Scarlett bowed her head. “Yes, Master.”She’d waited a lifetime to decapitate that old rogue Yoshua, and she could wait a little longer if it meant finally getting her revenge.Even in chains, she had the power to snap them on a whim, yet her loyalty to Alex was absolute.After the dragon blood awakened in her veins, she’d reached a strength close to Black Gold rank, and Alex knew he’d gained a ferocious ally.“All right, everyone,” Alex said.“Keep training and solidify your breakthroughs. I’m going to look around and learn more about the Fallen Angel Family. Once Yoshua hands over the Energy Stones, we’ll make our move.”Ethan nodded. Cassandra stepped forward. “Do you want me with you?”Alex shook his head. “Better if you stay put. Too many people draw too much attention.”Scarlett watched Alex leave, confident that within the Fallen Angel Family’s territory, nobody would dare lay a finger on him.The place was nothing but a fortress carved into colossal trees—heavily patrolled, pl

Scarlett’s eyes blazed with sudden resolve. She seized one of the Gold-rank fighter’s swords, yanked it free, and hammered her fist square into his gut.“Boom!”Power erupted from that single blow, sending shockwaves in every direction.The Gold-rank fighter’s face twisted in agony as he hurtled hundreds of meters away, crashing to the ground like a broken rag doll.Anyone could see he wasn’t getting back up.That harmless little rabbit Joe once mocked had turned into a raging tigress with teeth bared.And Alex was somehow at the heart of it all.Joe glared daggers at Alex. “Kane, what’s the meaning of this?”Alex shrugged, wearing a fake look of fear. “Ask her. Scarlett wants payback on you guys. Me? I’m just a helpless nobody. Please, save me—she’s going to kill me too.”Fury flashed in Joe’s eyes.He drew his huge sword, sensing Scarlett’s terrifying power.Three more Gold-rank fighters attacked her in a frantic storm of steel and magic, but Scarlett shrugged off their blows like t

Alex slammed two big bottles of Mana Gathering Pills onto the rickety metal table.“That’s two hundred pills inside,” he snapped at the skinny middle-aged merchant.The man’s jaw hung in disbelief.Even in this desolate era—where ancient tech and battered enclaves stood side by side—a handful of Mana Gathering Pills could decide life or death.Two hundred of them would fuel an entire force of five-star Silver and Gold ranks, boosting their chances to break through to the next level.He never imagined Alex would drop that many pills without a second thought.Alex snatched up the Black Flame Sword, then tossed it to Scarlett. “Try not to burn yourself,” he said dryly.Scarlett, tall and fierce with a restless glint in her eyes, caught the blade.Her draconic bloodline let her handle fire.Still, she looked stunned that he would gift her such a treasure. Then gratitude flickered across her face.She bowed her head in thanks.Alex noted her reaction and felt even more certain he hadn’t ma

Alex and Scarlett left the ruined town behind, acting as if nothing had happened.Still, Scarlett felt the unease rolling off Alex, and she finally broke the silence.“Master, what’s on your mind?” she asked softly.Alex gazed at the dark, star-filled sky. “That old man we met... he’s no ordinary person. Strong. Possibly stronger than most of the fifteen great families. Makes me wonder how many more powerhouses are hiding on this planet.”Scarlett nodded. She’d sensed the man’s terrible strength, but she’d had no clue just how dangerous he was.Alex clenched his fists.He’d assumed the ancient teleportation array here led to treasure—a secret so valuable the Outlaws would fight like mad to control it.Now he realized it was more curse than fortune. If these people learned about Earth through that gateway, they’d invade and destroy everything.Alex resolved that once he got out, he’d seal the path for good—at least until he reached Black Gold rank.Until then, this forsaken planet wasn

Windy left five Gold-rank miners dead in the dust, her hands soaked in crimson.She struck with the ferocity of a cornered tigress, and Alex, halfway turned to leave, decided he couldn’t just walk away.He watched her with cold eyes from a broken tree branch, fists tightening at his sides.Enough blood had been spilled. It was time someone stopped her.“Miss Windy,” Alex called out, his voice slicing through the thick air like a whip crack.A twisted grin tugged at his lips. “Been a while, huh?”She glared. “You again. I figured you’d run off somewhere safer. Guess you were the rat stirring up trouble all along.”Alex shrugged lazily.“I know you’re busy slaughtering folks, so I won’t slow you down. See you around.”Then he vaulted from the branch, hit the ground running, and darted into the woods.Windy bared her teeth at his retreating form, then glanced back at the beaten-down miners.She spat, then bolted after Alex, fury driving every step. She’d let him slip through her fingers