"You've got guts, I'll give you that. But I don't think you understand how this works."

The bandits spread out and circled the group, their confidence boosted by the large number of them. The leader's smirk widened, but it faltered when Hera summoned her golden spear. The glow illuminated her regal form, causing several of the men to hesitate.

"I think you'll find we do," Hera said smoothly, stepping forward.

"Time to learn some manners," Medea added, her black flames flickering menacingly as they coiled around her hands like serpents.

The leader barked a laugh, waving his men forward. "Get them! They're just—"

Before he could finish, Lilith's whip cracked through the air, snapping the sword out of his hand.

"Oops," she purred, her crimson eyes gleaming. "Did I do that?"

Abyss darted forward, her violet blade flashing in the dim light. She disarmed another bandit with a single precise slash, the man's weapon clattering to the ground as he stumbled back in terror.

"You're wasting my time," she said coldly, her blade already swinging toward the next foe.

Eris, her emerald daggers spinning deftly in her hands, intercepted two bandits who attempted to flank the group. "This is pathetic," she muttered, dodging a clumsy swing before planting her blade in the man's side. She twisted it with a smirk, sending him collapsing to the ground.

Adrian stood at the center of the formation, his fiery chains slashing through the air like living entities. They coiled around an advancing bandit, lifting him off the ground before hurling him into a tree with a sickening thud. "You've got one chance to leave," he warned, his voice steady and commanding.

The bandits hesitated, glancing at their leader for direction.

"Don't just stand there!" he roared. "Take them down!"

Medea hurled a black orb of flame into the group, the resulting explosion sending three bandits flying. Ava swung her glowing staff, creating a shockwave that disarmed several more.

"Still want to fight?" Ava asked, her amber eyes narrowing.

"Not the brightest bunch," Eris quipped, sidestepping another attack and slamming the pommel of her dagger into her attacker's face.

The leader growled in frustration. "You cowards! Fight!"

One bandit lunged at Hestia, but she barely moved, her marine-blue eyes half-lidded. With a lazy flick of her wrist, a wall of blue fire erupted between them. "Do I have to do everything?" she muttered, yawning.

"Don't burn the forest down," Adrian called out, deflecting a blow aimed at his chest. His fiery chains lashed out, knocking another bandit unconscious.

Hera charged into the fray, her spear moving with precision and grace. She parried a blow aimed at her side, spinning to deliver a strike that sent her opponent sprawling. "Fools," she said disdainfully. "You stand no chance."

Above, Lilith perched on a low branch, her whip coiled like a predator ready to strike. She grinned, launching the weapon with a flick of her wrist. It wrapped around a bandit's ankle, yanking him off his feet.

"You're boring me," she said, her voice dripping with mockery.

The remaining bandits faltered, their resolve crumbling as their comrades fell.

"This isn't worth it!" one of them shouted, dropping his weapon and bolting into the woods. The others quickly followed, leaving their leader alone.

Adrian strode forward, his fiery chains smoldering at his back. He grabbed the leader by the collar, lifting him effortlessly. The man's eyes widened in fear as Adrian's golden flames licked at his skin.

"You have two options," Adrian said, his voice low and dangerous. "Leave and never return, or find out just how bad a mistake you've made."

The leader gulped, nodding quickly. "We're gone! You won't see us again!"

Adrian released him, and the man stumbled back before scrambling into the forest, his courage shattered.

When the group reached the trader's outpost, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the clearing. The trader emerged from his modest home, his face lighting up at the sight of the cart.

"You've brought it!" he exclaimed, rushing forward. "I was beginning to think it wouldn't make it."

The group exchanged tired glances, then began unloading the crates. Lilith and Eris carried boxes effortlessly, though Eris grumbled loudly.

"Never thought I'd be reduced to manual labor," she muttered, balancing two crates on her hips.

"Consider it character-building," Medea replied dryly, her black flames flickering briefly as she hefted another crate.

Hestia yawned, leaning against the cart. "Supervising is more my speed."

"You're helping," Adrian said firmly, handing her a box.

She groaned but took it, muttering under her breath. "I better get a nap after this."

Ava and Selene worked quickly, their movements efficient. "At least the scenery's nice," Selene remarked, her silver hair catching the fading light.

"True," Ava replied, smiling. "And this is great exercise."

Abyss said nothing, her expression stoic as she carried a particularly heavy crate into the warehouse.

The trader beamed as the last crate was unloaded. "Good to know some people still honor their word," he said, shaking Adrian's hand firmly.

The group returned to the market as twilight settled over the town. The merchant greeted them with a relieved smile. "You did it," he said, clasping his hands together. "Thank you."

Ava crossed her arms, looking smug. "Told you we'd deliver."

The merchant handed her a small figurine shaped like a dragon. "A little something extra for your trouble."

Ava beamed, tucking the figurine into her pouch. "See? Profit."

Adrian sighed, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Let's just hope the next market is less eventful."

Ava shrugged, smirking.

Eris stretched, her emerald eyes glinting.

Hera, who had been quiet for most of the journey, stepped forward, her expression unreadable.

"Champion, may I speak with you privately?"

Adrian glanced at her, surprised. "Of course."

"We'll go set up camp," Ava said, nudging the others away.

"There's no need setting camp. Zarpha isn't far off. We can get there before midnight. Just let me finish up with Hera and I'll join you," Adrian said, waving his hand dismissively.

They left, and Adrian turned to Hera, curious.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, studying her carefully.

Hera shook her head, her expression softening slightly.

"Not exactly," she replied, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

She reached out and took his hand in hers, her touch sending a thrill through his body

"I wanted to say thank you," she said softly, her blue eyes meeting his. "For freeing us."

Adrian smiled, a warmth blossoming in his chest. "You're welcome. It's a win win for us both, so we're even."

"Exactly, just stick to the contract and there's no issue."

Adrian nodded. "We've been on the right track so far, right?"

Hera replied with a nod as she held his gaze for a moment, her fingers entwining with his. Then, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his cheek.

"You're a good man, Champion. I'm glad to be by your side."

Adrian's heart raced, his pulse quickening as her breath tickled his skin.

"I'm glad you're here too," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

She smiled, her eyes shining with admiration. "So am I."

****************

It was late at night when they finally reached Zarpha's outskirts. The towering walls of the city could be seen in the distance, their shapes standing out against the moonlit sky.

But something was wrong.

Adrian froze, his heart pounding as he spotted columns of smoke rising above the walls. The faint glow of fire flickered in the distance, painting the horizon in ominous red.

"No," he whispered, his mind racing. Panic clawed at his chest as memories surged to the surface—flames consuming Meridia's castle, the cries of his people as they fled, the weight of his wife's lifeless body in his arms.

"Adrian?" Hera's voice cut through his thoughts.

He turned to the group, his jaw tight. "We need to hurry."

Without waiting for a response, he broke into a run, the goddesses following close behind. The air grew thick with the acrid scent of smoke as they approached the gates. Adrian's grip on his sword tightened, his fiery chains igniting once more.

"Please," he muttered under his breath, his chest heaving with a mixture of fear and determination. "Let us not be too late."

"No," he whispered, his mind racing. Panic clawed at his chest as memories surged to the surface—flames consuming Meridia's castle, the cries of his people as they fled, the weight of his wife's lifeless body in his arms.

"Adrian?" Hera's voice cut through his thoughts, steady and grounding.

He turned to the group, his jaw tight. "We need to hurry."

Without waiting for a response, he broke into a run, the goddesses following close behind. The air grew thick with the acrid scent of smoke as they approached the gates. Adrian's grip on his sword tightened, his fiery chains igniting once more.

"Please," he muttered under his breath, his chest heaving with a mixture of fear and determination. "Let us not be too late."

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