An Understated Dominance (Maria Vittori) novel Chapter 1982

Garrett was dumbfounded. Staring at the densely packed mutant piranhas, his fury was replaced by sheer horror.

Who would have thought that human-eating monstrous creatures would be hiding in the seemingly calm lake? Had he known earlier, he never would have allowed his team to dive into the waters.

"There's danger lurking everywhere!" Sophia feigned a sigh.

In fact, she already knew about the mutant piranhas when she saw them tearing apart and devouring two massive mutant wolves the previous night.

She didn't warn the others of the danger to prioritize her chances of securing valuable treasure. After all, the more casualties there were, the fewer individuals she would have to divide the treasures with.

"Diving in with so many mutant piranhas around is impossible. We'll wait for the tide to recede at night," Grace commented, instructing her guards to set up camp nearby.

Given the unusual behavior of the Celestial Eye, there was a strong possibility that the Dracan essence was hidden beneath the lake. Leaving at this point was out of the question for Grace.

"I'm going to catch some shut-eye. Wake me up when it's time." Aidan yawned, then leaped onto a branch of a large tree, settling in for a nap.

Although his cultivation level allowed him to make the risky dive, it was unnecessary. While submerged, he would face restrictions, but on land, he could unleash his full strength.

It would be most wise to avoid unnecessary trouble in case they encountered formidable aquatic creatures underwater.

"Sophia, you still haven't fully recovered from your injuries. Let's rest over there." Jackson called out to Sophia, finding a clean patch of grass for them to sit down.

Before Sophia could sit, Jackson gallantly took off his jacket and placed it beneath her, displaying a warm and considerate gesture.

Sophia merely responded with a smile and occasionally stole glances at Dustin. Rather than Jackson, she found herself more intrigued by Dustin.

After all, with her appearance, Sophia attracted attention effortlessly. Men, whether young talents or distinguished figures, would often gaze at her, becoming captivated in the process.

However, Dustin was the exception. Since they met, he hadn't spared her a single glance. It was as if she didn't even exist. Though it stung her pride, it also sparked a sense of curiosity within her.

Was Dustin simply not interested in her, or was he indifferent to women altogether? She needed an opportunity to test it out.

"Captain, Rino is dead, and over half of our remaining members are gone. What should we do now?”

The short-haired woman from the Black Scorpion Squad frowned and her expression became particularly solemn.

Since entering the mysterious oasis, the Black Scorpion Squad, initially consisting of over ten members, had steadily dwindled down to just five, including her.

Losing so many teammates before securing any treasure was a bitter pill to swallow.

"From now on, we're laying low and not taking the lead anymore," Garrett declared with a somber tone.

After experiencing the perils within this mysterious oasis, Garrett had come to a realization. One wrong move could mean the end of their lives.

Instead of seizing treasure, their main goal now was to survive. They would only contemplate treasures once they ensured their survival.