The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 125

Chapter 125

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Faced with the guys‘ enthusiasm, Nova said, “No need to go out of your way. I just dropped by to check things

out.”

“Hey!”

“Got it! Boss, if you need anything, just let us know! We’ll handle it right away!”

The guys replied, all fired up.

This bunch was obviously the crew built up by Woody, Maxwell, and Hannah.

But now, it looked like Nova was right at the center.

The first thing that popped into Woody, Maxwell, and Hannah’s heads was:

“Damn, who do these guys even belong to? Whose crew are they supposed to be backing?‘

Woody squinted, replaying what the guys said in his head–and then, bam! The realization slammed into

him.

“No freakin‘ way! You’re the boss?!” Woody hollered at Nova.

Maxwell and Hannah traded glances, caught off guard yet again.

But at this point, after all the stunts Nova had pulled, nothing could really shock them anymore.

Maxwell finally broke the silence.

“No wonder Hannie and I heard that Frostwave Bar had a new boss a while back…

“So it was you, little sis!”

When his suspicions were confirmed, Woody nearly lost his footing, almost slipping right there in sheer disbelief.

He’d been running with this crowd for ages–no one gets how tough this scene is better than him.

He’d even gone out of his way to introduce Nova to their crew, thinking she was just the little sis tagging along.

And now, just like that, she’d flipped the script and ended up as the new boss of Frostwave Bar!

“Just kill me already, because seriously, the universe must be screwing with me!” Woody muttered, eyes. rolling as he almost blacked out from the shock.

“Master, you finally showed up!”

Just then, everyone heard a soft, syrupy–sweet voice drifting down from upstairs.

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Chapter 125

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Moments later, footsteps thudded quickly on the stairs, and a kid with the most innocent, milk–candy face popped into view.

It was Ethan

Ethan couldn’t wait–he hopped off the fifth step, landing with a thud right in front of Nova, all eager and bouncy.

“Master! You’ve been letting me do my own thing for so long, my arms and legs are getting lazy! When are you gonna teach me some real moves already?” Ethan whined.

When they saw who it was, Maxwell and Hannah couldn’t help but gape.

Maxwell’s jaw practically hit the floor.

“Ethan! Is that really you?” he blurted out.

Maxwell was sharp as ever.

He got it right away–Ethan wasn’t just one of the top campus crushes, but also the go–to champ in the taekwondo club.

Suddenly, all those crazy rumors about Ethan clowning around with Nova and making that public show of calling her his master made total sense.

‘So he already knew Novie was the new boss at Frostwave Bar all this time? No wonder he acted so cool about it, Maxwell thought, still a little blown away.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Ethan replied, flashing his signature puppy–dog grin.

He met Maxwell’s gaze with easy confidence, not backing down in the slightest.

He didn’t give a damn about all the drama between his taekwondo club and Maxwell’s free combat club.

Ethan was the first to speak up.

“Zane’s heading overseas for school, so from now on, I’m running the taekwondo club,” he said.

“Honestly, I couldn’t care less about fighting with your free combat club.

“So, Maxwell, how about we call a truce?”

Nova’s return had really changed all of them.

If she hadn’t come back, those two clubs would still be stuck in their childish student drama, always trying to one–up each other.

Maxwell was silent for three seconds, then gave a firm, decisive nod, his eyes shining with newfound resolve.

Yeah!”

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Chapter 125

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On the second floor of Frostwave Bar HQ, Nova led the group into what used to be a cluttered storage room -now it had a whole new vibe, cleaned out and turned into their very own training base.

Nova was the first to step inside, spinning coolly on her heel before facing the crew–her gaze sharp, her energy fierce. “I’m putting together a new squad–people strong enough to stand with me.”

She paused, letting the sting of her words hang in the air.

She faced traitors from Bloodblade Mercenary Corps up ahead, while Devil’s Isle was already closing in from behind.

She could’ve taken a shortcut–marrying Damien Thorn to get a ticket straight into Bloodblade Mercenary Corps headquarters and then wiping out the traitors for good.

But.

Her fierce, stubborn pride simply wouldn’t let her walk that road.

She’d never let herself be anyone’s accessory. As Bloodforge, she’d take back what was hers–using her own hands and on her own terms.

And this new crew? She was going to build it from the ground up, right here in Zoria–a territory where she was a total stranger.

“I can teach you how to take full control of your power, but make no mistake–this path is brutal,” Nova said, her voice cold and commanding.

“Some of you might not survive. Death isn’t just a possibility–it’ll be staring you straight in the face.

“So, you’ve got half an hour to decide–are you in, or are you out?”

Nova’s voice was crystal clear, serene as the still waters at the lake’s bottom.

A momentary calm settled over the room.

Maxwell knew deep down–he and Hannie were still miles behind Nova, no matter how hard they tried.

‘Guess this is what Nova meant when she said helping her meant stepping up for real, Maxwell thought to himself.

“No need to think about it. I’m in!” Maxwell said, his voice steady and resolute.

“If you can take it, then there’s no way your big sis is getting left behind!” Hannah shot Maxwell a defiant look, chin held high.

You could tell by her vibe–she was totally down, zero hesitation.

“Master, you’re finally gonna teach me some real skills? Can we get started already? I’ve been waiting so long I’m about to grow mold over here!” Ethan practically bounced with excitement.

This was exactly what Nova expected them to say.

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Chapter 125

She wasn’t training Maxwell and Hannah just so they’d be her backup squad.

No, it was for something much bigger than that…

Sooner or later, her existence would rock the international underworld.

She couldn’t stay in Ravenport forever.

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If that day ever came–if her parents, Maxwell, or Hannah found themselves exposed–then their lives could hang by a thread, with death lurking around the corner.

She needed Maxwell and Hannah to be able to defend themselves, no matter what.

Only then could she go all out, no strings attached and no one to hold her back.

Nova nodded and glanced over at the door to the training base.

“Come in.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a girl burst through the door.

She was petite and full of energy, looking barely sixteen, but there was a wild, magnetic charm about her that made her impossible to ignore.

“Sis Nova!”

It was obvious she’d been waiting forever–she bounced through the entrance, waving eagerly at Nova.

“That’s Natasha. Starting today, she’s got full authority over your training–whatever she says, goes,” Nova told

them.

As soon as Nova finished speaking, Ethan’s face fell.

“Huh?”

“Master, I wanted you to be the one teaching me! I’ve been waiting forever, and now you just hand me off to some little girl? Seriously, talk about killing the excitement…” Ethan complained, looking totally let down.

He barely finished his rant when-

In the next heartbeat, a fiery blur shot across the room.

Natasha blazed from the doorway, appearing in front of Ethan in the blink of an eye.

Ethan was so stunned by her speed–he tried to defend himself, but she was way too fast and he couldn’t react

in time.

Natasha snatched up his arm and, mercilessly, bent it straight back behind him.

Crack!”

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Chapter 125

His stiff arm crackled with sharp snaps, the sound unmistakably bone–jarring.

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“Oww, it hurts…!” In barely fifteen seconds, Ethan was so freaked out by the wave of pain, cold sweat was pouring down his forehead.

Natasha’s nowhere near Nova’s league–but when it came to Ethan, Maxwell, and Hannah, who’ve only dabbled in basic self–defense, she was an absolute beast.

Natasha burst out laughing when she saw Ethan’s face twist in pain, her voice pure mischief.

“Hey!

“You call that flexibility? You’re stiff as a plank!

“With a foundation like that, you still wanna act tough? And you think Nova’s really gonna bother teaching you?

“What, you aiming to end up like Janie–nose caved in after just one punch from Nova? Or are you dreaming of going full Kael and getting every single bone in your body busted–so bad you need half your limbs chopped off?”

I