The Silver Gang entered the cave, their footsteps echoing ominously against the damp stone walls. The flickering glow of torches illuminated the cavern, revealing jagged rock formations and an eerie mist that clung to the ground like ghostly tendrils.
At the front of the group, the Silver King stepped forward, his silver mask gleaming in the dim light. His cold, piercing gaze locked onto the massive beast standing at the center of the cavern—the Deadfire Lion.
A smirk crept onto his face as he let out a low chuckle.
"Lion, I want the Ancient Void Vine," the Silver King declared, his voice filled with arrogance.
The Deadfire Lion responded with a deafening roar, the force of its voice shaking the very walls of the cave. Flames erupted from its mouth, illuminating the darkness with an infernal glow.
Hidden in the shadows near the cave's entrance, Uttar carefully moved into position. He crouched behind a rock formation, his eyes locked onto the unfolding scene. He took a slow, steady breath, his heart pounding with anticipation.
"I have to wait for the right moment," he muttered under his breath, his gaze shifting between the lion and the Silver Gang.
Meanwhile, the Silver King turned to his men, his expression calm yet commanding.
"Prepare for battle. Hold the lion back while the others search for the vine," he ordered.
At his command, three 5th Chakra warriors nodded and swiftly separated from the main group, their task clear—to locate the Ancient Void Vine.
The Deadfire Lion, sensing their movements, let out another ferocious roar. It was a beast of raw power, its body radiating an intense, fiery aura. The cave trembled as its enormous paws slammed against the ground.
But the Silver King was unfazed.
"Hold the beast down," he commanded.
Alongside him, two 6th Chakra cultivators and two more 5th Chakra warriors sprang into action, their battle formation precise. They surrounded the lion, their auras flaring as they prepared to engage the furious guardian.
The cavern became a battlefield.
Sparks flew as blades clashed against the lion's fiery claws. The heat of battle filled the air, and the ground cracked under the force of their attacks.
From the shadows, Uttar watched intently, his eyes gleaming.
"This is it," he whispered. "While they fight, I'll find my chance."
A slow, confident smile formed on Uttar's lips. The chaos of battle was his greatest opportunity.
Without hesitation, he silently followed the three 5th Chakra cultivators who had split from the main group to search for the Ancient Void Vine. Moving swiftly, yet cautiously, he kept a safe distance, ensuring his presence remained undetected. The deeper they ventured into the cave, the dimmer the light became, swallowed by an eerie darkness.
Meanwhile, behind him, the battle had begun.
The Deadfire Lion unleashed a torrent of fire from its mouth, a wave of scorching flames surging toward the Silver King.
But the bandit leader stood firm, his silver cloak billowing from the force of the attack. He smirked arrogantly.
"Only this much?" he scoffed.
With a flick of his wrist, he signaled his men. "All of you, attack from behind!"
His warriors obeyed without hesitation. As the fire surged forward, the Silver King leaped into the air, dodging the flames with effortless agility. His silver sword gleamed under the flickering torchlight as he slashed downward, aiming for the lion's exposed flank.
Clang!
The blade met the beast's hide, but instead of piercing through, it barely left a scratch. The lion's body was covered in an impenetrable layer of hardened flesh, reinforced by years of cultivation.
The Deadfire Lion let out a furious roar, its golden eyes burning with rage. Its massive paw swung forward with terrifying speed.
Before the Silver King could react—
Boom!
The attack struck him square in the chest, sending him hurtling backward like a broken doll. His body smashed against the cave wall, leaving behind deep cracks in the stone. Blood trickled from his lips as he struggled to his feet, his arrogant smirk fading for the first time.
But the Deadfire Lion did not stop.
With a savage growl, it lunged forward, ripping through two of the 5th Chakra cultivators in an instant. Blood sprayed across the cave floor as their lifeless bodies collapsed.
The remaining two 6th Chakra warriors gritted their teeth, barely managing to evade the lion's claws. Despite their superior strength, they had sustained serious injuries, their breaths turning ragged.
The balance of the battle had shifted.
The Silver King wiped the blood from his lips, his expression darkening. I had underestimated this beast.
As the Silver King commanded, his warriors sprang into action, attacking the Deadfire Lion from multiple directions. The beast, massive and covered in thick, flame-resistant fur, stood its ground as the Silver Gang encircled it. Two of the 5th Chakra warriors darted to its sides, while another attempted to maneuver behind it, swords gleaming under the dim light of the cave. Their plan was simple—distract the lion from the front while the others struck from its blind spots.
One warrior lunged forward, aiming his sword at the lion's hind leg, hoping to cripple its movement. Another slashed at its side, attempting to pierce through its dense hide. The third warrior, more cautious, hesitated for a moment before thrusting his blade toward the beast's exposed flank. Their attacks were swift, precise, and well-coordinated.
But they underestimated the lion.
The Deadfire Lion, enraged by their persistence, let out a deafening roar, shaking the very walls of the cave. Then, in a blur of movement far too quick for its massive size, it swung its enormous clawed paw toward the warrior attempting to strike its hind leg.
The attack was brutal—razor-sharp claws sliced clean through his chest, tearing flesh and bone apart in an instant. Blood splattered across the cavern walls as the warrior collapsed, his body twitching for only a moment before falling still.
The second warrior barely had time to react before the lion turned on him. Its fiery golden eyes locked onto him, and before he could retreat, the beast lunged forward.
Jaws clamped down on his skull, crushing it like brittle stone.
A sickening crunch echoed through the cave, and the warrior's lifeless body slumped to the ground, his sword slipping from his grip.
The remaining two warriors, both at the 6th Chakra, tried to counterattack, their swords flashing as they aimed for the lion's neck.
But the beast was relentless.
It twisted its powerful body and lashed out with its tail, striking both warriors in the chest with bone-shattering force. They were sent flying across the cavern, their bodies slamming into the stone walls with enough impact to crack the rock itself. One of them coughed up blood, his ribs shattered from the sheer force of the blow. The other struggled to rise, only to find his arm hanging limply, dislocated from the impact.
Their superior cultivation had kept them alive, but they were gravely injured.
The battle had barely begun, yet the Deadfire Lion had already eliminated two warriors and incapacitated the others. Its strength was overwhelming.