Chapter 398: Chapter 398

Chapter 398:

Harlee’s eyes darkened, her look growing more frigid. The memory of the searing agony from the arrow-poison frogs’ venom was etched vividly in her mind. It was a torment so fierce it felt akin to a fate worse than death, making her yearn desperately to strip away her own flesh.

Harlee moved swiftly through the forest, gliding effortlessly as she made her way through the swamp. Tonya and Rhys were right behind her, pushing themselves to keep up, well aware that any hesitation could put them hundreds of meters behind.

As they delved deeper, the ground became increasingly wet, and the colors of the plants grew more vibrant.

Harlee frowned, the tightness of her lips revealing a trace of tension.

A cold gleam flashed in her long eyes. They needed to speed up. They had to cross the river before nightfall, or else the territory would be claimed by the arrow-poison frogs, whose venom would stop them in their tracks.

After nearly two relentless hours, the gentle flow of a river began to emerge ahead.

Harlee came to a sudden halt, raising her hand to signal the others to walk carefully. Leaning heavily against Harlee, Tonya gasped for air and asked, “Harlee, can we take a break? I’m on the verge of collapsing!”

“Alright, let’s rest here for half an hour,” Harlee said.

Harlee lowered her gaze, staring at the soil beneath her feet, a trace of surprise in her eyes. Something wasn’t right. They were barely a kilometer away from the arrow-poison frogs’ habitat, yet there was no trace of those creatures.

Her expression grew more intense. It appeared that the dangers in this area had intensified over the last five years.

Rhys, sensing the shift in mood, furrowed his brow and asked, “Are we in danger?”

Every journey starts at gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s﹒𝒸о𝗺

Harlee glanced up at Rhys, noticing his steady breathing and how, aside from the dirt beneath his feet, his clothes remained perfectly clean, without a single leaf stuck to him.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

He managed the situation better than she had expected. Maintaining a steady voice, Harlee expressed her concerns, “I’m afraid that crossing the river today might prove more challenging than expected.”

Just as she finished her sentence, the sound of high-pitched squeaks began to close in. Without hesitation, Harlee grabbed Tonya and Rhys by the hands, stepping back as her gaze turned cold.

“The critters are upon us.”

Rhys looked at the spot where the arrow-poison frogs emerged, a mischievous smirk on his face, his voice a blend of danger and excitement.

“Quite the nasty bunch, aren’t they?”

Tonya, who had been catching her breath, looked on with a sparkle of delight, as though she had discovered a hidden treasure. In her view, she found these creatures not as nasty, but as fascinating beings.

Harlee reminded Tonya, “You can always try and find out if their venom is as harmless as it seems.”

Tonya’s grin vanished. With a scoff, she lifted her gun, targeting the hyperactive frogs that leaped with alarming speed, and fired several shots, splattering blood across the grass.

Tonya raised an eyebrow and asked, “Care to compete?” The silent understanding between Harlee and Tonya required no further words.

Stretching casually, Harlee said, “I could really use the cash right now.

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