The Gravity Villain's Silent Return

Chapter 5: Journey Begins (Part 3)

"This Is My Power"

The leader of the group, a large man with a grizzled beard and a scar running across his cheek, raised his hand to signal the others to halt. His piercing eyes scanned Ain and Sophie, his gaze lingering on Ain specifically with unnerving intensity. Dismounting with a deliberate thud, he smirked, exuding a confidence born of authority.

"Well, well," he drawled, his voice rough and mocking. "What do we have here?"

Ain felt a cold bead of sweat trace a path down his temple. The man's predatory stare sent a chill through him, an instinctual warning that this was the eyes of a man who has nothing to lose.

The leader gestured lazily toward their horses. "Hand 'em over—along with any coin you've got. Wouldn't want things to get ugly now, would we?"

"Tch" Sophie's displeasure was clear as she dismounted fluidly, positioning herself between Ain and the riders. Her sharp, disdainful tone cut through the tense air. "And who exactly are you to make such demands?"

The leader's scarred face twisted into a smirk, the jagged line pulling taut across his cheek. "We're from Villor. Ever heard of it?"

The name hit Ain like a thunderclap. Villor. A single word laden with his past he had decieded to bury till he regains his memories.Ain's heart raced as a terrifying thought surfaced: What if they recognize me?

Without further thoughts Ain immediately pulled his hood lower, masking his face as he activated the cloak's enchantment. A faint tingle spread through his body as the magic altered his features, shifting the color of his natural crimson eyes to shimmering silver.

Sophie noticed the subtle transformation and shot him a questioning glance however she chose not to comment. Her focus remaining fixed on the bandits, her expression a mask of calm defiance.

"Villor, huh?" Sophie's voice carried an edge now, sharp and probing. "Funny. I've heard Villor's men don't stoop to ambushing travelers for a couple of horses and loose change."

The leader's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, but he recovered quickly, barking a harsh laugh. "Times change, lady. Now, be smart and hand over what we asked for. Or do I need to spell it out for you?"

Sophie tilted her head, her gaze unwavering. "You don't look like anyone from Villor. And trust me, I'd know."

A murmur of unease rippled through the bandits. One of the younger men shifted in his saddle, his hand twitching toward his dagger. Ain's keen eyes caught the movement, but he pretended not to notice his disguised gaze fixed on the ground.

The leader's narrowed eyes flicked toward Sophie. "Don't test my patience, woman. Villor's men don't need to explain themselves."

"They also don't wear rags or prey on travelers like common thieves."Sophie said evenly

The bandits exchanged uncertain glances. One of them, a wiry man with missing teeth, leaned toward the leader and muttered, "Boss, maybe we should—"

"Shut it," the leader snapped, irritation flaring in his voice.

Sophie pressed her advantage further. "If you're really from Villor, prove it. What's the name of the leader of the Iron Watch?" Her tone was steady, even though she had no idea of the answer herself.

The leader's jaw tightened, and a flicker of doubt crossed his face. He shot a warning glance at his men, silencing any potential dissent.

"That's what I thought," Sophie said with a faint, confident smile. "You're just common thieves hiding behind Villor's name to scare people."

The leader growled low in his throat, his hand hovering near the hilt of his mace. The other bandits shifted uneasily, their earlier bravado waning under Sophie's unyielding gaze.

"Now," she continued, her voice cold and commanding, "if you value life turn around and leave before this gets messy."

The leader's scarred face twisted in frustration he had never been humiliated like this before. Despite his lower-class lifestyle he had always been at the top due to his talent in physical Qi enhancement, In a fit of rage his eyes darted between Ain and Sophie,and a heavy grunt escaped his lips, a sound thick with menace

The atmosphere grew charged, thick with unspoken threats. Ain could feel the leader's Ether energy radiating, its oppressive weight far surpassing Sophie's. Causing all the horses present to let out unified distressed wails.

However despite the tension, Ain's nerves remained steady. His calmness was unnerving, even to himself, as if an inner confidence had awakened. A faint dark aura flickered around the edges of his cloak, subtle but undeniable.

The leader dismounted slowly, his boots landing heavily on the ground. "You're not going anywhere," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Sophie stood her ground, her arms crossed, her defiant aura unwavering. "You're making a mistake," she warned. "If you want a fight, we'll make sure you regret it."

The leader's sneer deepened. "Talk is cheap when you're facing real power," he snarled, signaling his men to encircle them.

Ain's sharp mind assessed the situation. Five against two. The odds were grim, but Sophie's unwavering confidence stirred something within him. His grip tightened as he felt the Ether surging through his veins.

The leader's hand moved to the mace at his side, the motion slow and deliberate. Sophie, meanwhile, shifted her stance, green Qi swirling around her sword. Plum blossoms of energy hovered in the air, a testament to her focus and power.

The moment stretched taut, each side poised for the inevitable clash.

"This," Ain thought as his silver eyes gleamed beneath his hood, might actually be a good thing. He wanted to know truly just how powerful he is, However he decided not go all out (using gravity manipulation) as it sounded like an ability his past self used extensively.

In less than a second after Ain's monologue the tension broke like a snapped bowstring.

The leader lunged forward, his mace arcing through the air with a deafening whistle. In retaliation Sophie moved instantly, her sword slicing upward to intercept. The clash of metal reverberated through the clearing, the force of collision sending shockwaves through the ground.

Ain, still cloaked in his altered form, stepped back to analyze the chaos unfolding. Sophie's movements were swift and deliberate each strike forcing the leader to adjust his stance. The green Qi around her sword flared brighter with each exchange, her mastery evident in the sharp precision of her attacks.

The bandits however didn't hesitate, spreading out to encircle them. One of the younger men, emboldened by numbers, rushed Ain with a dagger aimed straight for his chest. Ain's instinct took over. He sidestepped fluidly, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it with brutal efficiency. The dagger clattered to the ground, and a swift palm strike to the bandit's chest sent him sprawling.

"That's easier than I thought," Ain muttered, his voice calm despite the adrenaline coursing through him.

Two more bandits charged at him, thier weapons raised. Ain's cloak shimmered as he spun low, sweeping one off his feet with a well-timed kick. The second bandit swung a club, narrowly missing Ain's head. Seizing the opportunity, Ain grabbed the man's arm and slammed an elbow into his jaw dropping him like a sack of grain with his blood splattered around Ain's elbow.

Across the clearing, Sophie was locked in a fierce duel with the leader. His mace smashed against her defenses, forcing her back step by step. But Sophie wasn't deterred. With a sharp cry, she unleashed a furry of strikes, her Qi forming petals that cut through the air like blades. One slash grazed the leader's shoulder, drawing blood and a growl of rage.

"You've got skill," the leader spat, wiping at the crimson streak. "But it won't save you."

He roared, his Qi flaring red as his muscles bulged unnaturally. With a single swing, his mace shattered a nearby boulder, the fragments scattering like shrapnel. Sophie barely dodged, her eyes narrowing as she calculated her next move.

Meanwhile, Ain faced the remaining two bandits. They hesitated, clearly unnerved by how easily he'd handled thier comrades.

"To late to back out now," Ain said coldly, stepping toward them. He felt a strange pull deep within him, as if begging to be unleashed. His silver eyes glinted, and for the first time, he allowed a fraction of his power to surface. Dark tendrils of energy coiled around his fist,crackling faintly exuding a chilling hum as if the air itself recoiled.

One bandit rushed, forward desperation fueling his attack. Ain parried with an upward strike of his forearm, then drove his fist into the man's stomach. The tendrils of dark energy lashed out on impact, sending the bandit flying back with a cry of pain.

The final bandit dropped his weapon and fled into the forest after witnessing the rout, shouting incoherent apologies. Nontheless Ain didn't bother cashing him.

Turning back, Ain saw Sophie struggling under the relentless assualt of the leaders mace. Her strokes growing slower, her Qi flickering as exhaustion crept in. The leader grinned savagely sensing victory.

But Ain was already moving.

In a blur, he appeared behind the leader, his cloak billowing like smoke. Before the man could react, Ain delivered a brutal kick to the back of the knee forcing him to stumble. Sophie seized the moment her sword slashing upward in a glowing arc. The blade struck true, carving a deep gash across the leaders chest.

Drops of blood dripped down his chest as the man howled in pain, his Qi faltering. Ain didn't hesitate. He surged forward, his fist wreathed in dark energy, and delivered a crushing blow to the leader's stomach. The impact sent the man hurtling back, his bloddy body skidding to a stop in the dirt.

Panting, Sophie lowered her sword, the blossoms of her energy dissipating around her. "Well,"she said, glancing at Ain, "that was impressive."

Ain pulled his hood lower, making the faint smirk on his lips. "I just didn't want them to ruin the journey."

The leader groaned weakly, clutching his chest as he struggled to sit up. Ain crouched beside him, his silver eyes glinting ominously " Next time you think about robbing travelers remember this moment". His voice was low, carrying an edge that sent a shiver through the defeated man.

Without another word, Ain stood and turned to Sophie. "Let's go. We've wasted enough time here."

She nodded, a mix of curiosity and validation flickered in her gaze. As they mounted thier horses and rode away, the clearing fell silent, save for the groans of the fallen bandits.

For what felt like the first time, Ain felt the thrill of his strength. "So this," he thought, "is my power."