Under the crushing pressure of the moment, Luca and Nova reacted in starkly different ways.
Luca gripped Obsidian tightly, his cold eyes fixed on the massive three-headed demon serpent.
Nova, though also holding her weapon firmly, was visibly trembling. Her gaze toward the serpent was filled with sheer terror, and her legs quivered uncontrollably.
"You haven't answered my question," Zenobia said in a chilling, sinister tone.
"Then I'll make the choice myself."
All three monstrous heads of the serpent curled into cruel, knowing smiles.
After a few seconds of eerie silence, all eyes turned toward Nova.
"I still want to torment him a little longer," Zenobia sneered.
"So let's send you off first."
The moment the words registered, despair washed over Nova's face.
But she didn't give in.
Almost instinctively, as Zenobia finished her sentence, Nova raised her custom-made pistol and fired. At the same time, she bolted in the opposite direction, trying to escape from Zenobia.
