As soon as the food distribution started, chaos erupted. Everyone was desperate to get their hands on the meager rations, and fights broke out left and right. Liam quickly realized that this was going to get ugly fast.
"Rin, Soo Min, move to the side!" Liam shouted over the din, pushing them away from the commotion. "Stay out of the fight. I'll grab the food with the Joon brothers."
Rin and Soo Min nodded, and quickly moved to a safer spot away from the brawling crowd. Liam, along with Joon Ho and Joon Seok, plunged into the fray. Having achieved the first stage of the Muscle and Bone Realm, they were naturally stronger than those who hadn't.
The three of them pushed their way through the throng, using their enhanced strength to navigate the chaos. Liam felt the crush of bodies from all sides, elbows and fists flying as everyone fought to get to the front. He couldn't see more than a few feet ahead, the scene was a blur of struggling figures and flailing limbs.
As he fought his way forward, Liam couldn't help but think about the commanders' tactics. This was exactly what they wanted—the hostages fighting among themselves, and weeding out the weak and leaving only the strong. It was a brutal but effective strategy. The tasks the commanders had been given were designed to be so difficult that only those with the strongest will would survive.
Liam's mind raced as he considered the implications. Why had they all been captured and taken as hostages? If the commanders wanted to kill them, why go through the trouble of capturing them in the first place? And if their goal was something else, what was it? The questions swirled in his mind, adding to the chaos around him.
He gritted his teeth, pushing harder against the crowd. He couldn't afford to get distracted by these thoughts right now. He had to focus on securing food for his group.
After what felt like an eternity of pushing and shoving, Liam, Joon Ho, and Joon Seok finally reached the front of the food line. The struggle had been real, and Liam couldn't help but realize just how much the Joon brothers and Rin had to go through daily to secure not only their own food but his portion as well. The thought filled him with a mix of gratitude and guilt.
With their arms full of the precious rations, Liam and the Joon brothers slowly made their way out of the crowd. The atmosphere was still tense, and there were a few desperate attempts by others to steal from their hands. But Liam and the brothers were vigilant, fending off each attempt with swift, precise movements.
Joon Ho lost a small portion of his food to a quick-handed thief and instinctively tried to chase after him. But Liam grabbed his arm, stopping him. "It's not worth it, Joon Ho. We can't afford to get into more trouble right now."
Joon Ho hesitated for a moment, his face was flushed with anger, but he nodded and fell back in line with Liam and Joon Seok. They made their way to where Rin and Soo Min were waiting, and handed over the food with a sense of relief.
"Here, take this," Liam said as he passed the food to Rin and Soo Min. "Let's get out of here and head to our spot in the valley."
The group quickly made their way to their secret place in the valley, the sounds of the chaotic food distribution fading behind them. As they settled down to eat, the tension in their bodies began to ease slightly. But their relief was short-lived.
Just as they were about to start eating, a group of twelve people approached and surrounded them. The group had a clear leader, distinguished by his striking orange-shaded hair.
Liam and the others immediately became defensive, their senses on high alert. It was obvious what the group was after.
The leader stepped forward, his voice smooth but laced with threat. "You've got quite a bit of food there for just the five of you. How about sharing some with us?"
Liam's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. They would have shared if they truly had more than they needed, but the food they had was barely enough to keep them from starving.
Rin spoke up. "We don't have any extra to share. This is just enough for us. Please, go away."
The leader's smile faded, and it was replaced by a cold, calculating look. "I don't think you understand the situation here. We're not asking. We're telling you to hand over some of that food."
The group behind him shifted, and their stances became more aggressive, as though they were ready to kill. Liam's grip tightened on the food in his hands as his mind raced with strategies. He knew they couldn't back down, not when their survival was at stake.
"We're not giving you anything," Liam said with a calm yet confident look on his face. "You want it, you'll have to take it by force. But I promise you, it won't be easy."
The leader scoffed, his eyes gleaming with arrogance. "You're out of your depth, kid. All of us have achieved the first stage of the Muscle and Bone Realm."
Liam's expression didn't waver. "So what?"
The leader chuckled. "So, even if your group has also achieved the first stage, you can't win against us. We've got more people. Numbers matter, kid."
"Numbers might matter," Liam said, his voice low and dangerous. "But so does skill and strategy. And we've got plenty of both."
Liam got up and stood face to face with the leader. "Actually, I alone am enough to take care of you guys."
The leader raised his brow, a curious yet confused look on his face. Why was this kid so confident and cocky? He thought. He couldn't help but chuckle at Liam's audacity. "Do you want to die?" the leader asked, his voice dripping with mockery. He then glanced at Joon Seok and said, "Did you forget what I did to him the last time?"
Liam's expression darkened as he realized that this was the same bastard who had injured Joon Seok. Rage surged through him, and without a moment's hesitation, he lunged forward, his fist aimed straight at the leader's face.
The leader, however, was no amateur. He reacted swiftly, and raised his arm to block Liam's attack. The impact sent a cloud of dust billowing into the air, momentarily blinding everyone. When the dust settled, the leader was still standing, his arm held protectively over his face with a smirk playing on his lips.
"Nice try, kid," the leader taunted, lowering his arm. "But you'll have to do better than that if you want to take me down."