"Heh... little missy..." the bandit leader sneered, his lustful eyes openly examining Shion's body. "Do you understand what you're about to face?"
Leon drew his katana from its sheath, eyes locked warily on the group of burly men. Tension spread throughout the area. Shion stood still, her face still red with rage, the red fiery aura radiating from her body growing more intense until the air around them became scorching hot.
"That's... elemental power, isn't it?" one of the bandits exclaimed in amazement and awe, before his mouth curved into an evil smile. "Heh... I've got some too!"
Suddenly! A massive amount of water formed from the air around that man! It gathered into the shape of a huge dragon, its watery scales gleaming and sparkling in the sunlight filtering down. The water dragon coiled around the man before stopping still, mouth open in a silent roar, snout pointed threateningly at Shion!
The battle had begun!
The water dragon shot toward Shion at high speed! Massive waves surged forward to engulf the young woman! But Shion didn't panic! She screamed a battle cry! The massive sword in her hand swung up to slash violently through the middle of the water dragon's body!
Whoosh!
The water mass shattered and scattered into white cloudy steam that blocked their vision momentarily!
In that exact moment when the water vapor was thick enough to blind them!
"Die!!!" the voice of the man controlling the water dragon rang out through the mist! His body shot through the cloud of smoke with a fist wrapped in compressed water!
WHAM!
The water-fist slammed into Shion's face with full force! The young woman staggered backward, dazed!
The man didn't wait for her to recover! He roared! Three other burly men surrounding them didn't let the opportunity slip! They swung their weapons—swords, axes, and spiked clubs—at Shion's off-balance body in unison!
These guys... not that skilled. Nothing like the ones we fought in Crafter! Shion thought quickly. Even though she was still stunned from the impact, her fighter's instincts remained sharp! She twisted to dodge the attacks raining down on her by a hair! Her massive sword deflected the incoming weapons smoothly!
"You guys... aren't with that white-haired woman, are you!" Shion shouted loudly while dodging a blade that grazed past her face!
"Ha! What the hell are you talking about!" one of the bandits shouted back before the water dragon fist of the elemental user shot toward Shion's body again!
BOOM!
Shion's body flew back and slammed hard into a large tree!
On Leon's side, he was in an equally tight situation! Three burly men were surrounding him! They took turns slashing at him from left and right continuously! The sound of clashing blades echoed everywhere!
Shion!! Leon called out the young woman's name in his mind with worry. He tried to break through the encirclement to help, but could only defend and dodge the attacks pouring in with all his strength!
"Behind you"
That voice again! The mysterious voice he'd heard before echoed in his head once more! Leon was slightly startled, but his body moved automatically following that voice! He spun around while raising his sword to defend!
Clang!
The sword of another man who'd snuck up to attack from behind clashed hard with Leon's katana! Leon used that moment to counter immediately! He caught the man's sword and lifted it up, making him lose balance and expose an opening!
Without delay! Leon swung his katana quickly and precisely! The blade sliced across the man's throat! Fresh red blood spurted out!
But in the split second when he was about to finish off the first enemy, a thought popped into his head... *Am I... am I really about to kill a person...* Images of violence he'd faced in River Bend flashed through his mind... *No... I wasn't born to be some gentle hero anyway!*
"AAAAHHH!" Leon screamed at the top of his lungs! The hesitation in his heart was completely swept away! The sword in his hand slashed down mercilessly at the man's body!
"You bastard!" the fallen man's companion cried out in rage. He charged forward to block Leon's attack!
But Leon was faster! After dealing with the first one, he flipped to dodge the second man's attack by a hair! Then used the momentum from his spin to thrust his sword into the man's ribs!
Thunk!
The second man screamed in pain before collapsing to the ground!
One more left! The last man saw two of his gang members die in the blink of an eye and went pale! He turned to run!
But Leon wouldn't let him escape! He leaped after him! The katana in his hand swept out in a wide arc! The blade cut precisely through the man's back!
Leon stood breathing heavily, sweat covering his body. The smell of blood filled the area. He looked down at the three lifeless bodies lying in pools of blood on the ground. Mixed feelings rushed through him—shock, fear, and the cold sensation of taking human lives for the first time...
On Shion's side, after being knocked into the tree, she quickly regained her footing. Pain shot through her body, but her amber eyes still blazed with fighting spirit! She charged at the remaining group of burly men again! Her massive sword swept in a wide arc! Its destructive power was tremendous!
The four remaining bandits, including the water elemental user, all stared wide-eyed in shock at seeing their companions dealt with so quickly by Leon and Shion! They were starting to realize... this time they'd picked the wrong targets!