Without waiting for an answer, Oasis reached into his storage bracelet and pulled out his sword, 'Kaze no Kagutsuchi'.
!!!
"That's definitely a high-grade artifact," Jerek blurted out, his voice betraying a mixture of awe and fear.
The others in Garron's group, upon hearing this, suddenly realized the gravity of their situation.
Garron's earlier confidence began to waver as he reassessed the young man standing before them.
"Who are you, kid?" Garron asked, his tone no longer as assured as before.
"Oasis of Lunaris," Oasis replied simply, flicking his wrist casually as he adjusted his grip on the sword.
"Since it's come to this, there's no turning back."
"Either we die, or you die, kid… unless you decide to join us," Garron said, trying to maintain his composure despite the growing unease.
"Then, Uncle Garron, and the rest of you," Oasis began, his voice chillingly calm,
"I'll give you a few minutes to write your farewells to your families, because today shall be your last."
Garron's group exchanged glances, their bravado faltering under the weight of Oasis's words.
The realization that they were facing someone far more dangerous than they had anticipated began to sink in.
"Young one, you're generous. Unfortunately, we don't have families."
"The only family we have is each other," Garron replied, his eyes glancing at his comrades with a hint of somberness.
"Good thing you'll all die together, then," Oasis said, his voice devoid of pity.
"Blame your luck for meeting me and your destiny for choosing kidnapping as a way to make a living."
With that, Oasis unleashed his mana, and the oppressive force of his power began to radiate from him.
The air grew thick with heat as blue-cyan energy surged around him, crackling with raw power.
The ground beneath his feet seemed to smolder, and the temperature in the immediate vicinity skyrocketed, as if they were suddenly standing in the heart of a burning forest.
The intensity of the heat was suffocating, and the members of Garron's group could feel the sweat pouring down their faces, their breaths becoming labored.
Oasis's clothes began to smolder, the fabric slowly charring under the intense heat.
"Uncle Bronn, remember this in your next life: Oasis of Lunaris always delivers his promises," Oasis said, his gaze locking onto Bronn.
In an instant, Oasis moved with blinding speed, a blur of motion as he charged toward Bronn.
The larger man barely had time to react, raising his massive axe in a desperate attempt to defend himself.
But it was too late.
Oasis's scimitar, Kaze no Kagutsuchi, sliced through the air with precision,
Severing Bronn's head cleanly from his shoulders before the man could fully comprehend what had happened.
Bronn's body stood still for a brief moment, blood spraying from the neck, before crumpling to the ground.
Garron's eyes widened in horror, but he quickly drew his sword, barking orders to the remaining members of his group.
Maira lunged at Oasis from the side, her daggers aimed at his ribs, but Oasis moved with fluid grace, sidestepping her attack effortlessly.
He spun around, his scimitar arcing through the air with deadly accuracy.
Maira barely had time to gasp before her chest was cleaved open, her body crumpling to the ground.
Jerek, the sharpest of the group, tried to flank Oasis, hoping to catch him off guard.
But Oasis was already two steps ahead, his movements a blur as he parried Jerek's strike with one hand and delivered a swift kick to the man's midsection.
The force of the blow sent Jerek stumbling back, gasping for breath.
Before he could recover, Oasis was upon him, the scimitar slicing through his torso in a single, clean motion.
Jerek's body split apart, his lifeless halves collapsing to the ground.
The twins, Fynn and Rynn, attempted to coordinate their attack, striking at Oasis from opposite sides in a synchronized assault.
But Oasis, his senses heightened by the mana coursing through him, anticipated their moves with ease.
He twisted his body, dodging one twin's strike while simultaneously blocking the other's.
With a swift upward slash, he disarmed Fynn, sending the twin's sword flying into the air.
A split second later, Oasis followed through with a downward strike that cleaved Fynn from shoulder to hip.
Rynn, now alone and desperate, screamed in rage and charged at Oasis with reckless abandon.
But Oasis remained calm, his movements precise and controlled.
He sidestepped Rynn's wild swing, and with a quick flick of his wrist, Kaze no Kagutsuchi sliced through Rynn's neck, severing the head from the body in a flash of steel.
Garron, the last of his group, stood frozen in place, his confidence shattered as he watched his comrades fall one by one.
He gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles white, as Oasis turned to face him.
The heat radiating from Oasis was unbearable, the ground around him scorched and blackened.
Oasis moved toward Garron with a measured pace, his sword raised and ready.
Garron, knowing he was outmatched, made a final desperate lunge at Oasis, but his movements were slow and clumsy compared to the fluid precision of Oasis's attacks.
In a single, graceful motion, Oasis sidestepped Garron's strike and brought Kaze no Kagutsuchi down in a sweeping arc, cutting through Garron's sword and chest in one clean motion.
Garron's eyes widened in disbelief as he fell to his knees, blood pouring from the fatal wound.
His sword, now broken, clattered to the ground beside him.
Oasis stood over Garron, his expression unreadable as he watched the life drain from the man's eyes.
With a final flick of his wrist, Oasis shook the blood from his scimitar, the blade gleaming once more as the oppressive heat around him began to dissipate.
The ground beneath him smoldered, the remnants of his mana still lingering in the air as Garron's body slumped forward, lifeless.
Oasis had delivered on his promise.