Yverantheia would never fet that figure.

  Not long ago, she had walked past the gates of death, and now, the culprit stht before her.

  Even now, the fear of almost meetih and the despair lingered in her heart, making her body tremble slightly.

  But she wouldn't falter. Yverantheia knew well that if she couldn't even face this shadow, revenge would be an impossible dream.

  So, amidst the fear of death's shadow, Yverantheia also felt a straement, knowing she could finally rid herself of this darkness.

  "It's been a while. Are my arms still a delicacy to you?"

  Brushing aside leaves, Yverantheia walked straight toward the serpent and the creature resembling a tiger. It was only now she noticed the creature's appearance, akin to a tiger.

  "...How did you get here?"

  "I have unfinished business with that creature. Stay bad don't interfere."

  "...Good luck to you."

  For the serpent, this situation was a stroke of luck, a ce for them to escape and ehe survival of their kind.

  "Roar!"

  "Don't run away. Your oppo is me."

  As the tiger-like creature luowards the serpent, Yveraook the opportunity to swiftly kick it back.

  "...Roar..."

  The tiger regais banow fog oheia, whom it had previously ignored. Her kick had caused no harm, merely catg it off guard and exploiting its unstable stance.

  But Yverantheia had effectively preve from feasting, and that alone was enough to make the tiger want to tear Yverao shreds... at least, that's what Yverahought.

  "hought that snack from before would bee even more appetizing. I guess restraining my hunger paid off."

  "...What did you say..."

  It was normal fher-level creatures like the fourth-level serpent to speak. What surprised Yverantheia was the tiger's ability to speak. She had run for her life, barely surviving, only to realize it was all a scheme by the tiger to secure a tastier meal.

  "Are you kidding me!"

  Yverantheia swung at the tiger with even faster punches, but this time, it effortlessly dodged her.

  Simultaneously, Yverantheia felt a sharp pain in her back.

  "...So that's how you mao subdue the serpent. You're at least fifth-level."

  Through rigorous training, Yverantheia had learo cloak herself in magic for defense, yet the tiger effortlessly broke through that defense.

  "Roar? Surprised you held out. Are you tough or just numb to pain..."

  Before the tiger could finish, Yverantheia interrupted with atack.

  "Always eager. Do you always aim to provoke me... Wait, humans are monkeys by nature."

  Each word was calcuted te Yverantheia; this was the tiger's sadistic pleasure, frustrating her while leaving her powerless.

  "Let's move to the step."

  In an instant, Yverantheia felt a chilliion, quickly dodging aside.

  "Hmm..."

  Despite Yverantheia's swift evasion, her remaining hand was struck, the wound so deep it nearly reached the bone. Even her legs, though superficially injured, bore scratches.

  Before she could gather her thoughts, the tiger-like creature's attack struck again.

  "...No, it's too fast."

  At fifth-level strength, far surpassing Yverantheia's third-level capabilities, she strained just to evade, tinuously sustaining injuries.

  "Wait..."

  While dodging, Yverantheia noticed a crucial detail.

  "...Are you targeting my arms and legs on purpose?"

  "Oh, you've noticed?"

  For mere hunting, targeting vital points would suffice. Giveiger's strength, this focused effort seemed unnecessary.

  But now, besides the initial attack, all the damage Yverantheia's endured focuses on her limbs. This is clearly abnormal.

  Rather than mere hunting, immobilizing the prey first, slowly sav their despair, that's how it should be.

  "..."

  The tiger's reason for not attag Yverantheia's vital spots despite her severe injuries was clear. Yverantheia ched her fists.

  "...I'll gut you and stuff your entrails bato your stomach."

  Yverantheia intensified the magiveloping her body, enhang her physical abilities to evade the tiger's attacks.

  Finding a loophole, she seized the opportunity to terattack.

  This forced the tiger to take her seriously, potentially inflig some harm. Even a minuscule ce of victory, one in a thousand, ossible.

  Their cshes geed shockwaves, felling and severing nearby trees as creatures fled in panic.

  "Not enough."

  Yverantheia felt the tiger's increasingly serious assaults, trasting with her straitempts to retaliate. The differen their prowess was gring.

  "Faster, stronger..."

  Yverantheia's magiow coursed like blood, enhang her speed, strength, and reflexes. However, her blood vessels ruptured uhe strain, blood gushing from her body.

  Blood adorned Yverantheia, enhang her manic beauty. Yet, extensive blood loss paled her plexion.

  But now, she couldn't afford to care.

  By recklessly enhang her body, Yverantheia finally gaihe upper hand in battle, even overp the tiger.

  "...Almost done."

  The tiger's attacks grew erratic; even normal retaliation was beyond it. Yverantheia knew victory or defeat o be decided swiftly.

  Taking advantage of the tiger's momentary pse, she struck with a lethal blow from an ued angle.

  Splurt!

  A pierg sound echoed through the air.

  "...You had this move hidden..."

  Several magic circles floated around the tiger now.

  "I 't bme you; your intelligence clearly fell short."

  A hole pierced Yverantheia's abdomen through the magic, a rger one might have snapped her in half.

  With massive blood loss and this injury, she lost sciousness, unsure if she had colpsed to the ground.

  "But I never expected a mere young human to cause such damage."

  The tiger bore numerous wounds from Yverantheia's assault, yet its regeive abilities now vanished.

  "As a sign of respect, I'll end you with one blow."

  The tiger's magic circle bzed brightly, preparing to deliver Yverantheia's final strike.