From the depths of the swirling shadows, the Undead Knight emerged, clad in tattered armor that glimmered with an eerie light. The knight's skull was consumed with raging flames, casting flickering shadows across the terrified faces of the bandits. The sharp blade of its scythe gleamed ominously, reflecting the sunlight with a deadly allure.
"Now," Quinn said, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he stepped forward, "let's see how brave you all are, shall we?"
With a sudden, jerky movement, the Undead Knight lunged forward, its scythe slicing through the air with a chilling whistle. The bandits barely had time to react as the blade slashed past their arms, biting deep into the flesh and bone. Blood gushed forth, painting the ground in a vivid crimson that seemed to glow.
One bandit, his eyes wide with terror, tried to stumble backward, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot. The Undead Knight's scythe sliced through his arm, just above the elbow, and he screamed as his limb fell to the ground, his hand still grasping for the missing arm.
Another bandit, his face twisted in a snarl of defiance, tried to charge forward, but the Undead Knight was relentless. It swung its scythe in a wide arc, the blade biting deep into the bandit's chest. The bandit's eyes went wide, and he stumbled backward, his mouth open in a silent scream as he fell to the ground.
"Beautiful," he murmured, wiping a splash of warm blood from his face, a wicked glint in his eyes. "It's beautiful..." The laughter bubbled up, a dark melody of delight as he watched the carnage. "More, more, more!"
As the bandits fell, one by one, the Undead Knight's flames seemed to burn brighter, its movements becoming more sharper, more deadly. It was a creature of destruction, driven solely by its hunger for chaos.
And Quinn, his eyes aglow with excitement, was its master, directing the Undead Knight's fury with a twisted sense of glee. The woods were filled with the sounds of screams, the scent of blood and death hanging heavy in the air.
They fell, one by one, their bodies broken and battered, their screams ringing through the woods. And when the last bandit fell, the Undead Knight stood tall, its flames burning bright, its scythe raised high. Quinn's grin widened, satisfaction coursing through him. "And here I thought you had something better to offer..." he taunted.
Amidst the carnage, one of the still, bleeding men looked up at Quinn, fear etched across his face. "J-Just what exactly are you?" he stammered, desperation lacing his voice.
Quinn fell silent for a moment, the question landing on him like a slap. He stared at the man, his mind racing as he absorbed the weight of that inquiry. Suddenly, a grin broke across his face, his eyes locking onto the bleeding man with a predatory glint. "Haven't you heard? I'm the Demon King..."
Just as the phrase hung in the air, the sound of snapping twigs caught Quinn's attention. He shot a glare in the direction of the disturbance, his instincts flaring. There, lurking among the trees, he spotted another bandit watching, wide-eyed and paralyzed with fear.
Quinn smirked, a thrill of excitement coursing through him. "Oh, another one?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery as he stepped away from the wounded man.
In one rough motion, the Undead Knight turned, its scythe slicing through the air once more. The bandit barely had time to react before the blade met him, silencing his terrified gasp as he joined the others in a pool of blood.
The bandit behind the bushes couldn't move, fear wrapping around him where he stood. Tears stung his eyes, threatening to fall down his cheeks. Quinn began to walk towards him, his eyes directed on the bandit's trembling form.
The bandit stumbled backward, his feet tangling beneath him. He fell onto his back, landing with a thud on his butt. Quinn stopped just in front of him, the Undead Knight looming behind him like a guardian.
"Just give me what I need," Quinn said, with a low and menacing tone. "And I promise, I won't have to kill you."
The bandit scrambled backward, mumbling something incoherent as tears streamed down his face. Quinn sighed, his patience wearing thin.
The Undead Knight moved to Quinn's side, its scythe at the ready. With a simple motion, Quinn extended his hand, and the Undead Knight slashed its scythe straight to the man, striking the space between his legs. The bandit cried out in terror, his eyes wide with fear.
Quinn's expression turned cold. "I don't have time for this," he said, his voice dripping with impatience.
The bandit, still crying, looked up at Quinn with a mixture of fear and desperation. "If I tell you, they'll kill me..." he stammered.
Quinn raised an eyebrow. He repeated, his voice laced with curiosity. "They'll kill you?"
The bandit wiped off his tears, his eyes opening up a little. "There are more of us," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "More of us...and they'll come for you...if I were you, I'd get out of here fast."
"Where are they?" he asked, his eyes glinting with excitement.
The bandit gulped, his eyes darting back and forth. "Along the caves..." he stammered, his voice trembling with fear.
Quinn's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. He took a step closer to the bandit, the Undead Knight looming behind him like a shadow. The bandit's eyes went wide, and he scrambled backward, his voice barely audible.
"Please...don't kill me..." he begged, his eyes streaming with tears.
Quinn's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Of course I won't kill you, I gave you my word," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. The bandit's eyes lit up with hope, and he asked, "So are you going to let me go?"
Quinn's smile faded, and he shook his head. "Not really," he said, his voice cold and calculating. With a swift motion, Quinn grabbed the bandit by the collar. The Undead Knight slowly dissipated into nothingness, its flames extinguishing as it vanished into the darkness beneath him.
The bandit's eyes went wide with fear as Quinn's grip tightened. "You're going to show me exactly where the other bandits are," Quinn said, his voice low and menacing. "And once you do, I'll let you go."
The bandit's face paled, and he stammered, "B-but they'll kill me if I tell you..."
Quinn's grip on the bandit's collar tightened, and he pulled him closer. "They'll kill you if you don't tell me," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "But if you cooperate, I'll let you go. It's a simple choice, really."
The bandit's eyes darted back and forth, searching for an escape. With a resigned sigh, he nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Okay...I'll show you."
Quinn's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Good choice," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Let's go then."