Chapter 64: The Price of Pride

Surprised by Gabriel's Arrival

Cho Wei and his team stood frozen, the aftermath of their near defeat still weighing heavily on their minds. Relief mingled with a deep unease as they watched Gabriel's team emerge from the shadows. Cho Wei's heart sank; Gabriel was the last person he wanted to witness his team's vulnerability.

"Gabriel, your team managed to navigate the depths of this mystic realm?!" Chen Lei blurted out, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Yet, despite the surprise in his words, his eyes remained emotionless, concealing the turmoil within. He knew that asking Gabriel for help was their only viable option, but his pride gnawed at him, preventing him from making the plea.

Gabriel noticed the conflict in Cho Wei's eyes—a mix of arrogance and desperation that almost made him pity the other team leader. A small smile played on his lips, followed by a quiet, resigned sigh. "Even now, with your team on the brink of collapse, you can't let go of your pride, can you?" he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.

Without waiting for a response, Gabriel raised his staff. The air around him shimmered as he cast [Cleanse] and [Goddess Blessing] toward Cho Wei's battered team. The divine energy washed over them, mending their wounds and restoring their strength, though it did little to heal their wounded pride.

Jane, one of Gabriel's teammates, frowned in confusion. "Brother Gab, what are you doing?"

"Don't tell me you actually want to help Cho Wei," Gareth interjected, his voice thick with lingering resentment. The anger he harbored toward Cho Wei for his earlier insults had not faded, and it showed clearly on his face.

Before Gareth could continue, the ground beneath them trembled violently as a sudden explosion erupted nearby.

Out of nowhere, Jan and Lian were sent flying by the impact of the Reaper Ghosts' [Death Scythe]. Though Gabriel's restorative spells and buffs had fortified them just moments before, the sheer force of the attack still caught them off guard. The shield Gabriel had provided absorbed much of the damage, but the unexpected blow left them momentarily stunned.

Gabriel's team reacted with military precision, moving into formation as their battle-honed instincts kicked in. In stark contrast, Cho Wei's team remained paralyzed, their earlier confidence shattered.

"Let me handle this," Gabriel said calmly, his voice slicing through the tension like a blade.

His teammates—Jane, Elton, Gareth, and Zhao Kong—exchanged startled glances.

Gabriel had rarely taken direct action since they'd entered the mystic realm. He usually stayed in the back, orchestrating their movements and providing crucial support in the form of heals and buffs. The last time he had engaged in combat was when he single-handedly defeated the Poison Eye Demon Spider—an event that had occurred four hours ago and was still fresh in their minds as a near-legendary feat.

But now, Gabriel's tone left no room for debate. Without hesitation, he began to weave a powerful spell, his hands moving with practiced ease. [Light Hurricane] and [Celestial Judgement] materialized almost simultaneously, each spell aimed with deadly precision at the two Reaper Ghosts.

A radiant beam of light descended from the heavens, striking the first Reaper with unerring accuracy. The divine energy seared through its ghostly form, engulfing it in a blaze of holy fire.

BOOOMM! CRITICAL!!

The force of the attack was overwhelming.

-343,858 HP

The second Reaper was ensnared by a swirling hurricane of light. The blinding vortex tore through the ghost's ethereal body, battering it with successive waves of divine energy.

Whoosh!

-115,086 HP

-115,086 HP

-115,086 HP

The battle ended almost as soon as it had begun.

[DING! You have killed a Reaper Ghost! Exp +16,000]

[DING! You have killed a Reaper Ghost! Exp +16,000]

[DING! You have obtained...]

A series of notifications flashed before Gabriel's eyes, confirming the defeat of the Reaper Ghosts. The area fell into a heavy silence, the oppressive presence of the ghosts replaced by an almost surreal stillness.

Everyone's gaze turned to Gabriel, who stood in the center of the clearing, his body suddenly enveloped in a radiant halo of light—the unmistakable sign of an increased in level.

Cho Wei and his team stared in stunned silence, their earlier pride now crushed under the weight of their inadequacy. The scene before them was a harsh reminder of how close they had come to annihilation, and how effortlessly Gabriel had saved them.

---

Outside the Mystic Realm

The moment Gabriel delivered the final blow to the Reaper Ghosts, the atmosphere outside the mystic realm erupted into chaos. The spectators, who had been watching the battle unfold on massive holographic screens, burst into deafening cheers. The roar of the crowd was overwhelming, echoing through the stadium as Gabriel's name was chanted in unison.

"Gabriel! Gabriel! Gabriel!"

The ground itself seemed to tremble as thousands of feet stomped in rhythm, creating a pulsating beat that resonated through the stands. The excitement was palpable, an electric energy that filled the air as they celebrated Gabriel's incredible display of power.

---

Inside the Mystic Realm

[Ding! Congratulations, you leveled up. Level +1]

[Ding! You obtained 2 skill points]

[Ding! You obtained 20 status points]

Gabriel ignored the series of prompts flashing before his eyes, his focus shifting to Cho Wei. The expression on Cho Wei's face—a mix of deep embarrassment and shock—was almost satisfying. Gabriel could see that Cho Wei was reeling, unable to process how easily he had dispatched the Reaper Ghosts.

With a calm, deliberate stride, Gabriel approached Cho Wei in the same manner he had when they confronted each other before entering the mystic realm. Gabriel's voice cut through the lingering silence as he echoed the words Cho Wei had thrown at him earlier, "Is that supposed to impress me?"

The question hung in the air like a knife, sharp and cutting. Cho Wei's pride took another devastating hit, and he could only stare at Gabriel in silence. His mind was in turmoil, replaying those exact words over and over, the sting of his own arrogance now a bitter taste in his mouth.

Gabriel didn't wait for a response. He turned to his team and commanded them to move on, leaving Cho Wei and his team to grapple with their bruised egos.

---

Outside the Mystic Realm

Mr. Hanz, observing Gabriel's encounter with Cho Wei's team, couldn't help but laugh heartily, his amusement barely contained. He shot a glance at Ru Aram, his expression a mocking one that seemed to say, "Did you see that?"

Ru Aram, catching Mr. Hanz's look, clenched her teeth in embarrassment. If Gabriel could see her face at that moment, he would have been amazed, for her expression mirrored the exact humiliation that Cho Wei was feeling inside the mystic realm.

---

Inside the Mystic Realm

After the tense encounter with Cho Wei's team, Gabriel led his group deeper into the Sunset Forest. The dense trees and underbrush seemed to close in around them as they ventured further, the air thick with a foreboding sense of danger. Every step they took was measured, every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig putting them on edge.

As they reached a particularly ominous part of the forest, Gabriel suddenly halted. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the surroundings, sensing a presence lurking in the shadows.

"Something's watching us," Gabriel murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

The team instinctively tightened their formation, their senses on high alert. Jane's hand hovered over her blade, Gareth readied his staff, and Zhao Kong adjusted his stance, prepared for any sudden attack.

Unbeknownst to them, a gigantic Vine Snake had already set its sights on the group. Its scales, thick and interlocking like armor, reflected the faint light that filtered through the canopy. The snake slithered silently through the underbrush, its massive body moving with deadly precision. It was a patient predator, biding its time as it slowly encircled Gabriel and his team, preparing to strike with overwhelming force.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss!"

The subtle sound of the snake's movement reached Gabriel's ears. His eyes darted toward the source, and a chill ran down his spine. The Vine Snake, a creature of immense power, was closing in on them, its cold, calculating gaze locked onto Gabriel.

"Be careful," Gabriel warned, his voice low but urgent.

The team members exchanged tense glances, each of them acutely aware of the danger they were in. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the kind that prickled at the skin and made the heart race.

As they cautiously moved forward, the Vine Snake continued its stealthy approach. Its scales rustled softly against the leaves, the sound almost too quiet to notice. It planned to bind them in its powerful coils, to crush them before they even had a chance to react.

But Gabriel was no ordinary prey.

"On formation," Gabriel ordered, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. His team moved instantly, their trust in him absolute.

"Elton, use Power Shot on that spot. Make sure your arrow passes between those two trees!" Gabriel pointed toward a narrow gap where the foliage was thickest. "Jane, once Elton hits the target, use your Phantom Strike, then immediately deploy your Shadow Clone to run the distance and

 distract whatever's there. Zhao Kong, get to that tree, and once Jane is successful, use Earth Smash to stun the opponent. Wait for Gareth to unleash his Fire Serpent before taunting it with Shield Might."

He paused, ensuring his team understood the plan. "Got it?"

"Understood," they responded in unison, their voices steady despite the tension.

Gabriel nodded, his eyes narrowing as he cast a series of buffs on his team and himself.

[HP Up]: Increase HP by 15%

[Atk Up]: Increase Patk/Matk by 50% 

[Shield]: Block damage up to 6 times the caster's HP

[Immunity]: Immune to all negative buffs 

[Spd Up]: Increase speed by 30%

He took a deep breath, his mind sharpening, ready for the impending battle. Then, with a steely resolve, Gabriel uttered the single word that would set everything in motion.

"Now..."