As the group approached the temple, the sight of more and more bandits surrounding it came into view. The tension in the air was palpable as they drew closer, and they could see the bandits were heavily armed and on high alert.
Astrid's keen eye spotted movement among the bandits, and he quickly realized they had been detected.
"Tsk!" Astrid shook his head in frustration.
"They've seen us! To the fortress, now!" He ordered his team.
With a burst of adrenaline, they quickly turned and made a run for the abandoned fortress. The sound of the bandits' shouts and footsteps behind them only added to the urgency of their escape.
"Let's go!" Lyn urged as she picked up her pace.
As they reached the fortress, they breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the walls to catch their breath.
"Whew!" Sain exhaled as he wiped his forehead with his sleeve, heaving with exertion. "That was a close call."
"All right, what should we do next, Astrid?" Lyn asked.
Astrid took a deep breath and laid out his strategy.
"Listen up, everyone. This is what we're going to do." He gathered his team around him.
"We let them charge at us. They think we're weak and outnumbered, so they'll be overconfident and reckless. But we have the advantage of the terrain and the fortress. We'll use that to our benefit."
As he laid out his strategy, Lyn's eyes gleamed with anticipation. She was ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.
"Lyn, you'll stay at the gate and hold them off with your sword. You're fast and agile, so you can dodge their attacks and strike back."
He then addressed the knights.
"Kent and Sain, you'll flank them from both sides with your horses and weapons. You can outrun them and surprise them with your lances."
Kent and Sain nodded in agreement. They were experienced fighters, and they knew that the element of surprise was crucial in any battle.
Astrid then described his own role in the plan. "I'll stay on the wall and support you with my magic and dagger. I can also spot any weaknesses or opportunities in their formation and communicate them to you."
The team listened attentively, nodding as Astrid explained the plan. But Kent had a valid concern. "Sounds like a solid plan to me. But what if they have archers or mages?"
Astrid closed his eyes, rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, considering the possibility.
"Then we'll have to improvise. But I doubt they have any skilled ranged fighters. They're just a bunch of thugs with axes and clubs. We're better trained and equipped than them. We can do this."
Lyn determined, said. "All right then. Let's get ready. Astrid, you're the tactician. We trust you. "
"Thank you. I trust you too. Now let's show them what we're made of."
Sain chuckled, eager to jump into the fray. "I like the sound of that! Let's give these bandits a taste of their own medicine!"
Kent nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Let's fight with honor and show them the true strength of our group."
With the team feeling confident and motivated, they prepared for their next move, eager to put Astrid's strategic plan into action.
Astrid stood atop the fortress walls, watching as the bandits charged towards them with crude weapons in hand. He had surveyed the terrain and knew that they had the advantage. His team was better trained and equipped than these thugs, and they had the fortress walls to protect them.
As the bandits drew closer, Astrid signaled to Lyn to prepare for battle. Lyn positioned herself at the gate, sword at the ready, and waited for the bandits to arrive. As the first wave of attackers closed in, Lyn sprang into action, parrying their blows and striking back with swift, precise strokes.
Lyn stood her ground at the gate, her sword raised and at the ready as the bandits charged towards her. She waited patiently, timing her strikes carefully, and parrying their blows with ease.
Meanwhile, Astrid used his anima magic to distract the bandits, creating flashes of light and illusionary images that drew their attention away from Lyn. He also used his dagger to strike from afar, landing critical hits on the bandits who got too close to the walls.
At the same time, Astrid began to shout out commands to Kent and Sain, who were hiding on either side of the gate, ready to flank the bandits.
"Now, Kent! Sain! Attack from the sides!" Astrid yelled.
Kent and Sain charged out of their hiding spots, their horses galloping at full speed. They struck the bandits from both sides, catching them off guard and throwing them into disarray.
Astrid continued to distract the bandits with his anima magic. He summoned bolts of lightning and fire, aiming for the bandits who were trying to break through the gate. His spells forced them to scatter and retreat, giving Lyn, Kent, and Sain an opening to strike.
The bandits tried to retreat, but it was too late. Kent and Sain's lances struck true, knocking several of them off their feet and sending them sprawling to the ground. The rest of the bandits turned their attention towards the knights, allowing Lyn to take a breath and catch her second wind.
As the battle raged on, Sain noticed a group of bandits closing in on him. He readied his sword and prepared to fight, but then he caught sight of a particularly attractive female bandit.
"Well hello there, my lovely." He said with a grin, winking at her. "I don't suppose you'd be interested in joining us instead of fighting against us?"
The female bandit looked momentarily surprised, then scowled and charged at him with her weapon raised. Sain chuckled and parried her attack, expertly dodging her strikes while still trying to flirt with her.
"Come on now, don't be like that." He said, grinning. "I promise we could have more fun together than fighting like this."
The bandit growled and lunged at him again, but Sain easily disarmed her and knocked her to the ground. He then offered her a hand to help her up.
"Come on, let's end this silly fighting and enjoy the rest of the day together." He said with a wink.
As Sain was caught up in his flirtatious banter with the bandit, he didn't notice that another bandit was sneaking up behind him with a club raised high. Just as the bandit was about to strike, Kent appeared and knocked the bandit out with his lance.
"Sain, focus on the battle, not the ladies!" Kent reprimanded him sternly.
Sain sheepishly grinned and replied. "Sorry Kent, couldn't resist the chance to show off my charm."
Kent just shook his head in exasperation.
Astrid watched the battle unfold from the top of the fortress wall, scanning the field for any weaknesses or opportunities. He saw that the bandits had regrouped and were advancing towards the knights, but they were disorganized and not working together effectively.
He shouted down to Kent and Sain, relaying the information he had gathered. "Their formation is weak on the left side! Strike there and you'll catch them off guard!"
Kent and Sain heard Astrid's voice and followed his instructions. They charged towards the left side of the bandit formation, their lances flashing in the sun. The bandits were caught off guard and couldn't react in time, and several of them fell to the ground with cries of pain.
The bandits were thrown into disarray, with no clear leader to guide them. They fell one by one, as the team fought with precision and skill.
Astrid continued to provide support, using his anima magic to strike down any enemies who tried to climb the walls or sneak up from behind. His sharp eyes spotted any weaknesses in the enemy's formation, and he quickly relayed the information to his team, allowing them to adjust their strategy accordingly.
The battle was fierce, but Astrid's strategy proved effective. The bandits, overconfident at first, were soon overwhelmed by the superior tactics and skill of Astrid's team. One by one, they fell, until the last of them lay at their feet.
After several grueling minutes of battle, the last bandit fell to the ground, defeated. The team stood victorious, breathing heavily, their weapons still at the ready.
As the dust settled, Astrid approached his team, a look of pride and satisfaction on his face.
"Well fought, everyone." Astrid said, his voice slightly breathless from the exertion.
"You all performed admirably, and your skills in battle are truly impressive."
Lyn, Kent, and Sain all nodded, their faces flushed with exertion and adrenaline.
"Ha! I knew you had a few tricks up your sleeve, Astrid!" Sain exclaimed, flashing a cocky grin.
Astrid smiled wryly, shaking his head. "It wasn't just me, Sain. We all did our part."
"Thank you, Astrid." Lyn said, panting slightly. "We couldn't have done it without you."
Kent joined in. "Indeed."
Kent continued. "Your tactics were sound and effective. You truly are a skilled tactician."
Astrid smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with his fellow warriors, his eyes still scanning the surroundings.
"Thank you, but let's not get complacent. We need to remain alert, as there might be other enemies lurking nearby. Now let's get that sword."
With the area secured, they made their way to the side of the temple, where a section of the wall was in bad condition.
Astrid raised his hands to the sky and began to chant, his voice growing louder and more intense with each passing moment. The wind around them began to pick up, whipping their hair and clothing around wildly.
"By the power of the winds and the might of the storm." He shouted.
"I call forth the tempest to aid us in our quest! Let the winds of magic flow through me, and let my will be done!"
As he finished his chant, a powerful gust of wind erupted from his outstretched palms, rushing forward towards the cracked wall of the temple. The wind grew stronger and stronger, tearing at the stones and causing them to crumble and break apart.
Lyn and the others stepped back, watching in awe as the wind continued to rage, carving a path through the wall with incredible force. When it was over, a gaping hole stood before them, leading deep into the temple's inner sanctum.
Astrid lowered his hands, breathing heavily. "There."
"That's our way in. Let's go." He said, pointing towards the hole.