Capítulo 18: Chapter 18 - One Strike

Bam!

The burly man's fists, engulfed in flames, pounded against Zhao Shi. Each hit sent ripples through the air, shaking the hall.

But Zhao Shi remained calm, his face steady and unmoved. His calmness only fueled the burly man's growing rage.

With every strike, Zhao Shi shifted back slightly, the power of the spirit-infused blows pushing him bit by bit.

Flames danced around the burly man's fists, adding to the intensity, but even so, Zhao Shi's hand showed only faint scorch marks.

"If this is all you've got, then it's my turn," Zhao Shi said, his voice steady as he shifted into position.

His movement was simple, almost relaxed. He threw a punch that seemed weak, like it couldn't even hurt a fly.

But when his fist connected with the burly man, an explosive force erupted, like a hidden storm had been unleashed from Zhao Shi's restrained form.

In a flash, the burly man was lifted off his feet. He flew backward and crashed into the wall with a deafening thud.

The impact shook the hall, and he slumped to the floor, out cold from a single blow.

Spark shook his head with a sigh, though a smirk tugged at his lips beneath his mask. "One hit and he's out. What a shame."

Zhao Shi glanced at the fallen man before turning back to Spark. "Apologies for not holding back," he said, his voice genuinely regretful.

Spark chuckled lightly. "You're strong, Butler Zhao," he said, his eyes gleaming with approval.

"My skills are nothing compared to a true expert," Zhao Shi replied humbly. "He was just weaker than me. That's all."

The air in the hall settled. The only sounds were the groans of the defeated and the quiet conversation between master and servant.

The other leaders exchanged uneasy looks. Seeing their leader taken down so quickly made them realize the strength they were up against—and the hopelessness of fighting back.

"You know what to do, right?" Spark asked Yuna casually.

Yuna nodded, her eyes filled with determination.

"Alright, I'm off to check the harvest," Spark said, stretching lazily. With a wave, he walked out of the hall, heading toward another part of the hideout.

As soon as Spark left, Yuna's gaze shifted to the remaining gang members, who were still stunned by their leader's defeat.

Her eyes narrowed, and she raised a slender hand, tracing an arcane symbol in the air.

[Sleep] she whispered, her voice calm but filled with power.

A faint shimmer spread from Yuna like a gentle breeze.

The gang members, already exhausted and on edge, felt a sudden wave of drowsiness wash over them.

Their eyes grew heavy, and one by one, they collapsed to the ground, succumbing to the spell.

…

"Huh!" The burly man jolted awake, his eyes snapping open like he had been in a deep sleep.

He found himself sitting at the table, the room eerily quiet. The hall, once a battlefield of chaos, now looked untouched.

The walls, tables, and chairs were all in place, and the other leaders around him wore confused expressions.

"Was that just a nightmare?" the burly man muttered, rubbing his eyes. He looked around and saw the other leaders just as puzzled.

"Does anyone know what happened?" one of the leaders finally asked, breaking the silence.

"I'm pretty sure we got beaten by those masked guys," another said, doubt creeping into his voice.

"Then why does everything look fine?" a third leader asked, looking at the pristine room. "Could we have all had the same nightmare?"

Confusion filled the air until a scream cut through the silence.

"My tooth!" The cry came from the bucktooth leader. He ran his tongue over the gap where his front teeth used to be.

"It wasn't a nightmare!" he screamed, panic clear in his voice.

All eyes turned to the main leader, looking for answers. His face darkened, reflecting his grim thoughts.

"I think it was real," he said slowly, uncertainty in his voice. "But I don't know how they made it all look like nothing happened here."

Before they could make sense of it, another gang member burst into the room, out of breath and wide-eyed.

"What now?" the main leader asked, his patience running thin.

"It's the treasury," the man gasped.

"What about it?" The leader's frown deepened.

"It's... gone," the man stammered, pointing toward the hall.

They rushed to the treasury room, only to be met with an astonishing sight. The room, once filled with gold and treasures, was now completely empty. Not a single coin or valuable remained.

"How could they take everything?" one of the leaders muttered, staring at the bare floor.

The scale of their loss was staggering. Even with every member working together, it would have taken them an entire day to move it all.

Yet now, the wealth had disappeared as if it had never existed.

Before they could comprehend the theft, the ground beneath them began to shake.

"Is it an earthquake?" one leader asked, grabbing onto a table for balance.

"No," another leader said, straining to listen. "It's footsteps, and they're getting closer."

Panic set in as another member burst into the hall, his face pale with fear.

"It's the army. They've found us and are coming through the eastern passage."

All eyes turned to the bucktooth leader, who stammered, "I swear, I didn't tell anyone about the passage!"

"Forget it," the burly leader snapped, moving quickly. "Let's escape."

They rushed to their hidden escape routes, designed for emergencies like this. But when they reached the exits, they found only solid walls where tunnels should have been.

"This…" The burly man's heart sank as a terrible realization dawned on him.

He ran to check the other passages, but every one was blocked, replaced by impassable barriers.

Their hopes of escape vanished. Desperation filled the air as they realized they were trapped.

"Everyone inside, surrender now," came a booming voice from outside, echoing through the lair.

Defeated and out of options, the gang members surrendered to the approaching army. Not a single one managed to escape.

News of their capture spread quickly. In one decisive night, Marquis William had led his elite forces to the gang's notorious hideout, capturing them all and freeing the state from their rule.