"When!"
A shadow shot across the battlefield, striking the purple scorpion's chain and deflecting it.
"Who is it? How dare you interfere with the affairs of the Burning Fire Clan?"
The purple scorpion frowned, turning toward the forest as if sensing something ominous.
"It seems the Burning Fire Clan is quite active lately. What a coincidence to meet one of you here."
From the dense forest, Smith slowly stepped forward, his presence calm yet overpowering.
"You are..." The purple scorpion squinted at him, recognition dawning on his face. Moments later, his expression twisted into delighted surprise.
"Smith?! Hahaha! I never expected to run into you here. Looks like my mission for the year has been completed ahead of schedule!"
"Oh? You know me? I didn't realize I was so famous," Smith said with a smirk, raising an eyebrow.
He wasn't surprised that the purple scorpion recognized him. After all, they were both members of the Burning Fire Clan once.
"Haha, of course I do. Now be a good boy and hand over your soul!" The purple scorpion grinned wickedly, his feminine features giving him an uncanny, eerie look.
Smith had to fight the urge to slap the smug look off his face.
"Just die already!"
The purple scorpion hurled his chain forward, and in an instant, purple flames erupted from it—wild, clawing, and scorching hot. The heat was far more intense than ordinary fire.
Smith recognized this flame. The clan leader, Huo Liu, had used it before—it was indeed powerful.
But—
"Amaterasu!!"
Smith's Mangekyō Sharingan flared to life, its ominous power surging forth. A burst of black flames suddenly manifested, latching onto the purple scorpion's chain. The Amaterasu fed on the purple fire, devouring it with relentless hunger.
In a blink, the black fire surged forward like a wave of darkness, racing toward the scorpion.
The purple scorpion's eyes widened in shock. He frantically summoned more purple fire to counter the threat.
Two flames—one black, one purple—collided in midair.
But the outcome was clear from the start.
Amaterasu spread like a plague. The purple fire couldn't compete. It was forced back step by step, unable to withstand the assault.
"This can't be! This is the flame gifted by the leader himself!"
The scorpion gritted his teeth as his "invincible" purple fire was swallowed by the black inferno.
Realizing he couldn't win head-on, he broke away and tried to flee.
But Smith wasn't about to let him escape. His Mangekyō Sharingan locked onto the scorpion, directing the relentless black flames toward him.
"Fire Technique: Fire Lotus!"
Wang Yan, who had been waiting for the right moment, unleashed a condensed fire lotus. It exploded against the purple scorpion's back, catching him completely off guard.
The next instant, the Amaterasu flames surged over the scorpion's body.
"Aaaaaah—!"
A piercing scream echoed across the battlefield as the black flames engulfed him.
Amaterasu—fire that never extinguishes until its target is utterly destroyed.
"Whew..."
Smith took a deep breath, walking slowly toward the flaming figure.
But suddenly, the screaming scorpion turned into a mass of purple flames and vanished.
"He escaped?"
Smith frowned. The purple fire was clearly some kind of escape technique.
To break free from Amaterasu… this scorpion wasn't simple.
Seeing their leader vanish, the scorpion's subordinates turned and fled in panic.
But Smith and Wang Yan didn't let them get far.
Within half an hour, the last thug from the Burning Fire Clan lay unconscious on the ground.
The battle had ended.
Though Wang Yan and his group sustained several injuries, Smith walked away without a scratch.
---
[Ding! Mission Complete: Save the Guangxi Society]
[Reward: 500 Energy Points, Wood Release: Tree World Advent!]
Reward obtained!
---
"My friend, thank you for saving us. I'm Wang Yan, vice president of the Guangxi Society," Wang Yan said, extending a hand in gratitude.
Smith shook it briefly. "Smith."
"Which city are you from, Brother Smith?"
"It doesn't belong to any city."
Smith preferred to keep details about himself vague.
To Wang Yan, though, that sounded like he was a drifter or someone expelled from a major academy.
"Haha, Brother Smith, don't be discouraged. We rebels have places to belong. Our Guangxi Society is based in the Dark City up ahead. If you're free, come take a look."
Wang Yan knew full well that if not for Smith's help, none of them would have survived today.
"Dark City... Alright. I was heading there anyway. Lead the way."
With that, Smith joined their group and began traveling toward the fabled city.
---
Smith remained quiet on the journey, while Wang Yan and the others enthusiastically described the Dark City.
From their conversations, Smith learned that although they were labeled as "rebels," most of them had been wrongfully accused. Some had become scapegoats overnight. Others were exiles due to political manipulation.
Rather than giving in to despair, they banded together to survive.
As more like-minded individuals joined, they formed the Guangxi Society—a community based on mutual aid and hunting monsters to trade for necessary resources.
Not all rebels were villains, Smith realized.
After all, he was considered a rebel now too… and he didn't think of himself as irredeemably evil.
---
Two days passed.
Soon, the group reached the outskirts of the Dark City.
All around them were the signs of lawlessness—squads fighting for resources, small gangs clashing in broad daylight.
In the Dark City, survival was a game of strength.
Powerful individuals rose quickly. The weak relied on luck or alliances.
"What a chaotic place," Smith murmured as he rode in a wooden cart toward the massive city.
Just then, a group of figures emerged from the forest, blocking their path.
"Well, if it isn't the vice president of Guangxi Society. What a pleasant surprise."
A burly man with thick muscles and a cruel grin stepped forward.
"Niu Mang?!" Wang Yan's expression darkened immediately.
The others in the Guangxi Society swiftly drew their weapons.
"Who are they?" Smith asked, eyeing the newcomers.
"Enemies of the Guangxi Society," Wang Yan said grimly. "We've fought them before. We're outnumbered and already wounded. We won't stand a chance."
Niu Mang let out a loud laugh. "Kill them all. Don't leave a single one standing!"
The black-robed thugs behind him surged forward with weapons raised.
Smith let out a tired sigh.
Having saved Wang Yan once already, he figured he might as well follow through.
"Stay back. I'll handle this."
Smith jumped from the wooden cart. In a flash, he activated Sage Mode.
Dozens of Flying Thunder God Kunai flew from his sleeves, embedding themselves around the enemy formation.
"Swish!"
The air split with a flash.
To the Guangxi Society's amazement, Niu Mang and his men collapsed in an instant, writhing in pain. Smith had moved too fast for the naked eye to follow.
He hadn't killed them. Instead, he turned to Wang Yan.
"They're your enemies. I'll let you decide what to do with them."
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