Cutting through the wind, a man was running as fast as he could. Without the aid of any navigation system, he ran as he follows his instinct. The time he spent in the aged tree was like ages he worried the kids would rashly head into the bandit’s stronghold. While worrying about the children, he then exited out of the forest. In front of him was the mountain, but as bad luck was a long companion of him. This part of the mountain wasn’t very familiar to him, without any delay he runs again to the right side following the perimeter of the mountain. In his heart, he was hoping that he would be on the right path for once. Frantically running, his eyes then caught something that was familiar. The trail that he once walks through was in sight. With assurance he further accelerates hoping to find the siblings.

Then he arrived at the base camp that he had agreed upon with the children. The boulder that he sat on this morning was spotted but the kids weren’t on sight. Heart fallen due to the fate of kids, he drop down to his knee feeling guilty about the fate of those children. Saying it out loud he expresses his sadness;

‘what have I done, cursed you my bad luck this is all my fault’

‘bad luck?’

‘is he okay brother?’

‘I don’t know’

‘im sorry kids, im very sorry’

Contemplating regarding the kids, the voice from the back was ignored by Red. Confused by the weird behavior of Red, Lizi pat the back of Red hoping for him to snap from his delusion.

‘mister, are you okay?’

‘now im even hearing the sound of those children, may they rest their soul in peace’

‘hey!! Mister !! snap out of it!!’

‘eh?’

Turning around he could see the children, Lizi and Cole alive and well. With the feeling of guilt fades away, Red hurried hug them tightly displaying his affection to them.

‘I miss you guys, sorry for letting you guys waiting for too long’

Both of them show a confused look, Cole speak up first;

‘what do you mean too long, you have been away only like 10 minutes or so’

‘eh? Wait, what did you say just now’

Frustrated by the weirdness of mister Red’s action, Lizi gave a quick slap with no remorse;

‘PAPP!’

‘owww!! That hurt Lizi’

‘mister Red, you have only been away for 10 minutes and 45 second’

‘yeah I got it’

With the pulsating marking of a slap on his face, Red quietly grumbles.

‘ you don’t need to slap me do you, cheh’

Red also wonder how she can tell the exact duration he has been away, is it her mental capacity or do she has some kind of watch like device. While pondering about it, Cole asks about the plan;

‘hey mister the sun has already set, when are we starting the infiltration plan’

‘we will be having a change of plan, both of you are not going’

Both of the siblings show a shocked face and hurriedly confess their displeasure of not being able to save their master, cole was the first to object to his plan;

‘Didn’t you promise for us to initiate the plan? At least we can help you’

‘no need I have a better idea, so both of you stay here and wait for me and your master. You guys got it’

Lizi the most understanding out of those two, agreed with a light nod while Cole only show a dissatisfied face.

Leaving those two behind, Red walks slowly heading to the base of the bandits. On his mind several things were circulating;

Red’s monolog

Hmm how did she count the duration, weird very weird but the weirdest thing is how the hell I have been away for only 10 minutes. Didn’t I stay over there like days? Only one thing came to my mind while thinking about it, time lapse. The age oak tree mana space must have a different time space than this one. That must have explain the no time difference during I was gone. I don’t know if its good luck or bad luck but I am thankful that I haven’t lost any time in this world. It would be bad if I miss a period of days over here.

Deep in his thought, Red then arrived in front of the stronghold. The night has covered the sky; multiple small flames lit the darkness around the stronghold. Sound of merry men can be heard enjoying their night with booze and food. But among those sounds was also a few wailing of women. It’s hard to discern with all the ruckus made from the bandit. Red was feeling responsible at first hearing the sound of women in there but his goal wasn’t to save them and his intention to begin with wasn’t that good.

Observing the wall of the stronghold, he check if there is any opening that he can use to slip into the stronghold. The guards on the tower were all alive and alert, there was no opening where he can run to. But then his eye caught something out of the norm. A large troll mountain with a height of 4 meter came out from the mountain at the side of the stronghold. With a large growl coming out of its horrendous mouth, the bandits were then in full alert. A sound from the horn resonates through the whole area alerting the bandit that they were in code red.

‘Men!!! Arm yourself!!’

Red cannot see with the height of wall blocking his view but his mind guess it right. The whole stronghold was in a frenzy, he guess that the troll was probably not a common sight even for those who has reside on the mountain.

The archer bandit release their arrows in an unorganized manner, they mostly attack it by impulse only and not following a proper structure of commands. Some of the arrows were something short of range and some goes over the troll. While the lucky one was easily smash and block by the grayish green troll. The troll easily smashes its ways by swinging its huge boulder like arms plowing through the horde of bandits. The bandits were like ants in front of the giant troll. With all the attention was now toward the troll. Red took his chance to infiltrate the base. Casting the spell to improve his speed he quickly begins his plan on action.

‘extensus velocitas’

Like a surge of electricity coursing through his veins, the spell level was now high enough for him to reach a speed that can overcome the wall. Bolstering his speed he rushes to the wall, beginning with the first step he then take flight lunging above the wall. Floating in the sky, the scene in front of him was horrifying. He even was in the verge of puking seeing the things in front of him.

Blood was splatter everywhere with pieces of god know what kind of organ it is. Injured bandit were all over the place, with crack bone, crack heads and even bodies split into two. The site was gruesome; people are screaming and frantically fighting against the large troll. The sharp sword and spears cannot pierce the thick armor like hide of the troll. Every attack seems to be futile, but the bandits were still fighting for their base. Even though they were bad in nature, the positive side was they would never give up.

Trying to ignore the wailing agony of the bandits, Red’s body then fall down from the lunge of the wall. With a height of 4 meters, landing by itself could crack a few bones at his legs. Casting another spell he prepares to face the ground;

‘extensus defensio’

The spell increased his defense and body endurance that overall increase the vitality of the body. Landing with a thump, Red was on the ground uninjured but still the feeling of numbness lingers around his feet. Looking around his surrounding, he found that the base of the mountain has window and door like structure implying the bandit must have made the mountain itself as a base camp. Quite a clever bunch, he then ran toward the base of the mountain.

Along the way he dodges a few stray arrows, with his current speed apply with his paranoidal instinct he easily avoid them but some did scratch his face a bit. Running through the dead bodies of bandit while leaping and hopping some of them, he endures the stench of blood that was everywhere.

A few bandits sensed the presence of Red and knowing he was an intruder they brandish their sword while having the intent to disposed the intruder. The bandits rush to Red amidst the chaos, some were swinging the sword and some are trying to pierce him with a spear. The multiple enemies that are most probably at a higher level than Red proved to struck a nerved at Red. Sweats were dripping all over his face, facing a human was a big difference compared to facing a monster. Injuring a human was never to his liking and moreover killing was out of the options. But time was ticking if he doesn’t make a move, his own dear life may be at stake. With the clash between the bandits was at mere seconds, he has decided.

‘extensus velocitas!’

The buff doesn’t stack but still he cast it just as an assurance. He avoided the spear, and parries a sword strike. At close proximity, Red draws his sword and aim at the bandits. With an increased in speed, the swing of his sword was closed at the speed of Bra’s strike.

One strike, two strike, three strikes and the fourth. Each bandit was strike at the same amount targeting the main joints of the human body. Using his anatomical knowledge he precisely cuts the ligament and tendons of bandit leaving them immobilizes.

‘arghhh’

‘to hell you intruder’

‘sound the alarm!!’

The desperate cry of the bandit was aimless. They were left there unable to move. Their shouts was not heard by their comrade, most of them are to occupied by the rampaging troll. Red on the other hand was cruising through the stronghold, a few bandits here and there noticed him and attack him. But Red swing his sword following the 4 strike sequence. Parrying and evading the first attack he then swiftly strike their joints. After a while he reach the base of the mountain, this part of the stronghold was unaffected by the troll attacks. Catching his breath he then enters the den of the lion.

Silently sneaking into the base, he slowly walks on a tiptoe with the wall behind his back. As silent as a shadow he creeps along the hallway. The encampment was silent with no one around; the place must have been emptied with all the commotion occurring at the outside. Feeling a little bit of cautious, he still walks along silently. Along the corridor, a room was lit probably a fireplace. Taking a peek at the room, his guess was correct a fireplace and a few sleeping bandits on the floor. He walks through the room silently hoping for them not to wake up.

After coming across a few rooms that were mostly emptied, Red then encounter a room that was as big as the conference room of the castle. At the center was a person crucified on an elevated ground. The head of the person was looking downwards making Red unable to identify the person. As he approached the crucified person slowly, he noticed the skin of the man was scaly. Its scales was dark brownish in colour but still it resemble the scale of a reptile. Its finger was human like except for the claw like nail. Red then try held the man heads up, but to his surprise the man’s head lunge at Red’s face. With razor sharp like teeth, his bite was like a crocodile trying to tear its prey apart. His eyes was yellow in color with a reptilian like iris. The man screams at Red giving a warning to him;

‘do not touch me you despicable bandit!!’

Red express an annoy face, this reptilian guy probably has a short fuse. Suspecting Red as a bandit was downright humiliating. Red then turns his back with the intention of not wanting to communicate with the rude reptilian man. But then a thought came to his mind, the whereabouts of the sibling’s master. Hoping to find him, he was at a deadlock. He forgot to ask about their master appearance. Now in his mind he was continuously saying he was stupid for not asking that question first. Letting it be bygone he continue to search for him. But before moving on he asks the reptilian guy;

‘hey you, do you know any capture men with the last name of Lazardo?’

‘why do you want to know you rotten bandit!!’

The reptilian guy then spit to Red after speaking to him. What a rude bastard luckily Red avoided the spit. It was tough when trying to talk to someone like him. At first he doesn’t want to explain his mission but his patience was running out, any lead right now would be beneficial for him;

‘huh~, I have this two kids searching for their master so I’m here to find him. So do Lazardo rings any bell on you there mate?’

The room fell silent, his rude behavior has died down. It seems the word Lazardo does pull a cord at him.

‘what have you done to those kids, I swear to you I will rip your bone apart if you ever touch them, you hear me you damn bandit’

Red was starting to get irritated by this guy;

‘first thing first, im not a bandit and second of all im here to saved their master from the bandits here, so are you gonna tell me or not? Do you know Lazardo?’

Staring at Red eyes, the yellow slit eye was full of animosity but then he spoke;

‘I am Lazardo, I don’t trust you human’

Red’s monolog

For God’s sake, why the hell is this dude their master. With his bad attitude and all, now I know where Cole got them from. But still im not really convinced yet by this guy.

‘hmm, then what is the name of the two siblings?’

‘its Cole and Lizi, now release me you fool’

Seriously, Red was getting agitated by the mere voice of this master of theirs. Playing along with the obnoxious behavior of the master, he then releases the chain that bounds him. Beside that they were also nail embedded at his leg and arm; with not enough strength to remove the large nails, he cast his spell.

‘extensus potentia’

With great strength, he removes the nails one by one. Release by the agony of the cruxification, the gaping wounds on his body steadily regenerate. Astounded by the mere feat of the reptilian body, Red wonders if it’s a natural characteristic of the reptilian species or it was just the prowess of the master.

‘come on lets go while we still have the chance’

‘hmph’

Red’s monolog

Still not accepting the good gesture huh, well whatever it’s not like I’m dealing with them again after this

Rushing out of the empty base, both of them are now at the outer side of the base. The bandits were still fighting with the troll mountain but to no avail it was futile. Running as fast as they can, they bolt out of the opening of the base and went straight to the wall. While they were running, most of the things that were blocking their way were dead bodies and remnant of the so called bandits. Their arrogance and bad demeanor was not on sight anymore as their faces currently show the despair of having to face an abnormality.

But suddenly something catch his eyes. A tall man that can even rival the height of the troll mountain was walking slowly heading toward the rampaging monster. His height was tall, and with distance between them Red could only guess that he was at least 2 meter in height but that wasn’t the thing that he most afraid of. The tall man body structure was undoubtly huge, it was beyond the normal human body size and in his arm was a great axe that was as big as him. Shivers went down to his spine only one thing came to his mind, that man was a danger if they encounter him head on.

Stepping up his speed, he race to the wall. Glancing to his side, the master was comfortably pacing with his speed. Even with an increased in speed by the usage of spell the master was still able to run alongside him. Now he started to doubt if he really was defeated by the bandits. As the master’s eyes look at Red, he shouted;

‘look out!!’

Turning around his head, a big flying object was headed to his way. With the incoming projectile, he jump to his sides.

‘BAMM!!’

The thing crash to the ground creating a small miniature crater. Looking at it closely, the thing that almost crash with him was the head of the troll mountain. He was frozen in shocked, on his mind several things are racing to his mind. But looking at the headless corpse of the troll mountain from out far, he now has figure out what was going on. Wielding the great axe using only his right hand, that alone shows the capabilities of the man who strike down the rampaging troll mountain with a single swing of his great axe.

With the fall of the corpse of the mountain troll, the big bandit walk slowly toward Red and master while dragging his great axe on the ground. Behind the big bandit were bandits that were in a tattered state, walking along the big bandit their face shows a dissatisfied face. Their eyes were hoping for something to release their stress on and in front of them was their target, an intruder and an escapee.

The situation was now dire, as Red was trying to run a sudden great axe was now blocking his way. The axe was huge; the material was crude in nature but the sharpness can be seen just by the shine of its blade. Red’s movement was stop, changing his view, he looks at the animosity emitting from the large build bandit. With the large man standing tall in front of him, he braces himself for what next to come. Opening his mouth the large bandit spoke, his sound resonates through the atmosphere.

‘how dare you intruder for entering the stronghold of Gala crushers’

Finishing his sentences, the bandits that were now surrounding Red and master taunts them and yell toward them with the intention to kill the both of them.

‘kill them leader!!!’

‘crush them into pieces great bandit’

‘crack their skulls out King of the Mountain’

Listening to the surrounding voices, the man in front of him was none other than the leader of The Gala Crushers. His aura was befitting for a leader, vicious and menacing he was at a different league comparing to the other bandits.

‘Prepare yourselves you freaking maggots, your souls will be sent to hell after tasting the blade of my bloody axe.’

Readying himself before the imminent clash with the troll like bandit, Red unsheathed his sword holding it with both hands to stop the shivering of his frightened hands. While at his side, the master took one of the spear that was lying on the ground. With both of his hands wielding the spears, his eye was determined to face the leader of Gala Crushers.

‘this is not going well fool one’

‘yeah I get it, but nonetheless we still need to fight him’

‘and how do you expect us both to fight every one of this retching bandits’

‘I know you got something up your sleeve master, I don’t know how you got dupe by this bandits but it may better not be this time’

‘Watch your tongue you fool, their tricky scheme wouldn’t work this time, I will perfectly obliterate them’

‘heh~ just better not die on me’

‘Say the fool with the trembling hand’

Red could only snicker to the master remark, then the leader of bandit spoke;

‘shut your petty talk, I Vincruelo leader of Gala Crusher will exterminate you, men attack!!’

‘OUH!!!’

The weaken and tattered looking bandits oblige to their leader order. Wielding their weapon, they went full charge rushing to attack the both of them. Meanwhile, Vincruelo slowly approach his giant axe to retrieved it. with many enemies around him, Red hurriedly cast his spell one after another;

‘extensus potentia’

‘extensus defensio’

‘extensus velocitas’

‘hawk eye’

Surging with power within his body he was now prepared to face them, at that split moment he rack his brain on what kind of plan of action that he need to execute against this horde of enemies. Then a voice could be heard from his right side. Master was speaking out loud;

‘Let the blood of Schlange coursing through my vein give rise to the flame of draca, behold; Atem der Flamme!!’

A breath of flame rain down the bandits burning them to crisp, the flames area of exposure was wide covering 2/3 of the bandits that was charging head front. Scream of pain was all over the place for those who didn’t die after being burn alived. Their screaming indicates the slow death of the bandits that have yet to come. Amazed by the feat of the master, Red wonder about what kind of spells is it. Different from Aaron fireball, rings manifest around his arm during the incantation but for master only steam came out from his scale before the release of his deadly breath of flames.

The commotion from the flames effect the others bandits to to cower in fear, afraid of being burn alive they kept their distance from the both of them. But then a shadow from the sky was becoming bigger right above them. Reacting to instinct, Red jump back avoiding the impact of the shadow falling from the sky. Master was also able to avoid the shadow, but the tremendous pressure exerted from the fall cause them to flinch and that exact moment, the blade of the great axe was swung toward them in a horizontal manner. Unable to move from his spot, Red quickly cast a protection spell;

‘shield of Maria!!’

A hologram of a blue shield made from his mana materialized in front of him and as the great axe create contact with it, a huge sound was made

‘KLANG!’

The axe rebound due to the shock causing Vincruelo to take a step back. with a crack visible on the shield, even at a higher level it was still damaged by the might of the bandit leader. Enraged by the sudden magic shield, he then dash forward unleashing another swing. For a man with a big build, his agility was quite high even though not very fast compared to Red he was still the fastest among the bandits. Easily closing the distanced between them, another horizontal swing came to the left side of Red.

Manipulating the floating shield, he then uses it to block it. Again the shield was crack even further, the great axe swing was getting faster from each attack. Stumbling again by his feet, Vincruelos wasn’t able to adapt to the rebound of his attack. at that moment a spear came flying to his direction, noticing the incoming projectile he spun his great axe and break the futile attempt to hurt him. He only laughs by the petty attempt;

‘hahaha is that all you got you fucking intruders!’

Caught off guard, Master came from his backside and pierces his leg using the spear. Vincruelos stare at master with welling anger. Changing his target he swing the great axe downward to Master. Releasing the spear embedded in the bandit’s leg. Master dodge the attack and pick another spear on the ground blocking another attack from Vincruelos. But the strength of his attack break the spear into two and the tip of the axe nip a bit the scales of Master.

Losing his self-composure after the sneak attack, Vincruelos release a torrent of swings intended to cut down Master who are the nearest. The master cleanly dodges it one by one but the sheer pressure of the swing inadvertently slices the master skin little by little. As the master glance at Red, now it was time for the counterattack. His eye gave queue to Red for the counterattack while Master on the hand kept Vincruelos company. Releasing the shield spell, he was now able to move more comfortably. The downside of casting that spell was the decreased of movement speed to about 70%. With the gain of his speed back, Red dash forward and leap to his back using the momentum of his speed.

Leaping at the height as parallel as the bandit leader’s neck, he readies his sword to pierce the thick fat neck. But as it was an inch away from piercing the neck, Red hesitates to deliver the killing blow and because of that one second of hesitation, Vincruelos noticed Red at his back and gave out a shout attempting a skill;

‘Maddening Tornado!!’

He spun his entire body in a 360 degree angle, the velocity of the spin created a miniature tornado like feeling amplifying the great axe attack. Unconsciously Red cast the spell Shield of Maria at the last second;

‘Shield of Maria!’

‘BAM!!!’

The shield broke into pieces, it was only created to decrease the overall attack and speed of the swing but its strength was too much for the shield to handle. Blown back by the impact of the broken shield, Red’s body flew through the sky and drop to the ground while spinning around a few times. His state right now was in semi-conscious state, his body was aching in pain. His right arm might be fracture due to the fall just now, it’s a miracle he even survived that fall. As his concious slowly fading away, he mumble the incantation for a healing spell;

‘les..ser.. heal’

Glow of green light envelop the body, as he continue to cast it the bandit leader approaches the unmoved body. Master with a spear on his hand, cast another unique spell;

‘ooo great god of the sky, I heed you from the bloodline of Schlange let this spear be a becon for your wrath; Strike of Quezacotl’

He threw the spear at Vincruelos, noticing the feeble spear he prepare to block it but as it make contact with the bandit. Lightning fall down from the sky, incurring it wrath to Vincruelos. The lightning burn the human bandit into black charcoal. Turning his back on the presume to be dead bandit, he now proceed to Red’s body. turning Red’s body, he could only see a faint smile from Red. Master could only mutter this word;

‘you fool, as my savior you shouldn’t died after saving me’

Red could only chuckle but then his eyes changed expression, mustering all his energy that he has he moved his body and push master away from him. Then a great axe plow to the ground missing its target, Vincruelos was still alived even with his own body burn to crisp. Master was caught off guard unable to sense his presenced. With the axe stuck to the ground, Red activate his trump spell;

‘Wise of the Predator’

The skill enhance his primal instinct and increased the overall percentage of delivering a critical strike. With his pupil constricted, he only see two red dots upon the blackish man in front of him. Striding through metal shaft of the axe as a foothold, he ran on the slow moving Vincruelos. As he leap to the level of Vincruelos’s head, he strike both of his ear holes using his finger that was harden by using the increased effect of defensio and potentia.

Piercing from both side for just 3 seconds, he then release his hand from the head and fall to the ground. As his mental stress was at the near limit, he drop down due to tiredness and let his body fall to the ground. Vincruelos on the other hand was still standing but motionless, if you were near enough to his ear side, blood could be seen dripping from the canal. Master was still on his guard afraid of the being in front of him would awaken from his death. Master surprise after he was still moving even after tasting the might of his greatest thunder spell. But this time, Vincruelos body then slowly fall down with his back dropping to the ground.

They are victorious, they have won the battle against a monster that beaten a troll mountain. No wonder he was the man leading the bandit brigand. Dropping to his knee, Master catches his breath while shouting to Red;

‘we won you fool!’

Red on the other hand could only smile with his body unable to moved, satisfied winning against a monster he then slumbers into deep sleep.