The bandits walked out of the trees, glaring at the camp and seeing Arad standing there. “A fighter, be careful, and don’t let him pick a weapon.” One of them said, pulling a shortsword.

“With that mass, could he be a barbarian?” Another one asked, pulling his bowstring.

“No, I don’t see any tattoos or clans warpaint. That man can’t be a monk, as those leather pants aren’t something they would wear in a million years.” The man pointed his sword at Arad. “There should be more people in the tents. Get ready for them.”

PEW! The bandit, with a bow, fired his arrow at Arad. Silently taking him was the better option. They didn’t want to wake the other two.

Thud! Arad caught the arrow and stared at them, “Bandits!” He growled with a smile.

“He must be a high level. Surround him and expect an action surge.” The bandit leader growled, pointing his sword down as the other men rushed at Arad.

Thud! One of the bandits stomped forward, swinging his massive sword down.

Arad took a deep breath, swinging his left arm to the left. CLANG! He deflected the sword with his bare forearm and a smile on his face. CRACK! His right hand punched the bandit, breaking his nose and teeth.

“Slow and dull,” Arad looked at the bandit leader.

“I see,” The bandit leader pulled his longsword and started walking forward. “I guess you’re the party leader. Reliable and awake, a golden example.”

“Thanks, but I’m not.” Arad smiled, “They are awake, only leaving me to deal with this matter.” Arad cracked his fists. ^They guessed I was the one who lured the bandits because I didn’t say anything until they arrived.^

BAM! Arad stomped the ground, increasing his weight a bit, “Come at me,” He took a stance with a smile.

The bandit leader saw the ground crack beneath Arad’s feet. He did have a strong feeling he was a monk, but his outfit did fit a monk. He decided to fight as if Arad was both a fighter and a monk.

CRACK! Arad rushed forward first with a smile on his face, he swung a fist at the bandit leader, and he dodged.

CLANG! CLANG! Arad swung another two punches, and the bandit leader deflected them with his sword.

“HA!” The bandit leader screamed, swinging his sword at Arad’s neck. Arad lifted his forearm to block, but the leader changed it into a back-edge strike toward the other side of Arad’s neck.

Arad smiled. ^This man is weak. He isn’t as fast or durable as Chuzuke. But I can see his moves better.^ He kept a close look at the bandit leader’s movements, trying to learn as much as possible before killing.

CRACK! Arad swung his torso back, dodging the sword while extending his right foot in a kick.

BAM! The bandit leader blocked the kick with his sword, and his body was sent flying back and smacked into a tree. “GAH!” He gasped for air, falling to his knees.

Arad looked at the bandit leader with a smile. On the ground was a fist-sized rock. Arad took two steps and kicked the stones toward the leader at high speed.

The bandit leader grasped his sword, cutting the stone in panic. “Throwing rocks like a kid?” He glared at Arad.

Arad held four stones. Two in each hand, “I’m still a kid,” SWOSH! He threw one of them, and the bandit dodged.

CREEK! The stone ripped several branches off before shattering. Those weren’t regular throws. The power behind them is insane. ｎ𝚘𝚟ｌ.ｃｏ𝚖

The bandit leader became convinced he was facing a monk. “I thought you monks swear to not indulge in mortal pleasures. Why did I see you wearing that?”

The bandit leader was looking at Arad’s pants. “I wouldn’t walk naked, would I?” Arad threw the rest of the stones in his hand. The bandit cut one and dodged the other two.

The bandits watching knew they couldn’t jump in and help. Arad and their leader were on a different level. They should go kill the other two in the tents, but they didn’t feel like doing it. Something strange was happening.

A single red eye glared at them from inside Ginger’s tent. “Sit and watch like idiots. Cattle.”

The bandit leader sighed, and he was getting exhausted. Arad’s punches hit like bulls, and when he retreats, the stones keep flying.

^He isn’t panting. He still has a lot of stamina.^ The bandit leader observed the smiling Arad. ^I have to damage him as much as I could, so the others can finish him off.^

The leader took a stance, his sword behind him. He took a deep breath, “This is your end, kid.” CRACK! The ground cracked beneath the bandit leader’s foot.

BAM! The leader rushed forward with a single jump, Action surge. He could hit three times a second, and with action surge, it will be six.

Arad swung his right fist at the bandit. CLANG! With an upward swing, the leader cut Arad’s fingers off, and in a downward slash, he cut the tendons on his forearm.

In that instant, Arad sent his left fist, but the leader was ready for it. With another upward swing, he cut Arad’s wrist and the tendons of his biceps.

“HAHA!” Arad laughed, Chuzuke was too fast for him to see the techniques, but with this man, he could see how he does it.

The leader still had two swings. Thud! A rapid swing slashed Arad’s throat. The leader then pulled back and stabbed Arad’s in the chest, ending the combo.

Any human should be dead after such a combo. The bandit leader smiled, Arad was one of the strongest opponents he faced in years. CRACK! He felt something strange. Arad bites him in the neck.

“What!” The leader gasped as his body withered and disappeared into Arad’s stomach.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! Arad clapped his hands, “Amazing! Amazing! You go for the soft spots on the body and try to immobilize your target, get them to bleed, and die. Hahahaha.”

Arad giggled and looked at the rest of the bandits, “Shall I test that on you?” He pulled the sword that Alcott gave him.