"Everything inside the cave is what we obtained through our own strength," Amy said confidently, or at least she tried to sound confident. "Why should we give them to you?"
Max shrugged. "Because I also had my eyes on the cave, but you two used some sort of invisible treasure item to get inside while I could only wait."
Alice sneered. "Just because of that, you want us to give you a part of whatever we obtained in the cave?"
Max nodded and smiled. "Exactly. Also, because you two seem pretty well-off, judging by the grand entrance you made outside." He had seen them arrive on a flying beast—an exceedingly rare mode of transportation, usually accessible only to the wealthy or those from prominent families.
Alice narrowed her eyes and looked at Max strangely. "Are you seriously trying to rob hunters from the Phoenix Order?"
"Phoenix Order?" Max froze, stunned. He hadn't expected they were from the Phoenix Order guild. 'Damn, this just makes things much more complicated.'
"What? Are you trembling in fear now?" Alice chuckled, seeing the drastic change in Max's expression. It confirmed that he didn't belong to any other guild, dispelling any doubts about Max being an assassin sent to kill them.
Max frowned. On one hand, he couldn't afford to offend the Phoenix Order guild because the only lead he had on his sister was from that guild. On the other hand, he couldn't let go of any treasures they had obtained. He had to at least get a share.
"Look, I won't make things difficult for you since I also have intentions of joining the Phoenix Order guild," Max said softly. "But I really need some treasures because I couldn't find a single mana crystal in this damn forest. So, if we can come to an agreement, it will be better for both of us."
Alice smiled at the sudden change in Max's tone. "Your suggestion is good, but you got one thing wrong," she said, smiling.
"And what would that be?" he asked, grinning.
Alice scoffed at Max's confident tone. "It's about your strength. Do you think you can stop us with your measly strength at level 4?" she said disdainfully, pointing at the level 9 lava serpent. "Even if you could somehow control the lava serpent, your chances are less than 1%."
Max sighed. He had expected to be looked down on with his current level of strength, but there was nothing he could do. However, that didn't mean he would let this opportunity slip by.
"How about this?" Max suggested, his expression sly. "You attack me, and if I block your attack, you'll give me all the treasures you've obtained from the cave."
Alice frowned at Max's words. She didn't know why, but she had a bad feeling about this. He was too confident for someone at level 4, making her suspicious about the suggestion.
"Very well, but I have to tweak your suggestion a bit," she agreed, coming up with a plan.
Max smiled. "I'm all ears."
Alice nodded and said, "First of all, you will not use the level 9 lava serpent. And secondly, you will have to take three of my attacks head-on."
Fearing he might decline her suggestion, she quickly added, "Don't worry though. Even if you get injured somehow, my friend here has a healing class. She can heal you to your peak. So, what do you say?"
Max contemplated for a moment and nodded. "But I also want to add something."
"What is it?" Alice asked curiously.
Max smirked and said, "If I win this bet, not only will I get all the treasures you obtained from the cave, but you will also recommend me to the Phoenix Order guild."
"That's it?" Alice was stunned. She had expected Max to want something more, like more treasures, but the recommendation to the guild was an easy task for her.
Max nodded, seeing her surprised tone. Although recommending him wasn't a big deal for her, for him, it was an opportunity he couldn't let go. He had to seize every chance to enter the Phoenix Order guild.
"Alright, then we have a deal," Alice smiled as she stepped back a little.
Just then, her right hand began to blaze with crimson red flames, and in a moment, the flames coalesced into a red flaming arrow that floated above her hand.
"Be ready. I'm about to attack," Alice warned Max.
Max nodded and took out his sword, his hands trembling. He wouldn't lie—he was a bit excited to fight a human, especially someone from the Phoenix Order guild.
Fighting monsters and battling humans were two entirely different experiences. Excelling at one didn't automatically guarantee proficiency in the other.
However, those skilled in fighting humans often had a significant edge when facing monsters of the same level, as their adaptability and strategic thinking were already honed to a sharper degree.
"Here it goes." Alice launched her flaming arrow.
It flew toward Max, leaving behind a trail of red light and smoke.
Max stood his ground with his Three Dimensional Body skill active. Just as the arrow entered his attack range, Max made his move.
He angled his sword downward to the right, slashing with precision to deflect the flaming arrow away.
BANG!
The arrow struck his sword and changed direction, hitting the ground to his right and erupting into a small explosion of red flames that lit up the area, leaving a scorch mark in its wake.
'That was easy,' Max thought, turning his attention to Alice. He saw her wide eyes staring at him with pure astonishment.
"What happened?" he asked, frowning. 'Is it really that strange for a level 4 to block attacks from a level 8?' he wondered.
Alice didn't reply, her mind still reeling from the image of how Max had effortlessly deflected her arrow with his sword. It had been a fine sword flow that deflected her attack.
Meanwhile, Amy was in even more shock than Alice. Only she knew that Alice's strength had always been a step above geniuses at the same level. Yet, her attack had been easily deflected by someone four levels below her.
What did that mean?
"How did you do that?" Alice asked, coming to her senses, though her expression was still one of shock and astonishment. She still couldn't believe that her attack had been so easily dealt with by a level 4.
Max smiled mysteriously. "It's a secret."
"Humph," Alice snorted. "Let's see if your secret can save you from two more of my attacks." From what she could tell, Max had managed to block her last attack because of his fine swordplay, but she didn't believe he could do the same for her next attack.
She brought both her hands forward, which soon began to blaze with red flames. A moment later, six blazing red arrows floated above her two hands.
Alice gazed at Max and warned, "If you can't handle these, just say so, and I will cancel my attacks."
Max nodded at her, thinking she wasn't as bad as he had expected.
"Go!" Alice unleashed six arrows in rapid succession. Each one streaked through the air like rockets fired from a launcher. They twisted and curved mid-flight, honing in on Max with deadly precision, their fiery trails painting streaks of light in the air.