That flaming raccoon had been mid-stage Earth realm... yet it died before either of them even saw her move. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Nigel’s throat worked. "Gulp."

Rose, who had been seconds from insulting her again, nearly choked on her own breath.

Had she gone blind?

How could this be the useless princess consort?

The remaining three raccoons shrieked and charged, enraged by the death of their companion.

Zora’s sword rose lightly, almost lazily. "Hmpf..."

One arc from her sword.

Three bodies thudded to the mossy ground.

Her expression never changed at all.

It was as if she’d swatted away three house cats rather than mid-tier Earth realm monsters.

Kneeling, she then cut open their cores with practiced ease and slipped the demon crystals into her pouch.

Only then did Nigel and Rose dare approach.

Nigel cupped his fists, voice steadying with effort. "Thank you for saving our lives."

Zora cast them a faint, unreadable glance. She didn’t recognize either of them.

And she hadn’t intended to save them.

"No need to thank me," she said lightly. "Thank yourselves."

She began walking away, snow-white robes brushing past the fallen beasts.

Indeed—she hadn’t planned to intervene at all.

But Nigel had warned her of the raccoon behind her.

That alone earned her minimal courtesy.

"Even so," Nigel called after her, "I’m grateful regardless!"

Zora didn’t turn back. Her figure slipped into the trees, but her voice floated on the wind: "Don’t light fires at night."

Nigel’s lips curved into a helpless smile.

He’d known little about her before this day..., but now he thought she was unexpectedly admirable.

Rose exhaled shakily. "I never imagined her strength was this terrifying. Just what level is she?"

Nigel shook his head slowly. "I can’t tell at all. But whatever she is... she’s far above us."

Rose swallowed, the reality sinking in as her body shook, "We’re lucky to still be alive. Truly lucky."

Nigel nodded, then turned to stamp out the smoldering fire.

Zora’s departing reminder echoed in his mind—Do not light fires at night.

He now understood exactly why.

The night passed without further disturbance.

At dawn, Zora emerged from meditation, tidied herself with simple efficiency, and continued deeper into Mt. Philanos.

From that moment, she switched from passive to proactive.

Every whisper of movement, every breath of a beast—she went to check. She was going to find the Gale Wolf.

But after half a day of traversing ridges and ravines, she’d found everything except the target: dozens of demon crystals, no Gale Wolf.

"Master," White grumbled, voice drenched in helplessness, "we still haven’t sensed the Wolf’s location."

Their mental perception, usually sharp as blade-tips, felt strangely muffled.

Something in this mountain range was distorting spiritual detection.

They had scanned half the mapped territory and still detected nothing.

Zora only laughed softly, unbothered by their failure. "Mt. Philanos is huge. We’ve covered a small section, that’s all. If it’s ahead, we’ll eventually meet it."

Among all competitors, only Philip and Luna had the strength to challenge the Gale Wolf.

Once the beast was provoked, the commotion would be enormous.

She planned to arrive at that moment.

Just as she stepped forward—A shadow dropped from the trees, landing directly in her path.

For a brief instant, disappointment flickered in Emerald’s eyes.

She had been searching for victims—

Not beasts, but other competitors.

Killing monsters took effort; Robbing someone else took none.

Spotting a lone woman, she’d thought she’d found easy prey.

But then she recognized the face, Zora.

Her excitement died instantly.

A supposed waste like Zora surviving here was already a miracle enough.

What monster could she possibly have killed?

Still... as the princess consort, she ought to be carrying plenty of valuables.

Emerald leaned lazily against a tree trunk, staring at her. "Hand over your demon crystals and money. I’ll let you walk away alive."

Zora blinked once, a lazy, mocking smile curling her lips. "Oh? And why should I?"

Emerald snorted. "Because my strength is greater than yours, trash."

The icy curve of Zora’s smile sharpened at that comment, "You’re brave, saying that in front of me."

"Heh!" Emerald’s laugh was scornful. She clearly believed Zora hadn’t grasped the situation.

"Don’t forget," she drawled, "this is the hunting ground. If I kill you here and no one sees it... Heaven won’t say a word."

Zora’s expression turned wickedly cold. "Then try. Let’s see whether you have the ability."

Emerald froze for a heartbeat.

This waste... daring to provoke me?

Outrage roared through her chest.

"You really don’t cry until you see your coffin," she spat. "I gave you a chance. Since you don’t want it, don’t blame me for being ruthless!

A third voice then sliced into the air. "Emerald, since fate dropped me here, I’ll be claiming my share too."

Emerald’s brow twitched. From behind the trees stepped a youth in black robes, movements slick and deliberate.

A faint glint passed through Emerald’s eyes. "Kylan."

Kylan spared her only a glance. His gaze instead latched onto Zora, sliding over her like a poisonous serpent tasting prey.

"Bold of you, Emerald," he drawled, lips curling into a sinful smile, "to raise your hand against the Princess Consort..."

Emerald snorted. "Don’t pretend to play hero. You’re here to take a cut." After a pause, she said, "Anyway, since I don’t want trouble with you, and neither do I want any witnesses, fine, I’ll accept your offer

Kylan’s grin widened. "Half each. Nice and clean."

"Agreed," Emerald answered without hesitation.

Zora folded her arms and watched their negotiation with frigid amusement.

Two vultures arguing over how to divide her corpse—without even killing her first.

She stepped forward, voice icy and unhurried. "I’ll give you one chance. Leave my sight right now, and I won’t make you die ugly."

Both Emerald and Kylan froze for a second—then burst out laughing.

"Did I hear that right?" Kylan slapped his thigh. "The waste is threatening us?"

"Enough talking." Emerald’s eyes narrowed. "Kill her and be done with it."

Kylan shrugged. "Your turn first."

"Gladly."

"Master, these two are disgusting!" Black snarled in her mind. "Let me kill them both!"

Zora’s smile remained light, almost lazy, but the glacial sharpness in her eyes could freeze marrow. "You refused your last chance. Then I’ll send you on your way."

She lifted one slim finger.

"One move."

Emerald’s face darkened instantly. "You dare mock me?!"

Power surged through her, Earth Realm’s late-stage aura exploding outward like a wave.

"Die!"

She lunged, sword slicing toward Zora’s vital point, murderous intent so thick it pressed the air flat.

Zora’s expression didn’t even flicker.

So that was Emerald’s true nature—

No conflict worth mentioning in the past, and she didn’t even know whether Zora had any cores either, yet she still aimed to kill her outright just based on the possibility.

In front of

But the instant Emerald struck, Zora also moved.

"Shadow Step."

A silver streak tore the air—

And Zora vanished.

The technique lived up to its name: no shadow, no trace, no warning.

In her previous life, this was her signature kill.

Even in her new body, it fit her like instinct.

Kylan watched with lazy nonchalance, arms folded.

He wasn’t concerned—Zora was still a waste in his mind.

All he expected was a mildly entertaining one-sided slaughter followed by spoils.

But the moment she turned into a silver streak of blur...

Kylan’s smirk cracked.

A heartbeat ago, he was amused.

The next, panic flooded his eyes.

Emerald’s sword had just sliced downward when—no clash of steel, no counter-strike he could see...

—only a blur was seen, a flicker like a silver ghost slipping behind her.

Boom!

A body hit the earth in the next second.

Emerald lay sprawled in the dirt, her eyes bulging wide, the grin she’d worn moments earlier shattered into raw horror.

A warm spray pulsed from her neck, staining the leaves red

"Y–You..."

One move.

One impossible, absolute move.

She hadn’t even understood how she died.

She had imagined a slaughter—theirs.

Instead, she was the one cut down without a second breath.

Zora didn’t spare her a single backward glance.

A stroke was a stroke.

She never wasted motion.

Kylan stared at Emerald’s corpse as though reality had fractured around him.

"H–How... how can this be?"

Zora turned toward him, her lips curving with sinful sweetness, her voice soft as velvet yet sharp enough to fillet. "I heard," she murmured, "you wanted to kill me and split my loot with her?"

The gentle cadence only deepened the terror crawling up Kylan’s spine.

If she could end Emerald—late-stage Earth realm cultivator—with one strike, then killing him would be child’s play.

"Pri... Princess Consort... I was blind—I didn’t know—spare me!" His complexion drained to chalk.

Zora’s smile cooled into frost. "Since you planned on splitting the loot, you should have been prepared to split the same fate as hers. Well, she died... but you are still alive, though."

"Wait... Princess Consort... We can talk about it. I will give you everything I..."

He couldn’t even finish off the words before a flash of silver appeared, and...

A wet thud.

Kylan collapsed beside Emerald, never even managing to turn and flee.

Her gaze sharpened, looking at the dead body. "Anyone who offends me pays for it."

Zora calmly wiped her blade clean, collected both storage pouches, and stepped forward into the forest as if nothing more than leaves had been trimmed.

She never sought trouble.

But when trouble insisted on seeking her, she cut it at the root.

Black and White rummaged through the bags with eager energy.

"Master, these two weren’t beginners," Black reported, eyes gleaming. "They’ve robbed plenty before. Look at the demon crystals! Better gains than killing beasts."

Zora gathered the crystals quietly. Judging by Emerald’s nature, many warriors must have died under their hands.

Meanwhile, far above, hidden in the night canopy, two observers continued to watch in silence.

"This girl... fierce, decisive, and no hesitation at all. She’ll go far," Sebastian murmured, admiration softening his usually stern tone.

Miel chuckled. "I’m thinking of testing her myself. A little trial to see her true limits."

Sebastian smirked. "Not a bad thought at all."