Dragons Land, amidst the small hills.


    The onlookers, having spotted Enzo and Eve, quickly pieced together the grim scene surrounding them, yet none stepped forward to avenge Ford and hispanions.


    They merely watched from a distance.


    Among them, one individual approached Enzo and Eve, proposing, "Gentlemen, would you be interested in forming a team? Everyone here is after the Dragon Soul Fruit, and attempting to secure it alone is nearly impossible."


    Following this, the individual introduced himself.


    "Hull, hailing from the Coral Sea, currently at supernatural Level 8."


    In response, Enzo politely declined, "I appreciate the offer, but I already have teammates in mind and do not intend to join another group at this time."


    Hull did not press the matter further and continued his search for otherpanions.


    Observing this, the rest of the onlookers also dispersed, as they had merely been drawn in by themotion surrounding Ford''s demise.


    Regardless of his reputation as a formidable adversary, the ease with which a stranger had dispatched him heightened their vignce, underscoring the challenges thaty ahead in the pursuit of the Dragon Soul Fruit.


    ...


    On the other side.


    Beneath the shade of a small peak in Dragons Land, Melissa and Freya wore grim expressions, their bodies marred by numerous injuries. Freya, in particr, bore a conspicuous knife wound on her arm, which had yet to heal, exposing the bone within.


    "This poses a problem."


    "The toxins can only be purged by leaving the trial space and seeking assistance to concoct a potion."


    Melissa sighed.


    Freya, however, remained remarkablyposed. "This is hardly an insurmountable issue. It''s merely an arm rendered temporarily useless. Besides, sess is within our grasp, and we cannot afford to relent."


    Melissa chose not to press further.


    At that moment, a figure rushed towards them, breathless. "Something''s wrong!" the girl eximed, her eyes wide with rm.


    "What has happened?"


    Melissa''s expression shifted, concern etched on her face as she turned to the panting Maureen.


    Maureen, whom they had encountered upon entering Dragons Land, had been less fortunate. She had stumbled into this realm by chance andcked strength, yet her talent wasmendable. Thus, Melissa and Freya had decided to take her under their wing.


    After catching her breath, Maureen excitedly ryed, "Ford is dead! He was murdered!"


    The revtion left Melissa momentarily speechless.


    "What transpired?" She inquired, urgency in her tone.


    With a glimmer of excitement, Maureen exined, "Ford sought to exploit dreand to prey upon those who entered Dragons Land, aiming to seize their treasures. This time, he targeted two strangers. However, those individuals shattered the dreand and declined his invitation, ultimately ying him."


    Despite Maureen''s thorough exnation, Melissa and Freya still found it rather incredulous. They had previously encountered Ford and were well aware of his troublesome nature, with Freya and Melissa having suffered injuries due to him.


    Had Ford truly met his demise?


    Regardless, this had be an established fact.


    Rather than dwelling further on it, Melissa and Freya''s curiosity shifted to the identity of Ford''s killer, a contender undoubtedly strong in the pursuit of the Dragon Soul Fruit. Yet Maureen had not uncovered any specific information.


    At that moment, Freya interjected, "Could it be Enzo?"


    "Enzo?" Melissa murmured, pausing for a moment before shaking her head. "The likelihood is slim. Although Enzo possesses considerable talent, ascending to a high-level supernatural being is far from easy. He is likely still in the Dark Night Forest."


    This was Melissa''s conjecture.


    While she too held faith in Enzo''s potential, the challenges of rising to a higher levelof supernatural beings were considerable.


    Such were the rules, not to be easily circumvented.


    Just then, Maureen could not restrain herself from asking, "Miss Freya, could you recount the tale of this Mr. Enzo once more?"


    During their journey, Maureen had heard Freya mention him before.


    That lefther with asting impression.


    With no other matters at hand, Freya nodded in agreement, but just as she was about to speak, several powerful presences approached swiftly, culminating in a groupnding on the mountain peak.


    "Melissa, so it is true that you are here!"


    An aged man said with a smile, wielding a treasure crafted from a special metal designed for searching. It was through this artifact that he had located Melissa.


    Upon seeing him, Melissa''s expression shifted dramatically.


    She shielded Freya and Maureen behind her and confronted the approaching figure with a fierce question."Clyde, what are your intentions?"


    The aged Clyde wore a sinister expression.


    He waved his hand, and his subordinates swiftly encircled Melissa and the others, sealing off the surrounding space, before he spoke."If it weren''t for your interference in thest supernatural trial, I would have secured the Dragon Soul Fruit!"


    Melissa smirked, her eyes brimming with disdain.


    She sneered and said,"Clyde, your arrogance is truly remarkable. Your n was doomed to fail from the start. And even if it had seeded, do you truly believe you could outmaneuver the others?"


    "Youck the capability yet me others for your failures."


    "After all these years, you remain unchanged. It''s no wonder that elven queen refused to meet with you!"


    Melissa''s words struck Clyde like a dagger to the heart, reminding him of a past he wished to forget, inciting his fury.


    "Silence, you wretched harlot!" Clyde spat venomously.


    He red at Melissa, growling, "Regardless, you have fallen into my grasp, and you will meet your end. As for the two behind you, I shall ensure they receive a… special treatment! Hahaha…"


    Clyde''sughter echoed, as if victory was already his.


    Though Melissa''s eyes burned with anger, she refrained from acting recklessly and whispered to Freya, "Freya, when the timees, take Maureen and escape."


    "And you?" Freya inquired, concern etched on her face.


    "I have a way to escape." Melissa replied, though her tonecked certainty, which made Freya understand her intentions. However, this was not the appropriate moment for discussion. Given Melissa''s cautious nature, it was clear that the individual before them was immensely powerful, otherwise, she would not have made such a decision.


    Yet, Clyde seemed to anticipate this.


    He turned to Melissa, a sneer appearing on his aged face, and said, "You wish to negotiate your escape? This time, can you truly flee?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Clyde decided to act.


    A tempest surged around them, and towering tornadoes converged toward the trio. Even from a distance, the sheer terror they exuded was palpable.


    Melissa murmured, "Tide of Blood!"


    In the next instant, a torrent of crimson surged forth, forming a towering barrier that held the tornadoes at bay.


    Clyde''s expression shifted slightly.


    Clyde channeled more power, intensifying the ferocity of the tornadoes, then feigned nonchnce as he taunted, "Melissa, can you withstand this?"


    Melissa gritted her teeth, choosing silence.


    In truth, she could not hold out.


    During herst participation in the supernatural trials, she had fortuitously uncovered Clyde''s nefarious scheme to ensnare other teams and seize their Magic Crystals. Upon learning of his plot, she had informed herpanions, thwarting Clyde''s ns.


    Consequently, he harbored a deep resentment towards Melissa.


    Regrettably, for many years, he had been unable to locate her, and his vengeance remained unfulfilled—until this new cycle of the supernatural trialsmenced. Clyde was certain Melissa would return, prompting him to pay a heavy price to acquire an artifact capable of revealing vital information.


    At this moment, Melissa faced imminent death at Clyde''s hands, and he was filled with exhration.


    Within the blood wall that Melissa had conjured, Freya spoke up, "Ms Melissa, allow me to take over."


    Melissa immediately refuted, "Absolutely not!"


    She borated, "You are only at the Level 7. Even with the spell acquired from the temple, you would not stand a chance against Clyde."


    "But we have no alternatives now." Freya insisted.


    Melissa fell silent, contemting.


    She exhaled deeply, her focus sharpening as she prepared to escape with Freya once she broke through the swirling tornadoes. Just then, she sensed a sudden weakening in Clyde''s assault.


    Momentster, Clyde''s furious voice rang out.


    "Who are you, brat!"


    Melissa lowered the blood wall and peered outside.


    To her astonishment, all of Clyde''s subordinatesy lifeless, like desated corpses, their blood seemingly siphoned away. Clyde himself appeared disheveled and wretched.


    Before Clyde stood a man d in blood-red armor, levitating in midair, wielding a me Spear, with me Wings unfurling behind him, exuding an aura of formidable might.


    The presence emanating from him was nothing short of rming.


    In thend of Dragons, such a powerful being existed!


    Melissa''s heart raced in astonishment until Freya eximed, "Ms. Melissa, it''s Enzo!"


    Enzo!


    Melissa was taken aback.


    She gazed at the figure suspended in the air, struggling to reconcile it with the Priest Enzo from that small tribe. They appeared utterly disparate.


    But at that moment, the ethereal figure gazed down at her.


    Then, the voice resonated, "Ms. Melissa, it has been a long time."


    "And Freya, I hope I am not toote?"


    "It is really Enzo!"


    Melissa confirmed the identity of the figure at this moment, but her heart was extremely shocked.


    How was this possible!


    In a short period of time, Enzo became so powerful that she even surpassed her, which made Melissa feel like she was dreaming.


    But this was reality.


    Melissa smiled, reluctantly epting and relieved.


    At least she had a good rtionship with Enzo.


    At this moment, while Enzo was greeting him, Clyde chose tounch a surprise attack.