Bandit Bastards #2
The world lit up in an instant, a scorching heat washing over us. The moment Ha-young raised her stone staff, a wave of flames erupted from it, engulfing the charging bandits.
Whoosh!
The bandits exposed to that crimson wave screamed as they were wrapped in fire.
"Aaaack!"
"Uwaaaack!"
"Huff, huff!"
They were literally cloaked in flames, flailing in place like the Morden Army grunts from Metal Slug. Had she just wiped out the front line of bandits with a single spell? Was this the power of a Taoist?
"Wha...!"
"What?!"
"Is that even possible?"
"How can she do that...?"
The bandits charging from behind froze in shock. From their perspective, they'd just witnessed their bravest comrades evolve into flaming humans in the blink of an eye. It was like they'd been petrified by the mystical sight straight out of Darwin's theory of evolution.
I was stunned too. Those hyperactive bastards had gone down just like that.
"Die."
But it wasn't over. Ha-young, who'd summoned the flame wave, now pulled a talisman from her left sleeve and snapped it open like a fan. With a swing of her arm...
Flutter!
The talismans flew out impossibly fast, igniting in mid-air. Guided flame bullets. Actual homing missiles of fire.
The talismans turned into small fireballs, tracking the frozen bandits. The bandits finally snapped out of it and screamed, but...
Boom!
The flames hit their bodies—backs of heads for the runners, backs for others, faces for those still dazed.
"Huaaaack!"
Bandits ignited across their bodies wailed pathetically. Most couldn't even scream, their faces consumed by fire.
It was over in seconds. A flame wave from her staff swing, a handful of tossed talismans, and more than half the bandits were thrashing in flames, dying.
A total catastrophe in the blink of an eye.
"Uwaaaack!"
"S-save meee!"
"What the hell is thaaat?!"
The survivors denied reality and fled. What about the boss? He looked panicked too, staring our way, but he was the boss after all. He snapped to, swinging his axe to decapitate a fleeing underling.
"Stop! I'll kill any bastard who runs!"
This fucker...? He was personally stopping deserters for us? How thoughtful.
"You fucking shits! Don't you wanna fuck that bitch? Get over there and take her down!"
"B-but she's that strong...!"
"Y-yes, boss! I didn't know Taoists were that powerful!"
"Shut up! Taoists weaken after using their spells! Now's our chance! Capture that bitch before I kill you myself!"
"But—!"
"Follow me!"
Bam!
The boss kicked off the ground and charged. The bandits hesitated at the sight but soon roared, caught up in battle frenzy, and followed.
"Seriously. No learning curve. You come at us, you just get burned. That what you want? To turn to ash?"
Ha-young spat her badass line and tossed more talismans. The homing flames darted like hornets, tracking the bandits.
The panicking bandits flailed to dodge, but it was useless.
Splat!
Even the charging boss got hit.
But...
"That fucker!"
He crossed his arms, blocked the flame bullet, and kept coming!
"That damn wench with my men...!"
His face twisted in rage. I was sure now—this guy outclassed me. Second-rate? First-rate? He tanked Ha-young's flame bullet and kept going; he was no slouch.
The boss closed in. But Ha-young didn't flinch. She chanted softly, flames blooming from her staff's tip. Gripping it two-handed, she swung wide.
A massive flame arc like a firecracker display shot out, snaking toward him like a serpent!
"It's over!"
Whoosh!
"Graaaahhh!"
The boss took the flame serpent head-on and ignited. But the bastard was still coming!
"You fucking biiitch!"
"Eek!"
Ha-young backpedaled in shock. Tanked a flame blast and still charging? What a monster—like a wild boar on steroids.
Step.
I stepped in front of her. Protecting the mage was a warrior's duty. If I stopped him, we'd win. Time to end this stalker bandit boss fucker!
"You look like a rat in flames! I'll finish you!"
"Shut uuuup!"
The boss raised his axe; I raised my Cheonrae Sword. I'd been circulating Cheong-han Sim-gong since the fight started. As he closed, I unleashed Dae-ryu Geom-beop.
Boom!
My Cheonrae Sword deflected his heavy axe swing. I flowed into combos, batting away his furious axe strikes.
"You little punk...!"
He was skilled with that axe, but I had the Cheonrae Sword. Weapon gap alone was overwhelming.
"Hraaah!"
Plus, Dae-ryu Geom-beop grew stronger with each link. Even now, mid-clash, my blade gained more power!
Fwoosh!
"You bandit fuck! I'll split you in half!"
"Fuck yoooou!"
A bit more. Just a little pressure, and I'd end him. This fucker dared toy with Ha-young in front of me? Perverts like him deserved to be diced on sight!
Crackle!
Purple energy leaked from my sword. Yes—finally. It never worked at Ha-young's place, but in this shitshow, it triggered again. Feeling the purple gui qi, I thrust at his head.
Bang!
A crack appeared on his blocking axe. The purple energy amplified my sword force.
"Th-this power!"
Seeing death yet? But...
"Hup!"
His aura surged. A sudden power boil-over? My sword got pushed back; thick veins bulged on his face like blooming flowers.
"Mutual destruction!"
Ha-young yelled from behind.
"It's mutual destruction!"
Fuck! That's my specialty! Figured he'd go kamikaze since he was done for.
"Raaahhh!"
His empowered axe swung harder. I kept chaining Dae-ryu Geom-beop to defend, but his inner power was definitely stronger now. He aimed to cleave me!
To protect Ha-young—and myself—I had to split him first, no matter what.
Crackle!
Purple sparks intensified. As the energy enveloped my blade, I vaguely grasped how to release it all at once.
Shing.
I righted my raised sword. He roared like a bear, sweeping his axe horizontally. Time slowed; I unleashed the purple energy in one explosive burst, thrusting fiercely.
Slash!
Purple energy erupted violently. A sinister, ghostly trajectory slashed wide—like demons charging. What to call this? Demon slash... Gui-cham? Felt too familiar. Nah, Gui-gyeok-cham.
Crack.
The boss, taking Gui-gyeok-cham head-on, split diagonally. His axe too. Just a thrust, and a man was halved. First time for this kind of kill.
The sight hit me; exhaustion crashed in, clouding my mind. My inner power drained instantly.
His upper body thudded down. I dropped to one knee, gasping.
"Huff...! Huff, huff!"
"Y-you! Are you okay?!"
Ha-young rushed over, stroking my back.
"I'm... fine... Whew!"
"That move just now!"
"Yeah... meant to show you... That last one was new, though... Ngh...!"
My guts twisted. Internal injury?
"Circulate your qi quick! Meditate!"
"First, confirm kills."
My senses sharpened?
"Urk...!"
"Urgh!"
Moans from surviving bandits tickled my ears. Had to finish them. All of them. They crawled from flame shock, but if any escaped and alerted their main force? We'd face an army weakened. No chance.
"Hey!"
Before Ha-young could stop me, I lunged at a crawling bandit.
"Ah!"
He sensed doom, mouth agape.
"Ugh, urgh...! S-spare me, hero! I-I only turned bandit 'cause life was tough...!"
"Shut up, you dog!"
"Nooooo!"
Stab!
Cheonrae Sword plunged into his torso—confirm kill.
"Urk, urgh...!"
"Ack!"
I hunted more crawlers, stabbing. The last one groveled, face melted.
"Mercy, hero! Mercy! Pleeease!"
Pity flickered, but no mercy. Jae Mi-son would've speared him mercilessly with his I-sang Je-go. He was that guy; as his friend, so was I.
Slice!
Sword severed his neck. All bandits dead.
"Haa!"
I collapsed.
"...You."
"Ha-young. Gotta clean the bodies."
"Bodies?"
"Flame traces might point to you. People find charred corpses, what do they think? Flame spell user did it. Rumors say you're in Anhui Province... so."
"You thought that far? You're wiser than you look."
Her voice softened.
"It's fine."
She squatted beside me, reassuring.
"Not bone-melting magic. No burn marks on bones, no trace. Plus, yokai will devour them by nightfall. No worries."
Really?
"Water here."
"Thanks."
I gulped from her gourd.
"Ah."
Finally alive. But...
"Aah."
A ridiculous dread surged in my chest. How many had I killed today? Boss in fair fight, fine—but I hunted down spell-weakened bandits and massacred them. Mass slaughter...!
More than all my past kills combined! Look at these corpses everywhere! All mine! Mad slaughterhouse!
Killing bandits was right, but this sea of bodies made my brain feel blood-soaked!
"Ngh... Hic, hiiic...!"
Breath shortened. Vision blurred. Clutching my face, sword dropped.
"Sigh. Hey. Get up."
Ha-young whispered in my ear.
"Up."
I stood as ordered. She rose too, dusting my shoulders.
"You okay?"
"Urk... Whew, yeah. Just tired."
"You don't look okay."
True. How could I be?
"...No one's around?"
She scanned.
"Yeah. I killed 'em all."
"Not that. Look."
Suddenly...
Shh.
Ha-young stripped naked.
"Whoa!"
Her outfit was already skimpy—hard to tell dressed or undressed. Clothes hit the ground in a flash.
She was nude in a heartbeat. Pale skin. Breasts ready to burst. My eyes locked on her seductive, lewd curves.
But something shocking: talismans on key spots. Three. Two on her breasts, one below the pubic bone. Not fully exposed.
"Knew you had talismans there...!"
I blurted in surprise. Then...
Whoosh.
She hugged me.
"Ah."
My face buried in her massive breasts. Was Ha-young... hugging me? No—cradling me. Like Aunt did.
Pat pat.
She stroked my back, cradling me to her chest.
"It's okay, okay. No need to feel bad. Just killed some worthless bandit scum. Fine. Don't let it hurt you. Why get shocked?"
Gentle comfort.
"I know, but."
"Cry if you want. I'll take it. Use my breasts freely."
"Sob...!"
Tears I'd held back flowed. I sobbed into her chest.
"Hehe, big frame but so fragile... What can ya do? You're just soft-hearted. Might not suit a warrior."
"Hic, hic... Thanks, Ha-young!"
"Thanks? We're buddies. Oh—want me to remove a talisman and let you suckle? That'd fix ya?"
"Wha?!"
Yes please!
"Kyahahaha! Kidding! No sucking! What're you thinking?!"
"You!"
"Calmed down?"
She pushed me away gently. Massive loss and regret hit. Pulled from that warm embrace—pure agony. Calmed, then shoved? Ice cold.
But she stood naked before me, talismans on privates.
She spread her breasts, not bothering to dress.
"Whoa! Look how wet my tits got! More like, how long you gonna stare at my body? Eyes off!"
"...!"
"Huh? Why's your gaze dropping lower! Turn away! Where you looking?!"
She covered her lower talisman and spun. I turned too!
"Not content peeking up top, now down there too?"
"...That."
Couldn't help it.
"Don't misunderstand."
"Huh?"
"I'm a virgin. No man's touched me. This was pretty lewd, even for me... but you're my buddy, so comforting you. Got it?"
Grumbling tone.
"...Thanks, Ha-young."
I thanked her, back turned.
"Well, you look fully calm now. My boobs that good? Stopped your tears cold?"
"Uh, well."
Amazing.
"That fox bitch Okhwa Geom wouldn't do this, right?"
"Why bring up Serin suddenly."
"Did she or didn't she? Answer."
Never happened.
"No."
"Hmhm, only I did? Proves I'm the closer friend! Kyahahahaha!"
She laughed heartily, delighted.