Hitman with a Badass System

Emerging from the shadows with her cloak now disabled, Gaya approached Shar and Jin with a mix of triumph and mockery in her stride. "Remember this as a lesson," she snickered, looking down at them with a smirk. "Next time, we won't just kick your ass. We will kill your ass,"

With a playful yet forceful kick to Shar's butt, Gaya emphasized her point, eliciting a pained groan and a string of curses from the old woman. Shar's anger was palpable, but her defeated state rendered her retorts weak and futile.

Meanwhile, Jin, lying bruised and battered, watched Gaya join Michael, a deep frown etched on his face. "Who are they?" he muttered under his breath, his voice a mixture of pain, confusion, and a hint of respect. He had never encountered foes like them, ones who could handle his and Shar's combined assault with such ease.

As Michael and Gaya walked away, their backs to the defeated duo, Gaya couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "That should teach them not to mess with us," she said, catching up to Michael. Their steps were light, almost carefree, as if the intense battle had been nothing more than a playful scuffle.

Still lying on the ground, Shar watched them leave, her mind racing with questions and fear. Her plan had backfired spectacularly, and now she was left to ponder the true nature of these mysterious and powerful adversaries. Meanwhile, Jin slowly picked himself up, his eyes fixed on the retreating figures of Michael and Gaya, his mind swirling with thoughts of revenge and intrigue.

After walking through the forest for several minutes, Gaya's frustration was evident as she questioned the purpose of their current predicament in the pocket dimension. "We still have no clue what to do in here. And what's the point with these trees getting harder at night?" she complained, her voice laced with annoyance.

However, Michael seemed unfazed by the uncertainty. "Remember what Silvaris said," he reminded her calmly. "We have to think like a thief. And patience is a thief's greatest weapon. They wait for the right moment, observe, and act only when sure of success."

"I have all the fucking patience in the world, but that's not going to show us the way forward magically." Gaya scoffed, her impatience getting the better of her.

Just then, Michael's drones, previously unseen, flew in, hovering above them. Gaya's eyes widened in surprise. "When did you send them out?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and admiration.

"A thief may rely on patience, but my greatest weapon has always been my brain," he stated confidently. He had sent the drones out earlier to recon the area, a strategic move that went unnoticed by Gaya amidst the chaos.

The drones circled above them, beaming down images and data Michael had been collecting silently. Gaya watched, her earlier frustration melting into a mix of admiration and love.

"That's why I love you so much," she said with a chuckle, ruffling his hair affectionately before planting a soft kiss on his cheek. Michael's eyes twinkled with satisfaction. The drones had been his secret ace, gathering intel while they navigated the dangers of the pocket dimension. He had learned long ago that brute strength wasn't always the solution; sometimes, the key to overcoming an obstacle lay in gathering information and strategizing accordingly.

As they examined the data collected by the drones, a clearer picture of their environment and potential paths forward began to emerge.

Eventually, the two of them saw a large rock statue of a monkey, surrounded by a group of adventurers, which immediately piqued their interest. It was eerily reminiscent of the scene they had encountered earlier with the glistening tree that turned out to be Shar, leading to a brutal slaughter.

"How does it feel, running around like headless chickens, trying to find a way out?" Silvaris taunted, amusement evident in his tone. "I'd love to teach you a lesson in patience, but alas, there are so many traps awaiting you in the other levels. Time to move you along to the next stage."

Unfazed by Silvaris's theatrics, Elrion stepped forward boldly. "Where's the exit, Silvaris? We've played your games long enough," he demanded. Silvaris's laughter subsided as he floated in the air, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You're looking at it," he said, gesturing towards the giant monkey statue, leaving the adventurers to ponder the meaning behind his cryptic words.

Silvaris's gaze swept across the crowd, lingering momentarily on Michael and Gaya. "This statue," he continued with a chuckle, "is not just any ordinary rock. It contains a piece of the soul of Edros, the great king of the beastmen."

Whispers and murmurs of confusion rippled through the group of adventurers. "

Edros? Never heard of him," one adventurer muttered to another.

"Neither have I. What's a beastman king got to do with us?" another adventurer chimed in, his voice laced with skepticism.

After causing the confusion, Silvaris just smirked. "Some of you are aware of who Edros was," he said, his eyes briefly meeting Michael and Gaya's, who exchanged surprised glances. "For those who don't, let's just say he was a figure of immense strength and ferocity. And now, his soul will be the key to your progression or... your downfall."

For a few moments, Silvaris' gaze swept across the group, his smirk growing wider. "You brutes might think that brute force is the answer to everything. But if you continue thinking like that here, you'll surely fall," he said with a sardonic laugh.

His next words came out slowly, emphasizing their importance, "The only way out of this pocket dimension is to think like a thief. It's not about what you see, but about what you don't see."

The adventurers exchanged puzzled looks, their confusion evident. "What does he mean by thinking like a thief?" one of them whispered, while another nervously said, "There's got to be a trick to this. It can't be as simple as fighting the statue."

"As for the reward of this level, it's the soul piece of Edros. Whoever is cunning and strong enough to defeat the statue will gain a key. This key unlocks Edros' treasure chest in the next level," he revealed as his expression shifted to one of seriousness.

"And believe me, the treasures within that chest are worth all the trouble you're going through. It's a prize fit for the cleverest among you." He clicked his tongue and added.

As Silvaris' ethereal form began to fade away, the air was thick with anticipation. Once Silvaris's ethereal form completely vanished, the rock statue of Edros sprang to life with a terrifying vigor. Its eyes glowed ominously as it rose to its full, imposing height, towering over the adventurers. In one swift, crushing motion, the statue swung its massive club, slamming it down with such force that several unfortunate adventurers were instantly crushed, their bodies turning into a gruesome, bloody paste on the forest floor.

Elrion and Lysandra, with their quick reflexes, leaped to the side just in time, narrowly escaping the deadly blow. The rest of the adventurers recoiled in shock and horror, scrambling to find cover or to prepare for a counterattack against the seemingly invincible behemoth.

Amidst the chaos and terror, Michael stood his ground, his gaze fixed intently on the animated statue of Edros. With a confident, almost predatory smirk on his face. "Your soul is mine," his voice laced with excitement and a hint of killing intent.