That zombie was way too strong.
Even with profession buffs, Jasper and Skyhawk were getting tossed around like toys. Sure, the thing was a higher rank—but it shouldn't have been this one-sided.
Jasper forced himself up. His ribs felt wrong—one edge seemed to jab his lung. Every breath stabbed like a needle.
Skyhawk wasn't doing much better. If his profession wasn't a tanky knight-type, a Bronze Tier Rank 5 like him would've been knocked out cold already.
Sable didn't dare approach. He stayed at range, firing nonstop to keep the zombie's focus.
While the zombie chased Sable, Jasper dragged Skyhawk out of the way and set him down.
Then Jasper activated Stealth and slipped back toward the fight.
Sable's speed was excellent—second only to an assassin type—but the zombie was faster than Jasper. Sable could only barely keep distance.
As he fired, Sable's thoughts spiraled.
If it hits me once, do I just black out? Probably.
Skyhawk could take hits because he was built like a wall.
But an archer?
I'm paper.
Sable kept shooting while retreating, forcing the monster to keep reacting.
Then he caught it—on his system map, a red dot closed in fast.
Red dot: Boss.Yellow dot: Skyhawk.Green dot: Sable.
Targets hit by Sable's arrows appeared as black dots. The deeper the poison layer, the darker the black.
This zombie showed as gray-black—meaning the poison barely mattered.
Its defense was ridiculous. Sable's arrows couldn't pierce its skin—only once did he get lucky and nick an eye.
And after that, the zombie guarded its head tightly. It wasn't stupid.
Worse, its reaction speed was insane. The moment Sable loosed an arrow, it could read the trajectory and pre-guard the target area.
Damn it, Mas…A few coins and you pull something like this?
Whatever Mas used, it made a corpse rise instantly, and even boosted its strength. Maybe it wasn't controllable—but it was still a precious tool.
Using it here was pure waste.
The zombie continued closing in, dodging most arrows.
Then—
Jasper appeared.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three fine-steel needles shot into the zombie's leg.
BOOM!
The leg exploded into shredded flesh.
It wasn't crippled, but its attention snapped to Jasper immediately.
"Sable! Shoot its legs—its defense is broken!" Jasper shouted.
Sable didn't hesitate.
Elven Arrow!
The zombie ignored the incoming shot, locked on Jasper, and charged—assuming it could tank the hit.
It couldn't.
The left leg detonated. Green腐肉 splattered the ground, dark red blood misted the grass, and pale bone flashed beneath.
The zombie lurched, then pivoted to attack Sable.
Jasper repeated the method—three needles to the legs.
Again.
And again.
Step by step, the monster was reduced from a terrifying wall of flesh into a wrecked skeleton frame.
Jasper's eyes flickered with grim realization.
"So that's how skeletons get made…"
He threw his final fine-steel needle straight into the skull's eye socket.
BOOM!
The head shattered.
A cold chime rang out.
"Ding! Killed Bronze Tier Rank 7 mutated zombie. Acquired new rune: Ender.""Ender Rune effect: Teleport. Distance depends on the engraver's willpower. Can synergize with the host's Ender bloodline to enhance results. Current maximum teleport distance: 600 meters."
Jasper's lips twitched.
Every system notification really did feel like a jackpot.
Sable jogged over, eyes bright. "Boss—my system just pinged. I think I unlocked a new skill. You can check it through the secondary profession system."
Jasper immediately opened it.
Secondary Profession System
Elven Archer — Sable KestrelSex: MaleCultivation: Bronze Tier Rank 6 (Mid)Skills: Elven Mark, Elven Arrow, Arrow Never Misses, Ancient Summon
Arrow Never Misses:One arrow splits into three mid-flight.Accuracy +30%Attack +55%battle qi cost: low
Watch Knight — SkyhawkSex: MaleCultivation: Bronze Tier Rank 5 (High)Skills: Distant Utopia, Wind Bastion, Judgment Sword, Contract: Sword of Victory
Judgment Sword:Condense a Judgment Sword from battle qi. On hit, it explodes (radius: 3 meters).
Jasper stared at the screen.
Skyhawk had gained a skill too.
That idiot got smashed flat… and still collected the reward.
Jasper sighed. "Alright. Go wake up the actor lying over there. We're heading to Bluehaze City for treatment. This bill is going to hurt."
Bluehaze City — House Lin
Steward Xu greeted them with a bright smile.
"Since Jasper was originally House Lin's Shadow Guard, his treatment is free. As for you two…"
Sable and Skyhawk both went pale.
Everything they owned besides their gear got traded for medicine. Even Sable's stash of Mysterium Iron Needles—all pawned off.
Skyhawk groaned on the bed. "Why is healing so slow… If only we had high-grade medicine."
Sable snapped, furious. "Because you useless clown did nothing and still got rewards, and now you burned all our medical funds! If Boss hadn't sold those iron armors he looted from the battlefield, you wouldn't even have bandages!"
Skyhawk waved lazily. "Aiyaaa, don't be so uptight, Second Bro—my lovely Second Bro—don't be mad~"
Sable's face twisted. "Get lost! (ノ｀Д)ノ"
Skyhawk kept whining. "My left leg is fractured and there isn't even a splint… tragic, truly tragic…"
Jasper finally had enough.
He pulled a splint from his system inventory and tossed it over. "Sable. Come help."
Skyhawk's eyes lit up. "Oh! There is a splint! Boss really is the best—"
Jasper smiled.
A very wrong smile.
"Sable, hold him down. Don't let him move." Jasper's voice went gentle. "Good little Skyhawk~ This might hurt at first. If you behave, it won't hurt as much. Now, give me the leg… hehehe."
Skyhawk's face went white.
"NO—AHHHHH!! Painpainpain!! Boss, gentle!! AHH! My joint!! I'm dislocating!!"
His scream sounded like a pig getting slaughtered.
If you listened closely, you could even hear Jasper and Sable's "hehehe" in the background.
Steward Xu, hearing it from afar, shook his head. "Sigh… young people. Endless vitality."
He walked off, muttering.
Nearby, Lin Li sat in her room, face burning red.
As Jasper's quarters were right beside hers—she heard everything.
She stared toward the wall separating their rooms, thoughts drifting.
"So… Big Brother Jasper… is into that…"
Her cheeks got even hotter.
"…Then my cousin will have a partner for the Nether expedition. And there's no need to worry Jasper will have any… improper thoughts about her."
Lin Li laughed to herself—quietly, and far too nervously.