Dahlia stared at the four strangers, her jaw tightening. The disciples stood behind her, tense and silent.
"Who are you? Don’t you know the Demon Gate Island has been forbidden for ten years? No outsiders are allowed here!"
One of them stepped forward, smirking.
"Forbidden? Indeed... but only for righteous sects, isn’t it?"
Dahlia’s eyes narrowed, her instincts confirming what her gut told her.
Eliza leaned in and whispered.
"They’re not normal cultivators..."
Clar stepped beside her.
"No, they’re worse. They should be underground scum."
Dahlia exhaled sharply.
"So that’s what they are? Mercenaries, huh?"
The cloaked man chuckled.
"Mercenaries, killers, traders of secrets... call us whatever you like. All that matters is that someone paid us well to take care of you all."
He tilted his head slightly, eyes glinting.
"A small new sect, barely starting and yet already got quite a high bounty. We’re really lucky to get this job."
Rynor spat to the side.
"You think we’re easy prey?"
"Easy?" The man laughed quietly.
"That’s exactly what we think.
Eliza’s mouth twitched.
"Paid killers calling ys easy. Quite cute. Let’s see if your employers still think their money was well spent."
The man grinned wider.
"Brave words. But your sect has made enemies faster than you think. Those old timers from other sects..."
He pointed toward them all.
"They fear that your sect will be growing too strong, so they hired us to remove the problem before it grows."
Dahlia’s fists clenched.
"Cowards. Can’t fight us themselves, so they send some stupid dogs instead."
Her voice then rose, trembling with anger.
"And to think they’d dare to pull something even after we moved to this island."
"How dare those stupid old bastards ignore the rules... and trample every line just to stop us."
The man only shrugged.
"Rules are only for the weak."
Dahlia’s eyes flashed.
"Then let’s see how strong you are without them."
Her aura burst faintly, stirring some dust. The disciples stepped back instinctively from the pressure.
She turned her head slightly toward Arden, who was standing near the back, watching nervously.
"Arden, you take command. Lead the disciples and handle those two on the right. I’ll take care of the other two."
Dahlia nodded, her tone softened.
"You did it before, didn’t you? You led them against the Demonic Boars. Now it’s the same, but with two strong, stupid cultivators as the opponents."
Arden inhaled shakily, then nodded.
"Yes... Sister Dahlia."
"Good," she said with a smirk. "Then let’s start."
Before anyone could blink, Dahlia launched forward, sending the dust flying.
In an instant, she appeared right in front of two of the cloaked men, shocking them.
They barely had time to react, and Dahlia’s fists shot out like bullets, hitting both of their ribs.
The impact echoed, followed by a dull thud as they were thrown backward several meters, crashing into the dirt.
"Dama... she’s fast!" one of them grunted, coughing.
Dahlia didn’t give them time to recover and dashed forward again.
She twisted midair and landed another heavy kick that sent the nearest man rolling across teh ground.
Behind her, Arden took a deep breath and pointed forward.
"Everyone! Move in pairs like before! Keep your distance and circle them!’
Rynar cracked his neck.
"About time for some real practice."
Rynor smirked beside him.
"Whoever takes him down wins."
"Bring it," Eliza shouted.
Clara stretched her arms.
"Don’t get in my way."
The disciples split quickly into formation, their earlier fear replaced by focus.
Arden stayed behind them, shouting short commands, adjusting their positions, watching every movement."
Meanwhile, Dahlia’s battle raged ahead.
Every strike she threw was heavy, precise, and unrelenting.
Her fists blurred, slamming into the cloaked men’s guard again and again.
One of them wiped blood from his lip, his smile fading.
"You’re stronger than the reports said."
"Guess your employer should have given you better information then," Dahlia shot back.
She stepped forward and landed another punch to his chest.
He staggered, gasping for air, while the other tried to circle behind her.
She pivoted smoothly, blocking his strike with her forearm and countering with a knee to his stomach.
The sound of the scream tore through the forest.
Arden heard it, glancing toward her for a second, his eyes wide with awe.
"Sister Dahlia is really strong..."
Rynor grinned. "That’s Senior Sister for you."
"Then we’d better not embarrass her," Rynar added.
Eliza cracked her knuckles again, smiling faintly. "Let’s finish this fast, then."
The cloaked man stepped forward, his grin widening as he drew two curved knives from his belt.
The blades glamed faintly and were coated in a faint green glow of mana.
"You’re all just First Realm noobs. Let me finish all of you fast and get back. Venom Drift!"
He dashed in a zigzag pattern, each movement sharp and predictable. Content orıginally comes from 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩
"Spread out!" Arden shouted.
But before the disciples could disperse, the man’s knives slashed the air, releasing curved arcs of faint mist.
The faint mist spread through the clearing like vapor and, in an instant, reached the other disciples.
Rynor coughed suddenly, clutching his chest.
"Ugh... my arms feel heavy."
Rynar frowned, sweat forming on his forehead.
"It’s his mana trait! Don’t breathe that in!
Arden’s eyes narrowed.
"Poison-type trait... damn it, that’s bad news."
The twins backed away, moving to flank him from both sides, but the man only smiled.
His body swayed like a serpent’s as he slipped through their attacks, knives flashing.
One blade nicked Rynor’s arm, quickly stumbling him back, and the green light flared briefly.
"Tch... my hand’s going numb already," he growled.
"Stay calm!" Arden called out.
"Don’t rush him. The more you move inside his mist, the faster it spreads through your body!"
Eliza gritted her teeth, clenching her fists.
"Then what? You want us just to stand here? Are you crazy?"
Arden frowned, thinking of a solution to this, but before he could think, a soft female voice cut him off.
"Don’t take all the fun."
Arden frowned even more.