"Damn it, how dare they ignore us! Brothers, kill them!" Keon roared, his voice echoing through the trees as he raised his axe and charged forward. The veins on his rugged face bulged, making him appear even more terrifying in the dim light of the forest. At his command, over twenty men surged out of the woods, their weapons glinting with an ominous shine as they charged toward the luxurious carriage, resembling leaves caught in a tempest.
Inside the cart, Elmo remained indifferent, a picture of calm amid the chaos outside. He shook his head in disapproval and retrieved a finely crafted cigar from his pocket. Lighting it with a motion that conveyed ease, he muttered,"Hey, really. Are people in the countryside fighting so noisy? These people, if they are in my arena, they should be able to perform well, and maybe they can make the fans scream. After all, that is their real stage. "
"Are you confident because of the large number of people, or are you too ignorant to know what fear is?" Joseph's calm and steady voice resonated beside him, followed by a series of chilling cracking sounds, akin to a brutal symphony of nature. Bones, muscles, and hardened metal snapped under his immense strength, announcing the impending doom of the intruders.
The bandit leader, hearing the commotion in the distance, sensed that his brothers were in trouble. He quickened his pace to catch up with Finn.
"Kid, come with me," the leader's voice rang in Finn's ears, carrying an unyielding authority. Before he finished speaking, he vanished from sight, leaving only an afterimage.
"It looks like things aren't good over there. For safety's sake, it's best to get you out of here as soon as possible." The leader appeared behind Finn, speaking in a low voice while reaching for Finn's back.
Startled, Finn released the tree branch and propelled himself downward like an arrow, crashing into the ground with a loud thud that kicked up dust.
"Oh?" The leader glanced at the bloodstained cloth on his fingers, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Your explosive power and reflexes are impressive, a genius. Kid, you can't escape!" His eyes widened with greed as he locked onto Finn, pouncing like a leopard.
Finn landed on all fours, his hands sinking deep into the earth. He curled his body, looking up at the leader with wary, defiant gray eyes. He reacted quickly to each of the leader's attacks, trying to escape this deadly pursuit.
"Your speed is indeed impressive for an unrefined gem. But that's not enough to escape my grasp," the leader smirked, his body spinning through the air with elegance, appearing behind Finn in an instant, like a shadow in the moonlight.
Finn felt an unprecedented sense of danger surge through him, and he leaped into the air with all his might, hoping to escape the clutches of death. Yet the leader's presence felt inescapable; no matter how hard he struggled, that terrifying shadow remained close behind.
"This... how is this possible?" Panic gripped Finn, and as he turned to look, a powerful hand clamped down on his head, slamming him to the ground.
"Ah, it seems I was a bit too rough," the leader crouched down, brushing the dirt off his hands, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
At that moment, half a cigar flew as a projectile and landed directly at the leader's feet. A tall, middle-aged man stepped forward, flanked by a massive figure clad in cross straps and a coarse yellow cloak, exuding an aura of authority.
"What are desert dwellers doing here?" the leader inquired, surprisingly unfazed by the unexpected visitors, not even glancing at them.
"What a keen observation! How did you deduce we came from the desert?" Elmo clapped his hands, showing his admiration for the leader's perceptiveness.
"The lingering scent of sand on you is too strong. Unless you crawled up from the underworld, the answer is clear," the leader replied nonchalantly, his hands now exploring Finn's unconscious form as if searching for something valuable.
"Quite an amusing joke, though I don't appreciate such jests," Elmo interrupted, blocking Joseph, who was about to intervene. He approached Finn with a sly smile. "This kid looks extraordinary. Is he your new catch?"
"Yes, what's it to you?" The leader finally turned to face the unexpected visitors, wariness flickering in his eyes.
"I'm interested in him. Name your price," Elmo stated, meeting the leader's gaze with a calm yet assertive demeanor. The leader's expression grew graver.
"What on earth are these two?" the leader thought, his breath quickening. An unprecedented sense of crisis crept in. In his stare, he saw a bloodthirsty beast, eyes red as if soaked in blood, instilling a deep fear within him.
"Why do you want this child?" The leader's voice darkened, suspicion lacing his words.
"I trust your judgment, Loe, as the most renowned hunting team leader in the central, eastern, and western regions." Elmo smiled as he took something out of his chest, "So, tell me, how much is this child worth? I run an arena and I need someone with his abilities. But are you thinking of taking him as a disciple? Don't be stupid; you'll end up selling him anyway. Why not let me take over now and save you the trouble of looking for buyers?"
"How do you know my name?" Loe's face paled further. The middle-aged man before him exuded an unprecedented pressure. Having dealt with countless people, he was keen-eyed, yet no one had ever intimidated him to this extent. If not for his rationality, he might have killed the man on the spot. But his trembling hands betrayed a deep-seated fear.
"Oh, it's a merchant's instinct. My business involves you—buying the prey you capture. I need to know a thing or two about your situation." Elmo said, his smile fading as impatience crept into his expression. "Now, back to business, name your price. Although I want to work with you further, I'm eager to return home to my wife. We can discuss it next time I'm in the Middle East.'"
"Boss, what's happening?" The bandits, who had been scattered around to encircle Finn, quickly regrouped, surrounding Elmo and Joseph with apprehensive gazes.
"No worries, a merchant," Loe waved his hand dismissively, signaling his men to relax. "This child, you can have him. We are a hunting team, not human traffickers. Mistaking him for a beast holds no value for us." He lightly kicked Finn, who lay unconscious, toward Elmo. "By the way, where is your wrestling ring?"
"A small place, Dune City in Everlasting Wilds. Has Mr. Loe heard of it?" Elmo smiled with a slight expression, nudging Finn with his foot. "Since this child is your hard-won prize, I won't take him for free. Though the payment isn't much, it's a token of friendship. If you ever find yourself at Skyhawk, let me know when you're at LB Arena (Iron Blood Arena) on the west side of the city. I'll make sure to treat you well. Now, we have matters to attend to, so I won't keep you." Elmo handed a bill to Loe and turned to leave, while Joseph picked up Finn, who was breathing faintly.
"Boss, we lost nearly a hundred brothers in battle!" Not possible to remove the adverb." A few hot-headed subordinates couldn't contain their anger, rushing to question him."
"Useless! We couldn't stop them even if we tried," Loe snapped, tearing the bill into shreds without even looking at it. "This is life-or-death money; I can't accept it."
"Listen up! From now on, regardless of how tempting the offer, no deals with anyone from Everlasting Wilds or Dune City. Anyone who disobeys will have their legs broken and kicked out of my team!" Loe's voice rose as he announced the order, his authority resonating through the group. Internally, he felt unease bubbling within him: "That man... his bodyguard is powerful, but what about the man himself? Why do I have such complex feelings? He seems both familiar and foreign. Who is he? If I had met someone so terrifying before, I would never forget. Dune City... it looks like a place full of unknowns and dangers."
After giving his orders, Loe resolutely led his men on the quest to track down and capture the two beasts specified in the order.
Inside the carriage, Elmo sat comfortably, humming a little tune with a carefree demeanor, feeling particularly pleased. "Joseph, my old friend, this journey has been absolutely wonderful. Not only are we returning with a full load, but we've also encountered an exceptionally talented young man."
"From what I've seen, Lady Luck has always favored you, boss," Joseph replied, skillfully steering the horses, his words laced with deep respect.
"Haha, even without the favor of Lady Luck, with these hands of mine, I can grasp everything I desire," Elmo said, pulling out a cigar from his pocket and elegantly lighting it. He exhaled a cloud of swirling smoke. "Now, my friend, let's pick up the pace and head toward Dune City to put a perfect end to this extraordinary journey."
"At your command, boss," Joseph replied.