NOVEL WEB Chapter 7: Chapter 8: The bandit threat
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As the villagers of Emberpine began to rebuild and recover from the corruption that had gripped the forest, I couldn't shake the feeling that the calm wouldn't last long. The woods were no longer the only thing tainted by darkness. A new threat had been brewing on the outskirts of Briarstead County, and it was only a matter of time before it came to a head. The Blackthorn Bandits, a notorious group of raiders, had been attacking supply caravans and causing chaos in the region.
I had dealt with monsters and spirits, but humans—humans were far more unpredictable. The bandits were organized, cunning, and ruthless. Word was, they were gathering in numbers, and if they weren't stopped soon, they'd turn their attention to the village.
The villagers were already on edge from the recent horrors, and this new threat was the last thing they needed. I couldn't allow it to go unchecked.
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The Search for the Bandit Hideout
I started my search at the site of the most recent attack—a caravan that had been ambushed a few days prior. The wreckage was still fresh: broken carts, scattered supplies, and the bodies of fallen guards. The stench of death hung in the air as I carefully examined the scene.
There were signs of a struggle, but no immediate clue as to where the bandits had gone after the attack. I squatted down, my fingers brushing the ground. There. Tracks—faint, but fresh. They led toward the east, into the dense woods that bordered the county.
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Phase 1: Following the Trail
I followed the tracks through the woods, the trees growing thick around me. The air was heavy with the weight of the unknown, and the deeper I ventured, the more I could feel something stirring—something human, something malicious.
The path wound through thick brush, down into a ravine where the trees thinned. And then I saw it: a hidden camp, nestled between the rocks. Smoke rose from a small fire, and I could hear voices. The Blackthorn Bandits had made this their base.
I approached silently, my footsteps muffled by the soft earth. From my vantage point, I could see them clearly. Rough men and women, armed with crude weapons, sitting around the fire. They didn't know I was there. Yet.
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Phase 2: Breaking the Camp
I didn't need to face all of them at once. I chose my first target—a sentry standing near the edge of the camp. I moved in with Void Step (S Rank), closing the distance in an instant. My blade flashed, striking cleanly through his throat before he even had time to react. His body fell to the ground without a sound.
The others didn't immediately notice. I moved back into the shadows, watching. The bandits were getting restless, but they were still unaware of my presence.
I prepared for the next strike.
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Phase 3: Engaging the Bandits
One of the bandits, a larger man with a scar running down his face, stood up from the fire, scanning the camp. He seemed to sense something, his eyes narrowing.
He wasn't the sharpest, but he was a brute. His weapon—a large, crude axe—was held loosely in his grip. He turned toward my hiding spot. Voidborn Will (SS Rank) surged, and my body tensed, preparing for the fight. I would face him head-on.
He charged, swinging the axe in a wide arc. I stepped sideways, using Void Step (S Rank) to slip behind him in a blur. My sword was already in motion, cutting deep across his back. He roared in pain but managed to turn around, swinging again. But he was slow—clumsy.
Sword Entropy (A Rank) unleashed a devastating follow-up strike, and his axe splintered into pieces as the force of the attack destabilized it. The man fell to his knees, barely able to comprehend his defeat before I struck him down with a final slash.
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Phase 4: The Bandit Leader
I hadn't expected the fight to be easy, but as I dealt with the others, one bandit remained inside the camp, standing tall and watching from the shadows—a woman dressed in black leather armor, a bow slung across her back. She hadn't joined the melee, staying back, waiting. Watching.
She was their leader. Lira Blackthorn.
She smiled when she saw me. It was a confident, knowing smile. She had seen me wipe out her subordinates with ease. She didn't seem scared. In fact, she seemed almost... amused.
"You've done well," she said, her voice smooth, almost teasing. "But I have to ask—what's a Void Swordsman like you doing in these woods? Surely you didn't come all this way just for a few bandits?"
I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I stepped forward, my sword raised. She reached behind her, pulling the bow from her back with a fluid motion. It was clear she wasn't going to fight in the same way as the others.
"You won't find it that easy," she warned, nocking an arrow to her bow.
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Phase 5: The Showdown
Lira's first arrow was shot faster than I anticipated. I reacted with Void Step (S Rank), blinking to the side, but the arrow still grazed my shoulder. The wound wasn't deep, but it burned with poison. The woman was quick, and I knew I needed to end this quickly before she could rain more arrows on me.
I closed the distance, moving as fast as I could with Void Step (S Rank). As I approached, Lira drew a second arrow, but I was already upon her, and her shot went wide. She attempted to sidestep, but I anticipated it, striking at her midsection with Void Rend (B Rank).
She parried with her bow, but the force of my attack sent her stumbling back. I pressed forward, landing a precise strike that broke her defenses. The fight was over in seconds.
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Aftermath: The Bandit Leader's End
Lira Blackthorn fell to her knees, her bow shattered, her life slipping away with each breath.
"You've made a mistake," she whispered, her voice still filled with defiance. "There are worse things in these woods than us."
I didn't respond, merely watching as the life drained from her eyes.
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Loot:
Blackthorn's Bow (Epic): A rare longbow with an enchantment that increases attack speed when using ranged attacks. Can be used as an artifact or crafting material.
Poisoned Arrows (Rare): A quiver of arrows laced with a deadly venom that can slow and weaken opponents.
Lira's Dagger (Legendary): A small, curved dagger with dark runes etched into its blade. It deals additional damage to poisoned enemies.
Experience and Reputation:
Experience: +15,000 XP
Level: Level 16
Briarstead County Reputation: +1,000
Bandit Faction Reputation: -500 (The fall of Lira and her bandits greatly weakens their power in the region.)
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With Lira's death, the Blackthorn Bandits were no more. The threat to the village had been eliminated, but I couldn't help but wonder what she had meant about worse things lurking in the woods. The path ahead was dark, and the true challenge was yet to come.