Chapter 384: Gone
Chapter 384: Gone
The soldiers, weary from their journey and still grappling with the unanswered questions about the mana cores, approached the tribe.
The sight that greeted them was unexpected and jarring: strangers were scattered throughout the settlement, moving about as if they belonged there. Some were tending to fires, others were unpacking strange belongings, and a few were standing guard at key positions.
These unfamiliar faces wore armor and clothing that were both foreign and intimidating, a mixture of materials the soldiers hadn’t seen before—gleaming metals interwoven with dark fabrics that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.
Their weapons were equally strange, crafted with a level of craftsmanship that suggested both beauty and lethality.
The soldiers froze at the sight, exchanging uncertain glances.
“Who… who are they?” one soldier whispered, his voice barely audible.
“Stay alert,” the oldest among them muttered, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his blade. “We don’t know if they’re friend or foe.”
As they cautiously moved forward, one of the strangers—a tall man with an imposing presence and eyes that seemed to pierce through the soul—stepped in their path. His expression was unreadable, but there was no mistaking the silent warning in his stance.
“State your business,” the man said in a voice that was calm but carried an undeniable edge of authority.
“We’re… from this tribe,” the lead soldier replied, choosing his words carefully. “We’ve been out hunting. Who are you, and what are you doing here?”
The man didn’t respond immediately, his eyes scanning the group as if evaluating whether they were a threat. After a long, tense pause, he finally spoke. “This is no longer your concern. Leave if you value your lives.”