Emily Scott spat out a mouthful of blood and said weakly, “It’s injured. It must have escaped from another predator’s jaws, and its strength is less than thirty percent.”

Brian Cooper nodded and beckoned to Eric King, “Come help.”

Brian Cooper said, “Sorry for the trouble,” then tore open Emily Scott’s pant leg. Eric King swallowed hard in embarrassment, while Emily Scott stared at him coldly, her eyes behind the iron mask icy and sharp. Eric King helplessly closed his eyes. “I’m not looking, okay?”

Brian Cooper took out two miraculous healing pills, crushed one and sprinkled it on the wound, then fed the other to Emily Scott. After bandaging her up, he looked around and said, “I’ll carry you. Let’s get out of here first.”

Emily Scott glanced at the wound on his shoulder and shook her head. “I can manage on my own.”

“Don’t push yourself…”

But Emily Scott gently pushed him away, her tone cold but resolute. “If there ever comes a day when I need someone to carry me just to walk, kill me!”

Brian Cooper opened his mouth wordlessly. Emily Scott had already slung her Darkflame repeating crossbow and battle sword onto her back, broke off a branch to use as a crutch, and slowly walked forward.

As the three of them left, Brian Cooper took out a porcelain bottle from his chest, poured out some medicinal powder, and sprinkled it on the ground with a pained expression. He also dusted some onto each of the three.

Eric King asked, “What’s this?”

“A special medicine to mask the scent of blood.”

Eric King’s pupils contracted. “Worry-free powder? That stuff is even more expensive than healing medicine. Where did you get so much money?”

Brian Cooper gave a wry smile. “I put in everything I had. Let’s go. The corpse of that Phantom Claw Beast will definitely attract high-level predators.”

The only valuable parts of the Phantom Claw Beast were its essence and claws, which Eric King had already collected.

Not long after they left, something slithered over in the darkness, leaving nothing alive in its wake. The Phantom Claw Beast’s corpse was quickly “engulfed” by this endless “wriggling” mass.

That thing followed the scent of blood, soon reaching the spot where Brian Cooper had scattered the powder. No one knew what it encountered there, but it let out a disgusted low growl. The mountains trembled with the echoing roar. It changed direction and slithered off to invade elsewhere.

……

Ethan Hill was gasping for breath, his standard-issue leather armor tattered, his body covered in scars, his skin festering and in a miserable state.

He fled in panic, desperately trying to get away from that terrifying swamp.

The swamp quickly returned to calm, its surface covered in seemingly harmless moss that glowed faintly in the night, as if it were a peaceful and tranquil place.

But Ethan Hill would never be fooled again. He had just been chased by a flock of strange birds, and in his panic, he’d stumbled into the swamp. The birds turned and flew away, but the moss suddenly “turned hostile,” transforming into a deadly poisonous mire. He fell in, but luckily reacted quickly, immediately hooking his exquisite flying sword onto his hand and urging it upward with all his might.

But the swamp had a tremendous suction force, pulling against the flying sword’s upward thrust. The whole struggle lasted only seven or eight breaths, but the divine treasure’s power prevailed. With a pop, the flying sword yanked him out of the swamp. Yet in that short time, his well-made garrison armor was completely corroded, and Ethan Hill was left with patches of wounds all over his body. When the mountain wind blew, the pain was excruciating.

He stifled his screams and staggered forward, finally collapsing to the ground with a thud.

As he panted, a pair of military boots appeared in front of him. Ethan Hill felt a surge of hope, but when he looked up, he saw a familiar, ferocious grin.

“Life is full of unexpected meetings, Old Hill. Never thought you’d end up in my hands, did you?”

Chapter 0015: Utterly Defenseless (Part 2)

David Brooks struck with his palm, spiritual energy turning to light and crashing down in waves, sealing all of Ethan Hill’s strength. Ethan Hill gritted his teeth, then suddenly laughed. “David Brooks, you coward, you’ll never be as good as me. You only dare to bully someone in this state.”

But David Brooks just sneered, “Don’t waste your breath. I’m not falling for your provocation.”

He waved his hand. “Tie him up.”

David Brooks was also a squad leader in the Wolf Soldiers camp—the same group that had clashed with Ethan Hill’s squad at the entrance when choosing treasures.

When the five of them were sent over by imperial decree, they happened to be together, but after just a few hours in the darkness, only three remained.

The other two immediately chopped wood and made a cross, tied Ethan Hill to it, and set it upright in a spot.

Suddenly, David Brooks grinned cruelly. “Remember that skeleton ant nest we passed by earlier?”

“Of course,” the two subordinates immediately understood. “We’ll go lure those skeleton ants over. Old Hill, skeleton ants are very frugal with their food. They’ll eat you bit by bit from top to bottom. After they eat your feet, they’ll be full for today and stop. Tomorrow, they’ll eat your calves. The day after, your thighs. Then your little buddy and your family jewels…”

Ethan Hill spat at him and retorted, “If it’s your little guy, it wouldn’t even fill the skeleton ants’ teeth. My cock, they could eat for three days, hahaha!”