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.

GIVE THEM

announce your presence to us

got up with a fierce expression. "Let us complete our

the carriage from bandits was literally their job, why was Rui holding

the data he

their hapless and very off-guard victims, using a numeric advantage as well as a Martial

bandits doing exactly the

couldn't detect the presence

wrong." He said to the others, as he analyzed their current situation with the eyes of a

we need to fight." Kane insisted.

specified that the actual target of protection were primarily the goods." Rui stated. "We're not obligated to protect

against it, but that didn't mean they

break through, then Kane, you can

if you insist, but you better

"Something is wrong."

* * * * * *

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

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

said, sitting atop a tree. "The boss came up with this." He said before glancing at the golden-haired man, who stood at the forefront of a cliff, eying the battle. "There must be something

our raid-force in without the other half, and

"Something..." He softly murmured.

Feilin tilted her head

His golden eyes sharpened as

away at a distance. "It

closer at the security team, what

supposed to do? Defending the inner section of the

said. "Do you think they're doing a

the battle yet despite their numerical disadvantage." She said as she observed how all of them had a rock-solid confidence and