Beneath the lawless city, there was a bustling city on an island about the size of the largest Country. This city served as a hub for selling materials gathered from the surrounding forest, teeming with wild beasts and creatures.
The purpose of this place was to collect valuable resources from the land to support the Lawless City, as well as to generate additional income.
Elijah and Kai teleported to this city instantly using special devices. The town was a vibrant mix of different races—elves, orcs, Fulgan, and various other fantasy and sci-fi beings, some armed to the teeth, others not.
Without any battle gear, Elijah and Kai wandered around, with Elijah particularly fascinated by everything he saw.
"What are you so excited about?" Kai asked.
"I'm just curious," Elijah replied, stopping to examine a floating table. "How do they do this?" he wondered aloud, touching its underside while a few onlookers gave him strange looks.
Kai sighed, "Let's go. Aren't you hungry?"
Elijah's stomach growled, and he suddenly appeared in front of Kai. "Where to, Kai?" His voice grew serious. "We need to catch 100 beasts for today's meal."
"That's impossible. We're up against (E-) rank beasts, which are stronger than their usual rank," Kai said, worry etched on his face. "Are you sure about this?"
"Are you scared?" Elijah teased with a smirk.
"No, just realistic. Our chances of winning are only about 30%," Kai replied, gripping his sword and glancing behind them.
"That's still a chance," Elijah laughed, noticing the killing intent in Kai's gaze as he stared at some people watching them. These onlookers had an aura they couldn't quite detect, but their stares were intense, almost predatory.
Elijah laughed louder. "HAHAHAHAHA, don't worry about them for now. Let's focus on getting the food."
"You're right, Elijah, but we still need a plan," Kai insisted, looking intently at him.
"We can't predict the future, Kai. The best we can do is set a goal and make sure we achieve it," Elijah said, his eyes drawn to a guy showing off his powers to impress a girl. 'That's interesting,' he thought, watching the man emit rays of red light from his hand.
The town was as large as a city, and its proximity to the forest allowed Elijah and Kai to leave quickly. They moved through the town's bustling marketplace, filled with stalls selling exotic goods, weapons, and potions. Merchants shouted their wares, and the air was thick with the scents of spices, roasted meats, and the earthy aroma of various herbs.
As they neared the edge of the town, the noise and chaos gradually faded, replaced by the sounds of nature. The forest loomed ahead, dark and dense, with towering trees whose branches intertwined to form a canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight. The ground was covered in a thick layer of leaves and underbrush, and the air was cool and damp.
The barrier that protected the town was a shimmering wall of energy, crackling with magical power. As Elijah and Kai stepped through it, they felt a tingling sensation, like a gentle static shock. People inside the barrier watched them go with pitying eyes, as if expecting them never to return.
Once outside, the forest seemed to close in around them. The trees were ancient, their trunks wide and gnarled, covered in moss and vines. Strange plants and fungi glowed faintly in the dim light, and the sounds of distant animal calls echoed through the trees.
"Where are the E rank beasts located?" Elijah asked a passing traveler, a rugged-looking dwarf with a long beard and a heavy axe slung over his shoulder.
"About a kilometer to the east," the dwarf replied. "But be careful. The beasts are strong and cunning."
Elijah and Kai nodded their thanks and headed east. The path was rough and overgrown, and they had to navigate around fallen trees and thick underbrush. The further they went, the quieter it became, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
After hours of roaming, they finally encountered their first beast—a panther-like creature with a sharp, sword-like tails. It seemed to be around (E-) rank, moving cautiously, eyes darting around.
Kai started to formulate a plan but found Elijah missing. "Why do I even bother," he sighed.
Elijah had already used a technique called Silent Step combined with Flash Step, positioning himself near the beast. When the panther finally lowered its guard, Elijah saw his chance.
A lotus with a single leaf appeared behind him, and a silver hue enveloped him. "Sky-covering fist," he muttered, his power surging to (E-) rank as he launched his attack.
The panther sensed the danger at the last moment, its tail clashing with Elijah's fist.
BOOM!
The impact sent fierce winds around them. Both Elijah and the panther jumped back, but the panther wasn't prepared for Kai's next move.
Kai stood ready, his sword drawn, a burst of darkness enveloping his blonde hair and body. 'That's not the element of darkness,' Elijah thought, regaining his balance.
"Oni Black," Kai intoned. An image of an Oni appeared behind him, and he slashed the air, creating a black moon arc. A five-meter black arc rushed toward the panther.
With no other choice, the panther roared, sending a wave of wind to counter the attack.
BOOM!
Dust filled the area as the battle for survival began. Elijah and Kai were both nervous and excited, ready for the fight ahead.