"But they have two Sixth-level Superpower Users..."

Nathan Yorke gave a cunning smile. "Don’t worry! Claire Chapman just Promoted, so she’s nothing to fear. And as for Marcus, someone else will deal with him! The rest of them just finished a tough battle. It’s their first night, so they’ll definitely let their guard down to get a good night’s sleep. We’ll launch a sneak attack tonight and wipe them all out in one go!"

The thought of pulling off this one job for a huge haul of Crystal Cores set the incited crowd’s hearts ablaze, and even their previous exhaustion seemed to vanish. They all began excitedly discussing how many they would get and how many ranks they could Promote, as if a beautiful future was beckoning to them from just around the corner!

With the crowd’s excitement at a fever pitch, a satisfied Nathan Yorke began to lay out his plan.

Outside, a similar scene was playing out in the other two vehicles not far from them.

Greed filled everyone’s eyes. Their gazes, fixed on the barely visible vehicles ahead, shone with the light of a Hunter!

「That night.」

Marcus Monroe and his people did exactly as the attackers had predicted, making camp at the base of a low hill. Instead of staying in their vehicles, they pitched tents, ready for a good night’s rest. After a simple dinner, they all retired, leaving only four people in two groups to patrol the perimeter and ensure their safety.

After meeting up with the other two captains, Nathan Yorke parked their vehicles, and the three teams quickly moved in by stealth.

The night was quiet. On the slope, a few sparse trees swayed and rustled in the wind. The tents below were tranquil, the only sound being the CRACKLE and POP of the campfire. Several dark figures approached without a sound, quickly hiding themselves before the patrolling guards walked past.

They exchanged a look and made their move!

Two vines, like venomous snakes, shot toward the patrolling guards, suddenly coiling around their ankles and yanking hard. Caught completely off guard, the two men were dragged to the ground. They landed hard, flat on their faces. Before they could even cry out, a weight pressed down on their backs, and then a cold sensation touched their necks... Blood pooled on the ground, and the two men went silent forever.

The attacker rose, satisfied. After giving a thumbs-up to those behind him, he turned and crept toward the outermost tent.

Just then, a head poked out from a tent on the other side. The man glanced around and, seeing that the patrol had vanished, knew it was time. He waved to those inside, and three more people emerged. They crept furtively around the campfire, rapidly approaching the target tent.

However, just as they thought they had gone unnoticed, a tall man burst out of the target tent, staring at them and roaring, "What are you doing?!"

The shout was like a clap of thunder on a clear day, jolting nearly everyone in the tents awake!

Seeing they were exposed, the three would-be attackers didn’t waste a word and launched a ferocious assault! Fireballs and blades flew toward the tent and the man!

In an instant, the glow of fire engulfed the temporary camp!

People scrambled out of their tents as the attackers dropped all pretense of stealth. The clang of metal rang out, and the blinding light of superpowers flashed everywhere!

The Flying Eagle members fighting back against the enemy quickly realized the attackers’ faces were not unfamiliar. Aside from a few of their own teammates, the rest were the captains and members of the Hunting Parties who were supposed to be heading to Mount Turol! Their comrades, with whom they had fought and bled just a short while ago, had in the blink of an eye become enemies they had to fight to the death!

Their rage was palpable!

When Forrest Chapman, rushing out, happened to glimpse the bodies on the ground, a boundless fury erupted within him!

’Those were his friends, people he’d been joking with just moments ago!’

’How could they!’

Marcus Monroe, who was thought to be in the burning tent, had already appeared from a different one. With a deep frown, he, along with Howard Everett and Martin Warren behind him, quickly threw themselves into the battle!

For the moment, none of his team members were casualties. It wasn’t that they knew about the ambush in advance, but because they were camping with the Flying Eagle team, they maintained a necessary wariness toward outsiders. This vigilance allowed them to be the first to react!

Paige Summers was also unharmed, of course, just furious.

’What should have been a restful night was ruined. Thankfully, Sean Raines was almost fully recovered, so she could entrust Erin Quinn to him. That left her free to join the fight without any worries!’

The attackers knew how dangerous she was. The moment she appeared, one of them rushed forward, trying to tie her up and prevent her from using her bow. He did manage to hold her up for a moment, but the knife in her hand wasn’t just for show.

She might not be as skilled in close combat as Grant Yardley, but as they say, in all of martial arts, only speed is absolute. After reaching the Sixth Rank, she was so fast that most people could only see her afterimage.

So, within a few exchanges, she had cut the enemy down at her feet!

Drawing her Crossbow, she moved along the outskirts of the battlefield, each shot finding its mark. She frequently saved her own people from dangerous situations, while her targets collapsed in agony, their bodies turning purple as they convulsed and died!

Among them were several people she had personally given medicine to.

And now, they stared at her, their eyes filled with hatred.

A flicker of mockery flashed in Paige Summers’s eyes, though whether it was for them or for herself, she couldn’t say.

Warmth and chill coursed through her heart in equal measure.

This wasn’t the first time she had faced betrayal, but at this moment, she became truly, soberingly aware of the cruelty that defined this apocalypse!

The ambush had turned into an open battle, and the three Hunting Parties’ advantage had vanished completely. Their numbers dwindled at a visible rate, and fear began to creep into the hearts of the survivors. They no longer held any hope that the other side would show mercy. From the moment they killed those two patrol guards from Flying Eagle, the two sides were destined to be mortal enemies!

’But I don’t want to die!’

The excitement and hope had barely faded from their hearts before being replaced by panic and despair.

This reversal drove some to madness—for example, the three Hunting Party captains. The greater their expectations, the more crushing the disappointment. They had thought that with their inside help, they could achieve their goal with just a few casualties... but reality had slapped them hard across the face! Knowing they wouldn’t be spared, they adopted a "kill one to break even, kill two to make a profit" mentality and lunged toward Forrest Chapman and the others!

’Why should they?’

’Why should you get so many Crystal Cores and Promote yourselves?’

’We were all in the same boat, so why do you get to latch onto someone powerful and leave the base whenever you feel like it?’

Greed and jealousy intertwined, becoming a venomous serpent that devoured them whole!