Unexpected enemy.

The redheaded woman, who used to be lorra and is now Hyera, stared at him with rage.

"Why did you do that!? It isn't enough that you're using overload, but you also have to unleash a second attack and make that wound bleed like a damn waterfall!?"

Lazaro looked at her smiling, "Becca, you just came back, you shouldn't be this agitated."

"Becca your head! Why woul-" She didn't finish speaking as she saw his wound, it looked serious but it wasn't bleeding as it should.

"I have total control of my muscles, I' won't bleed to death as long as I'm conscious," Lazaro said noticing her gaze.

She clenched her teeth, "Even so! All the progress you made until now will be for nothing, and your state will be worst than when you arrived here. The quality of your muscles dropped to almost a common hum-Ugh!"

Hyera grunted and kneeled holding her chest. "Damn, I need some time to adapt to this body."

Her eyes reddening she stared at him. "Do not do any more bullshit, And I want my armor back!" She yelled and fell unconscious.

Lazaro sighed and caressed her forehead. "Poor thing, ger fever made her delirious."

Lazaro took her on his shoulder and left her beside Larissa, who was staring at him with a complicated gaze. He turned his eyes to Lila and examined her state, as if she was never hurt in the first place, her heart and lungs were healed. Her breathing was tranquil and unperturbed.

He turned to Larissa and extended his finger to her forehead.

"My part of the deal."

Her eyes trembled and she shook her head. "We're even."

Lazaro gazed at her "Why?"

"I-" She started, but stopped as she gazed at him in the eyes, then turned her gaze and spoke indifferently while examining Hyera.

"The woman inside Lila warned me you'd die if you continued, and told me to stop you. I chose to use you instead."

She tried to enter Hyera's body, but her essence was repelled by a fiery red essence. She tried again as silence settled between them.

"Haha" Lazaro chuckled."You're so sweet."

Larissa's eyes twitched

Lazaro stood beside Liza

"Who's this girl?"

Larissa looked up at him, her indifferent gaze exuded coldness and callousness.

"One of my kidnappers, the bees got in my way, so I paralyze them to torture later."

She spoke especially bluntly while measuring every twitch on his smiling face.

The corners of his smile moved upwards into a smirk. "Wow, you're so vanilla."

She heard it on his tone and saw it on his face; he really believed what he said.

'Is he mocking me!?' She felt anger and looked at him more coldly.

Seeing her reaction he went back to smile and while resting his back on a tree. "Making the call you thought as the only one to survival and torturing an enemy that made things personal and brought you suffering is merely common sense. It doesn't make you ruthless from where I come from."

He took a breath as his overload state started to slow down.

"To be truthful, your hesitation in doing that intrigues me more, than your so-called 'Im a ruthless and cold woman act.' "

She looked at him frowning.

He breathed in and looked a the sky through the tree leaves.

"Truly ruthless people who're out for themselves only, do not hesitate, they don't lament or feel remorse for a decision. They do not negotiate a deal but take what they can while giving the bare minimum. If they are threatened with death they'll torture and kill. And if someone carelessly bumps into them on the street, they'll do the same."

He suddenly looked at her.

"But you know all that. And you hate yourself for hesitating and not being ruthless enough."

She froze.

"You act when needed and decisively so. You put the many before the one. You risk it. You dare to trust. Although you'll suffer more, it's not a weak trait, but what makes your potential above most."

His overloaded state dissipated as he breathed with relief.

"You know, ruthless people are a common breed with common potential, Don't aspire to be like them."

She didn't know if he was just babbling but seeing as his state went back to normal and she approached his side and started treated him. she didn't know if it was because her guilt eased with his tired mumbling, or because she felt he really believed what he said. She gently pulled him down and lay his head on her lap.

Lazaro suddenly felt gentle fingers mingling with his hair and another hand caressing his scarred body. Warm essence sipped into him, taking any discomfort away.

"God wouldn't be so good to me. This has to be the devil pulling a prank, Am I in hell?" His voice reached her ears and she smiled

"What a nice view." A sudden voice echoed.

Lazaro's eye shot open and he stood straight.what was an afternoon light weirdly tuned grey and things turned lifeless. Larissa was frozen, with blood tears streaming down her frozen face. Lucas and Silver who was slightly far away started trembling. Horror and panic took over their core and soul, they didn't dare to look in the direction of the tree they couldn't think, they could only fear and tremble.

Hyera, who was unconscious woke up and trembling looked up at Lazaro.

"W-W-Wha-What-" She stuttered as blood flowed down her nose, ears, and eyes.

Lazaro looked up, at a man standing on the thinnest branch of the tree. His smile made him look nothing short of the most harmless thing one could ever see. He was wearing a total black suit that seemed to steal the light from everything surrounding it. He held his hands behind his back and stood straight, the traits of an elite noble.

His obsidian eyes bore down on Lazaro.

"Lazaro, the last time we saw each other was when I killed your wife? It's been some time. How are you?"

The man did not wait for Lazaro to answer and looked at the agonizing Hyera then paralyzed Larissa.

"You must be Lazaro's wife replacement. How are you? I'm Ekadu of Diligence."