Chapter 476 - : 476 : The Shift In Tone!

Chapter 476: Chapter : 476 : The Shift In Tone!

Aeloria launched herself at Aiden again with explosive speed, her golden ponytail whipping behind her as she closed the distance in a blur. Her hidden blades extended fully with a sharp metallic shing, the spring mechanisms in her gauntlets clicking into place. She came in low and fast, aiming a sweeping slash toward his midsection while simultaneously firing a short aerial slash from her right gauntlet to cut off his retreat.

Aiden’s grin widened.

Instead of ending the fight instantly like he easily could, he decided to play along.

He met her blade with his own, steel ringing against steel in a rapid series of clashes. For the next few seconds, he deliberately matched her rhythm and speed, moving like her — using the same explosive footwork, the same sharp turns, the same aggressive close-range blade work. Their daggers and hidden blades became a whirlwind of silver flashes as they exchanged blow after blow in the ruined observation deck of the clock tower.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew with every collision. Aeloria’s eyes widened slightly as she realized he was no longer toying with her from a position of overwhelming superiority. He was fighting at her level now — fast, technical, and relentless.

She pushed harder, activating the folding mechanism on her left blade mid-combo to suddenly shorten it and thrust at his ribs. Aiden twisted his body just enough for the blade to graze his uniform jacket, then countered with a sharp upward slash that she barely managed to deflect.

*He’s... matching me?*

Aeloria gritted her teeth and launched another barrage, using the broken pillars and railings to bounce and change angles. She fired two quick aerial slashes while closing in with a spinning slash from above.

Aiden blocked the aerial slashes with casual flicks and met her spinning attack head-on. Their blades locked for a split second.

"You’re getting serious now," he said with a teasing smile, their faces close.

Aeloria’s breathing was heavy. Sweat made her tight black bodysuit cling even more obscenely to her massive breasts and wide hips.

"Y-you... Stop playing with me!" she snapped, her seductive voice cracking with genuine frustration. "I am not your toy!"

Aiden chuckled, pushing her back with a burst of strength before immediately closing in again.

"Yes... you’re not a toy," he said while deflecting another rapid combination. "You’re amazing. Beautiful. The way you move, the way you slash, the way you talk when you’re angry... it’s so fucking hot."

Aeloria bit her lower lip hard, a faint blush creeping across her elegant elf features even as she attacked.

*How the hell did she and I falling for a perverted bastard like this...? Damn it... he really is unfairly handsome.*

She suddenly ducked low and swept her leg in a sharp arc, aiming to take his legs out from under him.

Aiden’s balance broke for a moment. He planted one hand on the ground and pushed himself back into a flip, landing cleanly a few steps away.

Aeloria grinned, breathing hard.

"First hit. Now... you were saying something?"

Aiden sighed and looked at her, his usual playful expression still there but with a hint of seriousness creeping in.

"I don’t want my uniform to get torn," he said simply. "So..."

He pointed one of his daggers toward her.

Then he vanished.

Aeloria instantly went on full defensive, spinning in a tight circle with her blades raised, eyes darting around for any sign of movement.

When Aiden reappeared, he was right in front of her.

"Too slow."

His kick connected with her left side — controlled, but still carrying enough force to be devastating. The impact lifted her off her feet and sent her flying sideways. She felt something crack in her ribs mid-air. Pain exploded through her torso as she twisted and landed hard on the broken deck, clutching her side with one hand.

Aiden stood a few meters away, resting one dagger casually on his shoulder like he was bored.

"You do realize I can kill you whenever I want, right?" he said, voice calm and matter-of-fact. "It would be impossible for you to run from me."

Aeloria smirked through the pain, still clutching her broken rib.

"Damn... that expression is scary," she said, her voice slightly strained. "Though I can’t say I dislike it."

Aiden grinned again.

"Aren’t elves supposed to be pros at elemental magic and spirit contracts?"

Aeloria didn’t answer with words.

She launched herself at him once more, but this time she threw her long black cloak directly at his face as a distraction. Aiden instinctively slashed at it, cutting the fabric in half.

The moment the cloak split, Aeloria was already there — her hidden blade slashing straight toward his face.

"I love blades more than magic."

Aiden pulled his head back at the last possible second, the tip of her blade grazing his cheek and leaving a thin red line. He jumped back, touching the small cut with his finger.

"Oi... not the face."

Aeloria grinned, bloodlust and excitement mixing in her emerald eyes.

"I’m gonna mess up that handsome face of yours and wipe that grin off it."

Aiden sighed, though his eyes were still gleaming with amusement. The scratch on his cheeks healed instantly.

"You really don’t learn, do you..."

They clashed again in a furious exchange of blows. Without her cloak, Aeloria’s body was completely on display in the skin-tight black bodysuit. The material hugged every exaggerated curve — her massive breasts bouncing with every movement, her wide hips and thick thighs flexing powerfully as she moved. Aiden’s eyes roamed over her openly even as they fought.

Suddenly, Aiden caught both of her wrists with one hand and slammed them above her head. His strength was overwhelming. Aeloria’s eyes widened as she realized she couldn’t break free no matter how hard she struggled.

Aiden leaned in close, his free hand boldly reaching out and grabbing one of her massive breasts, squeezing it firmly through the tight material.

"Damn these tits..." he said with a shameless grin, feeling their weight and softness. "Not the biggest I’ve seen... but unbelievably soft nonetheless."

Aeloria yelped, her face flushing deep red as she squirmed in his grip.

"Bastard—!"

She planted one foot on his chest and pushed with all her strength. Aiden let go, allowing her to flip backward and land several yards away. She immediately covered her chest with one arm, breathing hard, her broken rib making every movement painful.

"Will you stop touching me like that?!" she shouted, equal parts angry and flustered.

Aiden dusted off his uniform with a casual smile.

"Babe... when you come to kill someone, you should always be ready for payback. I’m just defending myself... in, ah... weird ways."

Aeloria clenched her teeth, fury and embarrassment mixing on her beautiful face.

"Will you get serious for a moment?!"

Instantly, Aiden’s entire demeanor changed.

The playful, teasing grin vanished.

His expression became cold. His blue eyes darkened as he looked down at her. The very air around him seemed to shift — becoming heavier, colder, and filled with an overwhelming sense of danger.

Aeloria felt it immediately.

The pressure hit her like a physical weight. Her breathing turned shallow. Her legs began to tremble violently. Sweat poured down her face and neck as an instinctive, primal terror gripped her heart.

*What... what is this...?*

Aiden began walking toward her slowly. Each step made the pressure grow stronger. The air itself seemed to tremble around him.

Aeloria’s mind flashed back to that day years ago — the day she lost everything. The terror she had felt then was nothing compared to what she was experiencing now. This man’s presence felt more terrifying than anything she had ever encountered in her life.

Aiden stopped right in front of her.

She looked up at him with wide, terrified eyes. Her body was frozen in place. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe properly. Her massive breasts rose and fell rapidly with panicked breaths.

Aiden raised one hand toward her face.

Aeloria’s mind went blank with pure fear.

*This is it... He’s going to kill me...*

But instead of striking, his hand gently landed on her shoulder. The deadly, ominous aura vanished in an instant — like it had never existed.

Aiden smiled at her with his usual expression.

"Babe... you alright?"

Aeloria’s legs gave out completely.

She collapsed onto the floor, landing on her back as she gasped for air. Her body trembled uncontrollably from the aftershock of that terrifying presence.

Aiden crouched in front of her and gently patted her head.

"Calm down, babe."

Aeloria looked up at him, still breathing heavily. After several long seconds, she finally spoke, her voice quiet and defeated.

"...I give up."

She let her head fall back, staring up at the sky.

Aiden smiled and slowly moved closer, hovering over her body. He placed his hands on either side of her head and his knees either side of her hips, caging her beneath him. He leaned down until their faces were only inches apart.

"Tell me..." he asked softly. "Do you know where the assassination request came from?"

Aeloria stared directly into his hypnotizing blue eyes and answered without hesitation.

"It was from Albinos Academy... but we don’t have the name of the person who sent the request."

Aiden grinned.

"I might know who."

He tilted his head slightly.

"So... tell me. Where is the one who was sent the previous night to kill me? The Witch of Death."

Aeloria smiled faintly and looked toward her left.

"You wanna meet her again?"

Aiden’s smirk faltered for a second. His tone changed.

"Y-yes... I want to. Where is she?"

Aeloria simply smiled and pointed with her eyes.

Aiden followed her gaze.

From thin air, a woman in a long black cloak slowly materialized at the edge of the broken observation deck.

Aiden immediately pulled away from Aeloria and stood up. His daggers vanished back into his inventory as he turned to face the cloaked figure.

Without another word, he began walking toward her.

---

END OF Chapter : 476 : THE SHIFT IN TONE!

---