In the front, the situation was unfolding at a rapid pace. To describe it in one word, it was a massacre.
“Kyahahahah! Die!”
Wico was running wild, flying from one fleeing bandit to another. Her body was emitting sparks as she kicked an opponent to death before switching to a different target. Her kicks were also imbued with lightning power even though it was unnecessary. The attackers she caught up with first were the lowest-ranked ones, who were also the slowest. As such, they were also the ones who could resist her attacks the less.
Her first kick beheaded its target without any difficulty, and whether the attack was reinforced by electrical discharges made no difference. The head flew from its body, instantly killing the feline man whose body fell right after.
With shouts of fighting frenzy, she went from one to another, sometimes kicking them, sometimes punching them, the result always being the same. The power contrast was simply too large.
On our side, things were trickier. No matter how I rushed the horses, we could only go so fast when they had to pull such a heavy load. The bandits soon reached us, which meant they also noticed what was happening to their companions.
“Boss! They have a rank 6 sorceress with them!”
“I can see her! Damn it! We can’t just leave like that! Kill the two low-ranked ones! Take some of the goods and escape immediately while the rank 6 is busy! We’ll meet back at the base!”
In despair, they choose to assault us even more aggressively. The first to reach Selva was the rank 3 sorcerer boss, who possessed a fire affinity. It was a great affinity for fighting but it was unfortunate for him it would be limited in this rain. Yet, he was still a whole rank over Selva, who barely managed to block his first flaming punch.
“Urgh!”
She skillfully redirected his attack to the side and counter-attacked. Here too, the difference in power was obvious, and she only managed to hold on with her superior martial skills and body strengthened with earth-affinity sel, which was known for increasing physical resistance. The rest of the raiders divided themselves into two, half going for the carriage, the other half helping their boss conclude his fight faster.
“Master, please help over here!”
I shouted in the direction of Wico, who was already finishing her fifth victim. The rest of her targets had dispersed in all directions, and while she could still catch up by pursuing them, she rushed back to us without any hesitation.
The bandits who jumped on the trailer to reach me saw her coming and jumped back down in a hurry.
“Boss! The rank 6 is coming!”
“Damn it! We’re out!”
Like the other side’s bandits, they dispersed in all directions.
“Where do you think you’re going? You can’t leave without paying with your lives! Kyahahahah!”
Wico first targeted the ones previously fighting with Selva and went for their boss. She reached him quickly and sent a violent kick toward his head. He tried to block with his arms but those were sliced in the middle, her leg claws going through the flesh and muscles like butter.
“Arghhh!”
Blood flew from his amputated limbs but his shout didn’t last long. With a follow-up punch, she ended his life and flew toward another target.
Selva fell to the floor with some bruises and marks on her face, holding her stomach painfully. While groaning in pain, she kept her eyes on her master, taking in the scene of the one-sided slaughter.
After killing a few more bandits, Wico chose a direction where some of the remaining ones had fled and pursued them relentlessly. She soon disappeared over the slope while cackling crazily and continuing the killing.
I stopped the carriage and jumped out to check on Selva. She had taken quite a beating, with some burns and cuts here and there, but nothing was critical. Wico had made it back in time to avoid the worst. I took out the same ointment I used the last time and started to apply it to her, but it had unknown effects due to the rain.
“You did amazing, Selva. Stay still for a bit.”
She obediently followed my words and let me apply the medicine. Her face twitched in pain even further than it already was whenever my fingers touched a place that was hurting but she didn’t let a single word of complaint out. I was soon done and sat next to her on the ground.
“Well, here you go. We got the bandits you two wanted. How does it feel to have your wish fulfilled?”
“It hurts.”
“No kidding.”
I laughed a bit. She smiled too but soon frowned in pain again.
“You should lie down and stay still for a while.”
I thought she would refuse but she once again did as I said without protesting. I lay next to her in the rain, which was becoming a drizzle now. We stayed silent for a long time, none of us speaking a word. Our tranquility was broken by the returning Wico.
She had blood all over her body, her feathers and face stained by it. She sported a wide grin while landing next to us.
“Ah, that was fun! How are you two doing?”
Selva looked away so I answered instead.
“I’m completely fine but Selva got hurt.”
“Hm? Let me see.”
She came closer to her disciple but the girl rebelled.
“Go away, master.”
“You’re fine if you’re still that energetic. Kahahah! How was your fight, my disciple?”
“…What could I do when surrounded five to one with a rank 3 on the other side?”
“Exactly! Life and fights are never fair. Just like how they died without being able to resist me, you also couldn’t resist them. That’s just how this world works.”
“Hmph.”
Selva stayed silent for a moment before continuing.
“Master, they were all feline men.”
“So?”
“Isn’t it pitiful to kill them without any thoughts? Didn’t they probably become bandits because of being oppressed by the women of this country?”