-----

Spore repeatedly used [Mind-scrambling Smoke] inside the cave. Thanks to it not costing any MP, they were able to constantly use it as much as they wanted, and with the power of [Camouflage Veil] they became unseen. The perfect strategy. With that said, the bandits tried to quickly find the one doing this, beginning to run around. However, my sharing my eyesight with one of the three Spores, I was able to see that they were easily going around without being spotted yet.

"Gyyyaaahh!"

"My head! My heaaaad!"

"Help!"

"G-Get away from me, bastards!"

The bandits began to panic, some of them were unaffected, as the attack usually doesn't affect everybody, there's always some resistant to these, however, those affected began to fight against those that weren't, or just anybody near them. After all, this is the special power of [Mind-scrambling Smoke].

This skill scrambles the mind of people and turn them temporarily insane. Coupled with paralyzing spore and poisonous fog, some were already dropping over the floor paralyzed, while others were screaming loudly and attacking one another.

While two Spores were spreading their Skills effects, one of them was guided by my order, quickly delving into the depths of the cave, and following the six life signals I felt before, when it arrived, it reached a small cave section where people was sleeping over the floor, some were slightly awake. There were two large and muscular men unconscious in the floor and covered by many scars, alongside four women chained too, they were sleeping except one, a girl with blonde hair and clothes that looked like nobility, but that were torn apart savagely, her eyes seemed lifeless.

However, as the commotion outside began to happen, she quickly looked into the entrance of the cave, but while being chained there, she had no way to go look what was exactly happening, until she noticed Spore standing right in front of her.

"Ahh… Monsters…" She muttered. "Please… kill me…"

"…"

Spore remained in silence and quickly gave her his back, running outside of the cave once he inspected everything.

"Wait! Please just kill me!" She cried desperately.

What have they done to her to desire death so much?

Hm, I can already imagine, to be honest.

"What is happening here?!"

Suddenly, the roar of a giant resonated within the interior of the cave.

TRUUUM!

His steps shook the ground below, as the panicking bandits quickly were paralyzed by his roaring shout. The man emerged from his small cave, looking at the commotion inside. I was able to take a good look at the presumed leader of this bandit hideout, the largest I've found so far. The man was covered on scars, and his body was muscular, towering over two meters. The attacks of Spore were weakening him, as he quickly felt affected the moment he got out of his small lair.

"Akh…! What the fuck is this smoke? What is happening?!" He roared, quickly taking out a small potion from his pocket and drinking it, suddenly, he felt way better. Is that an Antidote Potion?

"My head feels like it is spinning even after drinking this…" He muttered. "Huh?"

He quickly spotted one of the Spores who was trying to immobilize him by spraying more of its spores, but it was already useless, the man was able to resist them rather well.

CLASH!

Suddenly, an enormous golden axe emerged out of thin air and hit the Spore, easily slicing it in half. The man quickly grasped the weapon that appeared out of nowhere, it was a Weapon-type Spirit, this is not the first time I see one, as I've seen adventurers with swords, spears, and smaller hatchets or even shields, but this axe was so far the biggest and strongest looking I've seen so far in this world.

"Mushrooms? Some stupid mushrooms got in?" He roared angrily, quickly beginning to move forward. His senses were sharp, easily spotting another Spore that quickly tried to run away from him by my commands, but the man's speed was superhuman, easily slicing the Spore in half once more.

SLASH!

"Grryyeehh…!"

POOF!

The second Spore was sliced in half, exploding into bubbles of light and disappearing.

"Odd, these are Spirits? So this attack was made by someone!" He roared angrily, slapping his bandits to make them wake up from their daze, but it wasn't working, nobody was listening to his words.

"Damn it…!" He roared angrily, pushing forward, and spotting the third and last Spore, slashing it with his axe.

Slash!

"Gryyyyyhh…!"

POOF!

As the third Spore disappeared into bubbles of light, he looked into the entrance, which was blocked by my spell.

"HMPH!"

CLAAAASH!

The wall crumbled apart, as we quickly hid with Eleanora behind a large rock. I analyzed the man's strength, it was weakened thanks to Spore's efforts, but it was still a formidable foe.

"Should we run?" Wondered Eleanora.

"Run? When there's such a big bag of EXP in front of me?" I asked, I couldn't help but feel as my heart began beating faster and my blood began pumping across my body, I was feeling the thrill of a good opponent. Been a long while since I felt this way, honestly.

"Who is there?!" Roared the man, looking around.

I quickly gave orders to Eleanora through Telepathy.

"I'll distract him by summoning some Familiars around, find the right moment and attack him with everything you've got from behind!"

"Roger that!"

Now come, Fenrir, Orcus, Huginn!

I summoned my two powerhouses, Fenrir, and Orcus by the quantity of five and five, alongside another five Huggins that emerged atop the sky.

The man's face quickly curled in a smile as he saw the ridiculousness of the situation.

"Spirits coming out of nowhere…?! Oi, oi, what kind of fucking shit is this?"

"ROAR!"

"GRUOOH!"

Fenrir and Orcus, in groups of five and five ran towards the man directly, unleashing their strongest attacks without hesitation. Orcus unleashed flames through his charging attacks, catching the man from all four directions!

? CLASH!

"Unnggh…! AGH…!"

FLUOOSH!

He was suddenly enveloped on flames!

-----