[NR] Well Past Midnight - Chapter 660

There was a small pebble under the left side of his hip. However, Jason remained still. This was a stakeout and he had been chosen to be the closest to the fields.

Well, that doesn’t really cover it. He was IN the fields. Sure, one of the fields on the edge that stuck out, but it was the stalks of the roughly harvested field which hid him. Yes, he was hiding in a field that had been ransacked.

This might have been more dangerous if whoever was doing this hadn’t made sure not to hit from the same direction twice. Jason figured this meant it was some idiot traveller who had heard the saying about criminals always returning to the scene of the crime, but misunderstanding the meaning. After all, even if you’re hitting another field, you had still returned to the fields!

The minutes pass slowly, the only upside being that he didn’t have to worry about insects, what with the lack of living critters. Though that also made the night way too quiet. Which was not only disturbing, but also meant any noise would be a giveaway.

Then, well past midnight on the fourth night, Jason finally hears something. Though saying he heard it isn’t quite true. Rather, he felt it. Seems their target was using a spell to silence themselves. Too bad it didn’t work on vibrations under the ground.

Jason would have missed it, if not for his Energy being extended a short distance into the ground. Not that he wouldn’t have noticed them soon as they were coming through the field he had hidden in. So there goes his theory of them trying to avoid “returning to the scene of the crime”. Either way, at least it meant the waiting was over. Though he waits to actually see the target.

This doesn’t take long, and soon enough Jason can see a group of sixteen people. Nine humans, three dwarves, two catkin, and two elves. Though ten of the group seem to just be laborers, dressed in light leather armor and armed with scythes. A fun weapon in a show, but highly impractical, especially since they’re not even the more weaponized form of the tool.

The group passes Jason without noticing his silent form. Though he feels magic sweep over his location a couple times. Good thing whoever cast the spell seems to suck and Jason doubts it would have even detected a Qi user, let alone an Energy user.

Of course, Jason is forgetting the fact that until level 100 people as a rule of thumb will have a bit of every power type within them. And if there was someone above the sixth bottleneck? Well, this group wasn’t going to be finding them, anyway.

Jason squishes a small hollow clay sphere he had next to his hand once the group begins to hastily harvest grain. This causes Courtney to sense the vanishing of the small bit of magically enforced shadow she had placed in the clay sphere. She gently squeezes Rosha’s knee and the two ready themselves from their position at the center of the fields.

A count of ten and Courtney expands the shadow under a wooden platform, raising Rosha up into the air. The loud clack of the platform’s hinges locking into position give things away and the group of sixteen freeze for only moment. A fatal moment as a rain or arrows fall from above them. The skill winds Rosha, but she ignores the exhaustion and takes aim before launching another barrage.

The group of grain thieves has turned to run with some of the harvesters yapping about how they didn’t sign up to fight a unit of archers. However, this just presented their backs to the rain of arrows. An unfortunate decision as the second barrage came at them from an angle and in turning, they allowed the arrows to strike at the back of their legs.

This dropped half the laborers as their clothes could not protect them. The other half didn’t fare much better. It was honestly a miracle that none of them died. Some likely would have if there was a third barrage, but Rosha held back so if things turned, she could still run.

As for the six fighters of the group? They fared much better. Until they ran into the field Jason was hiding in.

Throwing daggers flew true and dropped the two mages with leg wounds. Their leather robes could not block the weapons. The four in front all turn as they hear their companions cry out, missing Jason as he rises off the ground.

They don’t miss the sound of his charge and turn back towards Jason in time to block him. Though it takes both of the front line defenders to do so. Jason’s fists push their shields back as Energy bursts out.

The two mages on the ground try to focus on casting, but unnoticed by the four being distracted by Jason, Courtney pours out of the shadows and renders them unconscious. Though after that, instead of moving to assist Jason, she pulls the two downed mages into the shadows.

Not that Jason needs the help. While he isn’t making much progress, the four are unable to take any ground. The two in front are focused on defense as Jason rains down punches and kicks on them. At the same time, the two behind attempt to use their spears to end the fight. Jason avoids their thrusts by keep the two defender’s bodies in between him and them.

Though this is only how it appears on the surface. Jason is waiting for a signal. After all, there is a bunch of wounded laborers that needed to be rounded up as well. A job that Courtney and Rosha were taking care of.

Rosha gagging and hogtying them, while Courtney go around and make sure they won’t die if only because they were players and death would mean them getting away. Good thing the town had provided enough rope.