She snapped out of her previous state in an instant, every hair on her body standing on end. She hadn’t moved—so why had she bumped into something?

Someone was approaching her! She hadn’t sensed anything, hadn’t heard a sound, and the air around her hadn’t changed at all. A chill exploded from her tailbone, racing up her spine.

But her reaction was half a beat too slow. By the time she realized what was happening, she was already in danger.

When Emily Parker’s mind had relaxed for just a moment, the statue-like Ethan Brooks suddenly moved. His movements were extremely slow—even slower than a ninety-year-old woman. His five fingers curled loosely, inching forward bit by bit.

His body leaned forward slightly, every muscle tensed and ready to spring.

Ethan Brooks’s focus was razor-sharp. He was completely deaf to the sounds of fighting not far away, utterly unaffected. All his attention was concentrated at his fingertips. He knew that if he touched his target, the fight would be decided in a split second—victory or defeat would be determined in a flash.

The instant his fingertips felt the slightest resistance, Ethan Brooks attacked without hesitation.

His knees bent, powerful tendons exploded with force, and his forward-leaning body needed no adjustment. Like a fierce, agile leopard, he pounced in a flash. The sensation at his fingertips grew stronger, and the experienced Ethan Brooks immediately judged that he had touched the opponent’s shoulder!

By the time Emily Parker reacted, the ferocious, overwhelming pounce crashed down on her like Mount Tai. She lost her balance instantly, her body toppling downward, and the counterattack she’d prepared with her left hand was rendered useless. Instinctively, she reached out, trying to steady herself on the ground.

But her arm jerked to a halt—her arm was twisted up by the opponent’s. His technique was ruthless; she felt her right arm go numb.

The suffocating assault wasn’t over yet. What shocked Emily Parker even more was that the opponent’s body wrapped around hers like a snake. He pressed tightly against her back, clinging to her waist like an octopus. His legs, as strong as steel cables, snaked forward to lock her legs, his toes hooking inward like iron clasps, locking her calves in place.

From childhood to now, Emily Parker had never been this close to a man. But at this moment, there was not a trace of ambiguity or romance—only fear, deep and overwhelming fear.

The brutal hold made her feel like a fish caught in a net, powerless to struggle. She wanted to remove her suppression bracelet, but her limbs were locked tight—she couldn’t move at all. She heard no panting behind her, no fluctuation in the opponent’s breathing. The cold, silent stillness terrified her, as if it was a lifeless machine attacking her, steel cables coiling around her body. What frightened her even more was that the grip was tightening, little by little.

She could smell the thick scent of death.

Intense fear drove her to struggle desperately. The instinct to survive unleashed a strength she’d never known before.

Her hair kept brushing against the mask on her face. Behind the mask, her eyes were closed, her expression as cold as ever. This was normal—any beast’s struggle before death was always the fiercest, let alone a human’s.

The fight wasn’t over yet. Now it was a contest of wits and endurance.

He loosened his grip just a little.

Sure enough, feeling that her struggle seemed to be working, Emily Parker twisted her body even more violently.

Ethan Brooks was like a cold-blooded hunter, his grip on her joints as steady as a rock. Her struggles only drained her strength further. When her energy was exhausted, that would be the moment the prey died.

Emily Parker was soon gasping for breath, sweat streaming down her body. She could feel her strength draining rapidly, growing more and more exhausted, while the opponent’s hold only tightened.

Only then did she finally snap out of her fear.

Regaining some composure, Emily Parker immediately showed the results of her years of harsh training. Born into a great clan, she had a broad perspective. Her earlier panic had thrown her off, but now, regaining her calm, she instantly found a way to respond.

A strange light flashed in her beautiful eyes. The energy within her surged, and her tightly bound body suddenly trembled.

This tremor was far less violent than her earlier struggles, but the force it unleashed was far greater than any before.

Ethan Brooks felt a shocking power surge through him, his limbs going numb—he nearly lost his grip.

Danger!

The prey’s strength exceeded his expectations. The warning had only just flashed in his mind when his body reacted instinctively. Without a moment’s hesitation, the left forearm that had been binding his target suddenly shot up like a viper, his splayed fingers darting like lightning for the throat of the person in his arms.

Unlike the silent, underwater hunt from before, this strike was fierce and fast as lightning.

Emily Parker’s heart trembled, every hair on her body standing on end again. She had no doubt that if this claw landed, her throat would be left with five bloody holes.

Fortunately, the opponent’s arm loosened, giving her a chance to defend herself. Her delicate, boneless arm moved like a willow in the wind, gracefully and effortlessly blocking in front of her throat.

“Puff!”