Chapter 315: The Traitor

When Shi Weifute sensed something amiss, the battle broke out.

Hamlin held a hardwood staff, suddenly lifted it with a heavy thrust, Boom—, the long‑charged triple‑ring anti‑fire aura detonated around him, forming a fierce flame shockwave.

Wizard Sang Ya and Priest Parmesan were standing very close.

Both were caught off guard, having not anticipated a teammate's ambush, with no protection on them, they were instantly blown away.

Sang Ya, whose constitution was mediocre as a caster, was barely clinging to life when she crashed to the ground, her skin blistered and flesh torn, with no strength left to retaliate.

Parmesan's reaction was half a beat quicker; instinctively he raised his oak shield to block.

While airborne, he adjusted his posture, and upon landing cast a Dispel on himself, extinguishing the flames, then shouted angrily, "Hamlin, what are you doing?"

Hamlin, greatly surprised, immediately raised his hand and unleashed a scorching ray.

Parmesan held his shield before him, his right‑hand war‑hammer glowed with spirit light, bracing the crimson ray as he charged at Hamlin, while glancing at his teammates, hoping they would lend aid.

However, the scene before him sank his heart.

Landi drew his bow and fired, but his target was not Hamlin; it was Nei Wei Er standing beside Shi Weifute.

At that moment Nei Wei Er was still stunned by the disappearance of the green dragon's corpse, not turning around; Landi unleashed an ice arrow whose power far exceeded the usual, its speed unbelievably swift, instantly striking Nei Wei Er's back and freezing him into an ice statue.

Laorui Na was the only one who hadn't been attacked.

She was startled by the sudden change, frozen for half a second, then activated Shadow Step and slipped into the shadows.

Landi's enchanted longbow pivoted, drawing the string as energy surged; in an instant it fired dozens of wind blades forming a razor‑thin net, slicing air and ground, a few streaks of blood appearing, then Laorui Na's figure fell out.

She had been grievously wounded by the wind blades, her body bearing multiple bloodstains.

Especially her left leg was nearly halved, bone exposed, she collapsed on the ground unable to rise, her face turning deathly pale with pain.

In the blink of an eye, the entire Hunt‑Soul squad was left with only Parmesan still capable of fighting.

Parmesan's speed was comparable to a charge; his war‑hammer, though unassuming, actually weighed a hundred pounds, and with holy infusion he was confident a single strike could shatter Hamlin's shield.

Suddenly a pool of greasy acid appeared beneath his feet; stepping onto it he slipped instantly, losing his balance.

Bang.

Parmesan fell into the acid, quickly rolling outward.

Hamlin's scorching ray ignited the oil on his body, the flames roared, the priest became a fire‑man; he gritted his teeth against the searing pain and stood, but Landi's arrow arrived.

That arrow was not Element energy, but a vine.

The verdant vine landed on Parmesan, lengthening rapidly, coiling around him dozens of times like a rope, binding him and contracting inward with a creaking sound.

Parmesan's oak shield and war‑hammer slipped from his grasp, his body collapsing like a rice‑wrapped parcel.

In less than half a minute, the battle ended.

At that moment the green dragon's corpse finally vanished completely, the dragon blood that had just spilled disappeared as well, replaced by a silhouette cloaked in a black robe.

Shi Weifute gritted his teeth, resisting the assault of chilling energy.

He strained to discern the enemy before him; outwardly it was a human male Wizard, very young‑looking, just over twenty, slender, with an unnaturally pallid complexion, a gloomy expression, clutching a fist‑sized strange orb.

The orb's surface still bore the green dragon's afterimage, which after a few seconds was completely absorbed.

Shi Weifute realized that the opponent had used the orb to masquerade as the green dragon, deceiving him and his teammates. He turned his head with difficulty and instantly saw his comrades lying down, only Hamlin and Landi still standing.

The legendary Iron Guard, utterly desperate, asked hoarsely, "Why?"

"Hamlin!"

"Landi!"

Shi Weifute shouted their names in anger; he could not accept such betrayal, feeling as if he had fallen from heaven into hell, the massive drop, even with the supreme Element Steel Will, was hard to bear, his mind on the verge of collapse.

He knew Hamlin's background well; he was a senior Hunt‑Souler from Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng, outstanding in strength and with a good reputation, the first teammate he recruited.

Landi was usually taciturn, claiming to have returned from the New Continent; he secretly contacted a few New Continent friends for information and indeed found such an Element archer, outstanding in power yet low‑key.

Shi Weifute could not understand why they betrayed him.

And where was the real green dragon?

"Hahaha…" Hamlin suddenly burst into laughter, dismissing Shi Weifute's questioning, walked up to Landi, bowed deeply with a flattering smile, and said, "Master, congratulations on acquiring a squad of dragon‑slaying warriors."

"Master?" Shi Weifute was stunned before he could react.

He widened his eyes and looked at Landi.

This usually reticent Element archer in the squad now exuded a terrifying aura, his voice becoming ethereal and gender‑indistinguishable, saying, "Hamlin, you did well."

"I was merely following the Master's plan, I dare not claim credit." Hamlin bowed even deeper.

"Um…"

Landi stroked his chin, a hint of desire in his eyes, and nodded, "I never shortchange those who serve loyally; those two women are your reward, but don't kill them—they now belong to me, the great Azure‑born daughter—Monagas's property."

"Yes, thank you for the Master's gift; I will treat them well." Hamlin lifted his head, his face unable to hide his excitement.

Several Hunt‑Soulers were severely wounded or trapped by spells, yet their consciousness remained clear.

The dialogue between a person and a dragon shook their spirits.

It turned out the green dragon Monagas they sought to hunt had always been beside them, and Hamlin didn't know when he had been taken under the green dragon's control, becoming its servant.

Shi Weifute's mind was a tangled mess, finally realizing that his two‑year scheming had been a step‑by‑step walk into the green dragon's conspiratorial trap.

Monagas didn't kill him and his teammates, clearly not out of kindness.

The green dragon habitually controls servants, especially renowned human super‑beings, toying with them for its amusement, which brings it great pleasure.

Boundless remorse gnawed at Shi Weifute's heart; he regretted his lack of caution, having failed to detect the green dragon's scheme.

His falling into the enemy's hands mattered little, but it also dragged his teammates down.

Especially Laorui Na and Sang Ya, whose fates would be even more tragic; once the green dragon controls them, they wouldn't even be able to commit suicide.

"Evil dragon!"

"Everything you did today, fate will repay tenfold," Shi Weifute shouted angrily.

The green dragon watched Shi Weifute with keen interest, one hand stretched horizontally before him, the other propping his chin, and laughed, "I thought you possessed Steel Will, never yielding easily; I didn't expect you to still reveal a mortal's weak nature."

"Once you become my slave, I'll have you kneel and lick my feet every day; that scene will surely be very amusing."

"A legendary iron guard famous in Thus: Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng kneels at the foot, even more despicable than a goblin, tsk tsk…"

The green dragon squinted, seeming already to be enjoying that feeling.

Shi Weifute's eyes were bloodshot, his emotions too intense; faint, obscure whispers drifted to his ears, exuding a hint of terror.

"Master, he's about to fall!" Hamlin shouted in alarm.

Monagas, unhurried, murmured a spell; a Four-ring Serenity Technique shot from his fingertips into Shi Weifute's forehead, instantly calming him.

It ceased further stimulating Shi Weifute, placed a hand on his head, and began casting Mind Enchant.

This is the green dragon's innate spell, its effect equivalent to a Charm of seven or more rings, capable of long‑term control of sentient beings as its slaves.

However, Mind Enchant requires contact with the target, and the casting takes over a minute.

Moreover, the number of slaves it can control is limited.

Shi Weifute struggled desperately, to no avail.

The ever‑silent black‑robed Wizard was clearly a legend; his Dark Entanglement reached five rings, binding the body while shadow energy continuously eroded the soul. Even at full strength there might be a sliver of hope, but having just battled the illusory green dragon, he had expended great stamina, his soul wounded, and could not break free for some time.

He watched helplessly as the green dragon cast upon him, his consciousness growing murky, his mind hazy.

"Is this my fate, failing to slay the dragon only to be enslaved by the great dragon?"

Shi Weifute sighed inwardly.

Suddenly, a glimmer caught his eye; a portal opened nearby, and a young man in light armor with a blood‑red great cloak stepped out, staff in one hand and a war hammer in the other.

"Your Excellency, Earl of Glamorgan!"

Hope flared in Shi Weifute's eyes; his spirit surged, and his consciousness recovered somewhat.

The green dragon Monagas immediately sensed the magical disturbance, turned, and saw Lei En emerge from the portal, followed by a dwarf with two pets and four tall, imposing Extreme Warriors.

It naturally recognized Lei En, and its expression changed dramatically.

When it met the lord on the road, it grew wary and secretly ordered Hamlin, insisting he find a way to refuse the other's entry into the Soul‑Hunting Squad. That night, Hamlin found an excuse to quarrel, causing Shi Weifute to change his mind and depart overnight.

Unexpectedly, the annoying human still followed.

"Earl of Glamorgan," Monagas said calmly, his hand unmoved, threatening Lei En a hundred meters away: "I'll give you one minute to leave, or you'll witness a true dragon's fury and power."

"Your strength is not great, but your tone is not small."

Lei En's expression remained calm, "I give you five seconds to let go, or you'll taste the feeling of being smashed by a mortal's hammer."

As he spoke, the Thunder Hammer he bore in his right hand erupted with electric light, thunder cracking.

(End of Chapter)