“Cover me! We have to save Jones!”Bob’s eyes were bloodshot as he roared the order, desperately trying to break through the encirclement of monsters.But it was already too late.The horde unleashed a chorus of shrill screeches and lunged toward Jones all at once—Then the flames rose.Jones merely lifted a hand.BOOM!With him at the center, everything within a hundred meters became an inferno.Crimson fire surged like a raging ocean, swallowing every monster that charged him.The zombies’ flesh curled and blackened beneath the blazing heat as they released agonized screams. Ghouls twisted frantically, trying to escape the hellscape, only to have flames coil around their limbs and burn their bodies apart. Poison spiders attempted to retreat into the shadows, but the searing temperature forced them out, their eight legs twitching violently before they were reduced to charcoal.At the heart of the sea of fire, Jones remained perfectly calm.Sword in hand, he strode forward at an unhur

Just as Jones was about to charge forward with his sword, he suddenly stopped.Something was wrong.A Hero squad of more than a dozen people had entered his field of vision.Jones's eyes sharpened instantly as his gaze swept across the group.Then it froze.His pupils contracted slightly.Karina. And Catherine.Why were they together?"Damn it!"A shrill curse tore through the air.Catherine swung her hand backward and slapped Karina across the face with enough force to send the girl stumbling several steps. Blood appeared at the corner of Karina's mouth."You bitch!"Catherine's face twisted with fury, her eyes blazing with anger."You're the one who brought all this bad luck on us! Your cursed luck is poison!"She glanced around at her battered and wounded followers, her chest heaving.Just an hour earlier, she had unexpectedly captured Karina.She had been delighted, already imagining how she would punish the servant who had dared run away from her, when they encountered a monster

Time seemed to freeze.Jones stared into Karina's face, countless emotions churning in his eyes."That necklace... was it really you who gave it to me?"Karina slowly nodded.In an instant, a flood of emotions crashed through him.Shock.Guilt.Regret.He remembered that winter.He had been wandering the streets with a high fever, hungry and alone. He had always believed that Katherine had "happened" to pass by and given him the coat and necklace. Jones had been deeply moved, thinking it was the beginning of love.But he had been wrong all along.It had been this girl.This girl who had always stood quietly behind him, never asking for recognition.She had braved the freezing night to help him, giving away her warm clothing and the only valuable necklace she owned.And he had never known.Jones lowered his gaze to Karina's battered body.The bruises.The cuts.The deep marks left by backpack straps digging into her flesh.Sweat and dirt stained her skin. Her hair clung to her pale che