The battlefield continued burning in the distance.
Another explosion echoed.
James turned to the remaining players.
"Hold position. Do not engage recklessly. Watch the fox's charging pattern."
Several hunters nodded.
He then looked at Sampon.
"You stay here."
Sampon's eyes widened. "What? Why?"
"In case something goes wrong. We need someone fast enough to react."
Sampon crossed his arms, visibly disappointed. "And miss meeting the soul puller?"
"Yes."
Sampon sighed dramatically but didn't argue further.
James looked at Gob and Ark.
"Let's go."
---
They moved carefully through the dark outskirts of the field.
After several minutes—
They heard low murmurs ahead.
James immediately dropped to the ground and motioned for silence.
Gob and Ark followed suit.
They crawled forward slowly.
Through the grass—
James saw them.
A group of cloaked figures standing in formation.
At the front—
A man with his hood down.
Blonde hair.
Sharp features.
Unnaturally beautiful.
Even in dim light, his face looked almost sculpted.
James activated Eye of Scale.
Information surfaced.
---
[Player Name: Vishal Bora]
[Background: Former psychopath. Exceptionally intelligent, especially in manipulation. Learned to weaponize appearance and emotional deception. After the shift in reality, abandoned rational morality and adopted apathy.]
[Alignment: Neutral-Evil / Amoral]
---
James exhaled slowly.
He whispered the information to Gob and Ark.
Then activated Mind's Eye.
---
[Level: 35.]
[Stats:
Strength: 68
Agility: 69
Health: 24
Defense: 19
Resistance: 43
Luck: 10
Sense: 22]
[Class: Unique — Reaper.]
[Skill: Soul Harvest, Eye of Reaper, Moonlight Slash.]
---
James' heart thudded.
"That's him," he whispered.
He turned to Gob.
"How do we convince a manipulative psychopath to extract a soul for us?"
Before Gob could respond—
He suddenly stood up.
Completely exposed.
James' eyes widened. "Gob—!"
Too late.
The cloaked members reacted instantly.
Weapons drawn.
They surrounded Gob.
One lunged first.
Gob moved calmly.
He twisted the attacker's wrist— snap.
Weapon dropped.
Another came from behind—
Gob pivoted, elbow strike to the throat.
A third rushed in—
Gob swept their legs and drove them into the ground.
Within seconds—
Five members were disarmed and pinned down.
Efficient.
Precise.
Then—
A sharp metallic sound cut through the air.
Vishal moved.
A black scythe materialized in his hand.
He stepped forward smoothly and swung.
Gob barely raised his arm in time.
Clang.
The impact pushed Gob back half a step.
Vishal's eyes were calm.
Curious.
But he didn't know—
Gob wasn't alone.
James burst from the grass and grabbed Vishal's ankle mid-swing.
He yanked hard.
Vishal lost balance and hit the ground.
Gob reacted instantly.
He twisted Vishal's arm and immobilized him against the earth.
The scythe clattered away.
Ark stepped forward, guarding.
Gob crouched down slightly.
"Will you cooperate?" Gob asked calmly.
Vishal didn't struggle.
Instead—
He relaxed.
"If you want something from me," he said softly, "you should let me go first."
His tone was reasonable.
Polite.
James hesitated.
Maybe force wasn't—
He reached slightly to ease the hold—
Gob snapped sharply.
"Don't."
James froze.
"He's manipulating you."
Vishal's expression shifted.
His eyes watered suddenly.
"I'm not," he said weakly.
His voice cracked.
"I still have a family to find."
Tears formed.
"I don't even know if they're alive."
Ark's grip tightened.
James felt doubt creep in.
The crying looked real.
The trembling shoulders.
The broken breathing.
Gob leaned closer to James.
"He's acting."
"He's not," Vishal whispered desperately. "Please… I don't want to die."
James swallowed.
For half a second—
He believed him.
Then—
Vishal's leg shot upward violently.
His foot slammed directly into James.
Pain exploded.
James collapsed sideways, clutching himself.
Vishal twisted sharply, breaking partial restraint.
He rolled, grabbed his scythe—
And lunged at James.
Gob's voice cracked.
"NO—!"
The blade came down toward James' neck—
Before it could land—
Ark's fist crashed into Vishal's jaw.
A clean, heavy punch.
Vishal's head snapped sideways.
He collapsed instantly.
Unconscious.
Silence.
James lay on the ground in agony.
Ark exhaled slowly.
Gob stood up, staring at the unconscious Reaper.
After several seconds—
James forced himself upright, wincing.
He looked at Vishal.
Then at Gob.
"…Is this your method of convincing the soul extractor?"