Chapter 49
Blaze and the others stood in stunned silence, the weight of the mayor's words pressing down on them.
Children. The Aurora Bandits weren't after riches or supplies—they were taking children.
A sickening realization settled in, twisting their stomachs. Bandits didn't do this. They robbed, they pillaged, but they didn't abduct kids in the dead of night with no demands for ransom.
"This doesn't make sense," Akira muttered, clenching her fists. "Why children?"
Kaito, usually the first to crack a joke, had nothing to say. Even he understood this was beyond their usual missions.
Blaze exhaled sharply, trying to push down the burning frustration in his chest. "Then we'll find out."
The group split up to gather information, hoping the townspeople would provide answers. But what they found was far worse than silence—it was despair.
Every person they approached had the same empty, defeated look in their eyes. They didn't hesitate to speak, but their words were hollow, lifeless.
"Just leave," a shopkeeper said dully, not even looking up from stacking goods.
"There's nothing you can do," a blacksmith muttered before hammering down harder than necessary on a blade.
Even when Nephis, who had a talent for getting people to talk, pressed gently for answers, she was met with blank stares and resigned sighs.
It was like the city had already given up.
For the first time, even Kaito didn't have a witty remark. He frowned, arms crossed. "This ain't right."
As the others searched for answers, Kaito wander off and in the distance his sharp eyes caught something off.
A merchant—one who didn't quite fit in with the rest. Unlike the defeated, lifeless residents, this man moved with purpose, constantly glancing around as if checking for something—or someone.
Kaito narrowed his eyes as the merchant slipped into a narrow alleyway, his behavior too suspicious to ignore.
Silently, Kaito followed.
He peeked around the corner just in time to see the merchant speaking with five rough-looking men. But it wasn't just a casual chat—he was giving them information.
"...Another family is hiding their kid in the old mill today," the merchant whispered.
Kaito's blood boiled.
This scumbag is selling out his own people?
His fists clenched. He knew he had to stay hidden, to wait for the right moment—but his anger got the better of him.
"You filthy traitor!" Kaito's voice rang through the alley.
The five men snapped their heads toward him, their expressions twisting into anger.
The merchant? He bolted.
Kaito barely paid him any mind because now five pairs of murderous eyes were locked onto him.
One of them, a burly man with scars lining his arms, sneered. "You got guts, kid."
Kaito smirked, puffing out his chest confidently. "Do you think you can fight against a legend like me?"
The men frowned, momentarily thrown off by his ridiculous confidence.
Kaito cracked his knuckles, sensing their power levels. Only one of them was at the 3rd stage of the Collection Phase, while the rest were at the 1st stage. Compared to them, his 4th-stage strength was leagues ahead.
With a grin, he stomped his foot, and a layer of earth coated his fist. "Since you don't know, Let me teach you some manners."
The bandits charged, unleashing a flurry of spells. Lightning bolts, boulders, and waves of wind hurtled toward Kaito.
He raised one hand.
A massive earth shield erupted in front of him, absorbing every attack like it was nothing.
The bandits staggered back, their faces paling.
"Wait—he's only at the 4th stage?! How the hell is his defense that strong?!"
Kaito smirked. Their fear was delicious.
"Now, receive your judgment!"
He dashed forward at an insane speed, his earth-covered fist slamming into the first bandit's chest. The man flew ten meters back, hitting the ground with a heavy THUD, completely unconscious.
One by one, the rest fell. Kaito weaved between attacks, dodging, countering, and smashing through their weak defenses.
Minutes later, all five lay sprawled out, groaning in pain.
Kaito dusted off his hands, standing triumphantly over their beaten bodies. "Hmph. I should start charging people to witness my greatness."
But then—
His eyes darted around.
"...Wait. Where's that merchant?"
Kaito spotted the merchant emerging from another alleyway. But this time, he wasn't alone.
Five new bandits walked beside him—stronger ones.
The strongest among them? A 9th-stage Collection Phase warrior.
Kaito gulped. "Oh… crap."
One of the new bandits moved instantly, launching a punch enhanced with wind energy straight at Kaito.
Kaito barely blocked, skidding backward from the force.
The bandits frowned, surprised.
"He blocked it?"
Kaito, still feeling the impact in his bones, did the only logical thing.
He ran.
Up and down the streets he ran, using every earth spell he could to slow his pursuers. Walls, spikes, pits—anything to stall them.
Yet, no matter what he did, they kept coming.
Finally, he made it to the edge of the city—only to realize too late that he'd run into an abandoned district.
No people. No backup.
No escape.
Gritting his teeth, Kaito kept running—until a massive figure blocked his way.
He stopped dead in his tracks.
His senses screamed at him.
8th stage.
He turned to bolt—only to see the other four surrounding him.
Kaito was trapped.
"You deserve to die," one of them who seems to be covered in mud growled.
Kaito recognized him—he was the one Kaito had humiliated earlier during the chase.
With no way out, Kaito did the only thing he could.
Negotiate.
"Wait, wait! Maybe we can talk this out?" Kaito said, holding up his hands. "You know, discuss terms, make a deal—"
The leader unsheathed his sword, beaming with flame . "No deals, You must die."
Kaito sweated. "Uhh… last words?"
"Say your prayers."
Kaito took a deep breath.
Then he screamed at the top of his lungs.
"NEPHIS! HELP! BLAZE! HELP! VOLT! HELP! AKIRA! HELP!"
The bandits blinked.
"…Is he serious?"
"One more" he said and then yell: "CRAZY LUCAS, HELP!"
Silence.
The leader smirked. "Pathetic."
One of them run forward his hand covered with deadly lightning , ready to end Kaito life.
Kiato gulp.
Then.
BOOM.
A figure appeared in an instant, fist slamming into the bandit's chest, sending him flying meters away.
Dust settled.
A short-haired man stood where Kaito is, his head hung low with his fist stretch out in a punching position.
Kaito, still sprawled on the ground, gasped.
Then he grinned.
"Oh, man. Am I glad to see you for the first time."
The figure cracked his neck raise his head with his piercing black eyes staring at the group. He unclench his fist with his fingers transforming to deadly claws.
"No one apart from me has permission to kill this fool." Lucas said.
To be continued.