Chapter 426: Rejection

Medel smiled, “That won’t do. If you don’t join our team, I’ll have to consider you a competitor and won’t be polite. Either you die here, or you activate your teleportation ring and return.”

The young man was reluctant to use his teleportation ring. After all the effort to get here, he wasn’t about to give up his hard-earned spot.

But the situation wasn’t in his favor; Wade and Tessa had flanked him, ready to attack.

“Don’t attack, I’ll join your team,” the young man decided, judging it better to feign submission than be forced out.

He planned to escape later, doubting they could watch him constantly.

Medel spread his arms, smiling, “Good, my friend. Welcome to the team. What’s your name?”

“Mata,” the young man replied.

Leaning forward, Medel asked, “Oh, sorry, my friend. I didn’t catch that. What was it?”

“Mata,” Mata repeated.

Wade and Tessa halted their approach, seemingly backing off.

Seeing this, Mata relaxed slightly.

He had no intention of ending his journey here.

The teleportation ring was a last resort.

Suddenly, Mata felt a foreboding sensation.

Looking up, he saw Medel holding a tattered parchment, with “Mata” written on it.

Medel smiled, “Mata, my friend, I don’t like being refused.”

Realizing the danger, Mata tried to activate his teleportation ring, but his magic was sluggish, unusable.

He found himself paralyzed, unable to move, breathe, or feel his heartbeat.

“A curse!”

Mata, a knowledgeable crystallized wizard, quickly recognized he was cursed.

It was a short-term immobilizing curse, brief but deadly, especially now.

With a squelch, a red claw pierced Mata’s chest, crushing his heart.

“All who refuse me deserve death.”

Medel whispered in Mata’s ear, blood splattered on his face.

Wade and Tessa watched silently, Medel’s words chilling them.

After disposing of Mata, Medel wiped his hands with a white handkerchief, discarding it.

“Let’s move on,” Medel said with a smile.

Wade and Tessa exchanged glances, quickly following.

As Wade passed Mata’s body, he pocketed Mata’s rings.

Medel noticed but merely smiled, saying nothing.

***

Later, a shadow passed swiftly through the jungle, pausing briefly by Mata’s body before moving on.

Helag had observed the entire scene, hearing Medel’s words.

Realizing Medel’s hostility, Helag recalled refusing Medel’s invitation multiple times.

It seemed Medel, despite his amiable facade, harbored resentment.

Initially, Helag aimed to kill Malcolm in World X-617, but now Medel was also a target.

However, Medel was troublesome, with two companions and likely many magical tools, making him hard to kill.

If Medel had a chance, he’d use his teleportation ring, complicating matters.

Helag needed the perfect opportunity, not rushing into action against Medel.

Medel used a third-tier magical array for nighttime protection, leaving no openings.

Helag remained patient, waiting for a chance.

If no opportunity arose, he couldn’t force it; Medel likely had hidden tricks.

Seranthiel’s secret vaults contained items like Scapegoat Doll ; Helag doubted Medel lacked similar means.

Medel was indeed a difficult adversary.

Helag suspected that killing Medel in World X-617 would be challenging.

The teleportation ring reduced Helag’s margin for error.

Moreover, Helag knew little of Medel’s abilities or tricks.

The parchment was one of Medel’s tools, immobilizing targets whose names were written on it.

Helag saw Medel write Mata’s name on the parchment, catching Mata off guard as he focused on Wade and Tessa.

Helag memorized the parchment, continuing to shadow Medel’s group.

***

A month later.

“Over there, I see it!”

Medel’s group heard shouts ahead, multiple voices.

They hurried forward.

Scattered people searched the jungle.

Medel spotted a familiar face, Alim, a loyal follower, a sturdy man.

He called, “Alim!”

Alim, searching the jungle, turned at the sound, recognizing Medel and rushing over.

“Master, finally found you,” Alim said with a smile.

Medel nodded, “Good, our team grows stronger. What are you doing here?”

“We found a white deer, very strange. It’s fast and elusive, like it doesn’t exist in this space. I’ve chased it for half a month, reaching here, trying to catch it,” Alim explained.

“A white deer,” Medel mused.

He quickly realized the deer might not be ordinary, possibly the plane’s chosen.

Most extraordinary creatures here were primitive; Alim’s description suggested the deer had mastered spatial rules.

Compared to other creatures, the deer’s abilities seemed advanced, unusual.