Seeing the figures leap out from the forest, Charles muttered a curse. "Hah, my luck is really terrible today."
The bandits wore wolf-head hats and patched clothing, each radiating a pungent smell of blood. No thought was needed to conclude they were clearly local bandits, entrenched near Hamlet Town.
"Thirty-three in total, three carrying firearms," Dismas said, stepping back to Charles's side. He and Reynard positioned themselves one in front, one behind, shielding Charles and Reina May in the center.
"A problem, but not unsolvable," Reynard said, drawing the broad knightly sword at his side. His gaze swept across the bandits, voice low and serious.
"Miss Reina May, please do not worry. We will protect you," Charles said. He twitched his mouth at Reynard's words. He knew exactly what "a problem" meant it referred to himself and Reina May.
Fighting while protecting others was a world apart in difficulty. Not to mention, they were essentially two people with little combat experience Charles had rarely fought anyone, and as for Reina May, Charles didn't consider her a fighter either.
At this point, he thought, they should be grateful if they simply did not hold everyone back.
"Mm," Reina May responded calmly.
Charles had meant to offer some comfort, but when he looked at Reina May, he saw a face completely serene, as if the bandits before them were nothing to her.
"Looks like we've caught a big one, boys. Isn't this the heir to Hamlet Town?" A burly man stepped out from the bandits, laughing. He seemed to be the leader, immediately spotting Charles in his noble attire under the flickering torchlight.
"Oh, and there's a beauty with him. Brothers, today's our lucky day. Once the boss is done playing, this beauty is ours!" His gaze shifted to Reina May, dressed in her elegant qipao. The man's face, marked by three scars, froze, then his expression twisted into a mix of ecstasy and obsession.
"Kill the three men!" The leader commanded, and the bandits moved but Dismas was faster. In a flash, he raised his hand and squeezed the trigger of his firearm.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three shots rang almost simultaneously. Flames erupted from Dismas's gun, the bullets propelled by gunpowder, striking with unerring precision.
Before the bandits could scream, three fell to the ground, each with a bullet hole centered in the forehead the three firearm-wielding bandits were down.
Reynard lifted his right hand next, and a scroll dropped from his palm. "Sanctuary!"
Two beams of white light shot from the scroll, enveloping Charles and Reina May. A thin protective layer formed around them, capable of withstanding minor impacts, perhaps only arrows but it existed. Even during Dismas's gunfire, an unseen force guided the bullets to strike their targets' foreheads.
Was this the world's power system?
Reina May glanced briefly and lost interest. Beyond her own research, she found little worth her attention. Moreover, she detected a faint trace of contamination within these powers.
Without experiments, she could only infer that prolonged exposure might affect a user's mind, potentially causing psychological issues. As for deeper details, she could not yet determine them. She was not a time-gifted genius blessed by the stars; without accumulation and proper aptitude, reaching full understanding was impossible.
However, one thing was clear without testing: the source of the contamination likely had a close connection to this world itself.
These contaminations felt strangely familiar to Reina May. She could not confirm yet, but she already had her suspicions.
While Reina May pondered, the battle unfolded.
Dismas and Reynard moved with precision.
Dismas used his agile frame, dagger in hand, darting into the crowd like a slippery eel. Before anyone could locate him, his dagger had slit throats with deadly accuracy.
Reynard, clad in heavy armor, stayed close to protect Charles and Reina May. He moved along the edges of Dismas's path, ensuring their safety while facing only the enemies in front of him.
His broad sword seemed weightless, swinging with terrifying force. Limbs and torsos of bandits fell wherever his blade cut a scene of horror, not fit for children, stained the ground with blood.
"This is excellent. If this continues, we can win," Charles said, relieved as he surveyed the battlefield. Honestly, he had been nervous moments ago.
Although he had hired Dismas and Reynard knowing they were elite mercenaries, he had never witnessed their true prowess.
Despite their power, the sheer number of bandits over thirty loomed oppressively, far more daunting than the safety provided by two skilled bodyguards.
"This money was worth it. I've only read about warriors who could face ten men alone. I never imagined I'd see one in real life," Charles said to Reina May, excitement in his voice.
He turned and froze. Four bandits had, without his noticing, reached near Reina May.
It was inevitable Reynard and Dismas could only cover so much. Realizing they underestimated the enemy's combat skill, the bandit leader had quickly adapted.
While the main force distracted the guards, four bandits circled through the forest to seize Charles and Reina May.
The dim light of the forest provided perfect cover, allowing them to bypass Reynard's vigilance.
As they approached, the bandits leapt out.
"Watch out!" Charles shouted, rushing forward.
Then, a small pink figure suddenly appeared in his sight. A dazzling burst of pink light struck the advancing bandits, flinging them backward at incredible speed.
"???" Charles froze, mind racing with question marks.
What had just happened?