Ragon stepped into the chamber revealed by Ashar, and to his surprise, he was greeted by an incredible sight. Gold coins were piled high like mountains, shimmering in the dim light. Scrolls, swords, armory, and countless other treasures filled the room. It was a treasure trove beyond his wildest dreams.
"This is truly a jackpot for Elenadrom!" Ragon shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber. The thought of all the resources he could now use to build his kingdom filled him with joy. With these riches, his vision for Elenadrom would finally become a reality.
It wasn't that Ragon was unfamiliar with wealth—he'd seen plenty in his time. But after enduring a long period of financial hardship, the sheer abundance before him felt like a dream come true.
"Grel'thak, you've outdone yourself this time," Ragon laughed, referring to a long-departed companion as he grabbed a small bag and started packing the treasures with hurried excitement.
Ashar, still in his phantom form, passed effortlessly through the wall and saw Ragon's frantic attempts to stuff as much as possible into his bag. The sight amused him.
"Hahaha!" Ashar burst into laughter. "I thought you always prided yourself on being wise. How do you expect to fit all of this into that tiny bag? Don't tell me you don't have a spatial ring?"
Ragon froze mid-motion and turned to face Ashar.
"Oh… I totally forgot about that," Ragon admitted, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. Then, his expression lit up mischievously. "Since you're the most adorable master I've ever had, would you mind lending me one of those rings?"
Ragon immediately dropped the bag he had cherished moments earlier and fell to the ground in a theatrical bow. He began kowtowing repeatedly as he sang Ashar's praises.
"Surely you are the king of all monks! The only monk to reach the threshold of godhood! The mind manipulator and the king of celib—" Ragon suddenly stopped mid-sentence, realizing the next word might come across as an insult.
He glanced up at Ashar, closing one eye as if bracing for judgment.
Ashar chuckled, amused by Ragon's antics. "You're something else, boy," he said. "Fine. I'll give you a storage ring that's more than capable of housing everything in this room. But, of course, it won't come for free."
Ashar's grin widened. He wasn't about to hand over such a valuable item without making Ragon work for it. Storage rings of this caliber were rare, even in level 4 cities and above. For Elenadrom, a level 10 village, such an artifact was nothing short of a dream.
Ragon stared at Ashar blankly, his mind racing. What could he possibly want in exchange for the ring?
Ashar, sensing Ragon's curiosity, spoke up. "I won't waste much of your time. My existence here is limited, and I'll fade soon enough. Here's my offer: I will temporarily reduce my strength to that of a five-star warrior. If you can defeat me, the ring is yours. If you fail… well, let's just say you die, So, do you want to risk it?"
Ragon didn't hesitate. He smirked and stood tall, his confidence radiating. "There's no risk at all. I'll take you on, old man."
Ashar's expression shifted to one of anticipation, his form glowing faintly. "Very well. Show me what you've got, Ragon."
Ashar's phantom solidified slightly, his presence became more commanding than before. His aura, even at the five-star warrior level, was overwhelming.
"Let's begin," Ashar said, with authority. He raised his hand, and the air around him reverberated.
Ragon tightened his fists, channeling his energy as he prepared to attack.
Without warning, Ashar moved. His form became very fast, and before Ragon could react, a force struck him square in the chest. He was sent flying across the cave, slamming into the ground.
"Too slow," Ashar commented, his tone almost playful.
Ragon coughed, picking himself up.
"Damn it, his speed is unreal. Even with his level suppressed, he's fighting like someone far beyond me."
Ragon's muscles bulged slightly as he charged at Ashar, aiming a powerful punch at his midsection.
Ashar didn't dodge. Instead, he raised his hand, and an invisible force met Ragon's fist. The impact sent shockwaves, but Ashar stood his ground, unfazed.
"That's not enough," Ashar said, his eyes glowing faintly. He sent Ragon sprawling backward again.
Switching tactics stepped back as he conjuredfireballs formed in the air around him. With a sweep of his hand, he sent them hurtling toward Ashar.
Ashar raised an eyebrow, impressed. But instead of dodging, he stretched his arm forward, and the fireballs froze midair, suspended as if held by invisible strings.
"fire..seriously..." Ashar said, smirking, "I expected more from you"
Ashar seemed to be controlling the fire as he held his hands as it imploded, releasing a burst of heat that forced Ragon to shield himself.
As the smoke cleared, Ashar was already on the move. He closed the distance between them in an instant, delivering a sharp kick to Ragon's side. The force sent Ragon sliding across the ground.
"He is able to predict my moves," Ragon thought, his breaths ragged.
"I need to think outside the box if I definitely want to defeat him"