(From MC's perspective)

Ruin Area:3

My two lightning attacks tore through the defense of the monster. One of the monsters is dead and the other one is lingering with the last vitality in its body.

"Sword Divide"

I shot the lightning beam once more. When the lightning attack fell on its body, the rest of the body blew into pieces. With that, the 2nd Class 5 Monster lost its life.

The ground is littered with yellow pus liquid. I took this opportunity to scan the surroundings. I spread my perception around this section of the ruin.

The appearance of two Class 5 Monsters from the ground. Made my suspicion deepen further. "There is something wrong with the 3rd section of the ruin," I said to myself.

Suddenly, I noticed someone coming in my direction. After confirming it, I landed on the ground.

A trace of apprehension appeared in my eyes. I'm standing near the monster's carcass. How to explain this situation? Because I realized the person is none other than Elder Compton.

"Zack, is that you?" A silhouette suddenly appeared before me.

I revealed a small smile on my face. But my gaze instantly fell on his body. He suffered a gruesome injury. Yet he came in search of me.

I sighed inwardly.

Elder Compton failed to notice the massive carcass near Zack. He didn't even believe his senses a couple of seconds ago.

After seeing Zack safe and sound, he let go of his hanging heart. "Kid, you are very lucky. To think you had survived this ordeal. I have no words to express my sense of relief," Compton said with a smile.

Pfff

But the next second, he coughed up blood.

I hurriedly walked up to support him.

Compton wiped the blood from his face before saying, "We have to leave this place asap."

Hearing that, a quick glint flashed in my eyes. Elder's injury seems to be severe. He needs urgent treatment. Which is something impossible here.

Everyone should stop this expedition and go back to Baguva City.

"Alright, elder"

"But I need to collect something before going out," I said.

Elder Compton looked confused. Next second, his gaze fell on two monstrous carcasses of the monsters.

His face was discolored in fear. For a moment, he felt blank. But soon he realized these two monsters were Class-5 Monsters.

A look of bewilderment appeared on my face. He sees Zack collecting the monster core from the monster's carcass.

Which further shocked him to the core. How is this possible? Compton's eyes stared at the carcass and Zack back to back.

From the information which he sees, his brain tells him that Zack has something to do with the monster.

But he doesn't want to believe it. He was injured by one single monster. As an Elite warrior, he knows the horror of the monster.

But what happened to Zack? How come a Special Trainee Warrior became like this?

On the other hand, I collected the two monster cores for storage space.

I realized Elder Compton is feeling shocked right now. I think he should understand the situation first.

After collecting the cores, I walked back to him.

"Zack, you...?" Elder Compton opened his mouth to ask something.

"Elder, this is my real strength. That's why I came here to practice in the mutated forest," I lied to him.

Compton revealed a complex expression on his face. This is Zack's real strength. He finds it hard to believe. But the facts before him were compelling.

And it's impossible to jump from Special Trainee to Elite level in one night and skip one whole realm in the middle. Considering the situation last night, he shook his head in denial.

What's more shocking is that? How old is he? 14 or 15? Suddenly he feels sorry for those kids from Tier-7 cities. Zack will undoubtedly become number one in an upcoming competition.

Then he let out a small sigh before saying, "Young people these days are very scary. And that b@strad Thornton, I envy him," Compton said with a smile.

In response, I revealed a smile on my face.

A few minutes later,

We both arrived at our base camp. I hovered in mid-air and supported Elder Compton's body. Now that we are safe. The real trouble lies ahead.

I don't want any mishap to happen in a mutated forest. Once we cross the mutated forest, then we will be safe for sure.

When I was lost in thought, I heard some movement ahead.

"Leader is back," Kara Robles said in a loud tone as she appeared before us.

Similarly,

Swish! Swish!

Valerie Lyons and Terrell Boyd appeared right after her.

"Impossible," Valerie Lyons exclaimed looking at me.

Kara Robles and Terrell Boyd revealed dumbfounded expressions on their faces.

"How did you survive?" Finally, Kara Robles took initiative to ask.

But in response, I looked at my feet. Feeling my gaze, three of them looked downwards. Seeing my flight ability, Valerie Lyons widened her eyes in disbelief.

"Aahhh," Kara said.

A hint of fear appeared in Terrell's eyes. Three of their world views turned upside down within seconds.

The atmosphere turned pin-drop silent for a moment.

Seeing the strange reaction of everyone.

Compton took initiative to clarify the doubts.

"Zack has been hiding his strength for a good reason. If not for last night's incident, he wouldn't have revealed his strength," Compton said.

Hearing that three of them revealed a complicated expression on their faces.

After a couple of minutes, three of them were disgusted with this shocking fact.

Valerie Lyons calmed down her heart. Suddenly she felt her actions a few days ago were stupid. At that time, she interceded in Zack's training to save him.

But looking at the situation right now. She doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Suddenly she realized two members were still missing.

"Leader, what about Eric Lloyd and Garrett Marsh?" She asked.

Compton's expression turned serious. He searched the entire ruin but he failed to find their trace. Not even a corpse was seen.

Suddenly, he turned towards Zack. Maybe Zack has information about these two.historical

On the other hand, four of their gazes fell on me. Feeling that, I wrinkled my eyebrows. I'm not going to tell you that I killed Eric Lloyd.

"Zack, what are you thinking?" Compton asked.

"After our separation last night. I didn't see those two," I said without many expressions on my face.

My words didn't raise any suspicion. But four of them fell silent. They are hesitant about leaving the team members behind.

But those two were not good. Garrett was probably killed by Eric. Shaking my head, I asked, "What to do now?"

Everyone then looked at Elder Compton. Now everything rests on his decision. Compton is not looking to leave anyone behind.

But he was afraid of Class-5 Monsters. Even with Zack's presence, he is not sure about facing one more Class 5 Monster.

Finally, he asked for Zack's opinion. "Zack, what do you think?"

Hearing that, my heart filled with surprise. I had never thought that there would be a day like this.

I took a couple of seconds to answer.

"Elder, I believe the ruins were not safe anymore. Especially the ruin number 3," I said.

Compton's pupils constrict. He immediately connected the dots. Those two giant carcasses that he saw earlier were parts of Class 5 Monster.

From Zack's words, he already found some clues.

"Alright, Zack and I will do one more search around this area. After that, we will leave," Compton said.

Three of them sighed in relief. But a strange expression appeared on my face. I realized those two may be bad but they are old teammates in the end.

The team won't leave that easily. After some talk, we went in two directions. I randomly started to search for a few spots.

I decided to check ruin number 3. I know Elder Compton won't go to that place. So I should look around there.

A few minutes later,

I started to scan the surroundings. I still don't know what is causing the change here. But I have a vague feeling that there is something beneath this ruin.

It feels like deja vu. I still remember the changes that happened at the Black Forest. At that time, the situation was similar to the current one. Where did the appearance of the Class 4 Monster cause turmoil?

But this time it is a mutated forest with a Class 5 Monster threat.

...

On the other hand, Kara Robles looked at Valerie Lyons.

"That Zack is hiding deep. I should have noticed something in our first meeting itself," Kara Robles commented.

Her words reached the other two. Terrell Boyd nodded his head and said, "If Zack had revealed his strength earlier, our situation would have been better."

"Maybe we could have saved Eric and Garrett," He added further.

Kara Robles echoed the same opinion by saying, "It would be better if Zack had fought last night."

Valerie Lyons who knows ins and outs sneered in her heart. She knows Eric was targeting Zack first. Then why would Zack waste his time to save Eric?

She shook her head in disappointment.