An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

After tending to the wounds of the injured members of the Black Scorpion Squad, their combat abilities and mobility were
severely impacted due to the loss of their arm.
Even simple self-defense became a challenge.
Grace surveyed the wounded squad members before turning her gaze to Garrett. “Captain Wilder, should I arrange the return of
our injured team members?”
Since they had just entered the oasis, she could still assist the wounded in returning. Yet, if they opted to press forward, there
would be no turning back.
“Captain, we’re fine! Just lost an arm, no big deal!”
“Yeah, we’ve faced worse. This injury means nothing to us.”
“Captain, trust us. We can pull off the mission without a hitch!”
Facing the prospect of returning, the injured members of the Black Scorpion Squad reassured Garrett promptly.
They understood that going back meant giving up the treasures the others would obtain in the oasis.
Although the mission promised a good reward, dividing it among the team didn’t give them enough money for retirement. This
was especially tough for those missing a limb.
So, to ensure a stable future in their later years, they had to collect more treasures. With this goal in mind, they were determined
not to be dismissed.
Garrett affirmed, “Ms. Linsor, my team consists of experienced individuals who fully understand the risks involved, including the
possibility of losing their lives.
“They’ve dealt with tough situations before, and these minor injuries won’t slow them down. I promise that they won’t be a
liability.”
He fully grasped the sentiments of his injured comrades. Although the oasis was dangerous, it held a trove of treasures..

The saying “fortune favors the bold” resonated with them. With a rare chance for wealth, they couldn’t afford to miss it.
After years of living on the edge, the thought of retirement had crossed the minds of his squad members.
If they succeeded in the mission, they would retire comfortably with sufficient funds. At that critical juncture, no one was prepared
to give up after having come so far.
“Okay, they’re your squad members, so it’s your call. If there’s nothing else, let’s keep moving.” Grace kept her words brief and
directed the group to continue their journey.
She respected his choices and refrained from interfering. Before leaving, she instructed her subordinates to gather materials and
post a sign cautioning future explorers about the dangers of touching the revitalberries.
With her contribution complete, it was now in the hands of future explorers to decide whether to heed her caution.
After the earlier incident, the group resumed their journey with heightened caution. No one dared to touch anything along the
way.
After walking for miles, the sky darkened, bringing a bone-chilling cold and a cutting wind that made people shiver.
Grace ordered a camp to be set up immediately to ensure safety, complete with defensive structures to ward off wild animals.
With a large team, they quickly cleared the surroundings and set up animal traps.
At the outer perimeter, a trench was dug to hold kerosene as a defensive measure. If necessary, they could quickly ignite the
kerosene to repel wild beasts.
Despite being elite warriors unafraid of ordinary beasts, the mysterious nature of the oasis demanded extra caution.

After setting up the camp, most sought refuge in their tents for warmth. Only two patrol teams stayed, circling the campsite to
guard against unexpected events.
As night fell, the oasis underwent a transformation with the emergence of buzzing insects, chirping birds, roaring beasts, tremors
in the earth, and other peculiar sounds. This lively atmosphere was a stark contrast to the daytime silence, making everyone
realize the oasis’s ominous nature.
The darkness unveiled the true face of the oasis, exposing more than their daytime experiences had revealed.
Dustin and Grace sat across from each other inside the tent. They were warming up by the fire and drinking tea.

“We’re in the oasis now. Did your Celestial Eye pick up on anything?” She was the one to break the silence and initiate the
conversation.
She enlisted Dustin for security and his Celestial Eye. The relic could not only see through illusions and break spells but also
served for treasure hunting. The Celestial Eye would respond when valuable items entered its range.
Dustin calmly took a sip of tea before stating, “It senses a faint response in both the southeast and northwest, but it’s not
obvious. Furthermore, it doesn’t match with the Dracan essence you described.”
A faint response might suggest either a considerable distance or just a regular treasure. The Celestial Eye wouldn’t respond to
items such as eclipse spiritstone or revitalberries.
“Looks like we need to go deeper.”
Grace nodded.

She realized finding the Dracan essence wouldn’t happen in a day. However, considering the situation, the sooner they finished
the mission, the safer they’d be.
He said casually, “Honestly, I’ve got a bad feeling. This time, finding the Dracan essence might not be easy.”
She replied, “If it were a breeze, I wouldn’t have reached out to you. The fate of our nation is tied to the Dracan essence.
Regardless of the challenges, I must get it back.”
“Sure, whatever you say,” Dustin said with a shrug. He was ready to fully commit to seeing the mission through.
As they chatted, a sudden whistle sliced through the air, a clear warning of impending danger. Soon after, the deep growl of a
beast reached their ears.
A resonant roar abruptly shattered the tranquility of the camp, jolting everyone into action. Weapons in hand, they hastily exited
their tents, ready to confront an unknown threat.
“What’s going on?”
Grace frowned as she and Dustin stepped out, coincidentally encountering the captain of the royal guards.
“Ms. Linsor, there’s an unknown creature approaching. Please stay in the tent for a moment!” the captain advised.
“A creature?” She raised an eyebrow. ” Lead the way.”
“Ms. Linsor, it might be dangerous!” The captain hesitated.
“With Mr. Rhys by my side, that creature won’t pose a threat to me.”
She spoke briefly and headed directly toward the source of the sound. She couldn’t wait to find out which creature dared to
attack the camp at night.