CHAPTER 52: EDWARD SAWYER

Thinking about the divinity who’d fallen for him for absurd reasons, Ace realized the passive skill tied to her should have evolved too. He’d absorbed high‑quality Drowned blood, the source of Cherry’s existence. As he expected, Yvandra’Annah’s Blade was highlighted too.

He clicked on that passive skill.

[Yvandra’Annah’s Blade (III)

Node — Divine Attraction: Yvandra’Annah favors Ace Avalanche over all.

Node — Her Grace’s Favorite Drowned: You can now shade into The Drowned, gaining their common traits.

Node — Devil’s Blood: User can change his blood into Ink for Armament, and turn his Ink into his blood.]

Ace sighed in relief. It didn’t pull him closer to Yvandra’Annah; it gave him a useful ability instead.

Bleeding was a melee ranker’s worst nightmare. Blood loss had taken many lives in Ace’s first life, and he didn’t doubt many had already fallen to it in his second.

There must be more useful effects to this node. Imma think about them later.

Ace didn’t waste time. He checked the last upgrade from the Two-Headed Wolf’s blood.

The bloodline added a new node to Sprinter’s Stride, pushing it to level five. Scrolling to the new node, he chuckled.

[Node — Endurance Sprinter: User’s stamina is highly elevated.]

Wolves are endurance hunters. That didn’t surprise Ace, but the idea that his stamina was boosted for more than sprinting made him grin. Most effort ties back to sprinting anyway.

Just then, Cherry woke up and rolled from his head onto his chest. It looked up, eyes gleaming to see Ace awake and looking better. The little slime’s wings flapped with delight.

Aish!

"Thanks for saving me. You also gave me a few bonuses. Thanks, Cherry," Ace said, smiling.

No problem! I misshed ya!

"I only slept a few hours, and so did you, right?" Ace said with a laugh.

I misshed ya!

Cherry tried to take off but failed. It bounced straight into Ace’s face and toppled him back onto his pillow. He rubbed his face as Cherry rolled off him again.

"I need an answer. There are bloodlines in me I don’t like. Think you could suck ’em out anytime?" Ace asked.

Cherry went still, thinking.

Won’t the foreign bloodlines become one with Aish soon?

"Yeah, I guess that’s the problem," Ace said with a nod. So it won’t be that easy to separate myself from the Drowned stuff. At least I have it under control.

Still, it’d be best to split from the Spikeback Boar and Two‑Headed Wolf bloodlines. Ace talked it through with Cherry, and they agreed to experiment.

He made a small cut on his finger and let Cherry feed. The little slime happily drank his blood, forgetting its task for a moment, then probed Ace’s bloodline, trying to extract the unwanted ones.

It wasn’t easy, and Cherry wobbled with Ace’s index finger in its mouth and began to cry.

"Those bloodlines are weak, so we have time. Calm down."

Okay.

"Cherry! You woke up!" Chaewon called and reached out to take the little slime.

Alas, Cherry was glued to Ace’s finger and didn’t budge. Chaewon sighed and knelt by the bed, poking the slime and thanking it for saving Ace. Cherry answered, and Ace relayed its words.

"Cherry said no problem," Ace said.

Chaewon nodded. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Ace replied.

"Is feeding Cherry your blood a common thing?" Chaewon asked.

"Cherry’s on an important task. We’re fine. Don’t mind us. We’re heading to the Heaven Village," Ace said. He left his makeshift bed, rolled his neck, and got ready to leave their underground camp.

Chaewon still looked worried. "We can stay longer so you can recover. What if danger pops up or a ranker tries something?"

"Well, I only have a bow right now," Ace replied. "So I’ll fight from the backline if anything happens."

"True," Chaewon said. "Okay. I trust your judgment."

He’d lost his daggers to the Conductor. If Marko hadn’t found his Silverwood bow, he would’ve been empty‑handed, and that would’ve been a problem. Still, the bow and arrows let him support his team.

Maybe his team holding the front without him would help them grow faster. The thought made him lean into the challenge and stick with the bow until he picked up gear that fit his style.

Ace’s team left the underground camp and headed for the Heaven Village.

A few hours later, the Heaven Village’s wall rose on the horizon, thick tree trunks set deep into the ground. The defenses towered over the village and would reach at least the third floor of a typical apartment block. They must’ve rewarded the builders.

But rankers who didn’t or couldn’t contribute to the new society were cast outside the walls, left to fend for themselves. Still, news of Ace’s camp had already reached the Heaven Village—including those cast out.

They learned that underground camps were among the safest against the undead. All of them started digging underground at the base of the wooden defenses.

A man in his late teens, one year older than Ace, sat on top of the wooden defenses over the main gate. He rested against one bent knee while the other leg dangled, heel tapping the wall. He sat far enough from everyone that no one could read his face.

His expression twisted with disgust and indignation at those setting up camps near the Heaven Village.

"Worthless scum. You think I’ll let you use our safe zone without paying us back?" he whispered, clenching his hands. "Ace Avalanche. It’s because of you and your camp. Society works when everyone pulls their weight. I can’t wait for the Rankers Rank Update to watch you drop from Rank One."

He clearly didn’t like Ace for how he ran his camp. He thought he was out of range for anyone to see him clearly, but with the Heaven Village’s main wall in full view, Ace could see him easily and read his expression.

Ace pretended not to notice.

Edward Sawyer... Rank Six for now. Is he showing his true colors already? Not many knew about underground camps this early in the first life.

When Ace and his team approached the gate, Edward Sawyer descended from the wall’s spire and landed in front of them.

He smiled at Chaewon. "Hey. Haven’t seen you around here. I’m Edward Sawyer. Everyone knows me in the Heaven Village, so you’re in good hands with me."