The boss stood unnaturally still, his previous rage toward Kai all but forgotten. His focus had now shifted entirely to the woman standing across the hall, framed by the broken window like a specter of death. The light from the moon bathed her in a cold, ethereal glow, casting long shadows that seemed to ripple with each subtle movement. Shards of glass crunched under her boots, and the blood that soaked her body dripped steadily onto the floor, pooling at her feet like some kind of morbid halo.

Zara’s eyes, crimson and fierce, burned into the bandit leader’s soul. They were the eyes of someone who had seen, and perhaps caused, unspeakable horrors. The man didn’t move. He couldn’t. He was a seasoned warrior, a veteran of countless battles, yet standing before Zara felt different. There was an undeniable predatory edge to her—a wildness that sent a shiver down his spine.

In stark contrast to his brooding stillness, Zara began to walk forward. Her footsteps were soft, almost casual, yet every step carried the weight of impending doom. Her voice broke the silence with a mocking drawl, sharp as a blade.

"Long time no see. Remember me?" she said, her words dripping with derision. "Of course, you do. You’ve been hiding here for what? Waiting for your men to die so you could swoop in and claim the victory? Pathetic. It’s no wonder your lackeys died so easily. They fought and bled for a coward who wouldn’t dare face me himself."

The boss’s jaw clenched. "What happened to my men?" he growled, though he already feared the answer.

"A few ran away," Zara answered, her tone almost amused. "Most of them weren’t so lucky. My blade took care of the rest. It’s just you and me now, so I hope you don’t disappoint me."

Her words sent a cold chill through the room, but the boss remained stoic. With a grunt, he reached for his axe, still lodged in the wall where his failed strike against Kai had left it. Gripping the handle, he pulled the heavy weapon free with ease, throwing it over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing.

"I won’t," he said, his tone smug despite the grim situation. "In fact, I hope you won’t disappoint me either. They say females of your kind, Beast-kins, only accept those who can defeat them as their Master. So don’t die too quickly, alright? I’ll be sure to take real good care of you."

Zara's lip curled into a smirk. Her voice dropped low, cold as ice. "My apologies, but I'm afraid you're too late for that."

The boss barely had time to register her words before Zara’s figure blurred, moving faster than his eyes could track. In that instant, a violent clash erupted.

The sound of steel clashing against steel rang through the mansion, echoing off the walls as the two warriors engaged in a brutal exchange. Kai, still regaining his breath from the earlier battle, could only watch in awe. He had seen Zara fight before—seen her tear through dozens of bandits as though they were mere children—but this was different. This time, she wasn’t up against a group of lackeys; she was facing a seasoned warrior, one who matched her in sheer strength and years of experience.

The boss swung his heavy axe with the force of a battering ram, each strike causing the walls and floor to shudder under the impact. The massive weapon cleaved through furniture, sending debris flying in all directions. His attacks were relentless, each one aimed with precision to bring Zara down in one devastating blow.

But Zara was no easy target. She moved with the grace of a dancer, weaving between his strikes with almost supernatural agility. Her lithe form twisted and turned, evading the axe by mere inches each time. She wasn’t unscathed, though. The toll of her previous battles was evident—her movements were slower than usual, her breath more labored, and the exhaustion in her body weighed on her. Yet she fought on, unyielding.

In one hand, she wielded a dagger she had picked up from the battlefield, a weapon far too small to face the boss’s axe head-on. But Zara didn’t need brute strength. She darted in and out of the bandit leader’s range, waiting for the perfect moments to strike. When she did, her dagger flashed through the air, slicing through his skin in swift, precise movements.

The boss grunted in pain, but Zara’s strikes, though fast and deadly, weren’t enough to stop him. His wounds closed almost as quickly as they appeared, his terrifying healing ability making each cut seem inconsequential. It was as if his flesh itself refused to accept the damage, knitting together with unnatural speed.

Even with her ferocity, Zara was finding it harder and harder to maintain the upper hand. The room was small and confining, offering little space to maneuver. Every time she dodged one of his swings, she risked being backed into a corner. And while she was fast, the boss was relentless. His strikes didn’t stop, and with each swing, the margin for error grew smaller.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The mansion’s walls bore the marks of their violent confrontation. Cracks ran up the stone, and splinters of wood littered the floor. The once grand room was being systematically destroyed by their battle. And still, neither warrior gave an inch.

Kai watched from the corner, his mind racing. He wanted to help, to join Zara in the fight, but he knew that stepping into the fray would only get him killed. He was no match for the boss, not now. But watching Zara fight, even exhausted, gave him hope. She was holding her own, despite everything.

With one particularly vicious swing, the boss aimed to corner Zara. His axe came down with a thunderous crash, shattering the remnants of a nearby wall and sending debris flying. Zara leaped backward, but the attack had boxed her in. She had nowhere left to run.

The boss grinned, thinking victory was close at hand. But Zara’s eyes narrowed, and in a flash, she moved. She dove forward, not away, ducking under the swing and closing the distance between them. Her dagger flashed again, this time sinking deep into the boss’s side, right between the ribs.

The boss roared in pain, staggering back as blood poured from the wound. This time, the damage was severe. Even his rapid healing struggled to close the gaping tear in his flesh.

Zara smirked, bloodied but unbroken. "Not so tough now, are you?" she taunted, readying herself for the next move.

Eventually, a victor arose between the two warriors, the battle leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The once modest room had been reduced to a ruinous state. Cracked walls stood on the verge of collapse, and debris was strewn everywhere. The devastation had spread to nearby rooms as well, the aftermath of a fierce and unrelenting fight. Flames licked at broken lanterns, their fiery tongues spreading across the wreckage, consuming it as they grow.

Amidst the chaos, Zara stood over the fallen body of the boss, breathing heavily. Her chest rose and fell with the exertion of the battle. Beneath her feet, the fat man lay dead, a dagger buried deep in his eye, the life drained from his once arrogant face.

"That's refreshing... it's finally over," Zara muttered, rubbing her shoulder. Her exhaustion was clear, though her voice remained as cold and detached as ever.

"Um, good job," Kai managed to say, his voice awkward and tinged with fear. He couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine as he glanced at her. Zara was terrifying—there was no denying that. He had watched her take on overwhelming odds, seen her prevail with deadly efficiency. But standing so close to her now, it was hard to ignore the chilling aura that clung to her like a shadow.

Silence fell between them, broken only by the crackling of the growing flames in the distance. Kai shifted uncomfortably. The air was thick with unease, and the weight of the bloodshed hung heavy around them. Desperate to escape the tension, he turned toward the door, intending to leave.

"Where are you going?" Zara's voice cut through the air like a blade, stopping Kai in his tracks.

He hesitated, his back still turned to her. "Where else? To look for Ariella... I told you before, I'm here to rescue someone. Thanks to you, I can finally save her now." He swallowed, his voice faltering slightly. "It's been... nice knowing you, Miss Zara. As I promised, we can break the contract if you want, and go our separate ways."

Kai took a step forward, but before he could reach the stairs, Zara's voice stopped him once more. This time, it carried an unusual, sinister edge.

"Who said you could go?"

Kai froze in place, his heart pounding in his chest. Her footsteps echoed softly behind him, each one making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

"You really are a fool," Zara said, her voice low and mocking. "To go through all of this for a girl you barely know... she's a lucky one. Was it love at first sight? How romantic." There was a bitter, almost envious tone in her words. "If I were to choose a mate... I might choose someone like you."

Before Kai could respond, he felt her bloodied hands wrap around him from behind, her cold fingers pressing against his chest. Her head rested on his shoulder, her breath ghosting against his neck. It was his first time being hugged by a girl, but instead of feeling warmth or excitement, a cold, bone-deep chill settled in his veins. His body tensed, every instinct screaming danger. The scent of blood and death overwhelmed his senses, and his breath hitched as sweat rolled down his forehead.

"Kaiser..." Zara’s voice was a whisper in his ear. "You know, you were my first Master. And I’m glad that it was you."

Her words, so soft and sincere, sent a fresh wave of dread through him. His body locked in place as she continued, her grip around him tightening.

"Unfortunately, I have a very important goal to fulfill, and being bound to someone will only hold me back. I have to break our bond..." Her voice grew darker, more foreboding. "In my clan, women are only taken by males stronger than them. It's sealed through a Sacred Bond. Do you know why?"

Kai shook his head ever so slightly, his throat dry as fear paralyzed him.

"Because if you can't dominate your partner," she whispered, her voice filled with cold certainty, "they will kill you. A death of another is the only way to break the Sacred Bond."

Zara's arms tightened around him even more, and he felt the pressure of her embrace grow unbearable. "Please forgive me, Kai," she said softly, her voice laced with genuine sadness and sincerity.

It felt odd to listen, considering she's killing him.

And then, without warning, everything went black.

It was swift, painless death. Kaiser never even realized what had happened.

**In the Forest:**

Meanwhile, far from the burning mansion, Gabriel and the other surviving escapees ran through the dark forest, the weight of their recent ordeal still heavy on their minds. The cool night air tasted like freedom, but it was tainted with the bitter memories of what they had left behind.

Gabriel glanced back over his shoulder, his mind consumed with thoughts of Kaiser. His dirty, haggard face reflected a mixture of hesitation and concern. The young man who had freed them... where was he now? Did he make it out?

"Worried about that boy?" an older, tough-looking prisoner asked, his gravelly voice breaking Gabriel’s thoughts.

Gabriel nodded somberly, his heart heavy with guilt. He should have stayed... should have helped. But what could he have done against that kind of power?

The older man chuckled dryly, though there was no humor in his voice. "Don’t be," he said. "Trust me, I saw it in his eyes."

Gabriel frowned, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

For a moment, the old prisoner was silent, his face hard and unreadable. Then, in a voice filled with a strange, knowing seriousness, he replied.

"His eyes... they didn’t fear death, like all beings should."