chapter 26 : Invaders

Silvan switched to his main body and quickly picked up the Solar Flare Edge.

Crack!

Right at that moment, the door exploded inward, splinters scattering across the floor with a loud thud as two figures stepped into the chamber.

The first was a tall woman with striking crimson hair tied into a high ponytail that swayed with her confident steps. Her form-fitting black and red robe, embroidered with flame patterns, hugged her athletic frame. A twin-bladed spear rested across her back, her hand already shifting toward it with practiced ease.

Beside her stood a young man with messy ash-gray hair falling into stormy blue eyes. His lean frame was wrapped in black robes identical to hers, marking them as members of the same sect. Twin short swords hung at his hips, and his gaze flickered between caution and greed as it locked onto the dungeon core and the verdant pool heart brimming with Qi.

> [Pure Human, 5th Stage of Body Tempering]

[Pure Human, 6th Stage of Body Tempering]

Their eyes landed on Silvan, standing between them and the core. Weapons drawn, they radiated hostility, ready to strike at any moment.

The woman broke the silence first. Her tone was cool but edged with authority. "Look, we don't have to make this messy," she said, casually gesturing with one of her swords. "Walk away now and you can keep that fancy blade of yours. We don't care about you. It's the core and the Qi pool behind you that matter."

Silvan's gaze didn't waver. His stance remained firm, a silent challenge radiating from him. "And if I decline?"

Her expression tightened. She shifted her stance, grounding herself. The young man mirrored her, sliding his feet into position as his hands hovered over his sword hilts. Qi began to swirl around them, the air thickening with their growing auras.

"Then we do it the hard way," she said, her voice now edged with steel.

Silvan's face was calm but he wasn't that really, flurry of calculations racing through his mind at that split moment.

'They're skilled. Fast. But I don't need to overpower them. I just need to hold the line'

"I don't kill without reason," Silvan said, voice low but resonant. "But if you attack... I won't show mercy."

The blooming sap cannon barrel shifted. aiming directly at the intruders. Inside, a ripe red fruit gleamed, pulsing faintly as the mechanism prepared to fire.

> [Blooming Sap Cannon: Automatic Mode Active]

[Loaded Fruits: 7 | Cooldown per fruit: 15 minutes]

Silvan clicked his Toung. The ring he created wasn't attached to it after he fired that saving Alisha. But thankfully even without it, it did its job.

The woman's eyes darted to the cannon, her confident stance flickering with unease. Her partner grimaced, glancing between Silvan, the weapon, and the treasure behind him.

But temptation was a powerful thing.

Then they moved.

Thwump!

The Sap Cannon fired. The fruit shot through the air with surprising speed.

"Split!" the woman barked.

They dodged in opposite directions. The fruit hit the ground where they had stood moments before, bursting open with a wet splorch. Thick, purple nectar exploded outward, splattering the floor. The sticky sap spread rapidly, clinging to everything it touched.

"Shit!" the young man hissed as his boot caught in the goo. His next step dragged awkwardly, slowing him down.

Silvan lunged. Flames erupted along the Solar Flare Edge as he swung, sending a horizontal slash of fire toward the young man.

"Block it!" the woman shouted.

The young man crossed his swords just in time. The fiery arc slammed into him, knocking him off his feet and sending him skidding across the floor. He grunted in pain but rolled back up, albeit slower.

The woman rushed in, twin swords flashing with grace. Her blades darted toward Silvan's ribs.

'tch dual swords' silvan thought as these type of ones are the most annoying to deal with.

He deflected the thrust, sparks flying as steel met steel. Twisting his wrist, he pushed her back with a powerful shove.

Then Silvan activated Infernal Demonic Claw.

Heat surged up his left arm as he Activated his Infernal demonic claw.

[Infernal Demonic Claw(LV.1)

Unleashes destructive flame-based Qi attacks, channeling energy through specialized knots using the environmental Qi as aid]

With a swift motion, he slashed at the air. Three fiery Qi slashes erupted forward, the heat distorting the air.

The woman crossed her swords to deflect. The first slash she parried, though her arms trembled under the impact. The second caught her arm, slicing through her robe and leaving a burning gash.

Slash!

She hissed but gritted her teeth. The third strike forced her to leap back straight into the edge.

Her feet stuck. "Damn it!" she cursed, wrenching her leg free, but the sticky nectar clung stubbornly.

Another fruit launched.

Thwump! Splorch!

This one landed near her partner. He dodged, but droplets splattered onto his arm, gumming up his movement.

"This is insane!" the young man growled. "He's got traps and that damn thing! We can't close in!"

"We just need to push through!" the woman snapped back. Yet her eyes flicked toward Silvan, analyzing him. Why hasn't he moved beyond that spot?

Her mind worked quickly. He's defending something...it was obviously that strange treasure.

Jin cursed under his breath, wiping sap from his arm as he stumbled back. "Damn it! We're just getting bogged down here!"

The woman grimaced, feeling the burning gash on her arm throb. "We're wasting time," she muttered. "Fall back!"

Jin hesitated for a heartbeat,but another fruit launched.

Thwump! Splorch!

That was enough. "Fine! I'm not getting stuck in this crap again!" he spat, pivoting on his heel.

Both of them retreated, feet slipping on the sap coated floor as they hastily. The gue fromthe gue sap creating a barrier that slowed their exit. Gritting her teeth, the woman slashed away strands of goo that clung to her legs. "Keep moving!"

They pushed through the mess, finally reaching the edge of the chamber. With one last glance over her shoulder, the woman's lips pressed into a thin line. Jin gave Silvan a glare, but neither said a word. Before quickly leaving the place.

Silvan exhaled, lowering his blade. His gaze drifted to the dungeon core, and the sap cannon "Not bad," he murmured. "But next time... they'll come stronger."