?Chapter 961:


    Elena’s face remainedposed, untouched by his taunts. Words meant little. Losing wasn’t on her agenda.


    Arion stole a nce at Wesley, who hadn’t moved, concern creeping into his features. He leaned closer and muttered, “Mr. Spencer, aren’t you going to do something? That guy’s built like a tank—he’s no beginner. He’s gotta be from special forces.”


    Wesley’s eyes stayed fixed on Elena, a flicker of admiration ying in their depths. “She can handle it.”


    Arion’s brow twitched. Was Wesley seriously swooning? There was no way Elena could stand a chance against someone like that. Ever since they’d set foot in the Azure Dragon Base, Arion could barely recognize Wesley anymore. The man who had once seemed distant and merciless now lookedpletely enthralled, his focus never straying from Elena.


    Elena’s voice cut through the tension, cool and steady. “Save the chatter. I’ll let you take three moves. Show me what you’ve got.” A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.


    “Is she nuts?”


    “No way! Nobody talks like that.”


    “She’s got no clue who she’s dealing with. This is gonna be ugly.”


    Hand, now thoroughly provoked, let go of any lingering restraint. He’d hesitated at first. After all, defeating her wouldn’t earn him praise, but her boldness had gone too far. His jaw tightened. “Don’t forget, I warned you.”


    The crowd stepped back, giving the two of them space.


    Lucinda grabbed N’s arm, a smug smile ying at the corners of her mouth. “She’s finished. That’s what happens when she runs her mouth. He’s going to teach her a lesson she won’t forget.”


    The thought of Elena being humiliated only made Lucinda’s grin grow.


    N remained silent, though the same cruel anticipation lit up her eyes.


    Both N and Lucinda were eager for Elena’s fall.


    However, Hand struck three swift punches, one after another, and missed every time. He couldn’t even graze Elena’s clothes.


    From the edge of the crowd, Lucinda yelled, “Stop holding back, Sergeant Larson! She’s nothing but a snake—if she gets hurt, she asked for it!”


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    The onlookers believed Hand was taking it easy on Elena.


    Only Hand knew the truth. The first strike had been restrained—but the next two? He hadn’t held back. He’d gone in hard. And still, Elena stood there,pletely unharmed. Not because he showed mercy, but because he couldn’tnd a single hit. A shadow passed over his face as a sinking unease took hold deep in his gut.


    Hand stumbled over his words, panic thick in his voice. “W-who are you?”


    Elena answered with a chilling smile, ignoring the fear that flickered in his eyes. Without so much as a pause, she lifted her leg and delivered a precise, brutal kick.


    The sound of impact rang out across the field as Hand’s body wasunched through the air.


    Elena hadn’t held back at all. Hand mmed into the ground with a sickening thud, a low groan slipping from his throat as blood bubbled from his mouth. Two of his ribs snapped on impact.


    Silence nketed the training ground. Not a single person moved. Every soldier stood frozen, jaws dropped, eyes locked on Elena—who looked entirely untouched—and on Hand, whoy curled up on the ground, unable to rise. Was that real? Had that seriously just happened? With one strike, that woman had dropped Hand and left him coughing up blood. Even Kason hadn’t taken Hand down so effortlessly. This woman was terrifying.


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