Though the powerful energy he felt earlier has vanished, some remain making him achieve elite warrior rank.

He was puzzled, at the same time delighted.

Seeing how lively Uno was already, Kalipsi ran in the direction of Tala. He was going to peek behind the tree when he saw him already standing there going to leave the place.

Startled, he faced Tala in just half a meter away. Although Tala was smaller, he could clearly see the face of Tala.

Black eyes staring at him in tranquility as his black braided hair swung because of the winds.

Anxiety rose from his face as he saw a tinge of paleness in that fair skin of Tala.

"Are you okay?" Kalipsi rested his hand to Tala's shoulder.

"I'm okay," Tala moved her shoulder to shake Kalipsi's hand.

Examining her body, Tala extracted a little of her heavenly energy to hide her exhaustion. If Kalipsi didn't saw it by his own eyes, he would think that nothing happened to Tala. And the faint energy Tala has exerted was the purest energy he had felt.

Tala's pale cheeks became rosy again. "Let's go," she left without bothering the incredulous look of Kalipsi.

Kalipsi looked at Tala's back thinking something. No one knows what he was thinking though. He smiled faintly and hurried up to catch up the pace of Tala.

...

Apa worriedly looked at his sister.

Understanding that look of his, Lani said, "I'm fine."

Apa saw two figures approaching their location.

It was Kalipsi and Tala.

That was the only the time he noticed that Tala has been missing when Uno fell onto the ground.

A tinge of suspicious planted on Apa's mind.

When they were all certain that all of them was in good condition, the group headed inside the cave. They walked through the darkness using illuminate stones of Salamuyak.

"How long had we been walking? My feet felt tired already." Salamuyak retorted.

"Shut up." Lani wasn't close nor in good relation with her, that's why she doesn't watch her manners towards her.

Although feeling ashamed by getting yelled, Salamuyak can only pout.

"Finally!" Salamuyak exclaimed seeing a light ahead.

Having a near sight of the light, it was a lamp.

Everyone was dumbfounded to the sight. The place was decorated like a hall. In the center, a table-like stood. They couldn't recognize it except for two. Uno and the group surrounded it to examine.

"What is this for?" Talon asked seeing the giant solid rock table in the center.

"We'll find out," Apa carefully examined the table.

Before the group could gather and share their opinion, a hoarse voice sounded.

"Oh! Visitors!" A crispy voice echoed to their ears.

Everyone took a wary gesture. They all gathered beside Tala.

"Who's there?" Apa asked indifferently.

"I should be the one asking that?" The crispy voice chuckled.

"Show your self," Lani demanded.

"My my my. What a short-tempered lass." The crispy voice became louder. In the instant the voice fade, a hooded black-clad man walked towards their location at a slow pace. They couldn't see his face. His body was also hidden under the loose cloak he was wearing.

They search with their eyes for a way where this man could came out but to no avail. The only way in and out was the mouth of the cave they take in, and except for that, were solid walls.

Apa call forth his might seeing the man just five meters away.

"Don't take another step or else..." coated with his energy, Apa didn't even finish his words when a powerful punch was delivered directly to his stomach. He was sent flying, tumbled on the ground.

The man didn't pay heed to him. He came to Tala's front and said, "What a beautiful face. Don't mind if I own it?"

That word made Tala's group looked at her intently. Now that the man mentions it, they all gulped seeing the flawless face of Tala when one pays attention. They haven't noticed it because of how plain his dress was.

"You can't." Tala's voice was calm.

"Oh? Really?" The man crisp voice showed sign of displeasure.

"Then, try it if you can." Tala just stood still. If this man tries to touch her, she will be more willing to send him to his death.

She didn't notice that her words trembled her group in fright.

Is she probing this man?

From the simple punch of the man, Apa was already sent flying without a fight, how much more a warrior just like him?

The man extended his arms that was coated with his energy to touch Tala's face. Lani doesn't know what the man was going to do next, but she has a feeling that when that man manages to touch Tala, something horrible will happen.

Gathering her energy, Lani was coated with the might of an elite warrior. She sprinted to the man's location and sent her a mighty kick. Salamuyak did the same. Both ladies attack simultaneously.

The man formed two balls of black violet energy and sent it to the two. Salamuyak and Lani were sent flying and spouted a mouthful of blood.

The group froze. Apa, Salamuyak, and Lani were already down. How could they fight now?

Talon and Uno were thinking of attacking when suddenly, the voice of the enemy echoed.

"Don't be too naive, it's futile." The man crisp voice sounded like a warning. "I have use of all of you, so better be good," he again looked at Tala. He slowly take off the hood revealing his burned face.

"I'll going to take your face to change it with mine." The man laughed viciously.

Tala didn't even take a glance to the man as she walked in slow pace towards Lani and Salamuyak. The man followed her in his eyes with a glint of murder. But looking to the calm face of her, the man curved out an evil smile as he thought, 'Let's see how long can you be calm after what I will do to you.'

Tala looked at the ladies who have deathly pale faces.

"Everyone, get out." Tala's voice didn't show a tinge of fear or helplessness. It's just her usual calm voice.

Although baffled, they all knew that they wouldn't be the man's opponent and that facts made them heed Tala's order.

"It's too late." The crispy voice again sounded. At that moment, Uno spouted a mouthful of blood followed by Talon. Their deathly pale face weren't far from the ladies.

"I already seal this place which loaded with heavy poison mist," the man evil laughed reverberated.

'What am I going to do?' Apa clenched his fists. He can do nothing to the anomaly of his group nor did he has a way out. His the strongest among all of them, but simple punch sent him flying already.

He stood up and thinking of buying time for his companion to escape when a corner of his eyes saw Tala slowly walked to confront the man, but was stopped by Kalipsi.

"Let me do it." Kalipsi knew that Tala was exhausted from before, and he didn't dare to make him use his energy again. Kalipsi's voice was like whispered but Apa heard it clearly.

'If I lose with this man, I have no right to follow you,' he added in his heart. He didn't want to be just a burden whilst following him.

Kalipsi already formed a resolve to follow Tala wherever he goes.

"What? No way." Apa was dumbfounded. He was the strongest of them and was sent flying in just a single punch, so how could Kalipsi fight him who was a newbie?

Apa wanted to drag out Kalipsi, but when Tala nodded, Kalipsi shouted, " Earthly First Vermilion!"

With a boom, Kalipsi were coated with ravaging fire. The temperature inside that room rises.

"I'm your opponent," Kalipsi indifferent voice startled his group mates.

The dilated eyes of his group were fixed to him not wanting to blink a second.

"My. my. my. Don't be too excited young man." The black cloak man call forth his might. Coated with black violet energy, he dashed at a visible speed towards Kalipsi sending punches, but Kalipsi was able to retaliate. The two were locked in combat. Every time the black cloak man attacked, Kalipsi defend and looked for a chance to attack.

Seeing the intense battle with his own eyes, Apa gulped. He now understood where the confidence of Kalipsi came from.

He couldn't believe that a mere 16 years old was capable of such feat.

Apa, Lani, Talon, Uno and Salamuyak could only see streaks of light clashing to each other.

'Is this what 1st elder means?' Apa and Lani thought simultaneously.

The man furrowed his brows in frustration. He didn't anticipate that this young man will be able to catch up to his speed. He knew that the youth is strong from the start he call his energy, but his just sixteen at most. His combat ability shouldn't be that good.

'My training of almost two months of killing beasts stronger than me didn't go to waste after all,' Kalipsi raised his lips on his right cheek.