Cherry's bow remained raised.
The forest was silent.
No response came.
She waited.
Her eyes moved slowly across the trees, searching for the slightest movement.
Kael's smile gradually faded.
The young man glanced around nervously.
“Cherry...”
“Wait.”
Her voice was calm.
Then—
A branch moved.
Cherry's eyes shifted toward it.
A figure stepped out from the darkness.
He walked slowly onto the road.
No weapon was drawn.
Yet somehow, his presence alone made the air feel heavier.
The moment he appeared, Cherry's expression changed.
Another figure emerged from a different part of the forest.
They stopped several meters apart.
Neither man spared a glance at the four defeated hunters lying on the ground.
They were insignificant.
Their attention was completely focused on Cherry and Kael.
Cherry lowered her bow slightly.
Her eyes narrowed.
Then she realized something.
Peak Silver.
Her expression became even more serious.
The first man looked at her.
“Not bad. Quite sharp, you are.”
Cherry's gaze remained fixed on him.
“You're not very good at hiding.”
The man's expression didn't change.
His cold eyes swept briefly across the four fallen hunters.
“Useless bandits. They couldn't even show us anything.”
He looked back at Cherry.
“You should have sent stronger ones.”
Cherry shrugged.
A faint change appeared in the man's expression.
“We're not exactly here for you.”
His gaze shifted past her.
“We're interested in the tall young man behind you.”
Cherry's eyes hardened.
“I'm sorry, but said young man is under my protection, so...”
She slowly raised her bow again.
“...you'll have to get through me.”
Kael drew his sword.
The sound of steel leaving its sheath echoed through the silent forest.
“I don't exactly want to be here,” he muttered, “but I have to do a good job being a plaything.”
The first shadow's attention shifted toward him.
The instant their eyes met—
Kael's body stiffened.
A strange sensation crawled across his skin.
It felt as though a wild beast had locked onto him.
His breathing stopped for a moment.
So strong...
Cherry immediately stepped sideways, blocking the man's line of sight.
“Where do you think you're looking?”
Her voice was cold.
The man's eyes returned to her.
Neither spoke.
The silence between them became suffocating.
Kael tightened his grip around his sword.
Cherry didn't look back.
“You both take on the other one.”
Her eyes remained locked on the man before her.
“This one is mine.”
The young man frowned.
“You're supposed to protect me.”
“Just don't die early.”
Cherry said it without looking back.
Kael glanced at the tall young man beside him.
“Hey, what's your name?”
The young man looked at Kael with disdain.
“Robert.”
“Okay, Robert. Since we're going to work together, I'd like you not to get in my way,” Kael said without really caring.
Robert continued looking at him with disdain.
“I'm stronger than you. You're the one who shouldn't get in my way.”
“Suit yourself,” Kael said with a shrug.
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