Chapter 13 – Frontier Forest Battle

While waiting for the enemies to approach. I start to go over the battle plan with everyone in my party. I decide to have a defensive battle at start. Learn the enemy’s capabilities and their fighting style for future reference. Knowing is half the battle. I don’t consider myself a tactician. I probably will end up pushing through with brute force if the enemy plays smart.

The worst case scenario. If shit hits the fan then we can simply retreat back to the mountain. Hopefully the divine barrier protects us. The biggest concern is Lancer. I will have Rider exclusively play bodyguard and with his pet it will be like double protection.

I had Assassin use stealth and hide atop the trees to take out any enemies that try to run away. Other than that it will be a regular party set up for fights. Depending on the strength of the enemy. I prefer not to use our full power. If the enemies are weak. Always good to save our trump cards in case of emergencies.

“Enemies are getting close boss. About two hundred meters or so in front of us.” –Archer

The trees provide a lot of cover for us if needed. That also applies to the enemies. We group close together for a better defensive formation with Saber in the front. The rest of the party just standing behind her so nothing too fancy.

The enemies finally spot us through all the trees and foliage. No straight line of sight unless it is close. The enemy group has better equipment than the village guards we killed a little over a week ago. I use [Scan] on them. Taking note of two of the men.

Dominic - Adventurer – Fast and Furious group leader – Level 26

Brian – Adventurer – Fast and Furious group member – Level 22

All the enemies seem to belong to the same adventurer group called “Fast and Furious.” All members are under level twenty. Aside from two of the men I took notice of. The two being above level twenty. All of them are men wearing leather armor with bits of metal attached. They carry various weapons. Some of which I do not recognize.

The situation is tense as our two groups are facing off. The battle can start at any instant.

“Strangers! Identify yourselves!” –Dominic

“I am just going on a picnic with the family. We aren’t anyone of importance. Don’t mind us and carry on.” –Dasas

“Asshole! If you are gonna lie at least come up with a better one.” –Dominic

“I only speak the gospel truth. Mr. Clean no need to get your panties up in a bunch.” –Dasas

“You are making no damn sense bandit. Where is the rest of your band? I only see the five of you here. Are the rest hiding?” –Dominic

“I don’t know baldy. Why would I tell you if they are?” -Dasas

“You have a smart mouth on you don’t ya. I will be sure to rip your tongue out.” –Dominic

“I’m against violence. You see I am a pacifist.” –Dasas

“Enough of your damn nonsense speak! Everyone attack! Be sure to not kill the females! They will sell for good money! Especially the elf woman is a high priced commodity!!” -Dominic

The entire adventurer group start to rush towards us with their weapons out. I had Archer start taking down men from the left flank with arrows. Caster start shooting the enemy’s right flank with low tier nuke spells. We are trying to herd them into the center. It will be easier for Saber to tank them.

I decide to not summon any spirit avatars. It will probably be overkill. I will just go with hand-to-hand combat. I want to test my martial arts skill. I also told Rider to at least single out an enemy. Let Lancer have a chance at real human battle.

I did a straight punch to the face of an adventurer. Who ran up to me with his flail ready to hit me. His head practically exploded. His blood and brain matter staining my fist. A very grotesque spectacle. I try flinging my fist hoping to partially get rid of the mess.

Another adventurer came at me. From my right side slashing his sword towards my heart. I did not bother to dodge and just unleash a sidekick at him. He is almost torn in half at the stomach region. The entrails spilling out as he flew back a great distance from the impact. Hitting a tree and pulverizing it in the process.

I decide to stop testing my martial arts. I got tired of getting blood and innards on me. I try to move back. Out of the way from the front. Let Saber handle it for now. A little distance away. I see Rider and his pet tiger surrounding a single adventurer. While letting Lancer attempt to fight him one-on-one.

The adventurer is level fourteen. He got a gaping wound on his back from Rider’s pet tiger claw attack. Lancer is able to kill him by piercing his throat with her copper polearm. Lancer’s first human kill. The first of many. The enemy’s numbers are dwindling to almost half. That is when the leader of the group start to issue orders for them to fall back and prepare a different attack.

“Damn! These guys are way stronger than I thought. We are getting slaughtered here. Everyone prepare the magic ball explosives! Blow these assholes into pieces!!" –Dominic

The adventurers start to toss what looks to be black metal balls at us. They start to run and take cover behind the trees. Several explosions start going off nearby and under me. Smoke and debris are blocking my senses. I get a ringing sound in my ear, but it quickly goes away.

“What the hell! These guys didn’t take any damage! Freaking monsters!” –Dominic

“This is real bad boss! We gotta retreat or we are done for!” –Brian

“Prepare the smokescreen magic tool and retreat!!” –Dominic

There are eight adventurers left. They are trying to run away. Letting out a device that creates a lot of smoke blocking our sight. I order my party to make sure to keep the enemy leader alive. The rest are fair game. Archer is able to take down four of the enemies with her [Homing Arrow] skill. It make arrows follow the target no matter what.

Caster is able to cast a wind elemental spell to get rid of the smoke. Saber then catches up to one of the enemies and cut him down with her sword. Another enemy is then killed with shurikens. Thrown by Assassin hidden in the trees.

The enemy group is reduced from twenty to two within only three minutes. A very swift battle but hardly the top speed my party can achieve. If they went all out. The two enemies left are the group leader Dominic and the member Brian. They also happen to be the two highest leveled individuals in their group.

However, Brian is somewhat injured and bleeding. Dominic is breathing heavily while holding his big weapon that looks more like an over-sized sledgehammer. Dominic start to do some motions with his weapon. It started to glow a faint red color.

“This looks like the end of the road. Brian. I am gonna hold them back with my ultimate attack. While you try and escape.” –Dominic

“Boss. If you use that attack. Then you definitely won’t be able to get out of here alive!” –Brian

“Dammit Brian. Shut your trap and run. When I give the signal! Go back to Mia. Be sure to take care of your child. You guys are my family and I will protect it!!” –Dominic

“You….(tears flowing)” –Brian

“Tell your child when they get older. I fought bravely today and took down these powerful demons with me. Like a great hero from stories. You got that Brian!!” –Dominic

The adventurer leader start to glow a bright red. He starts to run toward my party.

“Go now Brian!!! Sorry you demons! It looks like you will have to keep me company in the afterlife!! –Dominic

The adventurer Brian start to run away and disappear into the forest brush. Dominic did a high jump with his giant sledgehammer positioned above his head.

“Limit Burst Self-Destruct!! Hammer time bitches!! AHHHHHH!!!” –Dominic

Once he reach my party and me. We were just standing there like statues as a blinding red light explodes all around us. The roar is quite deafening as it rang out in the area. As the explosion receded. We see Dominic lying on the ground with his clothes in all tatters. While coughing up a lot of blood from his mouth. He looks to be on the verge of dying.

“How is this possible…not even a single scratch…(coughing more blood)” –Dominic

“Saber. Please use a tier two heal spell on this dumbass.” –Dasas

“As you command my master…[Heal II]” –Saber

Dominic start to recover all his wounds. He looks like new except for his tattered armor and clothes. Alongside his shattered weapon.

“Saber can you please chop off this guy’s arms. Caster please cauterize the wounds afterwards. I am unsure if [Heal] will regrow limbs. Best to act on the side of caution.” –Dasas

Saber proceed to lop off the arms of the adventurer Dominic with single swipes of her sword. He wailed loudly before fainting. Then Caster start to cauterize his wounds to prevent him from bleeding out. I need him alive for information.

I had his arms cut off to prevent him from doing another suicide attack. Even if his weapon shattered its best to be cautious. I am such a nice guy. This Dominic fellow should really thank me. Suicide is a sin after all. You will burn in hell for it. At least I think so.

+++

Brian’s POV

After I got Dominic’s signal. I start to run like crazy with all the speed I could muster. Running in the forest is a harsh ordeal. It is easy to trip and fall if not careful. I then heard a loud explosion. Knew right away that was Dominic’s attack. He should be a goner now.

He sacrificed himself to save me. I will never be able to repay him. Tears start to run down my face uncontrollably as I got emotional from grief and fear at my ordeal. I kept running but I slowly start to get tired. I stop to bend over and catch a little breather. That is when the most bizarre thing happens when I look up. I saw my wife Mia in front of me. Which should not be possible.

In my tired and delirious state. I did not bother to question why she is in the forest and in front of me. When she suppose to be back in the city. I went up to try and hug her in relief. As the stress of the battle start to go away. I felt the warmth of my wife’s soft body against me.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. I look down to see a knife stuck into my belly. I look back up at my wife Mia to see her smiling. With pain and confusion. I spoke to Mia.

“What’s going on Mia?” –Brian

“How does it feel to have something hard penetrate your stomach? You can’t always be the only one doing the penetrating. We gotta share the experience equally as a married couple…Hehehehe!!!” –Mia

I step back and gave a glare at the woman before me.

“Who are you!! You can’t be Mia!!” –Brian

“Ninja technique: [Illusion] release.” -Assassin

The image of my wife suddenly vanishes. Replaced by some incredibly beautifuly woman with black hair and horns on her head. She takes off her mouth covering. Then suddenly comes to kiss me. Frozen in shock. I take her kiss without resistance. I could feel her tongue dancing around my mouth.

I become incredibly aroused at the action. Then her black feathered wings growing out of her back start to wrap around my body. She releases my lips from her kiss. I feel a little bit of regret at the action.

“Demon…” –Brian

I could only utter a single word before my sight goes dark.

+++

Back to Dasas…

“Rider can you gather the heads of all the dead enemies. Put them on pikes. Place them around the abandoned frontier village as a warning. It might help deter future trouble or it might not. It does not hurt to try.” –Dasas

“On it Chief. I’ll try my best not to disappoint.” -Rider

I heard that is how medieval people do it to ward off enemies. Placing the heads of their enemies on pikes at their castle walls. We start to finish up and head back to the mansion. While dragging the unconscious body of the adventurer leader with us.

This time I did not make the mistake of letting my emotions run wild. Having my objective to gather useful information disappear. Maybe I can finally start that journey. Also visit a village or town for supplies.