Amon didn't wait.

The moment Aisha cracked her knuckles and took a step forward, he turned around and ran for his life.

"Hey! Don't run!" Aisha shouted, her voice full of excitement rather than anger. "Come here and fight me properly!"

"No thanks! I am not in the mood!" Amon yelled back without looking behind.

Aisha immediately gave chase.

BOOM!

A small crater formed where Amon had been just a second ago. Aisha's fist had slammed into the ground, sending dirt flying.

Amon staggered forward from the shockwave. "Are you crazy!? Stop trying to punch me like a crazy person!"

Aisha didn't stop. Her red eyes gleamed, and she lunged again.

Another punch flew toward his back. Blue mana forming around her gauntlets.

Amon twisted his body, barely dodging. The attack brushed past his shoulder, making his hair stand on end.

"You're too slow, Amon!" Aisha taunted, sprinting behind him with animal-like speed. "At least make this fun!"

"Fun for who!? You? No way!" he shouted, jumping over a fallen log.

Branches whipped at his face as he dashed through the forest. Leaves crunched underfoot, and his breath came out in sharp bursts.

He wasn't trying to fight her.

He was trying to survive.

'I can't fight her right now… I don't have mana or stamina left!'

His eyes widened as a new thought struck him.

'Wait… Marcus and Arnold! They're still fighting!'

A crazy idea formed instantly.

'If I take her there… she'll get distracted! Or maybe she'll fight them instead! Yes! That's perfect!'

Amon swerved sharply, heading toward the direction of the ongoing battle.

Behind him, Aisha narrowed her eyes. "Where are you going? Don't think you can escape!"

She jumped high, her shadow falling over Amon and punched downward.

WHOOSH!

The attack smashed through the branches, sending wood and leaves exploding everywhere.

Amon dove forward, rolling along the ground. "Stop attacking me!! I thought we were friends!!"

"We are not friends!!" Aisha barked back, grinning wildly. "Now hold still!"

"NO!!"

He raced ahead, heart pounding, determined to reach Marcus and Arnold as quickly as possible.

The distant flash of silver light and fire confirmed he was getting close.

'Just hold on… almost there…!'

Behind him, Aisha's footsteps grew louder. Closer relentless.

The chase was far from over.

Just then he heard the clash. There Marcus and Arnold were still fighting.

Amon smiled. 'That's what I was looking for.'

He turned his face back where Aisha was following him. But now she stopped attacking him, sensing another two presences fighting ahead.

"Aisha! Look, I have brought you to them. They will be good opponents rather than me!" he yelled at her.

His voice was enough for both Arnold and Marcus to stop their fight.

The two pairs of eyes fell on the incoming individuals.

Amon halted a few paces away, maintaining a cautious distance. Aisha came to a stop beside him, her gaze following his as they assessed the scene ahead.

Her smile widened. "Now this will be fun!" she said excitedly. Her red eyes were filled with excitement to fight.

Marcus was breathing heavily. His body had got some small wounds. He rested the base of his spear on the ground.

"Look, Arnold, who we have here. It seems one more opponent will be joining us."

His eyes focused on Aisha, not Amon.

Arnold also exhaled softly. He was in better condition compared to Marcus, but still some wounds were present.

"It doesn't matter. I just have to defeat both of you," he replied with confidence.

"Hehehe, sure! I am itching for a good fight. Just because you both have reached Mana Initiate rank doesn't mean I will back away from a fight." She chuckled.

Even though she was still an Awakened one, she didn't mind fighting both of them. Rather, she was excited for the fight.

She's not the type to back down from a fight, unlike a certain someone.

The three of them looked at each other. They were ready to fight. To clash against each other.

The sun was already sinking beyond the horizon, its orange glow spilling across the forest like fire. Shadows stretched long between the trees as the light began to fade, and the air grew heavy with tension.

Aisha and Marcus locked eyes for a brief moment. No words, just understanding.

Then, in perfect sync, they kicked off the ground, leaves scattering beneath their feet as they dashed toward Arnold.

They had made their choice. Defeat the strongest first. Eliminate him.

Arnold just smirked. But for the first time, he gave a worried smile. "For real?"

But he was not going to back down.

The ground shook.

BOOM!

Aisha's fist and Marcus's spear struck the same spot where Arnold had been standing just a heartbeat ago. The impact shredded the earth, scattering soil and leaves into the air like an explosion.

But Arnold had already moved.

WHOOSH—!

He slid back, starlight flaring from his boots as he activated his movement skill. His form blurred, leaving a trail of cold white silver behind.

"You two are insane," Arnold muttered, gripping his sword with both hands. "Coming at me together… fine. Come, then!"

Aisha was the first to charge again.

Her gauntlets glowed — this time brighter, thicker, almost molten-blue. She swung her right arm in a wide arc.

"Beast Fist: CRASH!"

The shockwave tore forward, ripping the ground in a straight line toward Arnold.

Arnold raised his sword and slashed downward.

A white crescent of starlight shot out,

BOOOOM!!!

The two attacks collided midway, blasting apart in a violent burst of sparks and dust. Trees nearby shook, leaves raining down like feathers.

Marcus took the opening.

His body flickered; he moved fast, leaving a faint red trail of fire.

In a single blink, he reappeared behind Arnold.

His spear thrust forward.

A glowing red streak shot from the tip, screaming toward Arnold's back.

Arnold twisted with a snarl, white energy bursting from his palm as he struck back with a starlight counter.

CLANG! FWOOSH!

The collision of spear and white light lit up the forest with a blinding flash.

Amon, standing at a safe distance, shielded his face. "Are they trying to burn the whole forest down!?"

"I should get away before they target me."

Amon sneaked away again.

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