Chapter 107 - Now It’s My Turn

The warmth of the group embrace lingered in the air for only a moment longer before the inevitable awkwardness set in. It started subtly—Kazue, who had been happily pressed against Adam's side, suddenly became aware of just how close she was and let out an exaggerated noise.

"Ah—!"

She leaped back, waving her arms. Drake, grinning, was the next to pull away, chuckling as he scratched the back of his head and muttered something about not wanting to make things weird.

Despite being one of the last to let go, Chloe quickly turned on her heel, her face red as she busied herself adjusting her hair. Emir blinked in confusion before hurriedly stepping away as well, though he kept glancing back at Adam with an unsure expression, as if wondering whether he should say something. Katya exhaled deeply, running a hand through her hair before clearing her throat and muttering,

“Alright, alright, let’s not get sentimental now.”

Even Sebastian, who had been warmly patting Adam’s shoulder, took a deliberate step back with a knowing smile, watching the others react.

Adam, now standing alone in the center of the group, let out a small cough to regain his composure. He was still slightly flustered, his face warm from the unexpected show of camaraderie, but he forced himself to focus.

“Ahem… Well, I guess that’s that. What’s left to do?”

But before anyone could answer, Li had already moved toward the giant screen, navigating through the interface with practiced ease. His expression remained unreadable as he scrolled through the shop’s options before stopping on the ‘Plot Device Gacha’ section. Without a word, he selected the option and input nine spins, each one costing 500 points, consuming the bulk of his remaining total.

⌠▼Plot Device Gacha: 500pts⌡ ⌠Test your luck!⌡ ⌠Additional Information⌡ ⌠Pay the price and receive a random “Plot Device” from a much larger selection than what was shown in the store.⌡ ⌠"How many rolls do you want?”⌡ ⌠x9⌡ ⌠"Do you want to roll x9 for 4500pts?”⌡ ⌠YES / NO⌡ ⌠Rolling…⌡ ⌠Rolling…⌡ ⌠Rolling…⌡ ⌠GOTCHA!⌡

Adam narrowed his eyes, watching him carefully. There was something different about Li’s demeanor—more purposeful, more determined. He wasn’t just throwing his points away on a gamble, or so it seemed to him.

Li barely glanced at the others as the system confirmed his purchase, the enormous slot machine materializing above them once again. A catchy, almost obnoxiously cheerful jingle played as the reels began to spin, flashing vibrant lights in all directions as they dispensed his rewards, one by one.

⌠Congratulations! Plot Device “Specifically Numbered Group (R-class)” has been acquired.⌡ ⌠Upon activation, the exact number of enemies or people in a nearby group will be revealed.⌡

Li’s expression remained flat. Useless… He didn’t need a counter; he needed an advantage.

⌠Congratulations! Plot Device “Who Forgot The Lights? (SR-class)” has been acquired.⌡ ⌠Every character and user in the area will have their vision completely obstructed for ten seconds.⌡

His brow twitched slightly… Situational at best.

⌠Congratulations! Plot Device “Morality Pet (SR-class)” has been acquired.⌡ ⌠Regardless of a person’s alignment, they will always have something or someone they deeply value. Upon activation, this will be revealed.⌡

Li exhaled slowly through his nose. Mildly useful, but still not what he needed.

⌠Congratulations! Plot Device “Kitchen Sink Included (R-class)” has been acquired.⌡ ⌠Upon activation, a fully functional kitchen sink will appear somewhere nearby.⌡

Silence.

"...What?"

Kazue was the first to burst out laughing.

“PFFT—oh my god! Why is that even a thing?!”

Drake covered his mouth to suppress a chuckle, while Chloe gave Li a deeply concerned look.

“Are you… okay?”

Li’s eye twitched, but he refused to respond.

⌠Congratulations! Plot Device “How About a Smile? (SR-class)” has been acquired.⌡ ⌠Until the end of the current scenario, the user will be perceived as having the most charming, disarming smile imaginable.⌡

"...That’s just creepy."

Drake muttered, folding his arms. Kazue tilted her head.

“You know… this could actually work for infiltration or persuasion.”

Li ignored them. His frown deepened as he scanned the list. Nothing good so far, but then…

⌠Congratulations! Plot Device “Maid Corps (SSR-class)” has been acquired.⌡ ⌠Can only be used if more than half of the user’s group is injured. Upon activation, a squad of medics dressed as maids will arrive to tend to the user’s team until they recover.⌡

“…What the actual hell am I reading.”

Li muttered under his breath. Kazue, wheezing from laughter, held up a finger.

“N-no, wait. This could be the best one yet. Imagine us all on the brink of death, and then—bam! Maids!”

Sebastian actually looked thoughtful.

“If they possess medical proficiency, this could prove invaluable.”

Li rubbed his temples, forcing himself not to care. Then, finally, something useful appeared.

⌠Congratulations! Plot Device “Switcheroo (UR-class)” has been acquired.⌡ ⌠Select another user. Upon activation, this Plot Device will swap itself for one of their Plot Devices at random, then immediately be destroyed.⌡

His lips curled slightly. Better… Much better.

⌠Congratulations! Plot Device “No U (L-class)” has been acquired.⌡ ⌠Reverses the immediate effect of any skill, ability, treasure, or Plot Device activated in the last few seconds.⌡

Li’s brows lifted slightly. Now this—this had potential. Then came the final pull.

⌠Congratulations! Plot Device “Diabolus ex Machina (L-class)” has been acquired.⌡ ⌠Upon activation, the scenario will be forcibly altered so that the user is placed in immediate, life-threatening danger—even if such a thing was previously impossible or illogical.⌡

A heavy silence filled the air. Li stared at the screen, completely unreadable, and then he clicked his tongue.

“…Of course.”

Kazue leaned in, squinting at the description before gasping.

“Wait—wait, what? Why the hell would you ever need that?!”

Drake’s eyes flicked between the text and Li’s expression before whistling under his breath.

“Damn. That’s some next-level masochism.”

Adam, however, had been watching Li closely the entire time, and something about the way he reacted told him that this wasn’t just some throwaway joke. Li wasn’t frustrated because he got a useless Plot Device—he was frustrated because this was the one he didn’t want.

Adam’s mind raced. The Plot Device altered the scenario itself. Was that why Li had taken this gamble? Was he looking for something that could shift the odds in their favor? The idea that he had almost gotten something helpful, only for this result to appear, was enough to make Adam’s stomach turn.

Li exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his hair.

“That’s it. I’m out.”

He stepped back from the screen, stuffing his hands into his pockets, his mood visibly soured. The others exchanged glances, some confused, some amused, and some, like Adam, deeply concerned.

“Alright.”

Adam finally said, clearing his throat and taking a deep breath, exhaling slowly as he stepped up to the screen. The weight of everything that had just happened lingered in his mind, but he forced himself to focus. Now that everyone else had made their purchases, it was finally his turn.

His fingers hovered over the interface, but before selecting anything, he took a moment to reassess his priorities. He had already decided what he wanted before they had even begun—the abilities that Lord Varek had used: [Quest Log] and [Portable Shop]. These were game-changing skills, ones that had given their enemy an overwhelming advantage. If Adam had access to them, it would be a monumental step forward.

But the reality was cruel. He had already searched for them earlier, even before Kazue had even started her turn, and what he had found was disheartening. Each one cost 10,000 points.

That number weighed on him. It wasn’t impossible to reach—technically, they could have exchanged their Merits for more points to afford them. But should they? That was the real problem.

The Collab was looming over them like a storm cloud, and Adam knew that spending everything on an ability that wouldn’t take effect until the next scenario was a luxury they couldn’t afford. It was a long-term investment, but what they needed right now were immediate gains—something that would help them survive.

He sighed, accepting the bitter truth. He had no choice but to let it go—for now.

Instead, he needed to focus on what he did have and optimize it. Without hesitation, he opened his Status window, scanning through every skill, every ability, every resource at his disposal. His build was already unique, a combination of spectral abilities, parasitic mutations, and summoning techniques, but there was still room to grow. He had gathered a lot since his journey began, and now, standing here, he realized how messy it all was.

Adam's Profile:

⌠Name: Adam Scholar⌡ ⌠Age: 1⌡ ⌠Species: Demi JiangLich (Variant) - Rank E⌡ ⌠Points: 5867⌡ ⌠Potential: C⌡ ⌠Merits:⌡ ⌠Titles:⌡ ⌠Ghostmarked Warden: Bound and Cursed⌡, ⌠Luck's Last Laugh⌡, ⌠Overmind's Champion⌡, ⌠Commander of the Truly Strong⌡. ⌠Racial Traits:⌡ ⌠*Half-Undead (Variant) Psyche (Innate)⌡, ⌠*Sleep Immunity (Innate)⌡, ⌠*Malediction Reversal (Innate)⌡, ⌠*Fire Extreme Vulnerability (Innate)⌡, ⌠*Divine Vulnerability (Innate)⌡, ⌠*The True Hunger (Innate)⌡, ⌠*Vicious Devourer (Incomplete-Acolyte) (Innate)⌡. ⌠General Skills:⌡ ⌠Magic Resistance Lv2 (Passive)⌡, ⌠Superhuman Strength Lv2 (Passive)⌡, ⌠Mental Resistance Lv8⌡. ⌠Lich Skills:⌡ ⌠Cursed Vision (Mutation) Lv5⌡, ⌠Undead Control Lv3⌡, ⌠Soul Ingestion Lv2⌡, ⌠Soul Corruption Lv2⌡, ⌠Life Drain Lv2⌡, [Corrupted Ki Infusion Lv1], ⌠Vitality Predation Lv2⌡. ⌠Jiang Shi Skills:⌡ ⌠Spectral Mist Step Lv3⌡, ⌠Blood Covenant Lv3⌡, ⌠Blood Rage Lv2⌡, ⌠Blood Consumption Lv2⌡, ⌠Vampiric Infection Lv2⌡, ⌠Yong Xian Sovereign’s Body Manifestation Lv2⌡, ⌠Dark Consumption Lv3⌡. ⌠Parasitic Skills:⌡ ⌠Parasitic Undead Plague Lv2⌡, ⌠Hivemind Lv2⌡, ⌠Autosealing Lv2⌡, ⌠Resist Hunger Lv2⌡, ⌠Parasitic Mutation Lv2⌡, ⌠Soulcrusher Virus (Variant) Lv2⌡, ⌠Physical Manipulation Lv2⌡, ⌠Spectral Parasitic Biomass Lv3⌡. ⌠Locked Skills:⌡ ⌠Mark of the Damned LV10 (Sealed)⌡. ⌠Summoning Skills:⌡ ⌠Ghoul-Type Manifestation Lv2⌡, ⌠Feral-Type Manifestation Lv2⌡, ⌠Drake-Type Manifestation Lv2⌡, ⌠DeathKnight-Type Manifestation Lv2⌡, ⌠Demon-Type Manifestation Lv3⌡, ⌠Summon: Sacred Guardian of Envy Lv3⌡, ⌠Jiang Shi Creation Lv2⌡, ⌠Wraith Creation Lv2⌡, ⌠Soul Pact: Abbess Xinhui - Rank A⌡. ⌠Treasure Skills:⌡ ⌠Insanity Aura Lv2⌡, ⌠Mgehye'lloig Lv2⌡, ⌠Light of the Six Sins Lv2⌡, ⌠Onyx Hex of Envy Lv3⌡, ⌠Cogwheel Bastion Lv3⌡. ⌠Treasures:⌡ ⌠Necronomicon Single Page [1/5] (Replica) - Rank F⌡ ⌠Spectronomicon - Rank ?⌡ ⌠Overmind Parasite - Rank A+ (Assimilated)⌡ ⌠Jiang Shi 4th Tier: Yong Xian Sovereign’s Heart - Rank A+ (Assimilated)⌡ ⌠Dragon’s Pride Aegis - Rank D⌡

There were redundancies. Inefficiencies. Abilities that could be strengthened or synergized better.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

This wasn’t just about getting stronger, it was about refining himself into something more efficient, more adaptable. His fingers tightened into fists as he prepared to make his choices. This was it… It was time to evolve once more.

Adam's mind was racing as he considered his next steps. Now that he had taken stock of everything he had, three glaring issues stood out, each one needing immediate attention.

The first, and by far the most pressing, was his extreme vulnerability to fire. This weakness had always been present to some degree, but it had only worsened as his racial composition continued to evolve, incorporating various species into his biology. It wasn’t something he could ignore any longer—especially not now.

One of the teams they were going to face had the word "Dragon" in their name, and Adam wasn’t naïve enough to dismiss that. The chances that at least one of their enemies wielded fire-based attacks or commanded dragons were far too high for comfort. If he didn’t address this now, he was practically asking to be incinerated the moment the battle began.

The second issue was the sheer number of skills he had accumulated. Many of them overlapped in function, and worse, there were some he never even used. It was inefficient. Clumsy. He needed a way to streamline his abilities, to trim the excess and refine what remained into something more effective. There was no point in hoarding skills he wasn’t utilizing, especially not when he was about to step into what was potentially the most dangerous scenario yet.

The third issue was his 'Necronomicon Single Page', a treasure that had long since fallen behind in terms of power. It had been useful once, but as time passed and the enemies they faced grew stronger, its effectiveness had diminished. It was clear that if he wanted to keep it relevant, he would need to enhance it in some way.

Adam spent several long minutes combing through the store, searching for anything that might help address these problems. He found a few options—some skills, some treasures—that could have worked, but every single one of them was expensive. He didn’t have enough points to cover everything he needed. The realization frustrated him. He was already beginning to accept that he would have to prioritize only one issue when, by pure chance, something caught his eye.

His breath hitched… It wasn’t a skill he had been actively searching for. In fact, it shouldn’t have even been there. Yet, as if drawn to it by some inexplicable instinct, Adam’s gaze locked onto it.

A strange sense of familiarity washed over him, an eerie déjà vu that made his skin crawl. Somewhere deep inside, he recognized this power. His fingers trembled slightly as he hovered over the description:

⌠■Skill■ Devourer Lv■: 0pts⌡ ⌠Allows the user to consume their own and ■■■(Denied)■■■ skills, generating a new one when more than one is devoured. The result is not a combination of the consumed skills and does not guarantee a stronger skill than the ones used as ingredients.⌡ ⌠Notice: The title 'Overmind's Champion' allows limited use of this skill.⌡ ⌠Hint: The result depends on the compatibility of the skills used.⌡ ⌠Warning: It■is n■ot po■ssib■le to pur■■chase■anoth■er us■er's Pers■onal■Skill ■■■(Authorized)■■■.⌡

Adam’s breath hitched again. This wasn’t normal.

For one, the price was zero. That alone was bizarre, as there was no reason for a skill of this nature—one that had potentially limitless applications—to be free. Secondly, the description was partially corrupted, filled with errors and censored information. And lastly, the fact that his 'Overmind’s Champion' title somehow interacted with this skill was the part that unsettled him the most.

This wasn’t just some random ability, this was connected to him in some way, so instead of acting impulsively, Adam called out to the rest of the team.

"Hey. You guys need to see this."

As the others gathered around, he explained the situation, detailing what the skill did—or at least what it claimed to do. He also mentioned the strange familiarity he felt toward it, how it reminded him of something he had done before, and how similar it was to when he created the ‘Soulcrusher Virus’.

Drake furrowed his brows as he read over the description.

"So, this lets you... consume skills to create new ones?"

Kazue tilted her head, her expression somewhere between curiosity and concern.

"But it says the result isn’t a combination of the original skills... and there’s no guarantee it’ll be stronger. Isn’t that... kind of risky?"

Falk, who had been reading the screen over Sebastian’s shoulder, let out a small laugh

"I’d wager that the key factor here is the compatibility between the abilities being sacrificed. If it’s similar to how forging works, then choosing the right ingredients would make all the difference."

Katya folded her arms, deep in thought.

"The fact that this appeared specifically for you, and that it’s free, is what bothers me the most. It’s too convenient, this is something that sometimes happens in Team Abyss but due to direct sponsorship, kinda like… Blondie over there."

Chloe, standing quietly beside Kazue, looked up at Adam.

"You’re going to take it, right?"

Adam hesitated for a brief moment.

"I... think I should. The way it’s interacting with my title, the fact that it’s zero points, the corrupted text... I have a feeling that this is something I was meant to have."

Gregor, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke.

"Then do it. We won’t know what it does until you try."

His voice was calm, but there was a certainty in it. Everyone exchanged glances, but there was no real opposition. They all had their doubts, but at the same time, there was a strange logic to Adam’s reasoning. The abnormalities surrounding this skill—the way it seemed to exist outside the normal framework of the store—made it clear that this wasn’t something just anyone could access.

It was tied to him like it was his power from the beginning. With a nod of finality, Adam selected the option to purchase the skill.

The moment he did, the skill vanished from the store entirely. There was no confirmation sound, and no pop-up window signaling a successful transaction. It was as if the skill had never existed in the first place.

Adam quickly pulled up his Status Window to check. Sure enough, [Skill Devourer] had been added to his list of abilities.

Without hesitating any further, Adam activated his newly acquired skill. The moment he did, a strange yet oddly familiar sensation washed over him, as if this ability had always been a part of him—something he had merely forgotten, like the muscle memory of riding a bicycle. Instinctively, he knew exactly what to do, as though the process had been ingrained in him long before this moment.

⌠[Skill Devourer Lv■] has consumed the skills [Life Drain Lv2], [Vitality Predation Lv2], [Dark Consumption Lv3], and [Soul Corruption Lv2]⌡ ⌠The consumed skills are being digested and fused into a new result⌡ ⌠The skill [Skill Devourer Lv■] has created the skill [Corrupted Existence Lv2]⌡ ⌠The user is a carrier of corruption in its purest state. Upon activation, everything in contact with the user will be afflicted with the statuses [Cursed] and [Corrupted]. Maintaining the skill active constantly consumes an enormous amount of Cursed Energy.⌡

Adam’s eyes flickered across the screen as he read the description of his newly created ability. His lips parted slightly, unable to fully believe what he was seeing. This... this was powerful.

It was more than just a fusion—it was an enhancement beyond anything he had expected. He had taken four separate skills and created something entirely new, something that synergized perfectly with his own unique traits. If he could properly manage this, if he could incorporate this into his fighting style, he could turn what was inherently destructive into an advantage. And if that was possible... then there was more he could do.

His gaze sharpened as he turned toward Kazue.

“Kazue, I need your help with something.”

The girl perked up, tilting her head in curiosity.

“Hmm? Sure! What is it?”

Adam quickly explained his idea—if he could find a way to deal with fire, specifically possibly cursed fire, he could potentially remove his biggest weakness. He didn’t have much knowledge in that area, but Kazue had an affinity for searching the weirdest things through the store, and if anyone could find something that fit his criteria, it was her.

It didn’t take long. After several minutes of filtering through countless skills and treasures, they found exactly what he needed.

⌠Cursed Fire Consumption Lv1: 400pts⌡ ⌠Additional Information⌡ ⌠Allows the user to consume cursed fire through their mouth as if it were sustenance, regardless of its origin.⌡ ⌠Cursed Vision Knowledge⌡ ⌠Warning: Consuming cursed fire inflicts the user with the [Cursed Blaze] status, causing continuous internal burn damage and significantly reducing the user’s overall physical abilities.⌡

Kazue clapped her hands together excitedly, laughing as she read over the description.

“Oh my god, Adam, I swear—if there’s one thing I love about you, it’s how you keep stuffing yourself with things that should probably kill any other person, but instead, they end up making you stronger.”

Adam huffed, rolling his eyes.

“That’s not exactly what I—”

Before he could finish, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Turning slightly, he saw Katya standing a few feet away, biting down on a handkerchief with an absolutely sour expression and murderous eyes. She hadn’t said a word, but the way she was glaring at Adam made it painfully obvious that she was seething with jealousy.

Kazue, oblivious to Katya’s growing frustration, continued smiling at Adam.

“Okay, so let me get this straight. If you get hit with fire, you can activate your corruption skill to turn it into cursed fire, and then just... eat it?”

“That’s the idea.”

She gave him a thumbs-up.

“I like it. Let’s go with that.”

Adam wasted no time purchasing the skill, immediately feeling the familiar sensation of knowledge being ingrained into his mind. Now, even if he couldn’t outright nullify fire-based attacks, he had a way to mitigate them—a way to use his enemies’ own abilities against them.

With that settled, Adam glanced at his remaining points. He still had 5467 points left. It was time to deal with the last issue—his Necronomicon page.

Navigating through the store, he quickly found the treasure he was looking for. As expected, he had to buy each page one at a time, with each costing 600 points. He didn’t hesitate, purchasing enough to evolve his existing treasure four times, spending a total of 2400 points to transform it into:

[Necronomicon Single Chapter (Replica) - Rank D]

But he didn’t stop there. Instead of merely stopping enhancing his current Necronomicon, he continued purchasing more pages, his fingers moving across the screen with practiced efficiency. He spent another 3000 points, obtaining five additional pages in quick succession. The moment he confirmed the purchase, Kazue, who had been watching the entire time with mild curiosity, furrowed her brows and tilted her head.

“Wait, Adam, why did you buy another one? Didn’t you already upgrade yours?”

Her question caught the attention of the others, who also turned to him with puzzled expressions, wondering the same thing. Adam exhaled slowly, his gaze still fixed on the screen as the last of the pages materialized within his inventory. Then, as if savoring the moment, he allowed a small, knowing smirk to creep onto his face before finally turning toward them.

“Because I need three full chapters to combine them into a single volume.”

He said, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable sense of certainty. Realization flickered in their eyes as the pieces fell into place. Of course. The upgrade process wasn’t linear—it was accumulative. By gathering enough individual chapters, he could push the evolution of his Necronomicon even further, transcending its fragmented form into something far greater.

Once he had enough, it would no longer be a mere collection of pages or even a single chapter. It would become something entirely new. His [Necronomicon Single Chapter (Replica) - Rank D] would soon evolve into [Necronomicon Single Volume (Replica) - Rank B], a significant leap in power and utility. But that wasn’t the only reason he had pursued this upgrade with such deliberate intent.

This wasn’t just a book—it was a repository of forbidden knowledge, something not meant to be wielded by just anyone. Even in its incomplete state, it carried a passive effect—one that continuously increased his reserves of Cursed Energy, making him stronger just by owning it. However, there was a catch. A price. Exposure to its knowledge induced madness in its wielder, a mental corruption that should have been a significant drawback to anyone who dared to use it recklessly.

But for Adam, that price meant nothing. Madness didn’t touch him. It didn’t break him, didn’t erode his sense of self the way it might have done to others due to his high mental resistance level, so it was all only pluses and none of the consequences.

Once again, he had taken something inherently dangerous and found a way to make it work for him.

With the last of his purchases completed, Adam finally turned away from the store’s interface, exhaling as he faced the rest of the group. The atmosphere had shifted. There was an unspoken understanding among them, an air of mutual anticipation that hung in the space between them.

Every single one of them, save for Li, met his gaze with an almost expectant look, as if already knowing what was about to happen. It was in the way Kazue’s eyes glimmered with barely restrained excitement, in the way Drake folded his arms with a lopsided grin, in the way Katya adjusted her gloves as if preparing herself mentally. Even Sebastian, who had been standing calmly with his hands behind his back, let out a small chuckle under his breath.

Adam couldn’t help the smirk that formed on his lips.

“Alright, listen up.”

He declared, his voice carrying a sharp, commanding edge.

“It’s time to practice. Practice, practice, and practice some more.”

His words rang out with undeniable conviction, echoing across the lobby.

“Not just sparring. We’re going to spend every single moment we have available on pure, unfiltered teamwork training. We’re going to push ourselves, drill our coordination, make sure we function as one unit instead of just a bunch of people fighting alongside each other.”

He let his gaze sweep across the team, making sure each of them understood the gravity of what he was saying.

“No more last-minute improvisation. No more barely scraping by. We’re going to train until we can read each other’s moves without needing to say a word.”

The response was instant. Kazue practically vibrated with energy, clenching her fists as she bounced slightly on her heels.

“Hell yeah!”

She cheered, flashing a toothy grin.

“This is exactly what we needed! Let’s go!”

Drake, ever the composed one, simply nodded in approval, though the slight spark in his eyes showed his own excitement.

“Makes sense. We’ve had good teamwork before, but it’s been situational. If we polish it up properly, we’ll be a nightmare to deal with.”

Katya smirked, cracking her knuckles.

“Finally. I was getting sick of just standing around. I’m all in.”

Chloe, who had been quiet for most of the time, nodded firmly.

“I think… this is a good idea. We have strong individual skills, but it feels like we’ve been running on instinct. We can do better than that.”

Sebastian, ever the composed old man, gave a small chuckle.

“A wise decision, Adam. There is nothing more dangerous than a group that can function in perfect unison. If we can accomplish that, then our survival rate increases exponentially.”

Emir clenched his small fists in determination, nodding rapidly.

“I’ll do my best!”

Gregor let out a low hum, his expression unreadable, but there was a glint of approval in his gaze.

“If we’re going into the collab scenario, we’ll need every advantage we can get. This is the right call.”

Even Falk flapped his tiny wings, perching on Sebastian’s shoulder with an amused tilt of his head.

“I suppose this means I’ll have to assist as well? Not that I mind, of course. Watching you all stumble through tactics is highly educative.”

Laughter rippled through the group, but there was an undeniable sense of unity forming in the moment. They weren’t just agreeing—they were eager. They were ready. This wasn’t just a necessity; it was something they genuinely wanted.

All except for one… Li stood slightly apart from the group, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as he stared off into the distance. Unlike the rest, he didn’t show any enthusiasm, nor did he add anything to the conversation. His silence was deafening in its own way, and though he made no outright protest, there was a weight in his posture that spoke volumes.

Adam noticed, of course. How could he not? But for now, he chose not to say anything. There would be time for that later.