As I took my sword in both hands, I saw most of the bandits with confused and fearful expressions, they looked like they didn't know what to do. But the leader was like a hawk, scanning the surroundings. At first I thought he was going to launch after the villagers that I just freed to kill them, and I was ready to intercept, but he was just standing there while the villagers kept running.

I decided to not let them make the first move, and took the initiative in my own hands. Rushing forward, I startled the confused bandits even more. But they weren't novices, so they started taking stances.

The bandit leader was still vigilant of something though, he was frowning, while still scanning the area, and once he noticed my rush, he made a calm steps back, while barking orders to his subordinates.

"Don't fear him you fools, he just a mindless undead. Fan out and surround him, then attack from all the sides and kill him." (Lug)

He was quite calm and collected, when I heard his command I was already in sprint and very close to the bandits, I didn't have the chance to change my tactics, considering I don't have much of a speed advantage over C ranks. It's what I learned after hunting scouts before the fight. So all I could do is let myself being surrounded, while using my momentum to slam into the bandit right ahead of me.

It looks like seeing my speed they underestimated me, because I was able to push the bandit's sword, which he used to block my attack, breaking his block and making a nasty cut into his chest.

I can literally feel my own heartbeat quickening. If he doesn't get help soon he will die. And I'm the one who caused it. For a second I just stare dumbly at the chest with flowing blood of the collapsed bandit, and I feel a collision on my head. I take a step to the left from the impact, but don't feel any damage. It looks like mana strengthening helped in that. But negative emotions are boiling, all the instincts are calling to me to slaughter them all.

They are criminals anyway, they killed so many of the villagers and I'm sure this is not their first crime either. It's not because of their armor that they are called red bandits I'm sure. So maybe if I devour only them it will be ok? Just a little...

I reach with my hand towards the bandit's throat, which slammed his sword into my skull, and has disbelief in his eyes because of lack of the damage he caused. He start choking and flailing around while grabbing my one hand with both of his. I can see the despair and fear in his eyes, and it makes me excited and hungry.

I already lost myself in my own clouded world, and forgot about the other bandits. But at this moment when the bandit is already nearly at the deaths door, my mind goes dizzy for a moment and I loosen my grip on the bandit.

'~Remember you objective and why you came here. If you lose yourself right now, there will be no turning back~' (Spirit)

I nearly lost myself there, I thought that I'm ready to face whatever comes without giving in to my instincts, but the temptation is too great, especially in the fight. I can't kill them no matter are they bandits or innocents. But I won't do it because of some stupid reason like saving them and giving second chance, but for myself. To not become a murderer myself. There is no such thing as a righteous murderer, or a hero that killed bad guys. Killer is a killer.

My mind comes back again and I can see other, that are currently surrounding me looking fearfully at me, some of them are backing away, and others hands are shaking. Right now I'm covered in no little amount of the first bandits blood and I was totally unaffected by their second comrades attack. It's no wonder they don't want to fight me anymore. The little demonstration already made clear that they won't be able to harm me without exhausting my mana-pool.

Well, in their situation I would think of the same thing, but right now, being in this body, I don't feel any exhaustion or a limit at all. I already thought about it when I was killing the scouts. Should I shut down the body strengthening to not waste the mana, but it turns out, that I am not doing anything at all. Mana flows inside my core and disperses on its own, I'm not using my spirit to guide it like I was doing while meditating, it's completely different. If there is some kind of limit, then I don't know what that is and can't feel it.

But it would be stupid to just think there is no limit, so I actually gave the command to deactivate body-strengthening. Probably that was also the reason why they underestimated me, because I turned it on only when I had no choice but to rush forward. Now that they can feel my mana strengthening, probably it has a good effect on inducing fear too.

While his subordinates are fearfully gazing at me, and giving me the chance to collect myself, their leader is angrily looking at me with an expression of inner turmoil. It looks like he noticed a moment of my weakness and wanted to attack, but something was keeping him unable to do so, and it was angering him even more.

When his anger reached its peak, he gave a frustrated shout "Show yourself you coward. Only sending an undead and hiding? If you are such a high level mage that can summon undead, why aren't you attacking yourself?"

"...*no response*"

It looks more like he is talking to himself "Hey corrupter, it's you right? Were you so badly injured that you can't even fight and all you could do is send an undead? Hahahahahah...

Then I will come after you right after I finish of your pawn, I wonder how big price will I get for your head."

So that's why he wasn't willing to attack me before this. He was scared of the corrupter's sudden attack from the side. But if he'd witnessed what I've seen, he wouldn't have stand here and just wait for the attack. If the corrupter really was here, no matter how injured he was, he could kill all of you with just a thought, with just the presence of his spiritual energy. But I'm not going to convince him otherwise, I'll let him believe what he wants to believe.

Now confident in himself again, the bandit leader disdainfully pushes one of the subordinates to the side and steps forth himself, to face me. He reaches behind his back and pulls a large war hammer, smirking at me. Although the mana net should be able to withstand the blunt damage, dispersing it through the whole surface, he is still B rank, and their leader. He is the final boss, so I have to be careful.

He walks forwards with confident an slow steps, while swaying his large war hammer in his hands. Is he thinking that I'm some kind of prey to him that can be played with? The war hammer comes lightening fast descending towards me, and I abruptly try to dodge, sidestepping. Even if, and the keyword here is IF, I can take the damage from that hammer, it's still better to dodge while I can.

My clumsy sidestep don't help me much, and the war hammer hits the side of the blade that I used to block. The impact sends me rolling on the ground a couple of meters away. Until I can get up the hammer slams again near me, and I hastily roll to the side, avoiding it at the last moment.

Using the momentum from the roll I stand up to face the bandit leader, and nearly get hit by the other bandit from behind, who falls down on the ground, his sword missing me. I think it wasn't such a lucky coincidence. I'll have to thank spirit for that. Again...

The leader obviously holds the advantage, and he also has the aid of the remaining bandits. Even if my strength is on par with him, and defense even stronger, he is much faster than me and the most important thing is he is a lot more skillful at fighting.

So how should I defeat him?

.