"Now!! Now is the time to pay your debt of what you've done to me!!!" Black Serpent shouted while running towards the man wearing a black hooded cloak.
Black Serpent covered his two fists with aura and punched the one wearing the Black hooded Cloak, but all his attacks missed because the man he was fighting moved too quickly.
He continued his assault, yet not a single strike landed on his adversary, further infuriating Black Serpent. He unleashed the auras hidden within his body, utilizing them to enhance his speed and strength, but to no avail, as his attacks still missed.
Exhausted and depleted of his aura, he found himself kneeling, bowing down from sheer fatigue.
"Why... why aren't you attacking me?" Black Serpent stammered, overwhelmed by exhaustion.
"Perhaps you're already aware," the man in the black cloak uttered calmly, "that from the onset of this confrontation, you never posed a true threat. Understand, I harbor no interest in the feeble such as yourself. You're too frail to concern me," he continued, directing his hands toward Black Serpent's visage. "Aura Ability: Crimson Lotus of Eternal Healing Flame."
In an instant, flames enveloped Black Serpent's form, erasing every scar from his body, leaving him dumbfounded by the sudden disappearance of his marks.
"What... What have you wrought?" Black Serpent gasped, bewildered by the swift alteration.
The figure cloaked in black approached Black Serpent's skull mask, lifting it gently. "You have no need for this anymore. With every blemish erased from your body, there's nothing left to hide. This mask now belongs to me. Surely, you've outgrown its necessity," his voice retained its icy composure.
"Why did you choose to heal me?" Black Serpent inquired.
Drawing nearer, the cloaked man stood alongside Black Serpent. "Should you seek retribution for my actions, you must first rise in strength to meet my own. I sense untapped potential within you, yet unreached heights. Should you desire to unlock it, accompany me," his tone remaining cold and unwavering.
With his head held high, Black Serpent locked eyes with the man. "I refuse to accept this. I've been defeated by you twice already, so now you must pay!!!" Black Serpent shouted, launching another attack.
The man's eyes turned cold as he conjured two knives and hurled them towards Black Serpent's eyes.
Black Serpent let out a deafening scream as he was blinded, unable to remove the two knives embedded in his eye sockets due to an aura surrounding them.
The man walked away, holding Black Serpent's skull mask. "If I wished, I could deal with you right now, but there could be great benefit for you if you join me. Whether you like it or not, you'll come with me. Wait for me here until I return," he said, his voice still frigid as he donned the skull mask.
The man continued on his way, wearing the skull mask.
As they prepared for the party at Leonardo's residence, Aika and her companions attended to their attire and final arrangements.
Emma arrived shortly thereafter to escort Aika. "Are you ready, Aika?"
Aika smiled, elegantly dressed in her blue gown. "Yes, I'm prepared."
Emma took Aika's hand, and together they proceeded to Leonardo's home.
During their walk, Aika inquired, "Where are the others? Have they already arrived?"
"They're already there. We're the last ones," Emma responded.
Aika pondered, "Do you think Leonardo will approve of my attire?"
"That's not too revealing. You know what men like - seeing a woman's cleavage," Emma teased.
"What's with you, Emma?" Aika responded, a hint of annoyance in her expression.
"Just kidding! Besides, he wouldn't even notice you anymore because he's already in love with someone else," Emma joked again.
"Yeah, I know," Aika's face suddenly changed, her mood shifting to sadness.
"Now you regret not answering Leonardo back then, but it's your fault anyway. Falling for someone who's no longer here, what were you thinking?" Emma remarked.
"Don't worry, Emma. I'll find a good man for myself," Aika replied determinedly.
"That's good, Aika. Let's go to the party then."
In a matter of moments, they arrived at Leonardo's house, which was quite spacious.
Leonardo, clad in a party coat, greeted them along with his girlfriend. "Glad you could make it! Come on in. By the way, this is Loraine, my girlfriend," Leonardo introduced Loraine to them.
"Hello, good evening," Loraine winked her left eye and flashed a peace sign, as if trying to be cute, but she truly was adorable.
Aika simply bowed her head, feeling defeated in Loraine's presence.
"Loraine, these are Aika and Emma," Leonardo also introduced the two to his girlfriend, and they entered the house.
They also spotted Conrad there with their friends. "Glad you could make it; I thought you weren't coming," Conrad said.
"Why wouldn't we? We were definitely going to come," Emma replied.
Meanwhile, at the Zodiac Council Office, Owen and Ava had already left for a party they were attending. Others had also departed for various reasons.
Left behind were Grace and Sam. "Aren't you going with them?" Sam asked Grace.
"Going where?"
"I thought they invited you. There's a party happening at the new recruit's house, the one Owen and Ava are attending, along with their new recruits."
"What do I care about them? Let them enjoy their party; it's their business," Grace left the office abruptly, without saying goodbye.
Sam scratched his head. "Women, they never admit their feelings because they're embarrassed about their past."
Grace walked briskly, her thoughts deep. "They have a party? And they're together? And they didn't even invite me? Wait, why am I behaving like this? What do I care if they're together now? Let them be; I'm not going." Grace muttered to herself.
Moments later, Grace found herself at Leonardo's house, lurking behind a wall, watching the events unfold as if she were a madwoman.
Owen addressed the gathering, his voice amplified by the microphone, "We shall now commence our welcome party for our new recruits, our comrades. Thank you all for gracing us with your presence." Standing beside him was Ava.
Taking hold of the mic, Ava announced, "I am pleased to introduce my newly selected recruits under my guidance: Loraine Ingracia, Rebecca Prancia, and Dante Bydgeas. Kindly step forward."
The three individuals Ava named approached, joining her on stage. "These are the new members under Scorpio's wing."
Owen then took over the mic once more, "Now, let us welcome the Zodiac Aries members: Leonardo Moretti, Mikey Ford, and Veronica Durkheim."
As called, the Aries members joined Ava and her recruits at the front.
"In time, you will all work together seamlessly. For now, let us revel in each other's company. I extend my gratitude to Leonardo for hosting our gathering tonight, and to all of you for attending," Owen concluded, before lowering the mic to signal the start of the festivities.
Later, Dante stepped forward unexpectedly, seizing the mic. "Forgive my intrusion, Ma'am Ava and Sir Owen, but I'm compelled to ask: What is the nature of your relationship? Are you, in fact, a couple?"
A hush fell over the crowd; Ava blushed and cast her eyes downward, while Owen, caught off guard, struggled to find his words. Finally, Ava rose to speak, "There is no romantic involvement between us. We are simply colleagues and friends," she replied softly, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
Loraine, rising to her feet, interjected, "If you're just friends, why the blush?"
Owen chuckled nervously, "Let's not dwell on this. Let's enjoy the party."
The crowd erupted in cheers, seemingly urging the two Zodiac members to embrace a romantic connection.
Leonardo, giving Owen a playful nudge, remarked, "Sir, it's high time you found someone to share your life with."
Meanwhile, Loraine, approaching Ava, whispered mischievously, "Perhaps a little liquid courage for Owen? Then, when he's sufficiently intoxicated, lead him to your quarters. Once you're with child, he won't let you go, and he'll fully embrace fatherhood."
Ava's face flushed scarlet. "I couldn't possibly," she murmured to herself.
Shortly after, Owen and Ava were brought together, facing each other.
With a gentle push from behind, Leonardo urged Owen, "Go on, sir, express your feelings."
Both of them blushed, and Rebecca seized the spotlight. "If they won't admit their feelings, then perhaps a kiss will suffice."
Ava's cheeks flamed crimson. "A kiss? I've never..."
"Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!" the crowd chanted eagerly.
However, Ava hesitated, her mind racing with uncertainty.
Grace heard everything that was happening. "W-wait? Courtship? What's that about a kiss they're talking about? Are they going to kiss each other? Why should I care? Let them kiss as much as they want."
Suddenly, someone approached her. "Aren't you going to stop them?" Sam asked.
"What are you doing here, Sam?"
"Admit your feelings to her now. If you don't act now, they might become a couple tonight."
"I have nothing to admit."
"It's up to you. I've given you advice."
Ava and Owen were still unsettled by what their new companions were saying. Then Owen noticed two people outside the gate. To avoid the commotion caused by their new companions, Owen went to the two at the gate.
"W-wait a moment... it seems we still have visitors." Owen went to the two at the gate.
As Owen approached the two, Grace noticed and quickly hid behind Sam.
"Oh, you're here, Sam," Grace peeked out slowly, feeling embarrassed. "And who...? Come in, come in." Owen went back inside, still ignoring Grace.
"It seems like he's really mad at you," Sam teased Grace.
"I-it's not like that," Grace replied.
"What's the matter then?..."
"What do you mean? Just go in."
"You two are here too?" Oliver suddenly arrived at the party.
"Are you coming too?" Sam asked Oliver.
"Aika invited me," Oliver replied with a smile.
"In that case, let's go," Sam said, glancing at Grace with a teasing smile.
"Let's go." The two of them entered, but then they stopped. "Wait, aren't you coming in, Grace?" Oliver asked.
Grace just smiled. "You guys go ahe—" Grace didn't finish her sentence as Sam suddenly pulled her inside, and the three of them entered.