The clearing remained silent.
The footsteps stopped.
A man stepped out from between the trees.
He stood just over six feet tall.
His black hair was neatly cut, with a few loose strands resting across his forehead.
A long dark coat hung over a fitted combat outfit, the fabric barely moving with the wind.
Leather gloves covered both hands.
Three throwing knives rested between the fingers of his right hand.
A fourth sat loosely in his left.
There wasn't a scratch on him.
His posture was relaxed.
He looked less like someone arriving at a battlefield...
And more like someone taking a walk through the forest.
His eyes swept across the clearing.
The fallen bandits.
The wounded vice leader.
Finally...
They settled on her.
He studied her for a moment.
Without a word.
Then he turned his head.
His gaze shifted to Kael.
"...Let's get rid of the weak link first."
He disappeared.
Kael's eyes widened.
He couldn't see him.
She cursed under her breath.
"Damn it."
Her bow was already in her hands.
An arrow rested against the string.
She drew it to its limit.
"Gale Shot."
THWANG!
The arrow vanished.
He appeared before Kael.
Without looking—
CLANG!
His knife intercepted the arrow.
The force pushed him back a single step.
He glanced at the blade.
Then at her.
A faint smile appeared.
"Not bad."
"A Bronze Rank..."
"...and you've already learned a technique."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword.
If he stayed back...
He would only become a burden.
He burst forward.
His sword slashed toward the man's side.
The man didn't even turn.
FWIP!
A knife left his hand.
CLANG!
Kael barely managed to block.
The impact sent him skidding across the ground.
His boots carved two long trails through the dirt before he came to a stop.
His arms trembled.
The man never looked at him.
His eyes remained fixed on her.
She answered with another arrow.
THWANG!
He turned his head.
The arrow missed by a fraction.
Another followed.
A knife flashed.
CLANG!
The arrow split in two.
She fired again.
Then again.
The clearing echoed with the sound of her bowstring.
THWANG!
THWANG!
THWANG!
Each arrow was faster than the last.
Each one came from a different angle.
He never rushed.
One step.
A slight turn.
A flick of his wrist.
Not a single movement was wasted.
Another arrow shot toward his shoulder.
He caught it between two knives and tossed it aside.
"...Your accuracy is impressive."
She remained silent.
Another arrow was already on the string.
THWANG!
He leaned back.
The arrow passed inches from his face.
His expression never changed.
FWIP!
Three knives left his hand.
They spread toward her from the front.
At that same instant—
The vice leader's axe burst in from her right.
He grinned.
"Forgot about me?"
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