The morning sun pierced through the dense canopy, touching the boy's face. The air still carried the pink shimmer of sunlight and the pungent metallic scent of blood, but he barely noticed.
He walked toward a house reduced to ruin, retrieved a small cloth pouch hidden behind a peculiar stone, and then vanished into the forest.
All the villagers were dead, including the grandfather who had raised him with tender care. The grandfather had loved him deeply, yet the boy felt nothing.
"Akadiria," the villagers had called him—a name meaning nothing. Though the boy had his own name: Ya.
Behind a massive tree, Ya dug for a while and pulled out a small box. From his pouch, he produced a strangely shaped wooden block and fumbled with it over a matching groove on the box. With a soft click, the box slowly opened.
Inside was a dull black stone, unremarkable at first glance. Strapped securely with a web of white animal leather cords that formed a necklace, the stone seemed almost ordinary—but something about it felt important.
Ya stared at the stone for a long time, then placed the necklace around his neck. A warmth spread through him—an unfamiliar sensation he had never experienced before.
Securing the stone once more, Ya stood up and glanced at the ruined village in the distance. Just days ago, it had been his home. Now, nothing remained.
After a few minutes of silent contemplation, he turned and walked away. Passing the bodies of looters, he casually picked up a dagger and strapped it to his waist.
This was where it all began.
He wandered through the forest for hours, lost in the endless sea of trees. Exhausted, he collapsed beneath a tree, closing his eyes and letting the gentle breeze brush his face.
Rustle…
The faint sound of branches being disturbed made Ya's black eyes snap open, revealing a predator's cold gaze.
As the sound drew nearer, Ya leapt into the air, springing off the branches beside him, vanishing into the thick jungle with astonishing speed.
"Boss, I think there's something here," a voice whispered.
"Hmph. Quick and alert—but probably nothing too big. Brothers, what orders are pending today?"
"Two large battle beasts."
"Oh? Then let's have a little fun. Catch that little guy."
Although their conversation was hushed, several men stationed far apart began moving in unison.
"A jungle chase, huh? Might be fun." A hand emerged from a grand carriage drawn by eight fine horses. Flicking ash from a cigar, a man spoke calmly. "Luo Yi, let's go check it out."
"Yes, boss," replied a burly man at the front of the carriage. His voice was muffled, yet he flexed the reins and drove the carriage along the mountain path with impressive speed.
"Don't let it escape. Damn, what is that thing? Running through the forest like a spirit of the trees," grumbled a man wielding an axe as he dashed through the trees.
"Heh, wouldn't be fun otherwise," said a lean man holding a dagger beside him, smirking.
"Cut it out. Try carrying my axe and see how you like it," the first man snapped.
"Not my problem, you didn't pick it," the lean man retorted.
"Alright, enough. We'll catch it," the burly man finally said, ending their argument.
A group of five or six men, now united in purpose, chased after a shadow darting through the foliage. Behind them, fifty more divided into small squads, slowly forming a crescent to encircle the prey.
"Hmph. You might be fast, but you can't escape my eyes," the middle-aged man, the apparent leader, murmured to himself. "I know you're human, not a beast. Hard to imagine someone moving this fast through the forest… but you won't get away. Heh, I will catch you myself."
"Kill intent?" Ya glanced backward, yet his pace remained steady. He moved lightly over fallen leaves and branches, sometimes bouncing from tree to tree like a steel ball in a pinball machine. "They're closing in… the air… it's heavy."
"Huh? That sound… there's a carriage. And an expensive one at that. Not nobility, maybe a wealthy merchant," the leader thought, furrowing his brow. Signaling behind him, he quickened his pace toward the rustling sounds ahead. "I won't let anyone ruin my fun."
"Boss," a deep, emotionless voice called.
"What?" The man in the carriage, Aimo, had a cigar in his mouth. His square face radiated determination and cunning, his narrow eyes half-closed as if savoring or contemplating something. Two small mustaches masked faint scars under his nose.
"There's an obstacle ahead," the subordinate reported.
"I don't want trouble. Can we go around?" Aimo frowned, speaking calmly.
"If you want to see the fun ahead, no," Luo Yi replied without change in tone.
"Then clear it. My instinct says there's something interesting ahead. I trust my instinct." Aimo's lips curved slightly. The carriage moved forward.
"Too many people… the air is heavy," Ya muttered, gripping the tree trunk, scanning his surroundings. He had no escape.
"Boss, the prey seems to have stopped," said a man wielding a knife.
"Hmm… waiting for us, huh? Maintain formation. I'll check it out. Fourth, take your group behind and see why the carriage is approaching," the leader said, advancing toward Ya.
"No way, thirty men guarding the rear, and it's just a carriage?" The axe-wielder scoffed.
"Maybe there's a master or bodyguard with them. They're wealthy," the leader whispered.
"Who can hide from the boss?" the fourth shrugged.
"Better safe than sorry," the lean man said, patting his knife.
"Why aren't you going, Fifth?" the fourth snapped.
"Go when told, shut up." The leader glared, sending the fourth running. "This carriage gives me a bad feeling."
"The circle's formed, everything's ready. No matter the speed, we've got it," Fifth whispered.
"Good. Be ready. I'll go alone," the leader nodded, stepping forward.
"Someone's here… strange scent… the air is heavy," Ya thought, glancing behind.
"Oh? A child. You surprised me," a voice came. Though the figure wasn't visible, his presence was overwhelming. Ya's eyes, keen as they were, could not match the man's perception.
"Impressive… sensing my presence from afar. Agile, sensitive, young. Those eyes… a work of art," the leader remarked, drawing closer among the trees.
Ya trembled slightly. He tried to retreat but felt pressure from all directions, thick and suffocating.
"Luo Yi, why stop? I said I'm interested in what's ahead. If you delay, the show ends," Aimo tossed his cigar aside.
"Understood, boss." Luo Yi whipped the reins. The carriage surged forward.
"Damn, ignoring us. Brothers, attack!" The axe-wielder roared. Two dozen men charged, weapons swinging toward the carriage.
"Really… rural people fight so loudly?" Aimo murmured, lighting another cigar.
"Are you fearless because you're invincible, or because you're ignorant?" Luo Yi's voice cut through, followed by the sound of snapping—bones, metal, everything breaking.
"Follow me, kid," the leader beckoned, then vanished.
"Better get him out of here, just in case," he muttered, reappearing behind Ya, reaching for him.
Ya reacted instinctively, loosening his grip on the branch, springing to the ground with a thud.
"Oh? That's quite the reflex… innate talent? Explosive strength and reflexes. You, I want." The leader's eyes gleamed greedily as he charged.
Ya crouched low, hands clawing into the soil like a wild animal, watching the man through foggy eyes. When the leader moved, Ya mirrored his motion.
"Fast… unbelievably fast. But escaping my grasp? Impossible." The leader spun midair, appearing behind Ya. Reflexively, Ya leapt—but the man followed.
"What… how?" Ya felt the terrifying cold behind him, unable to turn before a hand pressed his head down, slamming him to the ground.
"Sorry… did I use too much force?" crouching, the leader pulled back, dusting his hands with a teasing smile.
A tall middle-aged man appeared opposite him, cigar in hand, accompanied by a massive humanoid wearing a cross-strap and a coarse tan cloak.
"What are desert men doing here?" the leader said, unmoved.
"Good eyes… how did you know?" Aimo smiled, stepping forward.
"No big deal. The sand on you is heavy. If not from the desert, then from underground. No necromancers around, so the answer's obvious." The leader poked at Ya, still unconscious, casually.
"Interesting… but I don't like it." Aimo blocked Luo Yi. "This child is impressive. Did you just catch him?"
"Yes, why?" The leader finally regarded the unexpected visitor.
"I want him. Name a price," Aimo said, smiling faintly.
"Damn… who are these people?" The leader felt a rare sense of crisis, meeting Aimo's blood-red, predatory gaze.
"Why him?" the leader's expression darkened.
"I trust your judgment. I'm Aimo, owner of the gladiator arena. I need his talent. No need to pretend—you'd buy him anyway. Better to hand him over now."
"How do you know me?" Os, the hunter leader, scowled. The man radiated danger unlike anyone Os had ever met.
"Oh, just business. I buy what you capture. Let's settle on a price. I have a wife waiting at home, so I'll be quick." Aimo chuckled.
"Boss, nearly a hundred of our men… and we let them leave?" The surrounding men questioned.
"Useless. We couldn't have stopped them," Os tore a note into pieces, uninterested.
"Listen… never trade with anyone from the Bermuda Plains or Tianjiu City. Anyone who disobeys? Cut off their legs and banish them," Os barked, then muttered uneasily. That man… familiar yet unknown. Who is he? Tianjiu City… not a good sign.