The tunnel’s air grew colder as I ventured deeper, the dim light barely illuminating my path.

I had excellent vision though so it wasn’t a problem.

My watch continued to emit a faint red glow, an ever-present reminder of the dangers lurking nearby.

But I pressed on, undeterred. I was here for a reason, and nothing would stand in my way.

Simply put, I needed an upgrade to my current set of Items, and (G) Essence was the way to go about it.

I was looking for a catalyst that was rich in (G) Essence, and I knew one existed in the Tunnel.

It was simply a matter of finding it first without the weight of unnecessary interruptions.

As I approached a wider section of the tunnel, I could hear the faint murmurs of voices ahead.

Shit!

They didn’t sound like ruffians which made me suspect that it was a Gifted team. Just what I was avoiding.

I paused, blending into the shadows, and listening carefully.

A large group was gathered around a small campfire, their faces lit by the flickering flames.

I couldn’t give an estimate of their numbers from where I was, but if I were to wager a guess, I would go with 35.

At the center of them was a girl, her presence commanding, beautiful, and at the same time, fierce.

She was dressed in dark leather, her hair tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail.

Her eyes were sharp, and she moved with a confidence that suggested she was no stranger to danger.

She appeared to have some authority of some sort with them because she was giving orders and the others were listening intently to her.

I figured she was an assistant or something so I scanned the group for their leader.

A few guys stood out to me as potential candidates but I couldn’t really be sure.

I couldn’t dismiss the group as low-level scums, though, because their equipment didn’t seem bad.

To my surprise, these guys weren’t slouches. They were doing pretty well for themselves actually.

As the fire flickered illuminating their weapons, I licked my lips at the thought of acquiring them.

I dismissed the thought as I considered it unnecessary.

I was determined not to be derailed by petty things and to focus on finding the (G) essence.

I just had to get past the group to do so. It was up to them if they lived or not.

I stepped out of the shadows, making my presence known.

"Stop right there!" A voice rang out and I felt several pairs of eyes on me.

I ignored it and kept on walking, after all, it was a very broad path and I wasn’t bothering them.

I would be out of their hair in no time if they just kept shut and allowed me to pass.

As two guys ran at me with their glowing swords outstretched, I knew that I had expected too much from them.

The very next second, they dropped dead in their tracks as the blades I conjured neatly sliced off their heads.

Seeing what I had done to their comrades, more of them came to join the fight.

With a loud roar, they charged forward.

I moved swiftly myself, my blades cutting through the air with deadly precision.

One by one, they all fell, their bodies hitting the ground with dull thuds.

The fight was over almost as soon as it had begun, my superior skills and weapons leaving no room for doubt.

Then, without warning, a huge guy lunged at me with alarming speed.

Our blades clashed, the sound of metal on metal ringing through the air.

He had come out of nowhere and he was certainly fast, his movements were fluid and precise too. But I was faster.

I parried his attacks with ease, my own strikes forcing him to stay on the defensive.

Despite his skill, it was clear he was no match for me.

With a swift, decisive strike, I disarmed him, sending his dagger skittering across the floor.

He fell to his knees, breathing hard, a look of defiance still in his eyes.

I was sure that with his muscular build, it wasn’t often he felt threatened like this, especially by someone smaller. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I made the daggers float around his neck teasingly.

Any sudden movement and he would be dead before he realized it.

STOP!

I looked up to see the authoritative girl. She appeared to be holding off the rest of the team who were still itching to fight me.

The doggers paused in their movements as I took a step closer to her.

The group tensed, hands moving to their weapons, but the girl held up a hand, signaling them to wait.

"Well, well," she said, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. "What do we have here? Another scavenger hoping to strike it rich?"

I smiled, taking a few steps closer. "Something like that."

"I am the leader of this group. Who are you and what’s your business here, are you also here for the same thing as us?"

I had already surmised that she was the leader and I took my time in answering as I stared warily at her.

I couldn’t bring myself to imagine that she knew about the catalyst.

It was a shame that I couldn’t see what her Gift was because of the new system rule.

Despite not looking strong herself, she was the leader of so many capable people.

I couldn’t see through her Status Window since Skills didn’t work in this scenario, but from the look of her equipment and the equipment of her allies, she had to be in Level 300 or so.

"It depends on what you are looking for exactly, but I’m not here to negotiate or share it. I’m here now and I won’t leave without it."

She chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "Bold words for someone outnumbered and outgunned. But I’ll give you credit for your bravery— or foolishness."

I shrugged, completely unfazed. "I’ve dealt with worse than you and your little band of misfits. Stand down now, and you might live to see another day."