Chapter 354
Chapter 354
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 354
Chapter Title: Kim Katt and the 40 Bandits
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Gahhh! We're under attack! Under attack! Get up, you fucking bastards!!!!"
A bandit, half-naked as if he'd just been roused from sleep, crawled out of his tent swinging a shortsword and bellowed like a madman.
He must have been yelling to rally his comrades as quickly as possible to drive us off, but as expected, he drew all the aggro and took about five merciless stabs before collapsing in a heap.
"Kill them! Kill them all!"
"This one's mine!"
The adventurers, buzzing with excitement from the successful ambush, showed no mercy as they cut down every bandit scrambling out of huts and tents.
The adventurers were already mentally and physically primed for battle, and they'd landed the first blows with a perfect surprise attack.
In contrast, the bandits had only a handful of guards posted while the rest were drowned in booze or napping. No way could they stand against prepared killers in that state.
Even if they shook off the shock, more than half would already be dead by then, and no bandit would feel motivated to fight after seeing half their crew slaughtered.
In skirmishes like this, a good ambush seals the win.
Ambush and first strike—truly the path to victory.
"Repent in death, you heretics!!!!!"
"Ooooh?!"
Elise charged through the chaotic battlefield, smashing the skulls of fleeing bandits. Her speed was so blinding it was impossible to tell mace from lightning.
"The cave! They're coming out of the cave!"
At that moment, the merchant shouted.
Sure enough, bandits clutching various weapons were pouring out of the cave in blind panic.
As the adventurers' attention split toward them, bandits who had rolled out of tents with weapons began resisting.
"Winia! Those bastards from the cave!"
Right now, I was guarding Winia.
As she scorched bandits' heads with Fire Bolts, I sliced down any approaching foes. A heavily armored warrior protecting a stationary mage—the classic setup.
No ordinary thug could handle this tactic.
"I see them already!"
Winia was already eyeing the cave. As a battle-hardened mage, she stopped her rapid-fire spells and began chanting something more powerful.
Whoosh!
Judging by the red magic circle forming above her staff, it was Flame Arrow—a spell that launched exploding arrows.
With explosions, it was brutally lethal.
"Flame Arrow!"
Chant complete, a flaming arrow shot out, colliding with a short bandit just emerging from the cave and detonating on impact.
Boom!
Impressive power.
The massive blast engulfed the bandits clustered at the entrance, sending them writhing in flames like monsters, screaming horrifically.
"Kekekeheeeek!!!!"
"Kiyaaaaak!!!!!"
"Chiiiyaaaaaaaak!!!!!!!!"
Those monstrous screams...!
Just as I suspected—these bandits weren't human!!!!!!
Only monsters could make sounds that grotesque!!!
"F-Fire! The fire's revealing their true demonic forms!!! Elise!!! These aren't heretics—they're monsters!!! Be careful!!!"
I bellowed at the top of my lungs to warn Elise about this unbelievable sight I'd witnessed with my own eyes.
"N-No way! Monsters disguised as humans?!"
"Exactly! These fuckers were mimicking people while killing them!!!!"
"Lord of Order!!! How could they be so vile!!!! I won't forgive this!!"
Shocked, I immediately drew up my mana to prepare for danger. If they weren't human, they surely had some trump card to turn the tide.
I had to stay vigilant.
Not mere bandits... Was this another heresy plot? As mana surged, my vision sharpened crystal clear.
A honed battle sense.
Extending my senses, I analyzed the surroundings meticulously.
Monsters might unleash black magic. Gripping my sword tightly, I shielded Winia with my body, utmost caution.
Whoosh!
Even amid this, Winia maintained focus, firing fireballs into the cave depths. Unfortunately, with only bandits inside, she couldn't fully seal it off.
"You bitch!!!! Die!!!"
Then, a properly armed bandit roared, raising his longsword and charging.
"Who're you calling a bitch at my woman, you cock-sucking shithead!!!!"
I spun toward him instantly.
His gear looked solid. Sword length similar to mine. But smaller build. Calculating that far, I waited for him to close in a bit more, timing it—
Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
I kicked off the ground.
Fwosh!
"Kieeeek!!!!!!"
Leading with my blade tip. Closing distance faster than his charge, I unleashed a feral roar.
"Wh-What?!"
The bandit faltered, halting to assume a defensive stance. Humans panic like that in unexpected situations, turning defensive.
"You monster fuck! Pretending to be human!!!"
"F-Fuck!!!"
Seizing that split-second gap, I stole his spacing and initiative.
My body, "launched" via Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon, hurtled toward him with acceleration. Harnessing that momentum,
I thrust straight.
Clang!
"Die, you piece of shit!!!"
"Gah...! H-Hey! Over here! Help me!! Hurry the fuck up!!!"
He barely blocked my first strike. Parrying a slash with a crossguard suggested some sword training.
But after blocking, he just backpedaled, begging for help. Too bad—the battlefield was chaos; no one could aid him.
And begging sealed his defeat.
"Kieeeek!!!"
I roared again, unleashing a barrage. Against such foes, end it swiftly once you seize the chance. Judging roughly, he was inferior in strength, skill, and gear.
Overwhelm with superior physique, honed swordsmanship!
"Urk, uwaaah!!! Stop! Stop it!"
Clang!
Three times we locked blades in a power struggle.
Clang!
Clang!
Those three strikes were lethal techniques taught by Karin for a hefty sum—each one methodically stripping away his future.
And that was it.
"Gack!"
In under five seconds, my sword sank into the bandit's neck. Amateur shithead. I severed his spine and kicked his chest, sending him flying.
Thud.
He crumpled like rotten timber, vomiting blood and rolling back his eyes.
What a worthless piece of dogshit.
Couldn't even last five seconds, sword or no.
"Winia! You good?!"
"Darkie, I got nine already!"
"As expected of Mage Winia!"
I rushed to Winia, just as burning bandits from the cave charged us.
"Mage! It's a mage! Kill the mage or we're dead!!!"
"Kill her!!!!"
"Waaaaah!!!!"
Five in total.
"Come on, you monster fucks."
Five, huh.
"This Heavenly Demon Kim Katt will carve you all up."
Five bandits couldn't touch a hair on this Kim Katt.
Fwosh!
Signaled Winia and charged.
For incoming foes?
Same as the last one—just charge faster.
"I can't stop this impulse anymoreeeeeeee!!!!!!!"
Add a savage kiai and sword dance while leaping for maximum effect.
Humans instinctively fear fast-approaching figures, ringing blades, and roaring beasts.
The triple threat of Kim Katt reigned as primal terror—a heavenly demon dominating from the skies, overwhelming the world.
Right now, I was complete.
I would never lose.
Of course, seasoned warriors wouldn't flinch.
But bandits weren't seasoned warriors.
Just sneaky, feeble thieves.
Obvious from their running gait, posture, and arms. No true expert turns bandit. That realization ignited my underdog-slaying spirit, unleashing unbelievable power.
"H-Hey! To the side! Flank him!"
"He's coming!!!"
"Fuck, block him!!!!!!!!!!"
See? Even five become a panicked mob. They were already terrified at the demon's approach.
The fear-stricken can never win!!
Only those who stake their lives prevail!!!!
This fusion of creeds shook my mind, erasing defeat. No mercy, no pity. They'd pay for carving out my heart!
If you wield weapons, show me your resolve!
"I'll carve you out!!!!!!!"
I unleashed Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon again for double speed. Space seemed to compress, but my expanded senses took it all in.
"You!!!!! Worthless worms!!!!!!!!!"
Screeech!!!
"Uwaaaah!!!"
"Kyaaaah!!"
Swinging Karin's black-iron longsword.
Acceleration. Strength. Mana. Technique. Boldness. Courage. Victory. All converged into perfect sword form, shredding space as the blade decapitated two terror-stricken foes, spraying blood.
Splatter!
Two down, three left.
Gasp!
Flowing with the blade, I pivoted smoothly. Flowing Swordsmanship's greatest strength: versatility. The slash transitioned fluidly to a thrust, piercing the chest of the one beside.
Stab!
"Th-Three at once...!"
Nothing easier than crushing fear-crippled weaklings.
Too simple.
Way too simple—the bandit trio face-planted. The last two would follow.
"D-Die!!"
"Run!!!"
To the one swinging a handaxe in panic, I countered. Clang! The black-iron longsword cleaved axe, hand, and forearm. Swish! Severed limb flew skyward. Like a bad joke.
"You fuck... Hand and arm gone!!! Are you insane!!!"
"Hyaaaaah!!!!!!!"
"Why abuse the body your mother bore! Why!! Just die, you filthy traitor!!!"
Clearly unhinged. Stepping forward, I drove the tip in like needling bread. He impaled softly.
That was his gentle end.
"Spare me!"
The last one fled, grasping the situation. I started pursuit but halted—Crack! Elise's mace flew like a guided missile, smashing his skull.
Daring to show this Heavenly Demon your back? Pathetic end.
"Elise! Nice! Perfect timing!"
"You too, Saint!"
I linked with Elise and fell back to Winia.
"Winia, you okay?!"
"Haa... Getting tired now. Too many bandits. Burned over half my mana already."
"Leave the rest to me."
"You've been doing it all."
"Heh, true."
The battle was fiercely intense.
Our ambush worked perfectly. Winia, Elise, and I combined forces to butcher the bandits, but their numbers were overwhelming.
"Grahk!"
"Urgh...! Fall back!"
"Rally here! Too many enemies!"
Already, several adventurers had fallen to massed bandit assaults. Survivors clustered guarding the merchant. We joined them.
Bandit count: easily over thirty.
That bastard lied, it seemed. I hadn't fully trusted him, but not this many.
This was practically a professional large-scale bandit gang.
Good thing the ambush halved them; a frontal assault would've been worse.
"Urgh, you're quite skilled! But the situation's dire. Too many bandits!"
Joining our surviving team, Lactos with his dual swords said so. He was soaked in blood.
"Heh, seems so. But I don't think we'll lose. If that's all of them, we can win."
Four adventurers dead, it looked like.
Bandits still near twenty. Winia mana-drained, but their skill level? No problem.
Guild penalty worried me... But evidence of victory over a large bandit group should suffice.
Merchant client, D-rank Lactos, and me explaining ought to work.
Not a guild-issued quest; merchant just recruited via guild. D-ranks get leeway like that.
"Hey, merchant. With this many bandits, you paying full?"
"...More than expected. But still fine. We have casualties."
Positive response.
Even if not, we'd kill them anyway. Looted gear here alone worth a fortune.
"Fuck, these bastards are done!"
"You're the ones dying, you retarded shits!"
We traded curses in standoff when—
"Useless fucks! How many'd we lose!!!"
Clank.
From the cave depths emerged a hulking brute in chainmail, face tattooed, dragging a warhammer with a savage bellow. Huge. Broad and a bit taller than me.
Even singed black from flames.
"Ezat's tattoo!!!"
Elise thunderously cried at the sight.
"Holy shit, it's real!!!"
The brute's facial tattoo matched those of Ezat worshippers I'd slaughtered endlessly in holy wars.
These fuckers were heretics after all.