C6 Agree

Martina's gaze snapped tight, then gradually softened. With a flick of her twin ponytails, she declared, "Alright!"

Frankly, Egil was taken aback by Martina's straightforward consent. Given his skills, while unique, they might not measure up to Rapper, Mark, and their crew, especially when factoring in their arsenal.

Yet, by allowing Azure Dragon's researchers to delve into the Ancient Ruins, Martina had opened a Pandora's box of potential leaks. The future was uncertain; mountains may stand firm, but water always finds a way to flow.

Sensing Egil's confusion, Martina lifted her chin confidently. "Rest assured, in recognition of your dedication, I'm granting Azure Dragon Garden full access to the ruins' research areas. You can oversee their initiation until you're content."

Still, she couldn't resist a tease. "But I must say, Egil, you're too young... Oh, my mistake, too old to grasp the young at heart," she quipped, oddly stressing "young people." "Just to be clear, if they choose not to participate, that's on them, not me. You, however, are expected to remain committed to the task at hand."

With the door swinging open, Martina exited, her ponytails swishing behind her, narrowly escaping being pinched by the door.

Shortly after, Egil departed the pink-hued room and the Pure White Pyramid.

Silently trailing the blue-eyed girl, Egil's head hung low. Unwilling? How could the Azure Dragon Garden team be anything but eager? They had petitioned and risked their lives for this Arctic exploration opportunity. The chance to study the Ancient Ruins was a dream come true.

Martina, it seemed, had little grasp of academic fervor.

"No, we absolutely refuse to go!"

Ivar's blunt refusal struck Egil like a slap across the face.

"Why?"

"Why? Do you even need to ask? We're Vriudronian. Why should we contribute to Vrimen's research?"

"This is the Ancient Ruins you've all been dreaming of!" Egil exclaimed, perplexed.

"But now the Willoughby people have taken control, and they're collecting all the research data! What else could it be if not a contribution to Vrimen?"

"Egil! You traitor! You're actually advocating for Vrimen! You want to help them steal our secrets and exploit our talents! Students, don't be deceived!" Ivar bellowed.

"Absolutely not! Absolutely not!" The students echoed in unison.

Egil stood there, stunned, scanning the crowd of agitated students for Merle.

"Where's the professor?" Egil asked, turning around.

The blue-eyed girl pressed her ear, seemingly adjusting a communicator.

"Merle showed signs of a stroke and has been taken for treatment," she informed him.

Egil nodded and turned back to the students. Pointing at Ivar, he asked, "You won't cooperate?"

"Never! I've always known you were a traitor!" Ivar yelled.

Egil shifted his finger to Becky, "He doesn't get it... do you?"

Becky defiantly turned her head away.

Egil's finger quivered as he pointed at the other students, "None of you understand? You all refuse to cooperate?"

Someone spat on Egil's hand.

His finger stiffened mid-air as the saliva trickled down.

Suddenly, the saliva and the back of his hand vanished! Then came Ivar's scream; he clutched his shoulder, collapsing to the ground with a dislocated shoulder!

I swallowed my pride for the chance to be part of this research! Refuse to cooperate?

The next scream was Becky's. Her slender ring finger was dislocated, grotesquely twisted onto the back of her hand!

I'm not just a pencil pusher. Those who employ me expect me to put my life on the line!

The students finally realized Egil had lost his temper and scattered in terror!

Ah!

No!

Not my arm!

Stay back, don't come any closer!

None of the students could get far; Egil had successfully cut off every escape route!

The blue-eyed girl was shocked that Egil had turned on his own people without warning, but she was even more astonished by the way he pursued the students!

Egil, without any supernatural abilities, simply chose the most logical, swiftest, and only path that ensured no one could escape.

He furiously grappled and dislocated joints, eliciting screams of agony from the students!

I'm putting my life on the line for you! To secure your chance at gaining those research findings!

You dare spit on me?

Fine! Fine! Fine!

If I can persuade Martina to collaborate, surely I can get you hotheaded youngsters on board too!

"Let's take him on!" The few male students with intact joints realized they couldn't evade the ghost-like Egil and decided to make a last stand! They spun around and charged at him together.

"We're going to take you down!"

"Take down your sister! Lie down!"

Egil weaved through their attacks with ease, untouched as if he could foresee their every move. He anticipated the four male students' assaults, even when one flailed wildly with his fists. Egil moved into the 'Bastard Fist,' effortlessly catching the incoming punch in his open palm.

"Ah!" The student's wrist was dislocated.

In mere minutes, fervent slogans turned into wails of pain on the ground. The blue-eyed girl looked on in astonishment.

Egil dusted off his hands and approached Ivar, squatting down to gently tap his face. "Does it hurt much?"

"You... you jerk..." Ivar managed between gasps, barely holding back his cries in Egil's presence.

"Good! You've got some spirit." Egil's hand, resting on Ivar's face, pushed and pulled, dislocating his jaw.

"Mmmph!"

With another swift motion, Egil dislocated Ivar's other shoulder joint!

Both shoulders dislocated, Ivar lost his balance and collapsed.

The searing shoulder pain reflexively made him want to scream, which in turn yanked at his dislocated jaw, doubling the agony. His whole body shook with pain, which doubled yet again as he instinctively moved his dislocated shoulders. And so on...

Ivar convulsed on the ground like a fish out of water, unable to control the flow of snot, saliva, and other fluids.

Egil reached out and expertly realigned Ivar's dislocated jaw as he rolled his eyes in exasperation.