Victoria’s severed arm did not bleed.
For a single suspended second, the cut edge of her shoulder shimred like fractured glass. Then the flesh unraveled into strands of molten gold. The dismbered arm lying across the decayed, ash-colored ground dissolved into particles of radiant light, scattering like embers caught in a silent storm.
The dead world around them groaned.
The sky was a rotting shade of violet. Cracked earth stretched endlessly, its surface brittle and flaking as if existence itself was decomposing. Black trees stood frozen mid-decay, their trunks half-crumbled into dust.
The golden fragnts rose from the ground, spiraling upward. They gathered at her shoulder, compressing into a blinding sphere of energy before sinking into her flesh.
Her new arm grew out of that light.
Bone threaded itself first, white and sharp. Muscles wrapped around it in twisting strands. Skin sealed over it smoothly, flawless, untouched.
Her fingers flexed once.
The air trembled.
Her fury thickened.
For a brief mont, her eyes widened.
Because Alex was standing there. Completely intact.
Monts ago she had pressed her palm against his chest and invoked the Law of Decay. She had felt it activate. The invisible principle that governed rot, erosion, dissolution. With a touch, she could curse anyone. Their body would begin to collapse from within. Cells turning to ash. Bones hollowing. Organs dissolving until nothing remained but drifting dust.
She had erased many stronger beings with less effort.
But Alex stood there, breathing.
His body had not blackened. His skin had not cracked. There was no crumbling.
And worse—
She could feel it.
The sa current.
The sa cold, creeping essence of decay... emanating from him.
Her eyes narrowed slowly.
For the first ti, she accepted.
The man in front of her was dangerous.
Extrely dangerous.
But was she afraid?
No.
In the distant ages of her existence, she had crushed beings worshipped as who beca closer to achieving godhood and were almost invisible. She had watched the strongest of their them kneel, as their arrogance stripped away.
She lifted her chin.
"You’ll be no different."
Alex tilted his head slightly.
"Did you say sothing? Sorry. My hearing’s not that great. An acquaintance of mine just told recently."
Her eye twitched.
In the next heartbeat—
Two swords materialized in her hands.
They were forged from condensed fla, but the fire burned a deep crimson, almost black at the edges. The heat distorted the decayed air around them, carving ripples through space.
And then—
She vanished.
Not moved.
Vanished.
Even Alex’s pupils narrowed beneath his mask. He couldn’t track her.
Then—
A sound split the world.
A slash tore toward his neck from nothingness.
He twisted violently, bending backward at an impossible angle. The sword skimd across his collarbone instead of cleaving his throat.
The fabric of his outfit disintegrated instantly.
A thin red line opened across his skin.
The blade passed.
He landed and staggered back one step.
His hand reached to his neck.
It ca away slightly purple.
He looked down at his hands.
The veins beneath his skin were darkening rapidly.
He coughed.
A small amount of blood spilled from behind his mask, staining the ground.
Victoria reappeared several feet away, one sword resting on her shoulder.
"What happened now?" she asked coldly. "Not able to counter it?"
Alex stared at his hands as the purple color deepened, spreading up his arms like creeping ink.
It was poison.
And not any ordinary poison.
Three-Headed Basilisk venom.
Even divine-tier entities avoided it.
His breathing slowed.
Then—
A translucent blue screen flickered before his eyes.
[ Your body has adapted to the Three-Headed Basilisk poison ]
The purple halted.
Then began receding.
Slowly.
Steadily.
His skin returned to its natural tone. The blood he had coughed dried and flaked away.
He rolled his shoulders.
Looked at her.
"Try again. It didn’t work. Try sothing stronger. I wanna see how far I can push my physique."
Silence fell.
The wind in the decayed world stopped.
That sentence cut deeper than any blade.
Her grip tightened.
The man in front of her had just survived one of the most lethal poisons in existence.
While being only at the pseudo-divine rank.
Her eyes sharpened.
"How are you doing all this?" she demanded. "Surviving the most fatal poison while just being at pseudo-divine rank. It’s impossible."
Alex exhaled slowly.
"Yeah. I hear that a lot. First people like you they’re all arrogant bastards, talking about how great they are." He shrugged. "Until I pound their ass to the ground. Then they all get the sa look."
He dramatically widened his eyes and raised his voice into a mocking tone.
"How are you this strong? Who are you? Blah blah blah."
He dropped the act instantly.
His gaze locked onto hers.
"That’s why I’m telling you. Just kneel down like a good dog before I have to spank your ass." His tone was casual. Almost playful. "And I will enjoy that. You’re kind of hot, you know. And my girlfriend isn’t here right now to give a brutal death."
He stepped forward.
Extended his hand for a handshake.
"So what do you say? Deal?"
For a fraction of a second, nothing moved.
Then—
SCHLK.
The sound was sharp. Clean.
His extended hand spun through the air.
It landed several feet away, bouncing once against the cracked ground.
Alex’s arm got cut in a clean sever.
Behind his mask, his mouth twitched hard.
He stared at the stump.
Then at her.
"That was rude. You could’ve just said no."
Victoria didn’t answer.
Her eyes were blazing.
Alex walked casually toward his fallen hand. Each step echoed strangely in the hollow world. He bent down, picked it up, brushed off so dust.
He lifted it.
Pressed it back against his wrist.
The flesh fused instantly.
Muscle reconnected. Bone sealed. Skin closed seamlessly.
He flexed his fingers.
"Perfect."
Victoria’s voice ca out low. Steady. Burning.
"I’ll die before I submit to anyone." Her eyes were no longer rely furious. They were ancient. "I will have my revenge no matter what. Anyone who stands in my way will die. Without exception. No matter who they are."
The dead world cracked beneath her feet as the Other stronger Laws surged violently around her as she decided to go all out.
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