Vol. 2 - Chapter 14 - Mountain Bandits II

The party could hear the shout of the boss, and as Orpheus and Ape Wine were hiding, they talked in private, not expecting for such an event to happen so early for them.

@Ape Wine: Brother, I don't know what to say. Aren't you taking what this guy says in a good heart? It is clear what he intends to do.

@Orpheus: Bandar, you have to think of this like a new world, not a game. This Mathias is already level 13, while we are only level 15, and he could deal with 6 elite NPC level mobs by himself. You saw too on the vids from those streamers how hard it is to kill humanoid NPCs, is like fighting against another user.

@Ape Wine: Still brother, this doesn't explain to me why we should be the bait and risk getting killed.

@Orpheus: I have a theory in mind about who this Mathias guy is. Do you remember the popular video of that spearman fighting inside Titan against the gang members? That spear is almost the same, just that it has a lot of rust on it. Some of those skills he used are like the fighting style that person used in the video, only that now it turned more smoother and ruthless.

@Ape Wine: You want to imply this Mathias is that pioneer to the PvP aspect of the game? Showing to the world what someone can do in the game.

@Orpheus: Most likely. Do you understand why I am willing to do this work? Aside from being the only viable chance at clearing that quest he shared with us, we might be able to join the guild if we ask.

@Ape Wine: I don't know brother.

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[Party member 'Mathias' has slayin Mountain Bandit Ovid. You gained a small fragment of the EXP being in the party, and in close proximity. Gained 350 EXP]

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@Orpheus: He already started killing off those guys. But I didn't hear a single thing. Have you picked any signs of conflict?

@Ape Wine: It is clear in my zone.

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Fifteen seconds later, they heard another notification, where another elite bandit found his maker in Mathias hands, without even a sign of his end being noticed by the two brothers.

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On another hand, Mathias who was breathing hard, drinking an Mana Potion, looked at his exhausted mana gauge, while moving silently to another direction of the fortress ruins, blending in the shadow using the Raven's Movement.

'Three done, but I had to use 3 potions already because of the overdrive on 'Arcane Missile'. It doesn't matter, I can buy other potions from the old lady, this quest is more important then some meager potions.'

With his mana recovering while moving out of combat, he spotted a team of two bandits looking vigilantly in the corner of a destroyed room. Seeing them, Mathias started charging his arcane energy, building four arcane missiles worth of energy in his veins that it stung him like he was burning himself on his own volition.

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"Did you hear that?"

"What to hear? Just relax, there's no way those invaders will target us inside the fortress. They most likely hid somewhere outside and everyone is running circles around, failing to find them." commented the bandit to his teammate, turning his vigilance down.

"If you say so. It could be a rat, lurking around the corners."

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What they failed to notice was that Mathias blended using his black suit and jet black hair to blend with the dark room of the ruined fortress, and from nowhere, when the two bandits turned their back at Mathias, the latter with a cold expression stepped silently behind them using Ragnius to trip them, before casting 'Arcane Missile' on their heads, destroying their heads which started regenerating.

With a hit of [916] on both bandits, he casted two arcane missiles again, landing an critical [1832] before sending them off using 'Piercing Rain' which rained on their backs, turning them to gray light fragments.

'Hah, I need to move on before they pick me up.' thought Mathias feeling drained by his missing mana, walking back to the wall, and activating 'Raven's Movement'.

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This dirty method that could be described as assassination, worked until he reached the 10th bandit who managed to alert the entire group of mountain bandits.

"THE OUTLANDERS ARE HERE! COME FAST AND HELP ME!"

Mathias who didn't manage to stun this person in order to shut his mouth, could only sigh, and start his skill combo, with 'Treachery' which dealt a total of [1375] to the guy alone, followed by ending him with 'Bloodfall' which caused an critical damage of [952] damage.

@Mathias: Start your act and look for the boss.

@Orpheus: Understood. How are you? Can you deal with the remaining 9?

@Mathias: I am changing spots, so I don't get cornered. Fighting that many elites is too much even for me.

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After he killed the 10th bandit, he quickly dashed away from the part of the fortress he was, but as he did something or better said someone moving at a fast speed intercepted him, sending out a punch which blasted him, hitting a wall of a fortress room.

[You have suffered 320 damage, with the impact dealing 54 damage.]

[☆ Arcane Barrier effect 'Reflect' has been triggered, dealing the target 171 damage.]

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"I found you, piece of shit. Who will not escape the watch of who? Damned rat. You killed 16 of my good men that I struggled to recruit to rebel against that Duke."

"So frustrating, playing cat and mouse with you! But don't worry, I will play with you plenty now that I found you."

Yet as he said that, from another room nearby, the two brothers, Orpheus and Ape Wine exited, charging at Evander while taunting him at the same time.

"Motherfucker, first play with us."

Evander quickly turned his body, and unsheathed his sword, which blocked the attacks of the brothers, looking with an arrogant expression at them, replying to their taunts.

"Sure, you bunch of outlanders rats. I will make sure I torture you like I did the others who were dumb enough to enter my territory."

"We'll have to see that. "[Sword Jolt]"

The skill Orpheus sent hit clean Evander, dealing [458] damage to him, while Ape Wine also cast one of his skills dealing [326] damage.

Instantly as they managed to hit the bandit leader, they retreated following Mathias's plan, and Evander started cursing mad of the small wounds he suffered on his body. He turned his eyes where Mathias crashed on the wall, and later at the two brothers who distanced away from him, and immediately he reacted by cashing after him.

"We did it big brother, we pulled the aggro from Mathias. Now what?" asked Ape Wine to Orpheus, while running.

"We run like bitches! Don't ask where, just keep yourself alive, while cursing this bastard." commented Orpheus with an alerted mind when seeing Mathias health gauge and mana gauge shifting around violently.

[Mathias - Lv. 14] (765/1146 HP) / (890/1584 MP)

'Man, don't die. I'll feel bad after all this pain of fighting those beasts to see the quest fail.'

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Having the brothers lead away the bandit boss, Mathias was encircled by three bandits who striked him from where he was seating on the destroyed wall.

'Raven's Movement'

Activating his movement speed ability, he dodged two strikes while one connected with his body, dealing [120] damage, before he did a 'Sweep Thrust'.

The skill attack dropped them on the floor, and vulnerable to his piercing strike which carved the stomach of one bandit, dealing [215]. Afterwards, he send out two 'Piercing Rain' for the ones getting up, dealing to them an total of [470] and [530].

It felt like a ticking bomb, since he could hear more people arrivig at the battlefield, and gathering his mana, he send out two 'Arcane Missiles' to the exact ones he targeted with 'Piercing Rain', dealing another additional damage.

[You have dealt 916 damage to the target.]

[You have dealt 543 damage to the target.]

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Swiftly, he sent another 'Piercing Rain' which connected fully, on the bandits who couldn't adapt to the combat style of magic and melee, which lead to them eating fully those attacks, and only attacked Mathias after suffering the burden of the attacks.

[You have suffered 120 damage]

Taking such hits calmly with his 'Arcane Barrier' only swaying a little bit, he also countered them using basic attacks which dealt on average hits of [174] which after an fight of one minute when the rest of the reinforcements arrived, it proved too much for them.

"We arrived guys! Hang in there, well take over the hurdle of fighting that dangerous outlander." called out an bandit followed by another group of 6 people, which made it the entire elite bandits.

"Thanks for the compliment, but no need. I will entertain you myself." replied Mathias with a calm voice, while his green eyes gazed at them for a brief second before sending off the three guys he was helding in Raganius' dead inducing jaw.

[You have slayin Mountain Bandit Olbit, gaining the following rewards: 1450 EXP, 500 silver coins, Red Leather Bag]

[You have slayin Mountain Bandit Olbit, gaining the following rewards: 1450 EXP, 500 silver coins, Red Leather Bag]

[You have slayin Mountain Bandit Cnut, gaining the following rewards: 1450 EXP, 200 silver coins, Lesser Moonstone 1x]

[You have slayin Mountain Bandit Chobin, gaining the following rewards: 1450 EXP, 600 silver coins, Forester's Axe]

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"Noooo, what have you done!?" screamed one of the bandits who charged at Mathias who took one mana potion, to recover his weakened mana, before being left in the air, slashing empty air.

Mathias who activated 'Raven's Movement' for that moment instead of attacking the one leading the attack, placed his attention on the one behind everyone, casting an 'Arcane Missile' having only him in heart.

"What?? This guy is a magician! Dodge his spells! They are able to incinerate anyone they wish with their spells." allerted another bandit who saw Mathias's projectile charging at light speed toward them, still unknown who was the one to make it.

"Arghhh! Cover me, I got hit my this projectile. Aghhhhh, it hurts like hell." screamed in pain the bandit who was hit by Mathias' spell, who used Ragnius to block the one behind him.

"Isn't it obvious I would watch you too?" asked Mathias rhetorically while on his forehead the shape of a dark-purple eye was revealed, before waving off.

"Damn bastard! Who are you? An mage, a spearman? How did our group offended you in any shape or form? Aren't outlanders supposed to hunt wild beasts and monsters?"

"Ohh, a talkative one. Even though I don't have your full backstory like a book, being only feed chapters from your history, the recollection of a dear person of mine, was enough for me to deem you not different from the monsters I've been hunting." replied Mathias while starting 'Treachery' and fooling the guy who he was talking from the first feint, with another jab connecting, and the spins, cleaving three guys closer to him, with the other three guys being out of range.

Ending his skill with another three attacks that he targeted another bandit, the fight continued on similar to his initial fight with the group of bandits.

Minutes passed, and his potions also reached the 10 mark, and in an moment of carelessness, he didn't keep in mind the cooldown of 'Arcane Barrier' becoming open, which the bandits took advantage of like it was a gift from the gods.

"End him! His damned shield got removed!"

[You suffered 150 damage.]

[You suffered 175 damage.]

[You suffered 196 damage.]

"Cleaving Knife"

[You have suffered 367 damage]

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[Health: 167/1146] / [Mana: 959/1584]

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With the agonizing pain that was brought about, he instantly casted the barrier again, refreshing the cooldown to a new 5 minutes of protection, similar to an armadillos.

Stepping back, from what ensued a second rain of attacks, he thought to himself in a clear minded way.

'It seems I got so drawn in the fight that I didn't even manage the cooldowns of the barrier? I almost got myself killed by those guys.'

As he was moving back, he took a potion, which triggered the bandits, cursing him and Olga, aware of who the crafter of those handy potions could be.

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Mathias didn't mind the curses at all, being rather thick skinned when it come to such insults, having been trained by the most toxic people on the platform he was posting his novel. Thus, he organized a new play to combat those bandits who were at 40% of their HP.

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'I can do them as I did the first group. If it worked back then, it has to work here too.'

Like this, Mathias stopped and charged at the bandits, instantly increasing his speed using 'Raven's Movement', and doing a 'Sweep Thrust' which managed to hook in just two guys, and pin down only one guy, before quickly stepping back.

There was a slight increased difficulty to the fight compared go his first encounter with the bandits, but sticking to his plan, the sprout je was watering took place in the minds of the bandits who were wary of any of his movements and keeping in mind that he was two bandits away from leveling up, he pushed ahead.

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Dashing using another 'Sweep Thrust' using the effect of them getting accustomed to his attack sequence he instantly canceled the attack, jumping in the air, and striking with 'Bloodfall', followed by 'Piercing Rain' and ending with 'Treachery' which slayin three of the bandits, later turning into gray light, leaving out only the three demoralized bandits next on his list.

"CURSE YOU DEVIL! WHY WILL NOT JUST DIE AFTER BEING HIT SO MUCH?" screamed one of the bandits charging at Mathias, who instantly reacted by activating 'Raven's Movement' and sidestepping his sword strike as if he was in a boxing ring, evading strikes to his head.

In an unexpected attack, Mathias sends out an Spinning Back Kick sending to the ground the bandit who just attacked him, following by advancing to the other three bandits looking with a calm, even frigid gaze.

Yet in that moment, he was preparing to end those three bandits, the chat was ringing with new messages.

@Orpheus: Man, you have to hurry up, this crazy motherfucker is too wierd of a boss, I can't even tell if he shifted to stage 2 or if he is still in stage 1. Also, our resources are plummeting, hurry, or we will not be able to help.

@Mathias: Just a bit more, I have 3 more of those bandits.

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Replying to him, he saw a sword pass in front of his eyes, which almost cleaved him in the moment he wasn't focused totally on the fight.

After that, he balanced himself fighting using his basic abilities with the spear and also the kickboxing kicks he learned in the two months training at the MMA Club, turning his basic style even more unpredictable, with the bandits unable to feel the change to charge and strike him.

"Don't worry, you will join your brothers in Heaven or Hell."

"You might have won this time, but our boss will end you. He is famous in Grenhaler for being one notorious bastard."

Still fighting, striking the bandits while talking with them, taunting them, he gave them an wicked smile before sending out two missiles which blasted the specific targets before, being in a solo situation, he picked apart the bandits weak defense, collapsing his defense at the first jab connecting with his flesh.

"What you are saying makes my consciousness even clearer to end you."

'Piercing Rain'

Sending out his basic skill, which was sending his body on a sea of pain, before his comrades could come to help him, Ragnius passed by his throat, dropping him on the ground gushing out blood, turning the floor into a blood puddle before shattering into gray light fragments.

With only two people left even thought the difficulty decreased a lot, his vigilance wasn't lowered one bit, and after he ended those guys too, he dropped on the bloody floor exhausted.

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[Stamina: 61/100] (1 minutes for point recovery) - 'Farmer's Son' Effect

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"Thanks a lot father, if not for this effect, I would have been drowned by my fighting style which is heavy on stamina."

Saying that, he waited for his HP and MP to recover, and when they got to 65% he started to walk toward where Orpheus and Ape Wine were located, luring the bandit boss around. In about two minutes, he too arrived at what seemed the plaza of the fortress, where instantly his gaze dropped on Evander who was slashing his sword like a mad person.

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(Ψ)[Evander - Lv. 25] (10.980/12.500 HP)

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Activating, 'Raven's Movement' he dashed toward the boss with Ragnius enveloped by the black feathers, releasing a murky aura, and as he sprinted toward Evander, the bandit boss preoccupied with ending Oprheus and Ape Wine for all the cowardly fighting they did, woke himself with a spear running in his chest, washing him in agony.

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'[Nephthys Lament]'

[You have dealt 1254 damage to Mountain Bandit Leader, Evander. The target has been afflicted by 'Bleeding' debuff.]

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"You are finally here. Damn, I thought I would have been killed by this bastard." commented Orpheus who retreated, taking one health potion similar to what Mathias has been using, in the entire encounter with the bandits, similar in style was Ape Wine.

On another hand, Mathias before drawing his spear back from the impaled body of Evander he saw the bandit leader grab hold of Ragnius and with a weird strike cleaving backwards while saying.

"You got some skill on you, brat. I couldn't even notice your presence before you backstabbed me." commented Evander with an angry voice, with his teeth gritting.

[You have suffered 360 damage.]

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Still struggling to take Ragnius back from this crazed man, he gritted his teeth bracing for another slash that was going backwards.

[You have suffered 318 damage.]

"Hahah, you don't like it being played from behind, brat? I will teach you what it means to be a backstabber." said Evander while his right hand moved back again for another swing backwards, but Mathias who was surrounded by the pain of having his arms slashed to his bone, reacted upon his instincts with only one thought.

'Get off from this situation, right now!'

Concentrating the arcane energy in his left hand, right when Evander was about to cleave, he blasted him from behind, distancing himself from him, and also recovering Ragnius.

[You have dealt 497 damage to the target.]

"Tsk, I forgot you are also a magician. Arghh, this wound stings so much. Hahaha, who would have thought I could encounter such brats. The outlanders I captured where so weak that they could only bark at me, threatening me with revenge. So delusional." added Evander taking an health potion from his pocket that he downed, recovering 1500 HP.

"What's with that face? Do you think you are the only one with potions? To my surprise those ruins holds quite the gifts for me after bringing my people to camp here.

Mathias who heard this took an mana and health potion, and giving Evander and wicked smile, he replied to him.

"Better don't consume all of those potions because I will have a need for them after I kill you."

"Haha, that has to be seen. Don't look down on me brat just because you know magic and also have trained your spearmanship. I, Evender, have my own destiny to complete, sang by the Gods themselves

Ending that Evander charged at Mathias who took a middle stance using Ragnius, and also opening his movement ability, seconds later clashing weapons with the bandit leader, before breaking off, still suffering some damage.

[You have suffered 35 damage from the clash of weapons]

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"Good one, brat. But can you hold on like this for ten minutes, thirty minutes, one hour?"

Mathias clashed weapons with Evander again, gazing at him with his green eyes, while the later mocked his attempt at beating him in terms of power.

However, in that class, he was caught unprepared and the spinning kick landed clean on his midsection, making him grunt in pain and from the soles of his boots, an 'Arcane Missile' was sent flying, hitting Evander who was stepping back.

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"Such a disgusting and cheap way of fighting for a respected profession such as a magician. What would your elders think when seeing the degenerate manner you kept fighting?" taunted Evander while whipping the blood from his mouth, trying his best to get a reaction from Mathias that would lead to countless mistakes.

Yet what he received was a calm expression and one salty comment.

"You know "Boss" from where I am, people who talk a lot of shit, are hit hard in their mouths. Do you try to become one of those?"

"Try me bitch."