Chapter 55: Chapter 53: What Are You Waiting For? Waiting to Die?
Teresa nodded.
The sleep state is when the Extraordinary are at their most vulnerable, and taking turns for night watch is an Adventurer’s rule.
Although Rooney is different from her and not regarded as a top member of the Warrior Series, he is no slouch either.
Of course, Chloe can’t be either.
So here’s the question.
According to academy rules, if a team is too strong, they must bring a teammate with a weak point.
So, who in the squad is the one just taking up space?
She glanced at a certain Hunter.
Gregory tilted his head cluelessly:
"Boss, why are you looking at me?"
"You should get a good night’s sleep tonight."
Gregory: ???
For some reason, he suddenly had the illusion of being mocked.
"Gregory, gather some materials. We’re going to find a place to set up camp."
"Got it."
Just as Teresa was about to leave, she suddenly sensed something was off.
She glanced back at the Giant Clawed Red Crab,
the pierced shell only had two very distinct marks.
Incredibly precise.
One strike split the crab’s claw.
Another shattered its abdomen.
All other wounds were compression injuries caused by excessive recovery.
She fell into deep thought.
This kind of strategy reminded her of Aunt Heisha.
Aunt Heisha’s precision, like a surgical knife delivering lethal blows, would make even the top Warriors shake their heads.
Aunt praised Chloe for having the same flair as she did in her youth.
It seems to be true now.
But people like Aunt Heisha are extremely cautious and careful in unfamiliar environments.
How could they be injured so easily?
With this in mind, she instinctively looked at Chloe, who was grimacing while hiding nearby.
The Young Lady’s expression changed slightly.
Chloe, what exactly are you defending against?
...
It was night.
The campfire was burning outside the tent.
Chloe and Rooney were sitting face-to-face.
Rooney curiously asked:
"Chloe, your strength doesn’t seem like it’s from the Path of Omniscience."
Chloe healed his injuries effortlessly while saying:
"Heard of the Monster Strength Talent?"
"Oh? That talent that grants tremendous power to the Extraordinary in the early stages?"
"Yes, unfortunately, it doesn’t have much potential for growth, so I chose to be a healer. If the Warrior talents were a bit higher, I might’ve been your classmate."
Rooney was silent for a moment.
His teeth started to ache from envy.
What kind of lucky bastard is this? Having two talents!
I really should just kill a lucky one like you.
Rooney grew more envious, jealous, and resentful.
He was a typical talentless individual.
It was only his loyalty to the Flesh and Blood Hermitage that earned him favor with the Priest.
It just so happened that the Crimson Church and the Flesh and Blood Hermitage cooperated then, and he got a chance to seize others’ Awakened Talents.
Back then, he had a buddy whose talent caught the eye of a tutor at the Ethereal Emblem, and he used some tricks to lure his fifteen-year-old buddy to the Priest.
Then he acquired his buddy’s talent and strength.
Finally, he had the life he dreamed of.
With nothing but envy for Chloe, this genius who can choose and pick from awakened talents and select a path with more potential, he truly wished he could kill his own mother.
"Chloe, don’t wander off here, I’ll fetch some water and be right back."
"In this darkness, aren’t you afraid of getting ambushed by monsters?"
"No way, I’m not Gregory."
"..."
This was perhaps Gregory’s most severe humiliation.
Rooney took a whole ten minutes after leaving.
Chloe remained expressionless, standing up and moving toward Teresa’s tent.
Before he could get close, Teresa’s weary voice rang out:
"Who?"
"It’s me, Rephya."
"... Chloe, are you out of your mind?"
Inside the tent, Teresa rubbed her eyes and looked at the glowing warning doll, exasperated by Chloe pretending to be a first-year junior.
Chloe grinned and said:
"Rooney’s been gone fetching water for a while. I’m a bit concerned about him, keep an eye on the camp."
"Alright."
He initially thought there was no need given they weren’t newcomers.
But soon, she heard the snoring from the neighboring tent and showed an expression of helplessness.
Chloe shrugged and turned to leave.
"Wait."
The Young Lady’s voice came from behind.
She lifted the tent flap and stepped out, rubbing her tired eyes: "Take this with you."
A ghostly green doll fell into his hands.
Chloe looked surprised: "A Cursed Doll?"
"Go on, it’s a Temporary Staff Doll, it can block one unavoidable skill for you."
"Tch, go apologize to all those scapegoat temp workers!"
"I didn’t make up that nickname."
She wanted to curse.
But her upbringing wouldn’t let her.
Watching Chloe leave, she pinched the bridge of her nose.
The team is hard to manage, why not just mess it up and let Chloe handle it?
The story splits into two.
On the other side.
Chloe walked onto the beach.
Following the path where they fetched water before, he called out softly for Rooney.
Just then, he heard Rooney’s weak voice:
"Chloe, come help me, there’s a problem."
"What happened?"
Chloe quickened his pace forward.
Rooney turned his back to him, moaning in pain, and his skin seemed to be peeling away slowly, revealing the linked red muscle beneath.
Chloe’s healing landed directly on him, frowning as he approached:
"What’s going on, why are you so severely injured?"
"Ran into a monster I’d never seen before, got corroded by its acid, brother, lend me a hand."
Rooney weakly said.
Instinctively, Chloe stepped forward, but suddenly, a chilling sword light slashed down at him.
As if stunned, he froze in place.
The Young Lady’s Temporary Staff Doll suddenly emerged, blocking the attack.
Rooney’s eyes gleamed with killing intent, grinning hideously:
"It’s good to be handsome, even the Young Lady is willing to help you, but unfortunately, you’ll die here today."
But his sword light suddenly stalled mid-air, as a pair of mirthful eyes looked at him from beneath a hood with a hint of playfulness.
Rooney stared blankly at the gauntlet that easily blocked his sword.
The gauntlet thrashed his meticulously maintained sword into scrap, and a menacing scarlet red light spread across it.
A Vigorous Life Force erupted from Chloe, materializing solidly.
"You think you can stop me?"
He suddenly lunged forward, a fierce whip leg striking with explosive force, aiming straight for his temple.
The Priest’s life-saving trump cards activated.
Double the power!
Steel Body!
Armor-Piercing Heavy Strike!
...
Several magical glows shimmered on him, elevating him to a new height.
"Try blocking again!"
But the next moment, that strange red gauntlet overbearingly tore through all the wards he granted himself.
It was like a blade-wrapped hurricane surging forward.
The sound of bone-cracking resounded, in the chilling wind, his vindictive strike was utterly smashed by the crimson gauntlet.
The tyrannical palm wind struck his body mercilessly.
The armor shattered, garments torn apart.
He looked blankly at his hollowed-out body.
A palm print hollowed out most of his body, leaving his bloodied flesh unable to cry out even.
How could this be?
Why... why someone like me, who has assassinated Sequence Seven targets, be killed by a Sequence Eight healer?
"Why all the chatter?"
Chloe calmly looked at him and said: "I was waiting for you to strike first, what were you waiting for? To die?"