Oasis silently assessed the soldiers below.The units were organized into distinct groups: combat units, long-range fighters, and shadow units, each led by their respective leaders.The warriors stood in tight formations, disciplined and ready, though whispers spread amongst them about the mysterious youth standing beside the city lord.Few knew who Oasis was. Most of the warriors had only just returned to the city from various posts, including border patrols and outlying villages.Rumors quickly spread—some speculated Oasis was another son of the city lord, but others disagreed, noting the stark difference in appearance.Oasis’s brown skin and black hair stood in contrast to the lighter complexion of the city lord and his family.The murmurs came to an abrupt halt as Lord Valen stepped forward, raising his hand. The courtyard grew silent.Without a word, he and the vice city lord unleashed their auras, summoning a barrier that enveloped the entire mansion."A soundproof barrier," Oas
There was little sign of wealth or luxury; everything about the town spoke of survival and hardship.The carriage rattled through the uneven streets, and Oasis glanced out the window, taking in his surroundings.The townspeople barely gave him or his guards a second look, used to the comings and goings of traders.Yet, Oasis could sense an underlying tension beneath the surface.Oasis glanced out the window of the carriage, taking in the state of Riffridge.The town, hidden in rocky valleys, was clearly struggling."So, this is the state of Riffridge, huh?" Oasis thought as they passed through the dusty, narrow streets.People moved about slowly, their faces hollow, as hunger and hardship were etched into every step they took.Suddenly, breaking the silence in the carriage, Oasis turned to the guards seated with him."What are your names again?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.The guards exchanged quick glances, surprised that Oasis had spoken.One of them finally responded, “I'm A
As Oasis sat in the inn with his guards, whispers began to ripple through the dimly lit room.Word of men distributing food and money had already reached the ears of the patrons, sparking quiet gossip."Did you hear? Some noble’s been handing out food and coins," one patron whispered to his companion, his voice low but full of curiosity."Yeah, I heard! Who’d do something like that in Riffridge? Must be someone from another town," another person murmured."Who are these people?" a woman muttered. "Could they be connected to the city lord?""Maybe they’re from Belvan. I heard rumors about nobles from that region," someone else suggested, cautiously glancing around.As the quiet chatter continued, Oasis stood up with his two guards, the candlelight flickering off their well-tailored clothing.They made their way toward the inn's counter. The room had grown darker, with the lamps now fully lit to mark the arrival of night."Can we have a room for the night?" Oasis asked calmly, his gaze
Oasis moved silently through the shadows of the city lord’s residence, his steps light and precise, avoiding detection with ease.The mansion, though worn by neglect, had a complex layout.Guards patrolled in predictable patterns, moving along predetermined routes that Oasis had already observed using his spiritual senses.“Their movements are methodical, but uninspired,” Oasis thought as he studied the guards' routines.“The guards stationed near the entrance rotate every twenty minutes. The inner patrols are less frequent, giving me small windows to slip through.”As he moved, his azure eyes scanned the manor’s halls, catching subtle details—scuff marks on the floor indicating where guards commonly stood, and faint energy traces revealing where magical wards were placed.“The layout matches what I sensed earlier,” Oasis thought, gliding between two patrols with practiced ease.“Once I pass through this wing, the room where the city lord is bedridden should be up ahead.”Passing thr
Instantly, they melted into the shadows, ready to evade or strike if necessary.A guard descended the stairs, his form slowly becoming visible in the dim light.He was dressed like the others, but his demeanor was different.He wore the same uniform as the others in the manor, but something was different about him.As he approached the cell, the guards prepared to knock him out—until they saw him pull food from his pockets“It’s been a while, young lord Raven,” the man said quietly, his voice filled with respect.“How is father’s condition?” the boy, Raven, asked, his voice clear and strong despite the abuse he had endured."Still the same, young lord. His condition is declining," the guard replied, his voice laced with sorrow.As they spoke, Raven’s eyes flickered toward the shadows where Oasis’s guards were hidden.“What are you looking at, young lord?” the guard asked, sensing something amiss.“Nothing,” Raven replied calmly. “You should leave before the lackeys of that pig catch y
Back in the chamber, Oasis stood calmly in the wake of the city lord’s unleashed aura, completely unfazed.His azure eyes remained steady as he watched the older man with quiet respect.“Not bad,” Oasis thought, his expression unchanged, though inwardly he acknowledged the power being displayed.“Follow me, young man,” the city lord said, his voice now firm and commanding as he walked toward the door. “Let me show you how to deal with traitors.”As the city lord strode out of the room, Oasis followed at a measured pace.The two of them barely made it past the threshold when a group of guards came rushing down the corridor, their faces pale with fear.They skidded to a stop the moment they saw the city lord standing before them, fully revitalized.“My lord!” the guards gasped, immediately dropping to their knees, their bodies trembling from the pressure of his aura.Sweat dripped from their brows as they struggled to maintain their composure in his overwhelming presence.The city lord’
Pervard laughed loudly, looking up toward the ceiling as he shrugged off the upper part of his clothing, revealing a tattoo on his chest—a hand drenched in blood.One of the men behind him quickly stepped forward, draping a jacket over his shoulders.“Yes, I am Pervard, the executive of the Crimson Hand—the Cruel Hand,” Pervard declared, grinning as he soaked in the shocked reactions of the crowd.His tattoo glistened under the light as he spoke, “You may know my name, boy, but it won’t matter. You’ll die today, along with Riftain.”Riftain clenched his fists, fury coursing through him.“The Crimson Hand… these bastards. So, I’ve been harboring one in my own town this whole time.”“Pervard the Cruel Hand, huh? Thanks for making it easier to find you,” Oasis said coldly.In a swift motion, he unleashed an even stronger wind magic barrier, this time enveloping the entire manor.The gust of wind swept through the hall as the barrier sealed them inside.Gasps and whispers spread through t
The atmosphere in the manor shifted from tense anticipation to outright horror as Oasis stood over the five mangled bodies, his expression calm, almost indifferent.His hands and legs, not even stained with blood, were all it took to dispatch them.The shock of the scene silenced the onlookers—guards, servants, and even Pervard’s lackeys—all frozen in disbelief.“Is he really a mage?” a servant thought, trembling, her knees buckling under the weight of the spectacle.“How… how can a mage move like that?” one of the manor guards thought, sweat running down his face. “No mana, no spells… just raw strength and precision.”“I’ve never seen anyone fight like this, not even our strongest warriors,”another guard, drenched in sweat, trembled as he struggled to comprehend the sight.“It’s impossible. A mage should be relying on spells, not... this,” Alto thought, his eyes wide with fear. “How can he kill with just his bare hands?”Oasis’s own guards, who had been standing beside Raven, could h