Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 507 Alice's Decision, Smart Mini Boss

Emily spun around abruptly, her face immediately shedding the icy fury it held moments before.

"Alice? How are you feeling?" Emily quickly and anxiously assessed Alice, her expression softening considerably from its previous cold wrath.

Alice had already reverted to her human form and donned fresh attire from her spatial ring. Earlier, the Abyssal Trickster, Lume, had used illusions to conceal her transformation and simultaneously blocked the livestream's view.

Following that, Alice had swiftly applied healing skills to herself, eradicating most of her wounds.

Nevertheless, a clear weariness still lingered in her eyes.

"I'm okay," Alice replied softly.

Her gaze then flickered towards the ensnared Mistborns before returning to Emily.

"Let them go."

"But—"

"They were merely fulfilling their roles. This is still a competition," Alice interjected gently.

Alice grasped the situation with perfect clarity.

She had been the one at a disadvantage. Despite this, she had stubbornly resisted the Mistborns and even initiated an attack.

Naturally, they had retaliated.

To become enraged because they defeated her after she had directly challenged them would be an affront to the very spirit of combat.

Alice acknowledged her defeat. The injuries she sustained were a direct consequence of her own choices.

In truth, she could discern that some of the Mistborns had exercised restraint, hesitant to inflict severe harm upon her. While being underestimated irked her, she also recognized that the ultimate responsibility rested on her own insufficient strength.

Her path forward was simple: to grow more powerful, a goal she intended to pursue by accumulating ample experience from the day's intense battle.

"No. I will crush them."

"Emily."

"No!" Emily vehemently shook her head.

Without another word, Alice drew closer and embraced Emily.

Initially, Emily stiffened, her body taut with tension. Yet, Alice continued to gently and slowly pat her back.

Gradually, Emily's resistance waned. Finally, tears began to well up and stream down her face.

Alice held her quietly as Emily trembled against her shoulder.

"I apologize for getting injured."

"Y-You don't apologize at all! You—"

Emily couldn't even articulate her words properly.

Her voice quivered uncontrollably, and her tears only intensified.

Earlier, witnessing Alice drenched in blood and barely able to stand had created a sensation within her as if something had snapped.

For a horrifying moment back then, Emily had truly believed Alice was on the brink of death.

Alice, sensitive to Emily's distress, offered calming words to assuage her turmoil.

Simultaneously, she cast a glance at the Mistborns and subtly gestured with her hand, signaling them to depart before Emily's renewed anger reignited the conflict.

The Mistborns inwardly despaired at the sight of the signal. If they could, wouldn't they have fled already?

This infuriating Mini Boss refused to release them!

The colossal crimson roots of the Thorn Tyrant remained tightly clasped around the Mistborns and their shattered Steam Suits. With every passing second, some roots continued to exert a gentle tightening, as if to reinforce who now commanded the battlefield.

The Mini Boss perceived Alice's subtle signal, indicating it should release the Mistborns.

It let out a dismissive snort. Why should it heed the command of a mere Adept?

Indeed, Alice had injured it previously, but that was solely due to her surprise attack when its defenses were down. In a direct confrontation, the outcome would undoubtedly differ.

At least, that was the firm conviction of the Thorn Tyrant.

Before it could completely disregard Alice's directive, a colossal shadow fell from above.

The Crimson Sky Wyrm descended nearby, its landing marked by a heavy thud.

Its gaze swept lazily over the Thorn Tyrant before a voice resonated through their shared mental link.

[Release them. You truly do not wish to incur Lady Alice's displeasure.]

[Hmph. I harbor no fear of her.] The Thorn Tyrant immediately scoffed once more.

The monsters communicated via the Beast Bond's upgraded iteration, a feature that emerged after Emily established her Soul Space.

This connection empowered her summons to converse directly with one another.

The Crimson Sky Wyrm regarded the obstinate Mini Boss with an unusual expression. It had been so deferential towards Emily, yet now it displayed such arrogance.

For a fleeting moment, the Sky Wyrm seriously contemplated remaining silent, allowing the Thorn Tyrant to face its inevitable retribution later.

Only upon being subjugated by Alice would it truly comprehend its place.

What? Alice couldn't defeat it because it was a Mini Boss?

Merely a few days prior, the Crimson Sky Wyrm had harbored a similar arrogance, convinced of Alice's inferiority in comparison.

Then, Alice experienced a sudden surge in power, gained the ability to transform into a dragon, and pummeled it mercilessly.

Subsequently, the Sky Wyrm uncovered an even more alarming revelation.

It turned out that all the elder summons had already undergone this very experience.

Regardless of whether it was for training purposes, as a form of discipline, or for sparring sessions, Alice had managed to defeat every single opponent she faced at some point. Even more astonishing was her speed of growth; even if she couldn't overcome a summon immediately, she would typically achieve the necessary strength within days.

The Crimson Sky Wyrm had learned this truth through harsh experience.

It was for this reason that the Sky Wyrm now regarded the Thorn Tyrant with a touch of pity.

[Sigh. I am only telling you this because we will be partners from now on, but you should really listen to Lady Alice,] the Sky Wyrm began. After a brief pause, it added, [If you do not, Lady Emily will ensure you learn your lesson next time.]

The Thorn Tyrant was initially prepared to refuse this advice outright.

However, it then directed its gaze towards Emily.

Emily was still holding Alice in a tight embrace, tears streaming down her face. Even in that moment, her concern for Alice was palpable, overshadowing everything else around her.

Despite its arrogance, the Thorn Tyrant was not entirely foolish.

It recognized the profound affection Emily held for Alice.

Just how deep was this affection?

The Mini Boss could not fathom the extent of it.

But if an elder summon was offering such serious counsel, perhaps it would be prudent to heed it for the time being.

After a few moments of contemplation, the Thorn Tyrant finally responded,

[Hmph. Very well. I shall grant you face this time. But do not presume you can simply order me around again.]

The Crimson Sky Wyrm's eye twitched almost imperceptibly. Nevertheless, it chose not to engage in further argument.

Soon enough, the harsh realities of the situation would educate the new summon far more effectively than any words could.

The Thorn Tyrant finally loosened its roots, though only partially.

Well, not entirely.

Before completely releasing the Mistborns, the Mini Boss made a point of meticulously tearing apart the remaining sections of their Steam Suits. Metal shrieked as it was rent asunder, and the bodies of several Mistborn began to blur, appearing to dissipate into the wind.

Only after confirming that their armors were irrevocably destroyed did the Thorn Tyrant finally retract its roots.

The Mini Boss experienced a profound sense of self-satisfaction.

In this manner, it had technically complied with Alice's command to release the Mistborns while simultaneously ensuring Emily's continued pleasure. There was a certain brilliance to it.

The Thorn Tyrant silently marveled at its own cunning.