They dashed through the trees.

 Zach ran at the head of the group, his voice firm and controlled, keeping everyone focused.

"Jiighual, Qarek, Gargeal, you're with me on the front line," he directed firmly. 

"Leeani, keep close behind us—provide cover fire if things go wrong." 

His gaze swept across the group, landing on each one just long enough to make his intent clear. 

"Kazaks, Nert, flanks left and right. We need to stay unpredictable."

Ruby hesitated for just a moment, looking back at Haerak and Aina, before Zach caught her eye. 

"Ruby, you're staying with them," he instructed. 

"Keep them out of sight and safe."

Zach's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation.

"Yzavynne." 

He ordered, his voice steady but urgent, 

"You're staying with Haerak, Aina, and Ruby."

He glanced at her, knowing she was one of the strongest warriors in the group and fully capable of handling what might come. 

"Use your whip blade if they get too close. Don't let them anywhere near."

Qarek kept pace beside him, nodding. 

"If Andhur's got an enemy on the shore, we'll need to draw them away from the coast. Too exposed there."

"We don't leave anyone behind," Zach replied sharply. 

"Andhur's stalling for time. We'll be his reinforcements, not his shield."

Leeani's voice was steely.

"Got it!" 

Her eyes darted toward Jiighual, who nodded back in silent agreement, and they both increased their pace.

But just as they neared the shoreline, a dark shape materialized ahead, blocking their path.

 A low, mocking laugh sent a shiver through the group as Thorne stepped forward, his broadsword glinting as he tapped it against his shoulder. 

Behind him, the trees parted to reveal a swarm of rough, grimy bandits, their faces twisted with hunger and cruelty. They leered openly, sneers curling on their dirt-smeared faces, each bandit's gaze dripping with disdain.

Nert's face twisted as he swore under his breath. 

"Fuck... didn't hear a single one of their footsteps. They're too damn good."

Qarek muttered, gripping his war axe tighter.

"They must've been waiting for us." 

"Didn't think you'd come running to me," Thorne sneered. 

"The mighty Renaissance Band, here to save their little friend. It's almost heartwarming." 

He snorted, his eyes gleaming with malice.

Around him, the bandits muttered and laughed, their eyes roving over each of them, lingering on Ruby, Yzavynne, and Leeani. 

A few of the men whispered crudely, nudging each other, their filthy grins widening as they made no effort to hide their vulgar intentions.

"Fresh meat," one of them rasped, eyes glinting with a dangerous, unhinged hunger. 

"Look at 'em. Don't get too many like these around here, do we?"

Ruby's face twisted with disgust, her hand gripping the hilt of her dagger tighter, her entire body tensing. 

Yzavynne's face was a mask of cold anger, her gaze burning into the nearest bandit who dared to meet her eyes, causing him to flinch but quickly recover, emboldened by the numbers behind him. 

Leeani clenched her jaw, shifting her stance, clearly itching to knock the smug expressions off their faces.

Zach didn't flinch, his voice ice-cold as he locked eyes with Thorne. 

"Stand aside. We don't have time for this."

"Oh, but I do," Thorne mocked, stepping forward with a leisurely menace, his blade gleaming wickedly. 

"You see, you're all trespassing. And I don't take kindly to uninvited guests." 

He gestured to the hundred or so bandits behind him. 

"My friends here would be more than happy to teach you some manners."

The bandits let out a chorus of jeers, closing ranks around them, blocking off their escape.

"Let's just take 'em apart," another bandit growled, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he dragged a rusty axe across the ground. 

"Especially the pretty ones. Wouldn't want to waste 'em."

Zach's face darkened. 

He turned his head just slightly, murmuring to his team, his voice low but razor-sharp. 

"Stay close, don't let them isolate you. Yzavynne, keep Ruby, Haerak, and Aina covered."

Kazaks sneered.

"I don't think these guys are ready for us." 

His voice was laced with a dark confidence, eyes never leaving the leering bandits.

"Probably not," Jiighual replied grimly, his focus razor-sharp. 

"But they've got numbers."

With a fierce glare, Zach raised his voice, addressing Thorne with deadly calm. 

"Last chance. Stand down, or we'll clear a path right through you."

Thorne's mocking smile vanished. 

The mocking smile vanished from Thorne's face, replaced by a deadly glint in his eyes as he leveled his broadsword toward Zach. 

"Big words, Captain," he sneered. 

"But you should know—I'm not interested in the others. It's you I came for."

Zach held Thorne's gaze, his stance unwavering. 

"Then don't waste their time. Call your men off and face me alone."

But Thorne shook his head, a cruel smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth. 

"Oh, but where's the fun in that?" 

He flicked his hand, signaling his bandits forward as he stepped back, watching Zach with an intense, almost predatory focus. 

"Let's see how long you can keep them safe."

The bandits surged with renewed vigor, charging at Zach's team in a chaotic wave. Zach clenched his jaw, casting a quick, calculating look at his team.

Kazaks sidled closer, his voice low but tense. 

"Captain," he asked, glancing at the mob of bandits surging toward them.

"Do we... take them down? Or are we holding back?"

Zach's eyes narrowed, and he tightened his grip on his weapon. 

His voice was steady, cold. "...if necessary." 

He held Kazaks' gaze a moment longer, letting the weight of his words sink in.

Kazaks nodded, his jaw set with grim resolve. 

He exchanged glances with the others, their expressions hardening as they braced for the oncoming chaos.

Zach's face hardened, and he nodded to his team. 

"Stay sharp... Show no mercy." 

Just as Zach finished his command—

Shadows from above shifted. 

Before the Renaissance Band could fully lunge forward, dark figures dropped from the canopy above. 

Several bandits, hidden in the trees, landed swiftly around them, moving with ruthless precision. 

Jiighual grunted in surprise as a bandit's blade sliced across his arm, the pain flashing through his face as he tried to twist away. 

Nert staggered as another attacker slashed at his side, drawing blood. 

Nert's face twisted in frustration, his usual smirk gone as he hissed under his breath.

"Damn it... didn't even hear them coming... again!!"

A group of bandits, waiting in ambush, surged forward and threw heavy nets at Kazaks and Qarek. 

Kazaks, trying to slash his way out of the web-like ropes, but the thick, weighted cords wrapped around his arms and chest, pulling him off-balance. 

He immediately snarled. 

"SHIT!!"

Qarek fought against his restraints, gritting his teeth.

 He tried to push back the bandits, his movements fierce but hindered by the netting's weight.

"These nets!!"

Meanwhile, three bandits charged at Gargeal, brandishing curved blades with wild, taunting grins. 

As they drew their arrows and fired, Gargeal's eyes narrowed.

In a flash, his hands shot up, intercepting the arrows mid-air with swift, calculated movements, snapping each arrow—

Like it was nothing. 

He shot them a scornful glare, deflecting another oncoming volley, his steady stance unshaken.

Behind them, chaos erupted as more bandits surged forward, closing the gaps between them. 

In the midst of the fray, Ruby suddenly felt herself grabbed from behind. 

Rough hands clamped over her mouth, yanking her backward. 

She tried to scream, but her voice was muffled, her arms trapped against her sides as the bandits pulled her into the shadows. 

"Mmmmpp!!"

Her eyes widened with panic, struggling against the hands that held her, her muffled protests barely audible above the clash of blades.

Not far off, a group of bandits attempted to corner Yzavynne and Leeani, their intentions evident in their eyes. 

But the two were ready. 

Leeani moved like a storm, her crossbow loaded and aimed in seconds. 

With deadly precision, she fired, each bolt finding its mark. 

The bandits hesitated, but another wave pushed forward, driven by numbers. 

Yzavynne met them head-on, her whip blade snapping forward with lethal force. 

The bandits barely had time to react as the blade coiled around one of them, pulling him off his feet with a strangled cry.

One bandit, a towering figure with a scarred face, attempted to charge Yzavynne, thinking he'd catch her off-guard. 

But she spun, her whip blade arcing through the air, slashing across his face. 

He fell back, clutching the wound as the remaining bandits closed in, wary but relentless.

Suddenly—

Haerak and Aina, who had been trying to stay out of the immediate danger, were now surrounded by a small group of sneering bandits, their blades gleaming ominously. 

Haerak pulled Aina close, positioning himself between her and the approaching threats. 

He murmured, holding his ground against the advancing threat.

"Stay behind me."

But before the bandits could close in on them, Yzavynne's whip blade shot forward, snapping around one bandit's leg and yanking him to the ground. 

She glared at the remaining attackers, her stance unwavering, daring them to try and get closer. 

Haerak gave her a grateful nod, his grip on Aina's hand tightening as they inched back.

Zach's gaze darted between his scattered team members—

Rage boiling in his eyes. 

△▼△▼△▼△

As the sounds of battle raged around them, Zach and Thorne stood face to face—

The tension between them thick and volatile. 

The eerie silence that had fallen over their immediate surroundings was almost mocking, as if the universe held its breath, waiting for blood to be spilled. 

Thorne's smirk widened as he took a step forward, his posture confident, almost casual. 

He raised his chin, eyeing Zach with a twisted sense of satisfaction.

"I suppose you don't know who I am," Thorne began, his tone dripping with mock courtesy. 

"Name's Thorne." 

He tapped his broadsword against his shoulder, his gaze never leaving Zach's face.

Zach's expression didn't waver, though his eyes held a cold fury as he watched the man carefully. 

"Why are you doing this?"

Thorne let out a low, mocking chuckle. 

"Why?" 

He shrugged, feigning innocence. 

"Because we're bandits, my friend. And that's what bandits do." 

He let the words hang in the air, a sadistic smile creeping onto his face. 

"But more importantly," he added, his voice lowering with a malicious edge.

"Your 'friends' out here killed three of my men."

Zach's eyes narrowed. 

"How can you be so sure?" 

Thorne's smile turned vicious. 

"Because no kingdom wants to deal with me or my men after I finished destroying Solaria. Ever heard of it?" 

He tilted his head, as if challenging Zach to contradict him.

Zach's jaw tightened, but he remained silent, waiting.

Thorne's voice took on a delighted, almost nostalgic tone. 

"Oh, Solaria... it was a beautiful place." 

He chuckled darkly. 

"Till I got to it. My men and I had our fun with that town. We burned it to the ground, tore through it like wolves through a flock of sheep. I made sure they heard the screams from miles away." 

He leaned in closer, his eyes alight with a sick sort of glee. 

"The best part? Watching the life drain from their eyes, one by one. It's... intoxicating, really."

He took a step back, examining Zach's reaction. 

Zach's face remained impassive, though his eyes had begun to darken, a simmering fury lurking beneath his calm exterior.

"And the women," Thorne continued, his tone gleefully unhinged. 

"My men know how to make the most of what they take. Especially when it comes to girls they... pick up along the way. They get a real thrill from it, see? The terror, the screams—it's the kind of satisfaction you can't buy." 

He smirked, eyes glinting with sick pleasure as he watched for a reaction.

Zach's expression, always so controlled, began to harden, a fire flickering in his gaze as Thorne's words sank in. 

His voice was a low, venomous whisper. 

"You're... disgusting."

Thorne let out a laugh, his voice echoing through the air. 

"Aren't you too? You used to kill people too, right?"

 He leaned forward, his face contorting with a manic smile. 

"HA HA HA HA!"

Before Zach could respond, Thorne's broadsword came crashing down in a wild, deadly arc. 

Zach sidestepped just in time, the blade slicing through the air where he'd been standing moments before. 

He drew his claymore sword, meeting Thorne's gaze with a cold intensity.

Their blades clashed, the ringing sound cutting through the chaos around them. 

Thorne fought with brutal, reckless swings, each strike meant to kill, his broadsword crashing down with vicious force. 

Zach parried each blow, his movements precise and measured. 

But Thorne was relentless, his attacks a storm of aggression that forced Zach back, step by step.

"You're quick, I'll give you that!" 

Thorne taunted, his breath coming in heavy pants as he pressed forward, blade swinging wildly. 

"But let's see how long that lasts!"

Zach blocked another fierce blow, his arm trembling slightly under the impact. 

Thorne's attacks were heavy, brutal, meant to wear him down. 

But Zach's gaze never faltered, his focus intense as he read his opponent's moves, waiting for an opening.

Thorne's eyes gleamed with sadistic glee as he pushed forward, enjoying the battle, the thrill of the fight. 

He swung his blade low, aiming to cut Zach off at the knees. 

Zach leapt back, barely avoiding the blade, but Thorne was already swinging again, his movements fast and unpredictable.

Thorne jeered.

"C'mon, Zach! Show me what you've got!" 

Zach's voice was low, cold as ice. 

"I don't kill for sport..."

"... I fight to protect."

Thorne laughed, swinging his blade in a wide arc that forced Zach to duck. 

"Protect?" he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. 

"Is that what you tell yourself to feel better? You think you're different from me?"

Zach's gaze hardened, his grip tightening on his weapon.

"Yes. I don't kill for the joy of it. But you... you're just a monster."

Thorne grinned, unbothered by the insult, his blade flashing as he brought it down in another brutal swing. 

"Monster, hero... who cares? In the end, you're just as covered in blood as I am!" 

He lunged forward, his broadsword cutting through the air with deadly speed.

Zach sidestepped, his own weapon coming up to parry the blow. 

The impact sent a shudder through his arm, but he held firm, his expression grim. 

With a swift, precise movement, he countered, his blade slicing through the fabric of Thorne's sleeve. 

Blood welled up, staining the fabric, but Thorne only laughed, the pain seeming to fuel his frenzy.

The two clashed again, their blades locking as they pushed against each other, faces inches apart. 

Thorne's breath was hot and ragged, his eyes wide and unhinged. 

"Face it, Zach. You're just like me. You know what it's like to kill, to feel that rush."

Zach's expression was one of pure disgust. 

His voice cold as he replied.

"The only rush I feel is knowing I'm stopping you."

With a sudden burst of strength, he shoved Thorne back, breaking the lock. 

Thorne stumbled, momentarily off-balance, and Zach seized the opening. 

His blade flashed, slicing a deep cut across Thorne's arm. 

Thorne grunted in pain, but his smile only grew wider, his eyes blazing with twisted excitement.

"Finally!" Thorne spat, his voice filled with dark glee. 

"Now we're getting somewhere!"

He lunged forward, his attacks faster, wilder, fueled by both rage and thrill.

Zach parried, his movements controlled and steady, refusing to be drawn into Thorne's madness. 

But Thorne's strength was relentless, each blow hammering down like a battering ram, forcing Zach to stay on the defensive.

Their blades clashed over and over—

 Sparks flying as steel met steel. 

Thorne's laughter echoed through the air, a mocking, taunting sound that grated on Zach's nerves.

"Give in, Zach! You know you want to! Just let go and enjoy it!"

Zach's voice was a growl, barely contained. 

"I'm nothing like you, Thorne."

Their weapons locked again, and this time, Zach's gaze was filled with a fierce determination. 

With a sudden twist, he broke the lock, stepping back just enough to create an opening. 

He lunged forward, his blade slicing through Thorne's defenses, cutting deep into his side.

Thorne staggered, blood staining his clothes, but his laughter didn't stop, even as he clutched his wound. 

He gasped, his voice filled with manic joy.

"This... this is what I live for!" 

Zach's expression was one of cold fury as he took a step forward, his weapon raised. 

"You're done, Thorne."

Thorne's laugh died down, replaced by a twisted, bloodstained grin. 

"Then let's make this a fight worth remembering!"

And with one last battle cry, the two clashed again, their blades meeting with a force that sent shockwaves through the ground beneath them, locked in a deadly struggle that neither would back down from.

△▼△▼△▼△

Ruby struggled fiercely as rough hands gripped her arms, dragging her through the undergrowth. 

She kicked and writhed, but her captor was stronger, his grip relentless as he hauled her away from the chaos. 

Her heart pounded as she took in her surroundings, realizing how far she'd been separated from the others. 

Panic clawed at her chest, but she forced herself to breathe, forced herself to think.

With a surge of desperation, Ruby twisted, managing to wrench one arm free. 

She shoved against the arm covering her mouth, her voice breaking through in a frantic shout. 

"Let go of me! Let go!"

The bandit snarled, yanking her roughly, and threw her to the ground. 

She hit the dirt hard, rolling as pain shot through her side. 

Dizzy, she pushed herself up, scrambling backward as the bandit towered over her, a sick grin stretching across his face.

"You just made this more exciting," he sneered, pulling his shirt off and tossing it to the ground. 

His eyes gleamed with malicious delight as he took in her vulnerable position, his gaze crawling over her as though —

She were no more than prey.

Ruby's hands dug into the dirt as she tried to pull herself back, but he just chuckled, advancing toward her. 

Then, with a horrifying casualness, he tugged at his belt, the buckle clinking as he let his pants drop to the ground. 

His grin widened, his voice a sickening drawl. 

"We're gonna have some fun, you and me. Don't worry, I'll make it real nice for you..." 

He took another step forward, leering.

"Then maybe I'll kill you when we're done. Or maybe I won't. Depends on how long you keep things interesting."

Ruby's heart thundered, her body frozen with terror as she stared at him. 

Her breath was shallow, each inhale trembling. 

She tried to think, tried to remember every bit of training, but the fear was overpowering, trapping her in place. 

Her voice, usually so calm, came out as a frail—

Terrified whisper.

"... help... me..."

The words barely escaped her lips, a desperate plea that hung in the air.

A sudden whistle of an arrow sliced through the air. 

The shaft drove deep into his thigh, making him stumble with a guttural cry of pain.

He staggered.

"Argh!!"

His twisted grin collapsing into a look of agony as a second arrow pierced his other leg, pinning him to the spot.

Before he could regain his balance, Leeani rushed from behind, her eyes cold and unwavering.

She closed the distance with ruthless speed, pulling a gleaming knife from her side pocket. 

Without hesitation, she drove it hard into his groin, twisting it with brutal precision.

The man's scream was raw and guttural, his hands clawing at her arm in desperation as he sank forward, his bravado shattered by the searing pain.

Leeani's expression didn't falter. With a swift, practiced movement, she withdrew the knife, blood dripping from the blade as she raised it high and plunged it into his head. 

The impact drove him backward, his eyes wide with shock and horror as he stood motionless for a heartbeat, suspended in agonizing silence. 

His legs buckled, yet he remained upright, locked in a gruesome, frozen stance.

Leeani stepped back, assessing the man's limp form with steely calm, her breathing steady. 

She gave him one last, disdainful look before she raised her leg and delivered a fierce kick to his chest. 

The force sent him sprawling to the ground, lifeless, leaving a smear of blood in his wake.

Ruby remained on the ground— 

Still trembling, her gaze fixed on the bandit's body. 

Her wide, frightened eyes slowly shifted to Leeani, who sheathed her knife and walked over, her face softening just a little as she reached out a hand.

"Come on, Ruby," Leeani said gently, her voice steady but with a hint of warmth. 

"Let's get you out of here."

Ruby took her hand, gripping it tightly as she pulled herself up, her legs unsteady. 

She glanced once more at the dead bandit, swallowing hard, and looked back at Leeani, grateful but shaken.

"Thank you... I don't know what would've happened if—"

Leeani gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, her gaze firm. 

"All that matters is you're safe now. Just..."

"...stay close."

═════ ◆ TO BE CONTINUED ◆ ═════

◆ ◆ ◆ Author's Notes ◆ ◆ ◆

Traumatizing experience for Ruby...