7 Chapter 6: Hunting Down Bandits

"You're finally awake."

The young lady gave me a glance before turning her head and looking around as though she were trying to find someone.

I attempted to smile in a way that would reassure them, but deep down, I was on high alert. "If you're looking for those two, I already took them down."

My eyes never left her, scanning for the slightest indication that she was becoming angry. I was unwilling to put my faith in a complete stranger, and I dared not take any chances because I was afraid that she might be a member of the criminal gang. If I were to find out that she was one of them, my only option would be to end her life in an instant.

The young woman's heart pounded violently against her chest as if it were desperately trying to break free from its own confinement while tears poured down her face like a raging river.

"You're safe now. I'm here for you."

In the hopes of bringing her some solace, I reached out my hand to wipe away her tears. As soon as she reacted negatively to my touch, I quickly withdrew my hand, realizing that I had crossed a line and gone too far.

"I'm sorry," I said as I took a few steps backward. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Although the girl's tears did not stop falling, the expression that was present in her eyes began to change. She eventually drew a deep breath and began to speak, her tears becoming less frequent.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, still keeping a watchful eye on her. Though her tears and gratitude seemed genuine, I knew better than to let my guard down. I had seen too much in my line of work to trust blindly.

"You don't have to be afraid anymore," I said, trying to ease her fears. "I'm here to protect you."

"Can you tell me how many bandits are inside?"

I could tell that she was still shaken by her experience, but I also detected a trace of optimism in her eyes. She was scared, but now she had someone to help her. I took a deep breath and surveyed our surroundings, keeping a close eye on the entrance to the hideout.

"I counted at least five, but there could be more," She replied, her voice low and steady.

"I want to help," she said, her voice firm.

I raised an eyebrow in surprise but didn't argue. It is always better to have a backup, especially in situations like these.

I smiled widely, my eyes burning with excitement. "That would be great," I replied as we marched towards the entrance of the hideout.

As we made our way to the entrance, I began to see the lanterns that lit the path. The light of the lanterns flickered eerily, casting long shadows on the rocky walls surrounding us.

When we reached the end of the path, we noticed that the cave had an opening that led to a much larger section of the cave.

"Stay here."

I instructed, turning to face her. She nodded in agreement, her features calm and collected.

I made my way toward the entrance of the hideout, my heart pounding with anticipation. The sounds of voices and footsteps echoed throughout the cave, indicating that the bandits were still there.

Three bandits were on the ground sleeping, while one of them was humping a girl tied up to a tree trunk. One group was chatting, and there was another one that appeared to be a lookout.

I knew I had to be quick and quiet, so I slipped past the sleeping bandits and carefully made my way toward the group chatting.

As I listened in on their conversation, I learned that they were planning to ambush a caravan of traders passing through the nearby town.

The group dispersed, and I hid behind the pile of wood. One of the bandits was close. With a whistle, I lured the nearest bandit and took him out with an elbow square to the chin. Before his body fell to the ground, I caught it with both hands and hid it behind the pile of wood.

The two bandits advanced towards the wooden platform, while the third remained oblivious at the bottom. I crept up silently behind him before exploding into action. With a jump forward, my elbow dug deep into his neck like a jackhammer, sending him crumpling to the ground.

I quickly dragged his body behind the pile of wood and climbed the platform where the remaining three bandits were.

I hoisted the unconscious body with all my strength. I flung it behind the pile of wood, breathing heavily as I scrambled up the platform to confront the remaining three bandits.

As I climbed the wooden ladder and reached the platform, the lookout bandit quickly turned around in surprise, drawing his sword. But it was too late for him as I lunged and kicked him forward.

He fell to the ground with a howling wail. It was at least several meters of height. He probably died. It didn't matter if he lived. The impact should be enough to keep him from moving for a couple minutes.

"We have an intruder!" One of the remaining two bandits yelled as I turned to face them. They both drew their swords and took a step forward.

I smirked, feeling the adrenaline pumping through my veins. This is what I lived for, the thrill of a fight!

The first bandit charged forward, his sword raised high above his head.

'Boxer Stance-'

My body's stance shifted into that of a boxer. I bobbed and weaved as the two bandits slashed their swords at me. I waited for the perfect moment to strike.

As the first bandit lunged forward, I sidestepped his clumsy attack and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. With a surge of adrenaline, I delivered a powerful punch to his gut that sent shockwaves through my arm. He doubled over in agony, wheezing for breath as I dropped him to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

The second bandit lunged forward, brandishing his sword and aiming straight for my neck. I dropped to the ground just in time, reaching up to grab his legs and yanking them out from under him. He flew through the air with a piercing shriek, crashing down into the dirt below with a sickening thud.

"Your friends are dead. You're the only one left. Give up, and I might consider letting you live." I spat in his face, and he stumbled backward, wiping the spit off of his cheek.

"I'll kill youuuu!" he screamed. "I'll kill you, you daaamn brat!"

"Come and try." I grinned and laughed mockingly before launching into action. I grabbed a fistful of his greasy hair and yanked him to his feet, feeling his skull bounce off my knee as I drove him backward. His back arched in agony as he bent double, and before he could compose himself, I delivered a crushing elbow blow that sent him skidding to the ground, unconscious.

I whipped my head around and darted my gaze down below, praying that the sound had not alerted any unwanted eyes. But I was in luck; it seemed all clear. For now, at least.

I stealthily descended the ladder, each step calculated and precise. Reaching the ground floor, I pounced on the three unsuspecting bandits with a fierce grip around their throats. With a swiftness my opponent couldn't match, I rendered them all unconscious before they could even think to defend themselves. Looking down at their limp bodies with satisfaction, an insidious smirk crept onto my face.

Now, my main objective in hunting down these bandits can finally get underway.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals used by the brain to pass messages and the food of the slime. In particular, norepinephrine and adrenaline/epinephrine are neurotransmitters produced during a state of fear, anxiety, and fight or flight.

If my own neurotransmitters are not enough for the slime, I'll have to feed it with other people's.

Of course, the likelihood of this plan failing is quite high. I'm not a doctor, so biology and chemistry are not my expertise.

I'm not sure about the molecular structure of neurotransmitters, so who knows if they get broken down by stomach acid. Hopefully not, so I can deal with this time bomb inside my body.

'Activate skill, All Seeing Eye!'

The bandit standing before me was suddenly exposed, his every bone, flesh, and organ revealed in vivid detail. I could see the intricate veins running across his skin, the muscles beneath him, and the beating of his heart as it pumped his blood in and out.

Let the brain extraction begin.