In the Lost Forest, a woman made her way through the undergrowth.

Her skin was as white as milk, her curls a shade of rose, and her eyes possessed a magnetism capable of ensnaring any man. Every aspect of her appeared incongruous with her surroundings, and it was clear she was acutely aware of it.

“Where is that wretched woman?”

Disgust twisted her features as she spoke.

“How much longer must we trudge through this foul, filthy place? All I crave is a rose-scented milk bath.”

A sharp, eerie laugh pierced the air. “Claudia, be patient. Relax and consider this a pleasant excursion.”

“I can’t fathom it. With countless young and beautiful girls available throughout the kingdom, why must you choose that wretched body?”

The woman couldn’t help but voice her frustration.

The sharp voice grew a touch hysterical. “How could those coarse bodies compare to our princess? I demand the best!”

The woman replied, “Fine. But remember what you promised me.”

The voice chuckled. “Don’t worry. As long as you help me seize Sophia’s body, I’ll give you the formula for the Elixir of Life. Imagine, soon you’ll maintain your youthful vitality and passion forever. Won’t that lift your spirits?”

A flush of excitement spread across the woman’s face. She hummed softly, continuing her walk, her pace quickening slightly.

Suddenly, the grass beside her rustled. Startled, she looked and saw a gaunt wolf emerge.

“Damn beast.”

Her face contorted in revulsion as she scattered a pinch of pale yellow powder into the air. The powder ignited with a whoosh, transforming into a blazing fireball that shot straight at the wolf, incinerating it with a scream of agony.

“Be cautious; the Lost Forest harbors more than just wild beasts.”

The sharp voice warned.

Before its warning could finish, the woman’s pupils widened in terror. A slender hand emerged from the shadows, seizing her throat and lifting her off the ground.

“Ugh... gurgle...” The woman’s pale, beautiful face turned red as she weakly beat at the iron grip around her neck, her eyes filled with panic.

“Karapos, come out! ... You wretch, save me now! I feel like I’m going to die!”

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Desperately, she screamed in her mind, but the sharp voice had vanished without a trace, offering no response.

“Hmm...”

The owner of the mysterious hand let out a surprised exclamation and then laughed softly.

“To think you still harbor a soul.”

The woman felt a cold hand slipping into her robe, moving over her body. She was both embarrassed and enraged, wishing she could tear him apart, but the suffocation only intensified her fear.

Karlo pulled a transparent crystal ball from the woman’s bosom, inside which a gray mist swirled wildly.

“Not coming out?”

Karlo muttered, applying slight pressure to the ball, causing a crack to appear on its surface.

“Wait.”

The gray mist formed a gaunt, ugly female face on the crystal ball.

“Let the woman go, or…”

Karapos’s threat was cut short as the crystal ball shattered into dust.

“My soul gem!”

The gray mist fully emerged into the air, forming a gray, shadowy figure that glared at Karlo with venomous hatred.

“This time, you’re doomed... No, wait, you are…”

Karapos’s expression turned to one of utter shock and fear as she sensed the pure, evil aura emanating from Karlo, a power that made her tremble uncontrollably.

“Evil presence from hell, please spare this humble, pitiful creature…”

Karapos spoke with a bitter tone, crawling at Karlo’s feet.

Karlo slightly loosened his grip. Claudia, nearly strangled to death, gasped for breath but remained helpless.

“I ask, you answer.”

Karapos bowed her head. “Great evil presence, I dare not defy your will.”

Karlo glanced at the struggling Claudia. “What is this woman’s identity?”

“The Queen of Lorl Kingdom, just a narcissistic and foolish woman.”

Claudia shot a furious glare at Karapos from the corner of her eye.

Karlo smiled slightly, pleased to have finally encountered the Poison Apple Queen.

“And you? Tell me your true name.”

“Karapos Pitstora, your most loyal servant,” Karapos replied humbly.

Karlo was somewhat surprised. “You are the witch who left the Book of Magic on the continent?”

“Yes. But it was merely a few tricks to deceive the world.”

Karlo questioned Karapos about a dozen matters with keen interest. The tale of this evil witch was quite legendary and highly regarded by Talia.

According to Karapos, the Poison Apple Queen Claudia was once a mere farm girl who, by a stroke of luck, received Karapos’s legacy and, using dark magic, became the Queen of the Kingdom. It was a classic Cinderella story of a common girl rising to become a glamorous beauty, reaching the heights of power.

Claudia had, by chance, awakened Karapos from the soul gem and, enticed by her, had ventured out of the kingdom castle to seek Sophia’s body, until Karlo captured her.

“So, your goal was to use Sophia’s body to be reborn.”

“Yes, esteemed sir.”

Karlo stroked his chin, contemplating. With Claudia’s terrified gaze fixed on him, he casually crushed her neck.

“Sophia possesses what I desire. I can’t let you take over her body. This body is yours now.”

Poor Claudia had no chance to utter a single word before her death, her alluring face still frozen in disbelief.

Karapos obediently complied, her form turning back into gray mist, which entered Claudia’s body through her mouth and nose. Moments later, the deceased Claudia revived, an evil glint in her eyes as she knelt down once more.

“I offer my life to serve the great master.”

Karlo was quite satisfied with Karapos’s obedience. He reached out and lightly touched Karapos’s forehead, a complex symbol glowing briefly in red before vanishing.

“Rise, and tell me what your original plan was.”

Karlo said casually.

Karapos replied, “I had planned to find Sophia, kill her, and then seize her body.”

Karlo shook his head, murmuring to himself. “Sophia is not so easily killed…”

Karlo raised his gaze, narrowing his eyes. His pale red eyes gleamed with an eerie, sinister light.

“I need you to do something for me, my dear Queen.”

Karapos shivered involuntarily. She saw that Karlo was now holding a bright red fruit, which looked both delicious and tempting.