Awakened Talent: 10,000 Exp Converter!

The bandit leader's eyes swept across the group, his gaze finally locking onto Vincent. His expression was cold and calculating, as if he were weighing his options and already confident in the outcome of this confrontation. Malice gleamed in his eyes, accompanied by a twisted smirk of superiority, as though he had already declared himself the victor.

"You want to live?" he asked, his voice smooth yet threatening. "Hand over that guy."

The group shifted uneasily, their collective tension palpable as the leader's words hung in the air. Gartin's gaze lingered on Vincent for a long moment, his lips pressed into a thin line as if debating internally. Finally, he exhaled heavily, the sound carrying the weight of his resignation. His shoulders drooped slightly, a silent confession of guilt. He nodded, his decision made.

"If it means our safety…" Gartin began, his voice low, hesitant. Then, more firmly, he added, "Take him. He's all yours."

The murmurs among the group grew louder, their unease bubbling to the surface. A young man in the back whispered harshly, "Are we really just going to give him up like that? How can we—"

"Do you want to fight those monsters instead?" another cut in, their voice trembling but resolute.

"It's him or us. If this is the price to stay alive, then so be it."

Gartin turned sharply, his expression dark.

"Enough," he snapped, his tone commanding yet weary.

"Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I made this choice lightly? Look around you! We don't stand a chance against them. Sacrifices must be made, or none of us will survive."

The words settled over the group like a suffocating fog.

A sudden, dark chuckle broke through the oppressive atmosphere. Vincent laughed, his voice cold and mocking, the sound sharp enough to cut through the tension. The unexpected noise caused the group to collectively turn toward him, their faces a mixture of confusion and unease.

"Haha," Vincent said, his lips curling into a smirk. "You're all such terrible actors…"

Gartin's frown deepened as his brows furrowed, the corners of his mouth twitching as if suppressing his anger.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, his tone defensive, though a faint quiver betrayed his nerves.

Vincent's smirk widened, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on Gartin.

"Your acting wouldn't even pass in a B-grade movie. It's laughable."

The accusation hung in the air, stirring an audible ripple of unease through the group. Gartin stiffened, his face darkening.

"You're spouting nonsense!" he barked, his voice rising to cover the tremor of uncertainty. He pointed sharply at Vincent, his arm rigid with tension.

"All of you, get him if you want to survive!"

The command was like a match striking dry tinder, igniting a wave of movement. The group's tension snapped into action as their stares hardened into hostility. Their collective intent was clear—Vincent had been marked as their scapegoat.

"Forgive us," someone muttered, their voice trembling yet resigned.

"We just want to survive. That's the rule of this world, kid. If you hadn't been so greedy and joined this mission, you wouldn't have to be our sacrifice today."

"Bad luck, I guess," another added with a bitter edge.

"You should've stayed out of this. Next time, keep to your room."

Vincent remained silent, his smirk unyielding as he surveyed the group's growing hostility. His calmness was unnerving, the quiet confidence in his demeanor disarming those who met his gaze.

On his shoulder, the black rabbit Mochi clung tightly, its small body tense but still, as though it shared Vincent's eerie composure.

A voice resonated in Vincent's mind, distinct and familiar. "Those seven are all Tier 2. Including Gartin, that makes eight Tier 2 Origin Warriors who want you dead. What are you going to do now?"

Vincent's brow raised slightly in surprise, though his smirk didn't waver. She can assess levels? he mused, the revelation intriguing him. He had never known Mochi possessed such an ability, though given her peculiar nature, he wasn't entirely shocked. What truly caught his attention, however, was her unshakable calmness.

"Why aren't you afraid?" he asked her in his mind, his tone curious.

"Where's the Mochi who was trembling in fear earlier?"

"Hmph!" Mochi harrumphed indignantly. Her voice carried a trace of pride.

"I wasn't scared of that oversized lizard. I was just… surprised. That's all."

Vincent's smirk twitched slightly at her response, though he chose not to argue.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lizno, the group's previous acting leader, suddenly stepped forward, his voice sharp.

"What are you doing? We're here to bring reinforcements, not gang up on a kid!"

"Shut up, Lizno!" snapped one of his acquaintances. His tone was laced with frustration and fear, his eyes darting nervously between the group and the bandits.

"This isn't the time to play hero. Can't you see those people? We can't beat them! If you're ready to throw your life away, go ahead and fight, but I'll survive."

Lizno's fists clenched, trembling with barely contained anger. "Wake up, Kofi! Can't you see it? Gartin knew this was going to happen. He's the one who led us here! We've been set up from the start!"

The group stirred at Lizno's outburst, unease rippling through their ranks like a wave. The man's accusations carried weight, his words striking a chord that no one dared to voice before. Doubt crept into their expressions, and the unity they had moments ago began to fracture.

"Set up?" one of them echoed, their voice hesitant but laced with rising suspicion.

"What are you talking about, Lizno?"

Lizno pressed on, his tone sharpening as he seized the moment. "Think about it! Do you really think they'll let us walk away after handing the kid over? Use your heads! There's nineteen of us here. If we work together, we can break through!"

He paused, deliberately casting Gartin out of his count. His glare landed squarely on the man, who stood rigidly, his face unreadable but his silence damning. Lizno's voice rose, emboldened by the murmurs of agreement growing around him.

"Gartin knew this was going to happen. Ever since he suggested taking this route, I've had my doubts. And now, his calmness in the face of danger? It's obvious—he's been working with them all along!"

Gartin's lips tightened, his fists clenching at his sides.

"What are you saying, Lizno? You must have hated that I took the role of acting leader. Now you're using this moment to undermine me?"

"Stop your act!" Lizno snarled, his words like a whip.

Before he could continue, a dark blur cut through the air toward him. The gleam of metal caught the faint light—a dagger, slicing through the atmosphere with lethal precision.

Move! Lizno's mind screamed, but his body froze, paralyzed by the sheer speed and intent behind the attack. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable.

Swish!

The sound of rushing wind filled his ears. Moments passed, but the expected pain never came. Slowly, hesitantly, Lizno opened his eyes.

Experience tales at empire

Standing before him was Vincent, his hand gripping the dagger that had been meant for Lizno. The weapon rested lightly in his palm, as though it weighed nothing at all. On his shoulder, Mochi gave a smug thumbs-up—a gesture so bizarre that Lizno blinked, unable to process what he was seeing.

"You really like throwing things at people's heads, don't you?" Vincent remarked coldly, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. His gaze shifted to Gartin, whose face had turned pale and ashen.

Vincent tossed the dagger casually in the air, catching it with a flick of his wrist. "Why don't you see what it's like to be on the receiving end?"

With a fluid motion, he hurled the weapon back toward Gartin. The dagger whistled through the air, narrowly missing Gartin's head but slicing cleanly through his hood. The fabric fluttered to the ground, revealing Gartin's face. The dagger didn't stop and hit the fully clothed figure behind him.

Gasps rippled through the group as recognition dawned on them..

"So it's him," Vincent thought.

Lizno's eyes widened as he pointed an accusing finger.

"You're Garmus, one of Grarik's men!"

Gartin—no, Garmus—flinched, his hand instinctively flying to his exposed face. Panic flickered in his eyes as the realization of his unveiled identity settled in.

Before he could respond, the group of cloaked figures behind him sprang into action. Their movements were sharp and purposeful, their leader barking orders.

"Check Goma's condition!" the leader growled, his tone brimming with irritation. He turned to Garmus, his frustration boiling over.

"I told you to let us handle this. Now you've blown your cover. We proceed with the original plan."

"Wait!" Garmus protested, his voice high and desperate.

"We can still salvage this! A massacre will bring too much attention. My young master—"

But his words were cut off by a booming laugh. The leader of the Hyena Gang, Sinep, stepped forward, his grin stretching unnaturally wide.

"You dare attack one of my men? For a mere human, you've got guts!"

Sinep's arms bulged grotesquely, his mottled yellow skin darkening as black spots spread across it. His claws extended, razor-sharp and glinting menacingly in the dim light. With a feral snarl, he lunged at Vincent, the air crackling with the force of his attack.

"This is for attacking my guy!" Sinep roared, his claws arcing downward with deadly intent.

Vincent raised a single palm, meeting the attack head-on. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, the force of the clash reverberating through the air. Sinep staggered back, his arm hanging limply at his side.

"How?" Sinep sputtered, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You're just Tier 1! There's no way—"

Vincent stepped forward, closing the distance in an instant. His voice was calm, almost bored.

"I'm only Tier 1," he said, his tone dripping with disdain.

"You're just too weak."

Before Sinep could react, Vincent's hand shot out, closing around the gang leader's throat. Sinep clawed at Vincent's grip, his struggles growing weaker by the second as the air was squeezed from his lungs.

"L-Let me go!" Sinep choked, his voice barely a whisper.

Vincent's gaze swept over the remaining enemies, his expression unreadable yet undeniably commanding. His voice, low and menacing, cut through the silence like a dagger.

"Who's next?"

The weight of his words seemed to crush the air around them, leaving only stunned silence.