Sonia finally relaxed as the car rolled forward, though the head maid's sharp eyes never left Ramos.
"What a coincidence, don't you think?" she said coldly, glaring at him. "That you just happened to find us right after we were almost killed."
"Head maid, stop it," Sonia whispered, trying to hold her back. But the maid's suspicion was unshakable.
Ramos lowered his head in silence, while Rick turned away with a scowl.
"It wasn't a coincidence," Trish said.
The words had barely left her mouth before the head maid leapt in front of Sonia, shielding her with her own body.
"What do you want from us?" she growled.
Trish blinked, confused for a moment. Then her eyes widened as she realized her mistake. "I… apologize. What I meant to say is, finding you wasn't a coincidence. We were searching for Miss Sonia."
Sonia shifted awkwardly. "Is this because of the blood essence?"
Trish hesitated, glancing at Ramos as if asking permission.
"That's right, Miss Sonia," Ramos said heavily. "Two days ago, my son was kidnapped. I don't know who they are, but they demanded I deliver the blood essence by midnight today, or they will…" His voice broke. He stopped himself, blinking back tears, but everyone in the car understood the rest.
They'll kill him
They didn't need to hear those words out loud to understand what he meant
"We wanted to ask you ...beg you to let us have the essence," Trish said softly, offering a small glass vial toward Sonia. "It belongs to you, I'm sorry about my partner. He has a rather anasty.....well aunique personality."
Sonia waved her hands frantically. "No, no, keep it! I'm grateful you helped us. Besides…" she lowered her head, her cheeks turning red, "I was acting childish before. The blood essence belongs to you now, Mister Ramos."
Ramos's lips trembled as he gave her a grateful smile, a glimmer of hope flickering in his tired eyes.
But the moment didn't last.
A massive red wolf lunged into the road, blocking the car. Its claws screeched across the hood as the driver swerved to a stop.
"Out! Everyone out!" Trish shouted, kicking her door open.
They had barely stumbled free before the car exploded, flames lighting up the night sky.
"What happened?" Sonia gasped, her voice shaking.
Trish stood ready, daggers drawn, her eyes narrowing. "stay away," she said calmly, scanning left and right for movement.
"Behind you!" Sonia screamed.
Trish spun around just in time to see him—red hair wild, one arm grotesquely warped into a pulsing mass of shifting tentacles.
A tentacle shot toward her, coiling around her throat. She twisted mid-grab and slammed her heel into his face. He staggered back, releasing her.
"Not bad," he chuckled darkly. "I was getting bored. Finally, a chance to test the power our god blessed me with."
"Who is that?" Ramos asked, fear in his voice.
"Kaine Draven," Trish answered grimly. "One of the academy students who was kidnapped by the system believers. He's dangerous."
"Oh, so you know about me. That's a surprise," Kaine sneered, raising his corrupted arm. Two massive red wolves materialized from the shadows at his command.
"Go."
The wolves lunged.
Trish leapt, driving a dagger into the skull of one, but the second slammed into her, knocking her off her feet. She scrambled up, only to feel her new heels snap.
"Tch." She tore them off, dropping them aside.
The wolf lunged again, its jaws snapping toward her shoulder.
"No!" Sonia screamed, watching in horror as it seemed to bite clean through Trish's body.
But her body dissolved into smoke, the wolf's jaws snapping shut on nothing. An instant later, Trish reappeared above it, her dagger slicing down in a blur—cleanly severing its head.
"You're strong," Kaine muttered, his tentacles lashing out again. This time, they coiled tight around Trish, locking her in place. He yanked her head back by the hair, another tendril hovering over her chest, aimed straight at her heart.
"You're not the one I need," he hissed. "I'm here for the fox-masked girl."
"Stop! I'm the one you want, right? Let her go!" Sonia shouted desperately.
"Young miss, no!" the head maid cried.
"Oh? Is that so?" Kaine smirked, his eyes sliding toward Sonia.
"What do you want? I'll give it to you—just let us live!" Sonia shouted.
"The dragon scale," Kaine said coldly. "But don't misunderstand. I don't need you alive to take it."
Sonia forced herself to stand tall, though her legs shook. "This is a storage item. Everything I bought at the auction is inside. If I die, it locks forever. You kill me, you lose everything."
Her teeth clamped on her tongue. "Try me—I'll bite it clean through."
Kaine paused, then flung Trish aside with a grunt. "Fine. Have it your way."
Sonia ripped the bag from her shoulder and tossed it at his feet. "I'm no longer its owner. Everything inside belongs to you now. So leave us alone."
Kaine picked up the bag, smirking. "But now that I have it… why should I keep you alive?"
His tentacles lashed forward—only to slam against an invisible barrier.
"Run!" Trish shouted, staggering to her feet. "I've locked him inside. My partner's on his way—I'll hold him!"
"But—" Sonia began, but the head maid seized her hand, dragging her away.
"Forgive me, young miss. Your safety comes first!"
The driver and Rick ran after them. Ramos lingered, torn, until Trish hurled the vial of blood essence at him.
"Go! I can't hold him much longer!"
Ramos caught it and fled.
In moments, they were gone.
Only Trish and Kaine remained.
Kaine laughed, his tentacles writhing. "Hehehe"
"now it's just us."
He glared at Trish
Time to split the loot"
then his arm dissolved into a crimson mist, as did the wolves. He pressed a hand to his face. A mask appeared, then melted away—revealing Isaac.
Trish sighed, puffing her cheeks. "This is the last time I'm listening to your insane plans, Isaac."
"What? It worked, didn't it?" Isaac said with a manic grin, dumping Sonia's bag out onto the ground. Items clattered everywhere, glowing faintly.
"Do you really think we have time for this?" Trish snapped.
"Relax. If we go back too soon, they'll suspect us. Might as well enjoy ourselves. Come on—pick something. Oh, but the skill book and the dragon scale are mine. Hehehehehe!"
He stuffed the best treasures into his storage ring, laughing like a madman.
Trish scowled, crazy bastard,she cursed in her mind