Chapter 8: This time, it’s my turn to protect you.

Thunderbolt-shattered ice fragments were still scattering in the air as Dongfang Jiang stood up from the rubble, most of his right sleeve burned away.

The Bandit Chief carried his giant axe and walked toward him step by step.

With each step, the Lightning Ring on his ring finger emitted an arc of electricity, crackling.

“Kid, if you kneel down now, I’ll spare your life.”

The Bandit Chief grinned.

He had originally intended to use Dongfang Jiang’s head as a warning to the Adventurer’s Guild.

But after a brief exchange, he changed his mind.

If the Mountain Stronghold wanted to advance further, they needed talent like Dongfang Jiang.

“A capable man like you would be far better off working for me than being some adventurer.”

Dongfang Jiang didn’t answer.

His attention was entirely on the map in his mind.

Pandana’s coordinates were moving quickly, already circling around into the building behind the Bandit Chief.

[Host, your current energy is only 11.45%.]

The System’s notification tone rang in his ears, with a rare hint of concern in its voice.

‘I know.’

Dongfang Jiang took a deep breath.

He could no longer control the Longsword for long periods, so he could only summon it and hold it horizontally in front of himself.

A layer of thin ice formed on the blade, reflecting a cold light under the afternoon sun.

“Ungrateful fool.”

The Bandit Chief snorted coldly, then swung his giant axe down violently.

Purple lightning coiled around the axe blade as it struck the ground, sending rubble and arcs of electricity exploding simultaneously.

Dongfang Jiang dodged to the side, but the residual thunderbolt still hit his left shoulder.

The sharp pain made him grunt, and the Longsword nearly slipped from his hand.

“Is that all? Where’s that fighting spirit from before?”

The Bandit Chief laughed heartily.

He was relieved now.

Though he was no match for Dongfang Jiang when he was controlling the sword, facing an energy-depleted Dongfang Jiang, the Bandit Chief felt no pressure at all.

The Bandit Chief swung his axe again.

This strike was even faster than before.

Dongfang Jiang had no time to dodge and could only block with his Longsword.

The deafening clash of metal made his ears ring.

He was knocked back several steps, the webbing of his sword hand split open, blood dripping down the hilt.

Most of the energy left in his body was Glacier Energy.

If he unleashed it all, he could indeed put up a fight against the Bandit Chief.

But after that battle, he would be completely incapacitated.

And then there was Pandana…

“Mr. Dongfang!”

A voice came from behind—Pandana.

Dongfang Jiang turned and saw her supporting the Rich Merchant’s Daughter as they came out of a side door.

The girl’s face was pale, her dress covered in dust, but she didn’t seem too badly injured.

“Take her and leave!” Dongfang Jiang shouted.

“But…”

“Go!”

With the last of his strength, Dongfang Jiang hurled his Longsword at the Bandit Chief.

This forced the Bandit Chief to dodge to the side.

Biting her lip, Pandana dragged the Rich Merchant’s Daughter and ran toward the entrance of the stronghold.

She knew staying would be useless; frontal combat wasn’t her strength.

But her steps grew slower and slower.

She remembered yesterday, how Dongfang Jiang had stood alone in front of her, facing three armed men.

Back then, they had just met.

Back then, she didn’t even know his name.

Dongfang Jiang’s voice surfaced from her memory.

“But from now on, you are not alone.”

“Liar.”

Pandana stopped in her tracks and pushed the Rich Merchant’s Daughter into a patch of grass nearby.

“Hide and don’t come out.”

“You…”

The Rich Merchant’s Daughter looked at her in bewilderment.

“I said, hide.”

Pandana turned around and ran back toward the stronghold.

On the ring finger of her right hand, the dark green ring was glowing wildly.

…………

Inside the stronghold, Dongfang Jiang had been cornered against a wall.

The Bandit Chief’s giant axe carved deep trenches around him, the residual thunderbolts nearly paralyzing his body.

Leaning against the wall, he gasped for air, his vision starting to blur.

[Host, if this continues, you will die.]

‘Shut up.’

Dongfang Jiang cursed inwardly and forced himself to focus.

The System attempted to initiate Proxy Combat for Dongfang Jiang, but his physical condition did not support Proxy Combat.

He had enough energy for one last strike.

But after that strike, he would completely lose consciousness.

And whether Pandana and the Rich Merchant’s Daughter could escape, he didn’t know.

Just as he was preparing to fight to the death, a dark green beam shot from behind him, striking the Bandit Chief’s back with precision.

“?!”

The Bandit Chief staggered a step and turned to look.

Pandana stood at the entrance of the stronghold, Swamp Moon floating behind her, the patterns on the circular wheel slowly rotating.

Her eyes were no longer clear, but had turned a deep, dark green like a bottomless swamp.

Her expression was calm as she looked at Dongfang Jiang and the Bandit Chief.

Dongfang Jiang froze.

“What are you doing back here…”

“I came back to save you.”

Pandana walked over to him, reached out, and gently supported his arm.

Her fingers were cold, but the moment they touched Dongfang Jiang’s skin, a gentle current of energy surged into his body.

It was the Energy Feedback of Swamp Energy.

“Pandana…”

“Don’t talk.”

Pandana interrupted him.

“You can Harmonize our energy. So if we want to turn this around, this is the only way.”

Dongfang Jiang began to Harmonize the energy Pandana was pouring into him, but at the same time, he could feel her hand growing colder and colder.

“That’s enough, Pandana…”

“Not enough.”

Pandana tightened her grip on his arm.

She stared straight into Dongfang Jiang’s eyes as memories of their first meeting replayed in her mind.

“Mr. Dongfang, do you know? Before I met you, I hadn’t eaten for three days. That abandoned Old Mining Area was where I lived. I picked up iron nails to sell for money, sometimes caught fish in the river, but most of the time, I could only drink water.”

Her voice was soft, as if she were talking about something trivial.

“I’m not afraid of dying. Someone like me, no one would care if I died.”

“But…”

She lifted her head, and something glistened in her eyes.

“But you’re different. You could have just ignored me, you could have sold the ring for money, you could have lived well on your own. But you didn’t. You bought me food, you bought me clothes, you took me to the Adventurer’s Guild, and you accepted quests I could handle. You’re the first person in so long… who saw me as a human being.”

Dongfang Jiang opened his mouth to say something, but found he couldn’t say anything.

“So, Mr. Dongfang.”

Pandana let go, and Swamp Moon slowly rose behind her, the dark green light growing brighter.

“This time, let me protect you.”

Dongfang Jiang knew that what he needed to do now was to Harmonize the energy Pandana had given him.

Once the Harmonization was complete, that would be the time to turn the tables.