The Military System - 24 Encounter 1

Helmsberg was almost like a knife stabbed into the great forest of Waldesten. It was surrounded by the forest on three sides and Add had to pass through a part of this forest to reach the city. Although the distance was long, but there was a direct road joining Rigel and many other towns to Helmsberg so it was not hard, with a map in hand, to reach Helmsberg provided you could deal with the many monsters and bandits on the way. Although he had not encountered any bandits yet, many monsters had tried attacking him, which provided good chances of honing his swordplay. He had also levelled up to 22 thanks to the frequent attacks by the monsters.

Late at noon, Add left the road following the map according to which, there was lake nearby in the forest, and he wanted to take some rest after hours of walking. He soon reached the lake which was around 200 metres wide. It was situated in a wide open area surrounded by a small meadow like grassland. He decided to rest for the night here. After dropping his rucksack aside he bent on the bank to clean his face with the lake water.

Just after he had finished washing his face, his ears picked up some sounds coming from the forest. It appeared as if people were fighting. He picked up his rucksack and went to check the source of the sounds which came from within the forest. He quietly began walking in the direction keeping an eye on his surroundings. Although he doubted there was any monster which could be dangerous for him in this area, still always keeping caution was a soldiers first requirement. As he walked on the sounds increased. It seemed that people were indeed having a fight with weapons clanking. Add decided to stealthily approach the area while staying out of the eyes of any potential people present there. Soon he came across a large clearing in the forest. Hiding in the shadows of the thick undergrowth he watched the situation.

Before him was a group of 15 men. And by first glance he understood what these people were. They wore shabby armour and had a variety of weapons. Some had swords some had spears while a few had maces and one even had a long bow. Their shabby clothes revealed that they weren’t adventurers.

‘Bandits’

Add had not stumbled across this particular creed of people till now but he knew what they were. He couldn’t say he was overly fond of them. He focused as to what the bandits were up to and saw that a man which looked like the leader was having a sword duel with a young girl while the other bandits surrounded them. And though the two battled it was clear that the young girl was at a disadvantage. At some distance there was one more girl lying on the ground, being injured in a leg. And above all these two girls were beauties. The situation was simple. Suddenly he noticed something.

(Elf ?)

As it turned out the two girls were Elves were one of the oldest races of Iseria. They were humanoids who were known to be wiser and more beautiful than humans and most other humanoid races. They had innate sharper senses and perceptions as well. The Elven race was gifted in magic, and lovers of nature with which they lived in harmony. They were also well known as highly skilled archers, however they excelled in other forms of weaponry as well, but mostly light weapons. The most curious feature of Elves however was their long lifespan. An average Elf could live for well over a thousand years while some who could use magic to strengthen their bodies could live many times longer.

He had little knowledge about this race and that too was only from a few books he read in the library and stories he heard from travellers while he was in Rigel. Elves were mostly reclusive and preferred to stay within forests, away from other races. A big reason for this behaviour was their hatred and loathing for humans.

In Midgard continent, Humans had an overwhelming majority in terms of sheer size of population, they were in the hundreds of billions, spread far and wide all over the continent. The races such as Werebeasts, Elves, Dwarves and the like were subjects of discrimination by the human nearly everywhere on Midgard and they are commonly killed or captured as slaves by humans. Slavery was a cruel reality of this world. Due to special magic, ‘Slaves’ could not defy their ‘Masters’ and had to obey every command. They had no rights of their own, and their lives were no more than that of livestock.

Add knew that these acts came from the innate fear of Humans. Fear of their potential and that one day, they’ll rise against humanity and take Midgard from their grasp. The Elves were proficient in al types magic, and some of the most terrifying Mages in history came from among the Elven race. Plus their natural beauty made them perfect for being sex slaves. The female Elves were said to be exceptionally beautiful at that. As such over the years humans had clashed with Elves, killing and enslaving them, and the Elves who lacked in numbers kept retreating. It is now the great forest of Waldesten that is the last dwelling of the Elves of Midgard.

“Humans never change” Add sighed. It was the same on Earth as it was on Iseria..

Looking at the bandits this was even more evident.

(men and their desires…tch)

Add clicked his tongue. Once again he was reminded of the vile nature of the beings called ‘Homo sapiens sapiens’. He already understood what these group was doing. For a group of bandits to find a treasure like these two beauties was a very rare occurrence. Just then Add saw the girl who had been till now fighting lose her sword trying to protect her injured companion. She was flung onto a tree and the match was decided. The man who had defeated her moved to claim his reward while licking his lips as his eyes glowed with lust.

He didn’t have to mind all this. It was not his problem. Every day there were countless people being killed. Hundreds of girls being raped, children being abused and whatnot. It was such a world. The strong fed on the weak. That was the unspoken rule. Yet as he saw the gruff bandit stripping the pitiful girl, his eyes fell on her face. That face had lost all hope. Drowning in despair tears were overflowing her face. Looking at that he was reminded of a time past…

“Its a mans duty to protect a girl hahahaha and the duty of the strong to protect the weak. Always remember that rookie….. If you cant do that no matter how much power you have, you will never be strong…”

Words which were said to him by his superior. Someone who had long since turned to dust.

(I am disgustingly soft hearted) he murmured within his mind.

Yet the boy made his move. Taking the knife out of his belt, he silently approached the bandit closest to him, an archer who was busy watching the good show. Add’s steps were like a phantom. No sound no presence. As him he had became a shadow, a ghost. The archer never knew when a cold blade slit his throat. He couldn’t even scream. The last words he said were a few low gurgles. He didn’t use his gun, as that would be too easy. He needed to enjoy this….

[Ding! You have killed Bandit (Human) × 1! You received 100 Exp. and 50 CP]

This was the first time he had killed a human in this world, the bandit gave same amount of rewards as an Orc. Before the body could drop to the ground, he had already dashed towards the bandit leader. And just when the man extended his hand to tear off the last pieces of clothing from the girls body Add caught his hand and flung him away.

All this happened within seconds. Only when their leader was thrown away. Did the bandits break from their fantasies. The first thing they noticed was an unknown youth dressed in black standing in front of the elven girl and their leader some ten metres away from them lying on the ground.

“What the-!?”

The next instant one of the bandits heard a thud and turning towards the sound he saw one of his fellow bandit, the archer, dead on the ground with blood oozing from a clean cut on his throat. The dead man’s eyes still wide open in disbelief.

“EEKKK!”

The bandit shouted out. No matter how barbaric these bandits were still they were only human after all. Seeing one of their partners suddenly dead, the others were very shocked.

“What the hell is going on!?”

The bandit leader who by now had gotten up and found one of his men dead was furious. He instantly turned to face the boy who had just moments ago thrown him off. The only possible cause of the ‘murder’.

” Ya bastard di ya kill mav huh !?”

The boy didn’t answer him and just kept looking at the bandits. The bandit leader got enraged. One moment he was about to enjoy the ‘fruits’ of his efforts and now he was thrown away like a rag doll by some kid who came out suddenly, devil knows where from. He drew his sword again and looked closely at the boy. It was a young kid barely in his teens probably younger. He had silvery white hair, which was not something he had seen before. But when his gaze met the boy’s the burly man shivered and reflexively took a step back. The bandit leader had been in his humble occupation for around two decades now. He had seen many types of people. But he had never seen the look he saw in the boys eyes. His spine got cold. It was pure fear. He felt as if he looked into deaths eyes itself. Those beautiful blue and red eyes had no light of life.

Still he shook his head. ‘ I must be seeing things’ He assured himself. There was no way a kid could frighten him. He saw the boy turn around and cover the elven girl with his robe, not even paying him and the other bandits any mind. After the robe was removed he saw that the boy wore a strange type of clothing, which looked like some type of armour. But next he noticed a strange sword sheathed and hung by the boys side. It was quite long and had a curved design.

“Humans never change huh…”

The boy talked for the first time in a ice cold tone.

“The hell you all waiting for kill that brat !”

The bandit leader ordered his men to kill the young boy. His voice was desperate. His fear had unconsciously dulled his judgement. Under normal circumstances he would not have hastily ordered his men to attack like this. But these weren’t normal conditions. But he didn’t know that. At his command a bulky man carrying a longsword charged at the boy. The blade was aimed at his throat. The boy however did not move. He only silently watched as his assaulter neared him.

* * *

“Watch out!”The girl who was just cried out, who had been looking at the mysterious boy all this while reflexively shouted out. He was her saviour after all. But her concern was not necessary. One of the two attackers swung his blade in a horizontal slash aiming at Add’s neck but to his surprise the boy ducked escaping the deadly bow with ease. Next he twisted the combat knife in his hand and stabbed the side of the bandit. The bandit cried out because of the unexpected blow but Add wasn’t done yet.

With swift movements he pulled the knife tearing across the mans abdomen and then stabbed him again at the back. Using the knife as a foot hold he jumped over the bandit and arrived in a few metres in front of him. The big man collapsed instantly, dead. Then he dashed towards another bandit. The bandit desperately swung his sword but Add slid down on his knees and easily dodged the swing. Then using his right hand he hit the bandits hand with a strong chop making him drop his sword which he grabbed with his left hand and slit the mans belly open. The big man fell down gurgling his own blood and died.

All of this happened in a matter of seconds. All present there were shocked. And the bandit leader was feeling as if he was looking at a demon. This boy was skilled. A glance at his swift precise movements said it all. For the first time in his life the bandit felt pure terror. Add swung his newly obtained sword shaking the blood off it. The sword was a good one if one followed standards. Must be an item looted from some victim. For him however this sword was worthless yet he decided to use it for the time being because the blood of these ‘vermin’ would only dirty his own sword. These scum were just not worthy of being the target of his sword. As he was thinking this he didn’t even flash a look at the two men he had just killed.

‘Yes humans never change….they still die so easily….’ He thought. Then he looked at the remaining bandits. Some twelve remained.

‘Lets wrap it up…’ The next instant he vanished from where he was standing. No, he didn’t teleport or something. He just moved so fast that the people present there weren’t able to keep up with his movements. He had invested his recent stat points into Agility which made him much faster than the bandits.

The massacre had begun.

* * * * *

*Huff huff huff*

A lone man was running across the forest. He was running like a madman. His breath haggard his eyes bloodshot. One could see blood splattered all over him. Sadly to his terror it wasn’t his blood. The man continued running. He fell down. He got cut by the thorns and spines. He bumped into branches yet he kept on running. As if the hounds of hell were behind him. This man in fact was the bandit leader who not so long ago was dreaming of enjoying three beautiful elves in his bed. And now he was running for his life. Tears and snot making his scarred face even uglier.

“Shit shit shit shit…..”

He kept cursing

“What the hell is that kid….what the hell…..thats no kid….thats a monster…..ahhhaahh….monster…..shit shit….”

A madman indeed. He kept running for dear life. If only he could survive today he would never returned to this cursed forest again. But just as he neared the road. Just as hope made a smile creep across his face….

“No…no…no…..”

Before him appeared the demon. The demon in the guise of a boy with dead cold eyes and a bone chilling aurs. He was looking at the bandit with his usual emotionless gaze. The man’s eyes darted across his surroundings but only despair filled his heart. Then his eyes fell on the sword the boy held loosely in one hand. Fresh blood was still dripping from the sword. The bandit leader once again saw the carnage which had happened right before his eyes.

* * *

“Lets wrap it up”

Right after he said those words all hell broke loose. Well at least for the bandits. In a flash Add was in front of the bandit closest to him. Before that man could react a sword had impaled itself in his face. His body fell down limply. The other bandits now under sheer fear began to fight back. A few of them drew their weapons and charged at the boy. From all directions.

Add too charged at one bandit who in turn tried to stab him with his spear. He avoided that by sidestepping and with a clean slash separated the man’s head from his torso. The body went down spitting blood out like a geyser. Another bandit who had snuck up behind him swung his axe down sure to hit the boy before him but….A pair of eyes which were like the bottomless abyss looked at him and the next moment his hands were no more. Add stabbed his sword in the mans throat and picked up the axe with his left hand. By now the other bandits had almost understood that this kid before them was no ordinary kid.

“Aaaaaahhhh”

One of the bandits gave in to fear and tried to run away but just as he turned around he saw the cursed boy right before him with one swing of the axe he was cleaved in half. Another bandit tried to take the injured girl hostage and ran towards her only to have the same axe hug his back in a cold embrace of death. Now the bandit leader who saw this was breaking down. Over half of his men had been killed in seconds. This boy was a monster. The primal urge to save himself overtook him and he turned back and ran into the forest.

Hopefully his men could buy enough time for him to escape. He could always find other men but not another life. The bandits who saw their leader running away also tried to escape. But alas. The hunter wouldn’t let its prey get away. The last thing the bandit leader saw before entering the forest were fountains of blood spewing into the air and the heads and limbs of his men flying one after the other.

The two girls who saw all this happen were terrified. Fear almost choked them as they heard the pained cries of the bandits. And then within a minute all was silent. Only the soft sound of the jungle breeze could be heard. And with it came the stench of blood and the putrid smell of the insides of humans.

Bodies of the bandits were strewn all around. Most of them had their limbs missing. Some had their head sliced of. And a few had been cut in half. As if a mad demon had made this his playground. The girl who had been fighting with the bandits looked at this scene and her heart shivered as she remembered the young boy who had killed all these people so mercilessly in mere seconds. But what scared her more was that the way he killed them. His movements, his skills, his techniques all seemed almost….almost like…..a beautiful dance….the dance of death….and she shivered even more when she realized that she was captivated by that….

“Just who….no….what….what is he….?”

No one answered her question. The boy too had disappeared in the forest and while her mind wished that she never had to cross paths with him again, unknown to her, a small part of her heart hoped that he would return.

* * *

The bandit leader, now a little more than a madman gave up on sanity and charged at Add with his sword, only to lose an arm and was sent flying with a kick to his abdomen.

“Gaaaaaahhhh”

He screamed holding the stump which once was his arm. The boy mercilessly walked towards him. His cold gaze drowning the grown man with despair.

“..please ….please….stop…i…ill surrender…yes…ill surrender…give me to the soldiers…..yes….they have a reward on me…you will…get lots of money…please….i..ill give you all my plunder….please….just give me to the soldiers…..”

The boy stopped in his tracks and sighed. He threw away the sword in his hand. A smile formed on the bandit leader’s face. Yes who didn’t want money !? Now he would be saved. Although he would end up in prison but that would be better than losing his life…and who says he couldn’t escape. But….he saw the boy take out a large glass bottle from who knows where and walk towards him. When he was right above the grovelling man…

“Men get taken in….

The boy coldly said

…dogs, get put down…”

He broke the bottle on the mans head. The next moment the bandit felt as if he was on fire. The last thing he saw before his vision went black was his hand melting away. Add had purchased a bottle ofa certain ‘substance’ from the system which was enough to melt steel on a human. The rest was history.

Leaving the melting man whose screams turned to gurgles before gradually fading away and leaving only a large puddle of blackish red sludge he walked back into the forest. He wanted to continue his way to the dungeon but…

“I forgot my robe…” He sighed once again as he made his way to where the elven girls were.

* * * * *