Embrace of the void

Michael moved swiftly through the underbrush, his heart pounding with anticipation. It had been half an hour since he set out, and he was nearing the bandits' hideout. With Nyxar at his side, the thrill of impending violence ignited a fire within him.

"Are we close?" Michael inquired, excitement bubbling beneath his calm exterior.

"Just a bit further," Nyxar replied, his voice low, his eyes glinting with eagerness. "They're just ahead, in that clearing."

Are you sure that there are no Awakened Bandits higher than Rank E?

"Come on don't be a pussy trust me" Nyxar replied.

As they approached, the sounds of raucous laughter and clanging metal reached their ears, mingling with the acrid scent of smoke and charred meat. Michael grinned, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. He had never killed a human before, but the thought sent a thrill down his spine.

"There they are", Nyxar whispered, pointing toward a group of bandits lounging around a fire, their weapons carelessly strewn about.

Michael nodded, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Let's take them out quietly at first."

Nyxar slipped into the shadows, his form blending seamlessly with the darkness. Michael watched as he approached the first bandit, a burly man with a scarred face. In an instant, Nyxar struck, his dagger piercing the bandit's throat with deadly precision. The man collapsed without a sound, his life extinguished.

One by one, Nyxar dispatched the unsuspecting bandits, moving with a fluid grace that left no room for error. Michael felt a rush of exhilaration as he witnessed the efficiency of his servant's skills. The air was charged with anticipation, and he could hardly contain himself.

When the last bandit fell, a sudden shout pierced the calm. "What was that?" A guard had spotted the bodies, and chaos erupted.

With a swift motion, an electrifying energy surged through Michael, igniting his senses. He unleashed his { Desolation Barrage }, He raised his arms, channeling his power as two lightning spears formed in the air, crackling with intensity.

With a swift motion, he released the spears, watching as they sped through the air with deadly precision. The bandits, caught off guard, turned their heads in horror, their eyes wide with fear as the spears tore through the ranks.

The impact was catastrophic. The spears collided with the ground, exploding in a brilliant flash of light and sound. Fragments of human remains were sent flying, splattering across the remaining bandits, who stood frozen in terror.

Michael surveyed the chaos with a cold satisfaction. "If I had known these idiots were this weak, I wouldn't have run away from them last time," he thought, a dark thrill coursing through him.

As he fought, he utilized {Voltblade Fury}, channeling energy into his blade, striking down another bandit with a crackling surge of power. Blood sprayed, and Michael reveled in the chaos he was creating. The sensation of life slipping away beneath his sword ignited something primal within him.

Nyxar emerged from the shadows, a wicked smile on his face. "Let's show them the true meaning of terror!" He dashed into the chaos, weaving through the disoriented bandits with lethal grace

Nyxar joined the fray, his dagger flashing through the air as he executed a perfect {Shadow's Embrace}, wrapping his target in darkness before delivering the fatal blow. The thrill of the hunt coursed through them as they tore through the remaining bandits.

The bandits attempted to fight back, but their strikes were wild and unfocused. Michael dispatched them with ease, his sword slicing through flesh and bone. The exhilarating rush of battle consumed him. Each kill fueled his frenzy, as he reveled in their desperation.

Michael felt no remorse; instead, he was consumed by exhilaration. Each life extinguished only heightened his adrenaline.

A bandit, desperate and terrified, tried to escape, but Michael was faster. He unleashed {Dimensional Redirect}, warping space to appear directly in front of the fleeing man. "Where do you think you're going?" he taunted, slashing down with fierce precision.

As the last remnants of the bandits fell, Michael stood amidst the carnage, breathing heavily. The ground was littered with bodies, and the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood.

As Michael and Nyxar reveled in the aftermath of their bloody conquest, an idea sparked in Michael's mind. "While we're here, let's see if they have anything worth taking".

Nyxar's eyes lit up with mischief. "I'll check their treasury. Bandits always have something stashed away."

Michael nodded, eager for the thrill of discovery. While the flames consumed the bodies, Nyxar slipped into the shadows, his form disappearing as he moved toward the bandits' makeshift headquarters.

Moments later, Nyxar returned, a triumphant grin on his face and a heavy sack slung over his shoulder. "You won't believe what I found!" He dropped the sack at Michael's feet with a thud.

Curious, Michael knelt to inspect the contents. Inside were several shimmering magic potions, their vibrant colors swirling enchantingly. "These could be useful," he mused, picking up a blue potion labeled "Mana Restoration" and a red one marked "Health Elixir."

But the real treasure lay beneath the potions. Nestled at the bottom of the sack was a folded piece of parchment. Michael carefully unfolded it, revealing a hand-drawn map. His eyes widened as he traced the lines with his finger.

"This leads to an orc village," he said, excitement coursing through him. "Look here—Deepwood Hollow. It's rumored to be a stronghold for a tribe of powerful orcs.

As Michael and Nyxar examined the map, the realization struck them: a small tribe of orcs had recently formed nearby. Their numbers were modest, not exceeding fifty, Their leader was a top D-rank orc shaman..

Nyxar's eyes sparkled with excitement. "This is our chance! We must attack them before anyone finds out they're here."

Michael frowned, skepticism etched on his face. "No, are you crazy? There's no difference between bandits and goblins. We can't take on that many orcs at our current level, especially not with their leader being a whole rank higher than you."

"You don't understand! This is our opportunity!" Nyxar insisted, urgency creeping into his voice.

"Why are you so excited and impatient?" Michael asked, crossing his arms.

"You want to fill all your summoning slots, right?" Nyxar pressed.

"Yes, and what's the problem with that?" Michael replied.

"The best option we have right now is the orcs," Nyxar argued, his tone fervent.

"Why can't we just stick to bandits and develop them using my innate ability?" Michael countered.

Nyxar looked at him with disdain. "Are you really comparing orcs to bandits?"

"And what's the difference between them?" Michael challenged.

"Do you know the difference between humans and monsters?" Nyxar shot back.

"What?" Michael asked, confusion clouding his thoughts.

"Their bodies," Nyxar answered, his voice steady. "Humans can't compare to the physical strength of monsters, so we use weapons. Techniques and classes help us defeat them."

He continued, his eyes narrowing. "Some monsters have evolved and become stronger and smarter. They've awakened abilities and classes of their own. One of these monsters is the Orcs."

Michael listened, intrigued but wary. "What do you mean?"

"They've evolved beyond mere monsters. They've become a race in their own right, taking over one of the continents in this world. Imagine the physical power of a monster combined with the intelligence of a human. What do you think that can do?"

A chill ran down Michael's spine as he considered Nyxar's words. The orc leader, a shaman, would be a formidable opponent. "If this orc leader is a shaman, we must seize him."

"Exactly! Shaman is a rare and powerful magic class. Perhaps he could evolve further using your innate ability," Nyxar explained, his enthusiasm infectious. "If we're lucky, we might find many talented orcs in the village."

Michael pondered this. "But the orc leader is two ranks stronger than me. I can't use my skills on him."

"Don't worry. We have to scout the village first and make a plan. Then we'll return later when you reach the top of rank E," Nyxar encouraged.

"Okay, but we have to be careful," Michael replied, a sense of determination beginning to swell within him.

"First, we need to get rid of these bodies," Nyxar said, glancing at the remnants of their earlier battle.

Michael nodded, focusing on the task at hand. He ignited the bodies and the headquarters, flames licking upward as they consumed the evidence of their slaughter. The fire crackled and roared, lighting up the darkened forest as smoke billowed into the sky.

Once the last remnants of the bandits were reduced to ash, Michael turned to Nyxar. "Let's move. We've got a village to scout."

With renewed purpose, they ventured deeper into the forest, the thrill of impending chaos guiding their steps. The orcs awaited, and Michael felt the stirrings of ambition within him. This time, they wouldn't be outmatched. This time, they would seize their destiny.