Chapter 62: Marielle, the poison lady

Marielle was surrounded by six assassins from the Vermudez family. In the middle of the deep, dark forest, only the faint light of the moon illuminated their surroundings. The air seemed to grow heavier, filled with tension and danger. Marielle knew that this moment could be her last, but despite everything, she forced herself to remain calm.
"Any last words, woman?" asked one of the female assassins, her eyes cold, devoid of any hint of mercy.
"We will all die," Marielle replied, a smile on her lips as she slowly reached into her bag with one hand. Despite the fear, she spoke with confidence. She knew her hope didn’t rely on strength but on intelligence and strategy.
The six assassins continued to circle her, unaware that Marielle was an expert in creating poisons—a cunning opponent far beyond their expectations. As they watched her, they failed to notice her subtle movements.
"We? All of us? Die? Are you trying to be funny, woman?" a loud, mocking laugh broke the silence, the voice of a muscular man clearly amused by the situation. "It won’t be fun if I end your life too quickly!"
Marielle remained unfazed. "Well, you’ll find out soon enough, you ugly woman hiding behind thick makeup," she retorted, her voice laced with sarcasm. It was as if she was deliberately provoking the woman, planting seeds of rage in her enemies' hearts.
"You! How dare you call me ugly! You wretch! Die now!" screamed the woman, enraged by Marielle's insult, rushing towards her with anger and the intent to kill.
But before she could get close, a sudden "Boom!" stopped her in her tracks. In an instant, the female assassin collapsed to the ground, blood spilling from her mouth, and her eyes turned white. The rest of the group was stunned, as if time had frozen, unable to comprehend how quickly the situation had changed.
"W-what happened?" asked one of her comrades, bewildered and filled with fear.
The woman who had just charged forward quickly succumbed to death. Blood trickled from her mouth, and her eyes had turned white, a clear sign of poisoning. Marielle swiftly donned a mask to avoid inhaling the poison she had used.
"Poison? You wretch! How dare you use a trick to kill Jona!" shouted another man, his teeth gnashing in rage.
"Didn’t I tell you we’d all die and head to hell together? What are you so afraid of?" Marielle replied, laughing maniacally, her voice like that of a mad dog. "Oh, I get it. Besides being ex-convicts and the worst criminals in the world, you’re all hiding under the tail of your master, the Vermudez family!"
Her laughter echoed, adding to the rising tension and fear in her enemies' hearts. The leader of the group, a muscular man with a firm grip on his sword, began to think more cautiously. He realized Marielle was no ordinary opponent.
"Take this seriously! We don’t know the full extent of this woman’s capabilities. Formation!" the leader ordered, positioning the group strategically to gain an advantage in the fight.
He had seen the quick movements of Marielle when she threw the poisonous object at Jona’s face, leading to her death. He knew they couldn’t underestimate their opponent, especially since she was an expert in using poison.
"Don’t underestimate our opponent. She might be highly skilled in these matters, so stay alert with every move," the leader warned as he kept a close eye on Marielle.
"You, woman, who are you really?" the leader asked, scrutinizing Marielle from head to toe.
"Me? Who am I? Innovation! Marielle Innovation, part of the 1st celestial family members, and also a candidate for the position of the new heir of the entire family," Marielle loudly declared, revealing her identity to them, hoping to instill fear in her enemies.
But instead of fear, the enemies laughed, not believing her claim. They knew Marielle was bluffing.
"Innovation? Haha! Do you think you can fool us? Idiot!" shouted one of the men, who then charged from behind, concealing himself to attack Marielle.
However, with Marielle’s advanced technology, she detected the assassin hiding behind her. A quick move—"Boom!"—and the assassin collapsed, a sharp dagger piercing his neck. The silver metal dagger was extremely sharp and laced with poison, which quickly spread through his body in thirty seconds.
Amidst the chaos, Marielle continued to fight, becoming sharper and more dangerous with every step. Her movements were like a deadly dance, each step accompanied by strategy and intelligence. She wouldn’t let these assassins end her mission—a mission that would either lead to her success or be her final stand.
The darkness of the forest set the stage for a suspense-filled battle, as Marielle fought for her life against enemies who wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. With every breath, every move, her life hung by a thin thread of hope, ready to snap at any moment.