The morning sun glimmered faintly through the canopy of trees as Adam and Seren trekked along the winding dirt path leading out of the Wyrmwood Forest. The village of Greystone lay behind them, its people waving farewell from the safety of their barricades. Adam had promised Varus he would return, though he wasn't sure when—or in what condition.
The road to Eldwyn was supposed to be two days long, but Seren had warned him that the journey would likely be anything but peaceful.
"This region isn't exactly known for its hospitality," she said, her tone laced with dry humor as she walked a few steps ahead. Her twin swords were strapped to her back, her green eyes scanning the treeline for any signs of movement.
Adam adjusted the strap of his borrowed satchel, the faint hum of his nuclear core buzzing faintly in the back of his mind. "What kind of threats are we talking about? More Razorkin?"
"Possibly," Seren replied. "But the bigger concern is people."
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Bandits?"
She nodded. "This close to the forest, it's a free-for-all. Plenty of desperate people out here who won't hesitate to slit your throat for a loaf of bread."
Adam's expression darkened. He couldn't stand people who preyed on the weak, especially in a world already teetering on the edge of chaos.
"Well," Adam said, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, "if we run into any, they're not going to like what happens next."
Ambush on the Road
The journey continued uneventfully for several hours. The dense forest began to thin, giving way to rolling hills dotted with patches of wildflowers. The air was crisp and cool, and for a moment, Adam allowed himself to relax.
But the peace didn't last.
As they rounded a bend in the path, Seren stopped abruptly, her hand shooting up to signal silence. Adam's energy sense flared faintly, picking up traces of movement in the tall grass ahead.
"Ambush," Seren whispered, her voice low.
Adam nodded, his gaze sweeping the area. "How many?"
"Six, maybe seven," she replied. "They're hiding, but not very well."
Adam tightened his grip on his sword, his nuclear core humming faintly as he prepared for the inevitable attack. He could feel the tension in the air, the quiet before the storm.
And then it came.
The AmbushThe Tension Before the Fight
The ambush hadn't come as a surprise to Adam. His energy sense, dulled though it was, had already picked up the faint, hostile presences in the grass ahead. He could feel the way the air had shifted—charged with the kind of tension he'd felt countless times before, back on Earth.
What did surprise him, though, was how calm he felt. Even with this weaker body, even in a world he barely understood, Adam found himself steady. He could handle this. He would handle this.
"You're quiet," Seren muttered, her hand resting on the hilts of her twin swords. Her green eyes flicked toward him, sharp and appraising.
"I'm thinking," Adam replied, his tone casual.
She gave him a faint smirk. "Hope you're not planning to talk your way out of this. Bandits don't negotiate."
Adam chuckled softly, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted his grip on his sword. "No, but they're predictable. Watch—they'll try to intimidate us first."
As if on cue, a voice barked from the tall grass ahead.
"Drop your weapons and your packs!"
Adam and Seren exchanged a glance.
"Told you," Adam said, his lips curling into a faint smirk.
The Bandits Make Their Move
The first bandit stepped into view—a scarred man wielding a notched longsword. His armor was mismatched, cobbled together from scavenged leather and rusted metal. Behind him, several others emerged, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight. They spread out across the path, forming a loose semicircle around Adam and Seren.
There were six in total, not including the figure lingering further back on the hill—the leader, Adam guessed. He could feel the man's eyes on them, watching, assessing.
"Drop your weapons," the scarred man repeated, pointing his sword at Adam. "Do it now, and maybe we'll let you walk away."
Adam tilted his head, his gaze sweeping over the bandits. They looked rough—desperate, even—but there was cruelty in their eyes. These weren't people stealing out of necessity. They enjoyed this.
"I've got a counteroffer," Adam said, his voice calm but firm. "You walk away now, and I won't hurt you."
The bandits laughed, the sound harsh and mocking.
"You're funny," the scarred man said, taking a step closer. "But I'm not in the mood for jokes."
He motioned to his men. "Kill them both. We'll take what we want off their corpses."
The Fight Begins
The first bandit lunged at Adam, his longsword swinging in a wide arc. Adam sidestepped smoothly, letting the blade whistle harmlessly past him. He countered with a sharp upward slash, his sword glowing faintly as it connected with the man's side. The force of the strike sent the bandit sprawling to the ground, groaning in pain.
Another came at him immediately, a dagger in hand. Adam caught the man's wrist mid-thrust, his grip like iron, and delivered a precise knee to his stomach. The bandit doubled over with a pained grunt, and Adam finished him with a quick strike to the back of the head, knocking him out cold.
To Adam's left, Seren was a blur of motion. Her twin swords danced through the air, deflecting a bandit's axe before slashing across his chest in one smooth motion. She ducked under another attack, spinning gracefully as her blades struck again.
"Not bad," Adam called out, sidestepping another swing and landing a precise blow to his opponent's leg.
"Don't fall behind," Seren shot back, her tone dry but teasing.
The Bandit Leader Joins
The bandit leader descended from the hill, his curved sword gleaming in the light. He was tall and broad, his scarred face twisted into a sneer as he approached Adam.
"You're not bad," the leader said, his voice gravelly. "But let's see how you handle me."
He charged, his strikes fast and brutal. Adam blocked the first swing, the impact reverberating through his arms. The man was skilled, his movements precise and aggressive.
But Adam wasn't fazed. He sidestepped a second strike, countering with a sharp kick to the leader's ribs that sent him stumbling back.
The leader growled, his eyes narrowing. "You're going to regret that."
Heat Vision Awakens
The leader charged again, his sword arcing toward Adam in a powerful overhead strike. Adam raised his own blade to block, but as their swords clashed, something stirred within him—a pulse of energy from his core.
Golden light flickered in his eyes, growing brighter as the energy built. In an instant, twin beams of heat vision erupted from Adam's gaze, striking the bandit leader square in the chest.
The man screamed as the beams seared through his armor, leaving a charred, smoking wound. He collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony before falling still.
The remaining bandits froze, their confidence shattered. They turned and fled, disappearing into the hills without a second glance.
Aftermath
Adam lowered his sword, the glow fading from his eyes as he turned to Seren. She was staring at him, her expression a mix of shock and curiosity.
"What the hell was that?" she asked, gesturing toward the leader's burned body.
Adam shrugged, sheathing his sword. "Heat vision."
Seren blinked. "You just casually have heat vision?"
Adam smirked faintly. "You'll get used to it."
"Not likely," Seren muttered, shaking her head.
A Shadow Watching
From a distant hill, a cloaked figure lowered their spyglass, a cold smile spreading across their lips.
"The stranger," they murmured. "The master will want to hear about this."
With that, they disappeared into the shadows, leaving only the faint scent of sulfur behind.