37. Blaze's POV

Meanwhile, as the battle began, Blaze and the girls rushed to a considerable distance from the battlefield.

"Climb the tree," Blaze said calmly to Olivia.

"Why?" Olivia asked in confusion.

"How are you going to snipe without settling on a good spot? The height of this tree should be okay," Blaze said, irritation could be sensed in his voice. Performing various assassination missions gave him experience even though he did not know how to use a bow. However, working with an amateur was irking Blaze.

"I don't know how to climb a tree," Olivia said with a tiny voice as she bent her head. Blaze's cheek spasms for a moment, before he abruptly grabbed her collar.

"Hold onto anything your hand touches, or you will fall to the ground and break many bones. You might die in the process," Blaze whispered like the devil into Olivia's ear, making her shiver, but Blaze never cared.

Blaze threw her upward like a soaring bird. Olivia quickly grabbed the nearest branch with shaky hands when she reached the maximum height of her soaring and was about to drop.

"Wait for me," Blaze said to Sophia before swiftly climbing the tree. When Blaze met Olivia at the top, he turned to raging battle only to see Aurora perform the first jump over Priscilla's wall to strike the bear.

However, when Blaze saw them trying to protect the wall, he berated in a whisper, "Why make a static defense? Why use a barricade to stop a tank? Amateur!"

Blaze continued watching without sparing Olivia a second glance.

When Robin jumped over the wall and thrust his trident into the head of the bear, Blaze berated again, "Why strike the same spot if it's hard? Novice!"

He continued watching in silence while assessing the situation. When Robin and Priscilla passed out from the bear's counterattack, Blaze finally turned to Olivia.

"Alright, I've given you enough time to prepare yourself mentally. Ideally, I would have preferred if you aimed for the bear's eyes, but I understand that might be a difficult task. Instead, target its legs," Blaze stated calmly, devoid of any emotion. He then shifted his attention to Aurora, observing her as she skillfully severed the bear's limbs.

"At least someone here has some battle experience," Blaze commended, acknowledging Aurora's prowess. His gaze then shifted to Olivia, who was raising her bow, ready to take a shot.

Blaze, initially indifferent, became attentive when he noticed Olivia's trembling hands. He immediately issued a stern warning, his voice sharp and assertive. "Under no circumstances should you mistakenly shoot Aurora. She happens to be the Principal's daughter. If any harm befalls her, the Principal may seek revenge, putting your entire family at risk. So, steady your hands."

Blaze's words caused Olivia to swiftly lower her hand, fear evident in her eyes.

Perplexed by her hesitation, Blaze questioned her, his face displaying confusion. "Why aren't you shooting?"

Struggling to find her words, Olivia stammered in response, "I... I... I don't want to accidentally hit Aurora."

With a low growl, Blaze retorted, "Aurora is much smaller compared to the bear, which is your intended target. I was merely giving you a friendly reminder." His irritation at her attitude was becoming apparent.

The bear suddenly unleashed an area-of-effect attack, slamming its paw onto the ground and sending Aurora flying through the air. Blaze's expression contorted with concern. He was ready to leap off the tree and rush to the battlefield when he noticed Robin abruptly awakening. Pausing his intended action, he shifted his focus towards Olivia.

Blaze's words turned icy, devoid of any sugar-coating. "I never allowed you to join a team to play the role of a weak girl. You weren't even qualified to be my partner in the first place. However, something made me change my mind. Yet now, you can't even wield your weapon when the enemy is at a distance? It's a disgrace. That's precisely why those nobles can push you around."

"Easy now. She's just a kid. Maybe this is her first hunt," Aphrodite interjected, offering a gentle reprimand from the sidelines.

Without glancing at Aphrodite, Blaze continued his scathing remarks. "If you don't shoot and they end up dead, you'll be responsible. The Principal will hunt you and your family down for killing her daughter."

Tears finally streamed down Olivia's face as she succumbed to her emotions.

Blaze's face twisted with disgust at the sight of her tear-streaked face, dismissing her crying as insignificant in the face of mere scolding.

"Heck! Give her a break. You're making her scared of shooting and not shooting at the same time." Aphrodite nudged Blaze.

Blaze turned and faced the battle, counting Olivia as minus one. However, what he saw made his eyes squint.

"Pushing your enemy against the wall without setting a trap or having a finishing blow ready is truly foolish," Blaze criticized through clenched teeth. His concern was justified, as the bear proceeded with a reckless attack.

"Aren't you going to intervene? He might die," Aphrodite pointed out, recognizing the urgency of the situation.

Blaze faced Olivia directly and stated with a stern tone, "You better shoot, but make sure you don't hit your teammate, or they might retaliate against you. I won't come to your defense. Pull yourself together." With that, he leaped off the tree, landing in a squatting position on the ground.

"Give me your sword," Blaze demanded from Sophia, his gaze fixed on her.

She nodded and swiftly handed him her katana, a weapon suited to Blaze's fighting style.

"I guess you don't know the weak point of the bear like you instinctively know humans," Aphrodite said.

Blaze swiftly unsheathed the katana, its blade gleaming in the light, and dashed towards the battlefield.

"I can't be aware of every creature's weak point. Besides, I'm no seasoned hunter. However, I believe I have an idea of the bear's weak spot," Blaze remarked, his movements resembling that of a phantom.

Within moments, the battlefield came into view. Blaze's gaze locked onto the bear's massive paw poised above Robin and Aurora.

"Hey!" Blaze roared, attempting to distract the bear. However, the bear remained focused, its paw about to descend.

"Killing intent," Aphrodite whispered, recognizing Blaze's intense focus. He unleashed his unbridled killing intent, causing the bear to pause momentarily. It was enough time for Blaze to swiftly arrive at the edge of the battlefield.

The bear abruptly turned towards the source of the greatest danger, only to find Blaze hurtling towards it, katana firmly gripped in his hand. It was too late for the bear to evade.

Blaze made a deliberate choice not to jump over the bear but instead passed beneath it, slashing with his sword covered in water. His blade found its mark, cutting deep beneath the bear's jaw, causing blood to spill forth.

The bear recoiled, its movements becoming frantic. As Blaze turned, his eyes spasmed for a brief moment before relaxing. He realized that Priscilla was just a meter away from being trampled by the bear.

In that moment of relaxation, Blaze resigned himself to the belief that Priscilla was already lost, as it was too late to save her.