The samurai took a step forward, his eyes locked onto Adam and Sophia. His grip on his sword remained firm as he spoke with confidence.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked, his voice laced with arrogance. "I am a samurai from the Sword Clan. Hidden within these very woods are countless more of my comrades, waiting for my signal. If I give the order, they will attack you without hesitation."

Sophia's breath hitched at his words. Her hands clenched into fists, and a shiver ran down her spine.

How did they find us so quickly?

It had only been a few days since they left the village. Yet, somehow, the samurai had already tracked them down. She couldn't help but wonder—had news spread so fast? Did they already know that Adam had fought against their people?

Her heart pounded as uncertainty gripped her. If they were truly surrounded, escaping without a fight would be difficult. But something about the samurai’s words didn’t sit right with her.

Meanwhile, Adam remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he stared at the man before him.

Seeing no reaction from them, the samurai took another step forward, pointing his sword at them once more.

"Drop whatever valuables you have—money, artifacts, anything of worth. Leave it all here, and walk away," he ordered. "Otherwise, you’ll face the wrath of the Sword Clan."

Sophia’s eyes widened slightly at his demand.

'Wait… does he not know who we are?...Why are they acting as if they don't know who we are? Has the news not reached them yet?' Sophia

The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning.

If this samurai truly knew who Adam was, he wouldn’t be making such a petty demand—he would have attacked immediately, seeking vengeance for his fallen comrades.

A sense of relief washed over her, and for a brief moment, she felt almost amused. 'This might actually work in our favor.'

Just then, Adam finally broke his silence. His voice was calm but carried a sharp edge of mockery.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "You don’t seem like a samurai to me."

Adam knows how samurai behave and can also sense that their power levels are not up to par with those of a samurai.

After hearing Adam's words, Sophia immediately looks at Adam and is very surprised.

The man's posture stiffened at the insult. His fingers twitched around his sword hilt as he stepped forward, anger flashing in his eyes.

"You dare talk back to me?" he hissed. "You will pay for your arrogance!" He is very nervous saying this.

Lifting his hand toward the sky, he snapped his fingers loudly.

For a moment, silence stretched through the forest.

Then, from the dense foliage, two more figures emerged, landing on the ground with eerie silence.

Adam's sharp gaze assessed the newcomers instantly.

One of them was noticeably shorter than the first samurai, though he wore the same black attire and carried a sword at his waist.

His movements were swift and precise, like a shadow slipping through the darkness. His face was also concealed, making it impossible to read his expression.

The second figure was taller but remarkably thin. His long limbs gave him an unsettling, almost ghostly appearance. Like the others, he was dressed in dark robes, his face hidden beneath a mask, and a sword strapped to his side.

They positioned themselves beside the first samurai, forming a loose triangle around Adam and Sophia.

The leader smirked, confidence returning to his voice.

"I am still giving you a chance," he declared. "Surrender your valuables and leave. If you comply, I will spare you."

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Sophia bit her lip, her mind racing. Three opponents… Even though Adam was strong, would he be able to handle all of them?

But Adam made no move to comply.

Instead, his hand tightened around the hilt of his sword.

In one swift motion, he drew the blade.

A sharp metallic sound echoed through the forest as the weapon left its sheath. Its edge glinted under the dim forest light, catching the eyes of the three samurai.

For a moment, silence fell over them.

The moment the samurai saw it, their confidence wavered.

Up until now, Adam's weapon had been hidden beneath his cloak, making them underestimate him. But now, as the blade gleamed in his grasp, a visible change overtook the three men.

Their bodies tensed, and almost unconsciously, they took a step back.

Fear flickered in their eyes.

They had clearly recognized something about Adam's sword—or perhaps, about him.

Sophia’s heart pounded as she observed their reaction. They know…

Seeing their reaction, Sophia cannot understand whether they know about Adam or they are such cowards.

She wasn't sure if they had realized Adam's identity or if they simply sensed danger from his stance. But one thing was certain—these samurai, who had seemed so arrogant just moments ago, were now hesitant.

Adam took a slow step forward, his sword angled slightly to the side, ready to strike at any moment.

"Still want to rob us?" he asked, his voice laced with quiet menace.

The leader of the samurai clenched his jaw. His grip tightened around his sword, but he hesitated to make the first move.

The other two exchanged uneasy glances.

The air grew heavy with tension.

A single wrong move would determine the outcome of this standoff.

One of the three samurai stepped forward, his voice filled with forced bravado.

"You dare raise your sword against a samurai?" he demanded. His tone carried confidence, but there was something beneath it—an unmistakable tremor of fear.

Adam smirked.

He had already figured it out. These men were no samurai. They were mere bandits, preying on travelers who passed through the forest.

How have they survived in such a dangerous forest for so long?

The thought crossed his mind, but before he could dwell on it, his senses sharpened. A sudden shift in the air. A presence moving.

His body reacted before his mind could process the danger.

In an instant, Adam spun around, stepping in front of Sophia.

The speed of his movement was so sudden, so precise, that to the three bandits, it looked as if Adam had vanished from his spot and instantly appeared before Sophia. His sword was raised, poised to strike.

Sophia is very surprised to see this action of Adam and immediately puts her hands on Adam's back. She does not know why Adam suddenly appeared in front of her, but she doesn't have a good feeling.

The three so-called samurai gasped in shock.

Before they could react, the shortest of the three let out a panicked cry.

His body jerked backward, lifted off the ground as if some invisible force had grabbed him.

"FATHER!" he screamed, his voice full of terror as he was pulled violently into the depths of the forest.

A bloodcurdling shriek echoed through the trees.

The forest fell eerily silent.

The only sound that remained was the rustling of leaves as the struggling man was dragged further into the darkness.

The leader of the bandits—the one who had been threatening Adam just moments ago—stared in horror.

His sword slipped from his hands, landing with a dull thud on the forest floor. His entire body trembled as fear overtook him.

"ELAN!" he shouted, his voice breaking with panic. Without hesitation, he bolted toward the disappearing figure of the smaller man.

Adam narrowed his eyes.

Did he just call him his father?

The revelation was unexpected, but there was no time to dwell on it.

Taking a deep breath, Adam dashed forward.

His feet barely touched the ground as he moved, covering the distance between him and the fleeing bandit in seconds. The man was frantically chasing after his comrade, oblivious to Adam closing in.

Just ahead, the short bandit continued to be dragged deeper into the forest. His screams turned from terror to agony, sending chills down Sophia’s spine.

Something unseen was pulling him, something unnatural.

Adam’s gaze flickered toward the fallen sword—the one the leader had dropped in panic. Without breaking stride, he scooped it up. The cool metal flashed under the dim forest light, now a weapon in his grasp.

Sophia clenched her fists, watching the scene unfold with bated breath.

She had never seen Adam this focused before. His movements were fluid, like a shadow weaving through the trees, completely in control of his surroundings.

And then, without warning, Adam leaped.

With fluid precision, Adam pushed off the ground, landing on a thick tree branch. His momentum carried him upward, and he used it to propel himself higher.

As he ascended, he swung the stolen sword in a swift arc.

A burst of white energy erupted from the blade, forming a glowing slash that sliced through the air.

The attack illuminated the dark forest like a flash of lightning, revealing twisted roots and thick vines tangled together in unnatural formations.

But Adam didn’t stop there.

Twisting his body midair, he unleashed three more slashes in rapid succession. Each one cut through the shadows, blazing toward the depths of the forest.

The glowing arcs struck their mark.

A massive tree at the forest's edge shuddered under the impact. The thick branches splintered, its base severed cleanly. The sound of cracking wood echoed like thunder through the silent night.

But something else happened.

A strange, dark blue liquid seeped from the cuts in the tree, dripping down its bark and pooling at its base. The thick, viscous substance shimmered under the glow of Adam’s attack, pulsing as if alive.

The remaining bandits froze.

Their faces, already pale with fear, turned ghostly white.

They stared at the glowing substance, their mouths slightly open in shock.

Adam landed smoothly on the ground, his sword still raised, his eyes locked on the tree.

A heavy silence fell over the forest.

The strange liquid continued to ooze, its surface rippling as if something beneath it was stirring.

Sophia swallowed hard, instinctively stepping closer to Adam.

For the first time, the bandits’ fear was no longer directed at Adam.

It was directed at whatever was hidden in the forest.