Angela's Perspective
Everything came to a halt for a brief instant. Angela's heart, her mind, even the breath in her lungs. Gazing at the silhouette appearing from the darkness, she saw her partner, or what remained of him. The man who broke her heart and destroyed her life. The man who had dismissed her easily, caused her to feel shattered and solitary.
Now, he faced her with hollow eyes, his form contorted by the influence of the Alpha King. The scar on his skin revealed all she had to understand. He was not the man she used to love. He was merely a puppet, a pawn in the twisted game of the Alpha King.
"Ronan..." Angela whispered, her voice barely heard above the thumping of her heart.
Ronan's eyes met hers, devoid of warmth or emotion. His eyes showed no sign of acknowledgment, no glimpse of the person she used to recognize. He had become simply a weapon, created by the Alpha King to destroy her.
His words lingered in her thoughts: You are the one to confront him. Let's find out if you can make it through him.
Outlive him. The words' significance sank deep into her chest like a heavy stone. This was more than just an evaluation of her physical power. This was a battle to survive.
Ronan advanced cautiously, moving deliberately and slowly, as though he was enjoying the moment. His sharp claws shone brightly under the torch's light, poised for attack. He was certain, without any hesitation or doubt. His intention was to end her life.
Recalling their memories together made Angela's throat feel constricted - his laughter, his grin, the comforting way he embraced her during tough times. At one time, she had given her all in love to him. However, he was now just a shadow of his former self, a distorted alternative version of his potential.
She couldn't allow those memories to affect her decision-making. Not at this moment.
Her fingers gripped the hilt of her knife tighter, finding comfort in the cold steel. This is what it had led to. She needed to take the life of the man who had once been her whole world. There was no alternate option.
"Angela," Kael's voice cut through the turbulent thoughts in her mind, sharp and full of caution. "We must relocate."
However, she remained stationary. She was unable to do so. She stood still as Ronan slowly walked towards her, never taking his eyes off of hers. The heaviness of their past burdened them, thick and suffocating. For years, she had fantasized about this moment - reuniting with him and holding him accountable for the harm he had caused her. However, she had never envisioned it being this way.
"Angela, he is different," Kael repeated, moving closer with urgency in his voice. "You are aware of that."
"I understand," she murmured, her voice strained. "But that doesn't mean it's any less difficult."
The atmosphere felt increasingly dense as time went by. Angela gasped in short, shallow breaths as Ronan's footsteps closed in, his aura dominating the space. She sensed the heaviness of his authority, the ominous force that had overtaken him. He was more than just a pawn in the Alpha King's scheme—he was a weapon, created to annihilate her.
"Angela," Nathaniel said in a cold and indifferent voice, breaking the tension.
He will continue. You can choose between two options. Either engage in combat or face death.
Engage in combat or face death.
Her fingers shook as she held the handle of her sword, feeling the gravity of those words. This was a battle to stay alive. She no longer considered Ronan to be her partner. He was a foe. And adversaries needed to be addressed.
Angela inhaled deeply, making herself set aside the emotions that were overwhelming her chest. She couldn't afford to show any sign of vulnerability. Absent from this location. Not at this moment.
Looking at Ronan one more time, she finally made up her mind.
She was ready to engage in combat.
Ronan sped up as he approached her, his claws outstretched and poised to shred her. Angela held the knife tightly and prepared herself. As soon as he was close enough, she took action.
Bending down, she dodged his initial attack, then cut his side with her sword. Her blade connected, slicing through skin, yet Ronan remained unfazed. He swung once more, with increased speed, and Angela narrowly avoided the attack, sensing the breeze as his claws almost touched her face.
She felt a surge of adrenaline as her heart raced while trying to keep pace with his relentless assaults. This wasn't the Ronan she had in mind. This was something much more risky, much more potent. He moved with accuracy, targeting each strike for a lethal outcome.
Angela dodged another aggressive swipe by rolling to the side and quickly got back on her feet, breathing heavily. She could sense the burden of the fight bearing down on her, yet she remained resolute. She was unable to.
With a swift movement, she flung her knife towards his chest. Ronan moved quicker than she expected, deflecting the blade with a quick movement of his wrist. Suddenly, he was right beside her.
His hand gripped her throat, effortlessly raising her from the ground in a frightening manner. Angela let out a gasp, her eyes losing focus as her breathing was restricted. She scratched his hand desperately in an attempt to break away, but he held on tightly.
This was the end. Her impending death was inevitable.
Suddenly, a quick movement caught her attention unexpectedly. Kael.
He collided with Ronan, causing him to lose his stability and let go of Angela . While Kael and Ronan were fighting, she dropped to the floor, coughing and struggling to breathe. Their bodies crashed together with claws and teeth flying, filling the chamber with their growls.
Angela got up, her heart still pounding. She could not simply remain in this spot. She needed to complete this task.
Kael was able to keep up with Ronan for now, but it was evident that he wouldn't be able to continue much longer. Ronan possessed an excessive amount of strength and speed. If she didn't take action immediately, it would be finished.
She noticed her knife on the ground a couple of feet from her and reached out for it, grasping the handle with her fingers. Using all her remaining power, she sprinted towards Ronan, her sword pointed towards his chest.
Just as time was running out, Ronan suddenly shifted his gaze, meeting hers with a determined look. Briefly, there was a flicker of almost human emotion in his eyes. But suddenly it disappeared, exchanged for the icy, emotionless gaze of a murderer.
Angela didn't think twice.
She plunged the blade into his chest, causing him to be pushed back by the strength of the attack. Ronan struggled and twitched as the knife with a silver tip inflicted its damage on his body. Angela noticed a hint of the man she once loved as his eyes widened in shock for a moment.
However, it was already too late.
Ronan fell to the ground, his body convulsing before becoming motionless. Angela stood tall beside him, her chest rising and falling heavily, feeling the burden of her recent actions like a thick coat draped over her.
It had come to an end.
Or at least, that's what she believed.
A cold, mocking slow applause reverberated in the chamber. Angela 's head jerked up, her gaze narrowing as Nathaniel emerged from the darkness, a malicious grin forming on his mouth.
"Good job," he said mockingly, sarcasm evident in his voice. "You successfully completed my small examination."
Angela felt her blood boiling, her body trembling with anger. This was not an examination. "You exploited him."
Nathaniel's grin grew even wider. "Definitely, I did." You must discover your own capabilities through personal experience. "Now you are aware."
Angela advanced a step, her hands tightly closed by her hips. "You will suffer consequences for that."
Nathaniel tilted his head, his eyes sparkled with amusement. Maybe. However, today is not the day.
Before she had a chance to reply, the doors of the temple suddenly flew open with a loud noise, and a person entered the room.
Angela 's heart came to a halt when she made eye contact with the stranger.
The Alpha King was present.