Things quieted down with the Rose Cutters taken care of. I still had the status window open, talking away with my party when the slow clap of someone's applause suddenly echoed.

  There was nobody around us, nothing besides the torn remains of the Rose Cutters. My head tilted up as I looked at the top of the ruin walls, where a lone figure sat, watching us.

  Loose strands of ivory hair fell in front of her perky face as she leaned over the edge to get a better look at us. She looked around my age, or at least what I would have been when I was still human. Although her clothes left little to the imagination.

  She wore a red flowing V-neck dress that seemed to be the only thing keeping her breasts from spilling out. With every childish sway, my heart let out little flutters, wondering if they’d peek. She puckered her lips in a way that completely stole my attention.

  “Aaaaw~ I actually thought those ones would do you guys in!” She leaned back until her legs dangled off the edge and disappeared behind the Ruin walls.

  She fell off! I moved forward instinctively to catch her, but it was too late. By the time I managed a step or two in space, I heard another voice behind us.

  “You certainly look strong… especially you, rocks.” I felt naked behind her words. With every passing moment, she lingered over me, almost taking me apart with her chilling blue eyes.

  It was her again. I don’t know how she managed to get there or survive that fall, but she was definitely the same person I saw on the wall a second ago.

  This is weird… I’m not even picking her up with Perception. Is she a living creature or some kind of hallucination?

  Hollow kept a firm grip on the hilt of his sword. I didn’t even have to look over my shoulder at Veyra to know she was in defence mode too. I could feel the tension in the air all too well. I felt the same way they did.

  Whoever this person is, they’re seriously dangerous. I let my mind wander a bit before finally reaching out with telepathy,

  (H-hello there! My name’s Atlas, a friendly Golem. Who are you, and how are you able to traverse the mist?)

  She stared at me, wide-eyed. Nearly a thousand thoughts must have entered my mind at once. Had I asked too much at once? Should I have attacked first or just run away? Was I overreacting, and maybe she was completely harmless?

  I almost got a headache from my overactive brain, but none of it compared to the dread that welled up when she smiled.

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  The blank, confused expression on her face melted into a smile that wrinkled the corners of her eyes.

  “This is truly wonderful! The master will be so pleased when he hears!” She practically jumped in place. It didn’t even seem like she registered that we were still standing there.

  Is she ignoring me? She’s not scared that I’m a golem at all.

  “T-this can’t be…” Veyra’s voice cracked.

  (What is it, Veyra? Do you know her from somewhere?)

  Veyra stumbled back, horror streaked over her face as she held up her arms in protest. She seemed way too spooked, so I appraised her.

  {Veyra Lv24}

  {Species: Half Elf}

  {Status: Frightened}

  It doesn’t look like a curse or spell. Maybe she really is just scared? Either way, something’s really weird about this girl.

  I turned my attention to the stranger and tried to appraise her next.

  {??@@! Lv32}

  {Species: ??!!~}

  {Status: >>>>><<
  It looked just like the time before when I had appraised the masked man. His status glitched out just like hers did, but it seemed a little less corrupted than before, believe it or not.

  Suddenly, she glared at me.

  “You’re using a skill, aren’t you?”

  What… how did she know?

  With a gentle point to her eye, she gestured to the subtle glow at the centre of her iris. With that, the corners of her mouth curved.

  “Neat, isn’t it? It’s the eyes of a demon. It allows me to see past what most living beings can. Amazing, right? Cool, right?!” She said matter-of-factly. “Actually, I’m really grateful to you, Atlas the golem. When you first entered this place, I thought you were an abnormality to squash eventually.” She slammed her fist into her open palm.

  “Now, I see that you’re so much more. You’re the one my master has been looking for. Once I kill you, he’ll be so happy~”

  (Veyra, Hollow, don’t try fighting her, just run!) I extended the channel to both of them in a hurry.

  Suddenly, the mysterious woman’s hand morphed to a size that dwarfed me under its gigantic palm. The overwhelming shadow swallowed us as her hand came crashing down. I grabbed Veyra and Hollow with my flying arms, but I wasn’t fast enough to get out of there in time.

  Pillar! With my command, the ground rose in pillars and stopped the overgrown hand from squashing us.

  I wasted no time and took both of them in my arms and bolted. My speed was laughable, I’m sure they’d be a lot faster on their own, but…

  “M-master Atlas… my legs won’t move…!” Veyra’s shaky voice entered my mind like an echo down a hallway.

  Hollow didn’t look too good either. The shock must have thrown them off their game, but after a second to recover, I put them back on the ground, and we continued our escape.

  (Let’s go! We need to make it as far from her as possible, she’s trouble–)

  The wall we headed to shifted along the ground, creaking and rumbling as it blocked our path and cut off the only way forward. I glanced over my shoulder and saw her. The mysterious woman approached us with slow, unbothered steps.

  One hand swung nonchalantly at her side, while the other was hung in the air above her, still dwarfing her in comparison.

  “Atlaaaaas~ I’m not done playing with you yet!”