Seeing such brutality for the first time, Sis was terrified. Though she kept casting Palm Thunder, not a single strike hit the petite woman.
*Sigh… still just a little girl.* Thunder shook his head inwardly. Mercy had no place in survival. He'd never killed anyone before, but he knew hesitation now would be fatal.
Just as he was about to command the axeman to finish off the woman, a sharp *twang* cut through the air.
An arrow? Thunder recognized the sound instantly. Before he could warn the others, the charging axeman stumbled, nearly collapsing. A quick glance revealed an arrow piercing clean through his ankle.
*There's an archer hidden nearby?!*
The axeman was tough—despite the wound, he didn't make a sound, staggering forward and raising his axe to strike.
But Thunder felt it—the moment the arrow hit, his **Shadow Domination** wavered. The pain must have jolted the man's consciousness awake.
The petite woman, still trapped in the Paralyzing Net, moved sluggishly, her wide, tear-filled eyes locked on Thunder just three feet away. Pleading. Terrified. She didn't understand what was happening, but she knew—this man was behind it.
"Take cover! There's an archer!" Thunder yelled, maneuvering the axeman to shield himself.
Everything had happened too fast. The archer must've been caught off guard, only reacting after two of the Silver Serpents were already dead. The first arrow had aimed to cripple the axeman—the next would target them.
From the bowstring's snap, Thunder pinpointed the archer's position. Sure enough, the second arrow streaked toward his head—only to thud into the axeman's neck instead.
The burly man convulsed, then collapsed, howling in pain. **Shadow Domination** shattered.
Freed from the mental strain, Thunder quickly cast another Paralyzing Net on the woman.
Just as she was about to break free, her limbs locked up again—this time, completely immobile.
Thunder studied her—petite yet voluptuous, strikingly beautiful. Then he raised his hand and closed it around her throat.
"No…" She shook her head weakly, tears streaming, voice trembling.
Who could've imagined the Silver Serpents, so dominant moments ago, would end like this? Two dead, one at death's door—and this man clearly wasn't done.
"Please… I'll do anything," she sobbed, regret thick in her voice.
Thunder sighed. His grip tightened slightly as mana surged through his palm.
***Crack—***
A burst of condensed lightning, sharp as a blade, pierced straight through her throat. Blood sprayed. The sparks faded. A flower withered.
His hand dripped crimson. The life in her once-lively eyes vanished.
Another *twang* echoed. Thunder ducked behind her corpse, then exploded into motion with **Celestial Master's Agile Steps**, zigzagging toward the archer's position.
The hidden archer flinched in shock. *Since when do magic apprentices move like this?!* That speed rivaled even seasoned rogues.
Panic set in, but instinct took over. After seeing how ruthlessly this man had killed their scout, the archer knew surrender meant death.
A dagger flashed out, stabbing toward Thunder.
Still new to the **Agile Steps**, Thunder nearly impaled himself on the blade, barely twisting aside in time.
With most talismans spent, his only weapons now were three basic spells.
Timing it perfectly, Thunder unleashed a **Paralyzing Net** at point-blank range.
No one dodged this close. The archer stiffened as crackling currents locked their limbs.
The spell worked by disrupting nerve signals—its duration depended on the target's physique.
*Palm Thunder* was too messy. Thunder opted for **Call Lightning** instead.
But as he stepped back, the archer's eyes gleamed with malice. The dagger thrust toward his gut.
Thunder barely dodged. *What the hell?!* His **Paralyzing Net** never failed—why now?
Reacting fast, he blasted a **Palm Thunder** into the archer's chest. The shock sent them tumbling, but they scrambled up almost instantly, only a trickle of blood at their lips before bolting.
*No way. One **Palm Thunder** didn't kill them?* Something was wrong.
Fleeing from the **Agile Steps** was futile. Thunder caught up easily and struck again.
Maria and the others stood frozen, listening to the distant crackle of spells—then silence.
They exchanged uneasy glances, ignoring the axeman's dying gasps.
Finally, Thunder emerged from the trees, dragging a ragged corpse by the ankle. Dried blood crusted the archer's neck. The sight was chilling.
**Who—or what—made that archer resist the paralyzing spell?**