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Choose limit: 00:00:59

The number of seconds was dropping just like Elara's confidence. Her lower lip, which she had bitten down hard, oozed a thick red liquid. She turned around to quickly search for the object that should be in her hands right now.

"Bravely confront."

Despite saying the word 'bravely' out loud, her hands were still trembling. She quickly replaced the towel kimono with light clothing that allowed her to move easily. Her eyes were busy checking the bullets that had been neatly seated in the gun and putting the other bullets into her pants pockets.

"If I choose to run away, I'll be caught and could be surrounded out there. If I choose to hide, I'm just waiting for the assassins to gather and search for me simultaneously. I can only rely on myself. Be brave, Elara!"

Elara opened the door to her room, but the successive shots came from another direction, more precisely through the glass window that was directly connected to the outside. 

Elara quickly hid herself behind the couch. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she was almost hit. She looked down at her hands which were shaking violently. After all, this was the first time she had ever been in a situation like this.

Amidst the continuous gunfire, Elara caught the sound of approaching footsteps. She hid herself even more and pointed the gun at the door. The closer the footsteps got, the faster her heart beat.

The sound of gunfire now came from Elara. She hit the target's hands and feet squarely. Running swiftly towards one of the black-masked assassins and flipping his burly body over to slap the floor hard.

Elara looked straight at the gunfire that was no longer directed at her, most likely because his partner was about to search the room, and looked back at the man at her feet.

Elara viciously drove her bullets into both the man's shoulders and thighs and grabbed his gun. She would not kill, but she would inflict painful wounds that would leave her enemy in agony.

Elara hurriedly ran outside as her room was no longer a haven. Passing through the hallway with a wary attitude and two pistols pointed forward. She hid her body behind the wall and peeked into the safety of the living room.

Elara hurriedly silenced her lips when she saw the other assassins gathered there. There were seven of them, a deadly opponent for a woman with no experience with guns.

"Damn it! How is this? Why are Asher's bodyguards nowhere to be seen? Have they all been killed outside?" Elara's mind raged. Her head was only filled with negative thoughts at the moment.

The sound of clattering steps from the other direction made Elara turn around. Spontaneously she dodged the bullet that was flying towards her. Her eyes were fully rounded.

Elara hurriedly counterattacked and the bullet hit her opponent right in the wrist. The man groaned in pain as his wrist was almost severed and was bleeding profusely like a fountain.

Elara took the opportunity to run over and grab the man's fallen gun. Just as she was about to perform a sweeping kick targeting the man's face, his comrades from the other direction were ready with their weapons.

Elara quickly twisted her body, turning the unarmed man into her shield. In an instant, many bullets were embedded in the huge body. The blood-drenched Elara's face, made her hair stand on end.

Her eyes were fixed on the door of the room not far behind. Elara dragged the man's body and dumped it on the floor as soon as she made it into the room. It was the room where she did yoga and a little exercise.

Her hands moved quickly to lock the door and pushed the table and drawers around it to hold the door. She stepped back with panic overcoming her. There was no way out anymore. She would stay in this room as long as possible.

But they wouldn't be killed by the wind, would they? Then what chance was she waiting for right now?

A loud banging on the door made Elara jump in surprise. Her feet stepped back as the drawers and table holding the door began to fall and get pushed away. She quickly hid herself behind the couch. Preparing at gunpoint she placed the gun on the head of the sofa.

Cold sweat soaked Elara's palms as the door in front of her was broken open. There was no one there so Elara was caught off guard. The sound of gunfire immediately made her duck, but her gun had been thrown away.

"They targeted my gun," Elara growled. She tried to hide as best she could as the shots kept flying. She fully expected the thick couch to hold all the bullets well.

The shadow that appeared in front of her made Elara look up. Her hands fell to the floor, her face turning deathly pale.

"I'm going to die for the second time," Elara thought as she closed her eyes. When the gunshot sounded, her body jumped in shock, but strangely she didn't feel any pain.

Elara ventured to open her eyes. The man who was about to shoot her was now lying on the floor with a bullet stuck in his head. 

"Is help coming?"

Elara crawled, peeking out from the couch. Her pupils moved to follow a man walking towards her. It was Asher, and Asher's bodyguards were busy passing by in the hallway.

"Can you stand up?" Asher asked with a flat face.

Elara nodded. Holding on to the couch, she tried to stand up. But her legs that were hit by the shockwave became limp. She was made to fall back on the floor.

"I don't think I can."

The next second Elara's body floated. Spontaneously she threw her arms around Asher's neck. Without saying anything, Asher walked away. While Elara, who was in his arms, rested her tired head on Asher's broad chest.

"Finally this tension is over."

***

The scorching sunlight that pierced the eyes made the woman in the blanket groan. Her forehead furrowed, her eyes moved uncomfortably and ended up opening with a few blinks.

As soon as all her life was gathered, Elara sat up. She looked around and let out a long breath. It turned out that she was in her room in Asher's mansion. She was back.

"I'm glad I didn't die that quickly." Elara lowered her head and closed her eyelids.

"Even though I have died once, death is still scary."

She raised her hand, patted both cheeks and shook her head lightly. "No, no. I must not fall and give up. I promised the real Elara to avenge her. I must become stronger. The system is on my side after all."

Elara rose to her feet. Her gaze fell on her pajamas. The sticky blood stains on her skin had also disappeared.

"The servants did a good job even though I was asleep." Elara walked to the door, got out, and groaned in annoyance.

"I'm thirsty and hungry!"

The clanking sound of the elevator was followed by the sound of her feet making tracks on the floor. A servant carrying a plate turned her head, her facial expression changed to surprise, and the plate in her hand accidentally slipped out. The loud shattering sound made all the servants and Calliope stare at her.

"Why are they all looking at me like I'm a ghost? Didn't they already see me yesterday? Their surprise that I lost weight was too late."

Calliope walked quickly and faced Elara. She raised her right hand and slapped Elara hard on the cheek. Elara, who was not prepared for the attack, was lost in thought for a while.

"Do you want to flirt with another man right now?"

Elara looked straight ahead. The look of anger and surprise on Calliope's face was not something made up.

"So, they didn't know? It could have happened considering me, Asher, and the bodyguards traveled through the night to get here. They were probably asleep when I and the others arrived," Elara mused.

A second later Elara's eyes widened. "So, who changed my clothes?!" Elara shouted to herself.