A series of gunshots echoed through the depths of Shadowmist Forest near the border. Joshua Yale slowly opened his eyes. Beside him, a woman was barely conscious, teetering on the edge of passing out. He wasn't sleeping—no one could afford to in a place like this, where danger lurked at every turn. He tried to summon the energy within him, but it was faint, almost nonexistent. It didn't take long for him to realize why—his soul had taken over this unfamiliar body, and it wasn't strong enough to withstand his full power. He had fallen from a Divine Esper to a Sovereign Esper. In his current state, if a mutated beast were to show up, he wouldn't stand a chance. "Joshua, you're awake. Thank goodness. Are you okay?" The woman struggled to speak, her voice weak and her face pale. Joshua turned to look at her, his mind instantly flooding with fragmented memories. Her name was Alice Hanson, and she was one of the special forces operatives on this mission. However, the Joshua before her was no longer the same man. The moment he had fallen off that cliff, his identity had changed. What Alice didn't know was that the real Joshua had perished, and in his place now stood a reborn Divine Esper. "I'm fine. What about you, Alice?" he asked, snapping back to the present. "I'll manage. Joshua, listen to me. According to the map, there's a mountain up ahead. If you can make it over, you'll reach a safe zone. You won't end up like the others." Alice's voice faltered, her eyes turning red. Between the gunshot wound and exhaustion, she looked fragile despite her status as an elite soldier. Even though she was strong, she was still human. Of the seven operatives on this mission, only she and Joshua were alive. The rest had all been wiped out. Whether they could survive much longer remained an open question. "Alice, stop talking. I'm getting you out of here." "No! We won't make it! They're too strong—you have to go! Now!" Alice pushed at him with all the strength she had left, completely disregarding the bullet wound in her back. Joshua was moved. Even though he wasn't the original Joshua, the memories and emotions of his predecessor still lingered. Their squad had been sent to Shadowmist Forest to stop a group of heavily armed smugglers. However, the enemy had anticipated their arrival. To ensure the success of their operation, they had hired elite mercenaries from the international organization known as the Crimson Fiend Mercenary Corps. The intel had been wrong. They had walked straight into an ambush. The moment they entered Shadowmist Forest, the mercenaries attacked. These weren't just ordinary gunmen—they were seasoned killers, armed to the teeth with high-powered weapons. From the start, they intended to eliminate Joshua's team. Outnumbered, Joshua's team fought while retreating. However, against a force that had already set up an ambush, the odds were stacked against them. Three of their comrades were killed in the first wave of attacks. Forced to the edge of a cliff, Alice had taken a bullet for Joshua, and the two of them had plummeted into the ravine. Meanwhile, the last two members of their team had been executed right before their eyes. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here alive," Joshua said confidently. Alice stared at him, momentarily stunned. Something about him was different. The Joshua she had known was a rookie—this was his first real combat mission. He had been nervous, even a little scared. But now, there was no trace of fear in his eyes. Instead, he looked at their dire situation with an almost amused detachment, as if he saw the ordeal as nothing more than an interesting challenge. "Joshua, you…" "Alice, take off your jacket. I need to check your wound." His sudden request caught her off guard. Joshua sensed the danger. Staying here would be the end for them. "I-It's fine," Alice stammered, blushing slightly. "It's just a scratch. I can handle it." "A scratch?" Joshua's gaze darkened. "Your entire back is covered in blood. I don't even know how deep the wound is. If it gets infected, it could affect your spine. Do you want to risk paralysis? You're young and beautiful. Do you want to be stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of your life?" Alice stiffened. He had a point. She was still young. She hadn't even been in a relationship yet. If she ended up paralyzed, it would be devastating, not just for her but for her family as well. But even so, they were alone in the middle of the wilderness, surrounded by thick underbrush, with no one else in sight. Having to strip in front of Joshua, even for medical reasons, made her incredibly uneasy. If he suddenly lost control in her weakened state, that would be a disaster. Joshua had been reborn as a Divine Esper, no longer the same man he once was. In the apocalypse, he had lost count of how many beautiful women had thrown themselves at him, seeking his protection. It was an unavoidable reality in a world where only the strong survived. If you weren't powerful enough, your fate was to be killed and devoured. "Alice, I know you care about me. You even took a bullet for me. You're my savior, so rest assured. I'm just treating your wound, nothing more," Joshua said, sensing her unease. Alice glanced at Joshua. He felt different somehow. As a new member of their special forces unit, he lacked combat experience. Just recently, during an ambush, he'd watched several comrades get their heads blown off, their brains splattering across the battlefield. It had been his first taste of actual combat, and she had seen how his lips had turned pale with fear. But now, there was no trace of that fear in his eyes. Instead, they burned with a fiery determination, as if he were eager to prove himself. He had the aura of a man who stood tall, unshaken by the chaos around him. "Joshua, I believe in you. Thank you," Alice finally said, deciding to trust him. Joshua nodded. Alice lay down on a large rock in the dense undergrowth and slowly removed her camouflage jacket. Her skin was smooth and pale as snow, and the lace-trimmed clasp of her bra only made her figure more alluring. She was well-endowed, and as she undressed, Joshua couldn't help but swallow hard. Seeing Alice tremble slightly, he knew he couldn't afford to hesitate. He pulled a knife from his leg holster and flicked open his lighter, running the blade through the flame for sterilization. Then, he placed his left arm near Alice's lips and said, "Bite down. I'm taking the bullet out. Fortunately, it's not too deep." Alice nodded and bit down gently on his arm. Joshua worked swiftly. When it came to battlefield surgery, hesitation only prolonged the pain. At first, Alice endured it in silence, but as the blade dug into her flesh, the pain became unbearable. She clenched her teeth harder against his arm, her body trembling. In less than three minutes, Joshua extracted the bullet from her back. Watching Alice, drenched in sweat but not uttering a single sound of complaint, he couldn't help but admire her. She was indeed a woman worth respecting. "Wait here. I'll be right back." With that, Joshua disappeared into the underbrush. Moments later, he returned, chewing on something. Alice, still pale from blood loss, was feeling slightly better now that the bullet was out. She asked weakly, "What are you eating?" "Scorpion," Joshua replied, spitting out the mashed meat and rubbing it between his fingers. "What?" Alice's eyes widened. "You—" "Relax. This species is an antidote to many poisons and has anti-inflammatory properties. Your wound isn't deep, but you've lost a lot of blood. In an environment like this, infection is a serious risk." As he spoke, he smeared the crushed scorpion meat onto her wound, then tore off his left sleeve to bandage her up. Once done, he turned his back to her. "Put your clothes back on." Alice quickly dressed, her face flushing. It was the first time a man had seen her body. She then noticed the deep bite mark she'd left on Joshua's arm and felt guilty. "Thank you. Does your arm hurt?" "I'm fine. Watch out!" Before he could finish speaking, Joshua suddenly lunged at Alice, pinning her to the ground. A split second later, a burst of bullets whizzed past where they had just been standing. They would've been riddled with holes if Joshua had reacted even a second later. Alice's heart pounded. Their ambushers were from the Crimson Fiend Mercenary Corps, a notorious international group known for its deadly combat skills. Seven elite soldiers had already fallen. Yet, in that tense moment, Alice couldn't ignore the fact that Joshua's hands had landed firmly on her chest, and his face was buried between her breasts. Her face turned scarlet. The gunfire ceased, and Joshua was already on his feet before Alice could recover. "I'll be right back," he said before disappearing into the shadows. Moments later, agonized screams echoed from the jungle—three in total. Alice's stomach twisted with worry. No matter how skilled Joshua was, he was still a rookie against seasoned mercenaries. The bushes rustled just as she was about to move and check on him. Joshua emerged, dragging a lifeless mercenary by the collar like a discarded rag doll. His right hand still clutched a bloodstained dagger, fresh blood dripping from the blade.