Overseer Marcus had gone to rest. Captain Harris had also retired for the night. Even Deputy Overseer Victor Shaw had turned in.

  In fact, just when Ryan Carter finally made up his mind to select someone with his Level-2 Skill-Stealing Card, every single bloodline warrior in the settlement had already passed out drunk or gone off to sleep!

  Ryan looked around helplessly at the hallways and tunnels filled with snoring drunks, shaking his head with frustration as he headed back toward his quarters.

  "Ryan, I heard about you canceling our engagement." Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded sharply from behind him—Tiger Girl had appeared from nowhere.

  Ryan froze awkwardly, unsure how to respond. He hesitated, avoiding her gaze.

  Seeing that Ryan offered no explanation, Tiger Girl’s expression turned cold and bitter. "You're a bloodline warrior now. I'm beneath you. But mark my words: fortunes change. Someday, I'll make you regret this!"

  With that fierce declaration, she stormed off, leaving Ryan completely bewildered.

  Canceling our engagement? Wait, wasn't that supposed to be my line? How did she turn the tables and say it first?

  But Ryan quickly shook these thoughts away. Compared to survival, romantic entanglements were trivial—especially with someone as fearsome as Tiger Girl. He knew he couldn't handle her fiery temperament anyway.

  The settlement had no sun or moon underground. Instead, luminous phosphorescent stones provided light, and specially assigned people rang bells to mark the hours. Every morning at six and evening at eight, a bell would ring to announce the day's beginning and end.

  "Ryan, this is all your fault!" Harris joked the next morning, rubbing his temples. "Old Shen was so drunk from celebrating your awakening that he rang the bell nonstop for half an hour straight."

  Ryan laughed lightly. "Next time, I'll ring the bell myself."

  Harris immediately shook his head, serious now. "No way. You're a bloodline warrior now—the third Deputy Captain of Field Ops. Your responsibilities are far greater than ringing bells. With great strength comes great responsibility."

  "Come," Harris gestured warmly. "We have half an hour before today's assignments. Let me teach you something important."

  Ryan immediately grew attentive.

  "Awakening your bloodline is just the starting point," Harris began. "For some, sadly, it becomes their final achievement. Like me," Harris sighed softly, frustration briefly flickering in his eyes. "I've been an entry-level bloodline warrior for years, unable to break through."

  "But bloodline power isn't just about raw ability—it's about how effectively you use it." Harris quickly regained his composure, smiling confidently. "Simply using your awakened ability straightforwardly is incredibly wasteful."

  "For example, I awakened a fire-attribute bloodline. Have you ever seen me directly use flames in combat?"

  Ryan silently thought: I've only seen you fight once! But he wisely stayed quiet, respectfully listening.

  "Directly manifesting flames consumes enormous energy, quickly leaving me exhausted. Instead, we convert our bloodline power into something else—Blood Essence."

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  "Blood Essence?" Ryan repeated thoughtfully, sensing this was crucial information.

  "Correct," Harris nodded. "Turning bloodline power into Blood Essence vastly improves battle effectiveness. Cultivating Blood Essence also purifies your bloodline, laying foundations for future breakthroughs—and perhaps even reaching the Spirit Blood level."

  "This method—called the 'Mystic Unity Blood Essence Technique'—was created by generations of human experts combining ancient martial arts with bloodline research. Without Blood Essence cultivation, humanity probably wouldn't survive these harsh times."

  Ryan suddenly realized a critical issue: although everyone considered him a bloodline warrior, he hadn't genuinely awakened any bloodline at all! Without a true bloodline awakening, how could he cultivate Blood Essence?

  "Captain," Ryan asked cautiously, "can only awakened bloodline warriors cultivate this Blood Essence?"

  "Of course!" Harris answered bluntly. "Without awakening your bloodline, how could you possibly convert bloodline power into Blood Essence? Without this limitation, our entire settlement's combat strength would easily double!"

  "This Mystic Unity Blood Essence Technique has six levels," Harris explained patiently. "At level one, you can convert one portion of bloodline power into Blood Essence. Each subsequent level increases efficiency—by level six, you convert six times more power."

  "Progress depends purely on individual comprehension. Even warriors with weaker bloodlines can become stronger through great comprehension abilities."

  Harris's explanation opened an entirely new path for Ryan, offering fresh hope—and anxiety. Without a genuine bloodline, could he even attempt cultivating Blood Essence?

  "Captain," Ryan asked curiously, "how powerful are humanity's strongest warriors?"

  Harris's expression turned solemn. "I've only witnessed a True Blood King in combat once. During a mass migration, our settlements encountered a Thunder-Scaled Serpent King whose lightning attacks covered an area of ten miles."

  "If not for a True Blood King arriving just in time, we'd all be ashes now. At that level, warriors can shift mountains, drain oceans, and soar through the skies. The sight—it's beyond imagination."

  Imagining himself trapped helplessly within a ten-mile lightning storm sent chills down Ryan's spine.

  Harris handed Ryan a small worn booklet. "Here's the Mystic Unity Blood Essence Technique manual. Start cultivating immediately—but guard it carefully. Never share it with unawakened warriors—that would only harm them."

  Ryan hesitated, asking politely, "Aren't you going to teach me personally?"

  Harris laughed good-naturedly. "Cultivation depends entirely on personal comprehension. What good would me teaching you do? But if you have questions later, ask me anytime. Anything beyond my knowledge, I'll refer you to Overseer Marcus himself."

  He suddenly lowered his voice, adding quietly, "Also, be careful around Deputy Overseer Aaron Hale."

  Ryan understood immediately. Even amidst survival struggles, human conflicts inevitably arose.

  Together, Harris and Ryan stepped out toward the settlement outskirts, joining Field Ops members awaiting morning assignments.

  "Captain," the gathered warriors saluted respectfully upon seeing Harris.

  "From today onward," Harris announced clearly, "Ryan Carter is officially our Field Ops Deputy Captain."

  When Ryan first joined, these seasoned warriors saw him merely as a kid. Now, as an awakened bloodline warrior, their attitudes instantly changed, saluting respectfully. "Greetings, Deputy Captain Ryan!"

  Ryan smiled modestly. "Please, no need for formalities. I'll rely on your guidance."

  His sincere humility immediately warmed their hearts, quickly earning their approval.

  As the night patrol warriors gradually returned, greeting Ryan and Harris warmly, Harris's expression slowly turned grim. Deputy Captain Lucas Reed, due back earlier, still hadn't arrived.

  Any delay on the perilous surface often meant disaster.

  Harris turned sharply to a dark-skinned warrior named Gavin Blake. "Gavin, where was Lucas patrolling?"

  Gavin hesitated nervously. "Near the Great Elm Tree—I saw him two hours ago."

  "Could something have happened?" someone muttered uneasily.

  Harris ignored the question, ordering curtly, "Those off-duty rest immediately. Everyone else—follow me. Gavin, lead the way!"

  Though unwilling, Gavin obeyed without protest.

  Moving swiftly and cautiously through familiar terrain, they soon reached the Great Elm Tree. There, sprawled silently on the ground, lay a shriveled, lifeless corpse—Deputy Captain Lucas Reed.

  The warriors stared in horror, realizing a deadly new threat loomed dangerously close.