Chapter 284 No time to waste
Damian gestured for his companions to halt. The sight unfolding before them was a familiar one on the roads, and there was no way to be certain if the woman lying there was genuinely injured.
"Let me assess the situation," Damian whispered, "And be ready for a fight."
He approached the woman cautiously. She noticed him and pleaded, "Please, help me! I'm hurt."
Damian knelt to examine her wound. It was on her leg, but it didn't appear to be severe. He looked into her eyes and whispered, "Are you working with bandits to rob us? Be warned, if you try anything, you will all die."
She hesitated, then sighed, "Yes, I am, but it's not by choice. They kidnapped my sister and demanded I do this once in exchange for her release. I'm so sorry. I've probably gotten you all killed..."
As she finished her sentence, a group of bandits emerged from the nearby forest, armed with various weapons. Most were men, but there were a few women among them.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" one of the bandits sneered, "Three lovely ladies and two gentlemen. Today is our lucky day."
Damian was in no mood for games. On any other day, he might have engaged in conversation before resorting to violence, but the journey had been exhausting, and the situation with the other dungeon floors had him on edge. He just wanted to reach his destination as quickly as possible.
He rose to his feet and faced the bandits. "Who are you?"
They laughed. "Can't you see? We're bandits. Now, hand over your carriage and the girls, or you'll die."
Damian sighed, "Fools..."
"What did you say?"
Damian turned to the injured woman. "Do you have a weapon?"
She hesitated. "Yes, there's a sword here. But I can't give it to you! They'll retaliate against me and my sister."
"Don't worry," Damian said, a chilling smile spreading across his face. "They'll all be dead soon."
He extended his hand, and the woman reluctantly handed him her iron sword. It was a simple weapon, but in Damian's hands, it was deadly.
Damian turned back to the bandits and activated his ability, freezing them in place, unable to move or speak. He slowly walked towards them, the iron sword glinting in the sunlight, and began his gruesome work.
His telekinesis held them powerless as he systematically severed their heads, one after another. The road transformed into a gruesome scene, the bandits' corpses strewn about in a bloody tableau.
The woman who had been forced to collaborate with the bandits trembled with fear. Elena and the others were shaken as well, though they had witnessed Damian's abilities before.
Kai, however, was the most terrified. He had been foolishly antagonizing Damian, and after witnessing this display of brutality, he was no longer certain that had been wise.
The aftermath of the slaughter was eerily silent. The air hung heavy with the metallic tang of blood and the unspoken dread of those who had witnessed Damian's merciless power. He wiped the blood from his sword onto the grass and turned to the trembling woman, who now stood alone amongst the carnage.
"Where are the rest of your companions?" Damian asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
The woman, still reeling from the shock, stammered, "T-they have a camp deeper in the forest. They... they're holding my sister there."
"Lead the way," Damian commanded. "But understand this: any attempt at treachery, and you will share the fate of your comrades."
The woman nodded meekly and began to walk towards the treeline. Damian turned to Elena and the others.
"Stay with the carriage," he ordered. "Guard our belongings. I will return shortly."
Elena nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and admiration for Damian's unwavering resolve. Kai, however, remained silent, his earlier bravado replaced by a newfound respect for the man he had so foolishly underestimated.
Damian and the woman ventured into the forest, following a narrow, winding path. The trees grew denser, the sunlight filtering through the leaves in dappled patches. The woman walked with her head bowed, her shoulders hunched in shame and fear.
After what seemed like an eternity, they reached a clearing. In the center stood a crude encampment, a collection of tents and makeshift shelters. The woman pointed towards a small, barred cell on the outskirts of the camp.
"That's where they're keeping her," she whispered.
Damian nodded and activated his telekinesis. The bandits inside the camp froze mid-action, their weapons clattering to the ground. He strode into the camp, his sword held loosely at his side. The bandits, trapped in their own bodies, could only watch in horror as he approached.
One by one, Damian systematically executed the remaining bandits. Their cries for mercy were met with cold silence, their struggles for freedom futile against the power of his mind. The clearing echoed with the sickening thud of bodies hitting the ground.
Finally, Damian reached the cell. Inside, a young woman huddled in the corner, her eyes wide with terror. The woman who had led Damian here rushed to the cell, tears streaming down her face.
"Sister!" she cried, fumbling with the lock. "It's me! I'm here to rescue you!"
The lock clicked open, and the two sisters embraced, their sobs mingling in the still air. Damian watched them for a moment, a flicker of something akin to warmth passing through his eyes. Then, he turned and walked away, leaving the sisters to their reunion.
As Damian turned to leave, the woman who had led him to her sister called out, her voice filled with gratitude and a newfound respect.
"Wait," she said, stepping towards him. "Please, tell me your name. I owe you my life, and my sister's."
Damian paused, his back still turned to her. He stood silent for a moment, the only sound the crackling of the flames from the dying campfire. Then, without turning around, he spoke.
"You don't have the right to know my name," he said, his voice cold and distant. "Just be thankful I saved you."
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