The boss, who had taken a few cautious steps back when Areum took down his n, suddenly stopped and tilted his head with a smug expression returning to his face. His lips stretched into a wide smirk that didn't reach his eyes, and he slowly raised his fingers.
"Oh, dear," he said mockingly, voice thick with amusent. "The show is not over yet."
With a sharp snap of his fingers, more movent erupted from the village entrance and the surrounding shadows.
Figures began to erge.
More n, dressed in the sa tight black suits, stord into the clearing, so with guns, others gripping katanas, machetes, or iron rods—any weapon they could carry. Their boots pounded the dry earth like thunder, and the sight of their numbers made the villagers gasp again.
Areum narrowed her eyes, stepping back slightly. Her fingers twitched in preparation. She knew this was different.
She exhaled once, calmly.
As the first few people approached, she dashed to her right and bent down mid-run, her hands grabbing two pistols from the ground, dropped earlier by the n she had defeated.
The black-suited n shouted, "She's ard!" and charged at her with loud footsteps and raised weapons.
Areum didn't wait.
She turned and ran, her feet hitting the ground fast. She headed straight for a tall tree at the side of the field. The trunk was thick, the branches stretching far like arms welcoming her.
she jumped, pushing off the ground and planting one foot on the bark.
With a powerful burst of mana from her legs, she kicked off and jumped higher again, flipping mid-air and grabbing a low-hanging branch with one hand. She used the montum to swing around and land silently behind two of the n who had followed her closely.
Before they could even turn, she pulled the triggers—Bang! Bang!
Both dropped instantly.
The sound made the others pause—but only for a second. From behind her, she heard the sharp sound of a katana slicing through the air.
Areum ducked low, her body folding and rolling forward, and as she ca up from the roll, she spun around and aid at the source of the blade.
Bang!
The bullet hit the attacker right in the jaw and blood across the air as he collapsed backward.
Another man ca from the left, swinging a steel pipe, but Areum raised one arm, deflecting it slightly with the gun barrel, then kicked his knee hard, forcing it inward. As he howled in pain and dropped, she spun the pistol in her grip and slamd the handle into the back of his head.
A few minutes passed, and now the field was silent—only the sound of crackling fire from the burning village filled the air. All of the boss's n lay on the ground, groaning in pain or completely unconscious.
Areum stood in the middle of it all, her chest rising and falling with each breath. Sweat glistened on her skin, and blood—not all hers—painted the sleeves of her shirt and the edge of her cheek.
The boss began to clap slowly. The sound of his hands echoing in the clearing felt cruel, mocking.
"Well done," he said, grinning wide. "That was more entertaining than I expected."
Beside him, one of his n held up a cara, its red light blinking.
"This proof," the boss continued, patting the cara man's shoulder, "will make your price even higher. Every buyer will want soone like you. Now—" he turned his head slightly, "—let's bring her in to our client. No need to tire her out any more."
From the shadows of a tree, a figure erged.
A tall woman, wearing tight, revealing clothes stepped out into the light. Her long legs were wrapped in leather, and on her hand was a glowing whip made entirely of condensed mana. She chewed her gum lazily and cracked the whip once in the air with a loud snap.
"You should have let take care of her from the start, boss," she said, voice smooth like silk but sharp underneath.
The boss chuckled. "I needed a good show, darling. Proof of her value But now—she's all yours. Just don't damage her skin too much, Buyers are picky."
The woman winked and sauntered forward. "Got it. I'll keep her pretty."
Areum, still breathing hard, stepped forward and picked up one of the fallen katanas. Her stance shifted, left foot forward, sword pointed downward and angled.
The woman licked her lips and grinned. "Co on, play with now kitty."
Then she moved.
The whip cracked through the air toward Areum's right side. Areum stepped back quickly, raising the katana to block. The blade caught the glowing whip The mont the whip touched the tal, it wrapped tightly around it like a snake.
"Gotcha," the woman whispered.
With a yank, she pulled hard. The force was strong—too strong. Areum's grip loosened, and the katana flew from her hands.
She let it go, stepping back again, but this ti slower. Her limbs ached. Her mana was drained. The previous fight had taken too much. Her legs wobbled a bit as she tried to steady her balance.
The woman didn't stop. She stepped in with a spin, the whip slicing through the air again. This ti, it landed across Areum's leg—not deep, but sharp enough to cut through her pants and leave a glowing red mark across her skin.
Areum gasped in pain and stumbled.
The woman cracked the whip again, faster, sharper, her attacks wild but controlled. Areum tried to dodge, but the whip caught her arm.
Areum fell to one knee, panting, hands on the dirt, her vision already shaking. Blood slid down her cheek from a small cut near her forehead.
"I won't—" she whispered, "I won't let you…"
Then suddenly, a shadow moved above her, and Areum looked up quickly, but it was already too late—sothing heavy dropped from above and wrapped tightly around her body.
A mana suppression net, tangled around her arms and legs, pressing her to the ground. She struggled, kicking and twisting, but the mont the net touched her skin, she felt sothing draining—her mana.
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