"Liam Luo? That trash is back? Let him in."


    Ethan Ying entered first, followed by Liam. Jason Zhao craned his neck, noticing Sophia Xu and her squad lingering outside. Pathetic. That bleeding-heart Sophia collects strays like garbage.


    "Look at that loser – probably scared shitless by the monsters." Jason sneered, eyeing Liam’s dirt-stained clothes.


    But Liam remained silent as Ethan groveled: "Jason! Liam’s got something good!"


    "Show me."


    Ethan produced a blood-red ?**[Tier-2 Monster Core]**. Jason’s eyes widened. "A Tier-2 core? How—"


    Ethan’s ?**[Razor Claws]** erupted, spearing Jason’s throat. Blood geysered across the classroom.


    "Die!" Ethan screamed, madness twisting his features. "Who’s the dog now?!"


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    Wendy Wang lunged to heal, but Ethan shredded Jason’s neck. "Help him, and you’re next!"


    Thomas Tian pleaded: "Kill Jason, and who protects us?!"


    "Protects?" Ethan dragged Jason’s corpse toward Thomas. "He used you! I’ll slaughter those monsters myself!"


    The room froze. Jason’s corpse stared vacantly.


    Liam stepped forward, closing Jason’s eyelids.


    "Stop the act, Liam!" Ethan wiped bloodied claws. "Let’s team up. Rule this shithole."


    Sophia entered with Kevin and Martin. "The core came from a Lv.5 matriarch killed by a Lv.6 rival. Liam just… found it."


    Gasps erupted. Daisy Cheng, Jason’s ?**[Storage Space]** lackey, trembled. "A Lv.6 matriarch? Outside?!"


    Kevin blurted: "We killed it! Sophia’s got the—" Martin gagged him. Idiot. Flaunting loot gets you dead.


    Sophia raised a hand. "We cooperated. That’s how we survive."


    Wendy begged: "Sophia! Let me join! My ?**[Healing Touch]**—"


    "Everyone’s welcome," Sophia cut in, glaring at Ethan. "No more tyrants."


    Ethan scoffed. "You’ll turn into another Jason!"


    "My ?**[Amplification Aura]** needs allies," Sophia countered. "Stay or leave. Just stop killing."


    Ethan eyed Liam, then Sophia. "Fuck your teamwork."


    As he turned to leave, Kevin blocked the door, skin hardening into stone. "Leave the core."


    Ethan’s claws glinted. "Try taking it."


    <hr>


    Key Mechanics & Localization: