Blind Spot Equals Zero

Reo dispatched those three rather quickly. In fact, too quickly. His clone dove in – enraged like Reo  himself. It took a bandit out itself before the other two dispatched it with spear thrusts. Reo moved with inhuman strength as he grabbed the spear from one of the men and swept it forward. The shaft of the spear caught one on the neck and threw him into his companion. Reo walked casually to the one remaining conscious and slammed the spear down onto his gut.
 
He dropped the spear. There were only seven clones left and…fifteen bandits? Including the large one who was still fighting the two clones.
 
[Post 25: 107 words; clone takes damage; 7 left]

Reo watched as another clone fell. That left six clones and Reo himself against fourteen remaining bandits. The one who had fallen was one of the two facing the large bandit. The odds weren’t good, but they were better than they were at any other point in the fight. Five clones were currently facing thirteen bandits, slightly better than a three to one ratio. The problem was the big bandit. The clone facing him was barely holding on and that man had taken out a handful of clones all by himself.
 
The others were small fry. Reo dashed forward, prepared to fight the largest of the enemies finally.
 
[Post 26: 108 words; clone takes damage. 6 Left]

Reo made it there just as the large bandit swung his hammer threw the clone’s head. He puffed into smoke and his memories flooded into Reo. This wasn’t the first clone killed by this man, but it was one of two that had fought him for an extended period of time. With both of those two gone, Reo had amassed a large amount of information on the mans fighting style. He favored a style similar to Reo’s own. Large and powerful attacks that you could dodge but not overpower.
 
Reo could respect that. As he approached, the big man smiled.
 
‘Are you the real one? I’ve been slaughtering clone after clone. It would be nice if you made my job easier by being real.” The man said as he began to chuckle.
 
[Post 27: 132 Words; clone takes damage. 5 left]

Reo sighed as he looked the man up and down. “I’m the real one. Tell me who hired you.”
 
“Who hired me? No can do. You see, I was paid extremely well for this mission. That scroll on your back. Is it the Ryu Caller?” The man asked, though he didn’t even look at the scroll. His eyes were filled with bloodlust, not greed. No, this man was being paid but that was secondary for him. He wanted blood more than he wanted to be paid for this job.
 
“It is. You aren’t going to call for help?” Reo asked nonchalantly. He was the real one. The clones didn’t matter.
 
“Nope. I can do this alone!” The man yelled as he swung his hammer. Reo focused intently on his helmet and for a second he was incorporeal. The hammer passed through him, though Reo became solid once again shortly after.
 
[Post 28; 150 Words; Helmet for free Evade]

The man’s face changed from a grin to a frown as his weapon didn’t collide with anything. Reo knew all too well that you felt some resistance even when destroying a Shadow Clone. It wasn’t until after it disappeared that the resistance vanished.
 
Reo jumped upwards and threw a knee at the man’s stomach. The large bandit reacted swiftly by moving his hammer’s handle downwards to block the knee thrust. The two forces collided and – for a second – Reo thought he was going to break through. Then, they broke apart.
 
They were equal. Reo tried to take a step forward. But, he was too slow. The hammer was aimed directly at his face.
 
This was the end.
 
A clone jumped in the way.
 
[Post 29; 123 words; clone taking damage; 4 left]

Reo could tell that he was almost out of clones – but there were very few bandits left too. The biggest problem was the boss bandit. He stepped forward, a grin on his face as he stared Reo down.
 
Reo took a step backward. It was unconscious, but after dying to this man over and over again…it was difficult not to be afraid. The only thing holding Reo together was the thought that this was life and death. Not for him, it was life and death for the world. Whoever wanted the Ryu Caller would surely misuse it.
 
He couldn’t let that happen. Reo jumped forward and punched. The large bandit’s face widened in surprise at the sudden shift in direction and received the blow in the stomach. He flew back five feet before flipping over and smashing one of Reo’s clones.
 
Three left.
 
[Post 30:146 words; 3 Clones left]

Somehow, Reo had knocked the man backwards. He was surprised but happy at the outcome. That is, he was happy until the large bandit began to stir. Of course, this wouldn’t be so simple. It never could be.
 
Somehow, Reo’s three remaining clones stood next to him. The bandits had managed to put themselves opposite Reo next to their boss. Surprisingly, the numbers were even. Four bandits versus four Reo’s – one of which was obviously real.
 
They charged. Sadly, they didn’t pair up exactly as Reo wanted. Reo quickly punched his enemy in the throat – but it was one of the underlings. One of the clones had paired off against the boss bandit and he fell quickly.
 
[post 31; 117 words; 2 clones left; clone took damage again]

The three enemies squared off against the three Reo’s once more. The clones who had paired against the two bandits had managed to come out of that confrontation with a draw. As if on cue, the six charged forward simultaneously. Reo aimed for the boss bandit, but they anticipated this action. One of the underling bandits noticed Reo’s trajectory towards the large boss and intercepted him. Reo dodged the man’s hook and stepped back, delivering a roundhouse kick to the man’s head and sending him crumpled to the floor.
 
The large bandit easily took out another one of Reo’s clones. This wasn’t over yet, but Reo only had one clone remaining.
 
[post 32: 111 words. 1 Clone left. Clone took damage again]

Reo backed up, now facing two enemies with one clone at his side. This wasn’t going the way he had planned it. He was supposed to take out the big bandit, but he was steadily destroying Reo’s clones like they were nothing. He could make more clones, but doing so would present his enemy with an opportunity to attack a defenseless Reo…
 
He couldn’t risk it. Besides, his clones hadn’t managed to fend the man off yet. They dashed forwards again. Reo managed to catch the leader this time, punching his hammer dead on. His fist ached from the blow, but he managed to not get blown back. The leader didn’t either.
 
Much to his surprise, Reo’s clone managed to knock the bandit out.
 
It was now two on one.
 
[Post 33: 130 words; took the 5% damage. 95% Hp remaining. 1 clone remaining]

“You’ve done surprisingly well, Reo Gojisou. They told me you had failed your Chuunin Exams…yet, most of the men here have been able to go toe to toe with a Chuunin at least once or twice in their life.” The large man said with a laugh. “You’ve even managed to leave most of us alive – if not all of us. Impressive, but stupid.”
 
The man stood there and held his hammer aloft.
 
“If you want answers, then come get me!” He bellowed. Reo charged, as did his clone. The man swung his hammer and Reo put an arm up to block it, but his own clone got in the way. The clone, possessing roughly a third of Reo’s strength, stood no chance against the blow and was smashed into smoke.
 
[post 34: 130 words; clone took damage; 0 clones left]

Reo didn’t stop or stand stunned. He had lost what? Thirty clones by this point? He was used to this. The hammer swung still and Reo swung his fist. The hammer smashed into Reo’s side a moment after Reo’s fist smashed into the man’s knee.
 
He crumpled. The blow to Reo was dampened from travelling through a clone and from the loss of balance. It still stung, but Reo managed to stay on his feet.
 
Reo delivered a kick to the man’s left knee as well and, while he was on his knees, Reo knocked the hammer out of his hand. “Who…”
 
Reo took a breath. The fight had drained him. Emotionally. Physically. He looked around. Had he really defeated roughly a hundred bandits? It didn’t seem possible. His clones and his real body had to react to enemies at the slightest notice. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
 
“Who hired you.” Reo finished as he looked back towards the leader.
 
“Fine…all I know is that his name was Apollo. I don’t think it’s a real name, but it’s what he gave me.” The man said, throwing his arms up. “You’re a monster. You know that?”
 
“I’m not the one who attacked first.” Reo reminded the man as he began to walk away. “What’s he look like?”
 
“Red hair. He has red hair.”
 
[post 35: 226 words; 5% Damage. 90% HP remaining]


[QUEST END: REWARDS:
~ Rewards ~
+ Warrior Sonar Ability: Nexus Attributes +30% [x1.30] | Heighten Sense cannot be triggered | Evade 1 Attack [3 Times in battle]
+ Ability Points: +500]