Alexandra slowly raised her hand.
The air around her changed.
The wind stopped moving.
The people watching from the road felt a strange pressure on their bodies. Some of them fell to their knees. Others quickly ran into their houses and closed their doors.
The huge warrior noticed everything.
His eyes narrowed.
"So, you are not ordinary."
Alexandra said nothing.
She moved her hand toward the sword on her back.
The warrior tightened his grip on his massive weapon.
"Come on, girl."
He smiled.
"Show me what you can do."
Alexandra pulled the sword from her back.
The moment the blade came out, a sharp sound moved through the village.
The warrior's smile grew wider.
"A sword?"
He looked at the weapon in her hand.
"That small thing is what you plan to use against me?"
Alexandra looked at her sword.
Then she looked at him.
"It has never failed me."
The warrior laughed.
"Then today will be your first lesson."
He suddenly rushed forward.
His speed was shocking for someone so large.
The ground broke under his feet as he swung his weapon toward Alexandra.
BOOM!
The weapon struck the road.
Alexandra had already moved.
She appeared behind him without making a sound.
The warrior quickly turned around and swung again.
Alexandra bent backward.
The huge blade passed over her face and cut through the air.
She stepped forward and struck his stomach with the handle of her sword.
BANG!
The warrior moved back several steps.
His armor shook.
But he did not fall.
He looked down at his stomach.
Then he looked at Alexandra.
"That was a good hit."
Alexandra's eyes narrowed.
The warrior suddenly disappeared.
A second later, he appeared above her.
His weapon came down with great force.
Alexandra raised her sword.
CLANG!
The two weapons crashed together.
The force pushed Alexandra across the road.
Her feet dragged against the ground, leaving deep lines behind her.
The warrior pressed harder.
"Is that all?"
Alexandra looked up at him.
"No."
She suddenly released one hand from her sword.
Then she reached toward his chest.
The warrior quickly jumped backward.
He landed heavily on the ground.
His face had changed.
He remembered what happened when she tried to touch him earlier.
He did not know what her touch could do.
Alexandra lowered her hand.
"Why did you move away?"
The warrior's eyes became cold.
"I don't allow strangers to touch me."
"Afraid?"
His face darkened.
"Don't mistake caution for fear."
Alexandra smiled.
"Then stop running."
The warrior roared and rushed at her again.
This time, he moved even faster.
He swung his weapon from the side.
Alexandra blocked it.
The force pushed her into a nearby building.
CRASH!
The wall broke apart.
Dust filled the air.
People screamed and ran farther away.
The warrior stood in the middle of the road.
"Did you really think you could stop me?"
A shadow moved inside the broken building.
Alexandra walked out of the dust.
Her clothes were slightly torn.
But her body was not injured.
The warrior stared at her.
His eyes widened.
"You took that attack directly."
Alexandra brushed dust from her shoulder.
"It wasn't strong enough."
The warrior's face became serious.
For the first time, he stopped smiling.
He lifted his weapon and placed both hands on it.
A dark red aura began to rise around his body.
The air became hot.
The road beneath him cracked.
The people watching from their windows quickly hid.
Alexandra felt the change.
"So you were holding back."
The warrior's voice became deeper.
"My name is Dargan."
He raised his weapon.
"I am an A-Class warrior."
The red aura around him grew stronger.
"Many demons have fallen before me. Many warriors have begged for their lives."
He pointed his weapon at Alexandra.
"And you will be no different."
Alexandra stared at him.
Then she slowly smiled.
"An A-Class warrior?"
Dargan nodded.
"Yes."
"That explains why you talk so much."
Dargan's expression turned angry.
He moved.
This time, Alexandra could feel the force behind his attack before he even reached her.
Dargan swung his weapon with all his strength.
The blade tore through the road.
Alexandra jumped over it.
But Dargan twisted his body and kicked toward her while she was still in the air.
His foot struck her side.
BANG!
Alexandra flew across the street and crashed into a stone wall.
The wall broke into pieces.
Dargan stood still, breathing heavily.
"Now stay down."
For a moment, everything became quiet.
Dargan watched the broken wall.
He expected to see blood.
He expected to see the girl unable to move.
But then he heard footsteps.
Alexandra stepped out from behind the broken stones.
Her face was calm.
There was no blood.
No fear.
Not even anger.
Dargan stared at her.
"What are you?"
Alexandra looked at him.
"Someone who is becoming tired of you."
She raised her sword.
Dargan's hands tightened around his weapon.
He had fought many strong enemies.
He had faced demons.
He had even survived battles against powerful beings.
But he had never met someone like her.
She was not simply strong.
Something about her was wrong.
Her body felt human.
But the power around her did not.
Dargan suddenly felt a warning inside his heart.
He should run.
He should leave the village immediately.
But his pride refused to let him move.
He roared and rushed forward.
Alexandra waited.
Dargan swung his weapon toward her head.
At the last moment, Alexandra stepped to the side.
The weapon missed.
She moved behind him and placed two fingers against his back.
Dargan froze.
His eyes widened.
"What are you—?"
Alexandra whispered.
"Sleep."
A strange force entered his body.
Dargan's muscles suddenly stopped working.
His weapon fell from his hands.
CLANG!
He tried to move.
He could not.
His knees shook.
"What did you do to me?"
Alexandra walked around him.
"Nothing serious."
Dargan struggled to turn his head.
"Release me!"
Alexandra looked at him.
"You should have listened when I asked you to stop."
Dargan forced his body to move.
His red aura exploded around him.
The force pushed Alexandra backward.
Dargan broke free from the strange power and quickly jumped away.
He landed on one knee.
His breathing became rough.
Alexandra looked surprised.
"You resisted."
Dargan slowly stood.
"I don't know what kind of trick you used..."
He wiped sweat from his forehead.
"But it won't work again."
Alexandra tilted her head.
"Are you sure?"
Dargan's aura became darker.
He raised his weapon once more.
But before he could attack, the sky above the village suddenly changed.
The clouds began to twist.
A deep sound came from the forest.
BOOOOOOM!
Everyone looked up.
Alexandra stopped smiling.
Dargan also looked toward the sky.
A black mark appeared among the clouds.
It looked like a giant eye.
The eye slowly opened.
A cold voice spread across the village.
"Alexandra..."
She stood still.
Her eyes became cold.
She knew that voice.
It was not Maximus.
But it belonged to someone who knew her name.
Dargan looked at her.
"You know that voice?"
Alexandra did not answer.
The black eye in the sky moved.
Then the voice spoke again.
"Stop searching for Maximus."
Alexandra's grip tightened around her sword.
The villagers watched in fear.
Dargan slowly stepped backward.
The voice continued.
"Or the next village will not survive."
The black eye disappeared.
The sky returned to normal.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Alexandra stared at the empty sky.
Then she slowly lowered her sword.
Dargan looked at her.
"Who was that?"
Alexandra turned toward the forest.
Her face showed no fear.
Only anger.
Someone had been watching her.
Someone knew where she was going.
And someone had just threatened innocent people to stop her.
Alexandra began walking toward the forest.
Dargan quickly picked up his weapon.
"Wait!"
Alexandra did not stop.
Dargan ran after her.
"Where are you going?"
Alexandra finally turned her head.
"To find the person who sent that message."
Dargan looked toward the forest.
"You cannot go alone."
Alexandra's eyes became sharp.
"I never asked you to follow me."
Dargan placed his weapon on his shoulder.
"After what I just saw, I want to know what you really are."
Alexandra stared at him.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Follow me if you want."
She turned and continued walking.
"But if you slow me down..."
Her voice became cold.
"I will leave you behind."
Dargan followed her into the forest.
Neither of them noticed the small black mark forming on a tree behind them.
A dark eye opened on the bark.
And somewhere far away...
Someone was watching.
To be continued...