Evangeline pulled out a smoke grenade and smashed it on the ground. The four men attempted to escape, but the smoke rapidly spread, obscuring their vision. They ran blindly in circles, crying out:
"Please stop! I'm wrong!" "Spare me!" "Help!"
Their wails were audible through the smoke, but soon ceased. When the smoke cleared, the four men lay unconscious, their limbs contorted, and faces bruised. Evangeline had already slipped away, walking towards Marian with an impassive expression.
Jeffrey, peering through a telescope from a distance, exclaimed, "I didn't expect that Clusian woman could defeat four men so quickly. She's not only lucky, but also quite capable. I previously underestimated her." He added, "This Clusian woman is so hateful that she beat Jeffrey Bailly" His sentence trailed off, possibly intending to say something like, "Although she's a good fighter, she's no match for me. Jeffrey is the best."
At that moment, Evangeline, with her back to them, suddenly turned. Jeffrey's face changed; he dropped his telescope to dodge an arrow that whizzed past his face, striking a nearby tree. It grazed his skin, drawing blood. Enraged, he slammed his fist against the tree, cursing, "Fuck!" He glared at Evangeline, threatening to slit her throat and force her to kneel and bark like a dog. Evangeline gave him the middle finger and spat.
Under his furious gaze, she turned and walked to Marian. "I'm afraid I can't continue," Marian said, smiling wryly. "I fell when they loosened the rope; I fractured my hand." Even though the ground was covered in thick leaves, Leigh still hit his head during the fall. Riley was uninjured.
"You should quit if you're hurt," Evangeline advised. "Don't push yourself."
Marian nodded. "I'm sorry, I'm too weak. I wanted to protect you, but I became a burden."
"If you hadn't followed me, you wouldn't have faced these dangers," Evangeline said apologetically. "They're after me; I attract too much envy." Marian twitched her mouth. "You know that? Why don't you keep a low profile?"
"Why should I? I'll fight anyone; I don't care. I have nothing to lose. They'll still target me even if I hide," Evangeline replied with a smile. Marian fell silent, understanding the bounty on Evangeline's head. Evangeline was right; they would still cause trouble.
Evangeline grabbed Marian's broken hand, manipulated it, and with a sharp crack, reset the dislocation. Marian grunted but didn't cry out. "Stay here and wait for the helicopter. I'm leaving," Evangeline said.
Marian nodded. "Okay, good luck!"
"I'm not hurt; I'll go with you!" Riley declared.
"Have you considered the consequences? More attacks, even death," Evangeline warned, looking at him.
"Gregan men aren't afraid of death," Riley grinned. Evangeline shrugged and didn't argue.
They searched the four men but found nothing useful, so they took their clothes and ropes. After Evangeline and Riley left, Marian and Leigh told the camera they were quitting and waited for rescue.
(Online Comments)
[Holy shit! Evangeline was amazing today! She cut a rope with an arrow while upside down!]
*[Evangeline is awesome! Haters, back off!] *
[Jeffrey is scary. He's been watching Evangeline secretly. He has ulterior motives.]
[Norbert and Kent aren't good people either.]
[I'm not celebrating yet. Too many people are watching Evangeline. I hope she's safe.]
Atharian Responses:
*[Evangeline went too far! Jeffrey did nothing, and she ambushed him! Despicable!] *
*[Clusians are despicable and shameless. They use sneak attacks. Shame on them!] *
*[Jeffrey, get rid of her from the games!] *
*[Teach her a lesson and show her Atharian strength!] *
*[Clusians are dogs compared to Atharians!] *
It grew dark. Evangeline and Riley found a campsite by a river. Riley caught fish with a branch and they cooked them over a fire. Other contestants also found food, but some lacked flint and ate raw meat. The staff guarding the wild animals received orders to release them, to further challenge the contestants.