As Leon's metal sword shot toward the maid, she reacted instantly, using her tentacles to block the attack. The blade cut through them but was heavily slowed, severed tendrils flying through the air as she lunged forward, already regenerating.

But in the next moment, a massive bolt of black lightning slammed straight into her chest. Her body was hurled backward at terrifying speed.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

She crashed across the ground, bouncing like a ball until she finally came to a stop, completely still. Her bones were twisted at unnatural angles.

Everyone watched with expectant eyes, silently praying she was dead.

Their hopes were shattered as she rose again, jerky and mechanical, like a puppet being pulled upright. Bones popped back into place, fractures knitting together, the hole in her chest sealing before their eyes.

That was the final straw for most of the Awakened.

Fear overtook them. Staying meant death. Without another thought, they turned and ran in the opposite direction.

It was the worst mistake they could have made.

"No one leaves!" the maid bellowed.

Tendrils burst from her back, shooting forward as fast as bullets. Those who faced her managed to react, Aren parried one that came at him, though the impact knocked him back several feet.

The ones who had turned their backs weren't so lucky.

The tentacles pierced through their backs, blood spraying as mouths opened in silent screams. She wrapped the tendrils around them and crushed their bodies, bones shattering before she dropped them to the ground like sacks of potatoes.

The remaining Awakened, those who had managed to block or dodge, watched in horror. They wanted to run, but fear kept them rooted in place.

Aren's eyes stayed locked on the maid.

He had blown a hole clean through her chest, and she regenerated. That told him everything he needed to know.

Her head was the key.

While everyone else was still frozen in shock, Aren bolted forward.

His lightning wolf unleashed another massive bolt toward her. She reacted instantly, tentacles surging forward to block it. The attack obliterated them, blasting the limbs into mush as black, ink-like blood sprayed in every direction. Her stumps flailed uselessly as Aren charged in low, god-eyes locked onto her.

She was stunned to see him that close. Instead of fear, her smile widened.

She attacked with her hands, fingers stretching into elongated claws, but Aren was faster. Using his wolf-guard hand, he parried the strike from above. Before she could follow up, he drove his fist into her abdomen with crushing force, making her arch violently.

"Arghhhhhhh!"

He roared as he pushed forward, twisting the arm he had parried with, gripping her hand and yanking her toward him with full force. He smashed his head into hers.

BAM!

The impact sent both of them flying back.

Aren felt like his skull was about to split open, but he didn't stop. He could already see her tentacles regenerating, writhing as they prepared to strike again.

He gritted his teeth, planted his feet for balance, and unleashed a claw strike aimed straight at her head.

The maid saw it coming. Her tentacles wouldn't reach in time, so she raised her hands to block.

They were severed instantly.

"Tsk." Aren clicked his tongue.

By then, her tendrils had fully regenerated. She attacked immediately, confident that he couldn't dodge in his current position. Aren poured soul energy into the black insect armor, instantly activating its special ability, his defense and stats surging.

The tendrils slammed into the armor, and were repelled.

The maid froze in shock.

Aren smiled.

"Let's finish this."

He lunged forward again. She retreated and attacked once more, but he was already gone, sidestepping in an instant. She tried to track him, but in doing so, she lost focus on the lightning wolf.

Another bolt fired.

It slammed into her, tossing her body like a ragdoll and tearing a hole straight through her chest. As she staggered back to her feet, Aren was already in front of her, mid-swing.

His claw strike landed cleanly on her neck.

Her head separated from her body instantly, flipping through the air with that same twisted smile still frozen on her face.

Thud.

The head and body hit the ground at the same time. Black blood seeped outward.

[You have gained 100 Soul Fragments]

[You have gained a Clue]

Notifications appeared, and one immediately caught Aren's attention, the clue.

He wanted to check it, but first he attempted to use Consume on the body. She had been insanely powerful and versatile. Having her in his army would have been incredible.

[Consume Failed, Can't take an Angel's property. Level too low.]

"Hm?" Aren frowned. This was the first time Consume had ever failed.

"Tsk. Guess I can't have her," he muttered, disappointed.

"Bro, you soloed her. That's crazy," Leon said as he approached, glancing at the corpse before looking back at Aren.

"We don't have time to talk. Let's move," Aren said immediately.

Leon nodded. They started walking, with Aiden and Kits following behind. Aiden frowned slightly, he hadn't even gotten a chance to fight the maid, but that feeling wouldn't last. More would come.

As for the other Awakened left behind, only four remained, staring in stunned silence. Aren had killed the maid as if she were nothing.

The man in the white cloak made a quick decision. His best chance of survival was sticking with Aren. He hurried after them, leaving the remaining three behind.

As they walked, Aren opened up the clue message.

[You have gained a clue to escape the castle]

[Stone Golems]

Aren saw the clue, and he almost yelled, it was two freaking words, he had expected something better at the very least, but expecting anything good from the trial was a stupid dream, he knew that by now.

'Stone Golem huh? Leon and Aiden met Golem, if they can remember where they met one, that would he good, at least it's a start.' Aren thought.

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