By noon, Ryan Carter, carrying his Tiger Roar Blade, had followed Marcus over a hundred miles, eliminating two H-level beasts along the way. Unfortunately, only one beast yielded a beast crystal, a low-grade Level-1 crystal providing Ryan a mere twenty energy points.

  "Let's rest briefly," Marcus suggested, stopping beside a large rock formation, though neither of them sat. In the wilderness, caution was essential to survival.

  "Ryan, this mission might be extremely dangerous," Marcus said, turning to him seriously. "However, orders must be followed. This is the first time since I became Overseer that I've received such an urgent telegram. Be cautious when we reach the meeting place. Follow orders strictly, and above all else, survive. The Settlement depends on it."

  Ryan bore no resentment toward Marcus. On the contrary, he welcomed the opportunity, as staying in the Settlement limited his growth. His Skill-Stealing Cards required encountering more powerful warriors to truly advance.

  "Overseer, what do you think we’ll face?" Ryan asked.

  Marcus shook his head. "I don't know exactly, but a summons this urgent can only mean trouble."

  Marcus then taught Ryan survival techniques, which Ryan absorbed eagerly.

  "We must pick up the pace," Marcus announced, glancing at the sun. "We have to reach Little Valley Mountain by nightfall."

  Both men moved swiftly, their Bloodline Warrior abilities allowing rapid progress. If Ryan used his Thousand-Mile Leap freely, they'd reach their destination within four hours.

  A hundred yards from Little Valley Mountain, Ryan suddenly sensed movement to his left and instinctively reached for his blade.

  "Relax, Marcus, you're still alive!" boomed a voice as a giant, bear-like man emerged from cover, smiling broadly.

  "Cenric! If you're alive, how could I possibly die?" Marcus relaxed visibly, clapping Cenric’s shoulder, causing a metallic clang—evidence of Cenric’s exceptional defensive training.

  Behind Cenric stood a lean man in his forties with a curved sword, who silently scrutinized Ryan with a frown but remained silent.

  Cenric glanced curiously at Ryan. "Marcus, bringing a youngster might get you in trouble with the higher-ups."

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  Marcus smiled slightly, "Cenric is Overseer of Settlement 5945. We've fought side by side through life and death. This is Shen Lang, his Deputy Overseer, an expert swordsman. Ryan here is our strongest warrior."

  Cenric and Shen Lang stared in astonishment. "Is he a high-purity bloodline awakener?" Cenric asked eagerly.

  Marcus shook his head. "Ryan’s bloodline is stronger than mine but not high-purity yet. However, his combat skills far surpass mine."

  Cenric laughed heartily, patting Ryan's shoulder. "Young man, married yet? My daughter's tougher than most men. Together you'd produce powerful offspring!"

  Ryan blushed awkwardly, recalling Tiger Girl’s overwhelming presence back home. Another fierce woman? It felt like punishment.

  Marcus, amused, quickly changed topics. "Cenric, do you know why we've been summoned?"

  "No idea, but it's a top-priority order. We follow commands—that’s our duty."

  After brief exchanges, they continued onward, reaching Little Valley Mountain by moonrise. There, over a hundred Bloodline Warriors gathered, greeting Marcus warmly with jokes about survival, which gradually gave way to somber mentions of fallen comrades.

  Ryan quietly noted over a dozen of Marcus's acquaintances had died—warriors whose strength matched or exceeded his own. The stark reality sent chills down his spine, reinforcing the critical need for continual growth.

  Among the gathered warriors, Ryan went unnoticed, blending with other young recruits. Tempted to use his Skill-Stealing Cards, he refrained, saving them for crucial moments.

  "Attention!" boomed a commanding voice. Several warriors in black combat gear escorted a middle-aged man in purple, instantly drawing respectful salutes.

  "Greetings, Third Guardian!"

  The man's presence disrupted Ryan’s Clock of Time, slowing its usual smooth operation—an unsettling first-time occurrence.

  The Guardian spoke solemnly. "Enough with formalities. Your Settlement relies heavily on your strength, especially now during harvest. Summoning you wasn’t my wish, but we have no choice."

  "One of our Kings has been ambushed by three King-level beasts and is gravely wounded. To save him, Violet-Gold City tasked us to obtain three rare treasures urgently. The Fortress alone cannot secure these items swiftly enough. Thus, you were summoned."

  "As Bloodline Warriors, you understand a King's significance. Without Kings, humanity's precarious balance collapses."

  "Your task: find a Cherryfall Fruit within three days—by any means necessary!"

  News of the King's peril and the mission invigorated everyone, stirring passionate resolve.

  "For humanity, for our King!" shouted a warrior passionately, echoed powerfully by others, breaking the customary nighttime silence fearlessly, emboldened by the Third Guardian’s presence.

  "Violet-Gold City has promised rewards," the Guardian continued. "Each treasure retrieved grants one chance to train at Martial University—or you may instead secure living rights in Violet-Gold City for your family."

  These words intensified their fervor. Violet-Gold City, one of humanity's three underground metropolises, represented safety and stability—a dream for Settlement dwellers. Entry was exceedingly rare, making this reward immensely precious.

  Bloodline Warriors often faced danger fearlessly, yet none wished the same for their families. The Guardian’s promise ignited their determination to unprecedented heights.