Ethan knew what he had to do. The cruelty Scavenger committed two months ago could not be forgiven.

No matter what happened, Ethan would take revenge for the LionArk members who were killed by them.

He would do it no matter the cost, even if attacking Scavenger City meant risking his life.

But Ethan understood the risks and the consequences, and his strength had increased a lot.

There was a high chance he would win against many people in that city.

He ended his talk with the man, and he and Risa said goodbye before leaving the ruins.

Risa finally managed to calm her restless heart. She was happy because Ethan showed no signs of siding with the Telmarian Tribe, especially when he clearly refused the man's offer to meet their chief.

That alone was enough to prove that Ethan and the Telmarians didn't have any special connection, unlike her connection to the Blood-Cursed Tribe.

They walked back toward the teleport crystal in the middle of the forest. They had explored the east and south areas, so now Ethan had to go west and north.

There were no lamia monsters threatening them along the way. When Ethan reached the middle of the forest, his attention shifted to the east.

There stood the Black City of Scavenger, solid and tall, guarded tightly by Scavenger members.

He planned to attack today, but not with Risa at his side. It would be a bad choice if he forced an attack while Risa was close. She could die in a big battle.

"Where are we going?" Risa asked, curious.

"We're going west, to find the Blood-Cursed Tribe's village."

Risa nodded with a smile. The two of them walked toward the west side of the forest and crossed paths with a group of two lamia monsters.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, summoned his Bloodblade Ashura again, and charged at them without waiting for Risa to finish her spell.

He slashed, cut, and stabbed one of the lamias. Ethan kicked the monster's body and swung his sword upward, sending three flaming crescent claws toward it.

The creature's body split apart in the direction of the three claws. Ashura Rift Skill 2 had a cooldown of fifteen seconds, and Ethan used that time to attack the remaining lamia.

Risa finished chanting her blood-finger spell, trapping the lamia inside the grip of crimson magic fingers rising from the rune.

Ethan stood coldly in front of the monster, gripping his sword firmly. When the cooldown ended, Ethan swung his blade upward again, releasing the second Ashura Rift attack.

The lamia couldn't resist as its body was split in half before fading into drifting magic particles.

[Talent Quest: Swing Skill 2 500 times]

[Count: 231/500] [Duration: 45:09:42:15]

[Congratulations! You obtained loot:]

[+18000 EXP || +10000 Gold || +10000 Contribution Points]

[Congratulations, you leveled up]

[Level 84 → Level 85]

[EXP: 1063823/1106550] [AP: 40] [+40]

Ethan looked at the panel, showing the increase in EXP. His level had risen from 84 to 85. He turned back to check on Risa. She nodded and said she was fine.

After a short rest, Ethan and Risa left the place and continued through the forest path. They reached a fork in the road, and Ethan couldn't tell which direction to take.

Trusting his instinct, Ethan took the left path, believing the Blood-Cursed Tribe's village was that way.

But when he reached the end, all he saw was a wide lake with clear water. It wasn't the Blood-Cursed Tribe's village.

"So the village must be on the right path back at the fork."

Ethan and Risa turned around and went back. When they returned to the crossroads, they took the right path.

They were lucky not to encounter any monsters along the way.

From a distance, Risa smiled and pointed forward. She said she could see the Blood-Cursed Tribe's village monument guarded by two men.

Ethan smiled and said he could see it too. They walked faster until they finally reached the entrance.

Their arrival surprised the guards, especially when they saw Risa was one of their own.

"Who are you?" one of the men asked.

Ethan stayed silent and let Risa explain everything to the guards. She gladly stepped forward and told them who she and Ethan were.

At first, the men didn't believe her. But everything changed when Risa showed them forty-five red teleport tokens, earned from every Blood-Cursed Tribe chief on each floor.

The guards were shocked and confused, not knowing how to react. The tokens were real, and Risa also had the flame mark on her forehead.

"Let me take you to the tribe chief. How about it?" the man asked. Risa agreed.

She turned back and told Ethan she had convinced them. Now it was Ethan's turn to explain things to the Blood-Cursed Tribe chief on this floor.

But Ethan's answer shocked her.

"You stay here for today. Don't follow me," Ethan said firmly.

"Why?" Risa asked.

"I need to do something. If you follow me, you might die."

Risa narrowed her eyes and looked at Ethan's tightly clenched hand. She was mature enough to understand what was happening.

Ethan's reaction showed he was holding deep hatred and anger in his heart because so many LionArk members had been slaughtered.

If he didn't act, he would be seen as a coward by others and by himself.

"Are you sure you can do it without my help?" Risa asked.

Ethan replied with a short nod. Risa exhaled softly and accepted his decision. If this was what Ethan wanted, she couldn't refuse him.

"All right. I'll stay here and wait for you to come back."

Ethan turned away and walked without saying goodbye. His hand stretched forward, summoning the Bloodblade Ashura, which he immediately gripped.

His appearance changed again, his hair burning bright red as his power surged.

Risa could only hope and pray for Ethan's safety.

Ethan left the west forest area and continued walking until he reached the east side. From afar, he could see the tall black stone gate of the city.

The foul aura of Scavenger members filled the air. He stopped before entering the fortress.

Two Scavenger guards pointed at Ethan, questioning his identity and his reason for coming.

"I'm looking for your party leader," Ethan said.

"Our leader is busy. Come back another time!" one of them said sharply.

"I want to meet him now. If not, I'll kill all of you."

"Who are you? How dare you threaten Scavenger?" the man shouted.

"Me? I'm a member of LionArk, someone who wants to ask why you slaughtered our city!"

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