Fae appeared before humans, and their race and blood remain a mystery to this day. They are still the only entity that has god-like evolution growth. Not to mention the ability to create hybrid offspring with any intelligent being.

~Cailleach, the Veiled Hag of Winter

The wolf-like beast stalked through the forest without a whisper of sound. Its white and gray fur and glowing blue eyes gave a ghost-like appearance. Therefore, its species was known as the Ghost Wolves. Unlike other wolf species, it hunted solo and only gathered with others of its kind during the mating season.

They were a respected beast because they only killed what was needed to survive and rarely fought over territories. Even beast kings would avoid causing trouble with them because Ghost Wolves, despite being solo, were vengeful against those that harmed their kind. The only exception was if they killed the beast in fair combat initiated by the Ghost Wolf.

Padding forward, it attacked its prey, wanting to end the fight quickly. They weren’t the type of beast that liked to play with its target and went for the instant kill to prevent suffering. It is why humans both feared and respected Ghost Wolves.

It underestimated. Nadia sidestepped, and her hand shot forward like a blade. Her fingers penetrated the beast’s chest and stabbed directly into its heart. Arterial blood sprayed the area like mist, coating her and the surroundings.

Like its proud history, the Ghost Wolf died without whimpering. It held no resentment in its eyes as it watched the woman coldly approach.

Nadia stroked the fur on top of the beast’s head and shuddered at her transformation. Her instincts had improved alongside her reaction speed. However, as she stared into the dying beast’s eyes, she felt uncomfortable. Its mortality reminded her that she may not even be human anymore.

This magnificent beast was filled with meat, a bounty that could feed a family for months. But she wouldn’t collect it because the sustenance she required was no longer that of meat or foliage. A puppet didn’t need food but resources.

A puppet…

She sighed when the beast finally passed and dug out the beast’s core. The core was a resource, and she tossed it into her mouth. It wasn’t the first time she’d done this, and initially, she hoped it would end her life. Never did she suspect that not only would it provide sustenance but aided her cultivation.

There was another benefit… it warmed her cold body. A Corpse Bride Puppet was still a corpse, and while her heart still pumped, her blood had run cold. The issue was that she could improve her cultivation but no longer knew what method she was using. The original method taught by her mom was no longer effective.

Nadia felt her new form was more like the beast she had just killed. She gained power by killing and absorbing without direction. It was the beast’s method of acquiring power. Fight, consume, and improve status. Only when they gained intelligence did they start to gather other abilities.

These changes had suppressed her inherent nature, which was the only blessing. Previously, she couldn’t control the innately seductive power, and because of it, she suffered abuse. A local village boy took her virginity when she was only twelve. It was something she couldn’t stop.

The villagers looked at her with pity, believing the boy had raped her. In a way, he had, but it wasn’t truly his fault. Shortly after she gained her first monthly cycle, her aura awakened, and she could not control it. The boy was her first victim, and his lust was something he lacked the willpower to control. The aura turned men into sexual beasts, and she suffered for it.

Nadia struggled because she knew she was both the victim and the antagonizer. Most of those men were unapologetic, but the boy that took her virginity wasn’t so bad. He even tried to take responsibility, but she disappeared before he could. She left that village and escaped to avoid the shame.

She later realized the men who tried to cage her as their personal sex doll ended up dead. She didn’t know why. Only after she awakened her Source at a very young age did she suspect the reason was some sort of dual cultivation. Sex provided a means to increase her Source. By the time she realized what was happening, a few years had passed, and she returned to her village to find her mom. Only she’d left not much longer after Nadia ran away.

Leaving that village far behind, she spent the next eight years trying to gain control of her life. Control of her aura. Control of her power. Control over her fate. Her life hadn’t been pleasant, and it wasn’t just men that were drawn to her. Most were abusive, but she survived. She knew all she had to do was outlast them, and eventually, she’d suck them dry.

Then Kafe entered her life and gave her a sense of control. She chose a man for the first time in her life and even felt the budding feelings and trust toward him grow daily. Maybe she should have told him about her disposition, but it was too late to regret. She never expected the man would kill her and take away her freedom—turned her into a slave that couldn’t resist his bidding.

Those budding feelings she had for the man had turned to hate. Hope turned to ash and despair.

But… a week ago, he liberated her. The connection to Kafe existed, but just thinking about hating him no longer caused her pain. Defying him was easy as breathing.

It left her conflicted. Nadia wasn’t sure if that man did it on purpose or something had happened to him. However, she couldn’t forget what he’d done and what he commanded her to do. She was thankful that she had control over her lustful aura, but she despised that man for killing and turning her into a monster.

“Let’s leave it up to fate…” she sighed. If she came across the man again, she’d destroy him. But after that thought came another, and she decisively turned east. Upon reaching the main road, she saw a wagon and a small army of guards moving toward her. Unsure what to do, she remained still until they stopped before her.

Nadia felt these people were dangerous, especially the two people on the box-like wagon, but it was too late to hide. Overall, while intimidated, Nadia did not fear them as she would have in the past. Her body wasn’t something ordinary people could destroy anymore. She retained her aura and would not use it until necessary. In her heart, she vowed no one would cage her again, and she’d fight to the death to make sure that remained true. However, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t allow herself to be captured—at least not until she understood the situation better.

“Join the others,” a guard called out to her and pointed toward a ragtag group of people. Inwardly, Nadia sneered at the sheep this group rounded up. Bunch of tower newbies that didn’t know what was happening. It appeared as if they were free, but Nadia knew at a glance that every single one of those people was a prisoner.

“I’ll pass.”

“That wasn’t a request.”

“Of course it was. Do you know the tower is most particular about inhibiting new people? The first floor is the most dangerous place for people like you to restrict the movement of the newbies. The tower has marked all of you. Your deaths aren’t a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when.’ Do you understand?” Nadia giggled and shook her head at the man. Even without her aura, she was a born seductress.

“Back away. You aren’t her match,” Madame Rouge called out from the wagon. “Miss, please approach. I’d like to have a talk with you.”

Nadia stared at the guard, who did as his mistress commanded, and then she glanced at the man driving the wagon and felt that he was the most dangerous person here. Not even the girl in the wagon gave her the pressure this man did.

“Don’t worry. His only command is to protect me. Our sect forbids him from acting otherwise on this floor. It is like you said earlier, too dangerous for him to interfere with the people on this floor.”

Glancing at the driver again, Nadia saw him tap his Shield twice with two fingers. It was a form of silent acknowledgment or vow that the woman in the wagon spoke true. Seeing the gesture, she nodded and cautiously approached the wagon.

“I think you and I have aligned by fate, and we have similar targets…” Madame Rouge explained softly and proceeded to exchange information with her.

Nadia knew that everything this woman was telling her was about manipulation, but a few names stuck out. Because of her undead nature, her heart, pulse, and muscles were completely under her control, so she gave away nothing but gained a lot.

It seemed like she now had a destination. Fate really was mysterious.