An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori (official version)

After tending to the wounds of the injured members of the Black Scorpion Squad, their combat abilities and

mobility were severely impacted due to the loss of their arm.

Even simple self-defense beca challenge.

Grace surveyed the wounded squad members before turning her gaze to Garrett. “Captain Wilder, should |

arrange the return of our injured team members?”

Since they had just entered the oasis, she could still assist the wounded in returning. Yet, if they opted to press

forward, there would be no turning back.

“Captain, we're fine! Just lost an arm, no big deal!”

“Yeah, we've faced worse. This injury means nothing to us.”

“Captain, trust us. We can pull off the mission without a hitch!”

Facing the prospect of returning, the injured members of the Black Scorpion Squad reassured Garrett promptly.

They understood that going back meant giving up the treasures the others would obtain in the oasis.

Although the mission promised a good reward, dividing it among the team didn’t give them enough money for

retirement. This was especially tough for those missing a limb.

So, to ensure a stable future in their later years, they had to collect more treasures. With this goal in mind, they

were determined not to be dismissed.

Garrett affirmed, “Ms. Linsor, my team consists of experienced individuals who fully understand the risks

involved, including the possibility of losing their lives.

“They've dealt with tough situations before, and these minor injuries won't slow them down. | promise that they

won't be a liability.”

He fully grasped the sentiments of his injured comrades. Although the oasis was dangerous, it held a trove of

treasures.

The saying “fortune favors the bold” resonated with them. With a rare chance for wealth, they couldn't afford to

miss it.

After years of living on the edge, the thought of retirement had crossed the minds of his squad members.

If they succeeded in the mission, they would retire comfortably with sufficient funds. At that critical juncture, no

one was prepared to give up after having cso far.

“Okay, they're your squad members, so it’s your call. If there's nothing else, let's keep moving.” Grace kept her

words brief and directed the group to continue their journey.

She respected his choices and refrained from interfering. Before leaving, she instructed her subordinates to

gather materials and post a sign cautioning future explorers about the dangers of touching the revitalberries.

With her contribution complete, it was now in the hands of future explorers to decide whether to heed her

caution.

After the earlier incident, the group resumed their journey with heightened caution. No one dared to touch

anything along the way.

After walking for miles, the sky darkened, bringing a bone-chilling cold and a cutting wind that made people

shiver.

Grace ordered a camp to be set up immediately to ensure safety, complete with defensive structures to ward off

wild animals.

With a large team, they quickly cleared the surroundings and set up animal traps.

At the outer perimeter, a trench was dug to hold kerosene as a defensive measure. If necessary, they could

quickly ignite the kerosene to repel wild beasts.

Despite being elite warriors unafraid of ordinary beasts, the mysterious nature of the oasis demanded extra

caution.

After setting up the camp, most sought refuge in their tents for warmth. Only two patrol teams stayed, circling

the campsite to guard against unexpected events.

As night fell, the oasis underwent a transformation with the emergence of buzzing insects, chirping birds, roaring

beasts, tremors in the earth, and other peculiar sounds. This lively atmosphere was a stark contrast to the

daytsilence, making everyone realize the oasis’s ominous nature.

The darkness unveiled the true face of the oasis, exposing more than their daytexperiences had revealed.

Dustin and Grace sat across from each other inside the tent. They were warming up by the fire and drinking tea.

“We're in the oasis now. Did your Celestial Eye pick up on anything?” She was the one to break the silence and

initiate the conversation.

She enlisted Dustin for security and his Celestial Eye. The relic could not only see through illusions and break

spells but also served for treasure hunting. The Celestial Eye would respond when valuable items entered its

range.

Dustin calmly took a sip of tea before stating, “It senses a faint response in both the southeast and northwest,

but it's not obvious. Furthermore, it doesn’t match with the Dracan essence you described.”

A faint response might suggest either a considerable distance or just a regular treasure. The Celestial Eye

wouldn't respond to items such as eclipse spiritstone or revitalberries.

“Looks like we need to go deeper.”

Grace nodded.

She realized finding the Dracan essence wouldn't happen in a day. However, considering the situation, the

sooner they finished the mission, the safer they'd be.

He said casually, “Honestly, I've got a bad feeling. This time, finding the Dracan essence might not be easy.”

She replied, “If it were a breeze, | wouldn't have reached out to you. The fate of our nation is tied to the Dracan

essence. Regardless of the challenges, | must get it back.”

“Sure, whatever you say,” Dustin said with a shrug. He was ready to fully commit to seeing the mission through.

As they chatted, a sudden whistle sliced through the air, a clear warning of impending danger. Soon after, the

deep growl of a beast reached their ears.

A resonant roar abruptly shattered the tranquility of the camp, jolting everyone into action. Weapons in hand,

they hastily exited their tents, ready to confront an unknown threat.

“What's going on?”

Grace frowned as she and Dustin stepped out, coincidentally encountering the captain of the royal guards.

“Ms. Linsor, there's an unknown creature approaching. Please stay in the tent for a moment!” the captain

advised.

“A creature?” She raised an eyebrow. ” Lead the way.”

“Ms. Linsor, it might be dangerous!” The captain hesitated.

“With Mr. Rhys by my side, that creature won't pose a threat to me.”

She spoke briefly and headed directly toward the source of the sound. She couldn't wait to find out which

creature dared to attack the camp at night.