Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. This aspect not only applies to us game-wise but ourselves in real life as well. For me, I can adapt to any poor situation and adjust to mitigate my weaknesses. And that's exactly what I'm doing right now.

“Spirit of Slyph, I ask for your aid. Grant me the power of the wind to outrun and defeat my opponents! [Bluster Speed]!”

Once I chant the spell's invocation, a gust of wind suddenly envelops my whole body as I begin running around the field just as the bandit, throws several handmade-looking bombs towards me. It has been like this for a few minutes already and I feel that he's not going to run out of bombs any time soon. I need to act soon or else, everything I've planned for will have been in vain.

[Damn it, you brat! Hold still!]

Of course, I don't listen. I just keep on running away from his bombs before I charge in with my sword and swing it at him. Unfortunately, he blocks my attack with his dagger. For a small blade, it sure is a sturdy weapon enough to stop it.

[Are you seriously going to keep repeating that attack with that rusty sword of yours?! Talk about a weakling!]

"As I said, you don't need a strong weapon to become stronger. And I'm going to prove it to you right here and right now!"

Using most of my strength, I quickly break our lock again and aim my left hand towards the bandit.

“Spirit of Slyph, hear my call. Create the wind that is gathering all around me. Help me release the gale to push back my foes! [Gale Force]!”

I quickly push him away with a gust of wind summoned through my spell and when that happens, I back away and scan around the area. Long, thick branches sticking out of the trees, leaves blocking some of them... yep, that's exactly what I’ve asked for! Time to shut that rude bandit up once and for all.

"Alright, let's see if this skill will let me reach those branches as those descriptions said. I just hope I don't underestimate its height," I mutter to myself as I crouch down to prepare my next course of action.

[You stupid brat... You're going to pay for that!]

Of course, Basta has already recovered by this point and starts to charge in towards me. But just before he can reach me, I stretch out my legs and jump up with a gust of wind below me.

[NOTICE]

[You have activated [Super Jump]. You can jump at a great distance up to 3 meters.]

Hey, it works! Not only have I successfully used the skill without any problem, but I have managed to reach the branches as planned.

[W-What the hell?!] I heard Basta shout below me. When I look down, I can see him glaring at me in a terrifying manner of sorts. [Hey, get down here, you coward!]

Like I would ever follow his considering his reputation od killing people. Though I do admit that this is a bit unfair, it is the only way I can gain an advantage against his merciless attacks. Besides, I'm not planning to stay up here for long. For now, I took out my bow and fired several arrows at the bandit. However, some of them were deflected by the hand ax that he had just drawn, while others managed to stab through his shoulders and one of his legs. But I didn't bother with the former as I quickly use my [Super Jump] to get my next location right above me.

[You damn brat! Get back here! Don't make me come up after you!]

I keep ignoring his demands as I continue firing my arrows until I charge up my bow with two arrows on the bowstring.

"[Arrow Shower]!"

I release the string, sending the arrows flying towards the sky where they start to multiply before they fall towards Basta.

[Like I’d let you!]

To my surprise, he takes out his bombs and throws them in the air. As if I'm seeing a fireworks display, the bombs explode mid-air, destroying most of the arrows except the ones that landed on the ground and some struck one of Basta's shoulders. As I move to another branch, I hear him laughing madly below me.

[What's the matter? Is that all you can do? I didn't feel a thing from your puny sticks!]

To be honest, that attack was supposed to chip off most of his HP, but I never expect him to block most of those arrows. For a stupid bandit, he has somehow managed to block my powerful [Archery] skill with a bunch of bombs. Guess I have to avoid underestimating his intelligence. If not, then it will be all over for me.

"Yeah, keep laughing. But I'm not finished yet."

Once I land on the branch, I put away my bow and aimed my hands at Basta.

"Spirit of Sylph, I call the gale to my growing aura and allow me to manipulate the air all around me! [Wind Sickle]!"

I fire several wind blades at the bandit, which he manages to dodge left and right. But I'm not done yet. I repeat the spell after a few seconds and barrage him with a flurry of wind blades.

[W-What the hell?!]

I keep firing [Wind Sickles] to Basta as I see him dodging them. The main point behind all of this is to control his movements so I can lead him to a spot I've pre-planned earlier.

[Damn you! I said stop, you brat!]

I ignore him as I keep firing the spell. Although, that might have been a big mistake as he stops dodging and throws something in my direction. It turns out to be a bomb. Before I can react, it explodes, causing me to fall from the branch. I know this will cost me a lot of [HP] if I fell from this height, so I have to improvise.

“Spirit of Sylph, hear my call. Create the wind that is gathering all around me. Help me release the gale to push back my foes! [Gale Force]!”

Summoning a strong gust of wind below me, I managed to cushion my fall and land on my feet. Though it did hurt my legs a bit, so I have to stay on the ground for a while. Not that I had much choice, as Basta suddenly points his dagger at my neck.

[You're out of moves, brat. Once I'm done with you, the boss will eliminate your friends, and then, we'll take care of that young lady back at the entrance!] he says to me in a threatening tone. [Face it, it's over. Any last words?]

"Y-Yeah." I slowly get up and raise my hand in the air. "You are one big idiot..."

[NOTICE]

[You have activated [Minor Strength Enhancement].]

Once I see the notice, I use the said strength to grab the dagger and his wrist and flip his whole body a few meters away from me. After that, I raise my arm again as a wind-like aura gathers around it.

“Spirit of Sylph, hear our call. Trap our enemies into the gale of storms and imbue our weaponry with your blessings! [Tempest Blow]!"

Once I chant this, the gust of wind forming around me turns into a large tornado that envelops the whole area. While I manage to hold my ground due to my experience with this spell, Basta on the other hand is just focusing on trying to get closer to me without focusing on his safety.

[Y-You damn brat... What the hell did you do?!]

I chuckle in response. That was the whole point behind my plan. I asked Bai Hu to create an open area that had branches that could serve as platforms. It’s a great place to use my [Archery] mastery to my current strength, but also where I can cast [Tempest Blow] without any kind of causalities. I did cheat a bit on my end, but it is slightly justified considering his current stance against this bozo views on legends.

"Simple, I just cast magic," I respond casually, pretending like there's nothing wrong with what I have done.

[D-Don't lie! There's no such thing as magic! You did something with your strange arrows again, didn’t ya?!]

"Really? Do you really think I could conjure up a small tornado of this size are made from my arrows? Man, it's like I'm talking to a criminal who doesn't even know how to use a phone," I mutter. "But no matter how many times I explain, you’ll just fall deaf on this stuff with your stupidity and obliviousness. Besides..."

I sigh as I take out my bow and two arrows and aim them to the sky.

"You're out of moves. Checkmate."

Without saying a word, I release another [Arrow Shower], and because of the [Tempest Blow's] tornado, the multiplied arrows absorb into the tornado. As if they were a swarm of locusts, the arrows swarm around Basta before they attack the bandit as I hear him scream in pain.

[W-What the hell?! Stop it, stop it, stop it! Knock it off!]

[Cruel Bandit Basta Equil]

[Level: 19]

[HP: 428/1000]

Just like that, I do nothing else but watch as my arrows continue to attack Basta. It's as if nature has given him retribution for disregarding the true nature of the forest and his and his colleagues’ attempts to soil the lands with their evil deeds. Eventually, the tornado and arrows stop as I see him fall to the ground with many scars and stab wounds around his limbs and chest.

[Cruel Bandit Basta Equil]

[Level: 19]

[HP: 166/1000]

I wish I could do more, but the main point is that I have to keep him alive as part of our deal. Even without that deal, I still want him to bring him in alive to ask him some questions.

[W-What t-the...] I heard his mutterings as I walk closer. [H-How could this be?! H-How... did this brat beat me?!]

"Something with the lines of real magic and a dose of karma at your end," I say. "But don't worry, I'm not going to kill you. Rather, I want to know if you and your boss were here almost a week ago."

[Huh? What the hell are you saying?]

"I don't know if this is already public, but have you heard about the strange plague that was killing the , right?"

Basta then glares at me and said, [U-Uh... Maybe... So what?!]

"So how did you and your boss find this place anyway? Last time I heard, this was supposed to be off-limits to non-adventurers."

[I don't know! We might have found this place by chance or something. If you want answers, try asking him!]

Not a good enough answer. I respond by stomping his foot with my [Minor Strength Enhancement] active, causing him to scream even more.

"Wanna try that again? Or do I have to cut off your foot for lying?”

Basta continues to scream in pain until he shouts, [ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!!! My boss got a tip about this strange forest where that rumored tiger guardian lives and those money-making rare items from someone in a black robe. He doesn't know who it was, but after that dark fog was gone a few days after, we explore around and decided to ransack the wood and fruits while we're there!]

Someone in a black robe? That’s definitely not the same NPC that Kazu mentioned during his time in the grand library.

"Do you know where that figure is right now?"

[Why are you asking me? I have no idea!]

Still not a good enough answer. I push my foot even further onto his in an attempt to bend it.

[ARGGGGHHHH!!!! I'M TELLING THE TRUTH!!! My boss tried to find them again, but they disappear without a trace!!! Just please, let me go!!!]

[I'm afraid he's right, young Wind.]

That voice... I release Basta's foot as I turn around and see Bai Hu approaching us.

[I sensed no signs of dishonesty in his statement. However, we now do know who is responsible for almost destroying my home,] he said telepathically. [That's all we can know for now. Thank you, young man.]

Huh... guess that's the limit for that guy, huh? Speaking of him, I could see the bandit with his jaw dropped at the sight of the large white tiger.

[N-N-No way... T-Those fairy tales... They're actually true...]

Well, at least that should be enough proof for him.

"So what do we do with him? Turning him to the authorities seems like a good idea, but considering his boss's reputation..."

[No need, young Wind.]

Bai Hu then lets out a roar, causing several vines to grab Basta as he starts screaming to let him go.

[I will handle his punishment, along with those of the other criminals who defiled my land. I can assure you that they will never attack anyone ever again. Don't worry, I already inform someone from their human kingdom about this. I'm just glad you asked my help for this situation.]

I don't want to know what he is planning to do with them, but I am glad... Hang on...

"Wait, others? Does that mean..."

Bai Hu doesn't say anything else. He just backs away as a large opening is formed on the wall behind him.

[Why don't you meet up with them to find out? I'll be waiting for your next visit.]

Well, if what Bai Hu said is true, then I'm not going to waste my time here any longer. But before I leave, I turn around and waved goodbye to him.

"Oh, thanks for accepting my selfish request, Bai Hu!"

He chuckles as he smiles at me.

[Don't be silly. If this is for the sake of others, then I doubt what you requested is in any way selfish. Just be yourself and never lose faith in what you believe in. See you soon.]

I nod and leave the area without any knowledge of what he will do to Basta next. Considering the crimes he and his friends committed, I think that’s for the best.

Wind's Masteries

[Archery] Level 18

[Woodcrafting] Level 7

[Swordsmanship] Level 16

[Cooking] Level 6

[Wind] Level 15

[Physical Enhancement] Level 15

[Hunting] Level 14