The mountain pass erupted into chaos.
"Protect the caravan!"
The captain's roar echoed through the valley.
The guards immediately formed a defensive circle around the merchants and wagons.
Roland ushered Lila into the carriage.
"No matter what happens..."
"Do not come out."
The little girl nodded, clutching Snowball tightly.
---
The Black Fang Bandits moved with frightening discipline.
Unlike ordinary bandits...
They fought like trained soldiers.
A volley of arrows descended from the cliffs.
"Shields!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel rang repeatedly as the guards barely managed to intercept the attack.
Still...
Several cried out in pain.
---
The scarred bandit leader looked at his own men.
"...We're leaving."
One of his subordinates stared at him in disbelief.
"But Boss—"
"We were thieves."
His voice was heavy.
"Not butchers."
He pointed toward the Black Fang.
"They'll kill everyone."
"We stand no chance against them."
---
Before anyone could retreat...
A crossbow bolt pierced the chest of one of the younger bandits.
He collapsed instantly.
The Black Fang leader smiled coldly.
"Did I say you could leave?"
The remaining bandits froze.
They had become prey.
---
Kieran silently observed everything.
His breathing remained calm.
His heart steady.
Crystal's voice echoed within his mind.
«"A sword exists to protect."»
Kael's laughter followed.
«"But never draw it unless you're prepared for what comes after."»
Slowly...
Kieran wrapped his fingers around the hilt.
Then...
He drew the blade.
Shiiing...
The plain steel reflected the afternoon sun.
No dazzling light.
No overwhelming aura.
Just...
A sword.
---
One of the Black Fang members laughed.
"A child?"
"You expect him to fight?"
Several others joined in.
Even some caravan guards looked worried.
The captain frowned.
"Kid..."
"Stay behind us."
Kieran shook his head.
"If I stay behind..."
"They'll still come."
His eyes quietly settled on the Black Fang leader.
"So..."
"I'll step forward."
---
Without another word...
He walked.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
Each step was measured.
Each breath controlled.
The Black Fang leader narrowed his eyes.
"Kill him."
Two bandits rushed down the slope.
Their swords descended together.
Kieran didn't meet force with force.
Instead...
He shifted slightly.
One sword missed him completely.
The second scraped harmlessly against his scabbard.
Before either attacker understood what had happened...
Tap.
Kieran's wooden training habits remained.
Rather than slash...
He lightly struck the wrist of the first man with the flat of his blade.
The sword fell.
A gentle turn.
His shoulder bumped into the second attacker.
The man's balance vanished.
He rolled harmlessly down the slope.
Neither suffered serious injuries.
Yet...
Neither could continue fighting.
Silence spread across the battlefield.
---
"...Impossible."
The caravan guards stared.
The captain's eyes widened.
"He didn't overpower them..."
"He simply..."
"...used the smallest movements possible."
---
The Black Fang leader's smile faded.
"Interesting."
He slowly descended from the cliff.
Unlike his men...
He carried himself with confidence.
His Magna quietly gathered around him.
The pressure immediately increased.
Several ordinary merchants struggled to breathe.
The captain's expression changed.
"A Master Realm cultivator..."
---
The Black Fang leader looked at Kieran.
"Move aside."
"I don't enjoy killing children."
Kieran calmly replied,
"I don't enjoy seeing innocent people die."
The man sighed.
"What a troublesome answer."
---
He vanished.
Boom!
The ground beneath his feet shattered.
In an instant...
He appeared before Kieran.
His curved blade swept toward the boy's neck.
Fast.
Too fast for ordinary eyes.
Yet...
Kieran didn't panic.
He watched.
Not the blade.
Not the man's hands.
His feet.
His breathing.
His shoulders.
Everything moved before the attack itself.
His body reacted naturally.
Step.
Turn.
Tilt.
The curved blade passed less than an inch from his face.
The Black Fang leader's eyes widened.
"He..."
"...read my movement?"
---
Their blades met for the first time.
Clang!
A clear metallic sound echoed through the pass.
The force pushed Kieran back several steps.
His arms tingled.
"So this..."
"...is the strength of a true cultivator."
He tightened his grip.
Not frightened.
Learning.
---
The Black Fang leader smiled again.
"This is becoming entertaining."
He attacked once more.
Faster.
Sharper.
Each strike carried enough power to split stone.
Kieran retreated steadily.
Blocking some.
Evading others.
Never wasting movement.
Never chasing an opening.
Only observing.
Only understanding.
---
Far above...
Hidden within the trees...
The Nine-Tailed White Fox remained motionless.
Its golden eyes never left Kieran.
The White Fox knew.
If Kieran's life truly came under threat...
It would intervene.
Without hesitation.
But...
Not yet.
This battle...
Belonged to him.
---
Elsewhere...
Far from the mountain pass...
Crystal suddenly paused while tending to a small garden outside the cottage.
She slowly looked toward the distant western horizon.
Kael noticed.
"You felt it?"
Crystal nodded.
"A sword has finally left its sheath."
She smiled softly.
"He has taken..."
"...his first step."
Without another word, she returned to her work.
She trusted Kieran.
Not because she believed he would never lose.
But because she believed he would always learn.
And sometimes...
That was the greatest victory of all.
End of Chapter 53