Rebirth of the Prime Dragon Master
Chapter 132 I Am Not Dead

"What are you guys waiting for? Let's run! That fella will live forever in our hearts,” Zander crawledout of mud and shouted. He then took a direction and ran like his life depended on it. Watching,Thor and the rest thought that Rocky was dead already so they followed Zander's lead.

At this moment, Rocky appeared besides that pool of mud, a devilish smile on his face.

Zander, leading the sixth squad to replace other remaining spirit manipulators, ran for the better part ofthe night, until they were too tired to continue anymore.

"Do you think Rocky could be still alive? We should not have left him behind. I mean, after all, he isthe one that saved us," Joss said with grief.

"He gave his life so that our entire squad could live. He finally did something good back there.”Zander nonchalantly answered his colleagues. For a long time, he had wished Rocky dead.

That very moment, light popped on, catching Zander and his men by surprise. A group of spiritmanipulators from the northeast military camp had come searching for them.

Immediately Zander identified them, and called them over.

Those soldiers and a couple of spirit manipulators came immediately. They were a little shocked tosee Zander and his men were stark naked and baked in mud.

When all the three squads assigned to the Maze Forest had failed to report in since last night, theCommander led a search party, looking for them all around. These soldiers along with the spiritmanipulator from the second squad had gone out to search for their missing colleagues.

Soon after Zander and the rest of the sixth squad were brought to a tent outside of the MazeForest.

The portiere was drawn up and then a woman in a silver armor appeared in front of everyone."Commander Ma!" Everyone, including the spirit manipulators, soldiers and the rescued sixth squad,shouted in surprise.

If Rocky were here, he would have been astonished too as this was Marin Ma, twenty-three yearsold, the same lady he had met at the beast stall. It had not occurred to Rocky that she was theCommander of the northeast military camp, let alone a royal spirit manipulator at the first grade ofthe Heavenly Stage. She was born and raised in a family with generations of military service. A fewyears back, she lost her parents and all siblings and close relatives in the war. Marin bore the dyingwill of her father. And thanks to her charisma, she had quickly risen through military ranks tobecome a royal spirit manipulator. Her dedication to military services for her country was exemplary.Although she was very young and a lady, she was a competent leader who readily earned therespect of everyone under her, both men and women alike. So she had been promoted. Withinthree years, she had become a leader of a small military camp. Her future was promising, and therewas no limit to what she could achieve.

The second the spirit manipulators of the sixth squad appeared before her, all muddy and half-naked, she turned away and demanded to know what had happened. "Why didn't you return tobase last night, only to show up here looking like this?"

Zander stepped forward to report exactly what happened, but he intentionally left out the partwhere Rocky had come to their rescue. The incident shocked everyone including Marin. They hadnever anticipated that the mere three squads dispatched would attract the wrath of a formidablespirit-manipulated beast.

But they were relieved to hear that any of their squads had made it out safe and sound, except forone missing member. A spirit-manipulated beast of the Earthly Stage was far beyond the capabilityof their dispatched squads. However, from the sixth squad that had been found already, allmembers had escaped unscathed except for one missing. They must have escaped by sheer luck.However, Zander claimed the credit for such low causalities. Although Thor and the rest of the teamwere very unhappy with it as they knew that Zander was lying, they dared not say anything. Ireplaceeed Rocky was dead, no one would dare call Zander out for falsely claiming credit. ChallengingZander would definitely make him retaliate. Zander was a vindictive person who easily held grudges.He would not make it easy for anyone that challenged him

"Commander, we have found the third and the fifth squad. Unfortunately, the two groups sufferedheavy causalities.” One spirit manipulator reported to Marin, dampening the mood, even beforeZander was done with his boasting.

Soon after what was left of the third and the fifth squads were escorted out of the Maze Forest. Outof seven members of the third squad, only three were left, with two badly injured. At least the fifthsquad fared slightly better as they only lost three members of the team. But all their survivingmembers were wounded, except for the squad leader.

In comparison, the sixth squad was nothing short of a miracle.

"Is it the same beast that you all fought against? How come the sixth squad sustained only onecasualty while you two squads took such a heavy loss?" Marin questioned the leaders of the thirdand the fifth squad.

The two leaders exchanged a look and lowered their head in shame, feeling jealous of Zander. Theywondered how he could be so lucky to escape with almost all his entire team.

However, they did not know that it was Rocky who had saved Zander and his team.

The truth was, all of them were ill-prepared to take on the enemy this time. It was just that they hadbeen arrogant and overrated their strength. Due to selfish ambitions, they had separated after theygot into the Maze Forest, each squad leader bull-headed to claim full credit. Now, they were forcedto eat humble pie.

"Commander, we met members of the third squad in the Maze Forest once. But they were so scaredand ran for their lives, without trying to help us,” said Zander, angry at members of the third squad."Is it true?" Marin stared at the members of the third squad in fury.

The whole third squad was petrified. They had wished that no one from the sixth squad made it beback alive.

"The sixth squad has outdone themselves this time. They remained calm during the crisis. Thanks toZander, under whose excellent leadership, they minimized causalities. He is worthy of doublehonor." Marin ruled with firmness.

"Thank you. Commander! I risked my life for my men but this is part of the job being a squad leader.I intend to inspire my other men with my example,” an excited Zander said

"What is the name of that missing spiritual manipulator?" Marin asked.

"His name is Rocky and he is a new comer. He chose not to follow my instructions and ended uppaying for it. If he had come with me, he would be here. He paid the ultimate price for hisdisobedience,” Zander said, feigning empathy.

Thor and Joss were infuriated by this straight-out lie from Zander. He had already claimed the creditwhich had nothing to do with him. Yet he still painted a bad picture of Rocky, the very person whohad saved them.

"Commander! I have something to report,” Joss reported after a bit hesitation.

"Speak." Marin nodded her approval.

"It was not Zander who led us out of there. To the contrary we were almost killed following Zander'sorders." Joss could no longer hold it back.

"That is right! It was not Zander who saved us.” Thor joined Joss.

At once, Marin frowned at their claim.

The other soldiers exchanged curious gazes, gleeful to see the sixth squad turning on each other."Commander, they must be jealous of my reward. Let's not get sidetracked.” Zander had neverthought that Thor and Joss would defy him for the protection of Rocky. They had always beencowards. It was on that assumption of their lack of a spine that he openly tried to defame Rocky forhis own benefit.

"Commander, they could all testify against him." Thor pointed to the other spirit manipulators.However, his colleagues were undecided. As they looked at Zander in confusion, they knew he wasno doubt hoping they would keep quiet. Marin, too, was staring at them with keen interest. Fearingfor their lives, they did not wish to go against Zander, so they chose to remain quiet.

"Speak! Rocky gave his life for us! You guys have no honor! You're wretched cowards!" Joss was lividat their lack of courage and principles.

"Commander, these two..... They just want the attention. I saved their lives yet they came back at meover a dead teammate. I will see to it that they learn a lesson.” Zander threatened, smilinginsidiously. Rocky had not returned yet so he must be dead. With no other witness willing to stepup, it was almost certain that the credit would fall onto him.

But just then, the unexpected happened. Out of the blue, a figure emerged from the Maze Forestand appeared in front of everyone. "I am not dead!"