And so, the three of them hurried back to the beleaguered Goldeagle Tribe, which was steadily losing ground.

The arrival of two warriors at the Nine-star Extreme Realm instantly turned the tide of battle. After all, the Clan Leader of the Vulture Clan was only at the level of a Seven-star Pattern.

Seeing their plans on the verge of collapse and their efforts about to be for naught, how could the inherently greedy Vulture Clan swallow this defeat? 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

They turned their venomous gazes toward Drake, the mutated Goldeagle who had once been just one step away from the leader’s position in the Goldeagle Tribe.

Now, he was nothing but a cripple with a shattered Star Pattern.

’If we can capture him and take him back to our tribe, string him up on the sacrificial altar, and let our clansmen peck him to death, it would serve as a warning to the Goldeagle Clan! Even if we failed to seize their territory this time, the reputation of our Vulture Clan won’t be tarnished!’

With this vicious scheme in mind, the Vulture Clan feigned an all-out assault and, under the cover of chaos, seized the opportunity to abduct Drake.

Caden Albright was a Terrestrial Beastman, after all. Even having reached the Nine-star Extreme Realm, he couldn’t rescue Drake from the clutches of the Vultures as they soared through the sky.

Had Loras not used the vegetation along the way to pinpoint Drake’s exact location, the Vulture Clan’s intentions might have truly come to fruition.

However, while they managed to rescue him, he was on the verge of death and completely unconscious.

The Vulture Clan, resentful over their defeat, had vented all their hatred on Drake.

His body was covered in peck marks and deep gashes, with barely a patch of unscathed skin left. He had been tortured to within an inch of his life. The Goldeagle Tribe’s Witch was not skilled in healing, and with Drake now burning up with a fever, his condition was critical.

Caden Albright glanced at Evangeline, whose expression was frosty, and said softly, "Now that you’re back, Drake will be fine."

Although a raging fever was a sign of impending death for a Beastman of the tribe, after witnessing Evangeline’s power, he naturally had no doubts about her abilities. After all, she was a female who could even restore a shattered Star Pattern.

Evangeline acknowledged him with a soft sound and stepped deeper into the cave. When she saw Drake lying on the dry grass, she almost didn’t recognize him.

The Drake she knew was as sharp as a spear. Even after a period as a wandering Beastman, suffering endless humiliation, his back had never once bent. His golden-red eyes always held a clear, almost cold, awareness.

But the Drake before her was covered in blood, which had soaked through to the straw beneath him.

He seemed to be in immense pain, his body twisted into an unnatural curl. Every inch of his exposed skin was covered in gruesome wounds. His handsome face, which had once captivated countless females, was now marred by deep claw marks.

Evangeline’s steps faltered. Her chest heaved, and a flash of cold fury and killing intent crossed her narrowed eyes.

Caden Albright sensed her emotional turmoil. His fingers tightened, gripping her cool hand a little more firmly.

His voice was low. "The Vulture Clan has always been vicious. Their reputation for cruelty is known throughout the Beastman Continent. For Drake to have fallen into their hands and not been killed immediately is a stroke of sheer luck."

Loras glanced up at him, then looked silently at the unconscious Drake lying on the straw.

’Drake wasn’t killed, but it might have been better if he had been.’

’All four of his limbs are broken, and his body is covered in wounds. They say he’s still alive, but if he has to drag this broken body through life on the Beastman Continent, where the strong devour the weak, death would be a mercy.’

’After all, someone who can’t even stand on their own would be abandoned, even within their own tribe.’

Evangeline closed her eyes, then opened them again, her emotions now back under control.

She let go of Caden Albright’s hand, glanced at him, and said in a low voice, "You two should go outside for now."

Caden Albright gave her a deep look, then pressed a lingering kiss on her forehead. His voice was tender. "We’ll be right outside."

Evangeline nodded. Once Caden Albright had walked away, she turned her gaze to Loras, who was standing quietly to the side.

The moment their eyes met, a flicker of light crossed Loras’s purple pupils. The hand hanging by his side suddenly clenched. He seemed uneasy, yet he still said, "No matter what happens, whatever you decide to do, I will help you."

He spoke the words in a rush and, without waiting for Evangeline to reply, his slender figure departed in an almost frantic haste. His long, curly purple hair traced a messy arc in the dim cave, leaving a faint, dark fragrance in its wake.

Evangeline watched his retreating back as he fled in disarray. Her eyes lowered for a moment before she finally looked away.

She walked forward and sat cross-legged beside Drake, her hand closing around his wrist. The same powerful wrist that could once wield a heavy spear now felt as frail as a withered branch.

After a long moment, Evangeline released his wrist. She looked down at Drake, then raised a hand to touch the golden-red great bird Contract Mark on her waist. The icy mark was incredibly faint, as if it could dissipate at any moment.

She pursed her lips, took out a lustrous Elixir Pill, and pinched Drake’s jaw to place it in his mouth.

But Drake was unconscious and struggled even to swallow.

Her brow furrowed slightly. She leaned down, covering his lips with her own. Her tongue deftly pried open his clenched teeth and slowly pushed the Elixir Pill inside. When she felt his Adam’s apple bob with a difficult swallow, her brow relaxed.

With a wave of her hand, a familiar bathtub appeared in the cave, the water inside steaming with a white mist.

Her reserves of Spiritual Medicine had grown significantly during her recent travels; the storehouses of the Beastman Continent had not disappointed her.

Evangeline methodically squeezed the Spiritual Medicines into juice, which dripped into the tub, sending ripples across the surface of the water. A strange fragrance diffused through the air. Standing at the cave entrance, Loras’s nostrils flared. He turned to look at Caden Albright, who stood at the very edge, a mere stone’s throw from the cliff face, and asked in a low voice, "Drake will be all right, won’t he?"

Caden Albright curled his lip in a slight smirk and glanced at him, his long, silver-white hair whipping wildly in the wind, but he didn’t answer.

Just then, a violent gust of wind swirled at the mouth of the cave. A golden figure tore through the air, transforming into a tall, slender man upon landing.

Julian’s face was grim, his golden eyes churning with a terrifying storm. Without a word, he started to walk into the cave.

Loras’s brow furrowed, and he put out a hand to stop Julian. "She’s saving Drake. Don’t disturb her."

Julian naturally knew who "she" was. His chest heaved violently as a few suppressed gasps escaped his throat. He took several deep breaths, finally managing to calm his tense emotions after a moment.

Hearing what had happened from his clansmen had felt like having his chest torn open by sharp claws.

He couldn’t quite identify his own emotions.

But he knew one thing very clearly: if his brother died just like that, the very backbone of the Goldeagle Tribe would be broken.

And he, the leader of the Goldeagle Tribe, had abandoned his people in their moment of life and death. Even though he had been pursuing what he believed to be more important matters, the guilt surging through his veins still terrified him.

Julian let out a long, heavy breath. He looked at the solemn Loras, then turned to Caden Albright. "Thank you."

All three of them knew exactly what he was thanking them for.

Caden Albright crossed his arms, his amber eyes holding a look that was not quite a smile. "Thank me? That’s too polite. If anything, we should be thanking you. You worked hard protecting *our* female all this way."

He put a slight emphasis on the final words, his tone carrying an unspoken edge.