"I want to face all of them... there’s a personal score I need to settle with her and her brother for laying their hands on my mother."
The words fell calmly, almost casually, but the mont Nox finished speaking, the atmosphere shifted.
It was not dramatic in an obvious way. There was no explosion of power, no sudden shockwave tearing through the streets. Instead, it was subtle and oppressive, like the air itself had thickened. The gang mbers surrounding them felt it first. Their breathing grew heavier, their grips on their weapons tightened without them even realizing it. A faint layer of frost began creeping along the cracked stone ground beneath their feet, spreading outward.
Serene noticed it as well but remained calm. In fact, if one looked closely at her face, they would notice a provocative smile.
"So she was your mother," Serene said.
Eve took a single step back and folded her arms calmly. She did not activate any skill. She simply watched, her expression composed, as if what was about to happen had already been decided.
Nox took another step forward.
The frost greatsword in his hand solidified further, its surface gleaming faintly. Cold mist rolled off the blade, curling around his arm and drifting across the ground like a living thing. Every step he took caused the temperature to drop further, the faint sound of ice forming echoing through the empty street.
The gang leader swallowed hard.
"Tch... don’t just stand there!" he barked, forcing a laugh that ca out strained. "He is just one man. Surround him—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Nox moved.
There was no wind up, no exaggerated motion. One mont he was standing still, and the next, his blade was already mid swing.
The frost greatsword cut through the air horizontally.
A crescent of condensed ice and pressure erupted outward, tearing through the circle of n. The front line did not even have ti to scream. Their bodies were lifted off the ground, instantly encased in sharp ice before shattering midair. The shockwave slamd into those behind them, sending them crashing into walls, rooftops, and each other.
The entire ambush collapsed in seconds.
Those who were not frozen outright found their legs encased in ice, pinned to the ground. Others lay groaning, blood and frost mixing beneath them. The street that had monts ago been filled with mocking laughter was now silent, save for the cracking of ice and labored breathing.
"A bunch of weaklings," Serene clicked her tongue, annoyance flashing across her features. She raised a finger and snapped sharply.
From the shadows above, several figures dropped down, their movents fluid and far more disciplined than the earlier thugs. Their auras flared as they landed, surrounding Nox once more.
Eve’s eyes narrowed slightly when she sensed that this group was far more powerful, but she still did not move.
This ti, Nox did not swing his blade.
He stepped forward.
The mont his foot touched the ground, a wave of absolute cold exploded outward. The street flash froze in an instant, the air itself crystallizing. The newcors tried to react, activating their skills, but it was already too late. Their movents slowed, joints locking, expressions frozen in panic as ice crawled over their bodies.
One of them managed to lunge forward, blade raised.
Nox turned his wrist.
The frost greatsword pierced through the man’s chest effortlessly. Ice spread from the wound, consuming him entirely before he could even gasp. Nox pulled the blade free and flicked it once, shattering the frozen corpse into fragnts.
The remaining n collapsed seconds later.
Seeing this, a disappointed look flashed across Serene’s face as she retrieved her sword. "Another disappointnt. It seems I am the only one who can do a proper job here."
FWOOOSH!
Serene moved in a blur, closing the distance instantly, her blade flashing toward Nox’s neck. He parried calmly, their weapons colliding with a sharp clang that echoed through the street. Sparks and frost burst outward from the impact.
They exchanged blows rapidly. Serene’s movents were deadly and lethal, clearly trained by the empire. Each strike was delivered with the intent to kill.
But it was not enough.
Nox read her movents effortlessly.
He stepped inside her guard, slamd his knee into her abdon, and followed up with a backhanded strike from the flat of his blade. Serene was sent flying, crashing through a frozen wall and skidding across the ground.
She coughed as she pushed herself up, blood staining her lips.
For the first ti, fear flickered in her eyes.
She understood now. This was not a battle she could win. She ca to this conclusion because she could tell that Nox was holding back considerably, yet he had already dealt overwhelming damage.
Serene clenched her teeth and thought silently to herself. ’I need to ask for backup.’
Without hesitation, she turned and ran.
In that instant, Nox’s eyes flashed.
"Divine Velocity."
Serene felt it before she saw it, a crushing presence appearing directly in front of her.
Bang!
She slamd straight into Nox’s chest, rebounding backward before falling hard onto the frozen ground.
She stared up at him in disbelief.
"How—?"
Nox stood over her, the frost blade resting lightly against her throat.
Serene tried to move, but the cold had already invaded her body. Ice crawled up her limbs, locking her in place. Panic surged through her chest as she realized she could no longer feel her legs.
Eve finally approached, stopping a few steps behind Nox. She glanced at Serene briefly, then looked away, completely uninterested.
Nox crouched slightly, eting Serene’s gaze.
"You don’t understand what you are doing. You should let go now. If not, my father will co for you, and not even your kingdom will be able to save you," she threatened.
"I understand perfectly."
He leaned closer, speaking in a low voice.
"You ca for my kingdom. You threatened my people. You touched my family."
Serene swallowed hard as true fear washed over her for the first ti in her life while staring into those deep, dark eyes.
Nox straightened, standing up once again.
"Initially, I planned to kill you, but on second thought," he paused, a smirk appearing on his face. "I changed my mind. You would be very useful to in another way."
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