Nika slowly regained consciousness, shaking off the daze from the brutal hit she had just received. Her head was aching and her body was sore, but she forced herself to sit up. The sound of the audience around the arena still echoed in her mind, the weight of her defeat settling in. As she looked around, she expected to see the arrogant smirk of her opponent, but instead, she was met with a sight that left her bewildered…

  There, before her, stood Guanqiu, looking as meek and timid as ever. The arrogant, mocking persona she was displaying just moments ago had completely vanished.

  The audience was completely taken aback by the drastic shift in Guanqiu's personality. They couldn't make sense of what had just happened.

  Nika slowly rose to her feet, her body still weary from the attack. She was confused, and honestly, a bit creeped out by the sudden change.

  "Guanqiu...?" she muttered, her voice hoarse and weak. "What...what happened to you? Are you back to your...normal self?”

  Guanqiu's voice shook as she spoke, her eyes downcast. "I... I don't know. Something just...took over me. It was like another part of me took over my body and mind."

  Nika frowned, trying to process what was happening. "What do you mean... another part of you? Like... another personality?”

  Guanqiu nodded, her voice still shaky. "Yeah... it felt like someone else was controlling me. I had no control over what I was saying or doing. It was like I was on auto pilot."

  Nika took a step closer, her curiosity piqued and her concern growing. "And you didn't have any memory of what was happening during that time?”

  "No," Guanqiu replied, her head hanging low. "It's like those moments were completely erased from my memory. I can't recall anything that happened while that other part of me was in control."

  Nika pursed her lips, trying to process this strange situation. "Well...uh, just— congrats on your win, I guess.”

  Guanqiu lifted her head up for the first time since her sudden change, and her eyes met Nika's. She looked genuinely remorseful. "Thanks, but…I don't feel like this win is mine. It was that other part of me that did it. Not me.”

  Nika nodded, her face softening a bit at the remorseful expression on Guanqiu's face. "Yeah… It was definitely like you were a completely different person out there. It was almost...unsettling, to be honest. Let's just...get outta here, okay?”

  Guanqiu nodded weakly. "Yeah…let's go."

  As they started walking towards the exit of the arena, the audience's whispers and murmurs could be heard around them. Some were in awe of the sudden change in Guanqiu, others were completely puzzled by it.

  Nika joined back up with the girls after losing the final match. Without a moment to rest, Yuki alerted Nika:

  "Hey Nika, there's something important I have to tell you."

  Nika looked at Yuki with concern, feeling exhausted from the tournament.

  "What is it?”

  Yuki grabbed Nika's arm and dragged her aside to talk privately, away from the others. Yuki spoke in a low tone so that nobody else could hear them.

  Nika, feeling a bit anxious now, asked, "What's going on, Yuki?”

  Yuki looked around to ensure no one else was eavesdropping, she then spoke quietly: "Listen...so there's this auction taking place here in the city, and I've been hired to go undercover and be on the lookout for a particular someone…”

  Nika felt intrigued yet a bit puzzled, but listened attentively.

  "Continue…”

  "All right...so the person I've been hired to find is a member of the Gaia Disciples..."

  Yuki's voice was low, her words coming out in a hushed tone.

  "You mean that group of violent misanthropes...?" Nika asked, starting to get more intrigued.

  "Yep..."

  Yuki sighed, the weight of the information weighing on her.

  "I'm pretty sure the leader will be there, and they'll be trying to sell a powerful Relic…and that Relic is…”

  ...

  Alice, Rachel and Zalgo were leaving the Coliseum, which was still crowded as all hell as the climax of the tournament was over and everyone was heading home. Lost in thought, Alice wasn't looking ahead as she bumped into a woman.

  "Ugh!"

  Alice was jolted from her stupor at the collision, only to realize who exactly she had bumped into. It was the Black Snake herself, Venera Bianchi, the ruthless boss of Valoria’s most influential mafia.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "Watch where you're going," Venera sneered, her icy glare fixated on Alice.

  Alice stammered an apology, a bit unnerved by the mafia boss' cold gaze.

  "I-I'm sorry, ma'am...I wasn't looking where I was going..."

  The Black Snake mob boss chuckled darkly, her smile not quite reaching her cold eyes.

  "Well, aren't you a little sheep that needs to be taught a lesson for such carelessness?" Venera's voice was smooth yet chilling, and her Valorian accent was clear as day.

  Alice nervously backed away, feeling a surge of fear. She knew Venera Bianchi was infamous for being ruthless, and now she'd gotten the mafia boss' attention.

  "I-I'm really sorry, ma'am..."

  Venera stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she closed the distance between them.

  "Saying 'sorry' only goes so far, bambina. You need to learn some respect.”

  The protective Rachel, who didn't like the Black Snake's attitude, stood before Alice, her hands on her hips. "Hey, watch it!"

  The tension in the air was palpable as Venera's cold gaze shifted to Rachel.

  "My...! Look who's joining the conversation."

  Venera's voice had a chilling edge as she spoke, her eyes narrowing at Rachel.

  "Got a problem, shorty?”

  Rachel held her ground, her arms crossed defiantly.

  "Yeah, I do. Leave her alone, ‘bambina’, whatever the heck that means.”

  Venera's gaze flickered with amusement at Rachel's attitude.

  "It means 'little girl'. And who are you to be giving me orders?"

  She took a step closer to Rachel, her intimidating presence looming over her.

  "I'm someone who ain't afraid of ya."

  Rachel stood her ground, not backing down an inch, her gaze locked defiantly with Venera's.

  "And I ain't gonna let'cha bully my best friend.”

  "Oh, isn't that endearing..."

  Venera chuckled mockingly, her gaze filled with a mix of amusement and malice.

  "You've got spunk, I'll give you that. But a little girl like you shouldn't talk back to me. You have no idea who you're messing with.”

  "And why's that, huh?"

  Rachel retorted, not letting Venera's threat unnerve her.

  "You and your goons think you can bully whoever you want around here just 'cause you're big tough mobsters…”

  "That's exactly it…bambina."

  Venera stepped even closer, closing the gap between them.

  "You see, in this city, might makes right. And we, the Black Snake Mafia, are the ones who wield the mightiest power in the shadows. So I recommend you learn your place, and that little friend of yours better be more careful.”

  "Oh yeah? Or what?" Rachel challenged, her determination unfazed by Venera's warning. "You gonna have your goons rough us up, huh? I ain't scared of your thugs.”

  "Oh, honey,"

  Venera chuckled again, a dark smile playing at the corner of her lips.

  "I could snap your neck with a single gesture. And my 'thugs', as you so eloquently put it, are the best-trained, most ruthless mercenaries you'll find in this city. They'd rip you apart like a pack of wild dogs. However, you should feel lucky that I'm in a good mood tonight. I quite enjoyed the tournament.”

  "Lucky, huh? Why's that?"

  Rachel scoffed, still defiant. The tension between her and Venera was almost tangible. Zalgo stepped in, desperate to ease the building animosity between the two. "Wait, you enjoyed the tournament?" she asked.

  Venera glanced over at Zalgo, acknowledging her question.

  "Yes, I did."

  Venera's gaze softened slightly but still remained filled with a calculating look

  "The fighters displayed quite an array of impressive skills and techniques. Especially the fighter 'Nika', the one who used her backside as her weapon of choice. She's...quite unique, to say the least. It's been a while since I've been entertained like that.”

  "Yeah... She's one of a kind."

  Zalgo looked relieved that Venera seemed to be on the less threatening side now, but her concern for Rachel's safety was still there.

  "So... you're not gonna hurt us, right?”

  Venera chuckled, her mood seeming to soften a bit more.

  "Not tonight, at least. I don't feel like causing a scene here and spoiling my peaceful night."

  She paused as her gaze shifted to Alice, who still looked nervous and afraid.

  "However..."

  Her tone turned a bit colder.

  "Your friend here still needs to learn some manners.”

  Alice froze up again, her fear resurfacing. She looked like she wanted to melt into the ground and disappear.

  "I—I swear I didn't mean to—"

  Venera cut Alice off, looking unamused.

  "Didn't mean to knock into me? Didn't mean to disrespect me?”

  "I—I'm really sorry—"

  Alice stuttered, her trembling voice barely a whisper.

  Venera rolled her eyes.

  "Sorry isn't enough when you mess with someone like me. I need a proper apology. And a respectful one, not this pathetic stuttering and mumbling.”

  "I...I..."

  Alice struggled to find the right words, her fear making it hard to respond.

  Venera smirked, clearly enjoying Alice's helplessness.

  "Well? Go on. Say it. Apologize for bumping into me. Beg me for forgiveness.”

  Alice swallowed hard, her fear making her voice shaky.

  "I'm...I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you. It was an accident, I swear. Please, forgive me. I'll do anything. Just don't hurt me.”

  Venera chuckled at Alice's plea, her expression unreadable.

  "Anything, huh? Well, well... that's a big promise, little girl."

  Venera took a step closer, her eyes narrowing.

  "So you'd do...anything, you say?”

  Alice felt her heart racing, her mind swirling with fear and desperation. She couldn't afford to make things worse, so she nodded vigorously.

  "Y-Yes, anything. I swear. I'll do anything you ask.”

  Venera chuckled lowly, a sly smile on her lips. She seemed to really like the frightened girl's response.

  "Anything, hm? You're quite the eager one, aren't you?"

  She leaned closer, towering over Alice.

  "Then I need you—and your two friends here—to do just one thing.”

  Alice's heart was beating furiously, her breaths rapid and shallow.

  "Y—Yes? What do you need us to do? We'll do anything, I swear."

  Zalgo and Rachel exchanged anxious glances, wondering what Venera would demand.

  Venera's smile grew wider. She was clearly enjoying the girls' fear, their pleading, their desperation.

  "What I need you to do..."

  She leaned even closer, her voice dropping to a near-whisper.

  "Is to do a small... little... favor for me.”

  Alice, Rachel and Zalgo all leaned closer, listening intently to the boss' demand.

  "What kind of favor?" Zalgo asked, her voice shaking slightly.

  Venera chuckled, enjoying the power she had over them.

  "I want you all to come with me to Caffè e Dolci.”

  Alice, Rachel and Zalgo were taken aback by Venera's request.

  "Come with you...to that café?"

  The request was unexpected, to say the least. The girls exchanged another glance, wondering what Venera's motives were.

  Venera smirked at their confused faces.

  "That's right. I've got something to discuss with you all, and I want it done in private. Don't worry, you might even like the place."

  She gestured towards the café not far from where they stood, its warm light spilling on the sidewalk.

  "We'll have a little...chat in there. All orders are on me.”

  The girls exchanged another hesitant look. Accepting an invite from Venera Bianchi herself sounded like a bad idea... But what choice did they have? The Black Snake was not the kind of person you say no to.

  With no choice but to comply, the three girls nodded hesitantly.

  "All right. We'll come with you.”