章 218: Awakened...

The clearing went still as all eyes turned to Selene. Crix's masked face tilted slightly as if in disbelief, while Roxie stared at her with wide eyes.

"I thought you said she was the easy one," Crix said slowly, his voice tinged with unease.

"She couldn't do this when we fought her," Roxie muttered, his confidence replaced by confusion. His glowing orb flickered as he tightened his grip on it.

Selene stood calmly, brushing dirt from her cloak. Her silver eyes gleamed with an intensity none of them had seen before.

"Care to try again?" she challenged.

Roxie's grin returned, though it was forced. "Oh, we'll try again," he said, his orb growing brighter. "And this time, you won't get the jump on us."

Selene tilted her head, her detached expression unchanging. "Make your move. I won't be as gentle this time."

As the assassins got ready to attack, the tension in the clearing grew thick, like a storm about to break.