The battle raged on under the scorching midday sun. Dust churned in the air as three groups of adventurers fought to protect the merchant caravan from an overwhelming onsught of bandits. The caravan, a collection of carts piled high with goods, creaked and swayed under the constant barrage of arrows and sword strikes. The sound of steel cshing with steel echoed across the pin, mixed with the desperate shouts of both sides. The adventurers, though seasoned warriors, were beginning to feel the weight of exhaustion. Fatigue hung in the air like a suffocating fog.

  The first group, made up of four adventurers, was positioned on the left fnk of the caravan, using a mix of swords and spells to hold back the wave of attackers. Their leader, a burly dwarf named Grun, barked orders as he swung his warhammer with brutal force, sending bandits flying with each powerful strike. He was strong, but the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming. His group was skilled, but even they were feeling the pressure.

  On the right side, the second group of six adventurers was engaged in a fierce battle. They were an eclectic mix—two humans, an elf, a half-orc, and two dwarves. Their leader, Kaelen, a tall and imposing elf with silver hair, commanded the battlefield with the grace of a dancer. His longbow never missed its mark, cutting down bandit after bandit, while his companions held the line. Kaelen's sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, but even he could see the tide was turning against them. His group was wearing thin, and the bandits showed no sign of relenting.

  In the center, the smallest group, consisting of three adventurers, were holding the middle of the caravan, guarding the merchant carts with their lives. The leader, a quiet, stoic woman named Era, stood at the front, her twin swords fshing in the sunlight as she cut through the bandits with deadly precision. Her group was fast, but they were severely outnumbered. She could hear the merchants behind her, their panic rising as they huddled together for protection.

  The caravan's merchants, terrified by the sheer violence around them, cowered behind their carts, eyes wide with fear. They had never expected this kind of attack on their journey to the city, and the reality of the situation was sinking in. The caravan’s guards had been caught off guard, and now it was up to the adventurers to hold the line, but even they were faltering. The bandits had numbers on their side, and the adventurers’ stamina was quickly running out.

  A bandit captain, tall and grizzled, led a charge toward the rear of the caravan, where the merchants were. His grin was savage, and he shouted orders to his men to close in. Grun swung his hammer again, but it only gnced off the captain’s armor, and the captain retaliated with a brutal swing of his axe. Grun grunted in pain but stood his ground, unwilling to let the bandits break through.

  Kaelen's eyes narrowed as he watched the battle unfold. He had to act fast. "We need a counterattack!" he shouted, his voice commanding. "Form up! Push them back!"

  The group of six adventurers, already weary, regrouped and pushed forward with a renewed sense of purpose. Kaelen loosed another arrow, striking down a bandit who had been aiming for the merchants. Era’s twin bdes fshed in a flurry of movement as she cut down two more bandits. Her face was grim, but her focus never wavered.

  But despite their best efforts, the bandits were relentless. The sheer number of attackers was starting to overwhelm them. The adventurers, who had fought through countless battles, were now struggling to maintain their footing. Their armor was dented and their weapons dulled from the constant battle. They had pushed forward once, but now they were on the defensive, each moment more desperate than the st.

  From the corner of his eye, Kaelen saw something that made his blood run cold.

  On a nearby cliff, silhouetted against the bright sun, stood a figure. The light made it difficult to discern details, but there was no mistaking the figure’s presence. It was tall and imposing, its shape almost ethereal. Kaelen's heart skipped a beat. The figure was moving—no, it was leaping. The adventurers and bandits alike stopped in their tracks, their gazes drawn to the figure as it descended from the cliff.

  The ground shook with a violent force when the figure nded, sending a massive cloud of dust into the air. It felt as though the earth itself trembled under the impact. The bandits, who had been gaining ground, froze. The adventurers, equally stunned, stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them. For a moment, the entire battlefield was silent.

  Kaelen’s thoughts raced. The power that emanated from the figure was unmistakable. He had seen ascended beings before—those who had reached the first and second ascension—but this… this was different. The raw strength, the aura of authority and danger, could only belong to someone of the highest caliber. Kaelen’s heart pounded in his chest as realization dawned on him.

  That figure—whoever it was—had to be a Third Ascension.

  First ascensions were common. Most adventurers would reach their first ascension within two years of joining the guild, their bodies and minds becoming more attuned to the energies of the world. Many adventurers would reach ascension 2 at some point in their careers, gaining greater power and abilities. But Ascension 3… that was something else entirely. Only a handful of people in the world ever reached that level, and they were legends. Ascension 3s were incredibly rare, and those who reached it were often feared and revered, with some even holding positions of immense power in kingdoms.

  The bandits, too, seemed to realize the gravity of the situation. Fear spread across their ranks like wildfire. They had just encountered someone who was far beyond their strength—someone who could annihite them with a single move. Even the captain hesitated, his axe lowering as he surveyed the figure in front of him.

  As the dust began to settle, the figure’s outline became clearer, and Kaelen could make out more details. The person’s armor gleamed in the sunlight, but it was far from ordinary. The chest pte and shoulder guards were sleek, dark, and fitted to the body like they were part of the person’s very being. The legs were armored, and knee-high boots completed the ensemble. But what stood out the most was the figure’s arms—pitch bck, like they had been dipped in ink or shadow, creating an eerie contrast against the figure’s otherwise pale white skin. The cloak, though open, billowed slightly in the wind, revealing the figure’s exposed stomach. The cloak itself looked worn and ragged, but it only added to the intimidating aura of the person standing before them.

  Kaelen's mind raced, trying to process what he was seeing. Whoever this person was, they were on a different level altogether. The adventurers, now all in a simir state of awe and terror, could only watch as the figure stepped forward.

  The figure's movements were fluid and swift. In a blur, they engaged the bandits with ruthless precision, their bckened arms cutting through the air with deadly force. The bandits barely had time to react as the figure’s weapons—whatever they were—sliced through their ranks like butter. In moments, several bandits were dead, their bodies falling to the ground with unnatural ease.

  The adventurers, though skilled, had no choice but to watch in disbelief. They had been fighting tooth and nail to protect the merchants, but this mysterious figure was wiping out the bandits with a level of power they had never witnessed before.

  As the st of the bandits fell, the figure turned toward the caravan. The merchants, who had been cowering in fear, were now too stunned to move. The figure’s gaze swept across the merchants and adventurers alike, and for a moment, the entire battlefield felt like it had come to a standstill.

  Kaelen, still shaking from the shock, was the first to recover. He stepped forward, his voice hoarse. "Who… who are you?"

  The figure, her violet eyes glowing faintly, turned to face him. Her expression was unreadable, but there was no mistaking the quiet authority in her presence. She gnced toward the leader of the merchants, who had also gathered the courage to approach.

  "I… I have no words for your gratitude," the merchant leader stammered. "But please, we could use your help for the rest of our journey. We will pay you anything we can. In fact… I have a [Rare Skill Book]. One that can help you unlock a skill."

  The woman—Yuki—paused, her gaze lingering on the merchant. Then, without a word, she nodded. "I will accompany you."

  The merchants face lit up with glee while the adventurers frowned at there new arrival but before they could protest the merchant spoke again "M-might i get y-your name miss?"

  The figure nodded and spoke her name "Yuki. Just Yuki" Kaelen tried to wrap his head around that name but he couldn't remember any third ascensions called Yuki. That only serviced to make him more wary of there new addition. An unknown Third Ascension could not be good news for anyone. But before he could bring up these concerns with the merchant he spoke once more "A-alright then Miss Yuki I'm happy to have you joining us for the rest of our journey please join me on the caravan miss." Yuki nodded and joined the man before he ordered the adventurers to take a small break and get onto one of the other caravans for a while. And so Just like that Yuki joined a merchant caravan on there journey to the nearest city.

  Kiera_Yanagi