“Haah, haah!”0

A young woman dashed through a narrow, dark alley, her platinum-blonde hair swaying with each stride.0

Step, step, step!0

Sweat and dirt streaked her pale skin as a group of threatening men pursued her relentlessly.0

“Go after her!” one yelled.0

“This way!” another shouted.0

“Ugh…!” Isabella gasped as she ducked quickly into a narrow gap between the alley walls, her face tense with panic and urgency.0

“Damn it! Where is she?!”0

“She couldn’t have gone far! Split up and find her!”0

Once the alleyway fell silent, she sighed softly. “I let my guard down.”0

I knew they were after me, but I never imagined even the Owls would get involved. At this rate… my life will be at risk.0

She glanced down at her chest, biting her lip. Her Stigma had stopped glowing. The mana she once controlled as effortlessly as her own limbs was now utterly unresponsive.0

“I can’t even contact anyone.”0

There was no telling how meticulously they had planned for this. Even her phone and other communication Astral Relics were completely useless.0

I have to get away.0

With the entire city of Rome...0