Vanessa was fully aware that the crimes of those guys couldn’t be forgiven, they admitted that they brought other humans to other worlds as prisoners, but even so, they had lost too many people already. Humans couldn’t lose more by fighting amongst themselves.

Yet, as Terry deftly parried and counterattacked, it became clear that their enemies would not show mercy. The threat they posed could not be subdued through hesitation alone. Vanessa knew that she had to find her own path, one that upheld her principles while still protecting herself and her comrades.

With a deep breath, Vanessa steeled herself and focused her energy. She channeled her lightning powers, determined to find a way to incapacitate rather than kill. Lightning crackled from her fingertips, striking the ground around their foes, creating a barrier of electrical energy to subdue and incapacitate them.

The enemies were shocked at the speed, power, and precision of the lightning bolts, and they were left speechless before they could do anything to avoid them. They trembled all over after being hit, and then they fell unconscious, but Terry didn’t hesitate to kill them.

Terry felt like sighing... things could have ended a lot sooner if she hadn’t wasted time. His armor lost a lot of durability as well. It would gain a lot more over leveling up, and that happened during the fight, but even so.

"I guess leaving the bow with her was a mistake," Terry thought while looking at the bodies. "I wish that we could have captured one of them, but I don’t think that they would reveal anything..."

Vanessa, still struggling with her hesitation, mustered the courage to ask Terry why he fought without hesitation, without giving it a second thought. She questioned his determination.

"Vanessa, whether they are humans or monsters, those who stand in my way are a threat," Terry paused for a moment, locking eyes with Vanessa. With a firm voice, he explained. "They endangered my life and caused problems by killing and capturing guild masters. They are the same as monsters. Suppose we allow ourselves to be swayed by appearances or sympathies. In that case, we risk compromising our lives, the mission, and the safety of others.

Vanessa absorbed his words, understanding the weight of their purpose. She realized that sometimes, tough choices had to be made for the greater good. Still... she didn’t like that things had to be like that. Terry wondered how come she became a guild master with that mindset.

They didn’t have time to gather more information because the enemies proved to be incredibly strong. Terry and Vanessa found themselves in a fight where holding back was not an option. As they cautiously approached the bodies of the defeated enemies to gather clues, a sudden attack caught them off guard. One of the enemies almost cut Vaness’s throat with a hidden knife...

Vanessa, engrossed in examining one of the fallen foes, was suddenly targeted by one of them who had only pretended to be defeated. In a swift and unexpected move, he launched an assault against her. Startled, Vanessa had no choice but to defend herself, but a lot of blood began to gush from the wound...

While they were shocked that the enemy utilized a skill that allowed him to move instantly. The enemy disappeared from their sight, leaving Terry and Vanessa to grapple with the shock of the ambush. Terry approached to check her but then saw Vanessa using healing magic and lightning to close the wound as fast as possible.

"Go. I will be fine here," Vanessa said while breathing roughly and pointing toward South.

Terry nodded when he saw the blood stopping from gushing and the wound closing... without any hesitation, he kicked the ground to where the enemy ran away to.

"I smashed half of his skull... there is no way that I didn’t kill the guy," Terry thought.

Terry wondered if the other enemies would revive as well, but he knew that Vanessa wouldn’t fall for the same mistake again. Regardless, he had a rat to catch.

Terry dashed forward in hot pursuit of the escaping enemy. His footsteps echoed through the desolate landscape as he closed the gap, his eyes fixed firmly on his target since it didn’t take long for him to find the enemy. However, fate had other plans in store. Just as he was about to catch up, the ground beneath him trembled, and a thunderous roar filled the air.

From the shadows emerged a horde of fire drakes, their scales ablaze and fierce gazes fixed upon Terry. Towering over him, their wings spread wide, and they blocked his path with their scorching presence. The searing heat emanating from their fiery breath intensified the tension of the moment.

"This can’t be a coincidence... their boss realized that they were defeated by us and sent help immediately," Terry furrowed his eyebrows. "Did they heal that piece of shit from a distance as well?"

Terry’s heart pounded in his chest as he assessed the situation. He knew he couldn’t let the fire drakes stop him from his pursuit. Yet, their imposing forms and relentless aggression demanded his attention. With a calculated decision, he adjusted his stance and prepared to face the threats before him.

With a burst of energy, Terry propelled himself forward, his power armor amplifying his strength and speed. He charged toward the menacing monsters, his fists clenched and ready for action. As he closed in on his targets, he unleashed a barrage of powerful punches, striking left and right with incredible force.

The impact of his blows reverberated through the air, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The metallic clang of his armored fists meeting the monstrous bodies filled the space, punctuating the chaos with a resounding rhythm. Each strike carried the weight of his determination and the resolve to protect those in need.

As the fire drakes unleashed their fiery onslaught, Terry stood firm in the face of the scorching flames. The air crackled with the heat as fireballs hurtled towards him and flamethrowers sprayed torrents of blazing inferno in his direction. But Terry remained unfazed.