}
{MS: Congratulations, Host has ranked up to Rank 10.}
{MS: Host gained 10,000 Ms coins.}
'MS... train another 10 soldiers... five archers and five foot soldiers,' Kyle commanded mentally.
{MS: Training started; Ten minutes.}
Kyle nodded and turned to Gabriela and the soldiers. "Thanks for the cotton... and we have a mission to complete... let's go," he said, and walked away.
Gabriela watched the fifteen soldiers, their expressions impassive, as they followed their King.
Kyle stopped and glanced at the bodies scattered across the ground. He turned around and walked back to the weapons that had been dropped. Gabriela watched as Kyle moved from body to body, collecting the weapons, then, before her eyes, they vanished.
"..."
"Let's go," Kyle repeated, his voice firm, and began walking. 'Only 1,000 metals, I thought it'll be something meaningful,' he muttered inwardly.
Gabriela watched as the bodies burst into flames, turning to ash, and swallowed nervously. She quickly followed after Kyle.
"Where to?" she asked, catching up to him.
"To a village taken by demons... we're going to kill every one of them, and take over the village," he said, then added, "The demons will be the first target... after taking over the village, Oakhavan is next."
"Oakhavan? We don't have enough military power?" Gabriela asked, her voice laced with doubt.
"That's not a problem... just get ready for it. As far as I know that old emperor, he'll be after Oakhavan... and will surely attack... when they're attacking, we will make our move," Kyle said, his eyes gleaming with a cold determination.
Gabriela thought for a long while, and sighed deeply:
'Is he focusing his anger on the village? What about the people? I don't care about them but what will Kyle do?'
She looked at Kyle's side profile, and sighed helplessly:
'Let's wait and see.'