I burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the forest. "Are you thinking of me as a fool?" My voice was cold, final. "The only way you'll get that antivenom from me..." I leaned in, my smile dark, dangerous, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Is if from now on, you'll be my slave..."

Mira's face twisted in rage, her voice a snarl. "Bastard..." She spat the word like a curse, her eyes burning into me. "I'll save my son myself!"

I chuckled, shaking my head, my smile never fading. "Oh, Mira..." I murmured, my voice smooth, taunting. "You think you have a choice?" I stepped closer, my eyes locked onto hers, cold, unyielding. "You need me. Desperately." I gestured to Bill, his body slumped, his breath fading. "And time is running out."

Mira's breath hitched, her eyes darting between Bill and me. "What kind of monster are you?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

I smirked, my voice low, dark, amused. "The kind that survives." I leaned in, my voice dropping to a whisper. "The kind that takes what he wants." My eyes raked over her, slow, deliberate. "And right now, Mira... I want you."

Mira stumbled back, her face pale, her voice trembling. "You're sick..."

I laughed, the sound cold, mocking. "And you're weak." I shrugged, my smile cruel. "But weakness has its uses." I paused, my voice softening, almost gentle. "Kneel for me, Mira. Beg for your son's life." My smile twisted. "And maybe... I'll consider it."

Mira's face twisted in disgust, her voice shaking with rage. "Never..."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "We'll see..." My voice was cold, final. "When your son is dying in your arms... when you realize there's no one else..." I leaned in, my voice a whisper. "You'll come to me. On your knees."

Mira turned away, her body shaking, her voice choked. "I'll save him myself..."

The forest swallowed Mira's retreat, her figure disappearing between the trees, her shoulders hunched with defiance and fear. I watched her go, my smirk never fading, my voice a low, amused murmur. "Your choice..."

I turned to Lisa, my tone cold, final. "Let's go." My eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Get everything from our vehicle."

We started walking, the forest parting for us like it knew we belonged here. Soon, we reached the car, hidden among the dense trees, its dark silhouette blending into the shadows.

I touched the vehicle, my fingers tracing the cold metal, and pulled out the medical kit—everything we needed, including the antivenom. I handed it to Angela, her eyes wide as she took it, clutching it tight.

Then, I activated the system storage, my fingers moving in a pattern only I knew. The car shimmered, fading like a mirage, disappearing into thin air.

Lisa and Angela gasped, their eyes wide, shocked. "Boss..." Lisa whispered, her voice hushed, "What the hell—?"

Angela stared at the empty space, her mouth slightly open, her mind struggling to process what she'd just seen. "How...?"

I chuckled, my smile dark, knowing. "Magic, girls." My tone was light, but my eyes were cold, unyielding. "Or something like it."

They exchanged a glance, but didn't push. They knew better. They knew I had powers—abilities that defied logic, defied the world they thought they knew. And they knew not to question it.

I turned, my voice cold, final. "Now... let's go back." My smile twisted, dark, amused. "And see whether that Bill is alive... or dead."

The forest closed in around us, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and decay. The medical kit swung gently in Angela's grip, the antivenom inside clutched like a lifeline—Bill's only hope, if Mira ever decided to beg for it.

Then, a sound cut through the stillness—a desperate yell, raw and panicked, echoing through the trees.

"Help! HELP!"

I paused, my head tilting toward the sound. Angela and Lisa exchanged a glance, their expressions tense, curious. We moved in the direction of the voice, pushing through the dense undergrowth, the rustling of leaves masking our approach.

Then, we saw it.

A massive bear-like creature, its fur matted and dark, its eyes glowing with a feral hunger. It was chasing a black man, who dodged between the trees, his breath ragged, his face twisted in terror. "Save me! SAVE ME!" he screamed, his voice cracking as he stumbled, barely escaping the beast's swiping claws.

I didn't move. I just watched, smiling as if it were some amusing show, my arms crossed, my expression unbothered. The man tripped, scrabbling on the ground, his eyes wide with horror as the beast reared up, its massive paws poised to pounce, its jaws dripping with saliva—

THWACK!

A stone whizzed through the air, striking the beast in the side. "Here! HEEEERE!"

I turned to see a boy, around my age, standing a few meters away, his arm still extended from the throw. His face was flushed, his eyes sharp, determined, unafraid. The beast snarled, its attention shifting from the black man to the boy.

The black man gasped, collapsing onto the ground, his chest heaving as he sucked in air, his hands trembling. The beast roared, charging toward the boy, who didn't hesitate—he turned and ran, disappearing into the trees, his footsteps fading into the distance.

The beast lumbered after him, its massive form crashing through the brush, snapping branches in its wake.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, the boy reappeared, panting hard, his hands on his knees, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "Phew..." he wheezed, grinning despite the fear still lingering in his eyes. "That was difficult to run away from!"

I chuckled, crossing my arms, my smile dark, amused. "Quite the show."

The black man stared at the boy, his face a mix of gratitude and shock. "You—you saved me..." His voice was hoarse, disbelieving.

The boy shrugged, wiping sweat from his brow, his grin unfazed. "Couldn't just let you die, could I?" He glanced at me, his eyes narrowing slightly, sizing me up, assessing whether I was a threat or not.

"You guys just stood there..." There was a hint of accusation in his tone, but his focus shifted back to the black man, offering a hand. "Come on. Let's get out of here before that thing comes back."

The black man nodded, grabbing his hand and pulling himself up, his legs still shaking. "Thanks, kid..." His voice was rough, grateful, but his eyes flickered toward me, confused, wary.

The boy grinned, clapping him on the back with a friendly thud. "Name's Kai." His tone was light, almost cheerful, as if he hadn't just risked his life.

I watched them, my smile never fading, my gaze cold, calculating. Interesting. A hero in the making.

But heroes rarely lasted long here.

I turned to Angela and Lisa, my voice low, amused, almost bored. "Let's see where this goes..."

Angela smirked, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "You think he'll last the day?"

I shrugged, my smile twisting. "Doubt it."

Lisa chuckled, crossing her arms. "Either way, it'll be fun to watch."

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