Hitman with a Badass System
chapter-1210

Once Silvaris snapped his fingers, they were enveloped in a bright light that forced everyone to close their eyes. When they reopened them, they found themselves on a vast barren land dotted with abandoned structures like houses, watchtowers, and crumbling buildings. Far off, a house painted gold shimmered in the distance.

Above them floated an ethereal clock, large enough to be visible from any point.

"Where are we?" one of the adventurers asked, scanning the strange landscape.

"Look up there," a silver-haired elven lady pointed skyward. The clock, initially showing zeroes, slowly ticked over to twelve.

While many surveyed their new surroundings, others immediately began searching for Gaya, who held the key. She was spotted standing on a pavement between two ruined buildings.

"There she is!" a dwarf exclaimed, brandishing his axe. Gaya still clutched the golden key, though the crystallized soul piece of Edros was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, a loud boom echoed across the area. Numerous small golden tornadoes, about three feet high, appeared in various locations – inside buildings, on the watchtowers, and scattered across the battlefield.

"These must be the power-ups Silvaris mentioned," Elrion observed, standing before the group.

Beside him, Lysandra remained silent, her calm demeanor contrasting with the growing tension.

"Let the hunt begin," Silvaris's voice resounded, and the clock began its countdown.

"Come on, you assholes. Try and take it if you dare," Gaya taunted, slipping the key into her armor pocket and drawing her bow.

Expecting Elrion to lead the charge, the adventurers were surprised when he sheathed his long sword.

"She earned that key fair and square against the rock statue. I refuse to stoop so low as to steal it from her," Elrion declared, his voice reflecting his unwavering principles. The adventurers were taken aback by his stance, but Lysandra nodded, understanding his adherence to the values of Valorius, the God of Valor and Bravery.

"But if one of you manages to take the key from her, then it's fair game, and I won't hesitate to fight for it," Elrion added.

"Don't worry, I'm not letting it go that easily," Gaya snickered confidently.

Facing the group of adventurers alone, Gaya stood her ground. Dwarves, elves, humans, and halflings, all clad in various armors, slowly spread out, forming a circle around her. A nimble halfling in leather armor swiftly scaled a broken building and reached one of the swirling tornadoes.

"He's got a power-up!" a dwarf yelled, noticing the halfling atop the building. But it was too late; the halfling was engulfed in a golden light, which formed a protective layer around him.

"I can tap into the Celestial energy again!" the halfling exclaimed joyfully, conjuring a ball of flame in his hand.

His smile turned sinister as he aimed at Gaya. "Magnet pull!" he cast the spell, and Gaya felt an invisible force tugging her towards him. The key in her armor pocket vibrated and began to move, but Gaya caught it firmly.

"Not so fast," she declared, gripping the key tightly.

"He's using some gadget!"

The adventurers, watching Michael and Gaya land safely on a rooftop, shouted in frustration.

"Chase them!"

"Suck it, losers!" Gaya taunted, flipping her middle finger at the adventurers below before dashing towards the golden house in the distance.

"The game just got interesting," Lysandra noted, observing Jin and Shar moving toward other power-ups with a keen eye.

An elf, noticing a power-up inside a watchtower, swiftly climbed up to claim it. His agility and grace were evident as he ascended the structure with ease.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Gaya and Michael were being pursued by a group of relentless adventurers. Unafraid and unruly, Gaya taunted them with a string of colorful cuss words.

"Come on, you slowpokes! Can't catch me, can you?" Gaya jeered, her words dripping with mockery.

Some of the more determined adventurers, not to be outdone, started climbing up the rooftops, doggedly chasing after the elusive duo.

Back at the watchtower, the elf reached the power-up and touched it. Instantly, a large crossbow, armed with flaming bolts, materialized in his hands. The high vantage point of the watchtower provided a significant advantage, and a sly grin spread across his face.

"Hehe, let's see how they like this," the elf snickered, taking aim with his newfound weapon. He began firing the flaming bolts, each shot aimed with deadly precision, turning the chase into a dangerous dance of dodging and weaving.

On the other side of the battlefield, Shar deftly maneuvered into an abandoned house, her eyes fixed on a power-up within. "I'll make you pay for what you've done," she muttered with a vengeful tone, reaching out to touch the glowing object.

The moment her fingers made contact, a colossal dragon materialized, its emergence shattering the house into rubble. The dragon, with scales shimmering in hues of deep blue and silver, radiated an aura of ancient power. Its eyes, a piercing shade of sapphire, surveyed the surroundings with intelligence and majesty.

"Jackpot," Shar exclaimed, her eyes gleaming at the sight of the magnificent Blue scaled dragon. Despite her age, she climbed atop the dragon with surprising agility, positioning herself confidently on its back.

The appearance of the dragon caused a stir among the adventurers, eliciting a variety of reactions.

"By the gods, a dragon!"

"Everyone, be careful! That thing is huge!"

The sight of Shar riding the mighty Blue scaled dragon shifted the dynamics of the battlefield, adding a new layer of challenge and awe to the ongoing hunt.

Michael, upon seeing the dragon, couldn't hide his surprise. "Silvaris really wasn't kidding about not just stealing objects, huh?" he remarked, skillfully navigating the rooftops alongside Gaya.

"Why aren't we killing their asses yet?" Gaya queried, keeping pace with Michael.

"Not yet," Michael responded, his mind already devising a strategy to kill Shar without having to intervene personally.