The moment the threat rang out, sharp and commanding, Bao and Morell exchanged a glance.
No words were needed.
Both had already wrapped their hands around their swords.
Bao's free hand rested on the coach door handle, muscles tensed, ready to move at a moment's notice. Outside, the commander's voice cut through the thin wooden walls.
"Who are you? State your name—and your title, if you have one!"
A brief silence followed.
Then—
"We're just simple peasants," a rough voice answered. "No titles. No names worth remembering."
Birds chirped somewhere in the distance, the calm almost mocking the tension.
"Just empty pockets… and starving families."
Morell clicked his tongue.
Bao understood.
Killing was never simple—not even in a game. And not even when facing scum.
But when the enemy claimed to be desperate men… forced into this?
It complicated things.
"Well then," the knight outside replied firmly, "by my name and honor, I assure you—there is nothing of value in this carriage."
A scoff answered him.
"We don't care what you're carrying. If it's guarded, it's worth something. Even a hostage fetches a fine price."
Bao's grip tightened.
So that's how it is.
"Then answer me this," the knight continued, his voice hardening.
Shing—
Steel slid free from its sheath.
"If you're nothing but poor villagers… why are you armed like trained soldiers?"
The question hung in the air.
Bao couldn't take it anymore.
He had to see.
He pushed against the door—
—but Elincia grabbed his arm.
"Wait—"
TWANG!
The sharp snap of bowstrings tore through the air.
A heartbeat later—
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Arrows rained down on the carriage.
Some pierced straight through the wood, their tips jutting into the cramped interior. Horses screamed in panic. Men shouted. Pain echoed on all sides.
The ambush had begun.
Steel clashed against steel.
Chaos erupted.
Bao didn't hesitate any longer.
He wrenched the door open and kicked it wide, sword already drawn.
The scene outside was pure disorder.
Two massive trees blocked both the road ahead and the path behind. The caravan was trapped.
From the forest to the left—dozens of bandits surged forward, their numbers overwhelming. And worse—
They weren't poorly equipped.
Their armor gleamed in the sunlight. Their weapons were well-forged.
Not peasants.
Not even close.
Around the carriage, the guards were already locked in brutal close-quarters combat. The confined space made the horses useless—several were already down, pinning men beneath them.
Bao's jaw clenched.
No more hesitation.
He moved.
With a quick step and a low leap, he slipped behind a bandit mid-swing, the man raising an iron mace to crush one of the guards.
Bao didn't think.
His body moved on instinct.
[Skill "Backstab" activated]
The blade slid forward.
Clean.
Precise.
It pierced straight through the chainmail as if it weren't there, driving deep into the man's back.
The bandit froze—then collapsed.
One motion. One kill.
A deafening roar followed.
Morell burst from the carriage, his massive sword carving through the air with terrifying force.
For a split second, the battlefield stilled.
Eyes turned toward him.
A towering brute, standing at the center of the chaos.
Then everything resumed at once.
Bao scanned the battlefield quickly.
Two guards were already down—motionless.
Another was trapped beneath a fallen horse, its body riddled with arrows.
The situation was collapsing.
Even with Morell—
Even with him—
They didn't have enough manpower.
Morell alone held back five enemies, his greatsword forcing them to keep their distance. But it wasn't enough.
It wouldn't be enough.
Bao ducked.
An arrow whistled past his head.
He grabbed the nearest bandit and yanked him into the line of fire.
A wet thud.
The arrow buried itself in the man's back instead.
Bao twisted, slipping under a horizontal slash, and in the same motion—
His blade flashed.
The head of his opponent rolled across the dirt.
No pause.
No hesitation.
He pushed forward until he reached Morell's side.
"There are too many!" Bao shouted over the clash of steel. "We need to get Elincia out of here—or we're done!"
"You think I don't see that?!" Morell roared back, swinging his blade and forcing another enemy back. "But there's no way through!"
Bao's eyes flicked toward the front line—
Toward the struggling guards.
"I see one," he said.
Morell followed his gaze.
Realization hit instantly.
"No." His voice hardened. "We are not using them as bait, David. Not a chance."
A bandit charged.
Bao sidestepped him easily—
[Skill "Evasion" triggered]
—and before the man could react, Morell slammed him away with the flat of his blade, sending him flying several meters.
"If this continues," Bao snapped, "it won't just be your dead body!"
His voice dropped, sharper now.
"And before you get any ideas—we need you alive. You're the only one who can break through."
Morell opened his mouth.
Closed it again.
He knew.
Damn it—he knew.
"…Tch."
Silence between them, even as battle raged on.
"It's decided then," Bao said.
But before either of them could act—
A new sound cut through the chaos.
Screams.
Clashing steel.
Coming from the forest—
The same direction the bandits had emerged from.
Both Bao and Morell froze for a fraction of a second.
Then slowly turned their heads.
Eyes met.
Raised eyebrows.
…What now?