As the hood came down, Aren was immediately stunned by the person revealed before him.

She was a beautiful young lady with purple hair that looked almost translucent. Her eyes were purple as well, shining like crystals. Her skin was white as snow, flawless and without a single blemish.

Aren, and everyone standing there, was immediately stunned by her looks. She was unnaturally beautiful.

Regardless, Aren kept his guard up. Even if she was a girl, she had easily attacked him last time and managed to knock him back. She was definitely strong.

"That was freaking awesome," she said. Her eyes shone brightly, and her words took Aren aback.

"Huh?" he said, confused.

"The way you killed that monster, that was something else," she said, stepping closer without a care for personal boundaries. In the next moment, she was already in his face.

Aren leaned back. "What the hell are you saying? You sent that thing against me. Why are you happy I killed it?" he asked. His confusion forced the words out of him. He genuinely wanted to know what was wrong with her.

"Sent it to attack you? No, no, that's wrong," she replied, then leaned back, finally putting some distance between them. "I was simply experimenting to see what happens when the horn fluid of one snake is put into others."

She spoke as if what she was saying made perfect sense.

"So I went around gathering horn fluid from every dead snake I could find," she continued.

"…What the hell is horn fluid?" Aren asked.

Hearing the question, she paused and looked at Aren with sudden realization, as if she had just discovered he might be dumb. Aren didn't like that look at all. It was shock and pity mixed together.

"The horn of the snake is connected to its brain and certain hormonal glands that release the fluid," she explained. "It's what makes the horn venomous. But the horn actively filters the venom so it isn't too lethal. At the same time, the fluid has properties that can forcefully unleash tremendous strength from the snake, though only for a short while before it dies."

She finished her explanation enthusiastically.

Aren stared at her in utter disbelief. "So why did you attack me then?" he asked.

"Because you wanted to kill my test subject before I could use it," she replied, as if what she did was completely justified.

"Tsk. Since you aren't here to fight me, I'll be leaving," Aren said. He turned around. He didn't know what was wrong with this girl, but his instincts screamed danger.

The moment he took a step, she grabbed his arm.

"Do you want something else?" he asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Yup. You," she replied.

Her answer stunned everyone there.

"What?" Aren asked in shock, backing away.

"You've piqued my curiosity. Watching you take down that snake, I can tell there's something very special about you," she said, a smile plastered on her face. "And I want to find out what. You'll be my best test subject."

Aren looked at her, danger alarms blaring in his mind. He pried her hand away. "No, thank you," he said, and started walking.

She caught up immediately and grabbed his hand again.

"I said I want you to be my next test subject," she said sternly. Her eyes were colder now, her grip tighter.

Aren looked down at her hand, then up at her face. "I don't want to fight," he said calmly, making sure she heard him clearly.

"I won't fight you either," she replied cheerfully. "But you can either come with me willingly, or I'll stalk you as much as possible. I can manipulate space, after all."

Her stern expression turned into a gleeful smile.

Aren stared at her in utter confusion, mixed with a bit of fear.

What the hell is she on?

"So, what's it going to be?" she asked.

"Sorry to interrupt you two," a voice suddenly said.

Shadow, who had been watching the entire time, stepped forward. He was the kind of guy who couldn't stand not being the center of attention for too long.

"I'm sure you both already know me. I'm Shadow," he said. He looked at Aren. "It seems fate wants us to meet. How about you rethink my offer?"

"Huh?" Aren stared at him. "Does this look like the time and place for whatever it is you're trying to do?" he asked.

The girl beside Aren also looked at Shadow strangely. "I don't know you," she said.

"Huh? You don't know him?" the blonde lady stepped forward. "How can you open your mouth and say you don't know the number one new-generation awakened, Shadow?" she said proudly.

The purple-haired lady blinked in confusion and looked at Shadow to confirm. "You're Shadow? The one topping the trials and everything?" she asked.

Seeing her acknowledge his greatness, Shadow smiled proudly. "Yes, indeed."

"Liar," she said sharply, her expression turning cold.

"What?" Shadow asked, stunned.

"You are not Shadow," she said calmly. "You reek of mediocrity."

"What?! How dare you say that to me!" Shadow bellowed.

"Shut up," she cut him off.

She looked up, her eyes glowing purple. "People like you should just die."

As she spoke, multiple balls of spatial energy formed behind her, twenty in total. They floated effortlessly in the air, each one larger than the one she had previously used against Aren.

Without hesitation, she hurled all of them forward.

They cut through the air like missiles.

Seeing the attack coming, Shadow didn't even attempt to defend his party. He bolted.

"Shadow!" the blonde girl screamed, but it was too late.

Before anyone could react, the spheres slammed into the ground, creating violent spatial explosions that tore through the cave floor.

BOOM! BOOM!

The explosions rocked the entire cave.

The only person who managed to escape in time was the girl in the sweatshirt. She moved with extreme speed and nimbleness, slipping through the chaos before the explosions could reach her, her eyes never leaving Aren and the purple-haired lady.

"Damn… that's some firepower," Aren muttered as he watched the scene unfold.

Shadow's party members were blasted in all directions, injured and scattered, while Shadow himself managed to escape.

Then, from the dust and debris, he came flying back in.

A sword was clenched in his hands.

Without hesitation, he thrust straight toward the purple-haired lady's heart, aiming to kill her in a single strike.

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