Chapter 15 – Bandits (2)

Percy's house was towards the center-west side of the village. The bandits that were left over had just started moving towards that area. Currently Percy's father was fighting one man while the other was being kept back by Percy. Percy's mother had tried to stop him but he escaped from her grasp when Percy saw his father being one-sidedly beat. With Percy's interference though the two were losing the difference was smaller.

"Damn Pika finish the damn twerp off already! This old guy is tougher than he look!" A dark-skinned man yelled as he was fighting Percy's father.

"It easier said than done this damn kid is like a monkey jumping everywhere. Plus wooden sword hurts to be hit with," Pika cursed back.

Percy's training with Ender had helped him more than he thought. Percy's standard were changed with training with Ender causing him to think adults were stronger than Ender. But after fighting the bandits Percy realized that Ender was just abnormally strong.

Percy wanting to help his father swung his wooden sword to attack Pika but a hand stopped the wooden sword. Pika cladded his hand with ether to intercept the wooden sword before picking the two up and kicking at Percy. Caught off guard Percy did not let go and was sent flying.

Bam, Thud

Hitting the ground Percy laid on his body with his consciousness fading in and out. Percy's mother quickly ran over holding onto Percy while crying.

"Son!" Percy's father agonizingly screamed looking away from his fight.

Not letting the chance slip the dark-skinned man threw a strong punch at Percy's father that he could not block in time. Percy's father started to see stars and the man named Pika started walking to join before he started to feel cold.

Looking down a black sword was currently stick through him. His eyes slowly glazed. The dark-skin man was focused on beating Percy's father when a thud from behind could be heard. Turning around the last thing he saw in his life was a black light as it entered his head.

The small, black shadow that was attached to the black light did not stay to check on the people there but left quickly.

When Percy's mother stopped crying it was quiet and the two men were dead while her husband was unconscious. She quickly crawled over to her husband and sighed with relief when she felt a breath. Unknown to her Percy was mumbling to himself, "Ender… thanks…" Only Percy knew if he saw the shadow or thanking him how to fight.

…

Outside Ender was dry-heaving from excreting himself to much. "They should be safe now." More fierce ether fluctuations were coming from the east. "Dad should be fighting the boss now. As long as he can hold him I may be able to help him."

Using just his body Ender started running back home while using his cultivation technique to try to restore his ether.

…

Ender was right that his father Ralph was fighting the bandit boss but he made a miscalculation and forgot that they moved in pairs. Plus the pair of the boss was an external magic user that Ralph had no experience with. Even though Ralph had trained with Ender an external magic user caused the inexperienced Ralph to become flustered. This showed since Ralph was fighting a losing battle outside his home and this could be seen from the fresh cuts that covered his body.

If we were to go back in time to we could would understand how Ralph got into this sorry state.

…

The pair of Millie and Ralph were awakened by Ender's yell. Getting rapidly dressed the pair went to check on Ender. Seeing the window open and the wooden sword gone they cursed the non-existent Ender in their hearts.

Ralph swore, "That boy only knows how to give us heartaches."

Millie started worrying before imploring, "Lets go out to look."

Ralph denied Millie, "You cannot go out in your state. You cannot use much ether at the moment. I will go out while you stay here. What if he comes back. He should not have gotten far. "

Millie reluctantly nodded her approval.

Ralph picked his sword unsheathing it before saying, "I will be back."

Closing the door behind him Ralph ran into the rain to look around his area for Ender. Ralph did not go far because he still had to protect Millie as well. Usually he would not have to worry as much but currently Millie was in a special state.

…

After what seemed like hours a knock could be heard from the front door of Ender's house.

Millie did not approach the door and kept silent. Millie had a bad feeling about the door. Another series of knocks were heard but Millie did not answer. The person behind the door seemed to leave and Millie heaved a sigh of relief.

Bam!

The door was sent flying inwards with the door hinges attached. "Anybody home?" A man dressed in black asked as he walked in. His body was thick and sturdy barely fitting inside the door. "Oh there is. We are just wandering strangers here for looking for some cover from the rain. Why didn't you open the door? Your such a beauty why don't you accompany tonight?" A cruel smile could be heard behind his mask. The mud-brown colored hair could be seen barely that matched his eyes.

Millie was standing in a corner with a knife pointed towards the man screaming, "Stay away from me."

Another man dressed in black walked in behind the larger man walked in at the moment before saying, "Boss you know that as the leader you should be how the men ought to be. Plus if we mess her up too much the price will go down."

The boss tsked at the reprimand, "Why do keep you around again, Katisuri?"

The Katisuri did not flinch back and answered in a chuckle, "To help be the brains. You may be strong but making money and helping get equipment from nobles back in the Sharcafe country is my specialty. And boss no names."

The boss groaned, "You got a point on the logistics. Fine I'll just knock her out. But next time we raid we are keeping the women for the base 'number 2'."

Katisuri smiled while replying, "As you wish boss."

"Lady just stay still and it won't hurt. Kuhuhuhu." The boss slowly approached Millie.

However at this moment a yell could be heard, "Stay away from my wife!"

Outside in the distance was Ralph emitting a killing intent towards the two men. "Oh how scary. Boss he seems like an opponent for you."

"Hahahaha, If I can't fill my lust then my fighting spirit must be satisfied." the boss rejoiced.

Stepping outside the boss pulled out his axe. "Come satisfy my hunger for battle."

Ralph stepped forwards and cladded his sword with ether before slashing down. When the two weapons collided the boss retreated two steps while Ralph retreated four steps.

Shocked the boss still felt a slight tingle in hands. Looking at the ether on Ralph's sword the boss knew that he was on a lower rank than his Low Gray Core but Ralph's strength was high.

The reason for this is due to Ralph cultivating 'The Brutal King of Ogre and Orcs' technique. The technique that Ender created allowed for some of the ether in Ralph's body to strengthen his body and stamina. Even with Ralph begin Pinnacle Black core he could fight a Low Gray Core for a some time.

"Good, good, good. Lets fight." The boss rejoiced as he jumped forward to clash once more.

Ralph catching his footing went forward to meet the boss. With his sword being cladded with ether once more Ralph wanted to end this quickly to check on Millie. Putting his full weight into their clash the two caused sparks to fly.

The pair of large muscular men started to slowly increase their clash speed. Not stepping from where they originally were and quickened their skirmish. The rain in the air started to shake with the wind of their clash. With a fierce bang the two slip back from their most recent confrontation.

"Boss I am joining in. I am sure you should have had your fill by now, right?," Katisuri interject at the moment.

The boss was disgruntled but agreed, "Fine lets hurry anyways. This will be last family since we have spent some time here."

The ether in Katisuri's body soon exited and started to manipulate the rain around him. Smiling Katisuri said, "I do like to fight in the rain how about you?"

Looking at the rain stopping before being small water bullets were made Ralph's face grew grim.

Katisuri began sending water bullets at Ralph from a distant while the boss went forward to attack from close range. Ralph tried to adapt but was overwhelmed. The boss used the openings that Katisuri to cut Ralph.

This lead to Ralph's current state of being on the receiving end of the losing side. With a swing the boss's axe sent Ralph backwards.

Just as the boss was going to rush forwards he felt a killing intent directed at him that made him immediately change trajectory of the slash to the side. At that moment a small black shadow appeared with a small black light heading towards the boss's neck. The clash sent the small shadow flying and the black light shattering. Having moved forward Ralph used the opening to send a cut down his chest. Katisuri also sent water bullets to attack Ralph to cover the boss but Ralph endured to make the sword connect.

When the current set of events ended all participants turned to look at the small shadow. When their eyes focused a small boy with black hair and eyes was currently coughing blood. The small boy was Ender who failed to launch his sneak attack.