The Shelter Game: Me, Starting with a Tenfold Drop Rate

Almost simultaneously as Irving left the depths of the Angel Guild headquarters, Benjamin finally arrived at the Ocean Group's headquarters. Although Vicky was still unaware of what had transpired, she could see the bright blood-red moon shining in the sky through the windows of the president's office.

Vicky wasn't particularly powerful, but as a healing mage, she was very sensitive. She could sense the shifts in the life force around her. At the same time, she felt a frenzied form of life gradually emerging nearby. This chaotic energy was clearly the work of the Blood Moon, giving rise to werewolves.

When Benjamin finally returned, Vicky let out a sigh of relief. "What's the situation now? Your safe return must mean that Irving's plan was successful, right?" she said with a smile.

Though Vicky maintained her composure on the surface, the expression on Benjamin's face filled her with a sense of foreboding.

Benjamin didn't respond immediately. He simply said to Vicky, "President, the situation around the Ocean Group headquarters is very complicated. You need to come with me to the Angel Guild headquarters right away. That's where you'll be adequately protected."

Benjamin didn't want to say too much to Vicky. He felt that providing her with too much information would only add to her stress. Vicky didn't probe further; she followed Benjamin to the Angel Guild headquarters.

As they made their way, the blood-red moon in the sky became increasingly terrifying. The enormous moon loomed overhead like a nightmare, casting a dark shadow over everyone.

Vicky sighed as she gazed at the massive moon. "When I was a child, my favorite thing to do was watch the moon from the rooftop. I never imagined it could take on such a grotesque form. It now resembles the sickly eye of a madman."

Benjamin certainly agreed with Vicky but felt it wasn't the right time for such discussions. "You must have guessed something. Irving once told me he didn't want you to know too much in advance. He plans to explain everything to you once you arrive at the Angel Guild headquarters."

After hearing Benjamin's words, Vicky felt slightly reassured. When they arrived at the Angel Guild headquarters, Irving had just returned from underground with the spellbook in hand.

Though Irving had moved quickly, the space around him had been distorted by the spellbook's power, causing him to take longer than expected to appear before everyone. By then, Irving looked significantly different from before. It was evident to all that he wore a dejected and dispirited expression.

"What on earth happened? What information did you get from the Knowledge Fairy? Why do you look so dejected? Is it that we have no way to defeat Sophia?" Anna exclaimed in shock upon seeing the expression on Irving's face.

"The Knowledge Fairy provided me with a method to defeat Sophia. However, it comes at a cost, and that cost could very well lead to my death," Irving admitted, ultimately choosing to speak the truth.

He had initially intended to conceal the true extent of the sacrifices he might have to make, fearing that his allies would panic upon learning the full situation. A panicked ally could severely impact Irving's subsequent actions. However, he ultimately decided to trust his comrades.

After Irving spoke, Anna, Aron, and James fell silent. They hadn't expected Irving to face such a grave price.

"Do you really trust the Knowledge Fairy? What if the information he gave you is false?" Aron, not one to easily trust others, reminded Irving of the risks.

Irving shook his head slowly. "The Knowledge Fairy wouldn't provide me with false information at a time like this. I believe everything he told me is true. If I want to defeat Sophia, I have to pay a heavy price, but we can still prepare beforehand."

Irving then laid out his plan. After hearing it, Aron and James wore hesitant expressions. The plan Irving proposed was undeniably risky.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this? Do we really need to go out to meet her? The Angel Guild headquarters is extremely fortified. Defending here would give us a better chance," Aron argued, hoping to use the stronghold for their defense. He believed they would have a greater advantage in a defensive battle.

Irving shook his head. "Defending is meaningless. If Sophia manages to enter the Angel Guild headquarters, we won't be able to defeat her at all. Plus, during the battle, the Knowledge Fairy won't provide us with any assistance. So fighting in the headquarters is no different from fighting outside. Out there, we can choose a battlefield that's more advantageous for us."

Just as Irving finished speaking, Benjamin entered the conference room with Vicky. Stay connected through empire

The moment Irving saw Vicky, a faint smile finally appeared on his face. "You're finally here! I was beginning to worry you might have run into some trouble on the way," he said, his words tinged with unmistakable fatigue.

Seeing Irving's condition, Vicky's expression quickly turned to one of deep concern. She rushed to his side. "Are you really okay? You look absolutely terrible."

In response to Vicky's worry, Irving simply smiled and reassured her, "I'm fine, really. Although I may not look great right now, I've actually found a way to defeat Sophia. Just trust me and leave everything to me from here on out."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Even though Irving spoke with confidence, deep down, he didn't truly believe he could defeat Sophia. The specter of Sophia and the power of the Blood Moon loomed over everyone like a nightmare. No one was convinced they could actually overcome her.

At that very moment, Sophia had already reached the City of Warding. The enormous red moon illuminated nearly every corner of the city, yet Sophia chose not to transform the ordinary citizens into werewolves. Following the earlier battle, she believed she needed to concentrate all her power to defeat Irving as quickly as possible. For now, she was only focused on locating his position.

Before long, Sophia pinpointed where Irving was. In that instant, she channeled all the power of the Blood Moon into one concentrated force. Suddenly, two obelisks appeared at the entrance of the Angel Guild headquarters. The moment those obelisks materialized, everyone inside the Guild felt the overwhelming power of the Blood Moon.

Irving managed a bitter smile as he remarked, "It seems our previous plans are useless now. We can't find a favorable battlefield within the city. Sophia is already at the doorstep of the Angel Guild headquarters."

His words darkened the expressions on everyone's faces.

Aron quickly reacted and shouted his orders. "All members of the Angel Guild, prepare for battle immediately! We are about to be attacked by the enemy! I repeat, every member of the Angel Guild must get ready for combat right now!"

Under Aron's urging, the members of the Angel Guild sprang into action. The headquarters was equipped with a series of defense infrastructures. While these defenses might not withstand a powerful enemy, they could still weaken the power of the Blood Moon to some extent. As the Blood Moon's force was diminished, the people inside the Angel Guild headquarters finally felt a moment of relief.

"The defense infrastructure won't hold for long. And since Sophia is already here, it means she knows we're hiding out here. It's clear she's about to launch an attack on the Angel Guild headquarters, so be ready for battle," Irving warned.

Unlike others, Irving wasn't blindly confident. He simply wanted everyone to be prepared. Just as he issued his commands, Sophia's figure appeared at the entrance of the Angel Guild headquarters.

Sophia slowly passed through the two obelisks. As she moved through them, the power of the Blood Moon seeping from the obelisks connected with her. At that moment, Sophia's form became ethereal. She seemed to completely transform into a pink moonlight, as if the pink glow embodied her very essence.

Now at the peak of her power, Sophia could wield the formidable force of the Blood Moon and even swap places with it at will. Her purpose for coming here was singular: to eliminate Irving completely.

With a slow wave of her hand, she unleashed a powerful force of Blood Moon energy that utterly shattered the defense infrastructure at the entrance of the Angel Guild headquarters. "Are you just a coward? Hiding in the Angel Guild headquarters won't ensure your safety; it will only lead to a more undignified death," she declared.

Sophia opened her mouth slowly. Although she made no sound, her intent resonated clearly in the minds of everyone inside the Guild. It was as if her words directly entered their brains, indicating that her power had increased to another level.

Observing the panic around him, Irving spoke gently, "There's no need to worry too much. Sophia is here solely to eliminate me. Even if we don't succeed in the end, you all can find a chance to escape. I alone will not flee. I will fight Sophia to the very end."

While his words calmed some of the people around him, they also intensified the overall atmosphere of despair.