The old man Jen stood tall, his sturdy body blocking Hs, who tried to step away. The cold wind hit his face, but he remained focused, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the high wall above. The sound of hurried footsteps and quick-moving shadows appeared in his line of sight.


    Several people ran and jumped from the wall, diving straight into the battle below. They were led by a figure floating atop a white disc enveloped in blue mes, his body d in blue gear with a purple cloak billowing behind him.


    "A level 3 yer," Jen muttered, his voice low, almost like a whisper to himself.


    His body tensed slightly, and the calm expression on his face shifted to one of alertness. His gaze locked onto Budi, who was approaching through the air.


    Unlike Jen, Hs looked at Budi''s arrival with eyes gleaming with relief. The tension that had previously gripped his face faded, reced by gratitude, his lips trembling as if wanting to express thanks for the fate that had granted him another chance at life.


    "Thank you, God..." he whispered, as if uttering gratitude to destiny itself.


    Hs turned his gaze back to Jen, his lips now curving into a wide, fervent smile.


    "You want a fight, don''t you?" he asked, his feral grin intensifying, entuating the savage aura he could no longer suppress.


    There was no more fear in his expression, as if the burden of thousands of lives he carried had lifted.


    Jen gave a small nod, briefly ncing at Hs before refocusing on Budi, who continued to approach through the air. His attention remained entirely locked on the new threat.


    Hs''s grin slowly faded when he noticed Jen''s indifference. With swift movements, Hs activated his equipment, and his body was instantly enveloped in a menacing aura. Without hesitation, he dashed forward, raising both ws high, ready to sh at Jen.


    Hs''s heavy steps echoed, yet his attacks were swift. Jen shifted his footing, subtly rotating his body, and raised his long sword in preparation for a precise strike.


    As Hs sped toward him, Jen swung his sword smoothly yet with lethal precision. The sh of metal shattered the silence, sparks flying, illuminating their tense faces filled with unyielding determination.


    Hs did not relent. Twisting mid-air, he attempted to strike from behind. But Jen, with extraordinary calm, read the movement as if it were an open book. He shifted slightly to the left, his leg muscles coiling as he leapt toward Hs, who was still airborne.


    "sh!"


    Jen''s sword sliced through the air, aimed precisely at Hs''s exposed body. Hs reacted with quick reflexes, intercepting the attack with his ws. His body flowed like a serpent, weaving through Jen''s strikes, evading the deadly blow.


    As they drew closer, Hs managed to lock Jen''s arm with one hand while the other w shot toward Jen''s neck.


    Jen''s eyes remained sharp, unwavering, staring at the oing w. Hs grinned, a confident smile believing in his imminent victory. However, from behind Jen, a sudden sh of light appeared.


    "Ugh!"


    Two glowing arms emerged from behind Jen, piercing through the air and driving straight into Hs''s chest. The unexpected strike made Hs stagger back, blood flowing freely from the wound. His eyes widened, shocked and disbelieving at what had just transpired.


    The glowing arms, formed from pure energy, floated gracefully behind Jen, moving in sync with his will. Without a word, the old man gave a faint smile, his sword still poised firmly.


    "Do you wish to die first?" he whispered, his soft voiceced with a deep threat.


    Without waiting for an answer, Jen moved his hand, tracing patterns in the air with his fingers. A circle of light formed, enveloping the area within a 20-meter radius. Its aura grew stronger, merging with the surroundings. In a swift motion, Jen darted toward Hs, who now struggled to stand.


    "Damn it... this guy has too many tricks," Hs muttered, his hand trembling as he reached for a healing potion.


    The pain from his wound hadn''t yet subsided, but the looming threat gave him no time to recover. Seeing Jen rushing toward him, Hs reluctantly assumed a defensive stance.


    "Die!" Jen''s voice was low yet resolute, as if sealing Hs''s fate with that single word. His body shot forward like an arrow, a perfect blend of speed and power in a deadly move.


    However, instinct flickered, warning Jen that something was amiss. Just then, the figure atop the white disc appeared suddenly beside him, seemingly out of thin air. Without saying a word, Budi reached out and grabbed Jen''s body.


    With a smooth motion, Budi activated his skill.


    "Nature''s Bind."


    Massive roots burst from the ground, rapidly coiling around Jen''s body, binding him with seemingly unbreakable force. Dozens of smaller roots followed, wrapping around his arms, legs, and neck, constricting him without mercy.


    sh...


    sh...


    The glowing hands hovering around Jen''s body shed wildly, trying to sever the ever-tightening bonds. Sparks of energy flew, but for every root cut, two more emerged to rece it. From a distance, Budi watched with a nk stare.


    "It''s futile," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.


    Suddenly, the earth trembled softly, a rumble like the heartbeat of a giant. The ground beneath Jen cracked, slowly splitting open to reveal a massive root shaped like a human face, its eyes shut as if awaiting amand.


    "Seal," Budimanded, stepping back quickly.


    His voice echoed, loud and authoritative, ensuring that the entire force heard his order.


    "Everyone, fall back!" he shouted again, making sure themand was clear.


    Hs, still gasping for breath, immediately leaped back, followed by the other soldiers. Their hurried footsteps echoed amid the rumbling from the earth.


    Jen writhed within the roots'' grasp, his eyes wild, searching for an escape. The glowing hands continued shing, but the growing number of roots made movement increasingly difficult. Jen poured all his strength into the struggle, cursing under his breath. The roots were as hard as steel, stic but unyielding.


    "What the hell is this?!" Jen roared, spitting out each word with rising fury. He looked around, but all he saw were roots—endless roots. Towering trees sprang up, forming a dense forest within moments. Their trunks were thick and towering, with smaller roots creeping in every direction, tightening their grip on him.