The BOSS that emerged within the ruins indeed brought an unexpected delight to the students.
Remarkably, it dropped a staff and a ring.
Both were Silver-grade equipment, offering particularly impressive effects.
Although Howard had no interest in them, they nearly incited a brawl among the eager students.
Even Abby wanted to step forward on Howard’s behalf, but he held her back.
What a joke it would be!
With his Platinum-tier wand and his legendary and epic rings, why would Howard compete with the students?
What truly piqued Howard’s interest was the compass that Carlos Bartel had secured.
The ruins were his real target.
Whether he intended to sweep through the ruins with Abby or bring Caitlin along for safety, the Castle of Vampires was a must-visit.
Amidst heated discussions, the loot was finally distributed.
Soon after, the group passed through a luminous circle in the deepest part of the cave, leaving the dungeon behind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the awakened Howard and his team for successfully clearing the Bat Cave dungeon. Reward: 25,000 experience points and one B-level random skill book!]
As the crisp notification echoed and Howard’s team was teleported back to the cave’s entrance, the students rejoiced once again, having secured another reward.
Their jubilation was palpable, except for Carlos Bartel, who noted the setting sun and the descending dusk, a hint of anxiety crossing his features.
The ruins were even more critical than the dungeon!
Having obtained the key to the ruins, he certainly intended to head back immediately, lest he lose it on the way.
Surveying the surroundings and noting that it wasn’t too late, Carlos said, “Fellow students, I initially planned to lead everyone through a few more dungeons. However, circumstances have changed. I need to head back directly. Would you prefer to continue exploring the Silent Forest or return with me?”
A momentary silence ensued.
They knew that sticking with Carlos Bartel was the safest option.
However, the allure of more rewards, fresh from their recent dungeon victory, tugged at their hearts.
Recalling their mentor’s advice, the students exchanged glances and responded, “Dear Carlos, you go ahead. We’ve decided to seek our own adventures.”
“Indeed, our mentor once taught us that as long as we don’t venture too deep into areas with higher-level monsters, we shouldn’t face significant danger.”
“Then I wish you safety.”
With that, Carlos Bartel hastily departed, seemingly unconcerned even with Howard and Abby.
It was notable, considering his original intention was to target Howard.
Regrettably, while Carlos Bartel had a change of heart, Howard would never forget the harm once intended for him.
As the group of students discussed their nighttime resting plans, Howard excused himself to attend to personal necessities, momentarily distancing himself from the team.
With the “Kiss of the Moon Goddess” on his side, Howard felt even more secure at night.
Unafraid of the monsters lurking within Silent Forest, he draped himself in a dark cloak and donned the Death Mask gifted to him by Caitlin.
Carlos Bartel was, after all, a scion of a prominent family.
Howard feared that they might possess some unique means to retrace events.
With the mask on, he could effectively hide his identity.
Otherwise, bearing the notoriety of murdering a fellow student would make it nearly impossible for Howard to find his footing within the alliance.
Once prepared, Howard hastened his pace. Relying on the advantage of his gear, in less than half a moment, he caught up to Carlos Bartel and his three guards.
Although the guards had formidable base attributes, their pace was hampered by the need to protect Carlos Bartel.
Howard was not one for mercy. Surveying the surroundings and finding no one else in sight, he promptly wielded the Mana Drainer.
The skill – Wrath of the Earth – was unleashed.
“Hm?!”
“Something’s amiss! There’s a power fluctuation!”
Almost instantaneously as the skill was activated, the ground began to tremble violently.
The three guards sensed the imminent danger, but before they could shield Carlos Bartel, a shockwave erupted.
In a split second, all three guards, along with Carlos Bartel, were sent soaring into the air.
To their horror, the very next moment, earthen elements converged from the atmosphere, forming a massive mountain overhead.
Without hesitation, it slammed down upon them, pinning them ruthlessly to the ground.
“Ah!”
As the crushing pain engulfed them, even the battle-hardened guards couldn’t stifle their screams. .
As for Carlos Bartel, his cries filled the air, tears streaming from his eyes.
Amidst the pain, Carlos Bartel and his associates were consumed by confusion.
They couldn’t comprehend how they had suddenly been ambushed.
Such terrifying strength, pinning them down in mere moments—could this power be that of someone above LV50?
As they wrestled with their confusion, the sound of footsteps echoed forth.
Draped in a black robe and wearing the Death Mask, Howard emerged.
The special effect of the Death Mask was instantly activated, striking fear and awe into the hearts of Carlos Bartel and his guards.
“Who… who are you?” one guard demanded through gritted teeth, “We belong to the Bartel family. Release us and you shall be handsomely rewarded.”
The guard wasn’t a fool; he knew that some rogue powerhouses didn’t take kindly to threats. Rather than uttering threats, he promised a generous reward.
Sadly for him, Howard had made up his mind to eliminate them.
Not just for the key to the Ruins, but to snuff out potential threats at their inception.
For anyone harboring ill intent towards him, Howard wouldn’t spare their lives.
With a cold smirk, Howard said, “The Bartel family? Never heard of it. Are they something special?”
In reality, this was Howard’s ruse.
Even if any elder from the Bartel family possessed the ability to retrace events, upon hearing this remark, they’d surely conclude that the killer was from another city.
Within Saint City, there was no one who hadn’t heard of the Bartel family.
“You’re not from Saint City?”
Upon hearing this, realization dawned on Carlos Bartel.
Hope flickered across his face as he quickly blurted, “Spare us and all my money is yours! I’m wealthy, carrying over a hundred gold coins. Consider it a ransom for our lives.”
In Carlos Bartel’s mind, if Howard didn’t recognize them, there was no personal grudge and he could possibly buy their safety.
“Money?” Howard grinned maliciously, “Even if I kill you all, I’ll still have your money. Frost Arrow Spell!”
Aware of the classic pitfall of villains talking too much, Howard didn’t give Carlos Bartel and his guards any more time.
Raising his hand, he conjured a piercing ice arrow, which whizzed through the air.
The razor-sharp arrow, in an instant, pierced Carlos Bartel’s skull.
His pupils dilated, the light in Carlos Bartel’s eyes slowly faded.
Even in death, he remained baffled, never understanding why this enigmatic figure was so resolute in killing him.
“Young Master!” “My God, Young Master!” From the side, the three guards cried out in shock.
With Carlos Bartel dead, even if they survived, should they dare to return to the Bartel family, they would undoubtedly face severe punishment, even death.
However, Howard had no intention of sparing them.
Given their high attributes, Howard was uncertain if a lower-level skill could kill them. Without hesitation, he unleashed the skill—Roar of the Fire God!
In an instant, a scorching heat enveloped the area, immediately setting the three guards aflame.
A fiery phantom, reminiscent of a god of fire, materialized behind Howard.
“Is… is… is this a skill above S-level?”
“Who exactly are you? What’s your relation with…”
Before the three guards could finish their sentences, the god of fire’s phantom roared.
Flames, akin to a tempest, erupted, consuming not just the three guards but also the nearby trees.
A towering blaze lit up the night sky, distinctly illuminating the darkness.
This spectacle caught the attention of many who were in the Silent Forest.
The flames raged for several seconds.
When they finally subsided, all that remained was scorched earth.
The remains of Carlos Bartel and the guards had been reduced to ashes.
Fortunately, the Storage Bag, being a spatial item, could withstand high temperatures and remained intact.
Howard quickly approached, retrieving the Storage Bag.
Without inspecting his loot, he hastily retreated in the opposite direction.
Such a fierce burst of flames would undoubtedly attract the attention of some big shots, and Howard didn’t want to be caught by them.
After sprinting nonstop for several minutes and ensuring he was far from the battleground, Howard finally opened the Storage Bag.
Catching sight of the crimson compass, he let out a sigh of relief.
Perfect! Absolutely perfect!
Not only had he eliminated those with murderous intentions towards him, but he had also secured the key to the Ruins. It was a bountiful harvest!
With a slight smirk, Howard, brimming with satisfaction, hummed a tune and leisurely made his way towards the camp where the students were gathering.
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