I calmed my breath, feeling oxygen spread to every inch of my body.


    “4 to 3. Our minions should at least put up a resistance now.”


    I talked, mostly to myself.


    “I am sorry, Champion.”


    Artemeni spoke up while avoiding my gaze. I shook my head.


    “It is my fault, Artemeni. I should have predicted their movements. I underestimated them and you guys paid the price.”


    Artemeni’s expression hardened, her guilt giving way to a grim determination. Despite her battered state, she pushed herself to her feet with Thalia’s support, her massive shield dragging slightly behind her.


    “No, Champion. You trusted us to hold our own, and we fell short. It won’t happen again,” she said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her legs. Blanche didn’t join the conversation, watching us with cold eyes.


    “There is no point in assigning blame. How long until you guys can fight again?”


    The Drake was about to spawn again. We had to defend our second tower and slay it to get its buff.


    Artemeni glanced at Thalia, who was still channeling her healing, the golden glow dimming as her mana reserves dwindled. The shield maiden’s face was pale, but her resolve was unwavering.


    “Give me three minutes, Champion. I won’t be at full strength, but I’ll hold the line,” Artemeni said firmly, gripping her shield as if it were her lifeline.


    Blanche, her eyes sharp and calculating, finally spoke, her voice carrying an edge of bitterness. “I’ll manage.”


    I closed my eyes to think. If our second towers were destroyed we would lose our control on our side of the jungle. That would mean losing neutral mobs and the danger of being ambushed. Considering I only regained half of my stats, losing sources of experience was troublesome.


    “Artemeni. I need you to defend the second top tower. Don’t push, don’t fight. Just gain experience and recover. Can you do it alone?”


    Artemeni hesitated, her gaze meeting mine briefly before she nodded. Her grip on the shield tightened, the resolve in her expression solidifying despite the weariness in her stance.


    “I can hold it, Champion. I’ll play it safe. They won’t get past me.”


    I nodded in acknowledgment. "Good. Remember, don’t overextend. Your life is more valuable than the tower. If the enemy tank and ganker try to attack you under the tower, back off.”


    Turning to Blanche, I locked eyes with her. Her cold stare didn’t falter, and I could see the pride and frustration simmering beneath the surface. The failure of her kill being stolen must hit her really hard.


    “Blanche, I’ll need you in the mid-lane. Focus on clearing waves and slowing their advance. Keep your eye on the Drake pit. If I need you, I’ll send a signal. Run to us as soon as you see it.”


    She frowned but gave a curt nod. “Understood.”


    Thalia let out a shaky breath as she finished her healing spell, the golden light fading into embers. She was pale, visibly drained. Even though her mana was recovering pretty fast, mental power was something else.


    “What about me, Champion?” she asked, her voice soft but steady.


    “Of course, you are with me. I need your support. But hold the buffs. Recover. Aurora, you are also with us. Let’s go and kill that drake.”


    The path ahead was shadowed, the jungle alive with distant rustling—signs of the enemy''s activity.


    “We move fast, but cautiously,” I said, glancing at Thalia and Aurora. “The enemy will know we’re going for the drake. If they’re smart, they’ll try to intercept us.”


    Aurora’s voice was calm but laced with a cold edge. “Then we make them pay for the attempt.”


    We entered the jungle, the dense foliage providing cover but also making it harder to detect ambushes. Unlike before, I didn’t rush blindfolded, scanning the area with Night Vision and Enhanced Perception. Every rustle of leaves, every faint scent of mana, every distant sound of movement sharpened in my mind.


    “Drake spawns in twenty seconds,” I murmured. The timer ticked in my mind like a second heartbeat. “If they’re planning something, it’ll be soon.”


    We approached the pit, the ground vibrating faintly as the drake began to materialize. Its form was a massive silhouette against the cavernous hollow, fiery scales glowing ominously. This was no ordinary drake—it exuded raw power, its mana-infused breath capable of obliterating anyone caught unprepared. It was definitely stronger than the previous drake we had killed.


    But that wasn’t all.


    “Aurora, do you see the plants around the Drake pit?”


    She stepped closer to me, her eyes narrowing behind her glasses.


    “I can’t really detect anything, Champion. The surrounding area is full of plants.”


    I narrowed my eyes, the shimmering faintly around the plants catching my attention. They were unnatural, dark green with veins glowing an eerie crimson hue, almost pulsing. They radiated mana—a trap.


    "These aren''t ordinary plants. They''re enchanted, likely set up by the enemy," I said. "Aurora, do you recognize this magic?"


    One of the problems with this floor was how the abilities of enemy champions changed. When we killed them not only did their stats increase, but their abilities also changed.


    Aurora adjusted her glasses, her analytical expression sharpening. She stepped cautiously closer to inspect them, her mana senses probing. "It''s some kind of entanglement magic, Champion. If triggered, they’ll ensnare and potentially drain mana. If someone’s planning to ambush us, these would keep us immobilized while they strike."


    I grimaced. "Figures they''d prepare the battlefield ahead of time. They might already be watching us."


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.Aurora nodded, her voice steady. "I can neutralize it, but it’ll take a few seconds but depending on the structure they could notice it.”


    “G?kb?rü. Run around the area. I’ll get high ground. Thalia, get ready to barrier Aurora.”


    G?kb?rü darted off without hesitation, his white fur a blur against the jungle''s shadowy backdrop. His keen nose and heightened senses would alert us to any hidden threats. I scanned the area for a vantage point and spotted a jagged rock formation overlooking the Drake pit.


    "Keep an eye on the surroundings, Thalia," I instructed, motioning for her to be vigilant. "Aurora, start the neutralization. G?kb?rü and I will cover you."


    Aurora nodded, her glasses catching a glint of light as she pulled out a small crystal. It glowed faintly as she channeled her mana, her focus razor-sharp.


    I climbed swiftly, the rough stone biting into my gloves. At the top, I crouched low, drawing my bow—Shadowchaser''s Eclipsebow. I notched a Dragon Slayer Arrow, its faint shimmer a reminder of its deadly potency. My enhanced perception swept the area, searching for any signs of movement.


    G?kb?rü''s howl echoed from below, sharp and urgent. My heart jumped as I scanned the direction of his cry, catching sight of shadows shifting unnaturally. Three figures emerged from the jungle’s undergrowth, their forms brimming with mana.


    "Contact! Three enemy champions, east side!" I shouted down.


    Aurora didn’t falter, her hands glowing as the plants around the drake pit began to wither, their ominous energy fading.


    Thalia reacted instantly, her hands moving in a practiced motion. "Barrier up!" she called, golden light wrapping around Aurora in a protective cocoon just as an arrow streaked through the air. The projectile shattered harmlessly against the barrier, its force sending a faint ripple through the mana shield.


    "Good reaction," I muttered, narrowing my eyes. Our three enemies were reflections of us, mage, ranger, and support. The enemy mage stepped forward, their staff glowing with a sickly green light. They chanted rapidly, glyphs of dark energy spiraling around them as they prepared a large-scale spell. Their ranger, a herculean figure who looked like Conan the Barbarian notched another arrow, this one crackling with electricity. Meanwhile, their support—a petite figure with flowers exiting their body moved their fingers, and plants moved with them.


    Enemy ranger let go of his arrow but I wasn’t about to let it reach my comrades. I released my own arrow, cutting it mid-flight before pulling my arrow back again, manifesting three arrows and shooting them at our enemies.


    The arrows I loosed streaked through the air like meteors, glowing faintly with the dark energy of the Shadowchaser''s Eclipsebow. They split apart mid-flight, striking with pinpoint accuracy toward the trio of enemies. The mage was forced to halt their incantation to summon a mana barrier, the arrows colliding with it and dispersing into shimmering fragments. The ranger dodged with surprising agility for someone of their size, while the support shifted behind a shield of twisting vines that absorbed the brunt of the impact.


    "Stay focused!" I barked, pulling another Dragon Slayer Arrow. The ranger''s next shot would be meant to disrupt us further. I wasn’t about to let that happen.


    G?kb?rü lunged from the shadows, his speed and ferocity catching the enemy off guard. He targeted their support, teeth glinting like ice shards as he sank them into the twisting vines. The plant-wielding figure shrieked, their control faltering momentarily as G?kb?rü''s Frost Breath surged from his maw, freezing the surrounding plants.


    “G?kb?rü hold the support down! Aurora, Thalia to the enemy mage. I-“


    An arrow whistled just beside me, scraping against my armor. I clicked my tongue. He wanted a duel? I’ll give you a duel.


    The enemy ranger roared, their frustration palpable as they turned their attention to me. Their bow glowed with a savage red light, and they notched three arrows simultaneously, each crackling with volatile energy—a powerful multi-shot technique.


    Shadowchaser’s Eclipsebow thrummed with mana. My own arrow, infused with dark energy, shot forward—a single projectile splitting into three as it met their arrows mid-flight. The impact created a cascade of light and sound as the energies collided, canceling each other out in an explosive burst.


    "You''ll have to do better than that," I muttered, my gaze locking onto the enemy ranger.


    I didn’t give him time to regroup. Channeling Hunter’s Mark, I focused on him, feeling the bow’s mana harmonize with my senses. A faint shadowy aura outlined his figure, his movements now clear as day. Every step he took, every twitch of his fingers, I could predict. I loosed another arrow—not aimed at him directly but at the terrain beneath his feet. The impact caused the ground to fracture, throwing him off balance.


    Below me, G?kb?rü’s icy assault had effectively neutralized the enemy support’s vines. His ferocious attack pinned them down, sharp claws slicing through their barriers. The petite figure screamed as a chilling frost crept along their body, their attempts to retaliate growing more desperate.


    The enemy ranger snarled, notching another arrow. This time, I saw his mana surging into it. This was no ordinary shot—he was preparing something big.


    I had to intercept it.


    Drawing on Mana Erupt, I channeled raw mana into my bow and arrow.


    The ranger fired.


    I fired.


    Our arrows clashed in the middle, just like before. The explosion was bigger than before, shockwaves causing both my allies and enemies to stumble back. But this time, I didn’t draw my bow. Instead, I melted into shadow, transporting myself behind the ranger.


    (You defeated Level 3 Ranger. Level 4 Ranger will spawn in 1 minute and 30 seconds.)


    “Time to wrap this up.”