“You’re strong, kid!”
A young man stepped forward, his piercing gaze fixed on Chris.
Chris asked calmly, “Who are you?”
The young man snorted coldly and said, “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ray, the War King chosen from the Southern War Zone. Today, I’ll test your strength!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ray clenched his fists and charged straight at Chris.
Ray’s speed was astonishing. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Chris.
“Fight!”
Without wasting a word, Chris roared and clenched his fists, striking back with equal ferocity.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The two clashed violently, engaged in a frenzied battle.
Ray’s strength was undeniable. Chris estimated that Ray’s level was close to half-step Crescendence.
Seeing this, others joined the fray, attacking Chris from all directions.
“Die!” Chris roared, sending one of the cultivators flying with a single punch.
The man crashed heavily to the ground, lifeless on impact.
Monster Camp was merciless-defeat meant death.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One by one, the cultivators fell, struck down by Chris.
By the end, only ten people remained standing.
Ray stared at Chris in shock. He couldn’t believe the sheer power Chris possessed.
Dozens of people had surrounded and attacked Chris, yet he had killed so many. Who was this man? How could he be so terrifying?
As Ray pondered, his brows furrowed deeply.
Ray was already considered incredibly strong, the War King of the Southern War Zone. He had been confident he’d claim first place in Monster Camp. But he hadn’t expected to encounter a monstrous opponent like Chris.
Even he wasn’t a match for Chris.
When only ten people were left standing, it marked the end of the third round of Monster Camp trials.
Before leaving Monster Camp, the ten survivors were awarded certificates of qualification.
As the first-place winner, Chris received a golden medal known as the Devil’s Medal.
Forged from pure gold, the Devil’s Medal symbolized the highest honor within the Amerosia military.
From that day forward, Chris was officially recognized as a super soldier of Amerosia.
Chris ran his fingers over the Devil’s Medal, a faint smile appearing on his face.
What mattered to him wasn’t the medal’s value but the fact that he had earned it through his hard work and determination.
More importantly, the Devil’s Medal granted him immunity. No local institution could judge him, no matter what laws he violated. Only the highest tribunal of the Amerosia military had jurisdiction over him.
This privilege was what drew so many to Monster Camp every year.
But Chris didn’t care about any of that. What truly mattered to him was the transformation he had undergone during the grueling month of training.
Chris could clearly feel how much stronger he had become.
Clutching the medal tightly, he gazed into the distance, his eyes sharp with resolve. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, “Daniel Williams, I’m coming for you! Whatever schemes you’re planning, you’ll face my storm!”
—
Meanwhile, at Middleton-Chester Group Branch Office
It was nine in the evening, and Esther had just finished work.
Since Chris had disappeared, Esther had thrown herself into work, using it to numb her pain.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, she answered. “Candace?”
“Esther, my grandfather wants to invite you to dinner.”
“Alright,” Esther replied with a nod, ending the call.
Caspian’s invitation was something she couldn’t refuse. During her time in Middleton, Caspian had been a great help to her.
Especially after Chris’s disappearance, forces led by the Frost family had relentlessly pressured the Chester Group branch. Without Caspian’s support, Esther wouldn’t have been able to hold on.
Twenty minutes later, Esther drove to the Vance family home.
At the dinner table, James suddenly said, “If only Chris were here.”
His words brought an awkward silence.
Esther stood abruptly. “I’m full. You all take your time.”
“Wait, Esther! Let me walk with you.”
Candace stood as well, following Esther outside for a walk in the garden.
Inside, Caspian glared at James. “What were you thinking, bringing that up?”
James lowered his head. “Grandfather, I was wrong.”
Caspian snorted. “Tomorrow, tell Jack Butler to stop searching for Chris.”
“What?” James exclaimed, visibly shocked. “Grandfather, we haven’t found any trace of Chris yet. How can we stop now?”
“I said stop, and that’s final. Don’t argue with me!” Caspian snapped.
“Understood,” James said reluctantly, nodding.
In truth, their search hadn’t been fruitless.
One lead suggested that a man had been rescued from a river in a place called Peace Village in Southrivers. That man could very well have been Chris.
Jack Butler had been planning to take Team Wolf to investigate, but now Caspian’s order to halt the search left James confused.
Caspian, however, had his reasons. He feared that continuing the search might reveal that Chris was still alive.
If that news spread, it could jeopardize Chris’s covert plans.
—
In the Garden
Esther’s face was filled with sorrow. “Candace, why haven’t we heard anything about Chris after all this time? Do you think he’s… gone?”
Candace shook her head, trying to comfort her. “Esther, don’t think like that. You know what kind of man Chris is. He’s too strong to die so easily.”
“But… if he’s alive, why hasn’t he come to find me? Why?” Esther’s voice broke into sobs.
Tears streamed down her face once more. Since Chris’s disappearance, Esther had cried countless times. Her eyes were swollen from grief.
Candace held Esther’s hand. “Don’t worry, Esther. I have a feeling Chris is still alive. If he hasn’t appeared, he must have his reasons.”
The last time at the Nance family estate, Candace had sensed Chris’s presence.
Although she hadn’t seen him with her own eyes, she firmly believed that Chris was alive.