Chapter 144: CHAPTER 143 - Leader.

A leader.

For the first time, Alex saw a being with a title—someone other than him who had a title.

Yes, it wasn't much if one looked at Alex's status, as he had 3 titles, but it still showed that this particular human was different than others.

Alex, who saw the title, extended its information.

[[Leader(Rare—Progressive): The number of followers you have equals your extra stat points. You can use these points to recover stamina or mana when depleted, but the amount used will match your maximum stat limit. {Current ESP - 57}]]

It was a rare-ranked title with an ability that matched the power of heroic or more ranked skills.

That title did the same work Alex's mana position or stamina potion could.

With 57 points, Karina could recharge her mana 3 times and stamina 1 time without a problem.

As said in the title, even if she had 50% of her mana left, and she wanted to recover it to the maximum, she would need 15 ESPs (Extra stat points) to do it, and the same if she had to recover 90% of mana, or 10% mana.

Same goes for the stamina.

The maximum limit of stats meant the highest stats she had when she had her stats full, not the limit of the scenario.

Among the humans he had seen until now, she was the one with the highest-ranked abilities and stats; the coins weren't something to be ignored as well since she had almost 10k coins.

Her stats were high, but for Alex, they weren't something that could bring him problems. The thing he found a bit hard to deal with was the poison shield she had.

That shield was strong enough to shield her from at least one killing shot, giving her one more life.

The problem was that Alex didn't know how strong that shield was.

But just then, something clicked in his mind as he remembered one of the abilities he had yet to use in battle.

That, however, was only if she used the ability in battle, which he was going to make sure she didn't.

His eyes sharpened as he made up his mind.

Karina, on the other hand, had a frown on her face as she stared at the pathway leading out of the cave, making the others follow her gaze.

"Did you guys hear that?"

She questioned, a cautious light shining within her eyes.

The moment Alex killed number 2, and supported the guy's body on the wall, some pebbles fell down, causing a light clattering sound that was picked up by Karina.

"Hm? No?"

"What are you talking about, boss?"

"Are you talking about the breeze?"

The three people in the hall, two men and one woman couldn't help but wonder what their boss was talking about.

They didn't hear anything special; all they heard was the normal whistling of the breeze and some clattering of the pebbles pushed down by the wind.

Those sounds, however, didn't feel the same to Karina; it was as if there was a certain tension in the air that was blowing as if warning her about an imminent danger.

Her business sense, which would randomly activate whenever she was about to take a step that would make her path forward harder, was telling her to not sit still in her area; it was asking for her to run away from there. Sёarch* The nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"We have a guest."

She stood up with a serious expression, sparks of dark red fire appearing on her palms as her eyes stared at the pathway where number 2 had gone a while ago.

*Rustle*

*Shing*

Her followers, number 1, number 3, and number 4, hurriedly got up from the ground, their eyes wide in shock as they heard their boss's words, their weapons flashing within their palms, ready for an attack.

They had never seen their boss speak of something wrong or predict something wrong, so they believed in her and followed her actions, but...

"W-What do you mean, boss?"

The only woman other than Karina, Dipti asked, her voice shuttering, her black eyes filled with uncertainty.

"I mean exactly what I said; someone is here."

Karina, without looking back at Dipti, spoke, her slow and measured steps pressing forward.

Her words, however, tensed the other three, causing them to exchange a look of trepidation.

They knew what her words meant—they had an intruder.

But didn't they have people on the lookout? What happened to them? Were they killed? Not even one of them could escape?

What about number 2? Didn't he just go looking for what had happened? What happened to him?

Such questions appeared in their heads, and as they knew that their boss wouldn't lie about something like this, there was only one conclusion they could come to: The one who was coming for them was strong enough to kill number 2 without letting the guy even fight.

Number 2 had earth smash ability, and wherever he used it, the surroundings would rumble, even if just a bit; right now, however, they didn't hear any such thing.

'Is it some high ranker?'

They all thought, fear flashing in their eyes as they knew that Karina was strong enough to protect herself, but what about them?

Who would protect them if the opponent was too strong?

"Use the emergency exit."

Karina, on the other hand, didn't seem to have any intention of facing her adversary; her senses told her to run away, not to fight, and that meant nothing but one thing: Her opponent was stronger than her.

"We aren't going to face them?"

One of the guys beside her questioned, and although he didn't want to face the enemy strong enough to penetrate their defenses undetected, he still had to question out of formality.

He was the guy who liked pretending to be stronger.

"Yes; I don't think we should face whoever it is."

*Click*

As Karina spoke, the other man moved a slab of stone covering the emergency exit, revealing a path wide enough for one person to cross at a time.

"But if you really want to help, then be the last one to enter."

Karina added before she rushed toward the emergency exit, causing the guy's eyes to widen, stuck in between hard and rock.

"Thank you, Samir!"

Dipti, on the other hand, didn't even wait for Samir, the act-strong guy, to say anything; she just thanked him and rushed into the path right after Karina.

"Thanks, man—!"

The other guy did the same, not even waiting for Samir to say something, but just as he was about to turn around...

*Woosh*

*Pierce*

The guy's voice was cut short as an arrow passed right through his head, continuing into the cave-like path, causing Dipti, who was next in line, to widen her eyes, but she couldn't move away, as the speed of the arrow was too fast for her.

"BOSS, SAVE M—!"

She tried to call out to Karina for help, but...

*Woosh*

*Pierce—Splatter*

The arrows tore right through her head, causing it to splatter like a watermelon falling to the ground.

It was then that Samir finally saw the owner of the attack as Alex stepped out of the corner, but the guy couldn't move.

Just like Alex did to number 2, he had frozen Samir in his spot by using death's command.

*Step**Step*...

He moved toward Samir, his dagger appearing in his palm, shining with an ominous sharp glint, sending a shiver down Samir's spine, but the next instant...

*Slash*

All Samir saw was Alex waving his hand, and the next second, his world turned around, darkening before he could even tell what happened.