Episode 15: The Bandits (Part 2)
The tribespeople couldn't conceal their shock as they watched Karon point his sword at Kung-ga. Their eyes brimmed with reverence - his appearance truly resembled that of a a young demon rather than a human.
He had slaughtered ten mounted bandits without proper weapons or hesitation.
Though the distance made details unclear, bandits invariably fell wherever he passed. He eliminated them one by one until standing before them - having subdued the infamous Kung-ga in a single move.
But the tribespeople couldn't purely rejoice.
"Karon! Wait!"
The chief urgently intervened as Karon prepared to strike. When Karon paused with a questioning look, the chief awkwardly continued: "Killing him will complicate things."
"Keh-ha! Listen to the chief, brat! My death means this tribe..."
Kung-ga's arrogant shout died as Karon's blade struck his neck.
Thwack!
"Gak!"
Kung-ga collapsed unconscious.
Karon sheathed his sword and indifferently observed the trembling tribespeople stealing glances between him and the fallen bandit. His gaze returned to the chief,, demanding answers.
The chief stared dumbfounded at Kung-ga's prone form - he'd never witnessed anyone handle the bandit leader this way. Collecting himself under Karon's stare, he explained: "Kung-ga shares blood with the Desert King. If this reaches him, every tribe here faces extermination."
At Karon's tilted head, the chief elaborated: "A decade ago, a man united all desert bandits under his rule - Desert King Wuseta. His influence spans the entire Taber Desert, the only place beyond the Rob Empire's reach."
Understanding dawned on Karon - they feared retaliation worse than raids. While pillaging was survivable, this meant total annihilation.
"Don't dwell on it," the chief said bitterly. "We were leaving anyway - our oasis nears depletion. Sparing him might prevent pursuit..."
But would they truly be spared? Nonsense. They'd hunt relentlessly. Young Gaver would become an orphan... like Karon himself.
Karon's gaze drifted to Gaver clinging to his mother, both watching him with fearful eyes.
What have I done?
Karon closed his eyes. "My unnecessary..."
"Wrong," the chief cut in. "Without you, we'd have lost provisions and people. Gaver would've lost his mother. We owe you."
The chief's resolve hardened after Karon's actions. When questioned about Wuseta, he described: "A man of iron and blood, preferring violence over words. Rumors claim he absorbed a Demon's Orb to conquer the desert."
Karon's eyes sharpened at the term.
Demon's Orb.
This marked only the second time he'd heard it - the first from his parents' blue-haired killer.
"Demon's... Orb."
The chief seemed surprised by Karon's interest. "Rare artifacts. Different colors grant different powers - enhanced strength, invisibility, fire generation. Recently, more surface from deep waters..."
When Karon remained impassive, the chief awkwardly laughed. "Enough rambling. Prepare to leave by dawn."
That night, Karon approached the palm tree where Kung-ga lay bound. With two horses in tow, he kicked the bandit awake.
"Wha-? You planning to kill me?!"
Shlick!
Karon severed the palm tree ropes, leaving only Kung-ga's bindings intact. "Guide me to your base."
Kung-ga's pupils shook. Was this brat suicidal? Yet he mounted a horse with bound hands, sneering: "You'll regret this, whelp!"
As they departed, the chief watched from his hut, face clouded with concern.
Two days' hard ride through northern gravel deserts brought them to a rock mountain. Kung-ga's hands had been freed for mobility - escape attempts proved futile against Karon's preternatural awareness.
Soon I'll carve you to pieces!
Kung-ga glared at his shadow-like pursuer. Every midnight escape attempt had ended with wooden blade beatings.
His vengeful fantasies shattered when familiar shapes appeared half-buried ahead.
Bandit corpses.
Fresh blood scent struck their nostrils as they crested the final dune.
"No!!"
Before them stretched a gory mosaic - crimson sands littered with bodies leading to a cavernous mouth in the rockface. The cave's interior reeked of death, flies swarming over piled corpses including the three who'd fled days prior.
At the cavern's heart, Kung-ga wailed over a massive corpse bearing a clean chest wound:
"Lord Wuseta!!"
The would-be king's formidable frame lay cold, his tyrannical aura extinguished.
"So this is your Desert King?" Karon observed.
"YES! The great Wuseta hims—"
Swish!
Kung-ga's head tumbled as his kneeling body fountained blood.
Karon surveyed the carnage. "Seems the bandits are extinct now."
The cave echoes swallowed his words along with Kung-ga's unfinished rage.
