"I know you are hiding here. Now don't waste time—come out!" Vikash barked, his sharp eyes scanning the ground and spotting the faint footprints leading toward the cave's mouth.
Himanshu and Shiddharth exchanged a brief glance. The tension in the cave was palpable. Every muscle in their bodies tensed as they realized the intruders were skilled and heavily armed. Shiddharth's hand instinctively rested on the hilt of his sword, and a subtle aura of Urza trembled around him despite the seals on his stats. Slowly, the two men stepped out, emerging from the shadows.
The baby Firedeer, sensing danger, leaped and darted between them, pressing itself tightly against Himanshu's legs. Its small, trembling body radiated fear, but its eyes glimmered with trust.
"Look who we have here," Vikash sneered, a cruel smile spreading across his face as he focused on Himanshu. "The greatest assassin of Dilead Island."
Himanshu stiffened. He was well aware of his own reputation—the second most wanted criminal on the island, a bounty of ten thousand gold awaited anyone who could bring him in, dead or alive.
"I think it's our lucky day, boys!" Vikash laughed heartlessly. "First, we find a freshwater lake, and now, the most wanted criminal, plus… a little prize to go with him." He motioned to Shiddharth. "I think his bounty is about a thousand diamonds."
Himanshu's brow furrowed. "Second most? When did that happen? Wasn't I supposed to be number one?"
"Oh, something more interesting occurred while you were in hiding," Vikash said ominously, eyes glinting. "But don't worry—your curiosity will be satisfied soon enough. First, I'll kill you, and then I'll deal with this one."
The tension snapped as both sides readied themselves. Weapons clashed in a blur of motion. Blades reflected the dim light, the smell of blood thick in the air. The first wave of attackers rushed them, but Himanshu and Shiddharth moved like shadows, fluid and deadly. Every strike from the intruders was met with precise counters or perfectly timed dodges. Within minutes, the attackers lay incapacitated, groaning or lifeless on the cave floor.
Vikash's eyes narrowed. He wasn't shocked by the deaths—he had expected them—but he had underestimated the raw strength and skill of his opponents. Slowly, he removed the shield strapped to his shoulder and drew a massive, gleaming sword from his inventory. The blade gleamed in the cave's dim light, a promise of lethal precision.
Himanshu's stats were well above 30, allowing him to match Vikash blow for blow. Shiddharth, however, struggled. His sealed stats limited him, forcing him to rely entirely on sword skill and the synergy between himself and Himanshu. Each strike he parried sapped what little stamina he had left.
Finally, he realized he couldn't continue like this. He had only one option—Urza.
His body pulsed with danger and desperation as he activated the energy. His stats surged threefold. The power rushed through him, unbalancing his already injured body, but his mind sharpened with the raw surge. Vikash's expression changed to disbelief; he hadn't anticipated that there was another Urza user here besides Himanshu.
Realizing his chance of survival was fading, Vikash attempted to flee, hoping distance would protect him. But Shiddharth's enhanced speed closed the gap in moments. With a precise swing, his sword connected, sending Vikash's neck flying. The momentum was so great that Shiddharth, unable to balance with only one hand controlling the strike, stumbled and fell flat onto the blood-soaked ground, his heroic pose collapsing in a mess of sand and crimson.
Bodies and blood littered the cave floor, a gruesome testament to the battle. Shiddharth's eyes narrowed. He raised his hand and summoned his dragon.
Debo, now fully grown and at level 25, appeared in a flash of red scales and sharp claws. His wings flared and his eyes burned with intelligence and loyalty.
[Debo – Stats Updated]
Strength: 11.5
Stamina: 21.4
Agility: 19.6
Intelligence: 25.7
Mana: 8.0
Skills: Dragon's Breath (S-Class), Dragon's Fear (Locked), Hell Fire (B-Class)
Shiddharth commanded her to burn the corpses, and within seconds, the dragon's fiery breath reduced the bodies to ashes, leaving the cave eerily silent.
Once the flames died down, the two men quenched their thirst with water from a hidden pool nearby. But rather than returning to their safe haven, Himanshu reminded Shiddharth of their next task: the mercenary building. They needed to sell the adult Firedeer horns and hide—both highly valuable commodities.
Inside the Mercenary Building
"You're here again?" the bartender greeted, eyebrow raised in mild surprise.
"I have something interesting to sell, so this is the place to do it," Himanshu replied, placing the Firedeer horns on the counter.
"Adult Firedeer horns… quite the lucky find," the bartender said, eyes gleaming. But then he leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I also have some information that I think will catch your interest."
Himanshu raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly is that?"
The bartender's grin widened, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "How could I give away something this important without ensuring you give me something in return?"
"How much gold are we talking about?" Himanshu asked cautiously.
"Gold? No, gold isn't enough. What I want… is you," the bartender said, leaning back smugly, finishing a drink with a flourish. "I'm more than sure you'd sell your honor if you heard this information. But before that, I need your help."
"Alright, tell me," Himanshu said, crossing his arms. "But if this turns out worthless, forget it."
"I need your help to rescue a girl escaping from Baven Land," the bartender explained.
Himanshu blinked. "Okay… that shouldn't be too hard."
"Now for the information," the bartender continued, leaning in so close the smell of alcohol and spices filled Himanshu's senses. "You won't believe what happened… it's something that not even the most prepared would expect."
Himanshu's eyes narrowed. He felt a mixture of curiosity and caution. Whatever the bartender was about to reveal, it was clear this mission would pull him—and Shiddharth—into danger far greater than the Firedeer cave.