CHAPTER 317: KILL SOPHIE?

Right in front of Gabriel and Liang was a scene neither of them had expected. What was unfolding left even Gabriel, who rarely showed any reaction—momentarily speechless.

Before them stood their combined squad, but the problem was clear: one of their own had turned against the rest. Presently, Sophie, her veil soaked in blood, was in full rampage mode, attacking anyone and anything in sight.

Presently, Sophie—whose veil was now soaked in blood—was in full rampage mode. She was attacking everyone and anything in sight.

It was hard for the two to understand what had happened. Gabriel was still shocked; he had expected that at some point one of them might be bitten, but he never expected it would be someone as skilled as Sophie.

Meanwhile, Liang briefly scanned the crowd and saw some of his disciples dead on the ground. A thick vein throbbed on his temple.

’She has clearly lost it.’ He growled. Liang was usually playful and outgoing—so for him to show this side meant he was truly pissed.

Gabriel’s shock lasted only a brief moment. That calm coldness returned to his face as he analyzed the situation. He noticed that, just like them, the group here had already dealt with all the vampires—so what exactly went wrong?

Right now that question wasn’t important. He needed to handle this before it got out of control.

"What are you thinking about?" Liang asked as he drew a foot back, ready to charge forward.

"Hold on. I’ll handle this." Gabriel spoke calmly.

A gleam of irritation flashed across Liang’s face and he clearly wanted to retort. However, he remembered what had happened a few minutes ago...

Gabriel had saved Evelyn—his childhood friend. And from the look of it, whoever Sophie was, she also seemed very important to Gabriel. Naturally, he wouldn’t just watch her get killed like that.

Liang visibly calmed down and stepped back, allowing Gabriel to act. Unhurriedly, Gabriel retrieved the Crimson Lotus Binding Rope.

[Crimson Lotus Binding Rope (Gold)]

[Durability: 400/400]

[Description: Used to restrain enemies during close combat. Unbreakable by those whose Strength stat is weaker than the user.]

Moments later—

FWOOOSH!

A crimson rope wrapped tightly around Sophie’s wrist, stopping her arm mid-swing.

Her body jerked as the sudden force restrained her. The blood vines reacted instantly, lashing at the source of the rope.

Everyone’s eyes snapped toward the direction it came from.

At the entrance of the corridor, two figures stood calmly.

When they saw these two people, almost everyone let out a breath of relief—some collapsing while others simply sobbed.

"Finally," Ragnarok exclaimed, wiping a droplet of sweat from his forehead.

"What took them so long?!"

"That doesn’t matter... what matters is that they’re finally here—and will put that crazy woman in her place," the elder from Martial Palace said with a relieved look on his face.

Meanwhile, for Cassie everything went blank. Seeing the approaching claw, she had shut her eyes instinctively. The only thing running through her mind was fear.

She was in a trance-like state, confused whether she was dead or alive. When she didn’t feel any pain after a moment, her confusion grew. She slowly opened one eye and saw a red rope restraining Sophie’s hands mid-air.

"What..." she mumbled. She slowly turned to the side and caught sight of Gabriel standing there, his arms wrapped tightly around the other end of the rope.

At that moment—like a floodgate—tears burst from her eyes. For some reason all the fear she had been holding in crashed down.

With him here, she felt as if everything would be resolved.

Suddenly she was yanked away by Evelyn, who took the chance to pull her to safety. Following that, Gabriel also pulled the rope sharply.

Sophie tried to resist, but his strength was monstrous, and the Crimson Binding Rope wasn’t helping. In the end she was dragged back against her will.

As she approached, she fired multiple vine roots toward him.

Liang waved his sleeve and blade-like qi energy shot out.

FWOOOSH! FWOOOSH!

The qi blades sliced through the vines as if they were wet paper.

As the distance between Gabriel and Sophie shortened, he finally moved from his spot. He tightened his grip on the rope and gave a fierce pull—the force made Sophie spin, and the rest of the Crimson Lotus Rope tightened around her.

Everything was done swiftly and skillfully, as though it was something he had practiced countless times... when in truth, this was his first time using it.

With her back now turned to him, Gabriel grabbed her by the hands and forced her to the ground, her stomach flat against the floor.

"Hissssss!" Sophie struggled desperately, trying to free herself, but Gabriel’s strength made it impossible for her to move, and the binding rope only made things worse.

Gabriel released his hold and slowly rose, his gaze scanning the room. Then, in a firm voice, he asked, "Is everyone okay?"

The others—especially the Martial Palace disciples—were in awe. They knew the leader of Broken Dawn was strong, but to think he could subdue someone who had been causing havoc moments ago as if she were a child left them stunned.

Finally, the elder spoke.

"We’re fine. But I think we should kill her."

"Yes!" another Martial Palace disciple added. "She killed our brothers and sisters!"

Evelyn kept quiet. Not because she didn’t want to speak, but because this was a tricky situation.

Yes, Gabriel had saved her... but that still didn’t erase the fact that his subordinate had killed theirs.

To be honest, they all had the right to demand her death.

"Quit talking as if it was only you guys that lost people," Ragnarok suddenly retorted.

"Yes, he’s right. Our Broken Dawn otherworlders and natives were killed as well," Cassie jumped in, not planning to watch her friend die.

She didn’t want to say it, but if something happened to Sophie, the King of the Valerian Kingdom would be extremely pissed and would definitely take matters into his own hands.

She didn’t want to imagine what would happen to everyone here—including Liang and Gabriel. In a way, she was fighting for them as well.

Suddenly everyone’s attention turned to Gabriel—including Liang.

The final judgment lay with him.