Global Survival: I Have Endless Skeletons-Chapter 67: Seris Revenge.

Ten kilometers away from the human town, deep within the Glass Blade Forest, the howls of ferocious beasts echoed endlessly beneath the pale canopy.

The forest earned its name from the countless crystal-like leaves that glimmered like shattered glass under the filtered sunlight, their sharp edges capable of slicing exposed skin if brushed carelessly.

"Tank, hold the line! Don’t let it get any closer!" a voice shouted above the chaos.

A party of seven awakeners stood their ground against a pack of Dire Horn Jaguars.

The beasts were massive, their muscular frames rippling beneath striped hides, curved horns protruding from their skulls like natural weapons.

Their eyes burned with predatory intelligence as they circled their prey.

The party moved in practiced coordination, weapons flashing as they met the Dire Horn Jaguars head-on.

Steel clashed against claws and horns.

Spells crackled through the air.

"Ahhh!"

A sharp scream pierced the battlefield.

"Fuck!" Walter bellowed.

A jagged claw mark tore across his thigh, flesh ripped open as blood gushed out like a broken dam.

The pain exploded through his body, sending him staggering backward.

"I need a healer, right now!" he shouted, his voice thick with rage and panic.

He had failed to react in time, too focused on the fight ahead to notice the Dire Horn Jaguar slipping through the formation.

The beast’s sneak attack had landed cleanly.

"Keep quiet and maintain formation," the captain barked calmly, even as his blade flashed.

With a powerful arc, he severed the head of one of the Dire Horn Jaguars, its body collapsing lifelessly to the forest floor.

"The healer will attend to you immediately."

Walter’s face twisted into an ugly scowl.

He glared at the captain, hatred burning in his eyes, but he bit his tongue and said nothing.

’If it weren’t for the fact that you’re slightly stronger than me—and that I still need you to level up,’ he thought bitterly, ’why would I let some lowborn peasant talk to me like that?’

Rage simmered deep within him.

He clenched his weapon so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his eyes bloodshot with resentment.

Vernon, fighting several meters away, cast a glance toward his close friend.

The moment their eyes met, he understood Walter’s thoughts immediately.

A subtle look passed between them, silent agreement forged through shared ambition and resentment.

’Just wait for now...’ Vernon thought, shifting his gaze toward the tall boy commanding the battlefield.

Walter inhaled deeply when he noticed Vernon’s acknowledgment. An ugly grin crept onto his face before quickly vanishing.

’Just wait,’ he thought darkly. ’Once we reach Level 7, that’ll be your end.’

He could already imagine it.

Himself and Vernon standing at the head of the party, issuing orders while the former captain knelt beneath them.

"Push forward!" the captain shouted. "As long as we take down their Alpha, everything will be worth it!"

"Hah!"

The party surged forward with renewed vigor, unleashing everything they had.

Blades cut through flesh, spells detonated against thick hides. As the number of Dire Horn Jaguars dwindled, their morale soared.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting..." a chubby boy rushed to Walter’s side, panic written across his face as he began chanting a healing spell.

"Just do your damn job," Walter snapped irritably.

Used to Walter’s temper, the healer ignored the insult and focused on his magic. A warm glow enveloped Walter’s injured thigh as torn flesh slowly knit itself together.

Moments later, the wound closed completely.

Walter snorted and leapt back into the fray.

Fueled by humiliation and anger, he abandoned the party’s tight formation, charging recklessly toward the beasts in an attempt to vent his frustration.

"Walter! Return to formation!" the captain shouted, irritation finally creeping into his voice.

’If I’d known they’d be this troublesome,’ the captain thought grimly, ’I would never have accepted them into the party.’

"Captain, don’t stop him," Vernon called out casually. "My friend knows what he’s doing."

Outwardly, his voice was calm. Inwardly, he sneered.

The seeds of betrayal were already taking root.

Several party members frowned at Vernon’s words but chose not to comment.

The Dire Horn Jaguars had not yet been fully dealt with, and any loss in concentration could cost them their lives.

Grinding his teeth, the captain adjusted his position, doing his best to cover Walter’s reckless action.

As a Level 7 Samurai, his strength far surpassed that of the beasts. Under his relentless assault, the remaining Dire Horn Jaguars quickly fell.

Ten minutes later, the battle was over.

The forest fell silent once more, broken only by heavy breathing. The party collapsed onto the ground, resting against tree trunks as they struggled to recover their stamina.

"Walter," a sharp voice spoke up, "why couldn’t you follow the captain’s commands?"

The speaker was a petty-looking girl, her arms crossed and irritation evident in her tone.

Since Walter and Vernon had joined the party, they had brought more trouble than benefit.

"Shut up!" Walter snapped, glaring at her with disdain. "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?"

"We’re all teammates," Vernon interjected smoothly, a smirk playing on his lips. "No one here is superior to anyone else. If my friend chooses not to listen to the captain, I don’t see what’s so wrong with that."

"What do you mean?" another party member retorted angrily. "The captain is the strongest among us. His orders keep us alive! How many times have your reckless actions put us in danger?"

The tension rose with every passing second.

Most of the party had long grown tired of Walter and Vernon’s arrogance.

They fought as a team, yet those two expected everything to revolve around them.

Just as the argument threatened to escalate further, a calm voice sounded from ahead.

"Finally," the voice said, "I found you."

Everyone froze.

A woman stepped out from the bushes, her hand resting casually on the hilt of her sword. Her eyes were cold, focused.

She was Seris.

"Hm?" the party members turned in unison.

Walter and Vernon’s eyes widened slightly.

"What are you doing here?" Walter scoffed. "Don’t tell me you came all this way to beg us to take you back."

He smirked, mockery dripping from his tone.

Seris barely spared him a glance. Instead, she shifted her gaze to the captain.

"I don’t have a problem with you or your party," she said calmly. "I only came to kill those two. If you interfere..." her lips curved faintly, "...I wouldn’t mind if you accompanied them."

Her voice was casual.

The killing intent behind it was not.

She unsheathed her sword.

Since leveling up and becoming a Level 8 Battle Mage, she had been hunting these two traitors relentlessly.

And now.

She stepped forward. The aura around her shifted subtly, pressure spreading through the clearing.

Before the captain could speak, Vernon laughed.

"Do you really think you can take us down alone?" he sneered. "You must be delusional."

The captain slowly rose to his feet.

"You can have them," he said flatly. "I’ve already decided, they’re no longer part of my party."

Relief spread across the faces of the remaining members as they quickly backed away from Walter and Vernon.

"So what?" Walter scoffed arrogantly. "Once we deal with this bitch, you’ll pay for this."

He stepped forward, Vernon beside him.

Neither of them took Seris seriously.

Both were Level 6.

And the last time they checked, so was she.

"Die!" Walter roared, charging forward as he swung his sword, bloodlust twisting his features.

Whoosh!

Seris moved.

Her expression did not change. Her speed was overwhelming, leaving nothing but a blur behind.

"What?!"

Walter’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Aaahhh!"

A scream tore from his throat as his arm was severed cleanly from his shoulder, blood spraying into the air.

Everything happened in an instant.

Vernon stood frozen as Seris was already in front of him.

’Shit... she leveled up!’ terror screamed in his mind.

He barely managed to raise his saber in defense.

But it was useless.

Seris’ blade sliced through his waist, her body already appearing behind him in the same motion. Without hesitation, she drove her sword straight through his torso.

"That," she muttered coldly, "is for betraying me."

A choking sound escaped Vernon’s throat as blood spilled from his mouth.

Shock and unwillingness filled his eyes.

He collapsed to the ground.

Dead.

Walter stared in horror at his friend’s lifeless body.

His body trembled violently.

Realization struck like lightning.

Seris was not bluffing.

She had come to kill.

"P-Please..." he stammered, backing away. "Don’t kill me..."

"Remember the Federation Law!" he cried desperately. "You can’t kill a fellow human!"

"Fool," Seris snarled.

Whoosh!

"NOOO!"

She appeared behind him.

A swift clean slash.

Seris sheathed her sword and walked away without looking back.

Walter collapsed, clutching his throat as blood poured between his fingers.

The remaining party members stood frozen, jaws agape.

"Terrifying..." one of them whispered after a long moment. "Thank the gods the captain chose not to oppose her."

*****

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