When Albatross was captured, his body was already covered in wounds.
Nicholas nonchalantly twirled the sharp knife in his hand, flicking at a pendant around his neck that resembled a button.
"You could've slashed me with a knife earlier, but you gave up because of this pendant. Why?"
Albatross, with an expression that showed he had no fear of death, ignored Nicholas.
Nicholas sneered and thrust the knife directly into Albatross's pinned palm, blood pouring out.
The fingers are connected to the heart, and Nicholas kept twisting the knife, intensifying the pain.
Albatross couldn't help but let out a howl of pain, then bit his lip so hard he drew blood, refusing to show any weakness.
"It's from Arabella, isn't it?" Nicholas twisted the knife, smiling but with a cold, hidden resentment. "You think you deserve to carry something from Arabella?"
Albatross endured the pain, bit through his lips, and spat a mouthful of blood, saying to Nicholas, "Do you deserve it? Hiding in the shadows, scheming like a rat."
Nicholas didn't get angry; instead, he laughed. He pulled out the knife from Albatross's palm, the bloodstained blade tapping Albatross's face. "Who was it that cooperated with me back then? Wasn't it you? Now that you've been to Arabella's bed, you think you're entitled to stay forever? Is it just because of your pretty face? — If that face were ruined, I wonder if you'd still make it to Arabella's bed?"
Albatross struggled in fear, his skills with his hands and feet certainly not bad. Even with several people holding him down, they couldn't stop his desperate movements.
But he couldn't fight Nicholas.
Ordinary people wouldn't be able to move as quickly or skillfully. This kind of ability and level, it reminded him of Raven.
But was there anyone like Nicholas on the individual combat ranking?
He had no memory of him at all.
When Nicholas kicked Albatross to the ground, he covered his chest, spitting out the blood that had pooled in his lungs, and couldn't help but ask once more, "Are you someone from the rankings?"
With a look of intrigued amusement, Nicholas glanced back at him and nodded, then, towering over him, he placed a foot firmly on Albatross's chest and reached to remove the pendant from his neck.
Albatross, already battered and bloodied, saw Nicholas's intent to take the trinket, and in that split second, a surge of explosive strength erupted from him. He slammed his head into Nicholas's chest with all his might. In that same moment, Nicholas retracted his leg, aiming a kick at Albatross's head, but Albatross twisted his body and locked his arms around Nicholas's waist, crashing them both into the nearby wall.
However, true masters do not rely on brute force alone. As a member of the combat rankings, Nicholas's skills were both precise and swift. Using Albatross's momentum against him, Nicholas did not falter; he smoothly grabbed both of Albatross's arms, then with a powerful twist, crushed both of his scapulae with ease.
Albatross let out a scream of pain, his hand instantly losing strength, but he gritted his teeth and, using inertia, still tried to force Nicholas toward the wall.
"Overestimating yourself." Nicholas snorted coldly and easily freed himself with a swift push, stepping on Albatross's shoulders to nimbly flip over and avoid the impact.
However, to his surprise, Albatross didn't stop, and instead charged headfirst toward the wall.
Nicholas turned and immediately planted both feet on the ground, leaning back and pulling Albatross toward him with a forceful grip, then slammed him onto the ground, holding him down with one hand around his neck.
"Want to die?" Nicholas looked down, his smile cold and sinister. He hooked his fingers to snatch the pendant from Albatross's neck, studying it for a moment before letting out a loud, mocking laugh. "No wonder Arabella was willing to rush into the encirclement to save this dog, Raven. You couldn't bear to press it, huh? Let me help you press it."
"No!" Albatross, who had been beaten to a bloody pulp and had his arm broken without uttering a cry of pain, screamed desperately.
He regretted it, he had never been able to destroy it, because it might be the only piece of warmth he had ever received from Arabella in his life.
There would be no more chances after this.
*
They couldn't take the Port in Kewa anymore, so Taras led his group to take a detour to an abandoned dock in Island.
There, he had already prepared the boats. With only a few people, it would be no problem for Arabella to leave.
However, he didn't expect that there would be an additional group from Ferdinand, making it too late to prepare the boats.
Ferdinand naturally prioritized Arabella above all else.
"Take your people and leave first," Ferdinand said, Arabella's expression dark as she walked alongside Taras, her steps slow and deliberate, not acknowledging Ferdinand's words.
As they neared the abandoned dock, Taras signaled his men to pull out the hidden speedboats.
But Arabella suddenly stopped, her sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings. In an instant, like a panther, she tackled Taras, sending him crashing to the ground.
In the instant they crashed to the ground, deafening explosions erupted in quick succession, sending stones flying and raising a cloud of dust around them.
Ferdinand and Raven, walking behind, were less affected by the blast.
Raven's skills were exceptional. When Arabella charged forward, he immediately coordinated with her, grabbing Ferdinand and pulling him down to the ground in an open area.
After the violent tremors, Raven was the first to rise and look toward Arabella.
But Arabella had already gotten to her feet. Amidst the smoke, her back was straight, her posture tall and slender, like a monstrous flower had bloomed amidst the flames of war, defying all forces and blooming fiercely, unyielding to a hundred attempts to force it closed.
However, Taras, still sitting on the ground, shaking off the dust from his body, shouted, "Arabella, you're bleeding!"
"Mm—" Arabella responded nonchalantly to Taras, casually wiping the bloodstain from her forehead, her gaze fixed on the approaching army that was steadily closing in.
"Master Unknown! How do you like the second warm-up event?"
The loudspeakers mounted on the military armored vehicle blared with Julius's voice, but his figure was nowhere to be seen—he was clearly remotely commanding the army.
"Damn it, coward!" Taras rose, still feeling the ringing in his ears, the sound of Julius's voice from the loudspeaker becoming more grating with each passing moment.
Arabella smiled as she looked ahead at the sea of black, though she remained wary of any snipers that might be lurking.
Raven pressed close, whispering, "Master Unknown, the area is surrounded by Pujivang's troops. It's difficult to break out."
Arabella nodded, nearly whispering in Raven's ear, "There's a tank in the distance. I can hear the sound."
Julius's voice continued from the loudspeakers: "Master Unknown! I just want to ask you to take your people to the prison for a walk. If you surrender and drop your weapons now, I guarantee everyone's safety."
Taras couldn't stand it anymore and muttered angrily, "You're talking nonsense."
He raised his hand, ready to shoot the loudspeaker, but Arabella stopped him with a raised hand.
"What? You want to waste a bullet at a time like this?"
Taras was caught off guard by her question and fell silent, then asked in frustration, "What should we do? The ground here is all open, and with so few of us, breaking through will be difficult."
Arabella smiled faintly, glancing around at all the men, and then asked with a hint of a smile, "You want to live?"
Taras's eyes lit up; he knew Arabella always had a way.
Looking back now, there were millions of women in this world, each with their own uniqueness and beauty.
But Arabella was one of a kind.
Because she was powerful enough, her confidence was unshakable. She never resorted to bluffing or empty threats.
This absolute strength, the way she carried herself, was exactly what attracted him and made him unwilling to let go.
"Raven, keep their attention occupied. I'll go take the tank."
Arabella gave the command calmly, swiftly loading her gun and opening fire with a barrage.
After the shooting, she leaped forward. Raven's coordination was seamless, blocking her retreating figure while covering her with gunfire.
Taras and Ferdinand quickly formed a human shield, preparing to resist to the death.
