"That girl… I do not recognize her at all. What do you think we should do with her? Would it be more appropriate to just kill her?"
The voice of a man rang out evenly as he turned his cold face to the other side.
"Judging by her attire, she's likely not from within our territory."
Another middle-aged man replied with a harsh tone, his eyes filled with deep suspicion. He sat atop a camel that was slowly trudging through the desert.
"We can't let a stranger whose origins are unknown escape. Kill her!"
As he finished speaking, he quickly reached into a canvas pouch hanging from the camel's neck and carefully pulled out a large, pale-white bone. The bone looked ancient and radiated a mysterious aura that defied description.
Another man, sitting not far away, also took out a similarly large bone from a large bag slung across his shoulder. The bone in his hand was solid and formidable clearly an artifact passed down through generations. Both men stared intently at their respective weapons, their eyes filled with a determination to eliminate the nameless intruder completely.
If they allowed a stranger like her to escape, who could say what dire consequences might follow?
It might amount to something trivial… or it might lead to an uncontrollable catastrophe.
For that reason, they could not let her live.
This decision might seem cruel, but when weighed against the safety of their land and people, they had to choose the most certain path even if that meant extinguishing the life of this mysterious young girl...
"If I want to level up, I'll have to risk danger and seek out new experiences I've never faced before,"
Lian Yi thought silently to herself as she stared forward with an emotionless expression. Her eyes were calm like a still lake, yet within that silence, a quiet resolve hid deeply, known to no one.
A gentle wind blew past, stirring the ends of her long black hair, which was tipped with fiery red. A few strands floated in the breeze before falling back against her shoulders. She stood completely still, as if unmoved by anything. But deep in her heart, she knew well—the path ahead would be perilous. To increase her strength would be no easy feat.
As the two middle-aged men approached, their eyes locked onto the girl standing before them with surprise.
What struck them first was not her appearance but her unnerving calmness.
There was no trace of fear, no panic as any ordinary person would show when facing enforcers like them.
Even so, her bravery did not interest them. What mattered now was one thing she was a stranger.
Her name was not among those known in their lands. And their laws were crystal clear:
A wanderer without origin or permission is a hidden threat and must not be allowed to exist.
If she were permitted to roam freely, what meaning would their laws still hold?
With that thought cemented in their minds, the two middle-aged men acted at once.
They swiftly leapt from their camels without hesitation, their strong bodies landing on the sand before dashing forward. The wind carried grains of sand swirling around them with every move.
They hoisted the large bones onto their shoulders with practiced ease, as though the weapons were extensions of themselves. Their eyes were sharp, like predators closing in on prey. Their expressions fierce like lions ready to pounce, they advanced heavily toward her.
One man veered left, the other right, flanking her like seasoned hunters.
When the distance between them and the girl shrank to mere steps, silence fell.
Tension hung heavy in the air, filled with murderous intent…
But the girl showed no reaction to any of it. She stood there silently, eyes devoid of emotion.
"A mere girl like this one strike should be enough to end her! Do it!"
One of the middle-aged men growled with a cold voice, eyes merciless. He lunged forward, lifting the bone high above his head and bringing it down with lethal force intending to finish it in a single blow.
But the girl was not such an easy target.
She flipped backward with astonishing agility, dodging the attack at the very last second.
Yet escaping wasn't easy.
At the same time, the other man rushed from the right, swinging his bone weapon with tremendous force. The girl narrowed her eyes and rolled across the ground, spinning to the side.
The bone slammed into the sand with a thunderous impact, sending dust flying.
Though she had narrowly escaped twice, she remained in danger.
Her attackers showed no sign of relenting. They moved in close, determined to end it right away!
Lian Yi flicked her hand. A flicker of glowing red flame burst forth.
She dashed swiftly, vanishing past their gaze. Her strong palm struck the left man's back hard. A loud thud rang out as his body stumbled slightly forward.
She didn't pause.
She sprinted ahead, narrowly dodging another incoming bone strike.
The man she'd hit regained his footing, wincing from the pain, but still clenching his jaw and stepping forward.
He spun the bone weapon in his hand and launched at her again.
The weapon sliced through the air with tremendous force, aiming to kill
But Lian Yi wasn't going to be struck so easily.
She raised her slender white leg and kicked sharply at his knee.
The tall man recoiled, instinctively dropping the heavy bone.
Thud!
The bone slammed into the ground.
He gritted his teeth and clutched his knee in agony.
Before he could regain balance, Lian Yi moved again.
Her sharp eyes gleamed with icy resolve.
She prepared to strike once more!
The other man rushed in, lifting his bone high and swinging down fiercely.
His whole body showed his determination to end the fight.
But the girl moved like a storm, fluid and evasive.
Within a heartbeat, she dodged and seized the weapon from his hand, and with one swift motion, struck him in the stomach.
Thud!
He flew backward, crashing into the sand. The impact caused the ground to shake faintly.
Now that both men were heavily injured, Lian Yi stood nearby, watching them with a cold gaze.
She didn't immediately follow up. She knew well her enemies were no longer able to resist.
"You two uncles... where do you come from, and where are you going?"
Lian Yi's voice broke the silence as her eyes scanned the two weakened foes, no longer capable of fighting back.
"We were only patrolling this area. If you kill us, beware Pharaoh Osiris will come to hunt you down!"
The man whose knee had been injured spoke coldly.
His eyes hinted at intimidation.
He slowly straightened up, despite the pain.
Even through the suffering, he tried to appear composed and unafraid.
Lian Yi locked eyes with him.
She sensed the veiled threat in his words, but felt no fear of this Pharaoh he spoke of.
Her gaze remained as sharp and icy as ever. She stepped forward without the slightest care.
"I had no intention of killing you. I merely wanted to test my abilities. But you're the ones who attacked me first, even though I hadn't done a thing to you."
Lian Yi said calmly, glancing at the other man beside him with the corner of her eye.
"Anyone who trespasses into our land without permission must be punished under Pharaoh's law! You are no exception! You must die!"
The middle-aged man declared with a commanding voice, his sharp eyes glaring mercilessly at her.
Then he swiftly swung his large palm toward her with force.
Lian Yi met his gaze in silence.
She showed no fear not even in her expression.
Though her hand was smaller, her movements were swift and precise.
She raised her palm to block the incoming blow.
Bang!
The sound of their palms colliding echoed loudly.
Their energies clashed, sending shockwaves throughout the area.
He stumbled back a step to reassess her strength, while Lian Yi stood firm, unmoved.
Her gaze was as still as a motionless river.
"You're skilled… but not enough to survive here!"
The man muttered darkly, frowning in earnest.
"Even though I've trespassed into your land, I meant no harm,"
Lian Yi stated plainly, hoping he would listen.
But the man showed no interest in her words.
He continued attacking, palm strikes filled with relentless force intent on killing her.
Seeing this, Lian Yi furrowed her brow.
She understood then negotiation was useless.
This man was the type who wouldn't listen to reason.
Only power could stop him.
With that realization, she quickly leapt back.
She swept her arm, channeling her inner energy until bright crimson flames erupted from her body, blazing with intense heat and fearsome presence.
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, the flames surged and struck the man violently.
"Ugh!"
The explosion of energy sent him flying far back, crashing into the ground. Dust billowed in every direction.
He struggled to rise, now battered and bruised.
He clutched his chest, panting hard feeling the pressure of the immense power he'd just faced.
His eyes reflected shock and disbelief.
Who is she really?
How could someone with such a delicate and lovely appearance wield such overwhelming power?