?Chapter 1543:


    Nearby, Thiago and Alina caught her gaze and exchanged a look that conveyed a mutual feeling of pity for the recruits. These recruits were still profoundly naive.


    To those under Harlee’smand, total rxation could lead to only two oues: death or a harsh ordeal. Clearly, these recruits fell into thetter category, as Harlee had assured Kareem she would return them all safely.


    As rxation peaked, Harlee’s lips curled slightly, and she said coolly, “In three minutes, the saw-scaled vipers that bit Rita will be swarming this area.”


    Her words spurred the male soldiers into action as they scrambled to their feet and hurriedly donned their gear.


    The surroundings remained eerily quiet, marked only by the asional rustle of sand stirred by the wind.


    In the midst of the tension, Harlee withdrew a translucent pipe from her pocket.


    The recruits stared, transfixed by the object in Harlee’s hands, puzzled by her intentions. Why had she suddenly taken out a pipe? Was she intending to y something for them?


    However, this thought vanished as quickly as it arose when the eerie sound emanating from the pipe sent chills down everyone’s spines.


    A minuteter, Harlee lowered the pipe. Her expression grew colder, and the corners of her mouth twisted into a faint sneer.


    “Half a minute left.”


    Find great reads at g α? ησ ν?? ??s


    The recruits looked around, puzzled and uncertain. Half a minute? What was about to happen in just thirty seconds?


    It wasn’t until Lionel spoke up that the gravity of the situation dawned on everyone.


    “Ms. Sanderson, when I was helping Rita with the viper, it took dozens of shots to barely hit one. How should we handle these saw-scaled vipers?” Lionel asked, his brow furrowed.


    Harlee’s eyes narrowed as she responded in a firm tone, “Saw-scaled vipers are very fast. Ordinary firearms won’t be effective. You’ll need to use a dagger.”


    Upon hearing this, Lionel, Mooney, Josh, Hiram, Rosie, and Lacey Espinoza immediately holstered their firearms and drew their daggers. They were among the most disciplined and swiftly followed Harlee’smand.


    In this tense moment, every recruit demonstrated extraordinary obedience. Those who were still adjusting their gear quickly ceased and drew their daggers as well.


    With a nonchnt look, Harlee dusted some powder over herself and said, “Remember, anyone who gets bitten must run to me immediately.”


    “Yes!”


    After this, the rustling of movement approached rapidly from nearby. Within seconds, saw-scaled vipers emerged before the recruits.


    Hearts sank as the recruits beheld the mass of swiftly approaching vipers, each face etched with stark terror. A single thought prevailed among them—this was madness. Harlee seemed insane for deliberately drawing the vipers with her pipe, and they felt equally mad facing such a daunting challenge.


    The saw-scaled vipers moved with rming speed. Before the recruits could properly react, the vipers were upon them.


    Fear was evident on every face, though Lionel, Rosie, and Mooney managed to maintain some semnce ofposure while others instinctively recoiled.


    As the recruits stood frozen, gripping their daggers, Harlee’s sharpmand broke the tension.


    “Rickey, move!”


    Her shout jolted the recruits into action. They nced down at the saw-scaled vipers swarming at their feet and quickly swung their daggers in defense.


    .


    .


    .