Chapter 47: A Month Later
BOOM!!!
The wooden door shattered into a dozen pieces as it flew in before smashing against the stone floor.
Before the dust had even settled, Roderic stepped through the entrance.
’’Left side, three men!’’ he ordered coldly. ’’Four of you take the stairs. The rest, spread out and block every exit!’’
’’Yes, young master!’’
A dozen estate guards rushed past him immediately.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of hesitation, fear or confusion to be seen on their faces.
Within seconds, loud shouts began echoing through the entrance hall.
’’WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!’’
’’GET YOUR WEAPONS!’’
Several bandits scrambled out from nearby rooms, each holding swords, axes, maces, basically anything they’d found.
Roderic calmly drew both hooked blades from his waist.
’Idiots,’ he thought, shaking his head.
One of the bandits charged straight towards him.
’’DIE!’’ he screamed, swinging his sword down.
Roderic barely even moved.
CLANG!
One hook perfectly caught the sword.
He twisted his body just slightly, pulling the bandit forward by his sword.
SHING!
His second blade slashed straight through the man’s throat.
Blood sprayed out over him as the bandit collapsed.
[Unawakened enemy slain: +0.5 Throne Coins.]
Roderic didn’t even bother glancing at the notification.
Instead, his eyes had already locked onto another bandit who was rushing towards him.
The man held a thick saber in his hands, surrounded by a thin and rough layer of aura.
’One aura seal?’
A wide grin immediately spread across Roderic’s face.
’’Isn’t that fun?’’
The bandit swung horizontally, aiming directly for his neck.
Roderic raised both hooked blades, already having wrapped them in aura.
CLANG!
The saber slammed straight against them.
Roderic reacted immediately.
With a simple move, both hooks snapped around the weapon from both sides, locking it firmly in place.
The bandit’s eyes widened as he tried pulling his weapon back.
’’What the—’’
Suddenly, a burst of blue aura shot through Roderic’s blades.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Several cracks instantly spread across the saber.
Only a split second later, the blade shattered into countless pieces.
The bandit stumbled forward, still clutching the broken handle in disbelief.
Unfortunately for him, Roderic had already started moving again.
SHHK!
One hooked blade tore straight across the man’s chest.
Before the man could even scream, the second came down across his neck.
THUD!
His headless corpse collapsed to the floor.
[One Aura Seal enemy slain: +2 Throne Coins.]
Roderic flicked the blood from his blades.
’Much better,’ he thought. ’All the fighting has really been paying off.’
A month ago, he still needed to wait for the opponent to swing it at a good angle towards him.
But now? It all didn’t matter anymore.
If it was something he could catch, no matter the angle, he’d catch it.
’Let’s go finish this up,’ he thought, nodding once.
Another unawakened bandit already jabbed a spear towards his side.
Roderic simply twisted his body slightly, allowing the spearhead to pass beside his ribs before one of his hooks wrapped around the shaft.
In one smooth motion, he yanked hard on the spear.
’’What?!’’
The bandit stumbled forward.
SHHK!
Roderic’s other blade plunged deep into his chest.
The man’s eyes widened before his body went limp.
Roderic kicked him away and continued walking.
Around him, the estate knights were already tearing through the rest of the hideout.
’’Don’t chase anyone outside!’’ Roderic shouted. ’’The men stationed around the building will handle anyone who escapes!’’
’’Understood!’’
All around him, screams, shouts and the sound of steel colliding rang out.
Yet, Roderic wasn’t the least bit worried.
He’d been traveling with these men for a month, raiding many places under his lead.
Whether it was smuggling dens, corrupt officials or bandit camps like this one... they’d done it all.
’I wonder how much money this one has,’ Roderic thought, kicking through another door.
Three bandits were already waiting for him inside.
Two immediately rushed forward, one with a large two-sided axe and the other with a heavy iron mace.
The last bandit backed away, slowly pulling back an arrow on his bow.
Roderic’s eyes narrowed slightly.
’How annoying,’ he thought. ’An archer.’
His attention immediately snapped back to the two in front of him.
The axe came towards him first, heading straight for his shoulder.
Roderic turned his blade to its sharp side before immediately swinging out.
CLANG!
The moment both weapons collided, Roderic’s blade cut straight through the axe.
Its thick metal head split cleanly in two, with one half crashing onto the floor.
’’What the fuck?!’’
The bandit stared at the remainder of his axe in disbelief.
But Roderic’s attention had already shifted to the incoming mace.
WHOOSH!
The second bandit swung with everything he had, thick blue aura covering the enormous iron head.
’’FUCKING NOBLE!’’ he screamed loudly.
This time, Roderic didn’t raise both blades to meet it.
Instead, he tightened his grip around the one in his left hand.
Aura rushed down his arm.
Rather than spreading across the entire weapon, it rapidly gathered in a single point on the tip of his blade.
’Let’s see,’ he thought, smiling widely. ’The second move of the Hooked Dragon Technique.’
Roderic thrust his blade forward.
CLANG!
The tip struck directly against the mace.
For a split second, both weapons remained locked against one another.
BOOOM!!!
Chunks of metal blasted across the room as the brute bandit stumbled back in complete shock.
Roderic’s blade continued without hesitation.
CRUNCH!
The aura-covered tip struck the center of the man’s forehead.
Blood, bone and brain matter exploded through the room.
As the brute’s body collapsed, Roderic’s instincts began warning him.
’Right,’ he thought. ’There was a third one.’
The archer’s arrow had already left his bow.
Roderic jerked his body back just in time.
WHOOSH!
It shot straight past his cheek.
Before the archer could even reach for another arrow, Roderic’s arm snapped to the side.
SHING!
His hooked blade left his hand.
The weapon spun through the air towards the archer.
CRUNCH!
The blade buried itself straight into the archer’s forehead.
His head snapped back from the force before his body collapsed against the wall.
[Two enemies slain: +2.5 Throne Coins.]
’’Nice,’’ Roderic nodded slowly. ’’The throwing trait I got last time is really putting in some work.’’
His gaze slowly moved back over to the last bandit.
With a soft smile, he crouched down in front of the middle-aged man.
’’Hey buddy,’’ he said with a smile. ’’Would you tell me where your leader is?’’
The man’s eyes were wide while his body trembled violently.
’’H-he’s—’’
’’Young master!’’ another voice rang out from the hallway. ’’We’ve found the bandit leader!’’
Roderic glanced back for a moment, slowly nodding.
Then he turned to the middle-aged man again.
’’Alas,’’ he said, smiling apologetically. ’’You were too late.’’
The middle-aged man’s eyes widened.
’’N-no...!’’
He reached out desperately as his face rapidly paled.
CRUNCH!
Roderic’s blade plunged into the man’s skull.
[Unawakened enemy slain: +0.5 Throne Coins.]
Letting out a small sigh, Roderic quickly collected his blade before leaving the room.
One of the knights was already waiting for him there.
’’Young master,’’ he greeted respectfully. ’’We’ve got him surrounded on the ground floor.’’
Roderic nodded once.
’’Good job,’’ he replied. ’’Lead me there.’’