The Silver King stood over the lifeless body of the Deadfire Lion, his breath heavy but steady. His armor was scorched, his body ached, but his resolve remained firm.
His gaze shifted toward the cave's inner depths.
"Now… I have to see what's inside," he thought. "Those idiots took too long. Something must've happened."
Without wasting another moment, he stepped forward, his boots echoing against the stone floor as he ventured deeper into the cave.
Inside the Cave
Uttar stood near the cave's inner chamber, preparing to leave. His eyes scanned the dimly lit surroundings, making sure nothing was left behind.
But then—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of footsteps.
Uttar's body tensed. His sharp instincts screamed danger.
"Oh no…" he muttered under his breath. "Someone's coming."
His mind raced.
"If it's the Deadfire Lion, I'm dead."
"If it's the Silver King's men… I'm still dead."
He had no time to think.
"First, I need to hide!"
His eyes darted around. Without hesitation, he moved swiftly behind a large rock, pressing himself against its cool, rough surface. His breathing slowed, his muscles coiled like a predator ready to pounce.
The footsteps grew louder.
Uttar's heart pounded as he peeked from behind the rock.
And then—his mind connected the final clue.
"The bags are empty."
That meant only one thing.
The thief stole the Ancient Void Vine.
His eyes flickered with realization.
"If he had already escaped, I would have noticed him."
He clenched his fists.
"Which means…"
His gaze slowly swept across the cave.
"He's still here."
The air inside the cave was thick with tension. Uttar's heart pounded in his chest, his breath shallow as he peeked from behind the rock.
The Silver King stood tall in the dim light, his bloodied body exuding a terrifying aura. His sharp eyes scanned the cave, searching for someone..
The Silver King was no ordinary warrior. He was a bandit lord, a man who had spent decades looting, killing, and conquering. His instincts were sharp, his experience vast. A mere cave wouldn't hide his target for long.
The -bandit leader narrowed his eyes.
His chakra flared as he activated his Scanning Sense. A powerful wave of energy surged from his body, spreading across the cave like an invisible net, searching for any signs of life.
But… nothing.
He frowned.
He should have found something. A heartbeat, a breath—anything.
Yet, the cave remained silent.
His eyes widened slightly in shock.
"Impossible."
Whoever was hiding in here was no ordinary person.
A smirk curled on his lips as he spoke loudly, his voice echoing through the cavern:
"I know you're here. If you're brave, then come out. I'm challenging you."
Uttar clenched his fists.
The man was testing him, trying to lure him out.
But Uttar was no fool.
He held his breath, pressing himself against the rock.
For five minutes, silence filled the cave.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
Then—
"Oho…" The Silver King chuckled darkly. "So you don't want to come out?"
His smirk deepened.
"Fine, then. I'll force you out."
Uttar felt a chill crawl down his spine.
"I will destroy this place until you have nowhere left to hide."
As a gang leader, he had faced countless ambushes, betrayals, and life-threatening situations. He was always prepared.
And right now…
He had the perfect solution.
He reached into his coat, retrieving a handful of chakra-infused bombs. These weren't ordinary explosives. They were fire mines—weapons designed to collapse entire caves.
With a flick of his wrist, he scattered them around the cavern.
Then—
He activated his chakra.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion rocked the cave. The walls trembled, dust and debris raining from above.
BOOM! BOOM!
Another blast. And another.
The ground shook violently.
Uttar's eyes widened in horror.
"This guy is insane!"
The sheer force of the explosion sent cracks spreading along the cave walls.
Then—
A blast erupted right behind Uttar's hiding spot.
CRACK!
The rock shielding him shattered into pieces.
Uttar jumped to his feet, swiftly leaping out of the debris and into the open space outside the wrecked rock.
The Silver King's eyes widened in shock as he took in Uttar's appearance. A kid? His mind raced. How did he kill my men?
He scanned Uttar's body carefully, disbelief flickering across his face. Uttar seemed like nothing more than an ordinary boy. His posture, his clothes, even his aura—there was no trace of cultivation. He can't be a cultivator, the Silver King thought, his heart pounding in confusion.
How could someone so ordinary have killed his men?
The Silver King's gaze sharpened as he looked around suspiciously. His instincts screamed that there was someone lurking in the shadows. He gritted his teeth, his voice cold and commanding.
"Hey, boy," he said, his tone oozing menace. "Who else is with you? Who is hiding behind you? If they don't come out, I'll kill you."
Uttar stood tall, his face calm and composed despite the tension in the air. He took a slow breath, his eyes never leaving the Silver King.
"I am alone," Uttar replied, his voice steady. "And I am the one who killed your men."
Despite his calm words, his senses were alert, every muscle in his body ready for whatever came next.
The Silver King's eyes blazed with fury as he lunged forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light.
"Okay," he growled, "if you want to die, then be ready."
With a swift movement, he hurled himself toward Uttar, his blade slashing through the air with deadly precision.
But Uttar was already prepared. He leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Silver King snarled in frustration and swung again, but Uttar had already anticipated the move. He darted to the side, dodging once more.
This happened two, then three times—each attack from the Silver King was met with Uttar's quick evasions, his movements fluid and precise.
The Silver King's shock grew.
"This boy is not simple," he thought, his mind racing. "I have to kill him as fast as possible."
He tightened his grip on his sword, his gaze turning more focused and dangerous.