The battle was about to begin, but first, the Chosen Ones had to talk it out after noticing the expressions on the faces of three fools—and Caden's silence.
That's when Leila had an idea.
Aaron (irritated):
"Don't you think this is a bad idea? If you end up hurting that girl, what will people say?"
Leila (with a sarcastic smile):
"Since when do you care about what people think?"
Caden, stepping out of the shadows with a chilling tone:
"If you want to humiliate yourself in front of everyone, go ahead. But remember—once your decision is made, there's no turning back."
Upon hearing that, Leila's temper flared. Her face flushed red as she stormed back into the arena, shouting:
"I'm ready!"
In her mind, she repeated: "I'll show her I'm on her level."
The fight was finally about to start.
But something about that girl unsettled me. There's something off...
She doesn't feel normal.
No—she doesn't seem like a monster, but what I'm seeing... It's not human.
That girl Arie… no one gives off such a foul aura. It's almost putrid.
At the same time, Caden felt the same unease as Nova.
Caden:
"Aaron. Emron. Ren. Tell them to clear the room."
The three of them froze. They didn't understand what was happening.
Aaron (protesting):
"But... they don't even—"
Before he could finish, a chilling scream echoed through the room.
All three of them rushed out—
—and saw Leila on the ground, bloodied and barely conscious.