In the alley across from the inn, shadows concealed several figures.

At the front stood the Tracker and Cunning Fox.

"What's going on? Why did the Moon Lord suddenly come here?" The Tracker looked dumbfounded, staring at her figure entering the inn.

Shouldn't she be patrolling, or waiting in the central district for signs of Bloodbeard's invasion?

"What else could it be? The thief must have already contacted the Moon Lord." Cunning Fox grit his teeth in frustration. "And we only came on our own…"

Their plan had been simple: lure the Moon Lord to deal with Bloodbeard, then slip in and steal the crystal fish amidst the chaos.

But instead, she had found the thief herself—likely trying to claim the crystal fish before Bloodbeard even arrived.

"Quick, notify the boss!" The Tracker snapped at the men behind him. "Tell him the Moon Lord's already made contact with the thief. If he delays, it'll be too late."

"Understood."

Several shadows darted out of the alley, heading toward Bloodbeard's hideout outside the Moon Lake Tribe.

The Tracker narrowed his eyes at the inn. "We were supposed to strike at midnight, but now… everything has to move ahead."

Cunning Fox's eyes gleamed with calculation. "As long as we make use of the chaos, we can snatch the crystal fish. Bloodbeard won't trust us, but if he's busy fighting the Moon Lord, we'll have our chance to escape."

The Tracker frowned uneasily. He was only a third-tier mutant—an auxiliary type at that. Against either side, escape seemed unlikely. But his tribe was growing. Without more water, his people would starve or be cast out.

In this apocalyptic world, right and wrong no longer mattered. Only survival did—the law of the strong devouring the weak.

"You and I are competitors from now on," Cunning Fox murmured under his breath, his hands flexing lightly.

"It'll depend on Bloodbeard's strength," the Tracker muttered, when suddenly—

Tap… tap… tap…

A broad, one-meter-tall figure emerged from the darkness.

Bloodbeard dragged a patrolman's corpse carelessly in one hand. Behind him trailed Ye Zhao and the Blood Knife thieves.

"The Moon Lord doesn't have the crystal fish yet, does she?" Bloodbeard flung the body aside, eyes blazing red with bloodshot veins.

"The thief's inside the inn. The Moon Lord hasn't come back out," one follower reported nervously.

"Oh? So the thief really is in league with that stinking woman." Bloodbeard's yellow teeth gleamed as he grinned, fury simmering beneath the surface. Days of frustration had pushed his temper to the breaking point.

"Boss, should we rush in and catch them off guard?" the Tracker urged.

"You're right," Bloodbeard said, flashing a feral smile. "You two go first."

Clap, clap.

He patted the Tracker and Cunning Fox on the shoulders with his bloodied blade.

"What? Just us?" The Tracker's face paled. "Boss, only you can match the Moon Lord…"

Cunning Fox narrowed his eyes, feigning timidity. "Yes, we'd be no match for her at all." All the while, he prepared to bolt at the first chance.

Bloodbeard's grin faded. "Are you refusing me?"

"…No. We'll go." The Tracker ground his teeth and obeyed.

The two moved toward the inn together. With a glance, they silently reached an agreement.

Cunning Fox mouthed soundlessly: One… two… three. Then we split.

The Tracker gave a barely perceptible nod.

One… two… three—

Boom!

The Tracker suddenly stomped the ground and bolted down the left street, shouting, "Bloodbeard is—"

"Going somewhere?"

Bloodbeard appeared behind him in an instant, his massive shadow swallowing the Tracker whole.

"Boss, I—"

Slash!

Blood flashed.

Bloodbeard flicked his blade clean, glaring at the trembling Cunning Fox. His voice was hoarse and cold: "Disobedient? Playing games with me?"

"N-no, never." Sweat poured down Cunning Fox's face.

Only now did he realize the truth: Bloodbeard wasn't merely a fourth-tier enhancer. He was far stronger.

"Back."

Bloodbeard yanked Cunning Fox by the collar and dragged him behind, turning toward the inn's entrance.

There, three figures had silently appeared.

"Bloodbeard, I didn't think you'd really dare enter the Moon Lake Tribe," the Moon Lord said coldly, pushing Yue Feiyan and a maid back.

"Mother, be careful," Yue Feiyan cried.

"Don't worry. I'll end him quickly." The Moon Lord's expression hardened as she stepped forward, sleeves flowing.

"Hand over my crystal fish." Bloodbeard raised his long knife, pointing it at her throat. "Or I'll cut you down where you stand."

"You're bold to speak to my mother like that," Yue Feiyan spat angrily.

The Moon Lord's charming face turned icy.

Bloodbeard sneered and lunged. His blade arced toward her neck.

Whoosh!

A pillar of water erupted from the ground, blocking his strike.

"Die!" The Moon Lord's fist shot forward, water jets blasting from her elbow. Her strike smashed into Bloodbeard's face like a cannon.

Boom!

His skull caved slightly as his body was hurled back ten meters, rolling across the dirt.

"Boss!" the thieves cried out in panic.

"Shut up!" Bloodbeard spat blood, staggering to his feet. His grin twisted. "Sure enough, just like a woman—your punch is as weak as a child's."

He licked the blood from his blade, eyes wild. "When I catch you, I'll lock you up as a pet—to produce water for me every day."

The Moon Lord's aquamarine eyes flashed cold. "You've angered me."

Water surged, cloaking her figure as twin whips of flowing water coiled in her hands.

Crack!

The air split as the whips lashed down. The ground tore open where Bloodbeard had just stood.

"Impressive—worthy of a sixth-tier awakener."

Bloodbeard tore at the faint red scar beneath his chin. His skin split open—lion ears sprouting atop his head, pupils turning blood-red.

"Blood Lion Form!"

His body doubled in size, muscles bulging. With bestial speed, he blurred past the water whips, lunging at the Moon Lord.

Slash!

Blood splattered.

The Moon Lord staggered back, clutching her stomach as crimson seeped between her fingers.

"Mother!" Yue Feiyan ignited in flames, ready to charge.

"Don't come closer!" the Moon Lord barked hoarsely.

"I'm fine." She forced her power to seal the wound, though her face was pale.

"Hah! Moon Lord, you're weaker than I thought." Bloodbeard sneered. "Was your strength spent on condensing water earlier? Otherwise, you wouldn't have been hit."

Cunning Fox trembled, recognizing the truth. A fifth-tier mutant… No wonder.

The Moon Lord steadied herself, pressing both palms to the ground.

"Water Cube!"

Whoosh!

Water droplets filled the air, converging to form a massive five-meter cube, trapping Bloodbeard inside.

"Just… a little longer…" she whispered, fighting dizziness as she forced the torrent to hold him in place.

Inside the cube, Bloodbeard thrashed, his movements slowed by the crushing water.

"Boss!" his men shouted in horror.

"Attack her now!" Cunning Fox barked coldly.

Blood Knife and Ye Zhao rushed forward.

Meanwhile, Cunning Fox slipped away, eyes glinting. The Moon Lord's empty-handed. The crystal fish must still be hidden… perhaps outside the tribe. If I kidnap the thief, I can force him to lead me to it.

He darted toward the inn, disappearing into the shadows.

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