The accusations were heated, and the atmosphere grew tense.

However, Ren remained surprisingly calm in the face of their anger. He stepped forward and addressed them with a measured tone.

"I gave you the spot you wanted because that's what you asked for," Ren replied, his voice steady. "I could have taken it myself, but I was being generous. You should be thanking me for that. We had no intention of stealing your loot. Go ahead and kill them ourselves."

It wouldn't be stealing when he gets the last kill. Ren mused to himself.

Ren's words hung in the air, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply with the players' anger. He was unapologetic about his decision to give them the spot, but he also made it clear that their accusations were unfounded.

The players fell silent, torn between their anger and frustration.

The battle still raged on around them, and they knew that time was running out. Whether they would find common ground and cooperate with Ren and Evie or continue their desperate fight on their own remained uncertain.

As the players' frustration and anger simmered in the tense atmosphere, a collective realization began to set in.

It was becoming painfully clear that Ren had no intention of offering assistance, and their accusations against him were met with unwavering composure.

Whispers of discontent spread among the players as they exchanged uneasy glances. It was a bitter realization that they had somehow been outmaneuvered or misled.

Ren's calculated decision to grant them the desired spot for the battle had initially seemed like an act of goodwill, but now it appeared to have been a strategic move on his part.

Some players, recognizing the futility of the situation, began to voice a grim suggestion. "We should consider retreating," one of them muttered, casting a wary eye on the ever-intensifying battle between their comrades and the Drakoptera and Drakuto.

"If we continue like this, we'll suffer a massive experience penalty. It's not worth it."

The leader of the guild, who had initially been at the forefront of the confrontation with Ren, found himself in a deeply frustrating position.

His anger had nowhere to go but inward as he realized that their meticulously prepared expedition had been thrown into disarray by a single player.

At that moment, a surge of understanding swept over him. He recalled the complaints and frustrations voiced by members of other guilds regarding Ren's behavior.

Now, firsthand experience had made it abundantly clear why Ren had garnered such a reputation. He was, indeed, an exasperating individual, seemingly always one step ahead.

No wonder he had a hefty bounty on his head. The guy could get you killed with frustration.

With a heavy heart and a deep sense of defeat, the guild leader reluctantly made a decision. His voice carried over the tumultuous battlefield as he sounded the retreat signal, a declaration of surrender in the face of overwhelming odds.

The players, demoralized and disheartened, began to withdraw from the battlefield, their once-determined ranks now shattered by frustration and disappointment.

As the players retreated, the Drakoptera and Drakuto continued their relentless assault, unaware of the dramatic turn of events.

The forest echoed with their triumphant roars as the players, their expressions a mix of anger and resignation, begrudgingly accepted that this encounter with Ren had not gone according to their grand plans.

As the players retreated from the battlefield, their faces etched with frustration and disappointment, their collective glare shifted toward Ren and Evie.

Anger smoldered in their eyes as they felt a mixture of humiliation and defeat at the hands of a single player and his companion.

A few players couldn't contain their resentment and frustration, and their voices carried across the battlefield, laden with veiled threats.

"You haven't seen the last of us," one player warned, his voice quivering with anger. "We'll hunt you down, mark my words."

Ren, however, remained unruffled by the players' threats. He met their glares with an almost indifferent expression as if the notion of being hunted down by them was funny. He raised an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed by their bravado.

With a casual shrug, Ren voiced his own disappointment. "I expected more from a group of players with your arrogance," he said, his tone laced with subtle sarcasm. "You couldn't even manage to dent those monsters' HP by half, and you're saying that you'd hunt me down?"

Ren sneered. "Good luck with that."

His words hung in the air, and the players were all popping veins.

The players' confidence thoroughly shattered, and they could only seethe in silence as they retreated from the battlefield.

They had been humiliated and outmaneuvered, their once-proud expedition ending in ignominy.

Meanwhile, Ren and Evie stood their ground.

"It looks like it's going to be just you and me to finish the job in the end," Ren said.

Evie nodded.

The Drakoptera and Drakuto, once the source of terror for the players, now faced adversaries who were more than prepared for the challenge.

Ren's equipment gleamed with a protective aura, warding off the insidious status effects that had plagued the players.

The malevolent ethereal glow that had slowed their movements and dulled their abilities seemed to dissipate harmlessly when it came into contact with Ren's formidable gear.

His armor, crafted from the finest materials and enchanted with powerful wards, was a bulwark against the Drakoptera's insidious influence.

Beside him, Evie's equipment did the same. Her abilities as an Illusionist and support character brought to light.

A radiant shield enveloped the two of them, further safeguarding them against any adverse effects. Her slender fingers danced through incantations as she maintained a vigilant watch over Ren's well-being.

The battle commenced, and Ren demonstrated the full extent of his high stats and spells. With a lightning-quick spell, he launched Super Nova, intending to end this fight quickly.

Each barrage of his magic, coupled with Evie's supportive spells, chipped away at the monster's defenses.

The Drakoptera, unable to impose its status effect on the duo, flapped its colossal wings in frustration.

Its haunting hum and disorienting winds went ignored, for Ren and Evie were protected by their equipment.

Their movements were fluid and efficient, and it was clear that they had perfected their coordination through countless battles.