Chapter 11
{ The Bandits }
The Yellow Iron Mine.
Darkness slowly draped itself over the World of Wonders…
The stars carved wide, glowing lines across the sky—as if speaking to humans and other races in a celestial language no one could understand, yet everyone remained captivated by its brilliance and deep spiritual beauty.
The moon was at its beginning… a thin crescent drawing a faint smile in the sky, like a playful child sneaking away from his mother’s watchful eyes to wander into the garden and study the ants with innocent curiosity.
Inside the cave, the goblins worked tirelessly.
They had a new lord—new orders to follow—and they needed to prove themselves.
Tory led all the goblins in a massive excavation effort, while Ian and his human forces moved deeper into the cave, where faint red glimmers appeared between the rocks.
“The wall is solid. Red Iron is surrounded by large amounts of Yellow Iron, and these pickaxes are only common grade. Excavation will take a long time… especially since none of us has a profession or skill related to mining.”
Professions and skills.
On the surface, they seemed similar—sharing concepts and practical use—but in truth, the two were fundamentally different to an intimidating degree.
A skill required energy to activate. Every use demanded a cost that increased as the skill level rose.
A skill’s level was predetermined, almost impossible to increase except under extremely rare circumstances.
Mastery only improved efficiency and flexibility—but never reduced its energy consumption.
A profession, however, grew with every use.
The more one worked, the higher the mastery… making the job easier, more precise, and more rewarding.
A profession had a starting grade—but could rise endlessly.
Even a common profession could become legendary.
Not because the process was easy—but because it was possible with enough work.
Raising a profession granted personal benefits, internal growth, and even blessings from the world itself.
Thus, the two—skills and professions—shared labels, but not purpose.
Ian had wanted a trap-maker, but changing someone’s profession was impossible now.
Besides, he didn’t need a trap-maker at this early stage.
Instead of sacrificing one of his men (like Noa or anyone else), he decided to acquire a trap-maker skill.
It would serve the current need—and the future could be dealt with later.
“We’ll acquire a mining skill and a profession for the goblins who can’t fight. Red Iron is important, but first… we handle the bandits. Only then can we draw real borders and secure our land,” Ian said at the moment the goblins’ noises rose, growing louder and more frantic…
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"What do you mean you want to take some of us? We already delivered the quota!" Tory shouted.
In front of him stood three bandits—one woman and two men.
All of them wore leather gear far better than that of the goblins or Titan Village, and their weapons were better too… though still Normal.
The bandits did not waste time.
"The quota has already increased, and you didn’t deliver." one of the men laughed.
"When did it increase?" Tory yelled.
"Are you raising your voice?" the man growled, revealing an aura at the First Level.
He was the only one among the trio at that level. But he wasn’t the real problem—not with Tory and the archer present.
The real problem was his background…
The bandits.
A force of more than a hundred, with at least ten of them at the First Level or higher.
It was a power not to be underestimated.
If they wished, they could flatten this entire place and slaughter all the goblins—but instead, they had drained them dry, leaving them only scraps… just enough to keep them alive.
"Sir, he didn’t mean it," Boban stepped forward.
"But we received no instructions from your esteemed group about an increased quota. So, if you would allow us until morning to prepare it… I’m certain you will be satisfied."
"Oh? Looks like you have someone who knows how to talk," the man laughed.
"But no… the lady has given her orders. And you know the punishment.
Failing to meet the quota means losing some of your people—that was the agreement."
"But—" Boban tried to speak.
"This conversation is over. Five of you will follow me," the man said, leaving no room for argument.
Tory clenched his fists as a powerful voice echoed through the cave:
"Kill them."
"Who was that?" the man frowned.
They had been speaking in the goblin tongue, and the command was issued in the same language—but the problem was that it came from the mouth of a human.
The bandit was human, and he recognized a human voice instantly.
"You dare set up an ambush for us?" the man roared, drawing his sword.
Tory’s expression tightened, but he gave the order:
"The lord has spoken. Kill them."
"Bastard… I’ll kill you!" the man shouted as he lunged at Tory.
"Shadow Edge!"
Tory pulled the axe from his back with lightning speed, bringing it down on the man.
Shadow Edge made the axe’s movement incredibly fast, powerful, and filled with a razor-sharp aura.
"Sword Flash!"
The man didn’t hesitate and swung his sword.
CLANG!
Steel met steel, sparks flying violently.
"What are you two waiting for?!" the man roared.
But suddenly, the two remaining bandits turned and fled the moment they saw the goblins surrounding them.
They weren’t fools.
Staying meant death.
“Cowards!” the man shouted.
Whoosh—
A goblin archer immediately drew his bow and released.
The arrow shot forward—fast, sharp—piercing the first fleeing bandit cleanly.
“Aaaaaaaaah!” the man screamed as he collapsed to the ground.
As for the woman, beads of sweat covered her body as she fled like a terrified rat—but the arrow struck her as well, ending her instantly.
One arrow for each.
“You dare?!” roared the remaining bandit—the one at the First Level.
He could never have imagined, not even in his darkest nightmares that a group of slaves would dare ambush him.
But reality stood before him.
The archer stepped back, pulling his bow with all his strength, aiming it directly at the bandit.
The man swallowed hard.
This was a losing battle.
He knew he faced a formidable opponent… and at the same time, another skilled enemy was waiting for the slightest opening to fire at him.
And once that happened, it would be over.
He would never withstand that arrow.
“General’s Blade!”
A powerful beam of light suddenly shot from a sword, streaking toward the man.
The bandit was stunned and hastily raised his sword.
“Sword Flash!”
WHOOSH!
The beam shattered the Sword Flash technique and tore through the man, splitting him in half.
The crowd froze, staring in shock at the one who unleashed the technique.
Chris stood there in silence like king.
The legendary skill was legendary for a reason.
Its quality and power were on a completely different level.
One strike—and it was over.
Even though the bandit’s training was slightly higher than Chris’s, the difference in quality and class between them was overwhelmingly in Chris’s favor.
Besides, among everyone ever, the bandits possessed some of the weakest talents.
The only issue now was Ian’s expression as he stood silently.
He didn’t want this outcome.
He had hoped to stall the bandits a bit longer, just enough to find a solution to their crisis.
But now there were no solutions left…
As for letting them take his people?
That would be the beginning of Ian’s downfall.
Who subordinate would trust a lord who abandons them out of fear of someone else?
Why serve such a coward instead of going to another lord?
At least then they’d be slaves under one master—not forced to switch masters every now and then.
That was why Ian had to kill them.
The problem now was that Ian’s plan had failed… and the result was that he had kicked a hornet’s nest—and the wasps would not spare him their stings.
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