Chapter 18: Ambushed by Bandits
A group of people emerged from the depths of the forest.
More than ten of them, men, women, and... someone who seemed to stand in between. All clad in black leather attire that blended too well with the shadows. Each of them held a weapon, swords, axes, hammers, and daggers that gleaming slightly under the sunlight that filtered through the trees.
From their faces, their crooked smiles, and the way they walked as if they owned the place... it was obvious.
These weren't the type of people who came to help.
They weren't nice. Not even close.
At the front of the group stood a woman with a powerful, muscular build. She had long, wavy black hair that cascaded down her back, wild and untamed like a beast. Her skin was a deep tan, kissed by the sun and hardened by battle. But it was her eyes that struck the most, piercing yellow, like those of a predator sizing up her prey. She wore a sports-bra-like top made from animal skin, exposing her toned abdomen, and long pants with the fierce image of a tiger's head stitched onto the left side of her waist.
A long scar ran down her cheek, giving her an even more intimidating presence.
She stepped forward confidently, tapping the curved dagger resting against the back of her neck with her right hand, while her left rested casually on her waist.
Her smirk was sharp.
"Looks like you've been having fun," she said, eyes darting to the fallen goblins. "Mind if we take the reward off your hands?"
"And why should we give it to you?" Maya shot back, glaring at the woman.