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Dark robes billowed around them, partially obscuring their faces, but the smirks playing on their lips were unmistakable.

"To think you managed to detect us," one of them sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. His eyes narrowed as he studied Zeus, trying to gauge his strength. There was a cold, calculating malice in his gaze.

Zeus met his stare with calm composure, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips. "It wasn\'t too difficult," he replied, his tone light but carrying an undercurrent of mockery. "When you\'re all leaking that much killing intent, it\'s like you\'re announcing yourselves."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, clearly unsettled by Zeus\'s nonchalance. One of them, his expression shifting from surprise to grudging respect, muttered, "It seems we really couldn\'t hide from you after all."

The leader of the group stepped forward, his face twisted into a scowl as the shadows seemed to deepen around him. His eyes, cold and calculating, locked onto Zeus.

"Now that you know what we\'re after," he said, his voice low and menacing, "why don\'t you make this easy on yourself? Surrender now, and perhaps you\'ll get to live a few more days in peace."

Zeus\'s smile widened, the amusement in his eyes unmistakable. He tilted his head slightly, as if considering the offer, then asked with a playful edge, "And if I decide not to?"

The leader\'s expression hardened, his patience wearing thin. "Then it\'s too bad for you," he growled, his tone dropping to an icy coldness. "We\'ll have to take what we want by force."

A ripple of unease passed through the group, but Zeus remained unfazed. He let out a soft chuckle, the sound both mocking and confident.

"The hard way it is," Zeus said, his voice laced with a mixture of challenge and mockery. Though his posture remained casual, the gleam in his eyes revealed that he was more than ready for the fight that was about to unfold. "Let\'s see if you\'ve got what it takes."

The leader of the group let out a dark chuckle, a smirk stretching across his face. "Oh, we\'re more than prepared," he replied, his tone dripping with confidence. "Now, do it."

At his command, two earth mages in the group sprang into action, their expressions focused as they chanted in unison, "Earth Lock!" The ground beneath Zeus trembled as thick chains of solid earth erupted upwards, swiftly wrapping around his limbs and locking him in place.

The leader strode forward, his eyes gleaming with sadistic satisfaction as he closed the distance between them.

"You see," he began, his voice low and menacing, "the one who placed the bounty on your head was very clear—they want you alive. But," he paused, allowing the malice to seep into his words, "I think they won\'t mind if you lose a limb or two along the way."

He turned to the warriors behind him, who were now brandishing their swords, and ordered with a cruel smile, "Cut his limbs. That\'ll make it easier to deliver him to our client."

As the warriors moved in, their swords glinting ominously, Zeus suddenly burst out laughing. The sound was unexpected, echoing loudly through the stormy landscape, causing the approaching warriors to hesitate.

"You really went all out with this plan, didn\'t you?" Zeus remarked, his voice carrying a mixture of amusement and something almost like admiration.

The leader, feeling bolstered by Zeus\'s apparent acknowledgment, smirked even wider. "Of course," he said proudly, his chest puffing up with arrogance. "The reward is far too generous to leave anything to chance. I made sure everything was meticulously planned."

Zeus\'s laughter subsided into a grin as he looked the leader in the eyes. "Mind telling me who put this bounty on my head?" he asked, his tone casual, but his gaze sharp.

The leader hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind at the sight of Zeus\'s confident smirk. But then he brushed it off—Zeus was bound, after all, with no way out.

"Fine," he said, feeling secure enough to share. "I suppose it wouldn\'t hurt to tell you before we get on with it. It\'s the Malachor Family who wants you."

Recognition flashed across Zeus\'s face as he recalled the recent encounter with a member of the Malachor Family—a confrontation where he had thoroughly humiliated the noble.

"The Malachor Family, huh?" Zeus mused aloud, a trace of amusement still in his voice. "They didn\'t waste any time, did they? Issuing a bounty and getting it all the way here in just a few days… Impressive."

The leader\'s sneer deepened. "Now that you know, you\'ve only got yourself to blame for offending them," he said, his voice taking on a cold edge.

Zeus\'s grin widened as he leaned slightly forward, despite the chains. "Oh, I don\'t deny that," he replied, his tone light. "But let me ask you one last thing—did you really plan every detail of this?"

The leader puffed out his chest, arrogance radiating from him. "Of course I did," he boasted, his voice brimming with pride. "I\'m one of the sharpest minds you\'ll ever meet."

Zeus\'s smirk deepened, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "So, tell me," he continued, his tone still deceptively casual, "did you factor in my power?"

The leader opened his mouth to deliver another boast, but his words faltered. His eyes flicked around the area, taking in their surroundings with sudden urgency.

The dark clouds, the constant crackle of lightning, the overwhelming charge of thunder mana in the air—it all started to piece together in his mind.

Realization hit him like a punch to the gut, and his expression twisted from confidence to dread. His voice, which had been so assured moments before, now trembled slightly as he stammered, "Y-you...."

Zeus\'s voice dropped to a low, ominous tone. "Looks like you\'ve figured it out."

Panic flared in the leader\'s eyes as he whirled around to his men, desperation creeping into his voice. "Quick! Cut his limbs—now!"

But Zeus only smiled, a dark, knowing grin that sent a chill down the spines of those watching. "Too bad," he said softly, "you\'re too late."

Without warning, Zeus unleashed a massive surge of thunder mana from his hands and legs. The energy crackled and exploded outward, shattering the earth chains that had bound him so tightly.

The sheer force of the release sent a shockwave rippling through the area, momentarily stunning the entire group.

As the dust settled, Zeus stood tall, his presence dominating the battlefield. The remnants of the chains crumbled at his feet as he straightened, his smirk widening with anticipation.

He looked each of his would-be captors in the eye, his voice dripping with barely contained excitement as he declared, "Round two."