Glowing talismans lined the newly revealed edges of side alleys, the elaborate markings on their surface not only showing their value but that they were designed to confuse the senses.

Yet Nyx didn't pay the shining, almost radiant talismans any attention.

This wasn't her first time walking into an ambush, and while she was slightly surprised to see such talismans in the lowest continent, her peripheral had already locked onto something much stranger in the new arrivals hands.

While the giant warrior held a short sword in one hand, in the other, just like the man Nyx assumed to be a mage and the ranger, were high grade, beast enslavement collars.

Suddenly the words Nyx had overheard while assassinating her previous targets, ones that had left her thoroughly confused as they didn't seem logical or even possible, as well as the strange feelings and emotions she had been suffering from, started to make sense.

-"But... I'm human? Or at least this is a human body... Isn't it?"

Nyx's emotionless mask slightly cracked as her face violently twitched, having yet another thought that challenged her sense of identity, causing her to violently kick off the ground and follow the retreating elf with all her might.

Though elves were renowned for their speed and agility, the woman had been surprised and forced to jump backwards significantly hampering her speed. However, Nyx didn't have the best starting point either, and while both gave it their best, one trying to flee while the other chased, the distance between them, around four foot, remained.

Bitterness flashed across the elf's eyes as she realised that if she hadn't wasted time kicking the bin and instead, retreated, she would have gotten enough distance to be relatively safe.

Time seemed too slow for the elf as she stared into Nyx's eyes, yet she didn't become absent-minded like the others and continued to stretch her head and chest back, in an attempt to gain more distance, as she tried to move her weapons across her chest so she could defend her vital spots.

Nyx's cold, predatory eyes watched the elf's movements with contempt, noting that the actions were severely hindered due to the angle and momentum of her body, before revealing a savage, almost feral grin.

The drastic change in her opponents countenance startled the elf, causing her to hesitate for a mere second, but that was more than enough for Nyx to strike.

While Nyx believed she could land a fatal blow if she were willing to push herself, she knew that doing so would put herself at a disadvantage as the elf's comrades were rapidly approaching.

Nyx also understood that it would be impossible, with her current strength, to kill them all without anyone noticing, limiting her options significantly.

However, as it seemed that the mercenaries didn't want to alert others and were still confident of their victory, Nyx couldn't help but to subconsciously fall back into her old mindset, the one that had resulted in her obtaining so many infamous names.

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If Nyx couldn't kill something outright, she would break it. If she couldn't break it, she would traumatise it so much that not only would it be no longer a threat, that it would serve as an example to others.

Dark shadows erupted from the skin on her right hand and wrist, the speed that the essence condensed shocking not only Nyx but the Elf, and quickly consolidated into the appearance of a demonic hand.

Sharp, serrated edges lined the claw's nails and at the back of each joint protruded intimidating, vicious-looking spikes.

Without giving the elf a chance to recover, Nyx's hand flashed forward, leaving a shadowy-smoke trail in its wake.

Moments later, a scream full of pain and anguish erupted from the elf's throat as blood sprayed into the air.

As the elf instinctively released her daggers, moving her hand's to cover her face, the glow in Nyx's eyes seemed to flash with bloodlust.

However, as fast as it appeared, it vanished, and Nyx's eyes returned to their usual glow.

Nyx's hands stretched out and attempted to grab the falling daggers, only to discover that while she had succeeded with her left, the one that had been shrouded in shadow essence, had failed. This was due to its sharp, blade-like protrusions and claws, stopping it from being able to grasp correctly.

Nyx growled in anger, though if it were at any other place not filled with blood and wretched screams, would have sounded somewhat cute and feminine.

While she was impressed with the increase in her manifestation ability, being able to condence essence around her body into a physical form, she knew it would never be as strong or sharp as a high-quality blade, especially if it had been enchanted.

Startled by their companions sudden, agonised, scream, the others flinched and momentarily halted their advance. Nevertheless, they were silver ranked mercenaries and had a wealth of combat experience so quickly regained their minds.

With a thunderous stomp, its strength far more than a regular cultivator could achieve without using an ability or skill, the hulking warrior burst forward at an incredible speed, leaving the two men and wolf behind.

Grabbing the shoulder of the screaming elf, who was still hurtling backwards, the warrior flung her behind him, relying on his allies to catch, before slashing his short sword at Nyx's rapidly approaching head.

A loud, metallic clang rang outwards as the warrior staggered back a few steps before regaining his stance while Nyx was sent back almost double the distance, the sudden reversal of her momentum causing her insides to twist and turn uncomfortable, even suffering a small amount of internal damage.

Nyx's eyes, her face once again emotionless, quickly flittered to the dagger held in her now aching hand and noticed the large crack that had appeared on its surface.

Tilting her head in thought, taking a small moment to suppress and redirect the essence in her body that had been thrown into disarray due to the confrontation, Nyx's eyes slightly narrowed as she looked at the warrior standing between her and his companions.

The corner of her lips slightly twitched, displaying that her mask was no were near as impervious to her moods as it had once been.

The warrior before Nyx was apparently on the verge of condensing his core and breaking into the Gem realm, becoming a being that could be considered amongst the apex in the fourth continent.

However, even if this was the case, in Nyx's eyes, the man's fate, without any power armour and clearly too poor to have life-saving treasures, was as good as sealed.

Nyx tilted her body slightly to the left, allowing her to see past the man and to his comrades that had caught the flying elf and were attempting to apply first aid.

"Game, set, match." No longer able to restrain herself, a terrifying, tooth filled smile appeared on Nyx's face. It was time to let the world know, without a shadow of a doubt, that Nyx was back.