Ranger Head Instructor, Yuta

Under Starlight’s reminder, at the very moment the dust was about to settle, Xia Duo released her bowstring, which had long been drawn into a full moon.

Since this battle had come so suddenly, Xia Duo was still using the longbow she had taken from a fallen teammate, but she had replenished her supply of Sacred Wood Arrows at the Ranger Force station during the city defense battle.

After some discussion, she, Starlight, and Po Kong had all decided to keep this ultimate trump card hidden until now.

Even if an ordinary longbow couldn't fully unleash the power of the Sacred Wood Arrows, bolstered by Moen’s magic, that dark green arrow still erupted with a supreme Power of Nature.

The arrow was like a bolt of green lightning, spinning as it sliced the remaining grey mist in the air in half, aiming straight for the mysterious person’s chest.

Facing the Sacred Wood Arrow that was already before his eyes, the mysterious person hovering in mid-air turned again in an incomprehensible posture. The deep green arrow grazed his chest by a hair’s breadth, merely tearing a corner of his lapel.

Just as the mysterious person turned his gaze back toward the group, a sudden, sharp pain shot from beneath his ribs.

He looked down to see that another dark green arrow had actually pierced through the barrier of death mist covering his body, plunging squarely into his side.

Instantly, dark red blood began to gush from the wound.

“To think... it was a Shadow Arrow... and you even used a double-shot of Sacred Wood Arrows. It seems you’ve grown quite a bit... even I failed to see through it...”

The mysterious person clutched the wound in pain, his voice carrying an imperceptible tremor.

Upon hearing the mysterious person say this, Xia Duo’s face, which had looked slightly excited just a moment ago, changed drastically. she snapped her head toward the figure shrouded in thin mist and questioned him loudly.

“Who exactly are you!?”

The Shadow Arrow he mentioned was one of the secret archery techniques of the elves, and its difficulty was extremely high. It required hiding a second, identical arrow within the shadow of the first, requiring perfect timing while ensuring the bowstring only made a single sound.

Ordinary members of the Ranger Force had rarely even heard of such a technique, let alone learned it.

There were very few people who knew Xia Duo had mastered this secret art, and yet the opponent had identified it with a single word. Xia Duo was struck with horror, and the longbow in her hand involuntarily lowered.

“Heh, with your cleverness, even if I didn’t say it, you should have guessed most of it by now, right? Number Sixteen...” the mysterious person chuckled softly.

“Number Sixteen.”

This title might have only sounded slightly strange to Starlight, but an expression of disbelief appeared on Xia Duo’s beautiful face.

Because only she knew that this title was her exclusive code name during her training in the Ranger Force. Furthermore, as someone who had long been designated as a candidate for Ranger Captain, she normally wouldn't use this code name.

Only a handful of people truly knew this code name and would use it to address her, and every single one of them was a powerhouse on the level of Angela.

Xia Duo took a deep breath. As the deathly mist gradually dissipated, she finally caught a scent that was both familiar and absolutely shouldn't be here.

“Teacher Yuta... is it you?” Her voice trembled slightly, her question laced with disbelief.

The mysterious person did not respond directly with words. Instead, as the black mist surrounding him slowly cleared, a wizened figure that completely contradicted his voice appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Starlight stared at the hunched old man floating in the air, a surge of shock rising in his heart. Aside from You, this was the first time he had seen such an elderly member of the elven race.

Moreover, unlike You, this old man was surrounded by a faint deathly aura, as if he had just crawled out of a grave, sending a chill down one's spine.

“Who is this guy? What’s his relationship with Xia Duo?” Carrying these questions, Starlight inquired within his mind.

Although Moen was equally shocked, she quickly adjusted her emotions and began to explain for Starlight.

“This old man is the former Ranger Head Instructor, Yuta. If I remember correctly, he is nearly three thousand years old and served as the Head Instructor for over a millennium.”

“Though he is a mage, his mastery of archery and stealth is equally high. Even Ming Ye once received guidance from him.”

“But didn't he retire ten years ago because he had reached the end of his lifespan? It caused quite a stir within the clan at the time. Even Aunt Angela couldn't extend his life any further.”

“When my sister was undergoing training, it happened to be the last class he was responsible for. After completing the task, he stepped down from all responsibilities and left the clan. I thought he had long since...” Moen’s words carried a hint of remembrance and regret, which immediately turned into suspicion.

“Wait... shouldn't Senior Yuta’s elemental affinity be the same as mine...? Then who is the person before us...?”

Before Moen could finish, they witnessed a terrifying scene.

Yuta, floating in mid-air, suddenly reached out a hand and tightly gripped the exposed half of the Sacred Wood Arrow made from a branch of the World Tree.

Just as Starlight thought he was about to be severely injured by the immensely powerful arrow, the unusually dense death power on Yuta’s body actually converged toward his heart at a visible speed, eventually vanishing completely.

In its place was a surge of vibrant vitality, so powerful that even Moen in her prime could hardly match it.

Wrapped in this power, the Sacred Wood Arrow in Yuta’s hand was instantly decomposed into the purest natural energy, which he inhaled into his body in one breath.

Soon, a flush appeared on Yuta’s aged face, and even his spirit seemed much improved. The arrow wound at his waist stopped bleeding within a few breaths and was recovering at an astonishing speed.

“How is this possible!? Senior Yuta... can actually use both nature and death, two completely opposite powers, at the same time!?” Seeing this, Moen couldn't help but cry out in shock.

At the same time, Noah’s low voice immediately rang out in their minds, sounding an alarm.

“Nothing is impossible. Little Star’s master, Carlos, possessed the two diametrically opposite elemental affinities of light and dark. This power of life and death before us... also has a chance of appearing!”

Suddenly, Po Kong’s voice chimed in, asking weakly, “Um... Senior Noah, I just wanted to ask, roughly what kind of strength would a person like this have? Do we have any emergency plans left?”

Hearing Po Kong’s slightly exhausted voice, Starlight immediately asked with concern, “Po Kong, are you okay? What’s the situation with Ming Ye?”

Po Kong sighed softly and replied, “I’m alright, just a bit drained right now. That guy Ming Ye is still alive, but he’s barely hanging on by a thread. However, Lira and I don't have the strength to deliver the final blow right now...”

But just as he was about to elaborate, Noah interrupted them.