It was late in the evening and Toma read over the letter in his hands. Another job from the blacksmith Godfrey. It had seemed the man was starting to get lost in his greed and hired him to steal a scroll. A special scroll one that allows him to forge a powerful blade to use for god knows what. But if Toma had to bamboozle some lives at least he was going to be paid for it. Stopping in his tracks he now realized what he must do and held crumbled the letter in his hands.


Using his lightning magic he burnt and made the paper crumble. As always he needed to make sure nothing came back to his client. Considering Toma didn't make people wait and is a professional; such a notion was child's play. The location of the camp guarding this scroll was due North East in to the woods.

WC:154

Stretching out his body in place Toma rotated his upper body. Feeling a few strong cracks let him know he was good to go. With a lunge forward he dropped and ran down the hill leading straight in to the woods. He decided to complete this mission while the sun was up. Sadly all he knew was that bandits guarded the scroll. Their numbers were something he'd have to discuss while on site. As he traversed through the woods he went over the battle plan in his head.

His goal was the scroll and to kill everyone there. So he needed to identify the main tent quickly. The main tent would be the most likely position and safe spot for the scroll itself. Right alongside the boss of the camp. In the distance, tents made his line of sight as Toma slid to a halt finding a tree for cover. He was still about 40m away from the group after gauging the distance properly.

WC: 164

The sun having been set meant that should be transitioning to rest for the night. As such looked up at the tree and executed his next move. Bounding up with a strong jump of 2m to grab the closest branch. With a simple muscle-up he pulled himself up. He was careful to not test his luck with his own weight. He was quick to move along the branch and continued to jump up the tree. As such, he found his way onto the tree top not before long. At this point, he was roughly 5m off the ground. Hidden among the tree he took the opportunity to peek at the camp from above.

The tents were set up in a circular formation. They were all a beige color with a large fire sitting at the center of the camp. A large black tent stood out in the back a distance away from the others. Racks and other camp gear were littered around the area. The easiest thing he could do from here is set some of the tents on fire. With that he could a good few of them while conserving his energy.


WC:194

A single bandit seemed to be on guard. Sitting around the campfire he had a weapon on his hip. However, Toma couldn't make out the weapon from this distance. He sighed disappointed but he would need to get closer. Perched in the tree he kept his eyes on the target. Time went by for at least an hour or so. As such a guard swap was happening. Another of the bandits had left the tent to replace the guard by the fire. Now was the time to strike he figured.


Carefully scaling his way back down the tree Toma crept through the woods. Silent footsteps and even more silent breath. His eyes were trained and his body on high alert. Making it to the edge of the camp the bandit at the campfire was only 3m away. Now he counted the steps closing in. Not before long, he was on the bandit unbeknownst to his whereabouts.

WC:157

He struck like lightning driving his foot into the man's temple. Knocking him out of his seat. His head should be ringing Toma thought as he jumped over to land on his throat stomping the man's face in until he didn't move anymore.. Looking around the struggle didn't stir anyone it seemed as he looked to the pile of firewood next to the fire. Grabbing two large stick he put the ends into the flame.


Both of the sticks caught fire as Toma began to run around the camp. He ran to each individual tent and would catch the end on fire before moving on to the next one. Throwing the final torch inside one of the tents before running out towards the woodline. He did this to avoid being in direct line of site of any of the bandits. As such they started to pile out from the panic and some even screamed from being burned alive.

WC:162

The bandits despite being ambushed were quick to assemble. The survivors rushed from their tents weapons drawn. The camp started to go up in flames as they took up arms and slowly encircled him as Toma clapped his hands together. A yellow magic circle appeared underneath him as his arms were covered in crackles of lightning. Gaining a c-rank strength buff Toma eye's darted around him. The bandits were all in a strong stance moving in a slow circle slowly enclosing on him while maintaining a formation. They were a little too well trained for simple bandits. Godfrey had gotten him into some nonsense yet again.

3m was close enough as Toma extended his arm locking on to his first victim. Running forward Toma rushed the swordsman prompting a return attack. Stopping in his tracks Toma tileted his head back. The sword dragged right before his eyes as a yellow magic circle appeared by his arm covering it in lightning. With the slight space after the wide swing Toma stepped in with his right foot dragging his lightning clad arm across the man's neck.


WC:187

Spoiler:

The blood sprayed as he cut the man's neck before the others rushed him. Toma took half a step as he ducked to the ground. Multiple stabs crossed overhead as he grabbed the sword from the fallen bandit and slashed upward. He was able to hit one going through his head letting the sword fly out. 3 enemies he thought jumping back. The three spread out as one took the lead with the attack. With a slash, Toma had taken a wide step and rolled his upper body. He let the man slip past him before taking two quick steps and exploding with a front kick. He planted the blow into the man's chest shoving him to the ground.

The 3rd man backed off as the first turned to strike again. Toma used his foot kick in his wrist bending it backward and breaking it. Following up he threw in an elbow to his jaw and started to throw a flurry of strikes. Seeing the last man shake as Toma turned to look at the cracked neck before slowly walking towards him. Edging backward amongst the flames the bandit tripped over a dead body and fell to the ground as Toma jumped in the air. He cocked his leg and smashed his head in with a sigh looking at the carnage. The last tent a man had spread the curtains and walked out staring down Toma.

WC:238

865/1000

Spoiler:

Toma looked back at the man blood stained on his face and clothes walking closer and closer."What do you want trash?" The bandit leader called out to him."I'm going to need the scroll from you. " The bandit leader's face grew sullen ." You want nothing to do with this dark magic boy. Foolish..." He spat out as Toma smirked it was time for him to die. Toma smacked his palms together. Another yellow magic circle appearing underneath his body as his legs appeared with rings of lightning. The bandit leader  made a fist as a brown magic circle appeared on the ground. The bandit leader slammed his fist in to the dirt releasing a wave of spiky earth to rise and attack Toma.


Lunging to his left Toma sighed in annoyance. A earth magic user and not to mention it seemed he was outclass in strength.  Toma needed to use his speed and end this in one strike. Make him think the fight was one sided and overwhelm him. Extending his palms a yellow magic circle appeared firing a .5m ball of lightning. Toma raced behind it focused on closing the 5 as the spell traveled at double velocity. The magician barely had time to dodge the first strike before Toma came on with a overhand left. This prompted the bandit leader to roll out of the way as Toma kept trying to stop on him. However another brown magic circle appeared underneath Toma forcing him to jump back 2m. A large pillar unearthered which would have sent him flying.

Wide circular steps brought him around the pillar gracefully to allow him to attack with his signature front kick blocked by the band leader's arm. He continued with a feint to his face with a right palm strike. However pulling short he used the opportunity to kick him in his lead knee. In retalaiation the bandit leader started to throw a combination of jabs. Toma easily manuevered around the larger opponent before breaking off and running back towards the burning camp. An assault of earth magic made its way towards Toma as he dodged spikes rising from the ground. Dodging , rolling and vaulting kept him alive before he turned to the man lunging in front of him. Toma cocked back both of his arms and launched them into the bandit leader's stomach. A magic circle appeared launching him backwards 6 m landing in to the very earth spike he summoned piercing him through his chest. Toma released all of his spells as the man squirmed out the last few instances of his life.


Walking past all of the carnage he finally entered the last tent. Finding a chest he saw a journal which he skimmed through. It had seemed that was no ordinary bandit leader but a holy knight undercover. He ignored it and found what he was truly looking for the scroll for the weapon. Toma tucking away the scroll had scavenged a sword and made sure to stab every dead body to make sure there was no survivors and he was on his way.

WC:521

730/1000

Spoiler:

Entering the back door Toma handed the scroll to Godfrey as he shut the door behind them.Toma had gone to his hideout to clean up before coming here. It made sense as to not lead a trail of blood making anything look suspicious. Besides, the smell was absolutely atrocious after a while. Always meeting in his shop at night after a job it seemed. Godfrey walked behind his counter as Toma leaned against it to catch his breath finally. Tapping the counter out of boredom he watched his client closely. He picked out that Godfrey's eyes grew wide after reading the contents of the scroll forcing a yawn from Toma. He just wanted to get paid already. Godfrey reached down and grabbed the envelope from beneath his counter and slid it to Toma. He started to clear out of his throat before speaking to him.

"I need you to leave alright. I'll contact you again if I need your services." Toma snatched the money and waved the man off. However part of him was wondering why the urgency. Toma didn't really look the scroll over himself. All he knew was that it was related to some dark magic. But cursed blade or not payment was payment. Walking out in to the back-alley Toma slipped out. it was time to find even more work and continue on his path. Another day in the life of a dark mage he figured.

WC:244 TWC: 1,509