☆Chapter 2☆

As Maya left the smoldering remains of the bandit carriage behind her, a faint murmur of voices and hurried footsteps caught her attention. She glanced back, noticing a small group of townsfolk gathering near the hilltop, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and curiosity. The explosion had certainly drawn their attention. Word would spread quickly—explosions weren't exactly commonplace in this quiet town.

A few men pointed in her direction, no doubt wondering how a lone woman had survived the destruction unscathed. Maya grinned to herself, not particularly interested in explaining what had happened. Let them gossip and speculate. Mortals loved their stories, and if they thought her some mysterious wanderer with power beyond comprehension, so be it.

Before any of them could muster the courage to approach her, she turned on her heel and continued toward the town. A tavern would be bustling with life by now, and Maya was eager for a drink. Besides, the night still held promise, and with the lingering stench of dark energy in the air, she had a feeling her entertainment for the evening was far from over.

Maya's feet carried her down a winding road that led to a bustling town. The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, and the lights from the tavern ahead gleamed invitingly through its windows. But it wasn't the warmth of a hot meal or the comfort of a bed that drew her in.

No, something much darker had caught her attention.

A ripple of negative energy, sharp and foul, had slithered into her awareness. It was the kind of aura that left a sour taste in the air, and for a goddess like Maya, it was impossible to ignore. It intrigued her, in a way, like a puzzle to be solved. And it led straight to the tavern.

"Finally, something worth my time," she muttered under her breath, a slow smile creeping across her lips.

Without hesitation, Maya strode to the tavern doors and, with a flick of her wrist, threw them open with a resounding BANG that rattled the windows. Heads turned immediately, patrons freezing mid-drink, their conversations halting as they stared at the woman who had just waltzed in like she owned the place.

Her presence was impossible to ignore, her fiery crimson cloak and molten eyes radiated confidence. She moved with a dangerous grace, as though the very world bent to her whims. As she walked, the crowd parted instinctively, sensing the raw power that surrounded her.

Maya made her way to the bar, leaning casually against it as though she had all the time in the world. She signaled the bartender with a flick of her finger, who rushed to serve her.

"A room for the night," she said, her tone deceptively light. "And something strong to drink."

The bartender nodded, his eyes wide. "Y-yes, of course."

But Maya wasn't paying him any real attention. Her eyes were already locked on the far corner of the tavern, where a group of adventurers sat at a dimly lit table. One of them, a tall man with greasy hair and a cocky sneer plastered on his face, had an aura so thick with malice that it was practically choking the air around him. He was leaning in too close to a young girl, his hand resting on her arm as he whispered something in her ear. The girl, clearly uncomfortable, tried to pull away, but the man tightened his grip.

Maya's gaze narrowed, her senses sharpening. There it was, the source of the foul energy. A predator in plain sight.

The man pulled a small vial from his coat and subtly poured its contents into the girl's drink, all while flashing her a predatory smile. The other patrons around them seemed oblivious, too caught up in their own business to notice the impending danger.

Maya's lip curled in disgust. The urge to blow the tavern sky-high crossed her mind, but she settled on something more direct. It had been a while since she had enjoyed a good brawl, after all.

She rose from her seat, her eyes never leaving the man. In a few short strides, she crossed the room and came to a stop right in front of the adventurers' table. The douchebag barely noticed her approach, too focused on the girl who was now visibly trembling.

With a sudden motion, Maya slammed her hand down on the table, hard enough to shake the mugs of ale and spill the poisoned drink. The group of adventurers jumped in surprise, but Maya's attention was solely on the man.

"That was a mistake," Maya said, her voice dripping with venom.

The man looked up at her, his sneer faltering for a moment before he regained his composure. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, clearly unamused. "Mind your own damn business."

Maya smiled, a dangerous, wicked smile. "See, that's the thing. When I'm around, scum like you becomes my business."

The man's face twisted in anger, and he stood abruptly, towering over her. "You're asking for a broken nose, bitch."

He reached out to grab her, but Maya moved faster than he could react. In a blur of motion, she ducked under his grasp and slammed her fist into his gut with enough force to send him crashing into the table, shattering it into splinters. His comrades scrambled to their feet, but Maya was already a step ahead.

Chaos erupted in the tavern as the band of adventurers lunged at her, their fists raised. But to Maya, it was all so slow, so predictable. She weaved between their attacks with ease, her movements fluid and precise. One man swung a chair at her, and she ducked, delivering a swift kick to his chest that sent him flying into the wall.

Another came at her from behind with a knife, but she caught his wrist mid-strike, twisting it painfully until he dropped the blade. With a flick of her wrist, she threw him over her shoulder, and he crashed into a table with a loud thud.

The leader of the group, the one who had tried to drug the girl, staggered to his feet, clutching his stomach in pain. His face was a mask of rage as he lunged at Maya again, throwing wild punches. But Maya didn't even flinch. She sidestepped his attacks, her movements effortless.

And then, with a casual flick of her wrist, she delivered a devastating uppercut that sent him flying across the room. He landed in a heap, groaning in pain as he struggled to rise.

Maya stood over him, her eyes blazing with fiery intensity. "You'll think twice before trying to prey on anyone again," she hissed.

The man stared up at her, fear finally settling into his expression as he realized just how outmatched he was.

Maya leaned in close, her voice low and dangerous. "The next time I catch you trying to hurt someone, I'll turn you to ash."

With that, she turned away, leaving the man groaning on the floor, his pride and body both thoroughly broken.

The tavern was in shambles, tables overturned, mugs shattered, and patrons staring in stunned silence. The young girl, still trembling, stared at Maya with wide eyes, her expression a mix of awe and relief.

"Th-thank you," the girl whispered, her voice shaking.

Maya waved her off. "It was nothing. That scum deserved it." She glanced around at the wreckage and then at the wide-eyed bartender. "Put the damages on my tab."

~"Thanks for reading the chapter. If you like it then please send me your powerstones and golden tickets. I also love reading your comments, so feel free to me a message. "~