Night descended after the downpour, and the deserted island resembled a massive beast lying in wait atop the sea. Every so often, faint rustling sounds echoed through the forest before sinking back into dead silence. Ashton was using bandages and medicine to treat the wound on his arm. The injury was deep, and it couldn't be healed quickly with wolf power, so he had to rely on external supplies to speed up recovery. By the weak glow of his watch, he glanced at the number tag in his palm. Thankfully, it was still there. He had originally secured a map fragment as well, but it had been taken from him during a sudden ambush. Ashton trusted Thora and the others completely. With their abilities, there was no way they'd be in danger. He just wasn't used to the absence of that familiar figure who had always fought by his side. Suddenly, there was movement nearby. Ashton became alert at once, drawing his weapon and bracing himself for combat. Moments later, a figure emerged from the trees. Both of them stiffened at once, assuming combat stances. But when the faint light fell on their faces, the cold wariness in their eyes instantly turned into surprise. "Ashton?" "Harvey!" They had only been apart for a short while, yet it felt like a reunion after ages. They raised their hands and slapped palms, a gesture that belonged only to them. Seeing Harvey put Ashton completely at ease. Harvey felt the same. After years of living and training together, they had formed a trust and understanding that needed no words. Harvey casually tossed over a stack number of tags. Ashton raised an eyebrow. "That many?" Harvey leaned back against the tree trunk, hands folded behind his head. "Some of them are for you." The corner of Ashton's mouth lifted slightly as he continued tending to his wound. "How bad is it?" Harvey asked in a low voice. "Just a minor injury. Nothing serious." Ashton shook his head and sighed softly. "Just like what Boss said, as long as you're not dead, everything else is small stuff." Harvey echoed him. "Yeah. As long as you're not dead, everything else doesn't matter." They both thought back to two years ago, when they had still been troublemakers in college. Back then, they were always getting into fights and barely scraping by in underground fighting rings. Back then, they had never imagined joining the military, much less following one person with such unwavering loyalty. Only two years had passed, yet it felt like a lifetime. Only after they joined the military did they truly understand their own worth. They exchanged a smile. The youthful immaturity was long gone from their eyes, replaced by steadiness and maturity, yet the burning spirit of youth still lingered beneath. "We leave at first light tomorrow," Harvey said gravely. Ashton nodded. "Yeah." They didn't need to worry about Thora. All they had to do was take care of themselves and not hold her back. The next morning, just as dawn began to break, Thora opened her eyes.Her gaze was clear and sharp, without a single trace of drowsiness. "You're awake." A man's voice broke the silence. Thora looked up and realized Draven wasn't in the tent at all. She shifted her gaze and saw him standing beneath a tree ahead. After the storm, the early morning light was gentle and bright. The slanted sunlight fell across him, stripping away much of his usual sharpness. He looked like a young pup resting in the forest, basking in the sun, completely harmless. Thora felt a flicker of surprise. I already know his fatal weakness, and he still didn't kill me. The man turned his head. Beneath the silver mask, his reddened pupils fixed on her, his lips pressed into a cold line.Thora glanced at him, her gaze darkening. Just as she was about to get up, her stomach let out an unmistakable growl. She was hungry. Frowning, Thora turned to the backpack on the ground and began searching for food. Everyone had traveled light. The packs only held compressed biscuits meant to stave off hunger and bottled water. It had been 14 hours since her last meal. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been this hungry. But using her ability twice in succession had drained her both mentally and physically, which made the hunger hit faster. When she opened the bag, she found it completely empty. "Are you looking for food?" The sudden voice made Thora jerk her head up, her forehead crashing straight into Draven's chin."Hiss!" Draven sucked in a sharp breath and stepped back half a step. Thora rubbed her forehead and stared at him coldly. "What are you doing?" Draven touched his chin and stared at her impassively. "Is your head made of iron? It hurts!" "Where's my food?" Her supplies couldn't just disappear for no reason, unless someone had taken them.