The first warrior laughed, shaking his head as he stepped forward, gripping the hilt of his sword. His eyes gleamed with amusement as he studied the seemingly powerless boy standing before him.
"Hahaha… Let me handle this kid," he said, his voice full of arrogance. Slowly, he unsheathed his sword, its sharp edge glinting ominously in the dim cave light. Step by step, he advanced toward Uttar, his confidence unwavering.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with, brat," he sneered. "Do you think you can just walk in here and challenge us? You must be out of your mind."
Uttar, unfazed, simply smiled—a calm, chilling smile that sent an eerie sensation through the air. His golden eyes shimmered faintly in the darkness.
"I know exactly what I'm doing," Uttar said, his voice quiet yet filled with an undeniable weight. "Right now, I'm going to kill all three of you."
The third warrior, his patience worn thin, scowled in irritation.
"Enough of this nonsense! First, don't waste time. Kill this arrogant kid."
The first warrior nodded, gripping his sword tightly as he stepped forward with full intent to end Uttar's life. But just as he raised his weapon—
Something changed.
His eyes darted downward, and his entire body stiffened in shock. His breath hitched in his throat as a horrifying realization struck him. His own feet—they weren't touching the ground. His legs trembled violently, his mind struggling to process what had just happened.
"W-what happened?" he stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
At that moment, Uttar moved.
A mere fraction of a second—that was all it took. In a blur, Uttar vanished from his spot, his speed so overwhelming that the first warrior barely had time to react. Before he could even turn his head, Uttar was already in front of him.
Shing!
A sharp flash of silver.
The first warrior felt an icy sensation crawl up his spine. His eyes widened in horror as the world around him spun—
No. Not the world. His head.
His own severed head rolled onto the ground, eyes still frozen in shock, mouth slightly open as if trying to speak one last word. A fountain of blood erupted from his neck, splattering across the rocky floor, painting the cave in crimson.
Uttar flicked his knife, shaking off the blood as he turned to the remaining two warriors. His expression remained unchanged, as if he had merely swatted away an insect.
"I didn't hear you," he said coldly. "What were you saying just now?"
The second and third warriors stood frozen, their bodies stiff, their hands trembling as they watched their comrade's lifeless corpse collapse onto the ground.
For the first time, true fear gripped their hearts.
The third warrior gritted his teeth, wiping the sweat from his brow. The boy had killed their comrade in an instant. His movements were too fast, too precise. They had underestimated him, but now, they wouldn't make the same mistake.
"Second, be alert," he warned, his voice cold and serious. "This kid is not simple."
The second warrior, though shaken, steadied himself, gripping his sword tightly.
"Got it," he replied, his gaze sharpening. They knew they couldn't hold back.
Uttar, standing tall among the blood-soaked ground, tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes gleaming with a cold light. His calm, unshaken demeanor sent a chill down their spines.
"Now," Uttar said softly, "it's your turn."
During his time in the forest, Uttar had relentlessly practiced his movement art—refining his reflexes, instincts, and agility to an extreme level. Every motion he made was smooth yet unpredictable, allowing him to react faster than his opponents could anticipate.
But these two were not ordinary fighters. They were seasoned bandits, skilled in battle, and knew how to execute coordinated attacks.
The third warrior moved first, his sword flashing toward Uttar's neck.
At the same time, the second warrior positioned himself behind Uttar, his blade aimed directly at his back.
A perfect synchronized attack—no escape.
Or so they thought.
Uttar didn't flinch. He didn't even blink.
BOOM!
In a split second, Uttar kicked the third warrior's face with incredible force. A sickening crack echoed through the cave as the man's nose shattered, and his body was flung backward like a ragdoll.
Simultaneously, Uttar twisted his body and delivered a powerful punch straight into the second warrior's stomach.
CRACK!
The sheer force caved in his ribs, and blood spewed from his mouth as he was sent flying into a nearby rock. His breath hitched as he gasped for air, his entire body convulsing in pain.
Both warriors collapsed, struggling to get back up.
Uttar didn't hesitate.
Before they could react, he moved again—too fast for them to track.
A flash of silver.
Shing!
Two heads rolled onto the ground, their eyes wide with shock, their bodies falling lifelessly beside their fallen comrade.
The cave fell into absolute silence.
Uttar exhaled slowly, wiping the blood off his knife before turning away.
Without sparing the corpses another glance, he stepped forward, his calm, unwavering smile returning to his face.
Uttar looked down at the three lifeless bodies, his expression calm and unwavering. He flicked the blood off his knife before tucking it away.
"Now, these three are finished," he muttered, his voice carrying through the silent cave. His gaze shifted toward his hand, where the Ancient Void Vine gleamed in a brilliant purple hue, radiating a mysterious light.
A small smile played on his lips.
"And I've already achieved my goal."
His eyes then moved toward the belongings of the fallen warriors. Without hesitation, he crouched down and rummaged through their bags. His fingers brushed against the weight of gold coins—a lot of them.
After counting, his smile widened.
"Forty-five thousand gold coins… Not bad."
He swiftly gathered the gold into his bag.
With everything secured, he stretched his shoulders, his golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Now," he said, turning toward the exit of the cave, "it's time to go."
Without another glance at the carnage he left behind, Uttar disappeared into the darkness, his figure fading like a ghost.