''Thud''


    Aethernded amidst the bloodbath area, his gaze flickering briefly back to ke before scanning the surroundings.


    "Hey, we can leave now!" Some of the onlookers muttered, their voices tinged with urgency as they nced at the ve and then nodded in agreement. It was a grim reality they were all too familiar with—using ves as bait was amon urrence in their world.


    "ggrrroooo!!!" The monstrous orc emitted a menacing growl as it prepared to pursue the retreating individuals.


    "heh...A-AI, Bastard!!" Aether''s voice pierced through the tense atmosphere, though his legs trembled with fear.... However, the fear was short-lived as his mind suddenly calmed down as if natural!!


    The orc halted its advance, its dark, ck eyes fixing on Aether with an unsettling intensity.


    "C-Come at me, bastard..heh" Aether taunted, summoning his courage as he hurled a small pebble at the monster''s eyes.


    The stone found its mark, striking the orc''s eyes with precision, eliciting a deafening roar of pain as the creature clutched at its injured eyes. Enraged, it swung its weapon at Aether with deadly intent.


    "BOOM!!"


    Aether, anticipating the attack, reacted swiftly, executing a graceful roll that allowed him to narrowly evade certain death.


    With Aether sessfully diverting the monster''s attention, the other onlookers wasted no time in retreating, their eyes turning towards ke for guidance,


    "We should run or.... use this chance to hunt this?" One of ke''s members voiced the question, uncertaintycing his tone.


    "I think we should escape..." A frightened voice chimed in from among the people who had been hunting in the area.


    ke contemted the options, his gaze fixed on the orc that was now fully engrossed in its pursuit of Aether. The creature had already sustained considerable damage from the previous day''s encounter and today''s skirmish.


    Perhaps a little more push could bring it down.


    Furthermore, the value of the Silver crystal embedded in the creature''s chest was astronomical. If they managed to obtain it, he and his team could livefortably for the next two years. And if they presented the crystal to the Empress, who knew what rewards they might receive.


    A smirk yed on ke''s lips as he made his decision, "Ready your spells, we are sting it!!" hemanded.


    ke''s party members nodded in agreement, their resolve unwavering. However, the neers who had just suffered losses couldn''t help but feel a twinge of fear at the prospect.


    Despite their reservations, they reluctantly acquiesced to ke''s n, knowing that the potential rewards outweighed the risks.


    "Huff-huff-" Aether''s breath came in ragged gasps as he continuously evaded the orc''s crushing blows.


    Inexplicably, amidst the chaos and danger, Aether began to feel a strange sensation stirring within him...


    An odd mixture of excitement and.... fear!!!


    Despite the terror of facing the monstrous orc, there was an undeniable thrill coursing through his veins.


    Despite his previous terror when faced with the slime monster, Aether found himself strangely exhrated by the current peril posed by the orc.


    It was as if the near-death experiences were awakening something dormant within him, gradually changing his perspective on danger and survival.


    And even more...


    !~Ding~!


    [Survival Rate: 0.79%↑]


    "BOOM!"


    [Survival Rate: 0.8%↑]


    "BOOM!"


    [Survival Rate: 0.81%↑]


    "BOOM!"


    [Survival Rate: 0.82%↑]


    "BOOM!"


    .....


    ...


    Yes, With each narrow escape from death, Aether''s survival rate steadily increased.


    It was a curious phenomenon... one that he couldn''t quiteprehend. Yet, as long as he continued to defy death, his chances of survival grew incrementally.


    Aether wasn''t sure why it didn''t happen before his near-death incidents but Aether believed it must be because he saved Ste.


    Though he wished for more... but still a growth was growth even if it was a tiny bit.


    "ARRRRR!!!" The Orc monster suddenly shouted in anger when it saw its food jumping around and annoying it more.


    The Orc Monster had already suffered enough, it needed food to rejuvenate its energy, and yet this food was darting around like a pesky insect, eluding its grasp at every turn.


    "Come on, Big Boy.. I need more!!" Aether shouted in a burst of jubtion, his spirits momentarily lifted.


    However, his joy was short-lived as he watched a blinding light engulf not only himself but also the orc, causing both of them to squint and blink in difort.


    "BBBOOOMMMM!!!!!"


    The deafening explosion reverberated through the forest, sending shockwaves rippling through the trees and shaking the earth beneath their feet. Thebined force of the fire spells unleashed by everyone present was enough to reduce anything in its path to ashes.


    A towering mushroom cloud of smoke billowed upwards, obscuring the once-clear sky and casting a dark shadow over the surroundings.


    "Aether..." Ste''s voice trembled as she made her way towards the exit, her eyes brimming with tears. However, her steps faltered as she caught sight of the inferno raging behind, her heart sinking at the thought of what may have transpired.


    Coming to ke''s side,


    "We have done it!!!" The red-haired woman shouted in jubtion as if they had finally achieved the impossible by ying a formidable monster that had surpassed their capabilities.


    ke smiled, showing little concern for the fate of a mere stray ve. As the smoke cleared, they beheld a massive crystal, gleaming brightly in a sliver hue, almost the size of arge palm.


    "Retrieve the Arcane Crystal," kemanded.


    ke''s group, along with the neers, moved towards the crystal, eager to im their prize.


    "Cough, Cough"


    However, their excitement was abruptly interrupted by a sudden, dry cough echoing through the silent horizon, causing them all to flinch. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they beheld the horrifying sight of Aether standing near the Arcane Crystal.


    As Aether stood amidst the aftermath of the fiery st, his body engulfed in agony and his senses overwhelmed by the searing pain, he felt as though he was teetering on the precipice between life and death. Every nerve ending screamed in protest as the mes licked mercilessly at his charred flesh, leaving behind a trail of unimaginable torment.


    With eachboured breath, he drew, the acrid scent of burnt hair and singed skin filled his nostrils, a stark reminder of the inferno that had engulfed him moments earlier. His vision blurred and danced with flickering shadows, the world around him swirling into a hazy, surreal blur.


    And then, amidst the wreckage of his broken body, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his cracked lips. It was a smile born not of joy or relief, but of something deeper, more profound... he just found it and acknowledged it.


    Everyone was utterly shocked by the sight before them, as if they were witnessing a ghost walking among the living.


    "How is he even alive?" That question echoed in their minds, reverberating with disbelief and confusion.