Morning had arrived in the valleys, and Rurik was still relentless in his search for Oasis.
The sun's first rays filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled shadows on the ground as Rurik moved with the fluidity of a shadow, his frustration mounting with every step.
He leaped from one shaded area to the next, his keen eyes scanning for any sign of his elusive target.
"Damn kid, you've got me overworking," Rurik thought as he propelled himself forward, heading in the direction of Belvan Town.
He smirked, his mind whirling with possibilities.
"But fret not, you're unfamiliar with this place. The only location you know around here is Belvan Town. With those injuries, you'll definitely head there."
A sinister grin spread across his face as he considered his advantage.
"And since you have my dagger, I can track you anywhere."
He moved with renewed determination, realizing that scouring the streams and battle sites had been a waste of time.
in his mind, Oasis was grievously injured, and the only place he could find refuge and heal was Belvan Town, where he was familiar with the surroundings.
Rurik arrived near the city within minutes, slipping into the shadows of a large tree that offered a perfect vantage point.
From his concealed position, he could observe the activity around the north gate of Belvan Town.
The morning hustle was in full swing, with traders, travelers, and guards moving in and out of the gate.
The sun climbed higher in the sky, illuminating the stone walls of the town and the busy streets within.
"It's too risky to wait inside the city," Rurik mused, his eyes narrowing.
He had no desire to go through the inspection at the gate, so he opted to wait outside, in the shadows where he could remain undetected.
By now, it had been over a day since Oasis had vanished from the stream, and Rurik hadn't rested.
But as an awakened realm martial artist, going days without rest was nothing to him.
"Just you wait, kid. I'll make your head roll," he thought darkly, blending into the shadows near the tree, his presence almost entirely erased.
The hours passed, with Rurik remaining in his position, motionless as a predator lying in wait.
Noon came and went, then afternoon, and eventually twilight descended, bringing the day to an end.
The city lord's people were also searching for Oasis in the surrounding villages and valleys, a fact Rurik noticed from his hiding spot.
He couldn't quite discern their purpose, but to him, it was just part of his job to scout and remain vigilant.
Morning arrived once again, and the north gate of Belvan Town began to stir with activity.
The marketplace near the gate buzzed with life as merchants set up their stalls, children played in the streets, and guards patrolled the perimeter.
The scene was one of ordinary life, but Rurik remained focused, his eyes darting between the various figures, searching for any sign of Oasis.
!!!
Suddenly, Rurik's senses flared.
"My dagger!" he thought, tensed, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
"Finally, I shall finish my mission. And it's coming from there," he thought, turning his gaze towards the direction where he had fought Oasis.
"Huh, it's moving towards here, and very fast. Ha ha ha, fascinating kid." His smile widened as he sensed the dagger moving towards him at a rapid pace.
With excitement building, Rurik began to move, his aura leaking out uncontrollably as he left the town behind, his pace quickening as he headed into the open field that led back to the valleys.
The open field was vast, with tall grasses swaying in the morning breeze, and the distant mountains standing as silent sentinels.
Rurik's anticipation grew with each step, his excitement palpable as he neared his target.
After several minutes of moving through the field, Rurik's eyes caught sight of a figure in the distance—Oasis, moving swiftly towards him from the other side.
!!!
"There you are, brat," Rurik muttered under his breath as he spotted Oasis moving towards him from the other side of the field.
The two were mere blurs of different auras, streaking towards each other with terrifying speed.
!!!
As Oasis came into view, Rurik noticed something strange.
"Huh? He looks fine, not injured, and… a bit different," Rurik thought, confusion creeping in.
His mind raced. "What happened? Just two days ago, he was on the brink of death, and now he's already healed?"
The closer he got, the more questions flooded his mind.
"What's going on here? Why does he seem a bit older than before?" But the answers didn't matter.
"It doesn't matter. I'm going to finish my job. Time to die, kid." Rurik's eyes gleamed with malice as he drew his dagger, the very twin weapon Oasis had.
Meanwhile, Oasis continued moving towards Rurik, his expression calm but determined.
"So, he's been waiting for me, huh?" Oasis thought, a slight smirk forming on his lips.
"At least he takes his job seriously, but unfortunately for him, this won't be like last time."
To Rurik, only two days had passed since he nearly killed Oasis, but to Oasis, it had been two years, thanks to the time dilation within the Celestial Garden Sphere.
Within a few breaths, the two were nearly upon each other, their auras clashing in the air like opposing storm fronts.
Rurik's voice echoed across the field, high-pitched and mocking. "Ha ha ha, time to die, kid!"
Oasis frowned, his ears ringing with the sound of Rurik's voice.
"Damn, that annoying voice," he thought as he reached down to his waist and pulled out Rurik's dagger, which he had secured to his tunic belt.
Rurik's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Brat, you want to fight using my own dagger? It won't listen to you!" he shouted, his voice laced with arrogance.
But Oasis didn't reply. Instead, he hurled the dagger towards Rurik with immense force.
The dagger sliced through the air with such speed and precision that it seemed to vanish from sight, only to reappear moments later, aimed directly at Rurik's head.
There was no mana infused in the throw, just sheer, raw power.
Rurik's eyes widened in shock as he barely had time to react.