Extra for Ugly

Hope observed the campsite as the guards had described. Taking cover behind a bush, she surveyed the area, strategizing her approach. She bypassed the main entrance, opting instead to circle around and approach the camp from its side, between two large crates and a cart nearby.

She peered through the foliage and counted fourteen guards stationed around the perimeter. The side entrance was lightly guarded, with only one bowman keeping watch. If she played her cards right, she knew she could take him out quietly.

Hope silently approached the lone guard at the side entrance. She subdued him with a chokehold, rendering him unconscious before hiding his body in the bushes nearby.

"Ssh – sleep well."

Hope silently subdued two more guards on the outskirts of the camp. She knocked out the first guard near a cluster of trees and concealed his body among the foliage. The second guard, positioned near a rocky outcrop, fell silent as Hope incapacitated him with a strong blow in the back of his head.

With her mask still on, Hope moved silently through the camp, her eyes still searching for the tattooed man. However, she was soon discovered by a dog that caught her scent. The guards unsheathed their swords and ran into action.

"Why is this mut barki – Damn, a blood mage!" one guard shouted, pointing toward Hope as she exited from the shadows.

"Oh, crap!" another exclaimed, reaching for his weapon.

"Stop her!"

"Boys –" Hope held her hands up.. "I just wanted to join your little campfire party. Heard you were roasting marshmallows… but I guess I'll have to settle for roasting bandits instead."

The guards hesitated for a split second, then charged at Hope, weapons drawn. The first one lunged with a dagger, aiming for her torso. Hope sidestepped with a dancer's grace, catching his wrist and twisting it, causing him to drop his weapon. She followed up with an elbow to his face, knocking him out cold.

Another guard swung a heavy club at her head. Hope ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as the club passed over her. She kicked the guard's knee, sending him to the ground. With a quick jab to his temple, he too was unconscious.

"She is just a bitch! Kill her! Ur's beard… kill her!"

"Yield, blood mage!"

"Fucking blood magic user!"

"We can't beat her!"

Two more guards came at her simultaneously. One with a sword, the other with a spear. The swordsman slashed horizontally, but Hope leapt back, the blade missing her by mere inches. The spearman thrust forward, and Hope twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the pointed tip. She grabbed the spear's shaft, using it to pull the guard off balance and into the path of the swordsman's next strike. The sword accidentally cut the spearman, and he fell with a groan.

Hope didn't let the swordsman recover. She darted in, using her daggers to parry his sword before driving her knee into his stomach. As he doubled over, she brought the hilt of her dagger down on the back of his neck, rendering him unconscious.

"Fuck it. Run!"

"Yeah run away!"

"Don't run fools. We can take that bitch out!"

"Run!"

"Stay where you are! Don't."

"Fuck this, I'm not getting paid enough for this shit!"

The remaining guards, now wary, approached more cautiously. One threw a knife, but Hope deflected it with her dagger. Another guard charged at her, swinging a mace. She dodged to the side, using her agility to stay out of reach. As he swung again, she rolled under the arc of the weapon and came up behind him, slashing his leg. He collapsed, clutching his wound.

A large guard with a scarred face advanced, swinging a broadsword. Hope dodged the first heavy strike, then the second, keeping just out of reach. She feinted left, drawing him in, then spun to the right, slicing his arm. He roared in pain and anger, swinging wildly. Hope ducked and weaved, her movements fluid and precise. She saw an opening and lunged, driving her dagger into his thigh. He fell to his knees, and she delivered a knockout blow to his head.

The last guard, seeing his comrades defeated, tried to run. Hope threw one of her daggers, and it lodged into his calf. He stumbled and fell, crying out in pain. Hope approached him calmly, pulling her dagger free and pressing it to his throat.

"Where's the tattooed man?" she demanded.

"Inside... the tent," he gasped, pointing weakly.

Hope tied him up, ensuring he wouldn't pose a threat. She glanced around, making sure no more guards were lurking, then made her way to the tent. Inside, she saw the tattooed man, sitting at a table with a map spread out before him, oblivious to the chaos outside.

"Who the fuck are you? One of the whores they called for me?" the man sneered, not looking up from his map.

"Yeah," Hope replied with a smirk, "but I charge extra for ugly."

As soon as the man looked up, she saw her blood mask. He gasped, dropping to the ground and lowering his head. It was clear that he was asking for mercy.

"Please don't hurt me! I'll do anything!"

"Ah shut up. Come on, move." Hope held the man and threw him out of the tent. "You got a bounty for your head. What did you do, I wonder?"

"No! I don't."

"Don't lie to me. They told me you had a skeleton tattoo. You match the description."

"I… I'm innocent. Those idiots in Rulside put a bounty on my head, right? Well, fuck them. I'll pay you twice what they are paying."

"Twice, you say?" She smiled. "Buddy, excuse my language – but I'm going to ransack the shit out of your camp and take any valuables you have."

"You can't! Men, attack her!"

"You're too loud." She tied him up to a tree and cracked her fingers. "Now – where are the valuables?"

"I will never tell you, void spawn!"

"Oh –" She threw both her daggers in the air and catched them as she walked toward the man. "We will see about that, scum."