The Martial Unity

The Shadow Trails valley was wider than Rui expected, and also not as dark as the name suggested. It had been several hours since they entered the valley. For some reason Rui pictured a super narrow path perpetually bathed in darkness when he heard the name 'Shadow Trails'.

However, this was not a good thing, ultimately. The valley being very wide allowed for a much larger area over which the bandits could base and hide in. Especially since the valley was covered in a dense forest, yet the there was enough space for bandits to maneuver comfortably. Furthermore, the ground inclined upwards up both sides of the travelling convoy, giving the bandits huge stealth and surveillance advantage.

This was bad news, because ambushers already had the advantage of the element of surprise, even if the Martial Apprentices knew the attack was coming, not knowing when was a significant handicap. Because they were expending a lot of mental energy with their tense alertness over the span of half of a day.

Thankfully they had rejuvenation potions. Otherwise, they would be exhausted by the time the ambush actually commenced, fighting against fully prepared Martial Apprentices.

The only advantage their convoy had was the fact that they had eight Martial Apprentices.

('Well, whether that remains to be an advantage or not remains to be seen.') Rui thought to himself. It entirely depended on how many martial Apprentices the bandits had.

The best-case scenario was one Martial Apprentice, in which case Rui was absolutely relatively certain they would be able to annihilate all the bandits.

As the numbers grew, the harder it was evaluate as a greater number of variable and parameters all influencing the outcome of the conflict arose.

For example, the grade of the bandit Martial Apprentices, their Martial Art, the synergy between them and their opponents and the quality of teamwork on both sides.

As Rui grew absorbed into his analysis, his reverie was abruptly broken by Milliana.

"They're here." She whispered.

Rui's eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Already?" He grew more tense and alert as he glanced through the unidirectional window. In the distance, he was able to detect many dozens of humans swarming from the forest onto the path ahead of them from a distance, triggering panic in the guard team of the convoy.

What shocked him was the fact that they weren't making much of an effort to act stealthily. They weren't even attacking under the cover of the forest, they were straightforwardly charging against the convoy from the opposite direction of their travel, out in the open.

He grew even more shocked as the leader of the charging bandits made a war cry.

DON'T GIVE THEM TIME

presence to us from that far

got up with a fierce

hand, causing the others to frown. Protecting the carriage from bandits was literally their job, why was Rui holding them

did not match the

typically exploited the element of surprise to cleanly launch a full-on ambush on their hapless and very off-guard victims, using a numeric advantage as well as a Martial Apprentice

why were these bandits doing

presence of any Martial

as he analyzed their current situation with the eyes of a

Kane insisted. "This is

the actual target of protection were primarily the goods." Rui stated. "We're

frowned at Rui's logic. They couldn't argue against it, but that

you can go defend the carriage containing the

sighed, shrugging. "Alright, if you insist, but you better

"Something is wrong."

* * * * * * *

going at it alright." Feiling chuckled as she watched the skirmish from

Vale grunted, leaning against a tree some distance away. "What's the point of

came up with this." He said before glancing at the golden-haired man, who stood at

without the other half, and without us? Furthermore, what's

"Something..." He softly murmured.

her head

eyes sharpened

boss." Feilin glanced at the battlefield away at a distance. "It seems like a normal battle to

you're not looking close enough. Look closer at the security team, what do you

exactly what they're supposed to do? Defending the inner section of the convoy from our men?" Feilin replied with an

"Do you think they're

do. Not a single one has abandoned the battle yet despite their numerical disadvantage." She said as she observed how all of them had a rock-solid confidence and composure. They were calm and composed, fought