On the other side of the cave, three warriors of the Silver Gang pressed forward through the suffocating darkness. The cavern stretched endlessly before them, like the gaping maw of a beast swallowing them deeper into its belly with each cautious step. Their torches barely pierced the black void, casting flickering shadows against the jagged walls. The air was thick, damp, and heavy with the stench of decay.
The first warrior, a burly man with a scarred jaw, glanced around uneasily. Bones—both human and animal—lay scattered across the uneven ground. Some were crushed into dust, others eerily intact, as if untouched by time. The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional drip… drip… of water falling from the stalactites above.
His grip tightened on his sword. "This place… it's dangerous."
The second warrior let out a dry chuckle, kicking a skull aside as he walked. "Haha! Are you afraid of this?" His voice echoed eerily, bouncing off the cavern walls.
The first warrior scowled. "No… I'm just saying. Something feels off."
The third warrior, the most serious of the three, didn't break his stride. His sharp gaze remained fixed ahead. "Stop talking," he said coldly. "We have to find the Void Vine before anyone else does."
The weight of his words silenced them. They moved with greater caution, stepping over the remains of those who had dared to venture here before them. The cave walls bore deep claw marks, as if some creature had once tried to escape rather than enter.
The deeper they went, the stronger the feeling became—something was watching them. Something unseen. Something lurking just beyond the reach of their torchlight.
Then, the second warrior suddenly stopped. His eyes widened as he pointed ahead.
"I found it."
The third warrior immediately turned toward him. "Where?"
"There."
Their gazes followed his outstretched finger.
And then—
They saw it.
A vast underground lake stretched before them, its surface glowing with an eerie, unnatural light. Unlike normal water, this lake pulsed with a deep blue hue, as if infused with the very essence of the abyss. A thin layer of silver mist drifted above it, shifting and curling like living shadows. Around the lake's rocky edges, clusters of luminescent mushrooms sprouted from the walls, casting an otherworldly glow.
And at the very center of the lake—
The Ancient Void Vine.
It stood atop a floating stone island, its twisting purple tendrils shimmering with an ethereal light. Tiny golden specks danced around it, flickering like fireflies. The vine itself pulsed, as if breathing, radiating an aura of ancient power.
From the shadows, Uttar's golden eyes gleamed.
"So… this is the Void Vine," he murmured, a smirk tugging at his lips.
The Silver Gang warriors, unaware of his presence, were mesmerized. Their eyes gleamed with greed and ambition.
"The boss will reward us greatly for this," the second warrior muttered, excitement thick in his voice.
The third warrior, ever cautious, narrowed his eyes. "Be careful. Something this powerful won't be unguarded."
They moved forward, stepping onto the stones that formed a fragile path toward the floating island. The rocks were slick with moisture, their surfaces treacherous beneath their boots. A strange energy filled the air, prickling their skin with an unshakable sense of unease.
The first warrior hesitated. "Do you feel that?"
The second warrior scoffed. "You're imagining things. Let's move."
As they reached the center of the lake, the vine loomed before them, its glowing tendrils reaching toward the void above. They reached out—
A flash of light exploded around them.
The air trembled.
A powerful gust of wind surged through the cavern, sending ripples across the lake's surface. The mist thickened, curling like grasping hands.
And then—
A shadow moved.
In a blur of motion, Uttar appeared.
His Movement Art activated in an instant. With supernatural speed, he dashed across the rocks, his figure a golden blur under the torchlight.
Before the warriors could react, his hand wrapped around the vine's glowing stem.
With a swift motion, he plucked it.
The cavern plunged into a tense silence.
The Silver Gang warriors stood frozen, their minds struggling to process what had just happened. One moment, the vine had been within their grasp—
And now, it was in his.
Their eyes slowly turned toward him.
Uttar stood before the three Silver Gang members, his hands casually resting at his sides, his calm smile never wavering. The air was thick with tension, yet he showed no sign of unease. His composed demeanor only deepened the warriors' stunned expressions.
The third warrior, a man with a jagged scar running down his cheek, took a step forward. His sharp eyes narrowed, filled with suspicion and amusement.
"Who are you, kid? And why are you here?" he asked, his tone laced with mockery. "This is no place for a child to play. Go home before you get hurt."
Uttar didn't flinch. His golden-brown eyes held a quiet intensity, unwavering under the warrior's scrutiny. He stood tall, exuding a confidence that felt unnatural for someone his age. When he spoke, his voice was steady, laced with an eerie calmness.
"I'm not here to play." Uttar's gaze locked onto the warrior's, unshaken. "I'm here to take the vine."
A flicker of surprise crossed the warrior's face before it twisted into a smirk. His comrades exchanged amused glances, chuckling at the absurdity of the claim.
"You?" The third warrior let out a short, mocking laugh. "Take the vine? Kid, do you even know what you're saying?" His smirk widened as he placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. "You must have a death wish."
Yet, despite their laughter, his instincts screamed at him. Something was off.
Focusing his senses, he attempted to gauge the boy's chakra—expecting at least a faint ripple of energy, a trace of spiritual essence. Yet…
He found nothing.
No aura. No fluctuation. No presence of power at all.
His brows furrowed. "Impossible. Just a normal kid?"
And yet, the boy's expression never changed. His confidence was unshaken. Was he hiding his strength? Did he possess a treasure that concealed his aura? Or worse—did he have a hidden master nearby?
The warrior's grip on his sword tightened.
He stepped forward, forcing a smile, though his eyes gleamed with cold intent. "Listen, kid," he said, his voice feigning patience. "Be smart. Hand over the vine, and I promise I won't harm you. No need for things to get ugly."
Uttar remained unfazed, his smile unchanging. "And if I say no?"
The warrior's smirk twisted into a sneer. Shhhing! His sword slid free, the blade glinting under the cavern's dim light. The laughter from before was gone—replaced by a quiet, suffocating menace.
"Then be prepared to die."
His two comrades chuckled darkly, their gazes filled with amusement. They had seen this man slaughter dozens of opponents without hesitation.
What chance did this powerless boy have?
And yet—
Uttar didn't flinch.
Instead, his smirk deepened.