Lin Xinyan stared at the creature before her, her gaze cold and her expression still utterly serious.

Ge Sila’s head began to split open, and the first thing to come into view was undoubtedly the layer of scales beneath. Ge Sila didn’t waste any time. As the outer shell cracked apart, its two claws tore at it as well.

Lin Xinyan knew just how hard that layer of scales was. Yet this creature could tear through it with ease. The gap between them was terrifying.

As Ge Sila ripped away the scales in great strips, Lin Xinyan saw the body beneath them.

She never would’ve guessed that inside the fat, swollen body she’d seen from the outside was a scrawny frame covered in scales.

Lin Xinyan was too shocked to speak. She’d sensed something was wrong earlier. After finally breaking through Ge Sila’s scales, she’d found another layer beneath them—one even thicker and heavier. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break through it.

Scanners rarely made mistakes, but there was always room for error. A near-Spirit Rank reading versus a Spirit Rank reading—that was the margin of error. She’d already believed this lizard was at quasi-Spirit Rank. In other words, the scales covering its body were very likely the direct cause of the misreading.

It was too late now that she knew the truth, but Lin Xinyan didn’t regret it. Wasn’t that what Heroes existed for—to help others and make destroying creatures like this their duty?

By now, the lizard’s outer layer of scales had fallen away completely, revealing the body beneath. That explained Ge Sila’s incredible speed.

Faced with such a powerful creature, Lin Xinyan had put her life on the line. The only thing she wanted now was to give it everything she had and hurt Ge Sila. Even a little would be enough.

Ge Sila closed its eyes, drew in a long breath, then slowly breathed out.

“Mm… It feels wonderful to be free of this shell. It’s as if freedom itself is filled with even more freedom.”

Lin Xinyan couldn’t escape, so Ge Sila could afford to take its time. It didn’t attack her right away.

After taking several more long breaths, it finally turned toward Lin Xinyan. Its two claws moved in a steady rhythm, as if heralding the danger to come.

“All right, my dear friend. Let’s continue our game of freedom.”

The moment it finished speaking, Ge Sila vanished with a whoosh. Lin Xinyan looked around, but there was no sign of it. She could clearly feel the air currents shifting around her, but they were erratic, changing in every direction. There was only one explanation: Ge Sila’s incredible speed.

Ge Sila could attack whenever it wanted. Yet it still didn’t strike. Instead, it kept circling Lin Xinyan, enjoying itself. It seemed to be showing off its strength—its speed.

Lin Xinyan was powerless, but she didn’t give up. She kept searching for Ge Sila. Then a voice suddenly came from behind her, and she froze.

“Quit dawdling! You’re getting on my fucking nerves!”

As soon as the voice rang out, there came the sound of an impact, followed by a scream.

Bam!!!

“Agh!!!”

A gale swept up behind her, whipping her hair wildly and nearly knocking her off her feet.

A dark blur shot past her.

Bam! Bam! Bam!!!

A series of crashes rang out. The dark blur smashed through more than a dozen trees before finally coming to a stop.

Lin Xinyan knew the dark blur that had flown away was Ge Sila. She didn’t look closely. Instead, she immediately turned around to see who had spoken behind her.

Behind her stood a handsome young man dressed in black from head to toe.

The young man wore a smile.

…