Chapter 68 – Potato, Ask-The-Heavens and Big Bear


    She endeavored to take a deep breath, feeling the pang in her chest as she slowed her breathing, reaching into her system backpack for the healing potion.


    <table style="border-copse:copse;width:100%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width:100%;text-align:center" colspan="2">[ Healing Potion ]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width:47.4747%;text-align:right">Quality:</td>


    <td style="width:52.5253%;padding-left:40px">Excellent</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width:47.4747%;text-align:right">Category:</td>


    <td style="width:52.5253%;padding-left:40px">Potion</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width:47.4747%;text-align:right">Effect:</td>


    <td style="width:52.5253%;padding-left:40px">Rapidly restores severe injuries prior to breakdown, swiftly heals ordinary injuries post-breakdown!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width:47.4747%;text-align:center" colspan="2">A life-saving elixir, exceedingly precious, to be used with caution; deploying it while uninjured could have adverse effects!</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Now was the opportune moment to use it. With ambitious yers behind her and predatory monsters ahead, any vulnerability here could spell her demise.


    Athena uncorked the vial of healing potion, a faint fragrance wafting into her nostrils. Just the scent alone invigorated her spirits.


    Bringing the potion to her lips, she gulped it down, the icy liquid coursing down her throat, green light emanating from her wounds, healing at an astonishing pace.


    A panacea for all ailments, a resurrection to full health.


    Experiencing this wondrous bodily transformation, she drew the attention of the nearby grassball Mikmik, cradling it in her arms, soothing its tousled fur satisfactorily before setting it down.


    Once again, she retrieved the Moonlight Bow, taking cover behind rocks, vignt of her surroundings.


    Athena observed cautiously, and before long, she noticed some unusual movements. Figures seemed to stir in the distant woods. Gripping the Moonlight Bow tightly, she prepared to confront the impending danger.


    As the footsteps drew nearer, Athena finally discerned the neers. They had been drawn by the mes and explosions, seeking nothing more than an opportunity.


    There were four in total, clearly a cohesive group, emboldened to approach from this direction. Their intentions were unmistakable. The four individuals dispersed, each heading towards the direction of the mes, utterly oblivious to the lone figure atop a distant slope.


    After brief consideration, Athena decided to let them pass. Amidst the pervasive peril, she had no desire to engage inbat and attract further attention.


    <hr>


    The somewhat portly man rubbed his hands nervously, his eyes darting fearfully around. He felt as though a monster could spring at him from any direction or someone might suddenly appear and threaten his life. Every step he took was cautious, yet he continued to follow closely behind the others.


    When Potato arrived, he was still full of anticipation and ambition. But upon arrival, he was immediately besieged. Without hesitation, he turned to Athena for help. Having been hiding all along, even his white clothes remained pristine, not a hair out of ce.


    In contrast, the one in front of him, Ask-For-The-Heavens, was covered in bloodstains, his clothes tattered. The only clean aspect was his face behind the sses.


    "Boss, where are we going? Are we heading towards the ce where the light was just now?" The mere thought made Potato swallow involuntarily, feeling his hairs stand on end.


    <em>Come on, with such amotion, clearly a fierce battle is underway. They can barely avoid detection even by sneaking, so why would anyone charge towards danger? I can''t fathom these elites'' logic!</em>


    Ask-For-The-Heavens paused, turning his head slightly to nce at him. "Leave all your scrolls behind; you''re free to go."


    "Oh, ha-ha-ha-ha, no, no! Just kidding, just kidding. I''ll stick with you; it''s an extra meat shield for you. Plus, I can keep using scrolls!" This was Potato''s offer, aiming totch onto this powerful figure.


    On this journey, he had truly witnessed Ask-For-The-Heavens''s prowess. This seemingly frail young man was terrifying when it came tobat. The first time he witnessed that bloody scene, he was frozen in ce with fear.


    Ask-For-The-Heavens ignored him, continuing forward on his own. Unlike others who rushed in panic, their pace remained unhurried, showing no concern that they might arrive after the battle had ended.


    <hr>


    Half a day had passed since thepetition began. Everyone was gradually grasping the intricacies of the regional battle, striving to climb the rankings.


    At this moment, a fierce battle erupted, drawing many opportunist yers to it.


    Unlike themotion here, Big Bear seemed to belong in this forest. Upon arriving, it was as if she had returned home.


    When she first arrived, she had tried to find Athena, but to no avail. So, she leisurely found a ce to settle down with an old man, quietly waiting.


    No monsters or people had disturbed them.


    Her courage grew, and after catching a small rabbit with the old man, she cleaned it by the river, lit a fire, and began roasting it, presenting the image of a camping trip.


    To her surprise, the old man, seeing her bing too rxed, woke her up for training. While he worked on his old trade, chopping wood nearby.


    Even after clearing a small circle of trees around them, they still hadn''t attracted anything. They lived as though on vacation, until she heard a loud explosion from across the river.


    Startled, she jumped up and appeared behind the old man as if teleporting, squatting down and tightly grabbing his shoulder.


    "Why is there still fighting? What''s with the explosion?!" she eximed.


    The old man pushed her hand away sternly, turning to her with a serious expression. "This is regional battle, not a vacation spot!"


    Wide-eyed, Big Bear seemed toprehend. "Then let''s run; there''s a fight over there." Her actions were as swift as her thought process, but unfortunately, she still went back to get her roasted rabbit, only to be caught by the old man.


    "No, we stay," the old man shook his head. Big Bear still had much to learn. Otherwise, even with them around, the days ahead wouldn''t be as easy.


    Panicked, Big Bear spun around, but under the old man''s unwavering gaze, she reluctantly agreed.


    Finally satisfied, the old man nodded. Though this young womancked in many aspects, her obedience was her only redeeming quality.


    <hr>


    People were converging from all directions, including from Region 003. This was more than Athena had anticipated, far exceeding her expectations.


    Most of thebatants had arrived, and Athena''s earlier skirmish was just the beginning.


    Did they not anticipate the influx of people? No, it was precisely because they knew many would gather here that they came.


    Some came to fight, some to observe, and of course, some chose to head in the opposite direction.


    With the top ten plus Athena, this ce would witness the convergence of three powerhouses.


    This would be one of thergest free-for-alls since the beginning of the regional battle, now enclosed within the barrier.