Desolate World

After killing the last vampire in the air, Ace took a few bottles of mana potions and gulped them one by one. His mana consumption these few seconds was too extreme.

Even so, he had never stopped observing the two vampires that had fallen down. After all, these two were the strongest vampires among the vampire group.

Ace predicted the vampire woman's strength was comparable to his. As for the vampire player, he was definitely a few times stronger than him.

Ace wasn't proud of their achievements to kill twenty-plus enemies before. Because most of them were below level 10 that had meager total HP. 

'Well, surprise attack is definitely the best approach most of the time,' Ace said in his heart.

He then saw the unconscious Mila not far from the two vampires that seemed to haven't gotten over from the shock of being ambushed. Then he realized it was the best opportunity to save Nila's sister.

<Geo, could you ask Jumpy to save the unconscious girl? I will try to draw their attention,>  Ace said on the party channel.

<Okay, dad!> Geo gave affirmative.

Hearing that, Ace nodded in satisfaction.  These few months playing the game made the innocent Geo grow at an unfathomable pace, at least in the mentality. As a parent, he was satisfied with his son's transformation. 

After the earthquake forced them to constantly live in the game world, at least now, he realized that they would not have a peaceful life like they had in the past. Even if the rescue team succeeded in rescuing them, they would be sent to be refugees in another sanctuary. 

Becoming a refugee was not a nice experience. He had read news some years ago, wherein refugees from a destroyed sanctuary had conflicts with the sanctuary's citizens over resources. This situation happened because basically every sanctuary's resources were limited. It was possible to support some more visitors. However, to fulfill its citizens' and refugees' needs for a few months or even years would be too hard.

Furthermore, the sanctuaries' goods production had never been designed to be self-sufficient. Every sanctuary had its own role in the supply chain. A sanctuary might be specialized in cultivating wheat, the others specialized in growing vegetables, timber, or fruits, raising livestock, clean water reservoir, industry center, etc.

When a sanctuary was malfunctioned or even destroyed by a natural disaster, other surviving sanctuaries around it would also suffer in specific product shortages. And usually, when an earthquake struck an area, not only a sanctuary was affected. And when more than two sanctuaries were destroyed, the surrounding sanctuaries would suffer shortages in a few years. Adding the problem of refugees, it was enough for a riot or civil unrest to happen.

Imagining the bleak future they might have to face in the future, Ace was glad his son could mature faster in mentality.

Ace shook his head. 'It's not the time to dwell on it,' He thought.

"It's the first time I see a guardian of a different race's guardian. I'm really surprised even undead have guardians," Ace said in a provocative tone in a loud voice. Tried to draw the vampires' attention.

Hugo, the vampire frowned. He then glared at Ace with a naked hatred, "It's me who should have said that, human. Your tender race didn't have the right to have guardians. You only deserve to be livestock. For us, a powerful race to consume."

Ace smiled. He then saw Hugo and Freya turn their bodies in his direction. It would be easier for Jumpy to take Mila. He then said on the party channel, <Geo, Now!>

"Is that so? But, it seems vampires are just a so-so race. To be beaten by us, humans that you called 'tender', you are a joke. Look around you! Reality proves it all," Ace said in a mocking tone.

"You!" Freya said while gritting her teeth.

Hugo's and Freya's faces were incredible. Shame, anger, bitterness, could be seen on their faces. As Hugo wanted to answer, he seemed to realize something. As he looked back, a giant spider appeared from thin air and then tried to grab the unconscious Mila.

"What are you doing, beast?" Hugo roared and then leaped to Jumpy.

Ace surprised. He had never thought Hugo had such a sensitive sense to be able to detect Jumpy when the spider just wanted to take Mila. Without much choice, he then attacked Hugo with his cards.

However, Freya acted fast by standing in the way of the cards and stretched her two hands. A red barrier then was created in front of her, and succeeded in shielding the attacks.

*Clang* *Clang*

Meanwhile, Hugo swung his claws to Jumpy's back.

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However, Jumpy seemed to not feel it, as he didn't budge and finalized in grabbing Mila with his four middle feet. Then he took a posture to jump.

Hugo continued to attack the spider. But, Jumpy completely ignored him.

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Geo appeared beside Cloud and healed his pet. Even Cloud lifted her staff and started her continuous healing.

Jumpy then jumped away from that place and his body started to enter the camouflaged state.

After seeing Jumpy get away, Ace shouted, "Attack, now!"

Red, Blue, and Torch then bombarded Hugo and Freya with their spells. 

Hugo seemed to be surprised at Jumpy's disappearance, but before he could do anything, a barrage of spells rained on him and Freya. He didn't have other options except to envelop his body with blood armor.

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His armor somehow could reduce the damage of the spells but then he heard Freya's voice.

"Uh!" She groaned. As Ace intensified his attack, her barrier was dispelled, and she started to receive Ace's attack directly. 

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Hugo then found out that his lover's HP started to decrease at a rapid pace. He then showed a helpless expression and said to Freya, "Retreat!"

Freya seemed to be unwilling, but she then nodded and transformed into bats and scattered in every direction.

Seeing the bats fly toward the entrance of the cave, he then glared at Ace and said, "Good. I lost this time. You are Ace, right? We will meet again."

He then transformed into bats and scattered.

Ace and the other tried to attack the bats, but because their size was too small and very agile, they couldn't stop them from leaving the cave.

***