" Hey let's attack them together and be done with things here" said the leader of the straw bandit.

Not giving the others to reaction, Ray ran forward towards straw bandit #2 as he was the closest to him as he sent a wind slash at him before he could get to him. Moving to the side to avoid the blade since it can influence damage to him, straw bandit #2 sent a punch at Ray that was made out of spiritual energy. Not expecting his opponent to launch at him, Ray could only place the blade on front of him to defend himself as he was sent flying back by the attack though he was not harm in any way but fighting against someone who is a realm higher was really troubling.

After sending Ray flying back, straw bandit #2 chuckle before saying.

" That's a good sword, but it is a pity that you can't unleash it full might".

" That should be my own problem to worry about and not yours," replied Ray angrily as he continued to charge forward.

" Stop attacking him recklessly," said Ellis as he caught up with Ray.

The leader of the straw bandit charge forward and begin to cross blow with Ellis since he is the target it will be better to take him out but to the leader's shock, Ellis was able to hold his ground against him even though he was just a foundation realm practitioner. But what the leader of the straw bandit is unaware of was that the reason why Ellis could barely hold his ground against him was due to the knuckle busters that he was wearing.

After exchanging blows with the leader of the straw bandit for some time, Ellis felt his arms going numb as he pulls back from him to create some distance between the two of them to take catch some breath.

" Hahaha, still want to struggle before your death young master" said the leader of the straw bandit with a chuckle as Ellis move back.

Meanwhile, Ray was finding it difficult to land an attack on straw bandit #2 and when ever he got too close to him, he would be sent flying. Taking a potion to regain his health back before he continues attacking again before the result will always remain the same since he is a whole realm lower than his opponent.

Taking a punch on his stomach sent him flying backward as he crash on the ground and at the same time Ellis was also sent flying towards where he was with the blade laying in front of him.

" Look like this is the end of the road for us," said Ray as he spat out blood from his mouth.

" At least we did our best to stay alive, but it's such a shame that i won't be able to see my father and give him my piece of mind before I take my last breath" replied Ellis with a regretful sigh.

" Don't worry young clan master, it won't be long before your father will join you in the afterlife since he is already getting old" chuckle straw bandit #2 as he approached them.

Turning to face Ellis, Ray said in a low voice that only him can hear.

" If you are going down, there is no need of holding back any more".

Nodding to Ray statement, Ellis struggle to get on his feet as he exhaled a steam from his mouth before take a stance. Seeing him like this, Ray knew right away what he was planing to do as he picked his blade from the ground and begin to channel energy into it.

" Don't worry about being distracted, I got your back" said Ray since their only option of surviving lays in Ellis ultimate technique.

" It's still not going to make a difference so quiet resisting and I promise to give you a quick death" said the leader of the straw bandit when he saw them still resisting.

" And you actually think that I will just lie low and let you kill me without even trying my best to stay alive," replied Ellis with a furious look in his eyes.

" Do you think you will still be able to beat us, just take a good look at us, we are a league higher than you" said straw bandit #2

" Tell you what, since you are going to die here, I will tell you the name of our client so that you will be able to rest in peace in the afterlife" said the leader.

" Look who is being considerate here" said Ray as he continues to gather more spiritual energy in to his blade in preparation for their attack.

" We were employed by your clan servant who goes by the name Brodie" replied the leader of the straw bandit as ignored Ray.

" So it was my second-eldest brother that wanted me dead all along," said Ellis as he clinched his fists together with veins popping out of his arms.

" I don't care to know who he is working for as long as we get paid, so now that I have already told you about your killer I believe you will be able to die peacefully now" said the leader of the straw bandit with a wide smile on his face.

" There is no way I am losing my life here" yelled Ellis with all his might as he punched the air.

Calling on every bit of energy inside him as he unleashed the mighty lion fury technique before falling down due to been exhausted and the spiritual energy that came from the punch begin to take shape as a lion head begin to materialize before it roar towards the heavens as it sped at the two members of the straw bandit. The moment the technique was unleashed, Ray also swing Excalibur as he sent out a powerful flame burst forward with the enhancement from the blade of won't be difficult to influence damage on the opponent.

Chuckle to himself, the leader slash out with an outburst of energy as the three energy collide and exploded, with many trees going down in the process. Since Ellis and Ray are already drained of energy, they couldn't defend themselves from the outburst as they were sent flying and slam into some trees while spitting out a mouthful of blood.

After sometimes the energy faded away and a whole area filled with burnt trees came into view. Raising his head to see if their attack manage to cause some damage to the opponent, but he was left in shock when he was the leader of the straw bandit standing there with his hands behind his back like an expert. When seeing the leader standing unharmed, Ellis sigh before dropping his head.

" I guess this will be the last time that I am going to see you my friend" said Ellis as he smiled at Ray who was resting his back on a broken tree.

" Same here my friend and it is a pleasure being friends with you" replied Ray as he return a smile.

" At least I won't be lonely in the afterlife," said Ellis as he burst into laughter.

" That's what you have been saying whenever we are in a dangerous situation and now your wish has finally been granted" chuckle Ray before he coughed out blood.

" I wish we could have achieved more before losing life here" said Ellis as his voice sound with that of regret.

" And I am yet to fulfil my promise to a friend before dying, what am I supposed to say to him in the afterlife if we crossed path" commented Ray with a sigh.

" That friend of yours should know it is not easy to fulfil a promise in a world where the strong rule supreme," replied Ellis to Ray who seen disappointed at himself.

When the leader saw the two chatting as they sat on the ground without any strength in them, the leader chuckle before saying out loud for them to hear.

" What a lovely sight this is, seeing my opponent helpless in front of me really makes me happy".

" You must be really happy to see us like this but let me asked you, ain't you ashamed of yourself for struggling to take our lives for months now" asked Ray as he mock the leader of the straw bandit

" What is there to be ashamed of when I don't play by the rules. If I were to be ashamed then I won't be able to provide for my necessity" replied the leader of the straw bandit with a smile on his face.

" And you believe you would be able to live a good life after killing us and return to report to my brother," asked Ellis with a light chuckle as he struggled to speak.

" We don't have issues with the client and as long as our mouths are sealed then there won't be a problem" replied the leader of the straw bandit.

" I hope that you are right about that" said Ellis before closing his eyes as he awaited his death.