Chapter 9: Ambushed
Savanir Mountains, Kingdom of Estanfiel
A bright pillar of light suddenly appearing from the center of the monoliths towards the sky creating phenomena of something amazing stupefying the nearby adventurer players.
"What's that? An event?"
"No way! This is place is already cleared a long time ago."
"Yeah, this place is fully explored already. Come let's go. The leader might kill us if we are late."
A lot of them immediately dispersed after a short while only leaving behind a small group of individuals wearing cloaks.
"Boss." one of the hooded figures spoke.
"I know. Let's check it out" the tallest among them coldly commanded.
"Roger" all of them agreed as they start climbing the mountain easily killing the mobs along the way.
~At the top of the mountains~
"Hey, kid you better follow me now. With me I can bring you to the greatest glories on this continent" Quan Shi said with a proud voice.
"Of course, without me, you ain't going nowhere," Shi Fan smirked finally getting even with being tricked. He was still shocked that this small fire could actually talk with a living Emperor. Even humanity still didn't acquire a single Emperor in its ranks.
"Who are you actually?" Shi Fan asked curiously. He knew the fire's name is Quan Shi yet he didn't has any recollection of his name.
"Kid, In life there are some things better not knowing if you don't have the strength to protect it."It solemnly said as if thinking something from the past. Though it said that the fire plume shook a little and whispered to itself slowly. "Humanity forgot who am I?" The fire talked to itself.
"Then what should I call you?" Shi Fan asked. The conversation between them and Maldevir proved that its captors are definitely strong individuals and might know it by chance if Shi Fan just blurted it out by accident.
"Just call me Lil Fire, well they cant see me anyways, you could just directly communicate me with your mind." Lil Fire answered.
"Let's descend the mountain. I still have to finish my other side quest," Shi Fan redirected his gaze towards where he came from. A group of people suddenly jumped from below and landed a few meters away from Shi Fan.
"Who are you people?" Shi Fan asked, it's not everyday you can encounter a group of people on a mountain especially those wearing hoods.
"We are nobodies you see. We just stumbled upon this mountain accidentally. How about you? " the tall man among them spoke but his eyes are looking somewhere ."Strange there's nothing in here capable of such bizarre phenomena," He whispered to himself.
Just as he was about to reply Lil Fire spoke from inside his head. "Kid, be careful. This man is obviously lying, and this group might be PKers they must have seen the phenomena the old geezer created. They must have thought that you have come upon a fortuitous encounter and decided to rob you."
"How did you know that?" Shi Fan communicated with his mind. He could also feel some bad vibes coming from this group of people.
"I can sense the aura of death from them. This only appears when people have killed a lot of adventurers." Quan Shi replied.
"Ah I see. I was about to descend this mountain. I heard that there was herbs here used for basic-type potions so I came here looking for them" Shi Fan obviously lied. He began descending the mountains passing through the group.
Then as he walked pass by the group of players when a cold glint of steel suddenly appeared at his throat. A sword.
"Hey, kid. You know we kill low leveled players for fun right? We can see through your lies. All of them who lied to us died under our blades. Now surrender what you have received from up here" one of them spoke whilst holding the blade. As Shi Fan got the bad feeling from them, they also felt that the other party know they are player killers.
"What do you mean?, I didn't receive anything here. I'm just here harvesting for some herbs!" Shi Fan pretended to say nervously. Then he muttered to himself. "They are player killers. More experienced at fighting individuals rather than monsters. I had to find a way out of here."
"Oh ho? Still keeping up the lies? Hey boss we should just kill this guy immediately." A stout individual came among the group.
"Wait. Hey, kid who exactly are you? I just used a high ranked identification skill on you yet aside from your level why can't I identify you" the tall guy spoke.
"Of course how could you know that with that meager identification skill you won't be able to see through me."Lil Fire harrumphed as if looking down on the group.
"Boss you must be joking. Your identification skill here has the highest rank among us here it's impossible for that to happen. Maybe it's a bug. " the stout guy said to him.
"I hope so." the tall guy spoke. Even with his worries he possibly cant escape the allure of any fortuitous encounter then he commanded to his men. "Kill him."
"Roger" the six of them agreed as they dashed forward one by one.
"Hey kid it seems your in danger this time. Hurry up and equip the Sword of Uograzi or else it's too late" Lil Fire said rushing the boy. He knew that the moment Shi Fan lost even a sliver of health or be affected by any status effect he will enter combat mode and unable to equip any items.
Without the need to reply he instinctively followed Quan Shi's instruction and equipped the Sword of Uograzi given to him. Then a black aura coming from him burst forth until it hit the 50-meter mark decreasing 10% stats of all individual he deems enemy.
"What kind of sword is this!" the person holding a dagger in his neck can feel the immense pressure given off by the sword as he was the closest to the kid.
"An epic sword? No that's not it. I remembered the pressure given by the sword of the guild leader. That sword's aura is paler to this one. The tall person contemplated and his expression immediately changed upon realizing something. " It can't be! A Semi-Legendary sword!. Where did you get that!"
He is maybe late for playing the game yet in those 4 months he knew how rare a Semi-Legendary Weapon is. Even their guild leaders sword is only an Epic Weapon despite playing for three years.
The tall leader grinned, "As expected we hit a jackpot a Semi-Legendary Weapon." If he sold it the highest bidder he will be able to live luxuriously for the rest of his life.
"An old guy gave it to me" Shi Fan spoke honestly, well they already found it out, why bluff when you could just silence them.
"Who are you calling old man! I'm still at the prime of my age!" Lil Fire's aura burst forth as he protested inside Shi Fan's head. He just ignored the fire's protest
"Old guy? You must be joking. You are low-leveled right now You must have stolen it!" the stout guy grinned, the allure of strong weapons can't escape them all especially to player killers.
"Yeah yeah how dare you stole such a weapon, for the sake of justice we will return it to the rightful owner," one of the hooded figures supported his fellow. Greed can really change people's attitudes by 180 degrees.
"But..." Shi Fan tried to wiggle out but an individual suddenly jumped at him slashing his sword downward seeing then bright red glow on the sword Shi Fan was sure that the slash surely packs a huge punch.
"Kid stab the back then roll to the right..." Lil Fire suddenly spoke from inside his head. Shi Fan instinctively followed it. He stabbed the hooded figure at his back. Feeling the pain the figure lost control of his dagger it dropped to the ground. Seeing this chance Shi Fan then rolled to the right. The figure from the top however unable to retract his sword and accidentally killed his teammate as his HP bar visibly fell to 0. And all of them suddenly received a system ping.
Lil Fire was astonished. Although he only directed it he didn't expect Shi Fan to be that fast to execute it as if it's ingrained in his mind. "Kid, do you practice martial arts?"
"Yeah, Tsikaku Martial Arts Style," Shi Fan communicated with his head whilst dodging another sword slash incoming.
"Tsikaku Style eh," Lil Fire were astonished, Such an ancient martial art that only a select group knew. Yet this kid is actually practicing it.
[System: Entered Combat Mode: You will be temporarily unable to change weapons, use return items, as well as buy/trade items.]
"How...Chin Fu is at a higher level than Lu Jin. it's not possible to kill him on one hit despite being hit by a rank 2 sword skill," the stout figure stumbled when he sees his comrade died. A level 64 actually died in that short span?
"It's the kid's sword the tall figure spoke. At that moment he realized something but he is unable to speak it out loud. "Surround him. If we kill him and get his weapon we might be able to elevate our positions at the guild."
With that, the 6 of them surrounded Shi Fan. They began casting buffs and drank potion knowing how dangerous their opponent is.
"It seems they really want to kill you kid" Lil Fire laughs. He began observing his enemies "3 Melee types, two ranged types, and one buffer types. Luckily they don't have healer type ally or you won't have a chance at all kid."
"Hmmm...will I be chased If I killed them all?" Shi Fan said worriedly. Life is surely full of surprises . The first time he entered the game a strange fire went inside his body, He met an Emperor when even others couldn't, and now he is being targeted by PKers
"Yeah, sure you will. It seems they belong in a guild of Player Killers. And it seems they have etes on that sword. You better kill them in that way they can't be resurrected for a few weeks." despite the problems Quan Shi was not worried that Shi Fan would be killed.
Players killed by other Players in neutral zones have a punishment of 2-week banishment from playing the game. Others differ depending on condition.
"Alright I agree to your suggestion," Shi Fan said. He formed a defensive stance one that he was very familiar with. He performed a stance with his right hand which is holding the sword forward and he put his left hand at his back."
"Hey kid who taught you that form." Quan Shi said astonished by what the guy just did.
"My master" Shi Fan replied nonchalantly as if he is not worried about the upcoming scenarios.
"Go!" the leader shouted and three of his men immediately rushed forward two of them holding a sword and one a spear.
"Rank 2:Lion's !"
"Rank 2: Soaring Slash!"
"Rank 2: Blaze Inferno!"
Three weapon skills immediately rushed toward Shi Fan. He nimbly dodged the approaching spear and parrying one of the swords attacking from above.
He made it so easy like it was just a simple slash and thrust which almost dumbfounded the group. What was shocking to them was that when the third skill finally hit, Shi Fan just lost 10% of his HP.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone