Chapter 15: Leave or Die

Upon hearing his words, the sentinels on Nyx’s side were nearly losing their composure, their nerves taut as a drawn bow.

They had all seen the tattooed sentinel’s spirit form—a massive black dog.

Canine spirits possessed incredibly keen noses, each one sharper than the last.

Though they could hardly detect any trace of Yu Xia’s pheromones now, the tattooed sentinel could, which was why he persisted in this standoff.

Despite the mercenary squad numbering sixteen or seventeen—twice their own—they were in far worse condition. If it weren’t for the guide, this group wouldn’t dare confront them head-on.

Their top priority was preventing the mercenaries from confirming that they had a guide with them. If a dispute broke out here, they would face not only the ever-threatening mutants but also the possible arrival of other sentinels.

Such a scenario would spiral beyond their control.

Nyx and his comrades formed an impenetrable wall before the mercenaries, refusing to let them take a single step forward.

Yu Xia, hearing the tattooed sentinel’s words, thought she had been discovered and nervously squeezed Baru’s shoulder.

Baru gently nuzzled her hand with his chin, offering silent reassurance.

They had long been mentally prepared for this. If other sentinels discovered Yu Xia, the worst outcome was that they would be eliminated.

Nothing was more important than her.

Unfazed, Nyx addressed the mercenaries before him, “I think you’re out of your minds. There’s no guide here.”

“Is that so?” The tattooed sentinel twitched his nose, eyes glancing past Nyx, “If not, why don’t you show us?”

His spirit form stirred restlessly, barking twice toward the space behind Nyx.

Initially, he wasn’t certain it was the scent of a guide—the odor was faint and mingled with many sentinels’ pheromones. But seeing their reaction raised his suspicions.

Although it was absurd for a guide to be found in this contaminated zone, out here in the wasteland, nothing was too absurd for mercenaries used to dancing on the edge of death.

They trusted their instincts.

The sentinels before them were in excellent spirits—far too robust a state to be maintained by mere guide energy.

If they truly encountered a guide, they wouldn’t hesitate to take a chance.

Seeing Nyx’s group guarding the figure behind them so tightly, each spirit form blocking any view, the tattooed sentinel held back, instead exchanging barbs with them.

“No need to be so tense,” he said with a relaxed tone. “If you have a guide, we won’t report you. Just don’t hoard everything for yourselves—share with your brothers a little.”

As he spoke, a scorpion spirit silently burrowed into the muddy ground beneath their feet.

“Either leave,” Nyx’s patience snapped, hand moving to his waist, eyes growing cold, “or die.”

No sooner had he spoken than movement came from behind.

A scorpion spirit burst from the earth, lunging toward Baru and the others.

Yu Xia sensed the scorpion’s glaring hostility, almost crackling with aggression, and instinctively raised her spirit form in defense.

Just then, a black shadow darted past her eyes, pouncing to tear into the scorpion.

It was Huo Lin’s spirit form.

Baru was on edge, too. He reached out to pull back Yu Xia’s little dolphin spirit.

“Xia... Xiaxia, retract it! Bring it back!”

Yu Xia inhaled deeply, focusing to steady her emotions, withdrawing her spirit form back into her mental landscape.

The situation teetered on the brink of combat, and both sides’ sentinels were struggling to hold back.

The tattooed sentinel’s team was volatile by nature; this provocation caused their spirit forms to fully manifest, awaiting their leader’s order to attack.

Amid the chaos, the tattooed sentinel caught sight of a slender figure being carried on a sentinel’s back behind Nyx. The figure wore battle gear like the others, face obscured—uncertain whether sentinel or guide.

But bringing the figure forward would reveal all.

With a tilt of his chin, he gave the command to strike.

Just as they moved, a golden-brown wyvern descended before them, roaring fiercely and scaring several spirit forms back.

“Damn, there’s a dragon-type sentinel here!”

Even in their agitated state, the sentinels dared not act rashly in the presence of this creature.

The wyvern was Baru’s spirit form. For some reason, he rarely summoned it.

At this moment, his eyes transformed into vertical slits, his face covered in dragon scales, and a pair of sturdy horns sprouted from his head.

He was beginning to mutate.

Yu Xia felt his chest heaving violently; his spirit power was unstable, radiating a brutal aura.

“Baru, calm down!”

Members of the Nineteenth Squad were more troubled by Baru’s reaction than by the mercenaries. Two sentinels guarding Yu Xia tried to take her from Baru’s back, but he suddenly turned, baring his teeth in a fierce snarl.

His mouth stretched nearly to his ears, filled with sharp fangs, half monstrous.

“Don’t... touch her!”

Ahead, his spirit form mirrored the warning gesture toward the mercenaries.

Though Baru was only a Class B sentinel, the dragon blood in him lent a ferocity that kept others cautious.

The standoff between the two sentinel teams dragged on.

“Alright, alright, we won’t touch her. Calm down, calm down!” the Nineteenth Squad members urged.

No one dared move against Baru now.

With a panicked guide and an agitated sentinel side by side, Nyx felt like slapping himself.

He recalled Yu Xia had once helped Baru with mental counseling, so he believed Baru could control himself and handing Yu Xia over would be safe—but he forgot Baru’s timid nature, how easily he was startled.

Now with Yu Xia on him, no one dared provoke Baru.

“Baru, are you alright?” Yu Xia’s hand brushed the tough dragon scales on Baru’s neck. He was burning hot, as if aflame.

“I’m... fine, don’t worry,” Baru took several deep breaths, suppressing his turbulent spirit power.

Hearing her voice, the tattooed sentinel, who had been closely monitoring them, twitched his ears.

Soon, his probing was blocked by Nyx’s mental barrier.

Seeing this, he grew even more convinced that they were hiding a guide.

Nyx didn’t want to waste more time. He prepared to have other team members escort Yu Xia away while he dealt with the mercenaries.

He had just drawn his long knife when a hand pressed him back.

He looked up to see Huo Lin, finally having caught up, though his expression was grim.

“Huo Lin?” The tattooed sentinel’s face showed surprise as he greeted him.

The two clearly knew each other.

Huo Lin coldly said, “Ogre, back at your usual business of robbing others?”

Ogre smirked, a lazy, malicious grin curling his lips. “You’ve got it all wrong. We’re just looking for some supplies. Even if we’re paid for this, we don’t discriminate. Isn’t that right?”

“Distribution is equal,” Huo Lin replied. “No one gets more or less. Supplies are tight everywhere. If you want more, go ask the rear. Don’t bully the weaker here. If you keep this up, you’re done for.”