"People? Are you sure?" Zilvra thought that in such a desolate place, encountering monsters seemed more normal than meeting people. "What do they look like? What weapons are they carrying?"

"I couldn't see clearly, but they aren't carrying any weapons." Soka said confidently, then pointed at Eryies, "If you don't believe me, you can ask her."

Eryies nodded, she had also confirmed several times before reaching this conclusion. But she immediately sniffed the air a few times, then suddenly turned her head to the side.

"She's right, there are three people walking towards you." A strange voice came. Neither the Angel nor the Desire Demon knew how the voice had suddenly appeared near them, even Zilvra, who was skilled in stealth, hadn't noticed a thing. Leading the group was a young human wearing a wide robe, with metallic armor clasped at his shoulders and waist. Behind him were two people, one dressed as a Pate Priest, the other was wearing something that resembled what Lynch wore when he first arrived in the Underdark. However, these two said nothing, hiding their faces with masks, resembling shadows.

"On all the stone above? What are you guys up to?" Morgan jumped in front of everyone, the massive warhammer on his shoulder bouncing repeatedly, "State your names!"

"Oh, brave dwarf, there's no need to hold hostility towards us." The young leader glanced at the mage sleeping on the wooden platform, slightly surprised, but quickly said, "My name is Soylard, and I'm a good friend of the mage behind you. What's happened to him now?"

"We don't need your concern, you all better leave." Zilvra said coldly, "This forest is very dangerous, with enormous beasts living in it. We won't be responsible for your safety."

"Thank you for your concern, madam. We will take good care of ourselves." Soylard bowed and said, "However, it looks like Mr. Wizde's condition is quite bad. Although he has no wounds, there shouldn't be any illness that could defeat him so easily?"

"You aren't Lynch's friend!" Soka shouted, "You even got his name wrong!" Zilvra tugged the little angel's sleeve, but Soka still said, "You're a liar!"

"Oh? So that's his true name?" Soylard scratched his head, a bit embarrassed as he said, "Last time we met, he told me he was called Wizde. Seems I made a mistake." He bowed slightly to express his apology to the group. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Take this Pate Priest and this Mage Association member and leave here." Eryies supported the dwarf's shoulder to prevent Morgan from getting impulsive and causing trouble again. But what the Desire Demon said reminded everyone that Lynch was indeed wanted by these two organizations, and his whereabouts couldn't be easily exposed.

"Believe me, even if we heard about the bounty on Mage Lynch, we wouldn't do anything to him." Soylard spread his hands and said, "Firstly, I and Lynch share a common goal; secondly, it seems you and the beasts in this forest pose no threat to me."

As if in response to his words, from the woods behind the three, came a low growl. Then a continuous series of loud bangs followed by the sound of trees falling clearly indicated that a beast was charging in this direction.

"Ladies, and this dwarf, don't worry, I will settle this trouble." Soylard said with a smile, "It seems it was indeed triggered by us. But any beast that finds its mate killed would act so."

"Soka! Get ready!" Zilvra gently patted the little angel's head, then drew her own weapon. Yet her gaze wasn't on the smoke tumbling in the distance, but firmly locked on Soylard's back. If necessary, she could pierce his heart before anyone could react.

But, Soylard said with a dual meaning, "Lady, please don't be too tense. It's not good aiming your weapon in the wrong direction."

Zilvra had not yet dissected the deeper meaning of those words, when she suddenly found Soylard had disappeared from before her eyes. She definitely did not blink, and surely didn't miss her target due to distraction. Somehow, Soylard vanished from Zilvra's watch without a trace.

A gigantic beast leaped out from the woods, but with no more tree trunks to cling to, it could only land heavily on the ground, creating a massive crater with a dull thud. Soka had just aimed her bow at the ape-like creature's eyes when she saw a shadow leap in front of the enemy before anyone else.

Soylard was shrouded by a mass of black smoke, which quickly condensed and transformed into a long blade in his hand. The giant ape swung its arm to attack the human, but as if touching a ghost or an illusion, its arm simply passed through Soylard's position, hitting nothing at all.

The black blade, however, showed no mercy as it swung through the air from afar. Morgan was just about to snicker at this inexplicable martial technique, "How is causing harm without contact possible?" But in the dwarf's eyes, he witnessed a truly shocking sight.

The beast was unexpectedly sliced out of nowhere, disintegrating into massive fragments mid-air, scattering across the ground. Not even Zilvra knew what kind of technique this was, for from the cut marks, whether it was the hard bone, soft fat, or tough skin, it was all split into two by a smooth, clean cut. Each slash seemed to disregard the material it faced, treating everything equally in its "slice".

Eryies, who was originally standing by Zilvra, suddenly went limp, trembling as she collapsed to the ground beside Lynch after witnessing Soylard's assault. Zilvra reached out to pull up the Desire Demon, unwilling to admit it, but now she needed Eryies' strength. The power just displayed by the opponent was too bizarre; if he swung a strike at their current location, even though separated by ten steps, it would be enormously challenging for them to block.

Soylard, much like he disappeared, now suddenly returned to his original position. Both the black smoke and his strange blade were hidden beneath his wide robe. He smiled at Zilvra and said, "Rest assured, madam, no one will disturb you. Also, had we really been hostile, we would have made a move long ago."

Zilvra gently stroke the Golden Ring on her finger, feeling the Black Dragon's discontent and anger within. 'Is it time to use this item?' she thought, 'There's probably not much use for it either!'

"Who are you really? If you were truly Lynch's friend, he would have told me before!" Zilvra stared coldly at Soylard, her thin sword pointed at his nose, "All spies look kind, but have an even more sinister aura! I hope you understand my meaning."

"Well, what a suspicious woman!" Soylard nodded, held his chest and bowed again, reintroducing himself, "My name is Dazhe, but some call me the Great Serpent— the one who mastered light and the world."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.