As time slowly passed and things showed no progress, Jade couldn't help but grow anxious. He had privately sought out Ed several times, hoping to try other methods.

However, Ed had advised Jade to reduce their interactions and avoid drawing attention to themselves.

During this time, Ed would often leave his room quietly in the middle of the night and head to remote areas within the Moon Eclipse Demon Hunter Association. He was trying to provide Reve with the perfect opportunity to make a move.

Unfortunately, Reve never appeared.

Toronto and Jade, who were aware of the plan, could only sigh in frustration, but Ed seemed completely indifferent. He was waiting.

Meanwhile, Melissa not only prepared the poison Ed needed but also visited his room several times at night, significantly accelerating his progress.

However, Ed noticed that Melissa wasn't looking well. Even during the day, her body would occasionally shiver uncontrollably.

When Ed asked her about it, she always brushed it off, saying there was nothing to worry about.

Recalling what Melissa had previously said about her body needing time to accumulate the moonlight energy, Ed noticed that her visits to his room had become much more frequent recently compared to before.

He understood that there was a price for her help. Melissa was helping him at a cost to herself.

Ed didn't mention anything about it. He had already made up his mind that, once everything was over, he would let Melissa study his own unusual condition.

Finally, that night, Melissa knocked on Ed's door once more. She looked exhausted, holding a Guardian Scroll, and handed it to him.

Ed took the scroll from Melissa, inhaled deeply, and said seriously, "Thank you for all your hard work. With this, my chances are much greater. Things will move forward soon."

Melissa simply nodded, offering a tired smile. Despite her exhaustion, her beauty was unaffected.

She spoke, "Be careful. I'll be waiting to study you later."

Ed nodded and stood at the door, watching as Melissa returned to her room before he left. He carefully wrapped the hooves of his warhorse, Lightning, with cloth, draped on his Nightcloak, and quietly made his way to the place where Toronto and Ford were staying.

Soon, Toronto and Ford, also wearing Nightcloaks, were leading their warhorses through the night, slowly heading toward the Blackstone Team's quarters.

Ford looked extremely excited. He lowered his voice and asked Ed, who was walking ahead, "Captain, what's going on? What are we doing? Has there been a new discovery?"

Ed replied quietly, "Don't ask too many questions. Just follow me."

Toronto's face showed a similar look of confusion; he couldn't figure out what Ed was doing.

The plan to provoke Reve into making a move seemed to have failed, and now Ed was calling them out in the middle of the night to meet with the Blackstone Team. Something significant must have happened for so many people to be involved in this operation.

But no matter how Toronto thought about it, he couldn't make sense of it.

Could it be that Jade's investigation into Reve had made new progress?

With this thought in mind, Toronto quickly followed Ed to the Blackstone Team's quarters. Upon meeting Jade, he immediately noticed something was off.

Jade's expression reflected the same confusion as his own!

Jade looked at Ed and the others, who were wearing Nightcloaks and had wrapped their warhorses' hooves in cloth, and asked in a puzzled tone, "What's going on, Ed? Is there a new development?"

Ed nodded and then leaned closer to Jade's ear, whispering, "Yes. You need to have all of Blackstone Team's members wrap their warhorses' hooves in cloth, just like we've done. We'll move quietly and not draw Reve's attention, or things might take an unexpected turn."

Jade took a deep breath and nodded firmly. He had been waiting for so long. Although he knew that an operation that Ed cared about so much must be risky, he didn't hesitate for a moment. He quickly instructed the Blackstone Team members to get ready.

When everyone in the Blackstone Team had gathered at their villa and was prepared to leave, Ed suddenly seemed to remember something. He handed the reins of his warhorse to Jade and whispered:

"There's one more crucial thing I need to get. I'll go back and get it. With that, we'll be able to stop the crisis in Dorey City for sure!"

Then, Ed carefully left the Blackstone Team's villa, choosing less-traveled paths as he headed toward his room.

However, halfway there, Ed suddenly stopped in his tracks. He drew his steel sword from his back and looked at a large tree beside him, his face filled with shock. His voice was full of disbelief as he spoke:

"Reve? How are you here?"

The figure behind the tree was none other than Reve, the Deputy Leader of the Moon Eclipse Demon Hunter Association. Reve slowly unsheathed his sword, his face full of murderous intent and mockery.

Reve sneered disdainfully and spoke:

"You arrogant fool. You thought you could provoke me into revealing a flaw. Did you really think I'm as stupid as you?"

"Also, this is the Moon Eclipse Demon Hunter Association. I know everything about you and Jade's movements, every last detail."

Ed was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained his composure. Gritting his teeth, he asked, "Who is it? Did you have someone from the Blackstone Team watching me? Damn it!"

The mocking expression on Reve's face grew even stronger as he raised his steel sword and slowly approached Ed, his murderous intent blatantly visible in his eyes.

In the next instant, Reve's figure disappeared from sight, his speed was so fast it was like a flash of lightning. When he reappeared, he was already right in front of Ed!

The moonlight glinted off the tip of Reve's thrusting sword, giving it a chillingly cold sheen.

Ed quickly raised his own steel sword to block, but the moment his steel blade made contact with Reve's incoming strike, he immediately felt an overwhelming force!

The power made his wrist tremble slightly, and his sword shook, exposing a small opening.

Reve seized the opportunity with pinpoint accuracy. His sword swung again, striking Ed's steel sword.

In an instant, Ed was forced back, his feet dragging across the ground, leaving deep grooves behind him.

At this moment, Ed's mastery of swordsmanship seemed nearly useless in the face of such overwhelming strength.

Reve's power was far greater than Ed had imagined.

Ed took a deep breath, his voice filled with disbelief as he said, "How... how are you so strong?"

Reve's voice grew colder, his aura emanating a chilling, moonlit-like presence. His words became raspier as he replied:

"Strong? How else would I get my revenge?"

Ed adjusted his stance, gripping his sword tightly with his right hand. His left hand quickly moved to his chest, where the Guardian Scroll Melissa had given him was stored!

If he could just delay for a little longer, the sounds of the battle would definitely attract attention.

To his surprise, Reve suddenly spoke again, "Is this your trump card? Melissa's Guardian Scroll? I tried to trade for it with something else before, but she rejected me without hesitation."

"I knew this thing would be with you."

"Ed, I'm curious—how did you manage to deceive Melissa into giving you this? This scroll is an incredibly valuable item."

Ed didn't respond to Reve's question. His face was now grim, and a sense of fear began to spread across him.

His voice trembled slightly as he said, "You know this is the Guardian Scroll, so why aren't you worried at all? Could it be that you're hiding even more power?"

Laughter erupted, starting quietly before growing louder, carrying a hint of madness and deep disdain. Reve chuckled and said:

"What else could it be? You really underestimate me. A Guardian Scroll, just that—before anyone else arrives, killing you will be no problem at all!"

"Prepare to meet your death!"

The moment he finished speaking, under the moonlight, Ed suddenly witnessed an unbelievable sight.

The Deputy Leader of the Moon Eclipse Demon Hunter Association, Reve, began to sprout thick black fur across his body. His figure grew taller and more massive, as if his muscles were made of iron. In an instant, his clothes ripped apart, revealing a form that glistened with a metallic sheen under the moonlight.

A creature, standing nearly three meters tall and resembling a massive gorilla, appeared before Ed's eyes.

Ed's eyes were filled with shock. He instinctively shouted, "How... how can this be? You're not human! How is that possible?!"

This kind of monster didn't appear at all in the Low-Level Monster Codex. Ed had no idea what kind of creature this was!

At that moment, Reve's voice, now hoarse and distorted, slowly echoed: "Die. No one can stop my revenge! No one!"

After saying this, Reve's enormous form quickly charged toward Ed.

Ed hastily tore the Guardian Scroll, and a brilliant golden light poured out, instantly enveloping his entire body.

However, when the monstrous Reve swung his fist toward Ed, the golden light rippled like water, creating intense waves, as if it were about to shatter.

Ed's face began to show signs of despair.

Meanwhile, Reve, relishing in the despair on Ed's face, felt a deep sense of satisfaction. No one could stop his revenge. Anyone who tried to prevent him would die!

Ed gritted his teeth and spoke, his voice filled with anger and desperation:

"Why? Why does the Parasitic Serpent Monster Vil want to kill all the people in Dorey City, as well as every Gold-level Hunter who followed Finniel Morton? You're helping him—don't you feel any guilt?"

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