The cavern buzzed with a strange, restless energy as I limped back to the common area, the weight of my fight with the Crystal Fang Spider still pressing on my aching muscles. My clothes were ripped, caked with grime and blood, but it wasn’t just my appearance drawing attention. The other captives were watching me—furtive glances from hollowed faces, a mix of fear, awe, and something I hadn’t seen much of since being dragged into this hellhole: hope.

I didn’t like it. Not because it wasn’t needed, but because it was dangerous. Hope could drive people to fight, yes, but it could also get them killed if misplaced. Wang Jian stepped closer, his shoulder still stiff from where the spider clipped him, and spoke in a low voice. “They’re looking at you now. Be careful. Hope’s a double-edged sword down here.”

“I know.” I scanned the faces around me, seeing the cracks forming in their despair. “But if they’re going to hope, it might as well be for something real.”

Wang Jian studied me for a long moment. Then he gave the barest nod. “Just don’t get yourself killed proving that.” That night, we gathered in the dimmest, most secluded corner of the mine. Ming Lian sat propped against the wall, his arm immobilized in a makeshift sling, watching us with that perpetual scowl that made him look like he’d seen—and survived—far worse than this. Bao, wiry and jittery, fidgeted next to him, his nervous energy making the tension in the room worse.

“We can’t keep waiting for a miracle,” I began, keeping my voice steady. The weight of their stares felt heavier than any stone I’d moved in these tunnels. “The guards are getting more reckless, and in two days, they’re going to sell us off like livestock. That’s our window.” Bao frowned, his thin face crumpling in doubt. “You’re talking about striking back? Against them? They’ve got swords, spirit weapons, cultivators. What do we have? Pickaxes and broken wills?” I held up my hands to quiet him, then gestured around the room. “We have each other. And we have the advantage of surprise. They think we’re nothing. They think they’ve broken us. That’s what we’ll use to win.”

Ming Lian let out a scoff, shifting slightly. “Bold words. But words don’t kill. What’s the plan?”

From inside my tattered tunic, I pulled out a crumpled map I’d swiped during one of my scouting runs. Spreading it across the ground, I used a chunk of charcoal to mark key locations. “This is their camp,” I said, pointing to the rough outlines. “The guards’ barracks are here, next to the armory. The auction takes place in the central clearing. Most of the bandits will be gathered there, distracted. That’s when we move.”

Bao snorted. “You make it sound easy. And what about the Black Hammer? That brute could crush ten of us before we even touch him.”

My jaw tightened at the mention of the bandits’ leader. “That’s why we have to be smart. He’s their lynchpin. Isolate him, and we shatter their morale. Divide their strength, pick them apart piece by piece. It’s not about brute force—it’s about outthinking them.”

Wang Jian nodded. “It’s a long shot, but it’s better than waiting for chains or a blade.”

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One by one, the others voiced their agreement. Fear didn’t leave their faces entirely, but something else began to take root. Determination. Anger. The will to fight.

The next two days passed in a blur. Every moment was a careful balance between preparation and avoiding detection. I split the group into small teams, each with tasks tailored to their skills. Some crafted weapons from mining tools and scraps. Others observed patrol routes, memorizing when and where the guards slacked off.

Ming Lian, injury or not, drilled them relentlessly. “If you’re gonna swing a pickaxe,” he growled at one exhausted captive, “swing it like it’s the last thing you’ll ever do. Because it just might be.” His sharp tongue didn’t earn him friends, but it did earn him results. Even the most timid captives began to stand a little straighter, hold their weapons with steadier hands.

I stayed busy, fine-tuning the plan and training harder than ever. My abilities were limited by the cursed collar around my neck, but I pushed myself to use every skill I had left. Hidden Paths helped me slip past guards unseen, and Earth Sense gave me an edge in understanding the terrain. Late one night, I stumbled across a small cache of overlooked spirit stones deep in the tunnels. Their energy coursed through me as I absorbed them, a fleeting boost to my strength but enough to make me feel sharper, more capable.

By the time the day of the auction arrived, we were as ready as we could be.

The camp was alive with noise and activity. Wealthy buyers strolled in, flanked by servants and mercenaries, while the bandits barked orders and paraded their captives like livestock. I crouched in the shadows with Wang Jian and Ming Lian, watching the chaos unfold. My heart pounded in my chest, not from fear, but from anticipation.

“This is it,” I whispered. “Stick to the plan, and we might just make it out of here.”

Wang Jian clapped me on the shoulder. “We’ll follow your lead.”

At my signal, Bao’s team struck first, taking out the lone guard at the armory and distributing stolen weapons to the others. The captives surged forward in coordinated waves, overwhelming the guards with sheer numbers and desperation. Wang Jian and Ming Lian led from the front, their suppressed Chi still making them formidable against the lesser bandits.

My job was different. I had to take out the Black Hammer.

I stepped into the clearing, catching the massive cultivator’s eye. He grinned, baring teeth like a wolf. “You’ve got guts, boy. Too bad, they’ll be splattered soon.”

“Let’s see you try,” I shot back, turning and sprinting toward the tunnels, I activated Burst Step, My, The gig ugly bastard couldn’t match my speed, but still kept his pursuit. His thunderous footsteps followed, shaking the ground beneath me.

The fight in the tunnels was brutal. Every swing of his Warhammer sent shockwaves through the earth, forcing me to stay one step ahead. But I had the advantage here—his size worked against him in the confined space. Using Earth Sense, I tracked his movements, dodging each devastating strike until I found my moment. With all my strength, I struck a weak point in the ceiling, bringing the heavy weight of massive stones and compact earth crashing down on him. I didn’t wait to see if he was dead. I stumbled back into the camp, joining the fray as the last of the bandits fled. The captives were battered and exhausted, but victorious. For the first time, I saw smiles—real, unguarded smiles—on their faces.

“You did it,” Wang Jian said as I approached.

“No,” I corrected, my voice hoarse. “We did it.”

But as the cheering began, I looked toward the horizon. This was just the first step. The world outside was still cruel and full of danger. We’d need to be stronger if we were going to survive it. And I’d make sure we were.