Rendo's Point of View:
Maki and Brendu walk ahead of us. Neither of them has hesitated for even a moment to become the sword of this operation. The two of them move forward as if they were taking a stroll through any street or plaza in town.
The first thought that comes to my mind is: How can they be so confident in themselves? This world is filled with dangers, and the smallest mistake can cost you dearly. I mentally shake my head. It's true that dangers exist, but there aren't many capable of threatening their lives.
Brendu is a prodigy capable of fighting several Ruby-rank opponents at the same time. She reached that rank long after I did, yet she's already stronger than me. Maki, on the other hand, can fight people or monsters an entire rank above his own. He's a true anomaly of nature.
This bandit group isn't anything special after all. We've been tracking them over the past few weeks. We haven't found a single Diamond or Obsidian Rank among them. Most of their members are Ruby Rank mixed with Sapphire Rank.
At first, while we were waiting for all the reinforcements, seeing such a small group arrive caught me completely off guard. I thought Lady Rita was sending us on a suicide mission. My surprise was immense when those two showed up.
Their footsteps are heavy and unwavering, as though nothing in this place could possibly stop them. When we reach the point where we need to descend, Maki suddenly stops, and Brendu, standing beside him, quietly takes half a step back.
"Nobody interferes. The only time you're allowed to act is if one of those sons of bitches tries to escape." Maki's voice is calm, but the weight behind his words is overwhelming.
Just as I'm about to say something, I feel the princess's gaze settle on me. She simply shakes her head. That single gesture from Princess Brendu swallows every word I was about to say. There was no room for objection.
The very next instant, a chill runs through my entire body, from the tips of my toes to the ends of my hair. Every instinct screams at me to run, to get as far away from here as possible. My entire body wants to flee from the terrifying beast standing before me.
Maki had unleashed a horrifying killing intent. His Imra spread it in every direction, while his Dominion amplified it even further.
My body trembles slightly. When I turn around, I see my companions in an even worse state. Some have fallen to their knees, desperately trying to breathe, while others are enduring it with everything they have.
I immediately release my own Dominion and Imra to resist that overwhelming bloodlust. My body gradually calms down. I'm still in disbelief, and my mind is filled with confusion, but at least I no longer feel the overwhelming urge to run away. That alone catches me by surprise.
I expand my Dominion to support my companions, and the two Ruby Ranks participating in this operation do the same. Once our three Dominions overlap around everyone, I can finally feel the pressure weakening until the urge to flee disappears completely.
That single move caught all of us off guard. We never imagined someone so young could possess such overwhelming bloodlust. I've never felt anything like it before—not even from monsters or humans an entire rank above me... What could Young Master Maki have gone through to develop such terrifying killing intent? How many monsters must he have slaughtered for it to become this overwhelming?
Countless questions overlap inside my mind, and many of them revolve around the blonde woman standing beside Young Master Maki. Princess Brendu doesn't react in the slightest when that bloodlust is unleashed. Not even a strand of her hair moves. She simply shakes her head gently before directing her gaze toward the people below.
The bandits notice it as well. That killing intent is Maki's introduction. It's an invitation to battle. A clear declaration that says: I'm here. I've come for your heads. None of you are leaving alive.
Young Master Maki simply begins walking forward at a slow pace. His footsteps are heavy and deliberate. Numerous spells fly toward all of us, but before we even have a chance to defend ourselves, countless ice constructs appear halfway through the air, effortlessly smashing every attack apart.
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The bandits look just as shocked as I am. I can see their expressions turning serious. The laughter they wore when they saw such a small group—and a mere boy walking toward them—has completely vanished.
More and more constructs appear, each one larger and stronger than the last, hurtling toward Maki at terrifying speed. My body nearly moves on its own, but at the very last instant, the princess's Imra and her gaze stop me.
"Don't worry. This is nothing."
Her words don't match what my eyes are seeing, yet I can feel such confidence and calmness radiating from her that I begin to wonder whether I'm the one who's mistaken.
A moment later, a strange phenomenon surrounds Maki. Countless electric serpents begin dancing around him. Plants are crushed into the ground beneath an overwhelming external force—I assume it's his gravity mana—and blue frost spreads throughout the entire area.
Maki is floating because the ground beneath him has been completely destroyed by the pressure of his ability. At the same time, every attempt to harm him is stopped. Every construct is swatted aside like a fly.
What is that? That ability surpasses any Rank IV skill. Has he already obtained a Rank V ability? Then again, why am I even surprised? He's the greatest talent the Empire has ever produced.
Both my eyes and my mind are captivated by the spectacle before me. Massive constructs crumble as though they were nothing more than ordinary stones. The power behind that ability surpasses every other Rank V ability I've ever witnessed.
"Fascinating..." One of the guards behind me unconsciously voices her thoughts.
"I knew the baronet's youngest son was powerful because of his physical abilities... but I had no idea his mana control was just as incredible," another guard comments.
"His constructs aren't just fast—they're incredibly powerful and perfectly refined... I have no words. I specialize in long-range attacks, and I can confidently say I'm nowhere near his level," says another companion of mine. He's been by my side for many years, and he's also a Ruby Rank. His long-range firepower is no joke.
"We can't compare ourselves to him. He's better than all of us in every possible aspect, and the gap isn't small," another longtime companion adds.
They're all right. No matter how many times I witness Young Master Maki display his strength, it remains something unbelievable—something almost supernatural.
Young Master Maki charges straight into the middle of the bandits. Barely five seconds later, I reach a single conclusion. This is absolute brutality.
The young man is tearing bodies apart and severing limbs as though they were nothing more than pieces of chicken.
He doesn't care about defending himself in the slightest. That overwhelming ability shields him from most attacks, and the few that manage to get through only leave meaningless wounds. His body regenerates immediately, as though injuries capable of leaving any other Ruby Rank severely wounded were nothing but scratches to him.
Those bastard bandits fall like flies before such overwhelming brutality. Every movement claims at least one life. Some bodies are split cleanly in half, others are impaled by black swords, others are burned to ashes by lightning, and a few are simply crushed by gravity.
The savagery behind every one of his movements sends chills down my spine. I don't even want to imagine what I'd do if I were standing in their place.
Simply accept my death? That would probably be the least painful option.
Those who attempt to flee never succeed. They're immediately dragged back and forced to defend themselves if they don't want to die. Nothing and no one escapes his sight. It doesn't matter whether they're hidden in a blind spot or directly behind him.
The dozens of bandits rapidly dwindle in number. Their ranks collapse at a terrifying pace. The entire battlefield is covered in blood and scattered body parts, while Young Master Maki's swords have been dyed a deep crimson.
Finally, only two people remain. Both have lost their arms and legs, yet the wounds where their limbs were severed have been sealed by Maki himself. They're almost completely encased in ice, with only their heads left uncovered. Both of them are unconscious.
I can sense him supplying them with Life Mana, just enough to keep them alive beneath the pressure of the ice and prevent them from dying from their injuries—but not enough to heal them or restore their consciousness.
"Sorry for taking so long. I got a little more carried away than I expected." He drops the two human-shaped blocks of ice in front of us, and the ice melts away instantly. "Put some kind of collar or device on them to block their mana and Imra. They need to arrive at the territory alive." The moment Maki finishes speaking, two people immediately rush forward to carry out his orders.
"I think you overdid it a little this time." Princess Brendu lightly punches the young man in the ribs.
"You think so?" Maki replies before turning to look at the battlefield covered in the people he just slaughtered. "You're right... but they deserved it. I'd do it again if necessary." His answer is clear and unwavering.
"I never said you did anything wrong." The princess lets out a quiet sigh. "It's time to head back. Grandma Rita must be waiting for news. Someone go inform her how the mission turned out." Her words leave all of us frozen for a moment before the assigned guard nods and immediately sprints away.
The two of them are terrifying when they want to be. Seeing them smiling together and so deeply in love is a beautiful sight. Having them as allies is incredibly reassuring... I don't even want to imagine having to face them as enemies.
I'd be completely screwed.