Chapter 25


    vin hid in the shadows, expressionless, not in a rush to reveal himself as he carefully observed


    the raging battle. He had never dealt with mercenaries before, but he knew well enough that these


    were hardened warriors who lived by the sword''s edge. Aiding them might not bring thanks, and


    worse, what if he were to be double-crossed? There would be no chance for regret then.


    The battle grew more intense and perilous. The debite Beast was covered in wounds, driven into


    a frenzy. The five mercenaries now found themselves unable to retreat.


    vin suddenly noticed a cave not far off, which seemed to be emitting potent Restoration Aether.


    Having practiced the arts of the Restoration Mantra, he was particrly sensitive to this kind of


    energy.


    The fight seemed to have spilled out from that very cave.


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    "Aargh!" One of the mercenaries in ck was flung through the air by the beast''s sharp ws. His


    back was a bloody mess with three terrifying gashes.


    The debite Beast roared, its voice echoing through the dense forest, deafening. Its body surged


    with dark energy, tossing the four remaining mercenaries aside as it lunged for the man in ck. Its


    mighty paws struck the ground and scattered stones in a wild and brutal assault.


    "No!" the mercenaries cried out.


    "Come on! Help us, and you shall be well rewarded! Hurry!" The wounded man struggled to his feet,


    ignoring his severe pain, and charged at the debite Beast with his heavy sword.


    The beast charged, rising on its hind legs. Its body was surrounded by a fierce ck wind. Its


    massive ws came crashing down toward the man in ck.


    "Move away!" The mercenaries screamed, diving to intervene, knowing they were no match for the


    debite Beast.


    "Waaah!" The man''s face contorted with fury as he stomped the ground, halting his charge and


    spinning in ce. His sword whirled in a deadly arc above his head.


    In the nick of time, vin made his move, charging straight at the debite Beast. His muscles


    tensed, a seething power stirred in every cell and converged in a mighty surge down his right arm.


    "Mountain Mover!" With a thunderous shout, vin''s body mmed into the beast''s belly, releasing


    a tremendous force.


    His blow carried the weight of at least seven hundred pounds, and the explosive power of the


    Mountain Mover was three times that amount.


    Boom! Crack! The debite Beast staggered as if struck by lightning. The impact shattered its


    ribcage.


    Seizing the moment, the man in ck swung his heavy sword in a wide arc, severing one of the


    beast''s ws.


    "Follow me!" vin fought back the churning in his blood and stepped forward. The Dawnedge


    de sang as it met his grasp, and he thrust it into the throat of the beast, widening a deep wound


    to half a meter in length.


    "Yes!" The man in ck rejoiced, striking the beast''s head with another powerful blow.


    The debite Beast let out a pained howl. A terrible dark energy surged through its body, creating a


    wild tempest that forced vin and the man in ck to step back. But its severe injuries finally


    overcame its rage, and it began to flee.


    "Not so fast." The man in ck and the other mercenaries surrounded it, summoning theirst


    reserves of strength for a final assault.


    Soon after, the debite Beast let out a mournful cry and copsed in a pool of blood, motionless.


    The five were battered and breathless. The female mercenary was barely able to stand and was


    leaning against a tree trunk.


    "My thanks!" The man in ck took a moment to recover, then approached vin with gratitude.


    Though vin had only struck twice, his timing was impable, turning the tide of the battle.


    "No need for thanks. What''s in the cave?" vin gestured toward the cavern.


    "Huh?" The man''s eyes shifted, surprised that vin had noticed the cave. He had intended to offer


    some coin and send vin on his way.


    The other four mercenaries slowly lifted their heads, their weary eyes filling with suspicion.


    "Don''t worry. I''m not here to rob you in your time of need. Whatever''s inside, I''ll take one-fifth."


    "Inside..."


    "I''ll take a look for myself."


    "In there is a millennial Evergreen Lichen!" The man in ck wasn''t sure of vin''s strength or


    identity, but the sheer force with which he had repelled the debite Beast suggested formidable


    power, and the sword he wielded was clearly no ordinary de. They were all gravely injured. If it


    came to a fight, there was no telling who would survive.


    "Tell me more?" vin was unfamiliar with it.


    The man pointed to the small hill in front of them. "This hill is actually the roots of a thousand-year-


    old tree. The trunk is long gone, leaving only the ancient roots buried within the hill. Growing on


    these roots is a magical treasure known as Evergreen Lichen, formed from the life essence of the


    ancient tree. It possesses strong healing properties and counts among the top tiers of Advanced


    Elixir Herbs."


    They had been watching the ce for some time, confident in their assessment. Previously, five


    debite Beasts had guarded the cave, and over the past month, the mercenaries had lured and


    in them one by one. They had thought thest beast would be easy to kill, but it proved much


    stronger.