Shanazer stared at him for a moment, then looked away. "I haven't decided yet."
"Excuse me. I'll be back," Shanazer said as she got up and walked towards the restroom. But instead of returning, she opened the window, jumped out, and disappeared behind the block. Twenty minutes passed, and she was still nowhere to be seen. "Tairen, this is more than twenty minutes long. Shanazer isn't back yet," Anna said with growing concern. Tairen frowned, worry creeping into his voice. "Go check on her. Maybe something happened during the fight, and she's hiding it from us." Anna hurried to the restroom and knocked. Silence answered her. "Shanazer, are you okay?" she called again. Still nothing. She hesitated, then gently pushed the door open, surprised to find it unlocked. But Shanazer wasn't there. "Where did she go?" she muttered to herself. She strode back to Tairen, whose eyes were filled with questions.
"Something's wrong?" Tairen asked. Anna shook her head. "Shanazer isn't in the restroom." Tairen frowned. "But she went in, right? I didn't see her leave."
"I thought the same. For a moment, I even doubted what I saw," Anna admitted. Tairen crossed his arms, clearly unsettled. "But where could she have gone? And why wouldn't she tell us?" Anna had no answers—only a deepening sense of unease.
Meanwhile, at the Selena Campus arena, Xander and Consmart lingered in the VIP stands. "Bro, your girl is bad news," Consmart commented, watching Xander carefully. "She's not my girlfriend," Xander corrected. "Hold on, bro, I didn't say, your 'girlfriend.' I said your girl," Consmart clarified. "Whichever way you put it, she's not my girl," Xander snapped, startling his friend. Consmart frowned, struggling to grasp Xander's reaction. Had he said something wrong? He decided to hold his tongue, but silence wasn't his nature. "Well, where are we heading tonight?" Consmart asked, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm not going out. I just want to stay home and relax," Xander replied flatly. Consmart blinked, genuinely confused. "What the heck have I done?" Frustration bubbled inside him. He had no idea what was going on with Xander, and the tension unsettled him. Suddenly, irritation won over—he got up, striding off angrily toward the crowd leaving the arena.
Xander let out a deep sigh, willing his heartbeat to steady. The fight had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. Had he fallen for Shanazer? The thought unsettled him. Throughout the fight, he'd felt fear clawing at his chest, even while appearing composed. He didn't understand himself anymore.
Shanazer walked through the corridor toward the principal's office when she unexpectedly ran into him emerging from a cross-corridor. "Miss Athens, congratulations. I didn't know I had an expert on my premises. Well done," the principal said with a proud smile. Shanazer beamed. "Sir—"
"Yes?" he responded, giving her his full attention. "Who were the people distributing water? Do you know them?" she asked, her expression serious. The principal frowned, taken aback. He had expected her to be thrilled after defeating the Ventrander young generation forerunner champion. "Why do you ask? Isn't your victory enough to make you smile?" She shook her head. "Someone poisoned my water." Her voice was firm, cutting straight to the heart of the matter. The principal's expression darkened. "That's a serious accusation, young lady. Do you have any proof?" Wordlessly, Shanazer reached into her backpack and pulled out a bottle. "Here it is. You can have it tested." Still perplexed, the principal hesitated. "How did you know?" She gave him a tight, almost artificial smile. "Just have it tested," she insisted before turning away, leaving him in a cloud of confusion.
As she rounded another corridor, she spotted a man lurking nearby—his posture tense, his eyes flicking toward her. He had been eavesdropping. "Who are you?" she demanded, stepping toward him. "Why are you listening to our conversation?" He stiffened. She had never seen him around campus before, and he wasn't among those distributing water. Suspicion sharpened her tone. "I asked you a question. You have no mouth?" she pressed, her unease growing. "I—" he stammered. "I was just passing by." His faltering response only deepened her instincts—he was lying.
Meanwhile, back in the corridor, the principal overheard raised voices, sharp enough to suggest a brewing conflict. He quickly approached. "What's going on here?" he demanded. "Nothing, sir. I was just passing by," the man said, bowing slightly before attempting to leave. "Stop!" The principal's voice was firm. He didn't recognize the man either. The man realized that if he stopped, he would be trapped—so he bolted. Shanazer's lips curled into a dubious smile as she sprang into pursuit. "Security!" the principal bellowed, his voice ringing through the corridor.
The man sprinted toward the Campus arena, aiming to vanish into the crowd. But Shanazer was relentless. The timing couldn't have been more perfect—Adrian London and his compatriots had just stepped out of the Selena Campus Arena when the commotion unfolded before them. A ripple of curiosity spread through the crowd. People halted in their tracks, eager to understand the chaos unraveling before their eyes. Five security guards followed behind Shanazer, though the gap between her and them was considerable. Shanazer closed the distance in a heartbeat, striking the man squarely on the head. He collapsed instantly. As she lifted her gaze, she met Adrian London's blazing stare.
Fueled by adrenaline, she seized the opportunity—vaulting over the fallen man, she began pummeling him, her fists flying like a trained boxer working a punching bag. Gasps filled the air. Spectators drew closer, their fascination mounting. Some pulled out their phones, recording the unfolding scene. Blood spattered onto the pavement as Shanazer continued her assault. The security guards arrived but remained hesitant, awaiting the principal's command. "What are you doing? Stop her! She'll kill him!" the principal shouted. At last, they stepped in, pulling her off.
Shanazer resisted. "Leave me! I want to kill him—he poisoned my water!" she roared, struggling against their grip. Her fury was unmistakable, but after making her point, she finally relented, allowing them to restrain her—though she didn't make it easy. Adrian London chuckled, throwing a knowing wink in her direction before turning to his fellow officer. "Wow. She's a natural," he remarked. The officer nodded, admiration in his eyes. "I told you—she's tough material in the making. We need more like her in this society." The officer who had first recognized Shanazer felt a surge of pride.
Adrian London then stepped forward, pushing through the crowd. Flashing his badge, he crouched beside the groaning man, assessing his injuries. He shook his head grimly. "These injuries are too severe. This is a criminal act. Cuff her," he instructed. The other officer wasted no time, swiftly pulling out the handcuffs.