The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The members of the Nine Mystics Society had already arrived, and Thomas, along with his crew, had broken free from the clutches of the dark-cloaked adversaries. The remaining foes were left to the capable hands of the Emerald Mountain's senior brothers.

Not far off, the sky darkened ominously as a group of dark-cloaked figures appeared once more, their sights set determinedly on Vivienne.

The Nine Mystics Society positioned themselves in a defensive formation, ready for both attack and defense.

Vivienne, however, was fixated on the looming crowd ahead.

There, amidst them, was her true target.

A wave of energy morphed into existence from the air, aiming straight for her vitals.

Percival, ever vigilant, wrapped an arm around Vivienne's waist and dodged the assault with ease.

A woman in red, her figure shrouded in mystery and her face hidden behind a veil, appeared before Vivienne. Despite the disguise, Vivienne recognized her instantly. "Abigail!"

Vivienne's voice was firm, leaving no room for retort.

The woman chuckled behind her hand, her voice dripping with seduction, "Vivienne, we finally meet."

Vivienne scoffed, "Haven't we already met before?"

Ignoring her, the woman in red flicked her crimson nails, signaling the dark-cloaked figures, "Her powers are beneath you. Capture her for me. I want her to watch as her loved ones perish before her eyes."

With that, an attack was launched at Percival.

Hearing this, Vivienne's expression darkened.

She had guessed right; Abigail's vendetta was against Mr. Wolf.

Following her command, a dark-cloaked figure aimed a vicious blow at Vivienne.

Vivienne raised her hand in a mere gesture, and the assailant's power dispersed into the air, rendered useless.

Shocked, a raspy voice emerged from beneath the mask, "Your powers exceed the fifth rank?"

Vivienne smirked, "Fifth rank? That was me half a year ago."

her

mere fifth-rank power user was

upon receiving that message, the outcome

assailant attacked again, only to have his power extinguished mid-transformation by

followed was a blow of full force from the seventh

dark-cloaked figure was sent flying,

spared him no second

incapacitated by a

and Abigail were

to this formidable adversary who

Fair is fair.

toe-to-toe with Mr. Wolf, whose powers neared the tenth rank, Abigail's strength was indeed monstrous. A pity she was a

Vivienne would have been intrigued to bring her back to the lab for a collaborative study

suddenly. Vivienne squinted, hurrying to Percival's

woman's garments fluttered as she traced an arc in

"Vivienne, be careful."

though Vivienne felt the near miss on

"The Spirit Suppression Pill has lost its

breaking through to the tenth rank," Percival wiped a trace of blood from his lip, his handsome face clouded with

their wedding day. To have their celebration

up with a spark of intrigue, "Mr. Wolf, remember the move we

reached the heights of the tenth rank, facing a barrier-breaker

not even a barrage of bombs or a path of fire and brimstone,

been a while since we

you can stop me? Neither of you will leave

gaze darkening as she flicked her fingertips, sending a

of her head, dismissing Vivienne's tactics as child's play, "Such naive tricks are

fierce palm strike at Percival, her tone full of arrogant certainty, "Only with your death can I truly savor

with Abigail, he stood unyielding, "A person of limited talent dares

itself as she attacked with even greater ferocity, clearly agitated, "What does it matter?

beauty and

it not been for her method of absorbing others' strengths, she couldn't have even dreamt of reaching the realm of

she killed enough power users, their abilities would effortlessly