607 A Calculated Move



Scar knew that giving up meant accepting defeat, and the consequences of that would be dire for him. His anger surged, fueling his determination. "We still have the advantage in numbers. We can overpower him! We still have items left."

"Don't make our loses any more tragic than this," Joker said with a serious face. "Just give him the scepter and–"

"Shut up!" Scar snapped, veins bulging on his face.

It was an ugly sight to behold, one that Ren took great amusement. "You can try, but first, you'll have to survive our counterattack."

Before anyone could react, Ren unleashed a devastating force upon the battlefield. The air crackled with energy as a blinding light enveloped the area. A cataclysmic explosion of power that dwarfed everything in its path. [Super Nova]

Scar, consumed by his anger and refusal to give up, stood his ground. His mind was clouded with fury, blinding him to the imminent danger.

Joker and Angelica sensed the overwhelming force and quickly retreated, seeking safety in the distance. Hixel and Aragon followed suit, realizing that they couldn't afford to be hit by the spell.

However, as they retreated, Isolde seized the opportunity. With precision and skill, she unleashed rounds of bullets, targeting Hixel and Aragon. The powerful projectile found its mark, piercing through their defenses and sending them sprawling to the ground.

The bullets have stunned effect, and Hixel and Aragon could only watch as Ren's spell engulfed them and turned them into particles.

"Shit!"

"Scar!" Robert couldn't believe his eyes. They were winning the battle against Ren, and they had even managed to capture Ren's pet.

However, in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Scar and the others were obliterated, reduced to mere fragments.

"How did this happen?" Robert's voice trembled with disbelief and shock.

A wicked smile adorned Lira's face as she appeared before Robert, her presence sending a shiver down his spine.

"Where do you think you're looking?!" With a swift strike, she sent him crashing to the ground, his body battered and bruised.

"Get lost!" Robert growled, his anger seething. "I don't have time for you!"

Robert knew that if he could escape, Scar and the others wouldn't suffer the experience point reduction. If this realm was really like a dungeon, like what Ren said, the rule of the last man standing still applied, and Robert was determined to survive.

Gathering his remaining strength, Robert attempted to flee, but before he could make his escape, a powerful bolt of lightning struck him from above. His dwindling HP quickly plummeted to zero, and he knew his end was near.

"You . . ." Robert's voice choked with his last breath as his eyes narrowed at Roz. He then turned into particles, vanishing from existence.

Lira leaped next to Roz with a smile on her face. "You know that you could have taken him out with your spell earlier, right?"

Roz's response was calm and calculated. "My spells are still weak. I needed his HP to drop first before I could unleash it."

Roz was acutely aware of the low level of his spells and INT stat. If he had unleashed them against Robert and Cang Lu without achieving a kill, it would have made them cautious and alert. Their guard would remain up, and they would be wary of his abilities.

Knowing this, Roz decided to bide his time, waiting for the opportune moment when their guard was down. He lacked confidence in his aiming skills, and he wanted to ensure maximum impact when he finally unleashed his spell.

Observing Roz's cautious approach, Lira couldn't help but sigh, a smile playing on her lips. "You're truly meticulous."

With the battle over, only Joker and Angelica remained standing amidst the wreckage. Ren collected the dropped items from the defeated players while Isolde kept her guns trained on the two survivors.

"Are you still going to fight?" Ren posed a question to them, his tone casual as he stowed away the coveted [Scepter of Seasons] in his inventory. He knew that the drop rate for that item was guaranteed since it was crucial for the quest, giving him the confidence to eliminate Scar and the others.

Numerous items were scattered on the ground, including Cang Lu's equipment and Scar's prized weapon, [The Grimoire of Bones], which Ren intended to return to him . . . through the Auction House, of course.

Isolde turned to Ren, seeking his decision. "What should we do with them?" she inquired.

Joker spoke up, attempting to negotiate. "If you allow us to go, I'll owe you a favor," he proposed.

Angelica, holding a toy in her arms, gazed at Joker before sighing. "I suppose I'll do the same," she said softly.

The bitter taste of losing a significant amount of experience points and stats lingered in Angelica's mind. It was better to negotiate than suffer EXP penalty.

Ren was taken aback by Joker's nonchalant response, though he expected such a reaction from him. However, it was Angelica's compliance that surprised him the most. It was a better outcome than he expected.

"Fine then," Ren's answer came hard and cold. "But remember, if our paths cross again, I won't hesitate to kill you on the spot."

Joker's grin only widened, seemingly unfazed by Ren's warning, while Angelica hid half of her face behind her stuffed toy.

As they departed, Isolde approached Ren, her expression questioning. "Are you sure about letting them go?" she asked.

Ren remained silent for a moment, contemplating his decision. He had initially planned to spare them, but their compliance and their favor had unexpected benefits for him in the future.

If he hadn't been preoccupied with his current issues involving Evie, he might have reveled in the opportunity to weaken their guild and provoke their anger by killing them all and taking their possessions.

However, he knew that pushing them to the brink could have dire consequences. Though they were enemies, there was a fine line of tolerance between them.

If that line of tolerance was crossed, they would undoubtedly dedicate all their resources to uncovering his true identity. Given his current situation, he couldn't afford any missteps.

For now, maintaining that delicate balance by sparing their stats would dissuade them from pursuing him further.

It was a calculated move to avoid unnecessary complications while he dealt with his own pressing concerns at the moment.