Sudden Change

'Pfft~'

The smooth short sword pierced through the wound at the back of the neck into the Azure Wolf's hindbrain, twisted once, and the wolf that had pinned Jack twitched before ceasing its struggles.

The calf-sized body toppled to the side with a thud.

"Well done! No wonder you're Jack the Dismemberer. I'll go help Uncle Luo Luoji with the other one—you rest up!"

Having struck a decisive blow and turned the tide, Xuan Ye shouted encouragement to Jack, who was drenched in blood and visibly fading, then dashed toward Luo Luoji, barely pausing to absorb the scattered Essence.

Watching Luo Luoji still locked in a stalemate with the Azure Wolf but clearly losing ground from blood loss, Xuan Ye's heart was thick with lingering dread.

If their side had lost—no, if they'd delayed even a little longer and Luo Luoji couldn't hold, letting this Azure Wolf break free too—it would have been an absolute catastrophe for all of them!

But now! He would never give it that chance!

'Pfft~'

The third dismemberment came with practiced ease, freeing Luo Luoji without trouble. The two-meter-tall man, having weathered the attacks of three wolves and wrestled one to the ground, was in terrible shape.

He staggered as he released his tension, but the Essence spilling from the wolf that died atop him gave him some recovery. Though as a Professional, the effect was far weaker than for Xuan Ye, who was practically cramping from absorption, it still, combined with his own Qi and Blood Inner Palace, barely staunched most of the bleeding.

"Cough—ugh—hah. Lucky break. None of them knew how to burn their Magic Cores."

Luo Luoji stumbled two steps, deep weariness in his eyes, along with a hidden trace of grief. These were old brothers who'd joined the team when it first formed—he hadn't expected to lose one here.

He refused his companion's help, swaying as he walked toward Jack, still lying on the ground.

Xuan Ye, sensing the Essence around them had fully dissipated, followed, his body brimming with Essence that filled every corner. The residual Essence from three consecutive Predator Rank Azure Wolves was more than enough for him.

Even though the fierce battle had kept him from absorbing the richest first few seconds from the first two wolves, it had already pushed him to the peak of Eighth Grade Knight Attendant.

His adjusted Breathing Scroll absorbed and digested Essence at a terrifying speed!

He'd only broken through to Eighth Grade thanks to the first Azure Wolf's Essence!

Clearly, Predator Rank Magic Beasts were a massive tonic for Knight Attendants who hadn't yet entered the ranks.

But this surging power could destabilize his foundation—he'd need to regulate it carefully later.

Still, considering the brutality of this fight, it was incredibly hard for an unranked person to absorb Predator Rank Essence. Too many people sharing would leave too little for each, and ordinary people's absorption efficiency couldn't match his improved Breathing Technique.

In pure value, trading a Senior Knight Attendant's death for this result was a net gain. But even though he barely knew the fallen Knight Attendant, Xuan Ye felt a heavy weight in his chest.

As someone from a peaceful era, he'd been too caught up in the heat of battle to feel much during the fight, but now that it was over, an indescribable, strange heaviness settled over him.

And Jack's condition was dire. He lay on the ground, convulsing even as Luo Luoji pressed him down. Worse, blood was bursting from wounds that seemed to tear open from the inside out—not left by the Azure Wolf!

When Xuan Ye had rushed to free Luo Luoji earlier, he hadn't noticed, but now looking back, something was terribly wrong.

"Hey, Jack, what's wrong? Don't scare us. You're Jack the Dismemberer—what a fierce title. Once that Mage Lord frees up, he'll definitely save you. Oh, right, that Paladin lady can heal too, with spells."

Xuan Ye spoke nervously, rambling to keep Jack's attention and focus.

'Boom~'

A massive wolf carcass flew over and landed nearby. Looking up, Xuan Ye saw Ye Man and Aide had finished off their three opponents too!

They were Three-Star Warriors and Guardians, elites from Dream Island, with killing moves and trump cards. Against Wolf Guards at most Two-Star, with a Mage Apprentice's minor spells for cover, it was just a matter of time.

Their clothes weren't even torn—just splattered with wolf blood. Compared to this side, it was far too easy!

Maybe they lacked Aitiya's special ability to cripple a Three-Star Alpha Wolf and a Two-Star Wolf Guard in one burst, but a Guardian's defense paired with a Warrior's explosive power made them stronger in prolonged combat.

"Oh? Your combat ability surprised me a bit. Only two attendants lost for this result?"

Aide, having finished his last opponent, glanced at the Paladin still locked in fierce battle with the male Alpha Wolf, then turned and spoke with a tone of surprise.

He'd deliberately stalled, yet those worthless scavengers had actually beaten their targets? And faster than him and Ye Man? The irritation forced him to vent.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? If you ate shit, keep your mouth shut."

Xuan Ye glared at the blue-haired Aide, furious. What did he mean by 'only'? And Jack wasn't dead yet—in a world with magic, they could definitely save him.

"Aide, shut it. Can't you read the room? They helped us plenty, and you're still sneering."

Dean, pale and weak, also scolded Aide. He'd overexerted himself with that big spell earlier, then barely managed two more minor distractions. Now he couldn't even stand, slumped on his Magic Carpet.

"Heh, I'm not wrong. Even at Eighth Grade, taking a Baptism Potion can cause discomfort or side effects. And he just swallowed a Magic Core raw, like the ancients? The survival rate for Middle Ages sages who tempered to Ninth Grade peak and took a Magic Core was less than one in ten. Modern successes are even rarer."

Aide, disgusted by Xuan Ye's blunt retort, put on that irritatingly casual expression again, making Xuan Ye's heart skip a beat.

Raw Magic Core? Jack? No wonder—no wonder he'd held off that Azure Wolf's pounce!

So that was his choice! No wonder he'd been so reckless and eager to provoke—was he afraid he'd lose control soon?

Raw Magic Core consumption, the ancient method for forming a Professional Core before Professional Baptism Potions existed. A brutal method used by humanity's pioneers as they blazed a trail! A Professional Baptism Potion, even if it fails to change your class, still strengthens the body with few side effects. But directly swallowing a Magic Core's violent energy...

"Boss... I'm done. Give me... a quick end. Pfft—"

Jack, blood streaming from his mouth and nose, barely opened swollen, bloodshot eyes that seemed unable to see clearly, his words slurred as if enduring immense agony.

"Don't..."

Xuan Ye raised a hand to speak, but before he could finish, Luo Luoji's broad palm pressed down on Jack's neck. With a crack, the convulsions stopped.

"You—"

Looking at Luo Luoji, who expressionlessly closed Jack's eyes and slowly stood, Xuan Ye wanted to say something but ultimately couldn't. In truth, those who'd spent the most time with Jack and were closest to him must be hurting the most.

And to bear the sin of personally killing a teammate—actually, that was far more decisive and realistic than someone like himself, who only knew how to talk from the sidelines, spouting high-minded nonsense without feeling the strain.

"A wise choice."

Aide seemed to whistle, continuing his sarcasm. Watching their expressions, he felt a faint, fleeting satisfaction in his heart. Hmph, just a bunch of lowly commoners—did they really think they could be his companions? What a dream!

Too bad that most annoying bastard managed to survive by sheer dumb luck!

"Enough, Aide. Do you want me to file a complaint against you with the mentor?"

Dean seemed somewhat saddened by the scene before him, turning back to threaten Aide viciously.

"Yeah, I can't stand it either. You've got this chance, so why not go help your goddess? Don't make me chop you down."

Ye Man, who was tidying up the battlefield on the side, spoke with a look of indignation.

As if reminded by Ye Man, Aide also recalled that Aitiya was still in the thick of battle. He immediately turned and said, "I can't be bothered with you all. I'll go help—pfft—Ye Man, are you crazy?!"

Aide had only gotten halfway through his words. The moment he turned, Ye Man swung an axe from behind him. Even for a Guardian with the strongest defenses, taking such a heavy blow without any preparation was a direct crippling blow!

A terrifying gash on his back, deep enough to see his internal organs, sent Aide collapsing limply to the ground.

The sudden turn of events left Xuan Ye and the others staring in shock. He actually cut him down!

Sure, Ye Man was usually a bit of a goof, but not to this extent! Though it was incredibly satisfying to watch!

Even if he had the ability, he might have done the same, but the one striking shouldn't have been their companion, Ye Man.

"Oh? Still able to talk? So you've been lying to me all along—your bloodline has already awakened."

Ye Man looked at Aide, who was still struggling and cursing on the ground, and spoke with some surprise.

"I told you, if you kept talking, I'd cut you down. Why don't you ever believe it?"

With that, Ye Man swung his axe again at Aide. But just as the blade was halfway down, a dense white light burst from Aide's body, and he vanished from the spot entirely.

"Oh my, hiding it deep, aren't you? A triggered Random Teleportation Scroll—only the Island Lord can make those, right? How extravagant. But with injuries like that, if he doesn't land somewhere lucky, he's as good as dead."

Ye Man shook his head with a sigh, looking somewhat regretful. Then he turned back to Xuan Ye and the others, grinning widely.

"So, how about it? Feeling grateful to me inside?"

"Ye Man! You!"

Dean seemed unable to believe what had just happened, his voice filled with fury.

"Uh, you're not going to tattle, are you?"

As if pulled back to reality by Dean, Ye Man scratched his head with a simple, foolish smile.

"You!"

Then, in a flash, he raised his axe. A head, its face full of disbelief, flew into the air.

"To keep you from tattling, you'd better just die."

Still wearing that same foolish, honest grin, it formed a stark contrast with the headless corpse that fell to the ground alongside the Small Carpet, leaving Xuan Ye's face filled with shock and disbelief...

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Thanks to Black Round Table 477, Lei Tian Attack Power, I Am a Newbie, I'm Afraid of Poison, for the tip~