Witnessing the smug expression on Alex's face, Xiao Se could feel the rage boiling within him, like a fire stoked by the winds of humiliation.
His fury was further catalyzed by the fact that Wu Lina and the others, who had until now been preoccupied with their battles, had now turned their attention towards him.
His earlier outcry had caused a ripple in the ongoing battle, momentarily halting the fierce clash between them and the soulweavers.
Those who had been on the sidelines, observing the battle with an eagle's keen eye, were now privy to the entire spectacle.
Alex, who had been maintaining the facade of a virtuous and noble young man in his attempt to win over Wu Lina, had once again smeared his own image.
This was not the first time; the same scenario had played out before, and the arrogant grin that now adorned Alex's face was only adding fuel to the fire.
However, the imminent threat of the descending soulweavers caused everyone's attention to snap back to the battlefield.
The piercing cries of the soulweavers resonated through the air, a grim reminder of the danger that was once again upon them.
Alex, who had earlier thrown his dagger at the stealthy soulweavers advancing on Xiao Se, was now left defenseless.
His decision to assist Xiao Se wasn't motivated by his desire to see Xiao Se embarrass himself in front of everyone.
Far from it, his reasoning was simple and deeply rooted in the lessons learned from his military past.
One of the most vital lessons that had been ingrained in him during his time in the military, a principle he later imparted to his special forces team, was the importance of having your teammate's back in battle. "Regardless of personal animosities or differences, once the battle started, it was crucial to ensure the safety of your teammate."
Although Alex had been thrust into a world that starkly contrasted his previous one, he held firm to this teaching.
On spotting the silent approach of the soulweavers toward Xiao Se, his instinct kicked in, and there was no time for second thoughts.
Alex was well aware of the disarray that a head injury could cause amid a battle, irrespective of the severity of the blow.
But now, amid the battle, Alex found himself weaponless.
The frustration was evident on his face as he turned towards the impending soulweavers.
Summoning all the strength he could muster, he clenched his fist and prepared to face the enemy barehanded.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, the dagger he had thrown earlier miraculously reappeared in his hand.
The sudden occurrence left Alex dumbfounded. A surprised exclamation slipped from his lips, "What, when did I suddenly become Thor?"
Unable to resist the urge, he chuckled at his own joke, musing aloud, "Whoa, talk about a handy surprise! Turns out I've leveled up my Thor game. Dagger toss? No problem! It's like I've become a real-life Thor-ception Thor with an instant boomerang dagger! Watch out, Loki, I've got tricks up my sleeve!"
Alex released a chuckle, a mere ripple of mirth that blended seamlessly into the ambient noise of the night. Yet, his humor was a mere veneer, an illusion of levity.
Beneath it, his mind was razor focused on the soulweavers that emerged from the darkness ahead, their ethereal forms flickering like ghostly lanterns.
The cool weight of his dagger in his hand was a comforting reassurance. He was ready, poised to meet the oncoming onslaught with lethal precision.
The soulweavers descended upon him in a flurry of spectral light and weaving shadows. With practiced ease, Alex drew his dagger across the throat of the nearest beast.
The middle-stage soulweaver barely had time to react before its head rolled away, its body dissipating into a ghostly mist.
A surge of satisfaction coursed through him as 180 Experience Points flashed before his eyes.
Still, he did not pause to bask in his victory. The night was young, and he had every intention of pressing his advantage.
The soulweavers, for all their otherworldly might, were physically frail compared to other Qi beasts.
Their strength lay in their ability to trap their victims in a dreamscape, a psychic battlefield where they held all the cards. Against the swift, ruthless blade of Alex, however, their physical weakness was a fatal flaw.
Just as he was contemplating his next target, a soulweaver lunged at him from the shadows.
It was too close, too fast, and before he could react, it detonated in a burst of raw, primal energy.
The explosion launched him into the air, his body suspended for a moment in the dreamlike silence before gravity reclaimed him with a brutal force.
The impact with the jagged, unforgiving ground jarred his bones, a symphony of pain that echoed through his body.
His internal organs felt like they were tossed on a stormy sea, and a bitter taste filled his mouth.
As he struggled to rise, a voice pierced through the fog of his disorientation. "Everybody be careful, they have entered a rage mode!" Wu Lina's warning was sharp and urgent.
Even though her call was meant for everyone, Alex knew she was mainly referring to him - he was the weakest link in their chain.
Ignoring the pain in his body, he forced himself to sit up, his mind spinning with questions. "Rage mode, what's that?" He muttered, rifling through the memories of Li Wei.
Li Wei, the man whose memories were a treasure trove of information, albeit a rather sparse one.
As he searched through the fragmented recollections, a sliver of understanding began to dawn.
Rage mode. A state of frenzied desperation that a Qi beast entered when severely injured or at the brink of death.
A last stand, a final gambit where they burned their life force to unleash devastating power.
However, Alex saw it differently. To him, it was not 'rage mode', but rather 'suicide mode'. A desperate, self-destructive act of defiance where survival was tossed aside in favor of a single, all-encompassing goal: to bring down their enemy, regardless of the cost.