The moment the bandit leader gave the signal—
Chaos erupted.
Figures rushed down from the hills, their movements swift and coordinated. Weapons gleamed under the fading light as killing intent flooded the battlefield.
Daren moved first.
"Hold formation!" he shouted.
Energy burst from his body as he charged forward, meeting the first wave head-on. His blade cut through the air, clashing against a bandit's weapon with a loud impact.
Sera disappeared.
One moment she was beside the caravan—
The next, she was already behind an enemy.
A flash of steel.
A clean strike.
One bandit dropped instantly.
The rest of the team followed, each engaging their targets.
The battlefield split into multiple skirmishes.
⸻
Kael didn't rush.
He stood still for a brief moment, observing.
His Origin Sense spread outward, mapping every movement, every presence.
Ten enemies.
No—
Twelve.
Two were still hidden.
Watching.
Waiting.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
So that's how it is.
A bandit lunged at him.
Fast.
Aggressive.
Kael moved.
Origin Flash.
He stepped to the side effortlessly.
The attack missed completely.
Before the bandit could react—
Kael struck.
A simple palm.
Origin Pulse.
BOOM!
The bandit was thrown backward, crashing into the ground and rolling several meters before going still.
Kael didn't stop.
Another attacker came from behind.
Kael didn't turn.
Didn't even look.
He simply shifted his stance slightly—
And dodged.
The blade passed just inches from his shoulder.
Kael countered instantly.
A precise strike to the chest.
The attacker collapsed.
⸻
Nearby, Sera caught a glimpse of him.
Her eyes widened slightly.
He's not just strong…
He's efficient.
No wasted movement.
No unnecessary energy.
Every action was calculated.
Controlled.
Deadly.
⸻
The bandit leader frowned.
He had noticed it too.
"That one…" he muttered.
"Take him down!"
Two more bandits rushed toward Kael simultaneously.
Their coordination was better than the others.
More experienced.
They attacked from opposite sides, trying to overwhelm him.
Kael stepped forward.
Not back.
Forward.
His body blurred.
Golden afterimages flickered across the battlefield.
The two attackers struck—
But hit nothing.
Kael appeared between them.
His movements flowed like water.
One strike.
Then another.
Both bandits dropped almost instantly.
⸻
The battlefield shifted.
What had started as a balanced fight…
Was quickly tilting.
Daren forced his opponent back, breathing heavily. He glanced around—
And froze for a moment.
Half the enemies were already down.
And most of them—
Were near Kael.
"…What the hell?" he muttered.
⸻
The bandit leader's expression darkened.
"This wasn't part of the plan…"
He stepped forward slowly, his aura rising.
Unlike the others—
His presence was heavier.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
This was someone who had clearly surpassed ordinary fighters.
Kael felt it immediately.
His attention shifted.
The two hidden presences…
Were still there.
But they hadn't moved.
Still waiting.
Kael focused on the leader instead.
The man smiled coldly.
"So you're the problem."
Kael said nothing.
The leader rolled his shoulders slightly.
"Good."
His aura flared.
Stronger than anyone else on the battlefield so far.
"Then I'll deal with you myself."
The ground beneath him cracked as he stepped forward.
Kael's golden eyes sharpened.
Finally.
A real opponent.
The air between them grew tense.
The remaining fighters instinctively moved back.
They could feel it.
This clash—
Would decide everything.
Kael raised his hand slowly.
Golden energy gathered once more.
The Ring of the First Pulse faintly glowed.
His energy felt smoother.
Sharper.
More controlled.
The leader smirked.
"Let's see if you're worth the trouble."
He vanished.
Kael moved at the same instant.
Two blurs—
One gold.
One dark—
Collided.
BOOM!
The impact shook the battlefield.
And far above the hills—
Unseen by everyone else—
Two shadowed figures watched silently.
Observing.
Waiting.
"…Interesting," one of them said quietly.
The real danger—
Had yet to step in.