David said suddenly, "I've got bait that could lure the Marsh Eels and the Croc-scaled Lizard. But I'm not sure how strong it is or how wide its effect will be."
Aaron's eyes lit up with interest. Fiona and Aureil, however, looked uneasy and this sounded risky.
Fiona spoke up quickly, "If this is some suicide plan, David, don't involve me."
Aureil snorted behind her veil. Aaron remained calm, unchanged.
He turned to David and said, "Give me the bait."
Fiona and Aureil's expressions shifted. To them, Aaron was clearly reckless.
Fiona and Aureil's expressions shifted. To them, Aaron was clearly reckless.
They looked at each other and felt a quiet helplessness in their hearts. They had already witnessed Aaron's damage capabilities off the charts so monsters below level 10 weren't even a challenge for him.
David handed over a stinky, round substance, which made Aaron hesitate to pick it up.
With a look of disgust, he immediately said, "Throw it about 50 meters away from us."
David examined their surroundings and realized they were currently standing atop a tree. The land ahead was a marsh filled with water and hidden swamp pits.
Just 300 meters from their position stood the ruins, densely packed with monsters, easily visible. Some had already begun moving in their direction.
Without much hesitation, David tossed the bait down about 40 meters away.
As soon as it hit the water, it dissolved instantly, and the foul odor intensified further.
Fortunately, they were still far enough that the smell remained barely tolerable.
At that moment, Fiona pulled out a mask and handed it to Aureil, Aaron, and David. "Put it on," she said. "It filters the air."
After putting on the mask, Aaron gave Fiona a thumbs up and said, "I'll keep this."
Fiona nodded. "Okay, you can keep it."
Aureil, her voice cold, suddenly said, "We've drawn in nearly thirty to forty monsters."
She pointed ahead. "And it looks like the Marsh Eels and the Croc-scaled Lizards are fighting each other."
From their perch above, they watched the chaos unfold below. Marsh Eels thrashed violently through the swamp, twisting around the Croc-scaled Lizards, who hissed and snapped with crushing jaws. Water splashed and reeds rustled as the two species collided, sending ripples through the murky marsh.
The stench of the bait lingered, drifting upward in faint waves despite their masks. Aaron leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing, analyzing the movement patterns.
The distant ruins loomed just beyond the brawl an ominous reminder of what still lurked ahead.
Fifteen minutes passed.
David scanned the battlefield and said, "Only three Croc-scaled Lizards left. They're barely hanging on. Who's going to finish them?"
Aureil stepped forward, cool and composed. "We're mages," she said. "But our attack range is limited to thirty meters."
Fiona glanced at Aaron, her eyes sharp with intent. Without hesitation, she formed a series of precise hand seals.
"Gale Fang Cleave."
A translucent wind blade surged into Aaron's hand, glowing with faint energy. He struck three times in smooth, deadly arcs each swing slicing through a lizard clearly, cutting their thick hides and scaly torsos in two.
The marshland fell silent again, as Fiona and Aureil watched in quiet awe. Even among danger and decay, Aaron's execution was swift, relentless, and precise.
An hour later, Aaron and his group had successfully cleared out the Marsh Eels and Croc-scaled Lizards. Only one threat remained Swamp Lanterns.
David, watching the fading mist, muttered from the side, "Swamp Lanterns…"
These eerie, floating creatures pulsed with faint bioluminescence as they drifted over the marsh. Though harmless in appearance, they were known for their hypnotic glow and ability to obscure vision with thick vapor trails.
Fortunately, their weakness was well-documented: they were extremely fragile against fire-based attacks. A single spark could ignite their mist bodies, causing explosive bursts.
Fiona stepped forward confidently. "Swamp Lanterns are easy targets as long as we use fire-type spells."
David responded by pulling out his crossbow and loading an enchanted arrow, ready to back her up. Aureil, however, remained silent, a slight frown crossing her face—she was an Ice mage, and fire wasn't her domain.
Fiona smiled, her tone light and assured. "Leave it to me. I'm a fire mage, after all."
Just then, Aaron remembered he hadn't checked his points since the battle. They had defeated plenty of monsters, and curiosity got the better of him. He opened the Naruto System interface and froze.
His total points had soared to 11,530.
Aaron's eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face. That haul was massive.
He checked the battle report and quickly discovered the reason for his massive point increase.
The first surprise hit hard: killing the scout from the Bounty Hunter Team had earned him 500 points.
Then came the second revelation each Croc-scaled Lizard he killed today was worth 100 points. Even with only 20 to 30 kills, the total was enough to push his score past the 10,000 mark.
And that wasn't all he'd already been sitting on 8,000 points before today's battle.
Now, with 11,530 points glowing on his Naruto System interface, Aaron's mind started racing with possibilities.
Aaron opened the shop interface. His eyes landed on the Uchiha bloodline. A coveted legacy that countless warriors had dreamed of possessing. And now, it was finally within reach.
He didn't think twice.
With a single tap, he redeemed it. Instantly, 10,000 points vanished.
Then came the pain.
It struck like lightning through his eyes, searing deep into his nerves. His body flared with unnatural heat, every fiber screaming in torment. The others remained focused on wiping out the last of the Swamp Lanterns, oblivious to Aaron's silent struggle.
The agony lasted only a few seconds, but to Aaron, it felt like time itself fractured. The pain was so intense, so consuming, he couldn't even scream his breath locked behind clenched teeth.
Finally, his body gave in.
He collapsed to his knees, landing against the tree trunk, gasping for air. Each breath was a fight slow, ragged, desperate. His transformation was complete… but at a cost only he could feel.
Just as Aaron gasped for breath, a message surged into his mind clear, direct, almost instinctual.
To activate the Sharingan, inject the chakra into your eyes.
The knowledge felt ancient, etched into his very soul, like an echo of the bloodline awakening within him.