I quickly "Inspect" the bandits leader.
[Bandit Leader]
[Level 3]
[Strength: 15] [Agility: 10]
[Endurance: 10] [Intelligence: 6]
[Charisma: 8.5] [Perception: 15]
[Defense: 10.5] [Stamina: 10]
My eyes widened as I processed his stats. "Eevee, what the fuck?! He's Level 3, and his stats are leagues above mine. How am I supposed to beat that?"
Eevee's calm voice filled my mind. "Host, don't worry, you've got this. Stats aren't everything in a battle. If you know better tactics than your enemy, you can still overcome them, though it will be challenging."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "Eevee, how many stat points do I have right now? From my calculations, I should have 9."
Eevee "That is correct, Host. Would you like to use them?"
"Yes, put all points into Agility. That should bring it to 17.5, right?"
Eevee "Yes Host. Points have been applied."
"Good." I started walking towards the bandit leader, a new resolve hardening my expression despite the tremor in my hands. "You said something about dancing with your sword? Your sword won't be able to touch me."
I sprinted forward at breakneck speed, the air around me stirring into a breeze, my vision blurring at the edges. The bandit leader's smile widened, a predatory glint in his eyes, as he tracked my impossible acceleration. He quickly swung his massive greatsword in a wide, horizontal slash, seemingly effortless despite its size. The sheer force of the swing created a wave of compressed air that ripped across the cave floor, tearing up loose rocks and sending them spiraling towards me like shrapnel.
As I sped towards the destructive wave, I saw the ground itself fracturing under the air pressure, lines of pulverized stone radiating from the impact zone. I quickly shifted my trajectory, turning sharply towards the side wall of the cave. With a powerful leap, I kicked off the rough stone, my boots digging into the wall as I propel myself above the destructive wave. Without losing a fraction of momentum, I pushed off the cave ceiling with both feet, rocketing directly towards the bandit leader.
Just before I closed the distance, he roared, "You're a smart little fly, aren't you!" He lifted his greatsword high, bringing it down in a powerful vertical chop. I barely had time to react, crossing my two short swords in a desperate block. The impact was bone-jarring, a deafening CRACK echoing through the cave as my blades began to buckle, fine lines spiderwebbing across their surfaces under the immense, crushing pressure. My arms screamed, muscles burning.
Gritting my teeth, I poured all my remaining strength into a desperate parry, grunting with effort as I forced his greatsword away just before my swords shattered. The moment his blade cleared, I lashed out with a swift slash, my left blade biting deep into his right arm. He grunted, a low sound of pain, and a dark line of blood. He looked at his arm, then back at me, his grin returning, sharper now.
Bandit leader "You were able to cut me, I guess I should get serious."
Before I could even process his words, his free hand shot out, wrapping around my arm with a grip like iron. He yanked hard pulling me off the ground. I was then thrown violently, my body slamming into the cave wall with a sickening impact that sent cracks spreading across the stone behind me. Pain exploded in my chest and back, as a hot, metallic taste flooded my mouth. I coughed, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the floor as a status window blinked into existence.
[Host has lost 15 hp]
[Host has broken ribs]
"Fuck, I need to end this fast before he kills me," I wheezed, the words rattling in my chest. The pain in my ribs was a burning agony with every breath. I pushed myself out of the shallow indentation in the wall, forcing my protesting muscles to move. As I did, two inky-black tears appeared above my hands, dropping two fresh swords from my Inventory into my waiting grip. The Bandit Leader watched, his grin unwavering. "That's an interesting trick. Is that spatial magic?"
I didn't respond, couldn't respond. I quickly gripped the new sword hilts, the familiar weight a small comfort, and ran full speed, pushing my body to its absolute limits despite the searing pain in my sides. Everything around me became a blur. As I reached him, I moved in a lightning-fast arc, my right blade slicing across his chest in a shallow but deep cut. Without breaking rhythm, my left sword followed, lashing out at the same wound on his right arm, deepening it significantly.
I retreated, creating some much-needed distance, sucking in ragged breaths that sent fresh stabs of pain through my ribs. He stood there, completely unfazed, a chilling laugh rumbling from his chest. "Is that all you got?"
I activated Inspect again, the system overlay flickering over his form.
[Bandit Leader]
[Health: 75/100]
"This is gonna take a while at this rate... I gotta hit him harder," I muttered, the urgency a cold knot in my gut. My vision narrowed, my focus solely on his legs. I rushed at him once again, but this time, instead of striking high, I dropped low, sliding between his legs in a desperate gamble.
As I cleared his massive frame, my swords flashed out, both blades aiming for the back of his knees. I felt the blades sink into his as they connected, cutting deep. He roares in pain and surprise, his colossal body beginning to fall, his legs giving out beneath him.
"You really are a fly, aren't you?!" he snarled, trying to stop himself, but his momentum was too great. He crashed to the ground with a grunt of pain. The greatsword slipped from his grasp, clattering loudly against the stone.
Now, he was on his back, struggling to push himself up, his eyes wide with a mix of fury and dawning disbelief. His legs twitched uselessly. This was my chance. I lunged forward, my two blades held high, aiming to end this fight right now.
But he was still strong, even crippled. With a roar, he used his massive arms, still powerful, to push himself up enough to kick out with one of his now-damaged legs. The blow, despite his injury, was still enough to catch me in the side, sending me stumbling back a few steps, my broken ribs protesting with a fresh wave of agony. A new system window appears
[Host lost 8 health]
"You thought it would be that easy, runt?!" he snarled, his eyes burning with malice as he tried to claw his way towards his fallen greatsword. His movements were slow, dragged down by his crippled legs, but his intent was clear.
I coughed, more blood mixing with my spit. My vision swam for a moment, the pain a constant thrumming in my chest. My Agility was still my greatest asset. I had to use it to deny him his weapon, to finish this.
I darted around him, a blur of motion, aiming for his weapon. He saw me coming, reaching with his good arm, fingers outstretched for the hilt. But I was faster. I kick the hilt of his greatsword, sending it skittering into the dark corner of the cave.
Enraged, he roared again, twisting his upper body, his massive fist swinging in a wild, desperate arc towards my head. I ducked beneath it, the wind of his blow ruffling my hair. This was it. He was exposed. My ribs screamed, but I focused on my goal, quickly driving my right sword down. The blade punched through his rib cage with a sickening crunch, burying itself deep into his heart. I gave it a savage twist, I feel the life drain from him as his eyes glazed over and his roar died in a choked gurgle.