Chapter 8
The forest air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the distant cries of birds fading into the evening hush. Blaze moved swiftly, his boots crunching against the dirt path as he sprinted back toward Mussel City silently dumping Lucas and Nephis. The weight of what he had seen—the fear in the townspeople's eyes, the silent despair of the weak—clawed at his mind.
He couldn't leave them like this.
Ahead, the city gates loomed, their iron surface rusted with time. Just beyond, a group of men stood, their ragged armor and predatory grins marking them as anything but friendly.
Blaze slowed his pace, exhaling sharply.
Roy stood at the forefront, twirling a dagger between his fingers, the blade reflecting the fading sunlight. His men loomed behind him, itching for bloodshed, their laughter a low, menacing hum.
"Looks like someone forgot to run while they had the chance," Roy drawled, his grin widening.
Blaze ignored him. His green eyes burned as he took in the scene—the bandits, the helpless city, the fear. He exhaled slowly.
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
[New Quest Received: Fend off the Iron Clad Bandits]
Reward: Instant Level-Up
Blaze's lips curled into a smirk. Perfect.
Roy cocked his head. "What's so funny, brat?"
He has already check their mystic status with his choas eyes and Roy the most powerful among them was only at the 4th stage of the foundation phase. So he has nothing to fear.
Blaze rolled his shoulders, loosening his muscles. "Just thinking," he said, his voice eerily calm. "If strength is all that matters to you…"
He clenched his fists, the air around him trembling with unseen energy.
"Then I can do whatever I want to you."
The bandits stiffened.
Then Roy barked a laugh. "You? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
One of the bandits, a burly man with a scar across his nose, stepped forward. "I'll handle him, boss."
Roy nodded, still smirking. "Go ahead. Teach the brat a lesson."
The scarred man cracked his knuckles and lunged forward. His fist swung in a wild arc, aiming straight for Blaze's jaw.
Too slow.
Blaze twisted to the side, the punch barely grazing his shoulder. In the same breath, he countered—his fist lashed out, fast as lightning, slamming into the man's gut.
[Astral Strike Activated]
The impact was immediate. A shockwave burst outward, sending the bandit flying backward. He crashed into the dirt, groaning, his ribs cracked from the sheer force of the blow.
[300 EXP Gained]
Silence.
The bandits' laughter died. Their smirks faded.
Roy's eyes flickered with something unreadable.
Blaze flexed his fingers, the warmth of power thrumming beneath his skin.
One of the bandits snarled. "You little—"
He raised his hand, preparing to cast a low-tier spell.
Blaze moved before the attack could even form. In an instant, he was in front of the man, his Astral Strike slamming into his chest. The bandit was lifted off his feet, crashing several meters away, unconscious.
[200 EXP Gained]
The remaining bandits hesitated. The kid was too fast. Too strong.
Blaze tilted his head, his gaze locking onto Roy.
"Still feel like laughing?"
Roy's smirk returned, but this time, it didn't reach his eyes. "Interesting," he muttered. "But let's see how long you last."
He snapped his fingers.
The rest of the gang charged.
Blaze exhaled.
Then he charge forward.
He weaved through the attacks, his movements effortless. A burst of wind signaled a spell cast behind him—"Wind Slice!"—but Blaze ducked just in time, rolling forward. Another bandit launched "Earth Shard!" sending jagged stones hurtling toward him.
Blaze's Chaos Eye flickered. His senses sharpened.
There.
He sidestepped, the stones barely missing his torso. In the same motion, he spun, driving his elbow into the attacker's ribs. The bandit choked, doubling over.
[300 EXP Gained]
Roy finally moved, raising his hand. Fire ignited at his fingertips—"Fire Blast!"—and a burning sphere hurtled toward Blaze.
Blaze crossed his arms in front of him, bracing—
BOOM!
Flames erupted around him, heat washing over his skin. The ground trembled from the impact.
Smoke curled into the air.
Roy grinned. "Gotcha."
Then the smoke cleared.
Blaze stood there.
Completely unharmed.
The flames had barely singed his shirt.
Roy's grin faltered.
Blaze lifted his gaze, green eyes gleaming. "That it?"
He moved.
Before Roy could react, Blaze was in front of him. His fist drove into Roy's stomach. The bandit leader coughed violently, eyes wide. Blaze grabbed his collar before he could collapse, yanking him close.
"You said the strong take what they want from the weak," Blaze murmured.
Roy wheezed.
Blaze's grip tightened. "Then I'll be crushing your hands and legs."
Roy's eyes widened in terror.
Blaze reared back his fist—
A system notification popped up.
[Quest Update: Interrogation Required]
Blaze stopped.
A beat passed. Then he sighed, his grip loosening. He let Roy slump to the ground.
"Where is your base?" Blaze asked, voice devoid of emotion.
Roy spat blood, laughing weakly. "You… you'd be insane to go there. Stronger men than me are waiting. No Zero would dare—"
Blaze's smirk was ice-cold. "I'm no ordinary Zero."
Roy spit out all the information concerning the ironclad the base location and other things.
With a final punch, Roy collapsed, unconscious.
[Quest Completed: Defeat the Iron Clad Bandits]
Reward: Instant Level-Up
A surge of power coursed through Blaze.
He exhaled.
The battle was over.
But this war was just beginning.
(TO BE CONTINUED…)