"Ah! Ah!" Simultaneously, a succession of peculiar human screams abruptly resounded.

  Seemed to be a group of men?

  Kenley raised his head and cast a glance, only to discover a throng of people scurrying about in a desperate and haphazard flight.

  Identify!

  Occupation: Hunter, Race: Human, Level 23.

  Occupation: Warrior, Race: Human, Level 21.

  Occupation: Priest, Race: Human, Level 20.

  Occupation: Archer, Race: Human, Level 21.

  Occupation: Thief, Race: Human, Level 20.

  Were these not precisely the band of adventurers who had been stealthily trailing him all along? They had actually plunged into this chaotic melee.

  It appeared that the elite Demonic Mole regarded him and them as a single cohort...

  With a cursory glance at the elite Demonic Mole, Kenley was jolted. How could it be Level 30?

  He had just vanquished two ordinary Level - 20 Demonic Moles and had ascended to Level 19. To defeat the Level - 30 elite Demonic Mole, he would at least have to reach Level 20 and unlock the skills of the second rank.

  Otherwise, relying solely on the skills of the first rank would likely prove woefully inadequate. This was not merely a matter of offensive output. He had never encountered a Level - 30 elite Demonic Mole before and was oblivious to the skills it had unlocked.

  "The third rank! By the Mother Goddess! We stand no chance against it! Flee at once!" shrieked the lecherous man.

  "Fool! What's all the panic about?" Kate roared in a fit of rage, unsheathing his bow and arrow. Then, he bellowed at Kenley,"You human over there! If you wish to avoid death, join us in combating it!"

  Kenley crossed his arms."Apologies, I decline!"

  "Then you're doomed!" Kate's well - laid plan went awry. His original intent was to use Kenley as a sacrificial pawn, but he hadn't anticipated Kenley's refusal. However, his countenance darkened, and he promptly devised a new stratagem.

  "Bob!" He immediately turned his face towards the lecherous man.

  "What for?" It transpired that the lecherous man was named Bob, yet his voice quivered, as if he had a premonition of impending misfortune.

  "I'll provide cover for you. Lure this fiend over to his side! Rest assured, the four of us shall safeguard your safety!"

  "I'll have none of it! A third - rank monster will crush me in an instant!" Unexpectedly, Bob possessed a modicum of sense and exhibited remarkable resolve at this critical juncture.

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  Bob's profession was that of a thief, a class not renowned for its high vitality. He flatly refused to act as the decoy.

  "Do you doubt that I'll eviscerate you, tie your intestines in a knot, and strangle you with them?" Kate narrowed his eyes, his ire palpable.

  Bob's complexion paled. He had never imagined that Kate would utter such venomous threats. He was acutely aware that, given Kate's volatile nature, he would surely follow through on his words. If he defied Kate, there was a very real possibility that the dire threat would become a grim reality.

  "Very well, then..." he stammered, reluctantly acceding.

  "Miller, bestow two blessings upon him!" Upon seeing Bob's acquiescence, Kate's lips curled into a smirk, and he immediately addressed the priest beside him.

  What abysmal luck. Bob had once dreamed of becoming a world - famous thief, reclining atop a mountain of gold, and spending his days in the company of ravishing women. How could he meet his end here? Bob stole a glance at the enraged elite Demonic Mole and promptly formulated a scheme in his mind.

  He retrieved a vial of poisonous potion, a special concoction capable of diverting the monster's attention towards himself.

  At the sight of Bob producing the potion, Kate's eyes lit up with glee, and he urged incessantly,"Bob, this is your chance to etch your name in history!"

  "Heheh..." Bob merely emitted a few chuckles, but his expression darkened the moment he turned away.

  "Bang!" With a sharp explosion, the vial shattered. Under the potion's influence, the elite Demonic Mole immediately fixed its gaze upon Bob.

  Seizing the opportunity, Bob took off at a sprint, hurtling towards Kenley!

  "It seems those on the other side are determined to make our lives miserable," Kenley mused to himself.

  "Master, what shall we do?" Tia's nerves tightened. Like Kenley, they were both at Level 19, just one step shy of the second - rank threshold.

  "I'll see where you two can run!" Kate sneered malevolently. Then, he nocked an arrow and aimed in Kenley's direction.

  "Tacima, fire with me!" Tacima, the Level - 21 archer, posed a significant threat to Kenley if they launched a coordinated attack.

  "Tia, Magic Shield!" Kenley commanded instantly.

  "Aye!"

  With a gentle hum, a resplendent purple magic shield materialized before them.

  Two arrows whistled through the air. The power of the second - rank arrows far surpassed Tia's defensive capabilities. Although the magic shield successfully intercepted the first arrow, it crumbled under the force of the second.

  "Bang!" It shattered upon contact with the first arrow. Kenley swiftly raised his hand to block. With a split - second countermove, he deflected both arrows.

  Kate's face darkened in frustration. He hadn't anticipated their swift reaction.

  "Mark my words. When they engage the elite Demonic Mole, we'll seal off the area. Not a single one of them shall escape!" Kate hissed with a cold smile.

  "But boss, what if the vampire perishes?" someone inquired. Evidently, they were concerned about the slave contract taking effect, where the slave would meet the same fate as the master.

  "Fear not. I possess a Slave Transfer Contract. We'll slay the monster when they're on the brink of death. Let them wear down this behemoth first, and then we'll step in. We'll eliminate the monster and acquire the slave. A win - win situation, is it not?" Kate chortled.

  "Brilliant, boss!"

  Thereupon, the quartet promptly sealed off all the approaches around Kenley. They refrained from attacking but simply blocked their path, a vexing impediment.

  "Master, we're surrounded," Tia's brow furrowed deeper. She had never expected these individuals to be so heartless. Although their motives remained shrouded in mystery, Kate's furtive glances at her had largely betrayed their objective.

  Was it because of her? Tia pondered silently.

  Gazing at Kate and then at her master's imperturbable visage, Tia couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Now, she and her master had been ensnared in an extremely perilous situation, and it was all her doing.

  A faint ripple stirred in Tia's heart, but she concealed it deftly, saying nothing.

  "Have no fear," Kenley tenderly patted Tia's shoulder, offering her a glimmer of reassurance.

  "Aye!" Tia refocused her gaze. Now, she must stand by her master and weather this storm together.

  "Here it comes!" Kenley sprang into action."Tia, await my command to activate the Blood Prison!"