"Stop right there!" Marcus roared suddenly, anguish and helplessness clear in his voice.

  "Overseer! Why aren't we saving Ryan?" Harris shouted angrily, glaring fiercely at Marcus. "Ryan Carter is the most talented warrior our Settlement has ever produced—we can't just stand here and watch him die!"

  As the captain of the Patrol Team, Harris usually held the utmost respect for Marcus, but right now, Marcus's command was unacceptable to him.

  In Harris’s eyes, Ryan was like family, and there was no way he could watch him die without fighting back.

  "Harris, that Gray Mist Blood Bat used its poison sac!" Marcus’s voice shook with sadness. "Even Bloodline Warriors like us can't resist that toxic mist."

  "Ryan is already engulfed by the poison mist. If we rush in now, all we’ll accomplish is losing more lives."

  Victor Shaw quickly added, "Every Gray Mist Blood Bat has a poison sac where it concentrates its most lethal toxins. They rarely use it, as it can only be deployed twice in a lifetime—and after the second use, their lifespan rapidly declines."

  The rolling gray mist thickened around Ryan, making it nearly impossible for Harris and the others to see clearly. They could only faintly glimpse flashes of red light, clearly Ryan’s Blood Essence fighting back futilely against the overwhelming poison.

  "Are we really just going to watch Ryan die like this?" Harris gritted his teeth in frustration.

  "Harris, even if it were me trapped in there, none of you should come to my rescue," Marcus said bitterly. "We've faced far too many situations like this over the years—it's just the cruel reality of our weakness."

  The red glow continued flickering feebly within the mist, and after a minute, the poisonous fog began thinning, and the red glow vanished completely.

  Marcus lowered his head solemnly, giving a heavy command: "Let's go. Prepare for evacuation."

  Each word felt like a crushing weight. Everyone knew the grim consequences of evacuating. They would become prey for countless beasts, and many of their loved ones had died on past migrations. Yet, there was no other choice.

  Harris suddenly spoke, his voice firm and resolute. "I must bring Ryan's body back. At least let me give Hank an explanation."

  Once Harris made up his mind, nothing could change it. Marcus nodded quietly. With the Gray Mist Blood Bat severely weakened after using its poison sac, this was the perfect opportunity to kill it—if only they had another Grade-G Star-Piercing Ballista.

  "Wait—Ryan's standing!" Victor suddenly shouted in shock.

  Normally, someone dead would collapse, but Ryan was still on his feet. Despite this hopeful sign, their hearts sank when they remembered the lethality of the bat’s poison.

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  Just as despair gripped everyone, Victor exclaimed again, "He's moving—he's picking something up! He's still alive!"

  Those words ignited a spark within Harris. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he charged forward recklessly toward Ryan.

  Marcus started to call him back, but Victor stopped him gently. "Let him go. Hank Carter lost his arm saving Harris’s father years ago. Even though Hank never mentions it, Harris carries that debt like a mountain."

  Marcus sighed heavily. "Follow him!"

  The warriors surged forward, activating their Blood Essence and holding their breaths as they neared the lingering toxic mist.

  "Captain Harris, can you tell me why this Gray Mist Blood Bat suddenly dropped dead?" Ryan asked, casually holding up the lifeless body of the creature.

  The bat had no visible wounds, yet its body was stiff and unmoving. Harris carefully took it from Ryan, noticing the corpse was strangely hot but showing no obvious injuries.

  "Overseer, what do you think happened?" Harris asked, handing it over to Marcus before turning to Ryan anxiously. "Ryan, do you feel strange or uncomfortable anywhere? If something’s off, let us know immediately!"

  Ryan laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Captain, I feel great. No discomfort at all."

  "Ryan, don't take this lightly," Victor said seriously. "You've inhaled the poison mist. You might feel fine now, but you could drop dead any second!"

  Ryan rolled his eyes at Victor sarcastically. "Do you want me to say I'm suffering just so you can feel better?"

  Victor immediately shook his head, embarrassed.

  Suddenly, Samuel Jones leaned toward Marcus, observing the bat closely. "Overseer, it seems this bat was poisoned."

  Marcus shot him a skeptical look. "Poisoned? Samuel, you realize how absurd that sounds, right? The bat itself produces lethal toxins."

  Samuel pointed to the bat's eyes. "Look here—its eyes were red earlier, but they're turning black now, shrinking rapidly. It's been poisoned with some sort of corrosive flame toxin."

  All eyes turned to Ryan, filled with disbelief and curiosity.

  "Ryan, did you use anything unusual?" Marcus asked urgently.

  Ryan genuinely had no idea. "Overseer, I only used my Blood Essence to form blade strikes against the bat. Nothing else."

  As Ryan spoke, a sudden realization struck him: Could his Blood Essence have poisoned the creature?

  Marcus’s eyes lit up thoughtfully. "Ryan, try striking that rock with your Blood Essence blade—not at full power, just enough to coat the blade."

  Ryan nodded, slicing at a large rock. The stone split neatly—but within moments, its surface darkened and corroded rapidly.

  Everyone stared in awe. Marcus could barely contain his excitement. "Your awakened bloodline—it’s toxic! Our Settlement has finally produced a mutated Bloodline Warrior!"

  Eyeing the bat greedily, Ryan grinned. "So, Overseer, since we've confirmed I poisoned the bat, the beast crystal inside should belong to me, right?"

  Harris immediately stepped in, worried Ryan was pushing too far. "Ryan, you've already taken one beast crystal. This one should benefit the entire Settlement."

  Ryan understood Harris's concern but valued the beast crystal far more than maintaining good relations. It could mean the difference between life and death.

  Smiling slyly, Ryan said innocently, "Overseer, Uncle Harris's words make sense, don’t you think?"

  Marcus eyed Ryan suspiciously but eventually sighed. Ryan had indeed saved the Settlement—two Gray Mist Blood Bats could’ve wiped them out completely. Beast crystals could be replenished later, but damaging Ryan’s trust was too risky.

  Marcus declared decisively, "Our Settlement rewards heroism! Ryan risked everything today, saving all our lives. All spoils belong to him!"

  Meanwhile, inside the Settlement, Old Shen and Hank Carter drank in silence, their expressions grave.

  After several hours, Hank finally growled irritably, "Old Shen, this watered-down booze has no kick. It's too weak."

  "You dare complain? Your brat son guzzled my finest bottle in one gulp!" Old Shen snapped angrily. "Just wait till he gets back!"

  "Relax," Hank muttered, anxiety in his eyes. "I'll punish him myself. But—why isn't he back yet?"