Operation: "The Grand Escape"

   Everyone got ready to start the operation. I took off one of my shoes and hurled it through the bars with as much force as I could manage. It flew through the air and disappeared into the trees ahead.

   From the information I got from the beastmen, the bandits were six in total—all sitting up front in the jeep while we were locked in the trailer behind, trapped in a cage like livestock. They didn’t even bother leaving one of their own to check on us. Whether that was overconfidence or just plain idiocy, I wasn’t sure. Probably both.

   Each one of them was armed with mana weapon. The name wasn’t exactly creative—it sounded like something you’d come up with last minute in a board meeting—but more important was the fact that they were carrying military-grade firepower. That part didn’t make sense. Mana weapons weren’t supposed to be available to civilians, let alone low-level criminals. I’d seen Zephyra build and test one before. The output alone could destroy a building.

   With weapons like that, it wasn’t surprising they’d been able to destroy the entire beastmen village with only a handful of people.

   But let's leave it for later. Right now, what mattered was getting everyone out alive—and I already knew that trying to take those bandits head-on would be suicide. So I decided to call a "backup". 

   A deep, guttural roar suddenly echoed through the forest, shaking the air around us. The beastmen froze, their eyes wide with fear. I smirked slightly, though my own pulse was racing.

   Me and Bell met him yesterday around this area. As I thought, that is its territory.

   The trees ahead snapped loudly, and something massive moved through the underbrush. Leaves flew into the air, and branches were pushed aside like they were nothing. Then it emerged.

   A massive bear emerged from the shadows, its hulking frame nearly filling the entire path. No, it wasn’t just a bear—it was a monster in every sense of the word. Its fur was pitch black, dense and tangled, and its enormous body looked like it could flatten a small house with a single step. Embedded across its shoulders and back were glowing green gems, pulsing faintly with energy, as if its very body was laced with something unnatural.

   “What the hell?!” one of the bandits yelled from the front, his voice cracking in disbelief. “It’s an... Emerald Bear?!”

   Emerald Bear is a rare, dangerous creature. Their gems are worth a lot of money, but it’s practically impossible to take them, since not only those bears are strong and have great stamina and endurance, they are 100% resistant to magic.

   Normally, they’re peaceful creatures, preferring to keep to themselves. They’re not naturally aggressive unless they sense hostility or are driven by hunger. 

   Last time I assumed that it was hungry the moment it started sniffing our fishes, but luckily I was mistaken. There is no way we would manage to run away if that bear was serious. I don't want to even think about what would have happened to us if it got us...

   Anyway, as you can guess already, I showed my hostility to it by shooting my shoe right at its head.

   The bear let out another roar, louder than before, and stomped toward the jeep.

   “Everyone! Phase one is clear! Time for phase two!” I shouted.

   Everyone rushed to the far side of the cage, just as planned.

   The bandits were only just realizing what was happening. I could hear the panic in their voices as the Emerald Bear charged at full speed.

   It slammed into the cage with a thunderous crash, its body easily twisting the metal bars like paper. The impact sent the trailer flipping sideways into a ditch, dragging the jeep along with it.

   When the dust settled, the bars were bent and warped—just enough for us to slip through.

   “Phase two clear! Time for phase three!” I called out, already helping the first few escape.

   One by one, the beastmen sprinted out of the cage and disappeared into the woods. They followed the path I’d given them, heading west—the direction of Zephyra’s house. I told them to let her know I was bringing guests. The house had its own defensive systems, so they’d be safe there. The bandits wouldn’t be able to follow, not without getting themselves fried.

   Meanwhile, the bandits took their mana weapons and tried to fight back the Emerald Bear, who turned its focus at them. Sadly, the bear, now fully enraged, tore through them like they were made of straw. Screams echoed through the trees as one after another was ripped apart, their weapons doing nothing to slow it down. Blood stained the forest floor, and the chaos only grew louder.

   I glanced at the mess, my eyes narrowing. “Looks like everything is going according to plan,” I muttered. “Although... it’s not over yet.”

   Most of the captives had made it out safely. Only Bell, the girl in the hood, and I were left.

   I helped both of them get out of the cage and we all ran toward the designated escape point, making sure to stick to the plan­—

   But out of nowhere… I felt a sudden, sharp sensation—a gut instinct I couldn’t ignore. Without thinking, I shoved the hooded girl forward.

   “Get down!” I shouted.

   The next moment, pain ripped across my back. I fell to my knees, gritting my teeth as a warm, wet sensation spread over my skin. I reached back instinctively, my hand coming away sticky with blood.

   The girl turned, her hood falling slightly as she looked at me, her eyes wide with shock. “Sora!” she cried, while standing frozen, trying to comprehend what just happened.

   “You pulled a pretty good stunt on us, kid,” a cold voice called out.

   I looked up, wincing at the motion. A bandit stood there. He held a sword with a strange, jagged shape, faintly glowing.

   I forced a smirk. “So the Emerald Bear didn’t kill all of you, huh.”

   The man chuckled. “Heh... Luckily for me, Emerald Bears won’t attack unless you show signs of aggression.”

   I let out a slow breath, steadying myself despite the pain. “If you knew that from the start, why didn’t you use this knowledge to save you comrades?”.

   The bandit’s smirk faltered slightly, his grip tightening on the sword.

   “Don’t be stupid. Comrades? They were just tools for me to use. And now thanks to you I can keep all the money for this job to myself.”

   I forced myself to straighten a little, ignoring the burning pain in my back.

   “You really are a piece of trash.”

   He gave a short laugh and raised his weapon again. “You just don’t know how the world works, you stupid brat.”

   I really do have bad luck, I thought bitterly, clenching my teeth as pain flared through my back.

   The knowledge about how to avoid Emerald Bear’s rage is not well known, so I assumed that they don’t know. I forgot to take into consideration that they had at least one specialist on this field, which was highly possible since they were driving through the forest full of beasts.

   Damn it, I thought, cursing under my breath.

   Suddenly, an idea struck me. I forced myself to focus and raised my head slightly, locking eyes with the bandit. Something wasn’t right. That attack usually would be enough to cut me in half, so why…

   “...Your weapon is on low battery, right?” I finally said. That would explain why this attack was so weak.

   The bandit froze for a moment, surprise flickering across his face before he let out a short laugh. “There you have me. But it doesn’t matter.”

   He pointed the shimmering blade in my direction, his voice steady and cold. “You won’t last long with that wound. You won't be able to stop me from taking this dark elf with me. If I can at least bring her along, our boss will be satisfied for a while. After that, I’ll get a new team, come back for the rest of the goods and finish the job.”

   His words blurred in my mind as dizziness started to take over. The pain from my back was becoming unbearable, my vision tunnelling. My knees buckled slightly, and I felt myself tilting forward.

   “Sora!”

   Her voice cut through the haze like a sharp blade.

   The girl’s hood slipped back as she sprinted toward me, her silver hair cascading down her shoulders in waves that shimmered in the dappled sunlight. Her sapphire-coloured eyes were wide with fear, her youthful complexion and delicate, pointed ears fully visible now.

   Before I could fall, she reached me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and catching me just in time.

“Sora! Stay with me!” she pleaded, her voice shaking.

   She tried to help me stand, her small frame trembling with effort, but it was no use. I was too heavy, and my legs refused to cooperate.

   Still, she didn’t let go, holding me tightly as if sheer determination could keep me upright.

   Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, the bandit stepped forward and grabbed the girl by the arm. His grip was strong, and he pulled her closer with a twisted smirk.

   “It really was a miracle finding you in that village. Boss is gonna enjoy you very much.”

   The girl screamed, struggling against his hold, but it was no use. The bandit yanked her closer, his hand reaching up to grab a fistful of her silvery hair. She winced in pain, her movements desperate and frantic.

   “It would be better for you to stop struggling and listen,” the bandit said coldly, tightening his grip.

   Through the haze of pain clouding my mind, I saw what was happening. My body felt like it weighed a ton, but I forced it to move. I dragged myself forward, inch by inch, and managed to reach his leg.

   With the last of my strength, I grabbed hold of his ankle and squeezed.

   “Let... her... go...”

   The bandit glanced down, startled, before scowling. “Tch. Persistent, aren’t you?”

   Suddenly, Bell jumped in, sinking his teeth into the man’s calf.

   “Argh! You damn mutt—!”

   With a violent kick, he sent Bell flying, then raised his foot and slammed it into my face. The force of the blow sent me sprawling to the side, blood dripping from my nose.

   But even as my body hit the ground, my hand refused to let go. My fingers tightened around his leg like a vice, my grip unrelenting.

   The bandit growled in frustration, trying to pull away. “You’re really starting to piss me off!”

   Annoyed, I squeezed harder, pouring every ounce of remaining strength. My grip tightened. And then—

   Crack.

   A cracking sound echoed through the clearing, followed by the bandit’s bloodcurdling scream. He stumbled, clutching at his broken leg as his balance wavered.

   The girl, seeing her chance, yanked herself free from his grasp and scrambled away.

   “Take... Bell... and... run!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “Now!”

   The girl hesitated, her sapphire eyes wide with fear and concern. “I can’t just leave you here!”

   “Just... go!” I barked, louder this time, my voice carrying a desperate edge.

   Reluctantly, she nodded, tears forming in her eyes as she turned and darted into the forest with Bell in her arms. Her silver hair shimmered briefly in the fading light before she disappeared from view.

   Alone now, I let out a shaky breath, my body collapsing under its own weight.

   “Sorry, Zephyra,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “It looks like I won’t be able to come back.”

   The world around me faded, the pain dissolving into numbness as I lost consciousness...