The group was currently heading to the village terrorized by bandits.
"So why do we have to waste our time defeating bandits?" Asked Horatius with an annoyed expresion.
"Since it's a warriors job to assure safety to everyone and besides those bandits will be helpful for you to grow since they can use magic"
Rami's eyes light up at the thought
"Right, i still haven't tested my powers"
"Well this isn't really a test but sure..."
***
After 30 long minutes of walking the group finaly managed to arrive at the village.
In the village there is no person outside, everyone terrfied of coming across the bandits who had forced feat into the villagers
Rami's whole personality changes as he looks around with a sad but fierce expression
"Poor people... living in fear of dying... we have to help the people here by defeating the bandits" Said Rami with a determined tone
Zorn raises an eyebrow at Rami before smirking
"Well look at this, never thought I'd hear Rami say something right"
Just then a door of a house opens with a granny walking out the house skeptically before opening her mouth.
"What are you doing there? Come inside before any bandits see you"
Sahin looks at her with a surprised expression.
"... let's go" Said Sahin as he entered inside the house with the rest following right behind him.
The Granny looked at them before sitting down at a table
"I can tell you aren't from here. You come from a town down you? I can tell that based on your outfit and also because of the fact that you showed no concern while standing in the middle in the village as a pray waiting to be hunted"
"No, we know about the bandits, that's why we came here" Said Sahin with a smile
"Dont tell me you've came to fight the bandits
"We came here to stop them so this village can live calmly again"
"You don't understand! Those aren't just any bandits, those bandits can use magic, they're far more capable than you originally thought"
"We know that... that's why we came. We can't let bandits take advantage of your fear of death by forcing you to give them all your goods... I would never forgive myself if I would walk past someone who needs helps and not give it to him"
"... I see... my apologies then..."
"It's Sahin"
"My apologies, Sahin... I've seen so many people die for disobeying the bandits... I don't want to see more people die"
"Dont worry... me and those kids are string, you know"
"We'll make sure those bandits pay for what they had done" Said Rami with a kind smile
"We'll make sure to free this village from.the bandits influence" Said Sahin with a serious expression
"But before that... do you have any information on the bandits that could help us?"
"... well... I had heard that their leaders loves dragging fight to see his opponents hopeless, crumbling in pain"
"Hmm... Zorn and Seren will take their leaders"
"We'll what?" Said Seren surprised
"He said we'll take the leader"
"I had heard that!"
"Sure you did"
"Cmon don't start an argument now, you two make a great team together and besides if the leaders loves dragging fights then Zorn is his best match-up since he gets stronger for the more damage he takes" Said Sahin before looking at Horatius
"Sorry, it seems liek it isn't your time to shine yet"
"Tch... like I care about some bandits"
"Well anyway, ma'am, do you know where their base is?" Asked Sahin while looking at the Granny
"Well I... I don't know where their base is but every single time the leader is always walking around and there are 2 groups of 4... but its way to risky you dint have to risk your life"
"Horatius, you, Zio, Rami and Bellator take on the two groups of bandits"
"Wait a minute! Why aren't you taking part in this" Asked Zorn with an annoyed tone
"Well this is all for your growth and besides I need to make sure the villagers are safe, and besides this is a sign of trust"
"Bulls**t!"
"Well anyway... let's get going"
***
The group is currently on top of a building visualizing everything going around the village until a group of bandits enters the village
"Alright there they are, Rami send a thunderbolt to split them" Said Sahin
And with that Rami smirked before swiftly summoning a thunderbolt, sending it flying at the bandits who needed to dodge it. With that the group immediately began rushing at the scene to take on their opponents
As the leader was still distracted by the thunderbolt Zorn jumped from a building landing in front of the leader and instantly uses his scythe to summon a slash that sended the leader flying away from the 2 groups.
The bandits seeing that immediately tried to attack Zorn but being interrupted by another 2 thunderbolts coming their way forcing them to force once again.
"GO, ZORN!" Shouted Rami
"Zorn, let's go!" Said Seren as he was rushing to where the leader was sent flying
"Right away!"
And with that Zorn and Seren left, leaving Horatius, Bellator, Zio and Rami to deal with the group by themselves
"Eeeeoh? Leader... leader got separated from us" Said a muscular man wearing makeup while grabbing his face in panick
"Leader... leader, leader, leader, LEADER!"
And with that the man suddenly twisted his before burying himself into the ground and digging to where the leader got sended to
"Whats up with him?" Asked Rami before charging a thunderbolt and sending it flying towards the man which interrupts his plan and forces him to get out the ground to dodge
"Please stop interrupting me, young gentleman" Said the man before suddenly charging towards Rami inflicting a clothesline to the neck which immediately cuts Rami's breath short and also seeds him flying into a tree"
"This is your price for interrupting me, young man. You see I dedicate my life to my leader and I can't let even a scratch to get kn his handsome face. As much as i don't like violence I'm ready to stylishly kill you if needed"
This guy... is too fast for my eyes
"Y-you..."
"Please don't talk, I don't want to kill a child"
Just then the man suddenly felt like punches were inflicted before looking behind him seeing Horatius standing there with his hands jn his pockets as if nothing happened with his back facing the man
This boy... he was able to get behind me and inflict punches without me even realizing... its as if he stopped the time... no... it's impossible
The man immediately turned around and tries to hit Horatius who appears behind him once again as the man's stomach also swells
Nngh!
"Guys... leave this beast to me"
"Beast? I'm no beast! I'm a fancy doll, the most beautiful person ever"
"Actually, I had never seen something most beasty than you"
Those words immediately made the man's muscle growth as he clenches his theet before trying to smash Horatius who dodge out the way and begins running away to get away from the other bandits to make it a 1v1 and is immediately followed by the man who runs after him like a gorilla who's authority has been challenged
Tch... I don't know how many times I can stop time, so far I've stopped the time for 2 times but I need to be more careful, one bad move and I'm gonna get crushed by this beast
Just as Horatius was thinking the man pulls a tree roots out the ground and throwing it at Horatius with a fierce roar
Horatius was forced to use his time stop in order to dodge the attack
Tch, I should've bought a weapon when I had the change to do so. Even something as small as a daggers and this guy would've already been dead. I need to use the environment and find things that can help me kill him
"You brat! Stop running away and face me!"
"You don't deserve to feel my presence facing you, beast"
"WHAT DID YOU SAID, BRAT?"
time stop
Horatius stopped the time once again which he used to get behind the man
Two seconds... that how much i can stop time for, atleast for now... if I want to use it the fullest extend I have to make this battle of close combat but then I still have many unanswered questions... how much mana do I have? For how much will I be able to keep going without running out of mana? How much mana does stopping time take? If my mana runs out while I'm so close to him there will be no other outcome than just me dying
Just before the last second was about to run out, Horatius managed to get behind the man and kick him in the ribs and that's when the time began tickling again
The moment he'll turn around I'll stop the time and get behind him once again
But ruining all his plans the man suddenly twisted his upper body in a 180 now facing Horatius with a devil smirk
"Found you"
The sudden turn of events immediately made Horatius' eyes widen in fear.
When an enemy can twist his body however he wants close combat isn't an opinion anymore
Just when the Bandit was abiut to grab onto Horatius, he stopped the time once again and immediately rushed away from the bandit, managing to hit behind a house just before the time began tickling again.
The bandit was currently walking around trying to find Horatius
"Kitty, kitty... stop hiding and come here to play"
As the man was searching for Horatius, Horatius himself was currently looking around searching for things that'll help him in his battle until he sees a very disturbing garden...
The garden was filled with chained dead people and also had bottles of gasoline to burn the dead humans
The sight immediately made Horatius feel the urge to throw up but he covered his mouth to not give away his hiding spot before stopping the time and rushing to the garden, grabbing a chain and jumping into an open grave just as the time began tickling again. The feeling of the dead body against his skin made him want to scream but he holded it back as his highest priority right now is survival
I need to do this... but if this fails I'm dead... maybe I should wait for the others to finish their fights... no... this is my battle, they trusted me with it... I am Horatius, blessed with powers to stop the time who's destiny is to match the gods, I don't have time to complain
It's all or nothing
Then Horatius jumped out the grave immediately rushing in the forest while intentionally making rustling sounds to catch the man's attention who immediately followed behind him
"You finally decided to show yourself, kitty!" Said the man as he pinched every tree in his way so hard to the point they all fall down
"If you're such a beast I can't even think what a beast your leader might be" Those words immediately made the Man's temper break
"WHAT DID YOU SAID ABOUT MY LEADER?"
With that the man went absolutely berserk punching harder and harder until two trees began falling, aiming to fall on Horatius
And with that Horatius purpose began slowing down and just at the man was about to grab onto him, Horatius took out the chain from earlier from his pockets before wrapping it around the man's neck and stopping the time pulling the man exactly where the trees will fall before dashing out the way escaping the trees by just a millisecond
The man was now struggling to escape the trees his muscles tensing as he tries to push both trees off him having no avail
"You brat! I'll eventually escape and then I'll crush you to the point you'll be unrecognizable!"
Tch
Horatius then slowly fot uo from the ground looking at the man before walking back to the horrifying garden
"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOURE GOING? THATS THE LEADER'S PRECIOUS GARDEN!"
Horatius then picket up a bottle of gasoline before walking back to the man which stopped the man's breathing in his throat as there was no other sign besides the panicked expression on his face
"Wait a minute, kid! You dont have to do that! You're still young, you shouldn't kill anyone. You know im sure we can agree to peace"
Horatius hasn't even answered as he began pouring gasoline onto the man and the twi trees trapping him which made the man panick even more
"Wait a minute, kid! STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!"
Horatius continued keeping his mouth shut as he grabbed a pack of ciggarates he stole from Sahin and a lighter before lighting a ciggarate and taking a puff of it
"... ciggarates suck" Said Horatius before throwing the ciggarate into the man which fired up the gasoline in an instant, making the man scream in pain as the fire burned his skin and Horatius stared coldly in his way before turning around and beginning to walk away from the scene
***
Meanwhile
Rami, Bellator and Zio were currently fighting against two bandits who had magic as 5 other bandits were holding knives waiting for their moment to charge in
One of the two bandits had the powers to turn stone into metal which he used to throw at the three.
While the other bandit was able to make the weight of any metal bigger or smaller as long as it is betwen the rage of 1-500kg
The powers of the two went along with eachother greatly and was causing the group many problems
"Jeez! Those guys are impossible! They're using those metals to block my lightning!" Complained Rami
"I only have supernatural strength. I can't do anything to those guys" complained Bellator as a vein popped kn his forehead
"Come on, guys! Dont give up yet" Said Zio trying to motivate the two
Just then one of the bandits chucked as he began speaking
"You have no change of winning. We, Kofi and Omar are too string for you. The leader said that if we continue out winning streak that he'll consider us his most loyal subordinates" Said Kofi as he turned a chuck of stone into metal and throwed it above Rami then Omar used his powers to make it weight 500kg forcing Rami to dodge
The two were currently focusing mostly on Rami as if he was the biggest threat out of the 3
Just then an idea sparkled Zio's mind as he used his powers to make an arrow out of fire but immediately dropped it as it burned his skin
"AGHH! Rami! How are you able to hold a thunderbolt without it electrocutating you?"
"Eh? I thought it was natural"
"WHAT?"
Zio then hit his foot against the ground which made the ground Below Kofi and Omar tremble and then rise sending the two flying but they still managed to mand safely
"Eh...? Oh yeah, i forgot i can manipulate all 4 elements!"
"That power... our leader can also manipulate the ground but his mastery over it is exceptional. You brat daring to use a power our leader can also use is disrespectful. You must die" said Kofi before the two shifted all their attention on Zio and began attacking him which allowed Rami to do his magic
Rami seeing this immediately rushed towards them his focus on Kofi as he appears in front of him, shocking Kofi who let his temper be his downfall as Rami's fist began electrocutating and giving Kofi no time to even think he strikes him with powerful fist that sent him through 2 trees, falling unconcious
Omar immediately got scared as Rami stared at him with a smirk
"You're useless without your friends" Said Rami before charging a thunderbolt and sending it at Omar also making him fall unconcious
"Jeez... this sure was rough... it's all thanks to Zio" Said Rami while stretching
"Man, I was just a distraction..." Said Zio while suckling
"I was entirely useless" Said Bellator as he crossed his arms
"Come on, guys! Those moments no matter if we're useful or useless is what makes us stronger. Oh and where did the other bandits dissapeared to?"
"Oh... you already finished your fight here" Said Horatius who just arrived at the scene
"Horatius! You already finished your fight? I knew we could trust you!" Said Rami while chuckling
***
Meanwhile
Zorn and Seren were currently facing the leader of the bandits
The leader was annoyed that some kids were able to take him off guard but then he began chuckling
"You fools... thinking you can defeat me, Aeron, the great"
"Well you sure like giving yourself titles" Said Zorn with a scuff which only made Aeron laugh
"You fool, I'm part of the Ravens, the biggest group of bandits in the whole world, you have no idea how big the gap of our strengths is"
"Never heard of it, am I supposed to care?" Said Zorn expecting Aeron to get angry but he just chuckled as alot of metal began flying his way
Thud
The metal wrapped around Aeron's right arm into a range of 7,5 meters as he began laughing hysterically before swinging the metal arm hitting Zorn who gets sent flying into a mountain and his arm breaks but he just snaps it back in place
"Zorn!" Yelled Seren, concerned but is interrupted by many pieces of metal flying his away but get slashed by his magic which he has still yet to discover what is it or to what extend he can use it
"Hmm? I better finish that boy off before he'll become a threat to the Ravens" Said Aeron as he prepared to swing the metal arm just to be interrupted by Zorn who just
Catapulted himself off the mountain as is now flying towards him holding his scythe
"Learn your defeat, brat" Said Aeron before pulling Zorn's scythe to himself and hitting Zorn with the metal arm and then shifting his attention back to Seren
"Sorry about your friend, it seems like he's gone to a endless sle-" Aeron didn't even had the change to finish his sentence somve he saw Zorn rushing towards him once again
"Oh, wow... lasting alot in battle? You're exactly my type" Said Aeron before swinging his metal arm at Zorn again
Clang!
Zorn gets sent through multiple trees before finally hitting a stopping point but he still manages to get up
"Tch... that bastard stole my scythe" Said Zorn before getting up and rushing towards Aeron
Aeron chuckles before getting a hold of Zorn instead of hitting him again, the grip of the metal arm crushing Zorn's bones who screams in pain
"You know, ill let you alive and then kill your friend right in front of you" Said Aeron with a sinister smirk planted on his face
But just then Seren managed to get behind Aeron who tried to swing the metal hand once again But then Seren's sword manifested an celestial aura which cut off the metal arm which shocked Aeron who then used earth manipulation to trap Seren
"I must admit, I crave to gain your powers but I'm not gonna risk keeping you alive"
"You bastard! Dont you dare touch him! I swear I'll kill you!" Screamed Zorn as Aeron slowly extended his hand towards Seren with an evil smirk planted on his face
Pew!
Aeron was interrupted by a lightning bolt flying his face
The only way he could've dodge that was to get away from Seren and let go of Zorn and he did just that, jumping back as he let go of Zorn looking at the newcomers with a smirk
"Oh?" Said Aeron while chuckling as Ramk, Horatius, Zio and Bellator approached
"Hahahahah, more friends to kill, this is truly amazing!"
"Well, I can't say I didn't expected the leader to be twisted" Said Horatius with a sigh
"One, two, three, four, five, six! Six people to kill!"
"Sorry, but we won't die at your hands" said Rami with a confident expression
Then more metal began flying towards their way armoring Aeron into a armor of metal that's now also flying in the sky from the metals
"Well, how the fuck are we supposed to even land a hit on this guy?" Asked Horatius as he looked up
3 minutes later
The 6 of them were running for their life whilst screaming dodge hundred of metal pieces flying their away
"He's gonna crush us! He's gonna crush us!" Said Rami while running
"I WANT HO-"
Thud!
Bellator was interrupted from finishing his phrase when he stumbled against a tree but then continued running
"Come guys! Dont run away from me! Zorn! Zorn, right? Come on, I got a massive crush on you, I really feel the need to crush you!"
"GO AWAY! YOURE CRAZY! LEAVE MY FLESH ALONE!"
"Come on, you're hurting me" and with that Aeron then swings the metal arm splitting the group away with eachother and also knocking Zorn on the ground
"ZORN!" Yelled Seren but... it was already too late
Smash!
Aeron swinged the metal arm and crushed Zorn under its palm
Everyone was terrified at the sight that just occurred in front of them
"Z-Zorn..." Said Seren barely being able to even talk now as tear flow from his eyes
"We're... next..." Said Bellator with a terrified expression
Meanwhile
Sahin was still on top of the building looking towards the forest trying to deduce what was happening
I have to go there
He thought until he suddenly heard a feminine gentle tone speak behind him
"Dont go..."
Sahin immediately looked behind just to see no one
"That voice..."
Suddenly the force of the wind began increasing drastically especially in the forest...
In the forest
Everyone's is left speechless from the force of the wind until Aeron looks behind him see sees Zorn kneeled down, bloodied from head to toe, his eyes rolled back and his jaw broken, his red and black mana increasing in size and taking the form of a monster
"You should be dead... just what are you?"
"... I'll fucking kill you..."