Paige Summers’s plan was actually quite simple.

The first step was to tie a rope around the shrub’s midsection, like staking a potted plant. This would serve two purposes. First, it would neutralize its ability to attack, preventing other branches from "making trouble" during the rescue. Second, binding it would severely restrict its movement, making it easier to target.

Of course, the key was not to provoke it.

Only then could they move on to rescuing the car and the people inside.

Marcus Monroe was chosen to cut the branches. Paige Summers believed his Energy Blade was sharper than almost any physical sword.

Claire Chapman, meanwhile, would be on standby to catch them.

As soon as the branches were severed, he would have to use his superpower to safely catch the car and move it a safe distance away. This was a precaution in case the shrub, enraged by the pain, broke free from the ropes and attacked again.

The plan seemed perfect, but only on the surface.

With a grim expression, Claire Chapman got straight to the point. "It sounds feasible, but how can we possibly tie it up without provoking it?"

Paige Summers explained frankly, "My idea is to have a Water Ability User try to soothe it. I can’t guarantee what will happen, but I have a feeling this thing isn’t an especially vicious species. At least it didn’t intend to crush the car before it attacked. Even now, one of the vehicles is still undamaged..."

Marcus Monroe agreed. "It’s worth a try."

Sean Raines shrugged. "What’s the worst that can happen? Let’s hurry. My talisman formation can’t hold back the Beast Tide for long!"

That settled it for Claire Chapman.

"Let’s begin!"

Tying up the shrub was the most dangerous part of the job. Of everyone present, Paige Summers was the most suitable candidate. Other Hunting Parties had Speed Superpower Users, but she was the only one who had reached the Fifth Rank.

’Guess this is my responsibility now, huh...’ Paige Summers sighed.

’Oh well. To be honest, she’d already factored herself into the plan from the start. Saving people takes more than just talk!’

The Guard had been on the verge of retreating, but after hearing the plan, they decided to stay a little longer.

Some Superpower Users from other Hunting Parties who were friends with those trapped in the car came forward to offer their help. Paige Summers took a coil of the sturdiest rope from Marcus Monroe and recruited several Power Superpower Users to hold one end of it. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

She tied the other end to the nock of a Crossbow Arrow, which she held in her hand.

Marcus Monroe, Claire Chapman, and all the other Superpower Users were in position. Paige Summers scanned the area.

The human mind is a strange thing.

The bloody scene from before still unnerved her, but perhaps because of that intense shock, she now felt her blood thrumming with anticipation for the impending action. Her mind felt unusually sharp. In just a few moments, she had already run a mental simulation of how to evade the shrub’s attacks and the path she would take.

’It’s like a voice was speaking from the bottom of her heart: ’You’ve got this. You can do it!’’

She raised her hand, giving the signal to "go."

A Water Ability User immediately conjured a gentle, misty rain with their superpower. The mist caressed the mutant shrub’s wounds, and everyone watched as the shrub visibly relaxed, stretching out its branches as if in satisfaction.

Paige Summers’s eyes glinted. ’Now!’

Crouching low like a cat, she closed the distance to the shrub in complete silence.

When she was only about three meters away, the shrub seemed to sense something and suddenly twitched. Everyone’s hearts leaped into their throats as the Water Ability User hastily summoned another wave of misty rain. Slowly, the plant settled down, apparently accepting Paige Summers’s presence and judging her to be harmless.

Paige Summers paid its movements no mind, simply continuing to circle it at top speed.

The shrub’s limbs were not smooth; they were covered in smaller branches. Paige Summers’s aim was superb. Tossing the Crossbow Arrow by hand, she made it arc over the branches without touching the shrub itself, catching it as it came back down. The rope, which the arrow carried, was now draped over the smaller boughs.

She left plenty of slack; the rope just hung loosely in place, not pulled taut at all.

The positioning was also crucial. She had to ensure that when the rope was pulled tight later, it wouldn’t get snagged or tangled.

Of course, Paige Summers had no time to think about any of this. She was acting purely on instinct.

As an Artifact Maker, she had an irreplaceable advantage.

The moment she saw an opening, she instinctively knew the optimal placement for the rope.

The shrub no longer paid her any mind, content to enjoy the misty rain. The weather in the apocalypse was erratic; this area, once rainy, had become dry and cold, so the plant was desperately thirsty.

Seeing this, Paige Summers felt a great sense of relief.

Her speed increased, faster and faster!

In just a few short minutes, she had circled it eight times, leaving the shrub’s midsection draped in rope. If it weren’t for the grim circumstances, it might have looked like a Christmas tree decorated with tinsel.

Once she was certain there was enough rope to restrain the shrub for a while, she stopped. She ran back toward the others, waving to the Superpower Users holding the other end of the line.

They quickly gathered together, moving away from the shrub.

The rope was pulled tighter and tighter. Just as it grew taut enough to startle the shrub, making it uncomfortable and prompting it to resist...

Paige Summers yelled, "Sprint!"

As the word left her lips, she shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, covering over a hundred meters in an instant!

Marcus Monroe’s Energy Blade was already in motion!

Just as the shrub began to thrash in anger, shaking the ensnared car, it abruptly realized it could no longer extend its branches at will!

The next instant, a white light flashed, followed by the sharp CRACK of several branches snapping.

The tightly bound car began to plummet.

By the time the shrub tried to shred it, it was too late!

Claire Chapman was ready. He caught the car, steadying its fall. Then, with the help of a Wind Ability User, he moved it to a safe location...

They’d done it!

If not for the fear of attracting Mutant Beasts, the Superpower Users who had worked together would have erupted in cheers!

The people inside the car were quickly rescued. All of them were alive. One had a head injury, and another’s leg was crushed, resulting in severe blood loss; their conditions were serious. The rest had mostly minor injuries. The other Hunting Parties volunteered to take the wounded into their own vehicles to treat them.

When Paige Summers walked over, they were just about to carry the injured away.

Claire Chapman smiled at Old Man Townsend and the other Superpower Users who had been sure they were going to die. "You all have Paige Summers to thank. She came up with the plan and did the heavy lifting to save you!"

"Lass," said Old Man Townsend, "if you ever need anything, you just say the word. I, Old Man Townsend, will walk through fire for you, no questions asked!"

"Yeah! Ms. Summers, just give us a shout if you need anything! You saved our lives—it’s like you’ve given us a second chance at life!"

"Get outta here! She’s just a young lady, how could she have a son as old as you! Little sis, don’t listen to his crap. We owe it all to you this time! Words can’t express my gratitude, I..."

"You’re not even going to say thank you?! What’s wrong with you?"

"What the hell! Do you even know how to read? It’s an idiom, you idiot!"

"..."

Perhaps it was the relief of surviving a near-death experience, but their emotions were running a little wild. Listening to their bizarre thank-yous, Paige Summers gave an amused wave of her hand. "Get in the vehicles and treat your wounds. We need to keep moving."

The Guard had already started moving out, and the various Hunting Parties quickly followed suit.

Back in the car and away from the clamor, Martin Warren and the others heaped praise on her. But when they saw how pale she was, they realized she had expended a great deal of her superpower. They quickly fell silent, giving her space to recover.

Paige Summers patted Erin Quinn’s head to reassure her, then leaned against the side of the vehicle and closed her eyes.

Her body was exhausted, but her mind was buzzing with excitement.

It took a great deal of self-control to calm her racing thoughts. First, she circulated the goodwill energy through her body.

She stopped after completing one full cycle.

But she didn’t open her eyes just yet. Instead, she focused her spiritual power on the earring in her right ear.

This was the source of her excitement.

The energy in the earring had already been close to full. Now, after this rescue, she had collected enough goodwill from the Superpower Users she’d saved.

The earring could finally be unlocked!

After taking a moment to compose herself and make sure her expression wouldn’t betray her, she carefully sent her consciousness into the earring.

In the blink of an eye, her vision went black, then flooded with light. She found herself looking out into a vast space with smooth, curved walls.

’It was huge! Truly, unbelievably huge!’

The flat floor was paved with a single, massive stone slab, so perfectly fitted that not a single seam was visible. Paige Summers couldn’t help but marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship. The space stretched far into the distance on two sides, gradually narrowing to form a perfect arc at each end. The ceiling wasn’t exceptionally high, only about five or six meters, but it too was a seamless canopy.

Together, it all formed a single, complete space.

She couldn’t tell exactly how large it was, but it was obvious that even if she stored everything she could possibly need for the rest of her life inside, she probably wouldn’t even come close to filling it!

Excitement and amazement gave way to a slow, encroaching calm...

Paige Summers slowly opened her eyes, returning from her reverie to the real world.

The reality was, her entire net worth wouldn’t even fill a single corner of it.

’Well, now she had a much clearer goal: work hard to fill this space with valuable things!’

Without her realizing it, the night had nearly passed. The eastern sky was beginning to turn a pale gray.

Martin Warren leaned over. "Feeling rested?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Larry just reported that a pack of Mutant Beasts is closing in."

"This soon? Where is he?"

Martin Warren rubbed his chin and whispered, "On the roof. They’re probably stragglers that slipped through the net. That Daoist did say his formation wouldn’t be able to block everything. Looks like this Beast Tide is a big one. You take it easy when the time comes, you hear? If there’s trouble, let your big bro here take the hit. Don’t just rush in headfirst. We’ve got a long road ahead of us, got it?"

Paige Summers smiled. "I know! Boss Warren!"

"I still prefer it when you call me Brother Miles..." Martin Warren muttered with a lecherous grin, then waved his hand magnanimously. "Alright! Get ready! Flying Eagle has contacted a few Hunting Parties. We’re all staying behind to help. Consider it a contribution to Glimmerlake Base."

Paige Summers froze. "The Mutant Beasts are here... what about the people behind us?"

Martin Warren paused. "Chap said they got most of them out and moved them ahead of our position. But they couldn’t get to everyone in time."

Paige Summers was silent for a long moment. "That’s still pretty good, all things considered."

"Yeah."

Just as they were speaking, Isaiah Langley slid in through the open window, bringing a blast of cold air with him.

"Boss, we can stop here and get ready!"