Transmigrated into a villain, I personally tore apart the shackles of fate.

Chapter 62 Transformation

“Ha, you have a good eye.” Irina raised an eyebrow, a hint of arrogance in her tone. “Can you explain why you didn’t tell us you could see in the dark?”

I met her gaze calmly; her question was not at all surprising. She always liked to ask for answers, especially when the question involved things that might benefit the group. This was expected, but at the same time, it was also annoying.

Both her tone and her demeanor were typically sharp-tongued and arrogant, which presents a good opportunity for future discussion. This semester, we will be forming a team, and establishing my position within the team will be more advantageous for me.

At least this way I'll spend less time on quests like dungeons.

Nobody asked.

I retorted coldly, my tone flat and devoid of emotion. This was a simple and direct response to her question, ensuring she would take responsibility for it.

Irina's eyes narrowed slightly at my response. Clearly, she wasn't used to dealing with people who wouldn't submit to her authority. However, her pride was strong, and she didn't back down.

“Don’t play dumb with me,” she retorted, her displeasure evident in her tone. “In a team like this, information sharing is crucial. By concealing your abilities, you are jeopardizing our safety.”

I weighed her words, and after a moment responded calmly, my expression remaining impassive. "You're right. Information sharing is important in a team. But it's a two-way street. If you could accept other people's opinions from the beginning, perhaps we wouldn't have triggered those pitfalls at all."

Anger flashed in Irina's eyes; my words had enraged her. She wasn't used to being challenged, especially by someone who had remained relatively silent until now. But I had no intention of backing down, especially when I knew our situation.

“I may not have publicly demonstrated my abilities, but that doesn’t mean your responsibility as a leader can be ignored,” I continued firmly. “As a team, you have a responsibility to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each member. But you went your own way without considering the consequences.”

I'm confident in my language skills. At the same time, it's become a habit. Now, I just want to hurt this girl's self-esteem.

Nora and George exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the escalating tension between Irina and me. For them, it was undoubtedly an awkward situation, caught between the clash of our personalities.

"Just like the previous dungeon adventure, it was your fragile ego that caused you to lose points, and it will be the same this time. If you, as a leader, cannot utilize the strengths of everyone in the team because of your pride, then you are not suited to be a leader. This dungeon is supervised by academy instructors, but in real life, no one will supervise, and there are no non-lethal traps. As a leader, you will be responsible for the lives of your subordinates. Can you handle a situation where they lose their lives when you, as a leader blinded by pride, make wrong decisions?"

"Looks like someone who talks a lot," Irina retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She crossed her arms, her fiery gaze fixed on me. "Since you're so confident in your abilities, why don't you lead the way yourself?"

Her challenge was obvious; it was an attempt to put me in an awkward position to prove her superiority. But I didn't let her provocation disturb my composure. Instead, I met her gaze with unwavering resolve.

“Perhaps I will,” I replied calmly, without a trace of anger in my voice. “But you have already shown that you are not willing to cooperate. A leader should inspire trust and cooperation, not arrogance.”

Anger flashed in Irina's eyes, and her fists clenched. Clearly, my words had struck a nerve, and seeing this, I felt a surge of triumph. She was used to being the center of attention, used to dominating everything, and I had disrupted that order.

“You think you’re so smart, huh?” she retorted through gritted teeth, her voice filled with anger. “Fine, since you’re so confident, then take us away. But if you fail, I guarantee you’ll taste hell next time.”

I could see a challenge in her eyes, a provocation in a situation I hadn't asked for. But my goal was never to be a leader, but simply to point out the flaws in her approach.

First of all, my position isn't suited for leadership. As a marksman, leading a squad is possible, but considering I also need to act as a scout, things could get complicated.

'However, this is a good opportunity to test myself.'

I accepted her challenge with a firm gaze: "Okay, I'll lead." After my simple reply, I turned to the other two. "What do you two think?"

"no problem."

"I have no objection."

Because of Irina's overly assertive presence, the other two readily accepted my suggestion. And so, I became the leader of the team.

“Now, let me give you a brief explanation,” I announced, my tone steady. “I will lead the way, focusing on detecting and avoiding traps. You two will follow closely behind, forming a single file to minimize the risk of triggering traps. Irina, refrain from using your fire magic for now. I suspect the Dark Veil might react to light sources and potentially attract unwanted attention from monsters. We need to carefully manage the timing of our use of light sources.”

Irina looked somewhat displeased, but still reluctantly agreed to my plan. Clearly, she wanted to regain control, but it was equally important to make the girl understand the significance of having a good plan.

“As we move forward,” I continued, “we may encounter forks in the road. When that happens, please follow my guidance and wait for my decision. I will be responsible for leading you all on the right path. You must strictly follow my instructions and listen carefully, because your vision is limited, and I will be your eyes.”

Is there a problem?

"..."

"Okay, let's begin."

And so we began to move forward, and from that moment on, everything became easier and easier.

I led the way, avoiding all the traps, while the other three tried their best to keep up. Our speed wasn't top-tier, but it was commendable. After all, some teams can use tanks to absorb all the damage and force their way to the front by brute force.

That's exactly what the main characters in the game do. But our formation isn't suited to that, and George's strength isn't enough to support it.

However, as we continued, I could sense the tension within the team gradually easing. Irina's earlier arrogance had transformed into a reluctant acknowledgment of my role at this point, while Nora and George seemed more relaxed, knowing someone was vigilantly leading them ahead.

Of course, they tried their best to keep Irina from noticing, but eventually she did. After all, she wasn't stupid, despite her arrogance.

“Stop,” I commanded at a fork in the road.

I activated my "Sharp Eyes" and quickly scanned the path ahead, processing the information rapidly. "Take the left," I instructed, and we continued along the chosen path.

This isn't just about avoiding traps; it's also about making the most of each member's strengths. Since confrontation is inevitable, it's time for the squad to revert to normal formation.

I instructed George, “George, go to the front. Your size and strength will help us clear the obstacles ahead.” He nodded, understood what I meant, and went to the front, his massive body leading us forward.

And so, we faced the second wave of enemies. As a group of monsters emerged from the darkness, I instructed George to engage them; his massive body was like an impenetrable wall. Nora stood beside him, her swordsmanship fluid and precise, swiftly felling the enemy.

Irina's fire magic worked once again; she attacked the enemies from a distance, the powerful flames engulfing them. Our coordinated efforts ensured that no one was overwhelmed, and we emerged unscathed from each encounter.

“George, stop,” I called out as we approached a suspicious section of road. He stopped, and I saw a faint line on the ground. “Watch out, there’s a pressure plate here. Nora, can you remove it?”

Nora stepped forward and, with practiced skill and the small tools in her equipment, quickly removed the pressure plate. "It's all right," she confirmed, and we continued on our way.

Elsewhere, we came to a narrow passage with many sharp spikes protruding from it. “Irina, your fire magic can come in handy here,” I suggested. Irina nodded, her demeanor becoming even more amiable. She summoned a controlled flame, melting the spikes and clearing a safe passage for us.

And so, we continued on.

......

'What's wrong with this guy?' Irina thought to herself, watching the infuriating individual lead the squad. 'How is he so good?'

Even if she didn't want to admit it, the way he led the team, his ability to quickly utilize everyone's strengths and make rapid judgments, was indeed commendable.

However, she felt angry.

She was angry at the fact that he had defeated her. She didn't know why, but every time she spoke to him, she felt annoyed.

This is his attitude. A disrespectful attitude. As the daughter of one of the most prestigious families in a small country, and the current Grand Master of Fire, she has always been an object of respect.

She was always the center of attention and was naturally used to this situation.

But now, nothing is going as she expected.

She couldn't help but feel a conflicted mix of respect and anger towards his calm demeanor. Who was this guy, to be so confidently in control of their team?

However, she had to admit that his leadership style was effective. He was methodical in every situation, giving clear instructions and making decisions without hesitation.

“Stop,” he commanded, breaking the silence. She halted, anger rising within her again, and awaited his instructions.

“Something’s not right,” he continued. She saw him frown, and because they were so close, she could clearly see his face.

'He's not bad,' she thought. She couldn't help but compare him to Victor, whom she liked. Of course, Victor was currently the pinnacle for her, and for most people as well, but this annoying guy in front of her was also quite handsome.

'But he'll have to cut off these bangs; he looks like an emo boy.' She felt a surge of satisfaction as she imagined burning his hair and making him bald.

'I should give it a try.' She continued to indulge in her fantasy, but it was just an illusion.

Lost in her daydream, thinking about bangs and a bald head, Irina's senses became dulled for a moment.

Roar

Suddenly, a deep roar echoed through the corridor, instantly pulling her back to reality. Before she could react, a monster pounced on her from the shadows, its eyes gleaming with malice.

Her instinctive reaction tensed her body, preparing to summon a flame for defense, but Morse was faster.

Swoosh

His arrow swiftly pierced the air, precisely striking the monster's side and successfully drawing its attention.

"Roar!"

The monster screamed in pain, its rapid charge halted, and it fell to the side.

“What are you doing?” Morse’s voice was filled with frustration and anger. He quickly nocked another arrow and fired it again at the approaching monster. “Use your fire magic. There are many of them. Three at three o’clock, four at eleven o’clock, and three at eight o’clock.”

His instructions were clear and unambiguous, his cold gaze piercing the battlefield. Irina was stunned for a moment, unable to react immediately. He had been very close to her just now, but then he immediately moved behind her and nocked some more arrows.

“George, use your skills to cover the left flank and force them into the middle. Nora, engage them head-on and hold them off. On my orders, you two retreat.”

The situation was urgent, and her previous lapse in attention was unforgivable. She watched as George and Nora acted on Morse's orders, forming an effective defensive line to repel the approaching monster. This was a testament to his leadership and their willingness to trust his commands.

"Tsk!"

The monsters launched a swift attack, and Irina watched as the three engaged in a fierce battle.

"Prepare your magic and sweep them away as I command."

But a few seconds later, Irina's mind cleared, and she noticed the instructions Morse had given her.

"Now."

At his command, she unleashed all her emotions and wiped the monsters out...