The battle raged on as the remaining man held his own against the salamander, his rage evident as he realized his mate had been killed.
If he also lost concentration, it meant death for him as well.
Oasis stood near the entrance, watching the fight, looking for a way to join.
"Since they are here, it means the Salamander Heart Lotus is here," Oasis thought as he looked around, realizing the lotus must be behind the salamander.
!!!
"Oh, are those fire mana stones?" Oasis thought as he saw fire mana stones everywhere around the cave.
The battle raged on, Oasis looking lost in the cave, while on the other side, the man was suffering against the salamander.
"Damn brat," the man thought in frustration.
Oasis took off the weight equipment he was wearing, leaving a pit in the ground.
!!!
"Who is this brat?" the man thought as he defended against the salamander.
He was using a sword technique, evident to Oasis that he was a martial artist.
"Wow, I feel lighter now," Oasis thought as he took his sword.
"'Kaze no Kagutsuchi', let's go," Oasis remarked as he unleashed his energy, heating up the already hot cave even more.
Oasis's energy radiated intensely as he injected his mana into his sword.
The more he injected, the more his sword became enveloped with a blue-cyan aura, sparks of blue flames forming, and the blade slowly turning red.
"What is this suffocating energy?" the man thought, feeling Oasis's energy enveloping the entire cave.
!!!
The salamander, which had been ignoring Oasis, was now alerted and moved towards him.
The salamander roared, unleashing a huge breath of flames toward Oasis, leaving the other man with a brief moment of relief.
As the fire breath approached, Oasis whispered, "Dancing Phoenix Footwork."
He displaced at a terrifying speed, leaving a mirage in the wake of the salamander's breath.
In an instant, he was near the other man. Without a thought, Oasis launched his attack, swinging his sword.
Cling!!!
The man blocked Oasis's attack with his sword.
Despite the block, the slash energy continued, slicing the man's ear to the ground.
Just before his shoulder could be slashed, he spun, leaving the slash to hit the ground, creating a deep mark.
!!!
The man, surprised and realizing he almost died, felt blood dripping from his ear that had its pinna removed.
"Damn it, who is this brat? How is he so strong?" the man thought.
"And that sword is not normal."
The salamander launched at Oasis again.
"You want to play, lizard?" Oasis smirked as he looked at the salamander.
The salamander unleashed another fire breath at Oasis.
"Fire Magic: Phoenix Blaze," Oasis whispered as he launched his fire toward the salamander's breath.
Blue flames met the salamander's flames.
Oasis's fire absorbed the salamander's fire, hitting the beast, but its tough skin only sustained minor damage.
"Monster, he damaged that beast," the man thought. "I need to leave this place."
The man tried to run away as Oasis was occupied by the salamander.
Oasis realized that the man was trying to escape.
"Damn, I cannot let him leave this place," Oasis thought. "I must kill him before his cultivation stabilizes."
Oasis displaced himself again, leaving a mirage to distract the salamander slightly.
He reappeared in front of the man who was trying to run away, just before he could exit the cave.
Oasis spun and hit the man with a strong kick on the forehead, launching the man back toward the salamander.
At the same time, Oasis's mirage disappeared, and the salamander faced Oasis again, but the man was flying toward the salamander.
!!!
"Damn," the man thought, realizing the situation.
The salamander launched its claws toward the man, slicing him to death.
Blood scattered everywhere, evaporating from the hot ground.
"Now it's you and me, lizard," Oasis said, facing the salamander.
"Good thing they had exhausted their strength," Oasis thought. "I have to finish this in one move."
Oasis's energy rose again, more heat radiating into the surroundings.
!!!
The salamander roared, ready to launch an attack at Oasis as it moved toward him.
Oasis's sword glowed red as his energy heated up the blade, the intense glow visible around him.
Just as the salamander was about to hit him with its tail, Oasis blocked with his sword, slightly unleashing wind magic within the blade.
As he was hit and propelled toward the cave walls, the salamander's tail was sliced off, making it roar in pain and rage even more.
Oasis controlled his momentum, spinning midair, with his feet touching the wall.
He sprang back toward the salamander using the wall behind him.
The salamander, now berserk, charged at Oasis.
"Die, lizard," Oasis roared at the salamander.
"Scorching Crescent Blade, 7th Form: Dragon's Flame," he whispered as he flew through the air, launching his technique at the salamander.
A mixture of blue flames, blue-cyan energy, and the red glow from the blade was visible as Oasis moved at high speed, a dragon forming around his body.
The salamander tried launching its fire breath as a defense, but Oasis passed through its mouth, scorching it to ashes and blowing off its head, leaving only its lower body.
Oasis's attack was strong enough to create a big hole on the other side of the mountain.
As Oasis continued moving after decapitating the salamander, he realized the sun was rising—it was already morning.
Oasis stood with his upper clothing burnt, leaving only his lean, muscular body exposed.
One side of his trousers was torn off, and Kara's gloves were burnt away, leaving him holding his sword.
He headed back into the cave, glancing to the side and sensing the 'Salamander Heart Lotus' glowing, the treasure the salamander had been protecting.
With a determined expression, Oasis approached the glowing lotus, the prize finally within his reach after the intense battle.
Mist came out of Oasis's sword as it cooled down.
"How do I even take this?" Oasis thought, looking at the Salamander Heart Lotus.
He took the bracelets from the two men who had died and examined their contents.
Oasis found a wooden box in one of the bracelets, which looked like it was meant to carry the lotus.
Carefully, he picked the lotus and placed it inside the box. He then stored the box in his storage bracelet.
Noticing the abundance of fire mana stones around, Oasis gathered as many as he could.
These were all high-grade fire mana stones, a valuable resource for his cultivation and wealth.