Oasis peered around the rock, assessing the chaotic scene.Several of the mercenaries lay still, their bodies broken and lifeless, while those remaining fought with desperate determination.Their swords and spears, however, barely scratched the scales of the colossal serpent. One mercenary let out a guttural scream as the serpent lunged, sinking its fangs into his shoulder and lifting him off the ground before tossing him aside like a ragdoll.Thud!The man's body crashed into the rock Oasis was hiding behind, blood splattering across the surface, the sickening sound of breaking bones echoing in Oasis's ears.The young warrior glanced at the massive beast, recognizing it instantly."That's a C-rank mystic beast, without a doubt," Oasis thought, his heart slightly pounding.He noticed the mercenaries were attempting to protect a carriage, suggesting someone important was inside.The horses that had been pulling the carriage lay dead, their blood pooling near the wheels.The remaining
"Oasis of Lunaris," he replied with a smile, his name carrying a sense of pride and belonging."I am Balto of the BlackBoar Mercenary," the man replied with a respectful nod. "Nice to meet you, Oasis of Lunaris."Oasis and Balto exchanged words for a few minutes.From Balto, Oasis learned that the mercenaries had been contracted to escort the son of the city lord of Belvan Town.The young lord had been attending a meeting about a betrothal alliance with Mistvalley Town, just a few kilometers from the valley where they now stood. Through their conversation, Oasis also learned more about their current location.The place was an independent region, nestled between Verdantia and the Kingdom of Ironhold, known as Dawnhail.Dawnhail was a rugged and somewhat lawless area, where various factions operated with little oversight.The region was valued for its strategic position as a buffer between larger powers, but its independence also made it a hotbed of intrigue and conflict.As Balto expl
"That must be Belvan Town," Oasis thought as he saw the guards near the gate.The sound of the town—voices, the clatter of hooves, and the hum of commerce—grew louder with each step.Balto glanced at Oasis as they approached the gate. "Stay sharp, young one. This place can be as unforgiving as it is prosperous."Oasis nodded, his eyes fixed on the gates as they walked closer.The chubby boy, who was the son of the city lord, spoke to the guards, and the group entered the city without any fuss.Being part of the escort for the city lord’s son ensured their smooth passage into Belvan Town.The town was bustling with activity—traders called out prices, people haggled over goods, and the air was thick with the scents of food and the sound of commerce.Though not as large as a true city, Belvan Town was still impressive, slightly bigger than Mossy Hollow where Oasis had grown up.Without wasting time, Balto and his group headed straight for the city lord's mansion to report their mission.
Meanwhile, back in Lunalith..."You sent the kid to a dangerous place. Don’t you think you went too far?" Elder Tyron said, his voice filled with concern as he spoke to Sect Leader Conri. They sat together, drinking tea under the moonlight."He’s strong enough, Tyron," Sect Leader Conri replied calmly."He might be strong for his age, but he’s still a kid and lacks experience," Tyron insisted."He’s gaining experience this way. Don’t worry too much about him—he’ll be fine," Conri reassured his old friend."At what realm do you think that kid is now?" Conri asked Elder Tyron, testing his insight."Maybe peak Newborn Realm," Tyron guessed, though uncertainty tinged his voice."Not quite. I’ve been watching the boy over the past days, and I can tell without a doubt that Oasis is at the intermediate stage of the Tabula-Rasa Realm, and his spiritual energy is even above that," Conri revealed.!!!"What? That’s impossible at his age," Tyron exclaimed, clearly shocked. "Is he really that tal
As Oasis scanned the area, he spotted a group of rough-looking individuals standing near the gate, their eyes sharp and wary.They had the hardened demeanor of seasoned adventurers, their gear well-worn but functional.This was likely the group the man had mentioned—the ones waiting to join the beast-hunting party.They exchanged quiet words with each other, occasionally glancing toward the gate as if expecting someone.The guards continued their checks, inspecting each person who passed through, while Oasis approached the group, ready to see what this beast hunt had in store.Oasis approached the group after being inspected at the gate."Kid, scram!" one of the rough-looking individuals growled as Oasis stood near them."Easy, he's with us," the man who recruited Oasis interjected, arriving with four other young people around Oasis's age—two girls and two boys."Oh, boss," the rough-looking man said, relaxing a bit. "I thought he was one of those annoying brats always begging for coi
"Ha ha ha, what a fine merchandise you’ve brought us," a new voice sneered as a man stepped out from the shadows.He was tall and imposing, with a cruel smile that showed off yellowed teeth.His hair was greasy and slicked back, and he wore a long, tattered coat that hung off his gaunt frame. His eyes gleamed with malice as he looked over the group."Put your weapons away already—you’re scaring our merchandise," he commanded, and the rest of his men emerged from the woods, all armed and ready, with bows aimed at Oasis and the others."Take it easy, kids. We won’t mistreat you. After all, you’re all precious merchandise," the man said with a smirk, licking his lips."Ha ha ha, these girls are damn pretty," he continued, eyeing Lila and Kaelith with a leer. "If they weren’t merchandise, they’d be warming my bed tonight."Kaelith began to shake, her eyes wide with terror as tears welled up, threatening to spill over. Lila let out a scream for help, her voice shrill and desperate."Don’t w
The leader of the bandits stopped in his tracks, his smug confidence replaced by a mixture of shock and fury as he slowly turned back to face Oasis,realizing that this "merchandise" was not as helpless as they had assumed.The leader of the bandits, his face contorted with a mixture of shock and fury, barked out a command, "Kill that brat!"His henchmen, who had been momentarily stunned by the death of Roy, snapped into action.They drew their weapons, the sharp scrape of metal against leather filling the air.Two men advanced on Oasis, their faces twisted with killing intent, their eyes locked on him as if he were nothing more than a target to be eliminated.The first bandit, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, lunged forward with a heavy broadsword, aiming a powerful overhead strike at Oasis. The second, a leaner man with a dagger in each hand, circled around, looking for an opening to strike.Oasis remained calm, his eyes narrowing as he assessed their movements. In a
The last remaining bandit, witnessing the gruesome fate of his comrades, felt all his bravado drain away.His legs gave out beneath him, and he fell to the ground with a thud, landing on his backside.His face was pale, and his eyes were wide with terror as he stared at Oasis, who was now walking towards him.Among the recruits, the girls huddled together, trembling with fear.Toren remained unconscious, while Ronan, though scared, tried to maintain his composure. He mustered the courage to move closer to Oasis, though his legs shook with each step.Oasis stopped just in front of the terrified bandit and crouched down to meet his eye level.The bandit’s face was a mixture of sheer terror and disbelief, as if he couldn’t comprehend whether the person before him was a normal child or a monster in disguise."You have only one painless choice," Oasis began, his voice cold and menacing."Tell me everything about your businesses in Dawnhail—your organization, its power hierarchy. Or, you ca