"no matter if he really has a AMW Mars can still beat him with a sword"

the other mercenary showed a hint of disdain when Jack said Mars's name

"heh, just a iron ranked brat with good ears what can he do against a AMW?"

"so what you just suggest we surrender!?"

"all I'm saying is we stand no chance against a AMW and if the bandit leader really have one well then let's just say I don't owe Relt my life"

"...coward"

"yeah that what stupid men call smart men that know when they are beat"

the other mercenary spat on the ground and left along with his friends however he only went a little ways away before he sat down on the ground it seemed he had some backbone after all and wasn't scared away by a mere rumor told by one of the village guards

'I wonder what a AMW is...'

Mars decide to get some answers and walked over to Jack and asked

"what's a AMW?"

"you really don't know?"

"nope"

"...AMW means active mana weapon, it's basically a powerful weapon powered by a mana stone or a magic beast core"

"AMW huh... sounds neat"

"...are you confident in beating something like that?"

"sure I am, what you didn't think I showed all my tricks during simple training?"

Frank gave a smile and shook his head before he patted Mars on the shoulder

"in that case we will depend on you"

"yeah count on it"

Mars was confident that he could beat whatever a active mana arms or whatever it was

'or at the very least I die once, before I beat it...'

Mars sent a glance at the the mercenary Jack was speaking to earlier and realized he was a sliver ranked mercenary as for his name he couldn't care less only that he had some skill

'well he won't last 10 moves against me... whatever'

Mars lost interest and focused on petting Victoria on the head until the convoy come out form the walls and the mercenary's quickly got back on their feet and into formation around the convoy, as usual Mars joined Jack and Lina in the back of the convoy and as they walked Mars asked more about the AMW and gradually got a picture in his head

"so basically it's a 'hot' weapon..."

"a hot weapon?"

"it's a concept, basically a sword is a 'cold' weapon and from what you say a AMW is a 'hot' weapon"

"...huh, if you say so Mars"

Jack looked at Mars with confusion on his beast like face

'but I really didn't expect to find a hot weapon in this world...'

Mars wondered what the limit of Alfan's technology was

'well there's a concept of hours, minutes and seconds, and there's even a big clock tower in Marlton which is a mere border town...'

Mars stopped thinking about technology as his attention was caught by something else as he suddenly looked off into the forest

"a scout...I'll be right back!"

not waiting for Jack or Lina to respond Mars kicked off the ground and reappeared moments late at the front of the convoy where he quickly found Frank

"Frank, there's a scout some 300 meters off to the west do you want me to deal with him?"

"...no let's use him"

Mars gave a nod and stroked his chin

"so should I wound him until he calls for help and draw out the main force?"

"no not like that, although I like your way of thinking... for now just act like normal, but inform me again when the main force shows up"

"...I don't think I need to"

Mars pointed forwards and on a hill some 600 meters away was some 30 figures that were standing in between the trees, clearly they didn't think they needed to hide

"...s.h.i.+t, contract front 600 meters!"

when Frank yelled out the convoy stopped and the mercenary's spread out making ready to meet the bandits head on, in the middle of the group of bandits where a man a little over 190 centimeters tall that carried a large battle axe that had a big red magic beast core that was fixed in the middle of the blade even from this distance Mars felt energy radiating off the battleaxe

"I guess that's a AMW?"

"...yeah it looks like it"

Frank looked bitterly at the lead bandit before he gave a glance at Mars and asked

"can you take him?"

"hmm... sure but can I keep his battleaxe if I do?"

"fine"

"...nice"

Mars drew his sword for the first time during this contract and started walking forwards towards the bandits, completely unfazed by their numbers p.i.s.sing off the bandit leader

"it's just a brat... go finish him off"

"on it boss"

one of the bandits near the leader went forwards towards Mars with a cruel look on his face he drew a sword and began swinging it around to show off

"brat I will cut you into pieces!"

as Mars was walking towards the bandits some of the mercenary's where panicking about the AMW that had showed up in the hands of the bandit leader, some even suggested fleeing although non had the b.a.l.l.s to flee right now it was only a matter of time, only Lina and Jack looked calm as they had faith in Mars

"your the first?"

Mars had stopped in front of him stood the bandit less than 10 meters away

"first what?"

"...never mind"

Mars disappeared from view making the bandit panic for less then one second, as after one second he lost the ability to panic

*SNAP*

after a loud snapping sound Mars reappeared behind the bandit that fell over, his neck twisted in the wrong direction

"one down.... 32 to go..."

Mars kept walking towards the bandits that was no longer laughing at him nor was he treating him as a mere brat

"...number 3 and 4 get him"

the bandit leader had a slightly grim look on his face as he commanded his 2 subordinates, clearly Mars's display had sobered him up

""on it boss""

at this point some of the mercenary's had also stopped panicking as they had clearly seen Mars's speed

"...the next two, sword and bow underlings"

the 2 underlings carried a sword and a bow and the one with the bow dipped the head of the arrow into a flask with some green liquid before he nocked it on his bow while the other took up position to protect the bowman

"so that how you want to play?"

Mars stuck his sword into the ground and waved his hand swiftly summoning 3 fire spears that shot forwards towards the 2 panicked bandits

"s.h.i.+t, he's a fire mage!"

the bandit with the bow managed to doge the fire spear that was sent after him but the one with the sword wasn't so lucky, the only lucky thing was he was. .h.i.t in the head with 2 fire spears which quickly ended his suffering

"d.a.m.n you brat!"

"I wonder why they all call me that..."

"wh--"

*SNAP*

"do I really look so young?"

Mars dropped the dead bandit to the side and kept walking towards the bandits after he pulled his sword out of the ground and swung it once to flick the dirt off the blade

"d.a.m.n it, bunch of useless pieces of tras.h.!.+"

the bandit leader swung his battleaxe threateningly and sent a glare at his underlings

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, GO GET HIM!"

the bandit leader yelled at his underlings but none of them moved, they were all terrified by Mars's s.h.i.+ft killing of their comrades

"but boss..."

"...d.a.m.n it, I'll do it myself!"

the bandit stepped forwards as a soft looking red membrane spread from the magic beast core in the middle of the battle axe blade over his body while the core gave off a soft glow

'a s.h.i.+eld huh... I got one too but it seems like a waste of energy units...'

Mars looked at the bandit leader the was glaring him down from about 50 meters away and asked

"what, do I have something on my face?"

"...I'll give you one change brat, join my group"

"and if I refuse?"

"then you will become rust on my battleaxe!"

"let's see about that!"

Mars disappeared from view and immediately after a loud clang was heard as his sword sent the bandit leader flying a few meters before he crashed into the ground

"sure is hard, that s.h.i.+eld"

the bandit leader stood up again, looking even more ruffled and yelled at Mars again

"YOU BRAT! STAND STILL SO I C--"

*CLANG*

once again the bandit leader was sent flying meanwhile Mars looked at his sword that had gotten a nick in the blade

"f.u.c.k it I'll do it by hand"

Mars sheathed his sword and cracked his knuckles