Jhon Lucas's foot was just about to land on the teleportation array when Kephela's sinister whisper broke through the tension.
"You're not getting away," Kephela muttered, a dark smile creeping across her lips.
With a sudden shout, she commanded, "Tharnak! Use Berserk and scoop us all toward the portal!"
Tharnak roared in response. His body surged with raw power, muscles bulging as his eyes glowed red.
The massive orc, standing at 3 meters, charged forward like a battering ram.
In one swift motion, he scooped up his five allies, Rain included, and barreled toward the teleportation array.
The 1st and 2nd-tier soldiers around him panicked as the giant orc smashed through their formation, scattering them like leaves in a storm.
The 7th-tier aura knight, standing as the commander, screamed in desperation, "Stop him! All of you!"
But only one of the 6th-tier aura knights managed to act.
The others were either incapacitated—one lay unconscious, another burned by Rain's corrosive flames, and the third too heavily injured to move.
The remaining knight rushed forward, his speed enhanced by aura, even as his legs strained and his muscles ruptured from the sheer force.
He knew this was his last chance.
The knight closed in, slashing his sword with deadly precision toward Tharnak's ankle. "I'll stop you, beast!"
Kephela's eyes glimmered with satisfaction. "You're a fool if you think you can stop Tharnak," she said, her tone sharp with confidence.
Just as the knight's blade sliced into Tharnak's leg, Kephela was already prepared.
Her hand moved with lightning speed, casting a healing spell that instantly closed the wound.
The orc didn't falter, didn't slow. With a final surge, he stormed through the portal with all his allies—and Jhon Lucas.
The moment they materialized on the other side, Jhon Lucas stumbled forward, wide-eyed and furious. "What the hell just happened?!"
They were no longer inside the castle. Instead, they stood in a dark cave outside the Duke Dom walls.
It was far enough that no reinforcements could reach them in time, not even a 7th-tier aura knight.
Kephela smiled, raising her hand. "Secure him."
From the shadows, a dozen figures in matching robes, each bearing the insignia of the AHS, emerged.
They swiftly surrounded Jhon Lucas, binding him with chains and forcing him to his knees. He struggled, cursing, "You bitch! You think this will stop me?!"
'Oh, keep talking, Lucas. I love that defiance. It makes this all the sweeter. But soon, you'll see how it feels when you're the one broken,' Kephela thought, her eyes glinting dangerously.
Jhon Lucas attempted to activate his Hero ability, but Garvin, the weretiger, snarled. His deep, guttural voice sent chills through the room. "You Racist... always treating beastmen like slaves. Say one more word, and I'll tear you apart."
'Oh Garvin, don't take that joy from me... He deserves every bit of pain, but it will be on my terms,' Kephela mused, her lips curling into a soft, almost serene smile.
Garvin's claws gleamed, ready to strike. But before he could move, Kephela's sweet, melodic voice cut through the air. "STOP."
Garvin hesitated, his fury barely contained. Jhon Lucas smirked, his arrogance returning. "You're making a mistake if you let me finish my spell," he sneered. "Once I'm done, any harm that comes to me will be transferred to the beast women still in the castle."
Kephela's fingers twitched, her gaze locked onto Jhon Lucas. 'You think I care about some beast women? You think I'll let you use that pitiful excuse to escape me from this life? Not this time, you sick piece of filth.'
Kephela smiled, an almost innocent expression on her face as she turned to Rain. 'Do you see me, Rain? I'm still the cute girl you can trust. I would never hurt you, no, not like that filth at your feet.'
"Hey, Rain... use your Body Reconstruction skill on him. Make him as ugly as possible."
Rain's eyes widened in shock, his suspicion confirmed. 'How the fuck does she know my name?' He glared at Kephela, his voice low and full of suspicion, muscles tensing.
Kephela's smile softened even more as she walked toward Rain. Her steps were slow, careful, with her hands clasped behind her back. She stopped right in front of him, leaning in close, her breath brushing his ear. "Code – Baldr Sky," she whispered softly, her voice dripping with sweetness.
Rain's heart raced. 'That phrase…' It was something only he would know, a secret from his time on Earth. His mind reeled. 'Who is she? How could she know that?'
Kephela stepped back and, with a delicate motion, removed her hood. Her robe parted, revealing a sight that nearly took Rain's breath away. Underneath, she wore a Japanese sailor uniform—complete with a red ribbon, a matching skirt, knee-high socks, and white shoes. Her long, golden-blonde hair cascaded down her back, and her vampire-red eyes sparkled with innocent delight.
'Do you like what you see, Rain?' Kephela's thoughts swirled as she beamed at him. 'I'm perfect for you, aren't I? I'll make sure you never need anyone else. Only me.'
Rain's heart pounded. 'She's… perfect.' He blushed, feeling the heat rise to his face. 'More beautiful than any woman I've ever seen… even more stunning than Goddess Tyriel or an Elf like Elsa!' His gaze lingered on her flawless skin, her enchanting eyes.
Kephela smiled softly. 'Yes, keep looking at me. Forget everyone else, Rain. Only I understand you. I'll love you like no one else ever could.'
She looked like one of his favorite characters from a certain visual novel, a character that had once captured his every fantasy. The embodiment of his deepest desires stood before him, real and undeniable.
Kephela nodded knowingly. "You already know the answer. No need to ask."
Rain sighed, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. 'Of course. It's her.'
Jhon Lucas, now bound and powerless, scoffed at the scene unfolding before him. "This is some cringe-worthy shit, you know that? A fucking reunion in the middle of all this?"
Rain chuckled, breaking the tension, and turned his attention back to Jhon Lucas. He wasn't sure how Body Reconstruction would work on someone else, but he placed his hand on Lucas's head, focusing his mana. As he did, a flood of information about Lucas's body entered his mind, and a notification rang in his head.
*Ding! [ Understanding of one's Own magic drastically increased, plus 1 Mana Circle. Mana Circles: 4 ]
Rain's eyes glowed a bright blue as his power surged. He smirked and, without hesitation, transformed Jhon Lucas's body into that of a woman.
Kephela clapped her hands, her laughter light and playful. "Oh, Rain! You're so creative!" she exclaimed, her voice full of admiration. 'Turning him into a girl? I love it... You're everything I've ever wanted. You're perfect. And now I can make him—her—suffer even more.'
She strode forward and tilted her head, smiling sweetly at Johana. "From now on, you're not Jhon Lucas anymore. You're Johana Lucia."
Without warning, she slapped Johana hard across the cheek, the crack of it echoing through the cave. Kephela's eyes gleamed, though her face remained calm and composed. 'How does it feel, Lucas? Do you feel the fear I felt? The pain? This is just the beginning...'
"Behave yourself, bitch, or I'll make you suffer much more."
Johana, still in shock from the gender transformation, stammered, her voice trembling. "W-What... what did you do to me?! How is this possible?!"
Rain watched in awe as Kephela commanded the situation with ruthless grace. "Everyone, group up," Kephela ordered, her voice sweet yet firm. "We're teleporting back to base."
As the group prepared to teleport, Kephela glanced down at Johana with a warm, almost loving smile. 'Don't worry, Rain. I'll make sure she suffers slowly, so you never have to dirty your hands. I'll protect you from everything... and everyone who dares cross us.'
Kephela leans in and whispered to Johana, "I can't wait to see you suffer. But we'll take our time with it."
As the teleportation spell's magic circles began to glow around them, Kephela's thoughts drifted back to the past.
'Jhon Lucas... I could never forget what you did,' she thought, her gaze flickering to the powerless figure of Johana.
A sinister smile curled her lips as she stared at the woman trembling before her.
'In my past life, before I regressed, you betrayed Master Rain. You helped them break him, destroyed everything he cared about... and worst of all, you were part of it,' her thoughts sharpened, her eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction.
She crouched down, brushing a lock of Johana's hair aside, almost tenderly.
'You participated in that... You watched, laughed, and even joined in my torture—my humiliation,' she thought, the memory igniting a rage deep within her.
She rose to her feet, hands calmly smoothing her skirt, as if the past no longer bothered her.
'The moment your hands touched me, Lucas, you sealed your fate. I swore, when I came back, I'd make you suffer the way you made me suffer,' Kephela thought, her smile widening.
She tilted her head, eyes locked on Johana's fearful expression.
'Every scream, every tear... it's all repayment. But Rain doesn't need to know about this. He doesn't need to see the monster you turned me into,'
Kephela's thoughts softened as she glanced over at Rain, her expression shifting into a more gentle one.
'For him, I'll always be perfect. But for you, Lucas... I'll be your worst nightmare,' she finished, her hand brushing Johana's cheek lightly before she stood up again, ready for the next step.