"Everyone present has participated in these battles."
The captain tapped his fingers on the table: "Not enough combat power, no vanguard, lack of healing, why don't we recruit the corresponding strong players? Team optimization is what we need to discuss."
He shook his head: "Also, you always use up a lot of the team's precious materials."
Li Ang: "Those are resources that I've stored myself."
"Don't argue senselessly. Without the team, where is individual gain? Individuals should think about nurturing the team, not what they have gained themselves."
What Rams said was indeed righteous and stern.
Not care about individual interests?
Li Ang found it absurd.
This captain in front of him, after the team became strong, would ask every new member for "development funds," then act high and mighty when new members dared not speak up due to sunk costs.
"You are very dissatisfied."
Li Ang faced everyone expressionlessly, but the captain could somehow "see" the discontent on his face.
"These days are joyful times. We are leaving you with some dignity, don't burn bridges, just leave by yourself."
"Perhaps I was really wrong." Li Ang said.
"Acting pitiful now won't get you noticed." A member said with a mocking tone.
Li Ang looked at everyone present one by one. Their faces were familiar yet profoundly unfamiliar.
Eight years ago, he had just become familiar with this world, initially gaining adventure experience. Though he had figured out some uses of a witch's abilities, due to people's prejudice, he couldn't find a job and could only take on low-level tasks.
During a mission, Li Ang met the old leader of The Soul Apex, someone who judged people beyond stereotypes, with a very positive life attitude.
On the invitation of the old leader, Li Ang joined the team.
The Soul Apex of those years was built by the old leader gathering people one by one, with everyone having noticeable strengths and weaknesses.
Li Ang, wanting to gain a foothold, put in his utmost effort, using witch skills to cover the shortcomings of individuals and leverage collaborative effects, assisting the team to successfully complete tasks, and was truly acknowledged by everyone.
The entire team laughed together on adventures, it was his happiest time, experiencing the satisfaction of mutual achievement among team members.
But years of battles were accompanied by danger. Five years ago, the old leader was seriously injured in a battle and chose to retire to be with his family.
"It's truly a pity. I believe you can reach the apex of the entire Aerial Realm, but I can't be with you anymore. Everyone, take care of our team."
Li Ang would always remember the old leader's sigh carrying regret and expectation.
The successor Rams was the most outgoing and sunny person at the time; the old leader trusted him, everyone trusted him.
However, from then until now, in these five years, The Soul Apex went wrong.
The captain seized all power, unwilling to appoint even one leader. He got stuck in peculiar tactics that many members could see loopholes in.
Li Ang was always there, fixing and patching.
Before, there were old members standing with him.
"Li Ang is basically no different than a deputy captain now, right?"
"Haha, the captain's seat can continue, but can we have Li Ang lead the team?"
"You dare say that? Be careful not to be overheard."
"Then let's leave, if not for excellent support, this broken team wouldn't have lasted long."
They either withdrew due to injuries or refused to follow Rams' new team rules. Two years ago, besides the captain and Li Ang, the last old member also left.
Li Ang considered leaving too, but he had made a promise. In the last two years, when The Soul Apex was near its peak, the promise had turned into an obsession. While the goal was undoubtedly important, he also wanted to prove that those passionate happy memories were worthwhile and demonstrate his loyalty to the spirit of adventure from when he just started. Eventually, he reluctantly dragged The Soul Apex truly to the apex.
Now, in front of him, only things that the captain manipulated and opportunists surrounded him. Li Ang had also at one time believed the new members, but finding that it only ended in disappointment as Rams operated purposefully.
They even didn't know, Rams understood Li Ang's role in his heart. The real conflict lay in Li Ang's constant reminders not to obsess over building the team's reputation but rather focus on enhancing specific skills. Other teams were accumulating merit too; if lacking strength, no matter how high the ranking, it would fall.
During this attack on the ancient city, Li Ang, relying on witch skills, used the Ancient Rune Stone to open the space gate of the Ancient Magic-guided Civilization, allowing members to avoid the widespread corrupt blooming flowers of the King of the Ancient City, thus securing the victory. That was something other teams couldn't do.
Upon triumph, praise for The Soul Apex spread all over the Holy City, the captain and his supportive team members basking in glory and fame. Yet, Li Ang felt little joy.
The merits this time made The Soul Apex jump to the top, Rams was unlikely to suppress his desire for fame further; he no longer needed Li Ang and didn't want him to stop him again.
Li Ang shook his head: "I promised the old leader to support the team to the highest pedestal but forgot for whom my power should be used."
The captain and the members present exchanged a glance, bursting into laughter.
"Hope you understand, a witch, it's me who kept you in the team. The old leader? I brought the team to first place; he's already past."
Yes, leave it all in the past then.
Time to leave.
At the moment of decision, Li Ang only felt an unparalleled relief.
He walked out of The Soul Apex's team hall without turning back.
His passion hadn't yet subsided; almost as he left, he decided to form a new Sky Cavalry.
It would no longer be a tool for certain individuals seeking personal gains. He would rely on his experience and skills to lead it, allowing it to truly and confidently stand above the sky. As for The Soul Apex, if they couldn't find internal issues, they could only hope their rank wouldn't drop too fast.
Li Ang left the Holy Capital Vitas where all celestial groups were stationed. After several days of travel, he returned to where everything began, the Flos Sky Realm.
The Flying Airship docked at a shabby port about to fall apart, and Li Ang disembarked.
Here is Satus Island, a countryside place; in Nebis Universal Language, it signifies the "starting point" of the island.
He traveled light and easily, back here intending to give himself a vacation and relieve stress.
Rest for a while, figure out where to restart, think about where to begin, step by step accounting with The Soul Apex.
The wooden bridge leading to the sky creaked under the soles of his boots. Looking at the surrounding dust and mildew, Li Ang shook his head.
"Did no ship come here after I left?"
Stepping onto the solid mud of the island, he took one last look towards the direction of the Holy City and began to walk towards "home."
So-called home was the small cabin he built while surviving the wilderness upon first arriving and crossing over, gradually perfecting it into a decent place.
Relying on the unfamiliar yet vaguely familiar memories, crossing the prairie, climbing hills, and following the river upstream, he successfully found his cabin beside a small lake.
Amazingly, it wasn't overgrown with weeds, nor had it collapsed as if someone had been maintaining it.
"Are these my things inside the cabin?"
Looking at the neat and tidy cabin interior, Li Ang was slightly doubtful, but as the sun had already fallen close to the cloud sea level, he decided to cook dinner first.
Using tree branches, he wove a cage, dug up some worms to place inside, then cast the most fundamental spiritual manipulation skill as a witch, enhancing the worms' spirituality, making them lively and boosting their ability to attract fish.
After a few minutes in the water, the cage was already filled with fish.
Choosing the most pleasing one and releasing the rest, Li Ang skillfully killed the fish and gutted it.
Although after the team ranking rose high, he frequently ate delicious delicacies and hadn't processed live fish in a long time, survival skills from ten years ago seemed ingrained in his DNA.
Ha, after going around, returning to simplicity at last, truly felt like a prank from fate.
Suddenly, Li Ang felt a tingling sensation at his temples, as if countless electric currents were flowing across the surface of his brain, spreading rapidly in a tickling sensation.
His vision blurred for a moment, then glowing words and frames unfolded before him out of thin air—
What is this? What's happening?
When he could clearly see what was in front of him, he was momentarily speechless.
These texts and the interface made of windows, clearly constituted the game panel of "Nebis Fantasy!"