Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 323: Not Just Another Challenger

As Akun turned to leave, he offered a nod of thanks to the dwarf. "Thank you for your help," he said genuinely.

The dwarf waved a dismissive hand. "Don’t mention it," he replied gruffly, though a hint of pride glinted in his eyes.

As Akun started to walk away, he suddenly halted and turned back, fixing the dwarf with a piercing gaze. "You know," he began slowly, "I always thought dwarfs were a proud race of skill and craftsmanship. Yet here you are, trying to scam someone by using illusion magic to disguise an iron sword as a mythril one."

The dwarf’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth gaping open for a moment before he quickly composed himself. "H-how did you...?" he stammered, clearly caught off guard by Akun’s keen perception.

Akun’s words cut through the air like a blade. "Well, it’s none of my business," he declared, his tone sharp and unwavering. "Who am I to decide what standards others should live by?" He fixed the dwarf with a steely gaze, his expression cold. "But what I do know is that you are a disgrace to all those who call themselves craftsmen."

The dwarf’s face flushed with anger, his hands balling into tight fists at his sides. His pride, wounded by Akun’s accusations, burned within him like a smoldering flame.

Meanwhile, the man with brown hair stepped forward, his voice ringing out with anger. "I knew something was off!" he exclaimed, his frustration clearly in his tone. "You were trying to rob me, weren’t you?" Read new adventures at novelhall.Côm

The dwarf’s anger flared at the accusation. "Whatever," he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "Keep your money. Store’s closed." With that, he turned on his heel and stormed away, his footsteps heavy with resentment.

The man with brown hair folded his arms across his chest, his expression one of disbelief mixed with a tinge of contempt. "So, where did all your pride from earlier go?" he challenged the dwarf. "Now that you’ve been caught red-handed, you’re just ready to bail, huh?"

As Akun reached the small peak, he found himself surrounded by a dense forest of towering trees. In the center stood a massive oak, its branches reaching towards the sky like outstretched arms. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

In this tranquil scene, Akun’s eyes fell upon a figure in the distance. A woman, her white hair catching the sunlight, swung her sword with grace and skill. She wore a flowing white and blue outfit, the fabric swirling around her as she moved, a proof of her agility and skill.

"That must be her," Akun murmured to himself, his gaze fixed on the elf woman. With that, he began to make his way towards her, his presence catching her attention from the corner of her eye.

As Akun drew closer, the woman’s words cut through the air like a blade. She turned towards him, her sword gleaming in the sunlight as she spoke with a hint of defiance in her voice.

"If you’re just another one of those guys trying to steal my spot with a challenge, you might as well save your breath," she said firmly, her movements smooth and precise. "I can’t afford to waste my energy on challenges from weaklings. It’ll only leave me exhausted when it counts."

With each swing of her sword, she emphasized her point. "If I accepted every challenge, there’d be a never-ending line of people here wanting to take me down."

But Akun simply smiled, his purple eyes glowing slightly. "I’m not just some challenger," he replied, his voice steady and assured. "And I can make it worth your while."

The woman’s stance remained firm, her sword held at the ready as she responded to Akun’s words. Her tone was calm, her expression not changing.

"They all say that," she remarked, her voice tinged with a hint of skepticism. "And I don’t have time to make exceptions."