The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 193

**A Symphony of Shadows by Evelyn Hart**
**Chapter 193**

The moment had finally arrived for Zane to take the spotlight, and John couldn’t contain his excitement. He thumped his chest, reveling in the feeling of being the center of attention, as if he were the true star of this chaotic performance.

“The underworld? Honestly, it’s not nearly as legendary as everyone makes it out to be,” he declared, a smug grin plastered across his face. The bravado in his voice was palpable, a desperate attempt to assert dominance in a world that often felt out of his control.

“We’re going to construct our own empire right here! We’ll carve our names into the very fabric of the underworld!” His words echoed with a fervor that made him feel invincible, as if he were destined to rise above the shadows.

In that fleeting moment, John felt larger than life, an emperor in a kingdom of darkness.

But just as he was about to continue his grandiose speech—

“Click.”

The sharp, unmistakable sound of a pistol being cocked sliced through the air, sending a chill down everyone’s spine.

In an instant, Nova, with her striking presence, spun a Desert Eagle around her finger like a seasoned performer. Without a moment’s hesitation, she thrust the barrel directly into John’s mouth, her icy demeanor sending a shockwave of fear through the crowd.

Her eyes were like shards of ice, cold and unforgiving, reflecting a world that had long since stripped her of innocence.

“Shut up and drop dead,” she snapped, her voice laced with a chilling impatience that brooked no argument.

The shot rang out, a sharp crack that pierced the tension like a knife.

“Bang!”

With a steady hand, Nova pulled the trigger, her resolve unshakeable. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. In that moment, she was not the naive girl they once knew; she had transformed into the Mercenary Bloodforge, a figure drenched in blood and hardened by the trials of the underworld.

Fortunately for John, Zane had sensed something was amiss just before the trigger was pulled. As John continued to boast, Zane instinctively yanked him closer, desperate to shield him from the impending doom.

The bullet whizzed past, barely grazing Kaelin’s cheek, a reminder of how close they had come to disaster.

“Ah! Ahh!” John screamed, the bravado evaporating as he realized the cold-blooded nature of Nova. His once boastful mouth now screeched in panic, flailing in a desperate attempt to escape.

Who could have imagined that Zane’s goddess would be the kind of badass who threatened to kill and actually followed through?

Zane’s eyes widened in shock, his mind racing.

He had acted on instinct, grabbing John to save him, and in doing so, had genuinely saved his life.

But what truly blew his mind was the realization that—

‘When did Nova become so ruthless?’ Zane was utterly floored.

‘She nearly shot him!’

“With that kind of backbone, do you really think you can establish a power base in the underworld?” Nova scoffed, her laughter dripping with disdain.

With that, she turned on her heel, striding away without casting a single glance back at Zane and his bewildered crew.

She didn’t care about any of them.

Tiana, who had been clinging to Zane as if he might vanish if she let go, along with the other Zorian students, including Christopher, stood frozen, their faces drained of color.

In that split second, they looked as though they had encountered a ghost, the reality of the situation sinking in.

Tiana, still trying to maintain her facade of superiority, had been showing off in front of Nova, as if they were still back at school.

But the truth was painfully clear.

Nova had just delivered a brutal wake-up call, exposing the naivety of their entire mindset.

“Boss,” Yellowcat called out, her voice cutting through the tension.

She had been in hot pursuit of Fierce Python, but the man was all muscle and no charm; no matter how hard she tried, he refused to collaborate.

Now, sensing the commotion surrounding Nova, she hurried back, casting a questioning glance at Zane and his crew, silently demanding to know what was happening.

“Just some random strangers. Not even worth discussing,” Nova replied, her tone icy and indifferent.

“Go tell the team to gear up—we roll out in three minutes.”

Nova’s command was absolute.

Three minutes later, the familiar voice of Chief Instructor Lionel crackled over the intercom, cutting through the air with authority.

“See those armored vehicles in front of you?” he began, his tone almost mocking. “Hop on. Someone will escort you to the wild forest. Your first trial is simple: make it through the primeval forest in three days. Easy enough, right? For your information, there’s a little something waiting for each of you out there in the wilds.”

As Nova propped her foot up on a wooden plank, she began strapping on every weapon she had—pistols, knives, grenades—attaching them to her waist, thighs, and any other available space.

She bit down on a hair tie between her red lips, and with a few swift flicks, pulled her long, straight black hair into a high ponytail, ready for action.

Then, she led the Blood Dolls Mercenary Squad, climbing aboard the armored transport vehicle with a sense of purpose.

Not far behind, Zane couldn’t tear his eyes away from Nova, captivated by the transformation she had undergone.

He thought to himself, ‘What are you becoming, woman?

I was only gone for a few months, and now you’re like this?

‘No matter how much you’ve changed, this time, I’m the one who will protect you!’

The primeval forest near the International Mercenary Training Ground in Verecula appeared like any other forest—ordinary and unremarkable at first glance.

Yet, beneath its surface lay dangers that were anything but simple.

As soon as they hopped off the armored transport, Nova led her crew—Eder, Sham, and a group of burly mercenaries—straight into the wilderness.

She could sense Zane and his crew trailing behind them, their presence a constant reminder of the world they were leaving behind.

“Boss, those guys are still tailing us. Want me to take care of them?” Yellowcat inquired, sidling up to Nova, her eyes glinting with a dangerous thrill.

Without anyone noticing, she made a subtle, lethal gesture, hinting at her readiness for action.

“Just ignore them. Save your energy,” Nova murmured, her voice low but firm.

Then, addressing the Blood Dolls Mercenary Squad, she spoke a little louder, her tone commanding.

“Everyone, stay on high alert. Lionel won’t make it easy for us to navigate through this forest.”

Eder, Sham, and the rest of the mercenaries still harbored doubts about Nova’s capabilities.

They couldn’t fathom how a woman like her believed she could lead their barely-formed squad—less than three months old and not even thirty strong—into the upper echelons of this year’s training ground rankings. It seemed an impossible feat.

However, after witnessing Nova prove herself in battle, they had to concede—at least a modicum of respect had been earned.

For now, they chose to follow her lead; her word was law for the squad.

“A woman dragging another woman around, always surrounded by guys? What else could they be but flirts?” Tiana scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain.

Standing right next to Zane, she let out a derisive little snort, clearly taking jabs at Nova and Yellowcat.

When Zane remained silent, Tiana’s jealousy flared even hotter.

Her envy consumed her; not only was Nova stunningly beautiful and effortlessly charming Zane, but she could also wield a gun with lethal precision. It infuriated Tiana to no end.

She was acting like a genuine underworld badass.

‘Is she seriously not scared of blood at all?’ Tiana thought, her mind swirling with envy and disbelief.

Who knows which guy she cozied up to for those skills? Tiana’s jealousy flared even hotter as she watched Nova flaunt her newfound prowess.

“This can’t be… How is this even real…?” Tiana stammered, her body trembling uncontrollably.

“Has she been through the same warzone as you, Zane? Did she really survive that kind of battlefield?”

Zane could only manage a bitter, helpless smile, the weight of unspoken words resting heavily on his shoulders.

He remained silent, the truth too complex to articulate.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The masked men were clearly part of the trial, a deliberate setup orchestrated by the organizers.

If they didn’t eliminate the masked men, they would be the ones facing death.

Once the masked men were dispatched, the air remained thick with tension.

Then, overhead, the thunderous roar of helicopter rotors filled the sky as one after another flew overhead.

Each helicopter released a massive red crate, towering at least six feet nine inches. As soon as the crates touched the ground, the ropes were cut, and the helicopters ascended once more.

‘So this must be the “surprise” Lionel was talking about,’ Nova thought, her eyes narrowing in anticipation.

“Weapons! We’ve got weapons!”

“Food and supplies! Perfect timing!”

Excited shouts erupted from other mercenary squads, their voices echoing with joy and exhilaration.

The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation.

Yet, Nova barely reacted to the drop, her expression remaining as cold as ice.

She signaled for Eder, Sham, and a few others to step forward and open the enormous red crates—each large enough to contain two people.

And then—

CRACK!

As each of those massive red crates was pried open right before them, they quickly realized it wasn’t weapons or supplies hidden inside.

No, it was something entirely different…

Five actual, living, breathing people!

And Zane was among them.

The top beauties and heartthrobs from Saint Laurel Royal Academy—Maxwell, Hannah, Claire, Ethan, and Jessica!

Someone had just dropped all five of them here, and no one had any idea who was behind it.

Nova’s gaze turned frigid, a sense of urgency washing over her.

Before she could process the situation, that prickling sense of being watched surged up her spine.

Just then, Lionel’s voice crackled over the forest speakers, brimming with self-satisfaction.

“Hey everyone, I’ve got some fantastic news for you.

“The boss of the Bloodforge Mercenary Squad—the squad that claimed first place in the 74th training ground rankings—

“That’s right, the legendary Bloodforge, the reigning King of Mercenaries, is right here among you! And to celebrate our champion’s return, we’re about to crank the difficulty way up for the next round!

“Tsk… poor souls—get ready for a bloodbath. Unless you can hunt down Bloodforge, the punishment just keeps coming!”