Zhang Lie had only won against the three-star scarab because of a large number of compounding factors: his numerous superior-grade soulshards, limit fragments, and rare techniques being the most important.

However, acquiring even one, let alone all, of these factors would be challenging to an ordinary hunter, and he certainly couldn't reveal any of them hastily, so all he could say was something vaguely inspiring.

"Is that so? You're really courageous— if I were to charge in like that, I'm sure I'd have lost my life." This particular sentry seemed rather talkative, perhaps because he was interested in meeting Zhang Lie, and the two of them struck up a conversation.

At the same time, deep within the Blackwind Fort, a middle-aged man was staring at a screen with a serious expression on his face, on which the footage of the Kez invasion was being shown.

Although it had already been a few days since the invasion...