Chapter Sixty-Four: Visitors from the Shadow Isle

"Qi Guan." Mu Tian Yihuai's expression was somewhat peculiar; it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
"It seems we really do have to work together this time." Qi Guan forced a bitter smile. "Does what we agreed upon yesterday still count?"
They exchanged a few words, but Leah, standing nearby, grew impatient. She frowned and said, "Save your small talk for later—if we're lucky enough to get out alive."
Mu Tian Yihuai gave an awkward smile, while Qi Guan glanced at Leah. "And this is?"
Xiao Zhang hastily replied, "Qi Guan, this is Leah. She saved both me and Zhao Bai." He was genuinely worried this formidable woman might turn hostile without warning.
Qi Guan looked at Leah again and clasped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you!"
"Let's go. This is no place to talk," Xiao Zhang said, slinging his bronze spear over his shoulder.
Leah, however, simply stood at Xiao Zhang's side, showing no intention of interacting with Qi Guan or Marcus. Her expression was icy, as if the world owed her a fortune.
Xiao Zhang drew a little closer to Qi Guan. "Is your leg hurt?"
Qi Guan nodded with a wry smile, clearly unwilling to discuss it further. Instead, he asked, "Are you alright?"
Zhao Bai also came over, showing concern—they had, after all, come in together.
"I'm fine," Xiao Zhang replied, shrugging. "It's just that..."
Leah interrupted with a frown. "Let's move. We don't have much time!"
The group quietly made their way to the main hall, where they lay in wait.
After several minutes, as expected, the little white dragon arrived, leading a squad of shrimp and crab soldiers. But at the entrance to the great hall, the white dragon dismissed his followers and entered the main hall alone.
Once the dragon had entered and the soldiers had dispersed, Leah was the first to spring into action, rushing toward the hall. The others quickly followed her inside. As they entered, Zhao Bai tugged at Xiao Zhang and whispered, "There’s someone inside!"
Inside the main hall, the most striking sight was a gigantic white dragon slumbering atop the throne.
In front of the dragon stood several stone guardians. Each had a different appearance, but beside them lay bloodstains and scattered fragments of stone.
The little white dragon, who had entered moments before, had vanished without a trace.
A chill ran through Xiao Zhang’s heart. A sudden thought flashed in his mind—had the little white dragon lured them here on purpose?

Leah frowned. "The smell of blood here is overwhelming."
"Careful, something feels off," Mu Tian Yihuai said this time.
"More little rats coming in, I see?" Several people, each dressed differently, stepped out. One of them dragged a blood-soaked figure and flung him toward Xiao Zhang.
Xiao Zhang caught the battered man just in time. He instantly recognized him—it was Zhao Tai, who had split off from their group earlier.
The one who tossed Zhao Tai was a tall, gaunt man, wearing ragged clothes and holding a large iron shovel.
Beside him stood a man and a woman. From afar, the woman wore a tight-fitting suit; her chest heaved with every step, drawing the eye despite the tense situation.
The man looked deathly pale, dressed in funeral garb and holding a soul-summoning banner. On closer inspection, his tongue seemed to loll unnaturally from his mouth.
The ragged man glanced over everyone, pulling his lips into a cold smirk.
"I didn't expect you little rats to make it this far. Looks like I’ll be adding a few more trophies to my collection."
At his words, the faces of the team leaders turned grim.
Xiao Zhang leaned down and asked Zhao Tai quietly, "Are you alright?"
Zhao Tai spat out blood. "Careful, Dog Bro. They tricked me..."
Zhao Bai, hearing Zhao Tai’s voice, finally realized who the bloodied figure was—he hadn't recognized him at first.
After Zhao Bai took over supporting Zhao Tai, he was ready to kill the ragged man then and there, but at least Zhao Tai’s life was not in immediate danger.
The ragged man descended the steps, body swaying as he suddenly leaped in front of Zhao Bai.
Startled, Xiao Zhang moved to block him.
"Rats," the ragged man sneered, eyes flashing with contempt as he ignored Xiao Zhang entirely.
His gaze swept over the group and finally settled on Qi Guan.
"An Awakened? I think I’ve seen you before." The man pondered, then snapped his fingers. "Ah, yes. You’re Qi Guan, aren’t you? You’re the one who killed one of my captains."
Qi Guan’s expression hardened. "And you are?"

"Yorick, second-in-command of Shadow Isle!"
The name sent a jolt through Xiao Zhang—second-in-command of Shadow Isle?
Last time, he had barely escaped the clutches of this organization; now, they'd encountered a Shadow Isle player in this dungeon once more!
Yorick, however, focused all his attention on Qi Guan, standing tall before everyone, his demeanor arrogant and his eyes cold. When Mu Tian Yihuai, Marcus, and the others heard the words "Shadow Isle," their faces fell.
Marcus, in particular, turned pale, biting down hard on his lip. His body trembled as he glared at Yorick, eyes nearly ablaze with hatred.
"Shadow Isle! Yorick!" Marcus snarled, "You’re the reason my entire squad was wiped out! If not for you, I’d never have been forced out of the organization—"
"Oh? And who might you be?" Yorick paused, then sneered. "No matter. It won't matter soon—you're all dead anyway!"
Hate me? Want revenge?
Excellent! That makes the game all the more vivid, all the more entertaining!
Yorick clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking as he rolled his neck. Then, gesturing at the Awakened before him, he beckoned them forward. "Come now, let's have some fun."
"Die!"
With a roar, Marcus suddenly transformed! He sprang at Yorick, aiming a punch at Yorick’s head.
"No!" Qi Guan cried, but his warning came too late.
Yorick stood his ground, a cold smile on his lips, not even bothering to move. As Marcus’s fist neared, Yorick's eyes were filled with disdain.
Swish! Marcus missed; his fist grazed Yorick’s head.
Yet Yorick didn’t take advantage of the opening to strike back. Instead, he stepped back. "If that's all you’ve got, then you can die now."
At those words, Marcus’s eyes blazed red, crimson markings spreading across his skin. In that instant, his speed increased by a tremendous margin.