For a moment, nobody moved.
The wind drifted quietly across the empty highway.
The bandit leader's smile slowly faded.
"So that's how it is," he said.
Ryan didn't answer.
Behind him, Marcus rolled his shoulders.
"Finally."
One of the bandits stepped forward, gripping a metal pipe.
"You think you can just walk through here?"
Marcus grinned.
"Yeah."
The man charged.
Marcus met him halfway.
His fist shot forward and slammed into the bandit's ribs.
Thud.
The force traveled up Marcus's arm.
The man staggered—
But didn't fall.
Marcus blinked.
"…Huh."
The bandit wheezed, then swung the pipe wildly.
Marcus jerked backward just in time, the metal bar whistling past his face.
Ryan spoke calmly behind him.
"Too slow."
Marcus scowled.
"Helpful."
The bandit lunged again.
Marcus punched a second time.
This time the mana around his fist flared—too wide, too uncontrolled.
Boom.
The man was knocked backward several steps but still managed to stay on his feet.
Ryan sighed.
"You're wasting half the mana."
Marcus glanced over his shoulder.
"Kind of busy here!"
Two more bandits rushed forward.
One headed straight for Daniel's van.
Ryan didn't move.
Instead he spoke.
"Daniel."
Daniel froze.
"Me?!"
The attacker sprinted toward him with a knife raised high.
Daniel instinctively lifted both hands.
Metal rattled loudly.
The van shuddered as several loose pieces of metal tore free.
But instead of flying straight, the fragments wobbled awkwardly through the air.
One piece bounced harmlessly off the road.
Another spun past the attacker's shoulder.
Daniel panicked.
"I'm trying!"
His hands shook as the metal wobbled midair.
The bandit closed the distance.
Ryan's voice remained calm.
"Focus."
Daniel clenched his jaw.
The side mirror of the van ripped free.
This time it shot forward properly.
Clang!
The mirror smashed into the attacker's forehead.
The man collapsed instantly.
Daniel stared.
"…Okay."
Ryan nodded once.
"Better."
Nearby, Robert Kane stepped forward with his crowbar.
Another bandit rushed him with a knife.
Robert swung.
The crowbar slammed into the man's arm.
Crack.
The knife clattered onto the asphalt.
But the attacker didn't go down.
Instead he tackled Robert.
Both men crashed onto the road.
"Damn it," Robert growled.
Marcus laughed.
"Dad!"
Robert drove his elbow into the man's face.
Then he rolled and smashed the crowbar down again.
This time the bandit stopped moving.
Marcus whistled.
"Still got it."
Robert grunted as he stood.
"Don't get used to it."
The bandit leader's expression had darkened.
Three of his men were already down.
"Kill them!" he snapped.
The remaining attackers rushed forward.
Marcus met them head-on.
He threw another punch.
Ryan watched the movement—
Then spoke.
"Compress it."
Marcus clenched his fist.
The mana flaring around his arm suddenly tightened.
Boom.
The punch landed squarely in the attacker's chest.
The man lifted off the ground before crashing onto the pavement.
Marcus blinked.
"…Oh."
Ryan nodded.
"That's better."
The final bandit hesitated.
Ryan moved.
The spear flashed once.
Thud.
The tusk blade stopped an inch from the man's throat.
The bandit froze.
Ryan's voice was calm.
"Drop it."
The weapon clattered to the ground.
Behind them, the bandit leader slowly raised his rifle.
"You think you've won?"
Ryan glanced at him.
"You brought a hunting rifle."
The man smirked.
"And?"
Ryan shrugged.
"And you should have used it earlier."
The rifle lifted.
Ryan moved.
The spear left his hand.
It spun through the air.
Thunk.
The weapon slammed into the rifle and knocked it clean from the man's grip.
The gun skidded across the asphalt.
Silence returned to the road.
Marcus stared.
"…Did you just throw your spear?"
Ryan walked forward and pulled the weapon free from the pavement.
"Yes."
Marcus shook his head.
"Show-off."
The bandit leader slowly raised his hands.
His confidence had vanished.
"You win."
His voice didn't carry the same confidence anymore.
Ryan studied him for a moment.
"Why are you blocking the road?"
The man hesitated.
Then shrugged.
"Because someone else will if we don't."
Ryan's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
The man laughed weakly.
"You think we're the only ones doing this?"
Ryan already knew the answer.
The world was changing faster than before.
People were forming groups.
Claiming territory.
Marcus kicked the fallen rifle aside.
"So what do we do with them?"
Ryan looked at the survivors on the road.
Then back at the bandits.
He pointed toward the forest.
"Run."
The men didn't hesitate.
Within seconds they were sprinting down the road.
Marcus watched them go.
"You just let them leave?"
Ryan retrieved his spear.
"They weren't worth killing."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"They were robbing people."
Ryan walked back toward the SUV.
"They'll either change…"
The engines of the convoy rumbled back to life.
"…or they'll die out here."
Marcus climbed back into the pickup.
"You know," he muttered, "this new world is weird."
Ryan glanced down the road ahead.
Then he said quietly,
"We need to start training."
Marcus looked over.
"…Training?"
Ryan started the SUV.
"Because next time the fight won't be this easy."
The convoy rolled forward again.
And the road to Havenbrook continued.
But the world ahead—
Was no longer simple.
Author's Note:
First fight against people…
Do you think Ryan made the right call letting them go?