Their beasts rushed instinctively in front of their masters—
—but it was useless.
Zhou Ming’s high-explosive grenade unleashed not just deadly fragments but also a violent blast wave. Without prior warning, the squad was instantly decimated.
The once-confident team would likely never again see the sunlight outside the ruins.
Such was the weakness of Apprentice Beast Tamers—their bodies were simply too fragile. Even if their beasts could survive such an explosion, their masters could not.
“Looks like the trap I left got triggered.”
Though the ruins were vast, the sound of a high-explosive detonation still echoed across the second floor. Zhou Ming, not far away, naturally heard it.
Seeing that his trap had worked, Zhou Ming didn’t bother setting another one. Such methods lost effectiveness once others became cautious—experienced Beast Tamers and Hunters wouldn’t fall for it twice.
This explosion alone was enough to intimidate those behind him, forcing them to slow down.
Elsewhere, the first team that had entered the second level also noticed the blast.
“Captain, someone’s using high-explosive grenades.”
For them, the distinct sound was easy to recognize.
“Seems someone’s following us from behind. Could be a fight… or a trap set to ambush pursuers.”
After a moment of thought, the captain quickly deduced several possible scenarios.
“Should we lay an ambush ourselves?”
One member suggested.
“No need. But stay alert for grenade attacks—especially you, Da Zhuang.”
Ultimately, the captain chose to prioritize their main objective, though he still warned his team.
“Don’t worry, Captain. If they can even get close, that’ll be the real miracle.”
Da Zhuang’s booming voice rang out as he pounded his chest, completely dismissing the unseen threat.
The captain didn’t argue.
Hunters generally avoided using grenades and similar explosives, not only because they exposed one’s position and attracted unwanted trouble—
—but also because they weren’t as effective as people imagined.
Grenades were slow to throw, and a Beast Tamer with strong Spiritual Power could react in time to dodge or shield themselves. With their beasts defending them, the explosion’s aftermath was rarely fatal.
Unless a grenade detonated right next to a beast, it was unlikely to inflict a killing blow. Fast-moving beasts could even, under command, fling the grenade back before it exploded.
After heightening their vigilance, the team stopped paying attention to the previous blast and continued straight toward the third level of the ruins.