Bang! A bullet shot through the purple mist, hitting an ability user in the back of the head. The user collapsed to the ground.

The others paid no attention, assuming it was a stray bullet. "Run! Run!" "Don't look back! Just run!" "Leave him! Xiao Deng's done for!"

A silver light entered the willpower weapon.

James Lone continued his shooting. Bang! Another ability user fell. Bang! After three ability users went down, they finally realized these weren't just stray bullets. They were being targeted and turned to fire back in a panic.

But it was futile.

James walked calmly, bullets whizzing by harmlessly, as he steadily fired. One by one, the ability users fell. Silver orbs floated into his willpower weapon, slowly solidifying it.

"Someone's after us! Run!" "How can he see us?" "It's an ability user! It must be the rat! He's shooting in the mist!"

With the rising number of dead, panic set in, and they scattered.

James ignored the ordinary soldiers, focusing solely on the ability users, allowing the rest to escape.

Eventually, only one female ability user remained.

James approached her leisurely, swapping in a new magazine.

A system alert popped up: [Tailsa Evans] [Age: 21] [Quality: 9/10] (Delicate) [Feminine Virtue: 10/10] (Virgin) [Overall Score: 9/10] [Ding! Meets system requirements!]

Tailsa Evans sat on the ground, trembling in fear: "Please, don't kill me! I'm just a doctor, sobbing."

Her face carried a fragile, alluring quality. Tears rolled down her cheeks, her eyes reddened, and she sparked a protective instinct in men. After two arduous days in the forest, she was exhausted, an added charm to her beauty.

James Lone smiled. Was this the Tailsa Evans?

Sofie Barnes had written specifically about her. She had only one ability, incredibly rare: Plant Growth Manipulation!

She could consume her own energy to accelerate plant growth—a skill highly valued by the leadership. He hadn't expected her to be deployed here.

James noted the lone ability orb inside Tailsa Evans: "Show me your ability if you want to live."

Sofie Barnes might have described it, but James wasn't lowering his guard until he'd confirmed her powers were nonthreatening.

Confused but compliant, Tailsa hurriedly wiped her tears, removing a small plastic bottle from her waist and sprinkling a single black seed onto the ground.

Closing her eyes, she focused.

The seed visibly changed, rooting, sprouting, and within half a minute, a small flower bloomed!

"This flower..." James Lone mused in surprise. It was the very rosegrass he'd been collecting!

Had Tailsa Evans discovered its medicinal properties too?

Sweat beaded on Tailsa's forehead; her pallor reflected exhaustion. Gingerly, she broke the stem of the rosegrass, pleading pitifully: "This stem can cure many diseases, really! Please don't kill me! I'm just a doctor, sobbing."

Where Tailsa once saw herself as a brave woman fighting for survivor resources, faced with a killer like James Lone, her courage evaporated. She found no heart for resistance.

James was pleased.

Rosegrass was extremely rare.

Her ability alone warranted keeping Tailsa Evans around.

Plus, she was quite beautiful.

James had numerous questions for her, but time was a constraint. Securing her was the priority.

Suddenly, a rope appeared in his hands.

Tailsa jumped in fright. "W-where did that rope come from?"

Ignoring her, James tied her hands and feet.

Tearing open a portal, he lifted Tailsa and stepped through.

Chaos continued outside, but James lost all interest.

Let them fight. Not his concern!

After James departed, the gunfire drew native survivors, escalating the chaos.

"They've got guns?" "Is it the army? Are they finally here to rescue us?" "Screw it! I killed someone—will they execute me?" "Looks like infighting? Grab what you can; with a gun, we can get more food!"

Sunshine Garden Towers, Building C

James Lone hadn't returned all night.

The women, deeply worried, discussed the situation.

This time differed from the last. They knew the TV base wanted trouble with James Lone.

"Could he be trapped?" "Should we rescue him?" "How?" "Don't be stupid! If he can't handle it, we're just dead weight. Stay back and don't burden him!"

Sofie Barnes was especially anxious: "If James Lone is captured, who'll kill Erics Peterson for my vengeance?"

Rock Campbell's spatial lock severely hindered James Lone's teleportation and burrowing. If trapped within a zone, even he couldn't withstand dozens of ability users.

Morning came; still, James didn't return. The women bore dark circles, sleep elusive, their worry deepening.

Shirley Inr Won clapped, gathering attention: "Ladies, pack everything. Put on sneakers and hiking gear. If he returns, we should be ready to move instantly."

With experience, Shirley and others knew securing the rear was vital.

Even those at odds with her didn't dare disrupt things now. That would be suicidal.

All agreed.

"Next, let's split between the 28th and 33rd floors for lookout duty. If danger arises, we'll have reaction time."

"And lastly, here are some daggers. Everyone, hide one on yourself. As a last resort, if he's captured and they come for us—best to die quickly rather than disgrace him... Above all, we avoid suffering. As women, you all understand."

Shirley's voice was dry and somber.

Faces turned pale at the route.

Without James's protection, the brutal apocalypse now loomed over them.

Each knew capture meant brutal mistreatment. Not every man was like James Lone.

Holding their daggers tight, hands pale with tension, faces serious.

Some were close to tears, shaking.

Afraid of dying but more terrified of capture, they pondered the feasibility of taking their own lives.

Who could in that moment?

At that moment, a blue portal appeared. James Lone emerged, holding a beautiful woman.

The rollercoaster of emotions stunned everyone.

The women gasped, tears of joy spilling over: "Master!" "Master!" "Master's back!" "Master, you're finally back, sobbing!"

They surrounded James Lone, overcome with relief.