Ryan took an alternate path toward the camp entrance, leaving the trio to wait for their next target. They didn't have to wait long.

Soon, a girl appeared, walking cautiously in their direction, completely unaware of the ambush. The trio recognized her—she had performed above average in class, meaning she was physically fit and would be slightly more difficult to take down. However, they were all trained fighters, and with time slipping away, they didn't want to wait for an easier target.

As she passed beneath their hiding spot, she ended up directly below the fat man's tree. He signaled Cam, the thin one, to create a distraction while he would sweep down for the kill.

Everything was going according to plan.

Just as Cam jumped down, the girl instinctively turned and saw him standing behind her with a sharpened stick. She immediately tensed, her mind racing for an escape route. Fighting wasn't an option—her opponent was armed.

But then, she heard the rustling of branches above her.

Her instincts screamed danger. Without hesitation, she rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding whatever was coming from above.

The fat man crashed onto the ground where she had stood just moments before. He looked frustrated that his sneak attack had failed. Cam cursed under his breath—why couldn't the fat man move more silently?

With their ambush compromised, the short man also jumped down, and the three of them began encircling her.

Still kneeling on the ground, the girl watched as the short man joined his two companions. She immediately realized she was in grave danger.

Her mind raced. Running won't work. They'll throw stones and injure me. Even if I hide behind a tree, they'll catch up. My only chance is to injure at least one or two of them before escaping. They won't expect me to fight back.

Without hesitation, she scooped a handful of dirt into her left hand while discreetly pulling out her metal badge with her right, pretending to surrender. She held it up, signaling that she was willing to give it up—after all, that's what they were after, right?

What she didn't know was that their goal wasn't just her badge. It was her life.

The trio exchanged glances but continued closing in. The girl could see they weren't going to back down. I have to act now.

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As they stepped closer, she suddenly hurled the metal badge with all her strength at Cam. Caught off guard, he barely had time to react before it struck him square in the chest. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

The short man and the fat man immediately lunged at her.

She ducked just in time and flung the dirt into the short man's eyes. He yelped, dropping his weapon as he clutched his burning eyes. Wasting no time, she shoved him toward the fat man, who instinctively stepped back to avoid hitting him.

The fat man hesitated. With the short man in the way, he couldn't properly swing his weapon. Instead, he threw a punch at the girl. She ducked again, and his fist whiffed past her face.

Now they were too close for him to effectively use his stick.

He tried to kick her, but before he could, she lunged forward, clawing at his throat with her nails. Her fingers dug into his flesh, ripping a small chunk of skin and muscle. Her nails cracked from the force.

The fat man howled in pain, clutching his bleeding neck.

The girl knew this was her only chance. Ignoring her own injuries, she turned and sprinted toward the camp.

But just as she took her first few steps, a sharp pain erupted in her stomach.

She stopped in shock, looking down. A sharpened stick had pierced through her abdomen.

She turned her head slowly, eyes wide with disbelief. Behind her stood Cam, holding the stick with one hand while his other clutched his chest.

How?

She had been sure she injured him badly. She had seen the metal badge hit him directly.

Then she realized her terrible luck.

Cam had kept the badge of a previous victim in his chest pocket. Her thrown badge had struck it, reducing the impact. While it hurt and momentarily knocked him down, it wasn't as severe as she had hoped.

She had been quick, intelligent, and brave. But luck had not been on her side.

Her body weakened as blood poured from her wound. She collapsed, her vision fading, until finally, she drew her last breath.

The trio stood over her lifeless body.

Cam rubbed his sore chest, still wincing from the impact. The short man blinked rapidly, his vision still slightly blurred from the dust attack. The fat man, however, was in the worst condition. Blood continued to trickle from his neck wound.

The short man approached the girl's corpse. He prodded it twice with his weapon, ensuring she was truly dead. When she didn't react, he let out a sigh of relief.

Cam bent down and retrieved her badge. With their job done, they prepared to leave.

But then, something changed.

The short man and Cam made eye contact. A silent understanding passed between them.

The short man tightened his grip on his short dagger-like stick and moved toward the fat man, his expression calm.

"I'm going to help you up," he said.

The fat man, exhausted and in pain, didn't suspect a thing. He let the short man put an arm around his waist for support.

Then, just as Cam stepped in to help from the other side, the short man suddenly thrust his weapon into the fat man's neck.

The fat man gasped, eyes wide with shock. He clutched his throat, blood gushing from the fresh wound. He tried to speak, to ask why, but no words came out.

He collapsed, drowning in his own blood, eyes still filled with disbelief.

Cam and the short man watched in silence.

Then, without a word, they turned and walked toward the camp.

The game wasn't over yet.