Ardiel was now running like a coward towards Edmund and Benedict. Edmund noticed Ardiel but he was focused on the equipment Ardiel was wearing.
'He got nice equipments, why is he running like a kid that has his lollipop stolen?' Edmund thought as he scrutinized Ardiel from head to toe.
Ardiel was still running when the camulf on Edmund's side saw Ardiel and immediately went on pouncing mode. Edmund thought that the man still didn't notice the camulf so he shouted, "Careful! There's a monster on your left!"
Ardiel then glanced at his left and the camulf was already pouncing towards him. Ardiel rolled forwards and ran again until he was in Edmund's side, panting and trying to catch his breath. Of course, Ardiel knew there was a camulf there but he acted like he doesn't know. The panting and catching breath was also an attack to let the guard down of Edmund.
"Are you okay friend?" Edmund asked while thinking of stealing Ardiel's equipments.
"I-I-I'm okay, I'm just tired at running like my life depends on it."
"By the way, why did you scream? We thought that you are also fighting a monster."
"Oh that scream? I was surprised when I saw a dead body. I screamed and ran away after that. Then I heard your voice so I went here," Ardiel while thinking, 'I hope he trusts what I'm saying.'
"Hmmm... You're new here right? Start to get used to dead bodies, they're everywhere in this desert."
"Okay, sir. By the way, what's your name? My name is Ardi," Ardiel said as he took his hand out hoping for a handshake.
"I'm Edmund and this is Benedict, took out your sword Ardi, it's gonna be a tough battle starting now," Edmund said as he ignored Ardiel's hand and started to materialize a small earth spike.
Ardiel took out his long sword and went in a stance to prepare for the camulf's attack. Ardiel knew firsthand that camulfs are strong and tough. Ardiel thought that its better to be safe than to be dead.
Edmund then threw the earth spike towards the camulf on their side, piercing the ground as the camulf dodged it. The camulf then went into its pounce stance, becoming ready for another attack. The camulf on Benedict's side also retreated and regrouped with the other camulf.
"All right people, the real fight will gonna start now!" Benedict shouted as Edmund and Ardiel took their fighting positions and waited for the camulfs to attack. The two camulf then simultaneously pounced at the trio as the Benedict put out his shield, Edmund throw his earth spear and Ardiel is just standing. Well, he has no range weapons or throwable so he got nothing to do right?
*****
2 hours later...
The battle between the camulfs and humans was now nearing its end.
On the camulfs' side, one camulf was limping with a body full of wounds while the other was impaled by earth spikes on the ground, it's green colored blood flowing in the ground.
Meanwhile, on the humans' side, Benedict was not looking good. His shield was now broken in half while his rusty mace is still intact. Claw marks was all over his body, soaking his shirt and pants.
Edmund has a broken left arm and body full of wounds. Edmund can't still check his mana reserves as it was required for them to reach a city so that they can use the system made by the Gods so Edmund probably has no mana and stamina left.
Ardiel also didn't look too well (on the outside) . His body was covered in blood, both green and red but its not his blood, Ardiel used the blood that dripped on the ground and covered his body with it, disguising his equipment that look liked it was broken. His rusty long sword was full of chips but it was still intact and usable. His stolen knife and short sword was well hidden in his back and Ardiel will only use it when he encountered a dangerous situation.
"Let's end this fight now shall we?" Benedict asked as he taunted the remaining camulf to distract it, ignoring Ardiel who was slowly creeping behind it.
"Raaaaaargh," Benedict roared as he charged towards the wounded camulf, making the camulf slowly retreat but Ardiel was lying in wait, waiting for an opportunity for a sneak attack and that was it.
Ardiel rushed towards the camulf and jumped on its back, making his way to the top of the camulf's head. The camulf still didn't realize that someone was on top of its head as maybe now he can't probably feel a thing due to the wounds inflicted on him. Ardiel then lift his sword and brought it down on the camulf's neck, separate the head from the body as his rusty long sword was also broken in half.
The human duo fell on their butts while Ardiel stood, trying to catch his breath. Even if Ardiel didn't do his best in the past fight, the concentration wore his mind out more than the physical fatigue his body experienced. Ardiel then looked towards the two and said, "Wait for a moment, I'll just harvest some materials on the camulfs that we can use." Ardiel then left Edmund and Benedict and went to do his material gathering while thinking how should he approach his plan.
"Damn boy! That was the most brutal and intense fight I have ever experienced!" Benedict said while trying to stand up with difficulty.
"What's your job in our planet, Benedict? I still don't know what it is," Edmund said as he did a lotus position to sit.
"I was a retired military man. Although I'm young, i retired because of my family. I don't want them to live without a father figure in their house. Also, our planet has those secret organizations that they use to fight and they also use robots instead of us."
"So that's why you're built well. Having military experience can really give you an advantage in this world. You will adapt to it fast and you are also accustomed to blood."
"I'm lucky to join the military then. Hahaha!" Benedict laughed and then asked while staring at the sky, "What's your job Edmund?"
No one responded to his question, making Benedict suspicious. Benedict then stopped looking at the sky and turned his head towards Edmund, who was now a lifeless corpse lying in his own pool of blood with a knife embedded in his forehead.
Benedict then tried to pick up his fallen mace right beside him but a knee was coming in swiftly on his vision. Benedict abandoned his plan to get his mace and hurriedly put his arms in front of him, taking Ardiel's swift knee and sliding backwards for almost 10 meters.
Benedict then put down his still trembling arms and said, "That's some power in your kicks, stranger. Why did you betray us?
'Straight to the point. I like this guy,' Ardiel thought and then said," All of it was an act for you to let your guard down. And it was successful. I planned to kill you from the start by the way."
"Alright then, that's a good reason for me to kill you!" Benedict roared while charging towards Ardiel.
Benedict threw a right hook first and Ardiel dodged it like it was nothing. Benedict threw a series of punches even though he was at his limits, signifying that he doesn't want to go down alone. But all of that was in vain.
As Benedict tried to threw a left jab, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. And there it was, a rusty short sword pierced his stomach, making Benedict threw out blood from his mouth.
"Not an exciting fight but good enough for me," Ardiel picked the knife embedded in Edmund's head and threw it on the forehead of Benedict. Benedict then fell to ground with his lifeless eyes staring at the sky.
"He was just gonna blabber if I waited for him, good thing i killed him quickly," Ardiel said as he pulled out the knife and short sword out of the body of Benedict.
Ardiel then wiped clean both the knife and short sword using the clothes of the dead Benedict.
Ardiel then cleaned the battlefield. Taking the meat, blood and materials of the two camulfs, making his makeshift bags bulge. He then tried to scavenge whatever things Benedict and Edmund has in their body but it only led to nothing. Ardiel then put Benedict and Edmund inside the mouths of the two camulfs to disguise that they fought to the dead and someone just scavenge their things.
Ardiel tried to look for trees or sticks to make fire but it was just desert, desert and desert in his vision. That's why he just used the simple way of disguising his killing, mutual destruction.
Ardiel then continued on his journey when he noticed that all things was now taken care of.