The bandits clearly had the upper hand. The guards were struggling to stay on their feet, and the leader's foot was already pressed against the strongest guard's chest. Jareth watched from the shadows, his jaw tightening.
If I wait any longer, that guard will die. I need to act now.
He took a quiet breath and activated Partial Blood Manipulation. His blood stirred, heating slightly as it circulated faster. He focused it into his arms, strengthening the muscles and sharpening his reflexes. A faint pulse went through his veins, giving him a short burst of speed and power. It wasn't full blood manipulation, but enough to push his body beyond its usual limits.
He dashed forward.
Just as the bandit leader lifted his foot to crush the fallen guard, Jareth swung his arm in a sharp motion. The blood enhanced force exploded outward, like a concentrated shock of strength. It wasn't visible, but the pressure cut through the air and struck the bandit leader's side.
The leader felt it.
His instincts warned him at the last second. His senses weren't weak. From the moment Jareth stepped within a kilometer of the area, the leader had faintly noticed something, though he couldn't pinpoint it. So when the attack came, he twisted his body and avoided the blow head‑on.
Even with the dodge, the force hit him enough to shove him sideways.
He slid two steps across the dirt, surprised.
The other thieves paused for a moment, confused by the sudden impact.
The leader narrowed his eyes at Jareth. "You…? A fledgling?" He scoffed, annoyed but also curious. "How did your attack push me?"
Jareth didn't reply. He simply steadied his footing, letting the leftover energy fade from his limbs.
The bandit leader clicked his tongue. "Impossible. A fledgling's strike shouldn't even make me move."
But Jareth had already proven it did.
And the leader's irritation turned into something else " caution."
Everyone, including the young lady inside the carriage, watched him closely. Jareth didn't introduce himself; he simply said he was a loose cultivator.
"Since you're a loose cultivator," the bandit leader said, smirking, "I like your strength. Join me in capturing these people, and I'll split the profit with you fifty-fifty."
The leader assumed Jareth was like the others greedy, always seeking profit. He didn't intend to honor any promise. Instead, he planned to trick Jareth, drain his blood to stabilize his own core, and strike when the cultivator let his guard down.
Jareth, however, saw through the deception. He had learned to read people's intentions from subtle movements and eye patterns in his past life.
"Do you think I'm a fool?" Jareth muttered under his breath. "Are you not satisfied with your usual victims?"
The bandit leader's smile faltered slightly. "There's no time to waste on you," he hissed, and lunged forward.
Jareth activated his Partial Blood Manipulation. With a subtle movement of his hand, he redirected the energy of the leader's attack, slightly twisting the trajectory of his claws. The leader was fast and noticed the interference almost immediately. He adjusted his strike mid-motion, dodging slightly, but was shocked as the redirected force pushed him back a few steps. His eyes narrowed. This fledgling's attack should not have done this.
The fight intensified. The leader's strikes came faster, his aura pressing down on Jareth like a storm. Sparks flew as claws met the manipulator's subtle barriers, each collision sending a sharp vibration through the ground. The guards around the carriage were still struggling, and the young lady held her breath, fearing the worst.
Realizing he could not overpower Jareth alone, the leader called out to his cohorts. Several vampire minions appeared, rushing to flank him. Yet Jareth's heightened senses and refined reflexes allowed him to anticipate their movements. With swift, precise maneuvers, he dodged attacks, countered where he could, and used small bursts of blood manipulation to throw the minions off balance. One vampire was sent crashing into a tree, another slammed to the ground as his energy was subtly warped mid-strike.
The bandit leader's face twisted in disbelief. "Impossible! How can one fledgling handle all of them?"
Minute by minute, Jareth eliminated the minions one by one. The leader watched in horror as each of his reinforcements fell, his confidence slipping. He tried to rally, striking desperately, but Jareth anticipated every move.
Finally, it was just the leader against Jareth. He staggered back, fear creeping into his expression. "You can't kill me! I have a stronger backer who will come for me!"
Jareth stood firm, his gaze unwavering. The leader lunged one last time, reckless and panicked. With precise control over his blood manipulation, Jareth diverted the strike, countering with a sharp thrust. The leader's chest was pierced, and he fell to the ground, his plan destroyed.
He gasped, blood trickling from his lips. "I… I was supposed to be… invincible…"
But it was too late. Jareth's calm, methodical attacks, honed through his newly awakened abilities, left no room for recovery. Even with a hidden ally waiting, the leader was dead before help could arrive.
The forest around them fell silent for a moment, the defeated vampires scattered, and Jareth stood among the chaos, his strength and control unquestionable.