The dense forest stank of blood and smoke.
Max arrived behind the warriors, his breath catching as he stepped out of the trees. The sight before him made his chest tighten but not out of fear. Shock.
In the Bandit Boss's hand… was the severed head of the Captain.
Mia froze, her breath catching. Roy clenched his fists. Joy stared silently, for once without a single joke. Diya's sword trembled in her hand.
Around the boss, other warriors fought for their lives. Bandits were everywhere in the trees, the rocks, the shadows. Fire lit up patches of the forest.
Cries of pain and steel-on-steel echoed. But the Bandit Boss stood calmly, smirking, holding the Captain's head like a trophy.
Opposite him, three elite warriors faced him.
A woman with a fit frame, brown eyes, black hair height about 5'7".
Two men, one tall and broad, the other lean but fast.
Each of them showed signs of heavy battle—bloodied, bruised, but determined.
The Boss laughed.
> "You think you can take my place? Kill me? This is my kingdom now."
He didn't even look at Mia or the others. His attention was solely fixed on the female Master.
Mia and Joy surged forward, rage taking over, but the Master raised her hand.
> "NO! Stay back. This is not your level. He's a top-tier Master!"
They halted. Barely.
Mia snarled, "Then we fight together!"
The Master shook her head. "He'll kill you like ants."
---
Meanwhile, Max slipped into the underbrush.
Not in fear but because he knew. If the Captain had died, the Boss was beyond anything he could face head-on.
Instead, he stalked the hidden bandits those waiting for a sneak kill.
One. He grabbed a lurking archer, covered his mouth, slit his throat.
His first kills—yet his hands didn't tremble. His mind stayed focused. Not calm—just controlled. Useful.
Two. Another tried to signal—Max pounced.
Three, four... Max became a shadow, silent, deadly.
He didn't chase those fleeing. Let the others handle them. Max hunted those who lurked.
---
Back at the core battle—the duel began.
The Master attacked. Blades clashed. Trees snapped.
But the difference showed.
The Bandit Boss blocked with ease. Then countered—so fast.
He shattered her sword's guard and—with a flash of silver—cut off two of her fingers.
She gasped, staggering.
The Bandit Boss smirked.
> "You call yourself Master? You're barely trained."
He kicked her back. She rolled across the forest floor.
Bandits cheered. Warriors froze.
Mia was ready to lunge again—but the Master shouted, bleeding but firm:
> "STAY BACK! He's mine!"
Even the bandits didn't interrupt. All knew—interfering would mean instant death.
---
Roy and Diya led side battles.
Roy fought like a tank, shielding others, slamming bandits to trees.
Diya moved swiftly, leading a flank of backup fighters.
Joy rallied injured warriors, cracking heads and spouting one-liners like:
> "You bleed now, laugh later!"
Mia stood still. Watching. Boiling.
---
Max kept killing.
He noticed an archer aiming for Mia. Max threw a dagger it struck the throat. Silence.
But that moment… the Bandit Boss turned.
Their eyes met.
Time froze.
> "You..."
The Boss didn't recognize him. But he sensed something. Max quickly ducked back.
The Boss ignored him focused on finishing the Master.
---
And then a sharp howl echoed.
A sound only warriors understood.
Reinforcements.
From the forest edge, three cloaked figures emerged.
The one in front—bald, silver eyes glowing, aura terrifying—spoke:
> "Bandit Boss... this ends now."
Mia whispered, stunned: "Grand Masters..."
Max exhaled slowly. Not in fear.
In anticipation.
To bhi continue..