Do not take offense.
Seizing the opportunity, Jack withdrew from the forest. With a swift turn, he unfurled a pair of enormous wings behind him, transforming into a bird-man with the head of an eagle, who soared into the sky with a sharp, raucous laugh.
"Wang Lin, we shall meet again soon. Once I have completed my training as a Druid Warrior, I will return to continue our battle from today."
As I watched Jack circle in the sky before flying northward, I suppressed the tempting thought of unleashing the Siren's Wail. With a flick of my wrist, the Death Breath silently returned to my palm, and a cold smile crept across my face as I declared, "I will await your return, but next time, fortune may not favor you as it did today."
During our previous encounter, I refrained from utilizing the transformation of the Death Breath. In the calamity, my powers were constrained, and even with all my might, I could only severely wound Jack without the capacity to kill him. It was wiser to conserve some strength for a grand surprise upon our next meeting. This time, we lost two lives, while Jack suffered the demise of over ten subordinates. Although Zhang Bo and Huang Shengqiu were hardly promising individuals, their loss left me particularly displeased.
The Druid Warrior's heart should enable the transformation into various extraordinary creatures to enhance combat prowess. Fortunately, Jack had yet to reach the pinnacle of his abilities; if he were to transform into a fire-breathing dragon, I would indeed find myself at a considerable disadvantage. Yet, what unique powers does the Druid Warrior's heart possess? The power dynamics of Demon Island starkly contrast with the experiences I gained from the game; I cannot measure Jack's capabilities against those of Druids from novels or games.
Reflecting on the ancient iridescent fruit I still held in my possession, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret over my earlier choices. I was uncertain how to activate the abilities of the Timekeeper, which paled in comparison to the potential of transforming into a radiant dragon. The protective deity, the Vajra, would be of greater assistance to me at present. However, I promptly dismissed these futile musings.
I pondered, "There is a saying that the absence of choice is the best choice. Rather than dwelling on regrets, it would be wiser to focus on how to conclude this incident." The level of combat between Jack and me was far too elevated; Wang Zhong and Li Mingda had no means to intervene.
After Jack's departure, Tang Lei, Wang Lili, Lu Li, Sun Yan, and Chen Xiu regarded me with peculiar expressions. Gu Lengzhai quietly remarked, "That person—Wang Lin, do you know him from before?" My exchange with Jack had already divulged too many secrets, making it increasingly difficult to maintain my disguise, especially as there was no longer any need for concealment.
I paused briefly, then spoke in a calm tone, "I am different from you; I am the Guide.
I will direct your future paths." I succinctly recounted the situation within the Demon Island amusement park, and each of them wore an expression of disbelief, bombarding me with an array of questions. "There are only two days left. If you do not become qualified warriors by then, you will continue your journey to the Underworld. I cannot tell you whether staying here or going to the Underworld is better, as I have never ventured into the realm of death.
I cannot provide a comparison."
With a flick of my sleeve, I departed with purpose. I chose not to return to Ganmeilu Village, instead heading north toward the headquarters of the Calamity Legion. They could either follow me or return; either way, it mattered little to me. When the time came, the administrator of the Demon Island amusement park would naturally handle these individuals.
Since Jack had already appeared, I was curious to see what intriguing events awaited in the north. Encountering Jack again was something I fervently desired. In the world of calamity, everyone was constrained, and engaging in more battles would help me uncover his true nature.
Suddenly, the silver runes on my hands flickered, and before I could react, a white beam of light descended from above, enveloping me.
In a flash, I found myself in Judina's office.
Why had I been summoned back before the time was due?
"Because you have violated the rules of the Guide; we are not permitted to attack one another."
Judina sat behind her desk, idly toying with a pen. A chill ran down my spine as I recalled that specific clause in the contract, causing me to feel somewhat anxious. I hastily inquired, "What about those individuals still in the calamity?
Am I to continue with my guiding tasks?"
Judina smiled and replied, "Among the ten individuals you guided in the calamity, three meet the standards of warriors. The rest will continue their journey to the Underworld. This conflict serves as a verbal warning; whether you wish to proceed with your tasks is entirely your choice."
I pondered briefly before responding, "Then I will choose a different theme, guiding the remaining individuals."
"That is acceptable; you may choose any destination!"
Judina furrowed her lovely brows and added, "However, you must not engage in conflict with other Guides again, or I will deduct your reward."
"I will certainly be cautious next time. I intend to bring the remaining individuals along as well."
"Where will you choose?"
"Return to the Abyss!"
"Your choice is quite unconventional."
Having initially felt confident about guiding this group to become warriors in the calamity world, I had not anticipated encountering Jack. Since I could not clash with other Guides, I needed to change my theme; otherwise, if I were to encounter Jack again, even if I could endure it, he would surely seek trouble with me.
The world of the Abyss is vastly different from that of calamity; it is filled with immensely powerful and ferocious monsters. Life in the Abyss is exceedingly arduous, as people must battle these creatures daily to secure their right to exist.
Such a world would greatly aid my efforts to guide these individuals into becoming warriors. The pressure of survival would diminish dissenting voices, and the frequency of battles would naturally accelerate their growth in combat prowess.
Judina effortlessly manipulated the situation, and in the next moment, I was transported to a wild and untamed world, surrounded by towering trees. A colossal bird with massive wings soared overhead, its size rivaling that of a small aircraft. In a daze, I felt as if I had entered a realm of giants, where every plant and creature in the Abyss was astonishingly colossal.
This time, I brought along a team of nearly two hundred individuals, comprising both men and women, though the majority were robust and strong. The selection criteria of the Demon Island amusement park remained quite stringent, excluding the frail, elderly, and infirm.