Level up is hard? I can Directly Purchase infinite Levels!-Chapter 96: The Trap — Raine’s Decision

"But still... it would definitely be countless times better than things are now. I’ll do everything I can to drive those alien races back to their homeland,"

Raine promised. "When that day comes, I’ll build lots and lots of schools on this land!"

"What kind of idea is that—building schools in a place like this?"

"Of course! I want every child to remember how the land beneath their feet was reclaimed!"

"Hahaha... I hope that day comes soon!"

Elisa laughed, then turned and left.

Raine watched her retreating figure and suddenly found himself curious about what life inside the Great Wall was like.

Just then, City Lord Garson walked over.

"Have your injuries fully healed?"

Garson asked.

"More or less," 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Raine said, reining in his emotions and rolling his shoulders.

"Has the situation at the Swiftflow River stabilized?"

"Don’t worry. Not only has it stabilized, we’ve even built several outposts on the opposite bank,"

Garson replied with a smile.

The Soul Devourer clan had fled, and the territory they once occupied was naturally seized in its entirety by the Seventh Division of the Scarlet Wall Patrol.

However, since the gargoyle clan was still active in that region, for now they could only establish outposts.

"The Patrol Council has learned of this victory as well,"

Garson said somewhat mysteriously.

"They’ve prepared a reward for you."

"It’s an extremely precious reward... but it’s not time to give it to you yet."

Raine was momentarily stunned, curiosity rising within him.

But since the City Lord said the time hadn’t come, Raine didn’t ask further.

"Besides that..."

Garson changed the subject and got down to business.

"News has arrived from the front lines. A star has fallen into Ironspike Field. It originated from a small world with a powerful legacy, and it contains extraordinary opportunities!"

"You want me to go?"

Raine asked.

"I want to hear your thoughts,"

Garson replied.

"Although this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—"

"—the geniuses of the alien races, even royal prodigies and Divine Scions, will likely all gather there."

"Our human prodigies will go as well... but they’re few in number and will likely be hunted. If you go, it’ll be extremely dangerous."

No matter where they were, to the alien race prodigies, human prodigies were always the highest-priority prey!

This opportunity created by the falling star would certainly be met with meticulous preparation by the alien prodigies, who would seize the chance to launch coordinated hunts.

The human prodigies knew this all too well, yet they had no choice.

Human resources were limited. They could only rely on themselves—fight with their lives, compete, and struggle to survive in the cracks.

Faced with such an opportunity, even knowing full well that it was a trap, they had to brace themselves and charge in.

"This is the plight of humanity..."

Garson sighed helplessly.

Compared to old men like himself, it was those young people who carried the future who were the loneliest and most burdened.

They had to survive countless encirclements and assassinations, forging ahead through blood and fire...

Especially Raine!

As a member of the Patrol, his path would be hundreds—no, thousands—of times harder than anyone else’s!

Deep down, Garson actually wanted Raine to go and test himself.

It would allow him to temporarily escape the potential threat of Epic-rank powerhouses the gargoyle clan might deploy, while also seizing opportunities to narrow the enormous resource gap between him and other prodigies.

But Garson was even more afraid that Raine would fall into a deadly encirclement and spill his blood on the battlefield.

If anything happened to him, it would be an unbearable blow to the entire Patrol.

He wanted Raine to grow quietly, to become stronger before venturing out.

Yet at Iron Dragon Fortress, they could scarcely provide any decent resources to cultivate him.

The choice was simply too difficult. In the end, Garson could only let Raine decide for himself.

"I want to go. After all... who’s hunting whom isn’t necessarily decided yet,"

Raine said seriously, looking at Garson with eyes filled with unwavering resolve and sharp, unyielding spirit.

"And if I go, I can help them too."

The Soul Devourer clan had fled.

Next, Iron Dragon Fortress would be facing the gargoyle clan head-on.

With his current strength and resources, Raine was still far from capable of standing against the entire gargoyle clan.

He wanted to venture out, to raise his rank and obtain more bloodstones.

Only then would he have the power to push the Patrol’s entire defensive line forward.

"Then go,"

Garson said earnestly.

"Lord Borm will continue to protect you."

"But you don’t need to always think about helping others. Take care of yourself first."

"If you encounter a threat you can’t handle, don’t try to be brave. Retreat when you must!"

"If Lord Borm goes with me, what about the Swiftflow River?"

Raine frowned.

"The Patrol Council will dispatch other powerhouses to hold the line. Don’t worry,"

Garson replied.

"This time, your priority is seizing opportunities. You must be extremely careful."

Raine relaxed his brows and grinned.

"Don’t worry, sir. This time, no matter what, I’ll twist off a few prodigies’ heads and bring them back as gifts for you."

"Hahahaha... you brat!"

Garson laughed and knocked him lightly on the head.

"If you really manage to bring back a few prodigies’ heads, I’ll finally have the face to honor the many heroic souls of our Patrol."

His only hope was that Raine would return safely.

Raine did not waste any time.

He sought out Kyle, Old Gore, and the others, handing over some advancement resources and skill scrolls.

These would not only help them advance in rank, but also aid their study of Blackwater Aegis.

The gargoyle clan would not counterattack for the time being, so they would have a period to rest and improve.

Raine left in the dead of night.

But Kyle, Old Gore, Matthew, Pros, and Paul were all awake, silently watching his figure disappear into the darkness.

...

On the southwestern coast of the Tidebound Battlefield.

At some unknown moment, a mass of thick, pitch-black clouds had gathered across the heavens.

Within them, a sea of lightning churned, arcs of electricity exploding—like an enraged god raging within the sky.

An extremely heavy and oppressive aura blanketed the land.

Yet this was not a natural weather phenomenon.

It was drawn together by the lightning aura released by Tress.

Tress was the Thunderclan’s only Divine Scion, born with a body of destructive thunder. His rank had reached Master Level Nine, just one step away from Grandmaster.

He stood high in the sky, bathed in surging Thunder Light, with runes of lightning wrapped in crackling arcs of electricity floating around him.

Blinding electric radiance shone from his eyes. Even Grandmaster-level powerhouses would be intimidated by the overwhelming presence he exuded.

At his side followed six Thunderclan prodigies led by Rex.

These young alien races were all extraordinarily powerful, their killing edge fully on display!

Even Master-level experts within their own clan would not dare put on airs in front of them.

"Have you investigated everything?"

Tress’s voice carried tremendous penetrating power, tinged with an icy aloofness that warned others to keep their distance.

A warrior replied, "Yes!"

"The one who rescued Arlis and killed Bruce was this same person. His name is Raine. He’s a new recruit. His current rank is Elite, but he can forcibly raise his combat power by two full ranks!"

"So far, we still don’t know whether this is due to a special talent, or if he has mastered some kind of heaven-defying forbidden technique... We’re still investigating!"

"What?! Temporarily raising his combat rank by two levels?!"

One of the prodigies exclaimed, eyes filled with shock.