Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 53: Confrontation

I had thought that we could make it and save the commander and the woman who seems very important to those soldier NPCs. We have defeated the bandits outside the forest and saved most of the surviving soldiers. And yet...

The next thing we see is a cruel bandit about to strike down the people we are trying to rescue.

Damn it, we're too late. This is bad. I knew we could be revived if we died in battle since it was the logic behind these video games, but I don't know if it also applies to NPCs. And with the bandit just inches away from the two friendly NPCs, I don't know if we can make it in time. We are so close, so close! J-Just let me... reach them... So I can't...

CLANG!!!

Huh?

"Hey, I know what you're trying to do to this prim and proper lady right here. And there is no way in hell I'm letting you do it!"

Before my eyes, I see my friend, Zac... no... Arthur stands in-between the bandit who was feared by the kingdom as a cruel madman and the knight protecting a young, defenseless lady, as he uses the blade of his sword to block the cleaver's blow. But how in the world had he managed to get in front of us so fast?! I'm no video game buff, but I know that knights wearing metal armor are usually the slowest and I am a bit faster than the others thanks to my skill set. Before I can call out to him, he breaks the blade lock and swings his sword towards the bandit. However, the bandit quickly jumps back and blocks it with his cleaver as he does so.

I'm so shocked at this turn of events that I stop running and start watching the events unfold right in front of me. Razul also stops to watch what happened.

[Y-You...] The bandit snarls. [Who the hell are you?! Do you know who are you dealing with?! I am <Bane Zephil>! The demon who rules this land!]

"Yeah, I'm Arthur, but I doubt you will remember that for long," he sarcastically introduces himself. "As for your cliché introduction, that is nothing more but an empty boast you use to scare weaklings. I mean, "A demon who rules this land" kind of shtick? Seriously, whoever falls for that?!"

Uh oh... he shouldn't have said that, especially to a rumored vicious criminal like this Bane guy.

[Young man, what are you doing?!] The commander calls out to Arthur. I can tell how angry he is, believing that Arthur's reckless actions are not helping this situation. [Fall back! That man is dangerous!]

Of course, Arthur refuses to budge from his spot as Bane keeps his sword pointed at Arthur as the bandit begins growling over his insult.

[A boast? I see, so you must be one of the many clueless adventurers who are foolish enough to try and face me. Tell me, can you guess how long will you survive against my blade?]

Usually, in these situations, someone would have wet their pants if a bad guy pointed a dagger or sword at their neck. But not Arthur. He just stands there flashing a big grin like a reckless madman.

"That depends. Why don't you try? But without your lackeys to help you", he boasts as he points at the said henchmen by Bane's side. "Judging by their looks alone, I have a feeling we might have an unfair advantage if we fight here. If I recall, this forest is rumored to test anyone brave enough to traverse and endure the obstacles waiting for them."

That is true. But I doubt reminding this to a bunch of heartless criminals will have any effect on them. I saw Bane staring at my friend for a few seconds before he lets out a creepy laugh.

[Who cares about those shitty rumors? As long they have as many trees covering the sun, a forest is a forest.]

[Yeah! Besides, why do you even care about this shitty forest in the first place?!] One of his lackeys spoke up, at which I started to get some negative vibes from him. [All that matters to us is that it will make a great hideout once we kill all the monsters living here!]