The sun had barely risen over the village of Greystone when the warning bells began to toll. The sharp, metallic clang echoed through the narrow streets, jolting the villagers from their homes.
Adam was already awake, seated on the wooden bench outside the Elder's hall. His newly acquired sword rested against his knee as he adjusted the worn leather bracers the villagers had scrounged up for him. The sound of the bells immediately set him on edge.
Seren emerged from the hall behind him, her twin swords already in her hands. "That's not the kind of wake-up call I was hoping for," she muttered, her green eyes scanning the streets.
Adam stood, his energy sense faintly tingling. He couldn't pinpoint the source of the disturbance, but the unease in the air told him enough. Something was wrong.
"Where's Varus?" Adam asked.
"He's probably at the watchtower," Seren replied, already moving toward the village square. "Let's go."
The Bandit Raid
When they arrived at the square, the scene was chaos. Villagers were scrambling to gather their families, rushing toward the relative safety of the stone hall at the center of the village. A group of men armed with spears and pitchforks—clearly not soldiers—were forming a shaky defensive line near the outskirts of the village.
Elder Varus was among them, barking orders as he clutched his longsword. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by grim determination.
"Bandits!" one of the men shouted, pointing toward the treeline.
Adam turned to look and immediately spotted them: a group of ragged figures emerging from the forest, their weapons glinting in the morning light. There were at least fifteen of them, armed with swords, axes, and bows. Their leader, a tall man with a cruel smile and a jagged scar running across his cheek, stepped forward, his black cloak billowing behind him.
"Listen up!" the leader called out, his voice carrying across the square. "We're here for your food and your valuables. Cooperate, and no one gets hurt. Resist…" He drew a wickedly curved blade and grinned. "Well, you can guess what happens next."
Adam's jaw tightened. These weren't desperate thieves stealing to survive—they were predators, the kind of people who preyed on the weak simply because they could.
Adam Steps In
Before anyone else could speak, Adam stepped forward, his sword resting casually over his shoulder. The villagers and bandits alike turned to look at him, and for a moment, there was silence.
"Let me guess," Adam said, his tone calm but sharp. "You're the kind of guys who think being strong gives you the right to take whatever you want."
The leader's grin faltered slightly as he looked Adam up and down. "And who the hell are you supposed to be?"
Adam took another step forward, his blue eyes glinting like steel. "Just someone who doesn't like bullies."
Seren shot him a sidelong glance, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "You sure know how to make an entrance," she muttered.
The bandit leader laughed, though it sounded forced. "Big words for someone who doesn't look like much. You've got guts, I'll give you that. But guts don't mean much when you're dead."
He motioned to two of his men. "Kill him. Let's make an example of this one."
The two bandits charged, their weapons gleaming as they closed the distance.
Adam exhaled slowly, gripping his sword tightly. He didn't need his full strength for this. Even in his weakened state, these men were nothing compared to the threats he'd faced before.
The Fight
The first bandit swung wildly with his axe, but Adam sidestepped with practiced ease, his movements fluid and precise. He brought his sword up in a swift arc, the blade slicing cleanly through the man's arm. The bandit screamed, dropping his weapon as he crumpled to the ground.
The second bandit hesitated for a fraction of a second—just long enough for Adam to close the gap. He slammed the hilt of his sword into the man's stomach, doubling him over, then delivered a sharp kick that sent him sprawling into the dirt.
Adam turned back to the leader, his expression calm but dangerous. "Still want to test me?"
The leader's grin was gone now, replaced by a scowl. "You're going to regret that."
As more bandits surged forward, Adam's energy flared faintly, golden light crackling along the edges of his blade.
Strength in the Shadows
The bandits charged forward in uncoordinated fury, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight. Despite their numbers, Adam stood his ground, his stance calm and unwavering as golden light crackled faintly around the edge of his sword.
The first attacker lunged, a battle axe raised high. Adam sidestepped with ease, his reflexes honed from years of combat. He pivoted sharply, slamming his sword into the man's side. The energy coursing through the blade amplified the force of the strike, sending the bandit flying into his comrades like a ragdoll.
Another bandit swung a mace toward Adam's head, the weapon whistling through the air. Adam ducked low, the motion smooth and effortless, before delivering an upward slash that shattered the mace and knocked the man backward with a crackling burst of energy.
By now, the bandits hesitated, their earlier confidence replaced by confusion and fear. They had expected a simple raid against a defenseless village—not a battle against someone who moved like a seasoned warrior and wielded power that defied comprehension.
"Is that all you've got?" Adam called out, his voice calm but taunting. He adjusted his grip on the sword, the golden light around it pulsing faintly as he stepped toward the remaining bandits.
"Kill him!" the leader roared, his scarred face twisted with fury. "He's just one man!"
The remaining bandits regrouped, their fear overridden by the barking orders of their leader. Adam sighed inwardly. This would be easier if they realized they were outmatched.
Seren Joins the Fray
From the corner of his eye, Adam saw Seren step into the fight, her twin swords flashing in the sunlight. Unlike the bandits, her movements were precise, each strike flowing into the next with practiced ease. She cut down two of the attackers in quick succession, her blades a blur of silver as she deflected their desperate counterattacks.
"Don't hog all the fun," she called out to Adam, her tone sharp but teasing.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Adam replied, sidestepping another attack and driving his sword into the bandit's shoulder. The man cried out in pain before collapsing to the ground.
The two of them worked in tandem, their movements synchronizing naturally despite the fact that they'd only just started fighting together. Seren's agility and Adam's raw strength made for a devastating combination, and the bandits quickly found themselves overwhelmed.
The Final Confrontation
By the time only a handful of bandits remained, their morale had completely crumbled. Several of them turned and fled back toward the forest, dropping their weapons as they ran. The leader cursed under his breath, his face contorted with rage.
"You cowards!" he shouted after them. "Come back and fight!"
Adam stepped forward, his sword resting casually against his shoulder. "Looks like your men are smarter than you are."
The leader snarled, his grip tightening on his curved blade. "You think this is over? I don't need them to kill you."
He lunged at Adam with surprising speed, his blade arcing toward Adam's neck. Adam raised his sword to block, the impact sending a sharp jolt through his arms. The leader pressed the attack, his strikes relentless and brutal.
But Adam wasn't fazed. He parried each blow with practiced precision, his movements calm and controlled. The leader's strength was impressive for a human, but compared to the Galactic Conqueror—or even the creatures Adam had faced in this world—it was nothing.
"You talk a big game," Adam said, deflecting another strike and countering with a swift slash that forced the leader to retreat. "But at the end of the day, you're just a bully."
The leader roared in frustration, charging at Adam in a blind rage. Adam sidestepped smoothly, bringing his sword down in a single, decisive motion. The golden light around the blade flared as it cleaved through the man's weapon and struck his chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
The leader gasped for breath, clutching at the wound on his chest as blood pooled beneath him. He glared up at Adam, hatred burning in his eyes. "You… don't belong here," he spat. "This world… will chew you up… and spit you out."
Adam stared down at him, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he considered letting the man live, but he quickly dismissed the thought. Someone like this wouldn't stop. He'd come back stronger, more vengeful, and the villagers would pay the price.
Adam raised his sword, the golden light flaring once more. "You're wrong," he said simply. "This world's going to learn that I protect the weak."
And with that, he brought the blade down.
Aftermath
The remaining bandits had fled, leaving the village silent except for the crackling of the watchtower bell. Adam stood in the square, his sword still glowing faintly as he surveyed the damage. Seren approached him, wiping the blood from her blades.
"Well," she said, her voice carrying a note of reluctant admiration. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Adam glanced at her, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're not so bad yourself."
Elder Varus stepped forward, his expression a mix of relief and awe. "You've saved us twice now," he said, his tone heavy with gratitude. "This village owes you more than we can repay."
Adam sheathed his sword, the glow fading. "I didn't do it for payment. I did it because someone had to."
The elder nodded solemnly. "Even so, you've earned our trust. If there's anything you need, anything at all, just ask."
Adam's gaze shifted toward the forest, where the shadows seemed deeper than ever. The monoliths, the Razorkin, the bandits—this was only the beginning.
"I need to know everything you can tell me about this world," Adam said. "If I'm going to protect it, I need to understand it."
Varus nodded. "Then we'll start there."