Lisa was frightened. Because she saw Tyler's face. His face was covered in silver metal, shining under the rain of blood like a war god walking out of hell. The blade in his hand sliced through the steelworms one after another, cutting every single one in half. Their broken bodies fell from the air and slammed against him with a sharp, clanking sound. The steelworms were known for their tough shells, but Tyler's body was just as hard, maybe even stronger. In the blink of an eye, he tore through the swarm and reached Lisa. He raised his blade and slashed through her last line of defense. The tip stopped just short of her neck. Lisa's body was trembling from fear. Right before the blade could touch her, it shifted back into his hand. Tyler grabbed her arm, holding her tight. The swarm of insects that surrounded her dropped to the ground all at once. Covered in blood, Tyler's face was ashen. He glared coldly at Lisa and spoke in a flat voice, "Call off your bugs!" Lisa clenched her teeth so hard. Her pride burned inside her chest. Before the apocalypse, she was the star among her peers. Lisa had trained in combat since childhood, was raised among men, and later joined a top mercenary. After the world fell apart, her rare ability made her even more powerful, admired, and feared by Crow. Lisa had never forgotten the shame she'd felt back at the coal factory. Tyler and his team had made her look weak, and that humiliation had burned in her heart ever since. Now, standing before him again, she thought the present was her moment to rise above and restore her pride. But things hadn't gone the way she imagined. She looked at Tyler, her jaw tight, forcing the words out between clenched teeth. "Tyler ... how about we make a bet?" Tyler frowned. This was not the time for games. He wasn't interested in anything she had to say. "No matter what you do," Lisa said, her voice shaking but proud, "use every trick you have. If you can make me scream—just once—I'll order every last insect to retreat. I'll even promise never to bother you again." Her lips curled into a mocking smile. It was her final challenge, her last battle. "But if you can't—ugh." Her words broke off in a gasp. A dagger had already stabbed beneath her ribs and twisted hard. Lisa's body trembled, but she bit down, holding back any sound of pain. Blood dripped from her mouth, yet she still glared at Tyler with a defiant smirk, eyes full of challenge. Tyler's brow furrowed deeper. He hated this. He wasn't the kind of man who took pleasure in torture. In fact, he despised the mercenary methods she used to brag about. But right now, he had no choice. "Tyler, is that all you've got?" Lisa hissed coldly, her voice hoarse but mocking. Without a word, his fingers morphed into a gleaming blade. In one swift motion, he slashed across her abdomen. Across the field, Caroline and her team were completely drained. Even Denton, after chugging two bottles of spring water, felt his body collapse with exhaustion. Their muscles burned, their organs ached; that was the cost of pushing their abilities too far. Francis could barely keep his eyes open; everything around him blurred. Caroline had already dropped the triangular link ability and was now fighting on instinct. Her water ability lashed out numbly against the endless swarm. Back where Tyler stood, Lisa coughed up a mouthful of blood but refused to scream. Her stubborn eyes met his, still full of fire and challenge. She wasn't afraid to die. She just refused to lose. ...Just then, a big dog came charging down the stairs, a plastic bottle clamped in his mouth. Above his head flew a gray parrot, flapping hard and shouting at the top of his lungs, "Nelson made a formula that makes the steelworms retreat!" The words hit like a flash of light through the darkness. Caroline could hardly believe her ears, but she didn't stop moving. She rushed forward to meet Raven and grabbed the bottle from his mouth. Inside was a pale yellow liquid. One look, and her heart shouted just one thing—Nelson, you genius! Without hesitation, she dashed to the window and twisted the cap open. Caroline drew the liquid out, guiding it with her water ability. Droplets formed midair, spreading wide as they fell over the entire battlefield. But she worried it wouldn't cover enough ground, so she quickly shifted the liquid into vapor. Within seconds, a faint, unpleasant smell filled the air—sharp, sour, and strange. That stench, however, was their salvation. Then, something unbelievable happened. The steelworms that had been frenziedly attacking suddenly froze. Every single one of them stopped moving. Two seconds later, they all started retreating—fast. Their retreat was ten times quicker than their attack, like a horde of terrified creatures fleeing from a deadly predator.