The second bandit, who was coming from behind at a sprint, had little chance to defend himself. The axe bit into his shoulder, the impact making a revolting crunch as it sliced through bone and into the heart.
Blood spurted from the wound, some of it hitting Reo's face. He didn't even blink.
The bandit convulsed, choking, before he collapsed motionless.
Reo exhaled slowly and released the axe.
It remained lodged in the bandit's body, his weight drawing him down as he collapsed dead to the earth.
Then, pain, agony.
Something struck Reo's back, and fire spread over his body. He collapsed forward, thudding onto the earth with a jolt as flames seared his back.
The pain was even worse than anything he had experienced.
The bandit behind shouted a laugh.
Reo pushed onto his knees, his flesh buckling where fire scorched the back.
He turnes around his head, his bright-red eyes freezing upon the third bandit, smirking upon his arm glowed. "Burn, freak!" shrieked the bandit.
Reo talked for the first time since he woke up in this odd place. His tone was crisp, with anger, but it sounded younger, that of a teenager. "You're gonna be sorry about that," he growled. "I'll make you know the pain. Hell can't compare to me."
The bandit's grin disappeared, but before he could react, a voice reverberated in Reo's mind.
[ALERT.]
[FIRE DAMAGE DETECTED.]
[INITIATING HEALING PROTOCOL.]
A cold breeze swept over him, and within seconds, the fire was out. His burned flesh healed, with not so much as a trace burn remaining.
The bandits stood stock-still.
Even their leader, who had been screaming orders, now stood in silence, his hands trembling.
Reo stood up slowly. He retrieved a dagger lying close at hand.
His fingers tightened on the hilt as he stood, his reddened eyes glowing dimly in the shadows.
Without saying a word, he took his burnt, torn shirt and tore it off, discarding it.
The light of the campfire revealed his hard, muscular body—a far cry from the frail body the maid remembered.
The maid was shocked. This was not Leonhardt Caulem. The boy she had served all this years was weak and soft.
But the man standing before her now was different—strong, swift, and deadly.
The bandit cursed, losing his confidence. He hurled another fireball, but Reo dodged it with ease, his movements precise and smooth.
He covered the distance between them quickly, his dagger glinting in the light of the fire.
The bandit could not raise his hands to cast another spell before Reo sliced through his arm—the one he had been using to call fire.
The man cried out in agony, clutching his wound.
The scream irritated Reo, so he stabbed the dagger into the man's mouth, shutting him up for good.
The big bandit plucked out the knife off his forearm with a growl and hurled it away in rage.
He wheeled on Reo, who had just dispatched the fire-brandishing bandit. The giant's face contorted
with fury, his massive frame quivering.
"You little son of a bitch!" he bellowed, charging at Reo with unanticipated speed.
Reo hardly had time to react. The bandit closed in quickly, his fist ready to punch.
Reo brought up his arms to parry, but the punch knocked him back, his feet scrabbling against the ground.
He rolled to take the impact, his body groaning, but he was up in a flash.
He gazed at the axe lodged in the dead bandit.
Without hesitation, Reo stepped on the body and yanked the axe loose with a gruesome sound.
This time, Reo didn't hesitate. He charged at the bandit as the man attacked him.
The brute swung another punch, but Reo dodged under it, the fist whizzing past his head.
He swung the axe, striking the bandit in the side. The blade bit into flesh.
The bandit cried out in agony.
But Reo didn't relent.
He circled the bandit, his strikes calculated and controlled. He aimed for weak spots—joints, tendons, anything to tire the man out.
The axe bit into the bandit's thigh, then his shoulder, each blow weakening him.
The bandit flailed wildly, but Reo avoided it with ease, his reflexes quick.
The bandit slumped to the ground, crawling slowly as blood oozed from his wounds. He panted for air, his strength ebbing away.
Reo let the axe fall and grabbed his hunting knife, advancing towards the man.
The bandit stared at him, eyes wide with terror. "Y-you... you're a monster..." he muttered.
Reo tilts his head slightly, his tone calm but threatening. "You wanted to eat my heart, right?" He crouched in front of the bandit. "How about you eat this one instead?"
The maid, turned her face away, her body shaking. She couldn't watch, but the sounds were enough to make her stomach turn.
The snap of bone, the wet, ripping noise, and the bandit's screams turning into weak gasps filled the air. She squeezed her eyes shut.
The leader, the last bandit left, stood frozen. His legs shaking, his face went pale, his mouth open in shock. He couldn't look away, but he couldn't move either.
What he saw was too much—too brutal, too unreal. His mind screamed at him to run, but his body wouldn't listen.
Then, silence.
The leader's breath caught as Reo stood up, his hand dripping with blood. In his palm,
something dark and wet still twitched—a heart. The leader felt sick.
Reo's face was cold, empty. He held the heart out toward the dead bandit.
"Here," Reo said in a quiet, icy voice. "Have a bite to eat."
Then he heard the trembling voice of the leader. "Stop!" he yelled. "Move away, or I'll kill her!"
Reo turned to find the leader with the maid, holding the blade at her throat. Her eyes were wide with terror, mouth gagged.
The leader's voice trembled. "Drop the gun and move slowly toward me. If you make a move, she dies."
Reo raised an eyebrow. Bro, who is she? he wondered, gazing at the maid.
He didn't recognize her.
"I know there's something between you two," the leader said, his tone more assertive. "She nearly saved you before, didn't she? More than your useless guards."
Reo sighed. He didn't care about the maid, but he didn't want to handle the leader's drama.
So, he dropped his weapons—the hunting knife and the axe—and raised his hands.
"Fine," Reo said, his voice calm. "I'm unarmed. Let her go."
The leader's grip on the dagger tightened, his eyes darting between Reo and the maid. "Walk toward me. Slowly."
Reo took a step forward, his red eyes locked on the leader. The man was nervous, his hands shaking, but he thought he had the upper hand.
Reo moved slowly, his hands raised, his red eyes fixed on the bandit leader.
The leader's hold on the dagger tightened, his eyes flicking between Reo and the maid.
"That's it," the leader said. "Keep coming."
Reo took another step, his expression calm, almost bored. He didn't care about the maid, but he went along, moving slowly. The leader saw an opportunity.
As soon as Reo was within reach, he shoved the maid out of the way and attacked, the dagger thrust at Reo's chest.
But Reo had expected this.
His body reacted instinctively, his reflexes quick. As the leader plunged the dagger, Reo dodged to the side, catching the man's wrist.
With a swift twist, he snapped the leader's arm, the crack of breaking bones ringing through the
clearing.
The leader shrieked, his dagger dropping.
Reo didn't cease. He swept his leg, sending the leader crashing to the ground. The man yelped with agony, clutching his broken arm.
Reo grabbed the dagger that had fallen.
The maid, lying on the ground, saw Reo turn to her. His bloodshot eyes locked onto hers, and she cringed, closing her eyes.
But then, she sensed the ropes at her wrists relaxing. She opened her eyes to find Reo slicing the ropes with the dagger, his expression serene.
The maid, too frightened to talk, gazed at him as Reo turned to the bandit chief.
The man was kneeling on the ground, cradling his broken arm, his face white with terror. "P-please," he stuttered. "I'll tell you everything! Just let me go!"
Reo ignored him, glancing around until he spotted a half-filled liquor bottle sitting by the fire. He picked it up and returned to the leader.
"You ordered them to rip me shreds, didn't you?" Reo asked, his tone smooth. He poured the liquor from the bottle down the leader's head and shoulders. The man winced, the liquid soaking into his clothing.
"But here's the thing: ripping someone to pieces isn't entertaining. I can show you a better way."
The leader's eyes went wide with terror as Reo yanked his hair, pulling him toward the campfire.
The leader fought, but with his one arm broken and his strength waning, he was no match for Reo. Reo pitched him into the fire, the flames engulfing his clothes and flesh.
He cried out, thrashing as the fire spread.
Reo advanced, shoving his foot into the leader's back, pinning him in the flames. The flames were hot, the acrid scent of charred flesh wafting through the air, but Reo did not waver.
[ALERT.]
[FIRE DAMAGE DETECTED.]
[INITIATING HEALING PROTOCOL.]
The voice of the system rang out in Reo's mind. But he didn't care. He stood and saw the leader struggle with agony, his cries growing weaker.
The fire burned Reo's leg, but he barely felt it, for there was satisfaction in seeing the man incinerate.
At last, Reo yanked his leg back, the burns healing in an instant.
The maid looked at him in horror, her body trembling. She had never witnessed such brutality, such cruelty. But before she could say anything, Reo's body went rigid.
[ALERT.]
[ENERGY OVERUSED.]
[BODY SHUTTING DOWN.]
Reo's legs buckled and he collapsed to the floor, his body lifeless. The maid gasped, hastily leaping to her feet.