Chapter 261: Captured
Morris and his men immediately drew their own weapons, forming a protective circle around Lianna’s wagon. The odds were poor—six against twenty-four—but they had expected this possibility and prepared accordingly.
"We’re just merchants!" Lianna called out, playing her role despite the growing tension. "We don’t want any trouble!"
"Then you shouldn’t have brought armed guards," the bandit leader replied with cold amusement. "Real merchants hire locals for protection. Imperial guards are a dead giveaway."
The accusation sent a chill through Lianna. Their disguise had been compromised, but there was no time to consider how. The bandits were already advancing, and combat was inevitable.
"Protect the merchant!" Morris shouted, launching himself at the nearest bandit with his sword gleaming despite the rain.
The battle erupted with shocking violence as trained soldiers met desperate outlaws.
Morris raised his blade high and bellowed, "Mountain Cleaving Strike!" His sword dao technique enhanced the strike with devastating earth-based power, the blade cutting through the bandit’s weapon and armor simultaneously like they were made of wood, sending the man flying backward into his comrades.
Willem’s sword specialized in precision over power. "Needle Threading Blade," he whispered, his technique allowing him to find gaps in armor and defenses with ccuracy.
His strikes targeted vital points with surgical precision, sliding through the smallest openings in defense. Three bandits fell to his blade in the first thirty seconds of combat.
Hayes and Chen fought back-to-back, their coordinated sword dao techniques creating a whirlwind of steel that kept multiple attackers at bay.
"Sweeping Winds!" Hayes called out, his wide strikes controlling the space around them, while Chen responded with, "Darting Sparrow!" his quick, precise attacks punishing anyone who tried to close distance.
But despite their superior training and Sword Dao techniques, the guards were severely outnumbered.