Novels by Anoushka

Everyone’s attention was fixed on the area beneath Nico’s fist.The otherworldly beast that had taken the punch didn’t immediately collapse. It remained standing, its massive head held high as it glared furiously at Nico, as though it had withstood the blow without suffering any serious damage.It wasn’t dead?Hudson’s brows drew together. Something about this didn’t feel right.Although Nico’s punch hadn’t created much of a spectacle, the power behind it was immense. Hudson estimated that it was roughly equal to the destructive force of the red talisman Taron had used earlier to break the formation.Nico still hadn’t fully recovered his strength, but he had once been a being comparable to a Martial God. Even in his weakened state, he could gather his remaining power and unleash an attack far beyond what an ordinary Grandmaster could withstand.This punch had been prepared specifically for the otherworldly beast.It was meant to kill it.For several seconds, nothing happened. Then a h

Severed limbs flew through the air as blood splattered across the floor and walls.Earlier, the pseudo-Grandmasters and supernatural warriors had been driven by sheer madness. They had charged forward without the slightest fear of death, throwing themselves into the battle one after another. But everything changed once the otherworldly beast locked onto Hudson.Hudson had been using the creature like a weapon, leading it through the crowd and forcing it to tear through anyone standing in his way. By constantly luring the beast toward the surrounding enemies and then slipping away at the last second, he turned the creature into a nightmare for everyone else.Their morale collapsed completely.Otherworldly beasts were naturally violent creatures. This one was determined to devour Hudson, yet he was as elusive as a mouse, constantly slipping away whenever it tried to catch him and deliberately weaving through the densest groups of people.The pseudo-Grandmasters and supernatural warriors

Hudson sneered and replied disdainfully, "The one hiding this whole time is you, not me.""Besides, if I can kill you once, I can kill you a second time."His eyes turned cold."So you'd better keep hiding. Otherwise, I'll kill you again."The men Crane had prepared began pouring out from the surrounding passages.There were far more of them than Hudson had expected. They were all pseudo-Grandmasters and supernatural martial artists, and they seemed almost endless as they continued emerging from the depths of the tunnels.Within moments, the spacious underground hall became crowded with people. They spread out in every direction, completely surrounding Hudson, Nico, Taron, Jonjae, and the others."Hmph!"Crane's voice came through the speakers again."I'll be waiting for you.""The only question is whether you'll still be alive when you get out of here."After saying that, Crane gave his final order."Kill them all!""Kill!"A deafening roar erupted from the crowd.The entire hall des

A thin white mist suddenly appeared out of nowhere. At first, no one paid much attention to it. It looked harmless, barely more than a faint layer of fog drifting through the underground hall. But the moment a strand of the white mist touched Lads's protective barrier, a sharp sizzling sound suddenly rang out.The barrier formed from true energy began to corrode almost instantly. It was like steel being exposed to concentrated acid, the surface rapidly weakening under the white mist.Lads's expression changed. He hurriedly poured more true energy into the barrier, reinforcing it before the corrosive mist could completely eat through it.The sight immediately put Taron, Jonjae, and the others on alert.They quickly looked around, trying to determine where the white mist was coming from.Hudson's eyebrows twitched. He didn't dare take any chances.Since he wasn't certain whether his armor could withstand the corrosive effect, he immediately released his own protective barrier around his

Ever since Hudson first came into contact with Taron, there had been one question he couldn't get out of his mind.What level of strength had this highly respected old man from the White Night Sect actually reached?Taron's methods were too unusual. His ability to conceal his aura was especially strange, making it nearly impossible for Hudson to determine his true level. Even after spending so much time around him, Hudson had never been able to see through him completely.But now, everything had become clear. The Taron standing before them was his true form.An eighth-level Grandmaster. Hudson's eyes narrowed. He suddenly realized that Taron had deliberately concealed his true strength all this time. And now, he had finally revealed it.It wasn't simply an act of showing off.Taron was sending a warning. He was silently reminding both Hudson and Nico not to act recklessly.Nico might have once been one of the most feared figures in the old martial world, a man who had even stood at th

“Where did things go wrong?”Taron frowned deeply as he stood inside the secret room, his face filled with confusion. Nico was old, but his vitality was extraordinary. There was no doubt about that.Yet from Nico's attitude, Taron could clearly tell that the man had no interest in getting close to him.It was exactly what Hudson had been afraid of from the beginning. Hudson had always been on guard, worried that Taron might try to manipulate Nico or convince him to leave his side.After Hudson brought Nico to the Rodriguez family estate, the White Night Sect immediately began investigating his identity.When they discovered that the man once known as the most feared figure in the old California martial world, the man who had long been presumed dead, was actually still alive and had been brought back by Hudson, Taron was stunned.He had never expected Hudson to suddenly find such a powerful ally.Although Taron had never personally witnessed Nico's strength, the records left behind fro

“Everyone wears a mask, Andrei.”Michael’s voice was calm, yet every word carried crushing weight.“Yours is called idealism. Due process. A spotless sense of morality that stands in broad daylight, judging everyone else.”His voice echoed through the livestream, spreading across the internet and reaching millions of viewers. Every sentence dug deeper into Andrei’s already fractured state of mind.“But what’s hiding underneath that mask? It was you. When that fire broke out, you locked the doors to all sixteen wards so you could escape alone. You chose yourself over everyone else. You ran for the exit without looking back while those psychiatric patients pounded on the locked doors, screaming and begging for help.”Michael's gaze never wavered. “You're not condemning me because I betrayed my ideals.”A cold, almost cruel smile touched the corner of his mouth.“You're condemning me because you're jealous. You're jealous that I had the courage to face the darkness... that I was willing

A flicker of anger flashed across Andrei's eyes.It was gone almost as quickly as it appeared, hidden beneath his usual polished smile.Then, slowly, he began to clap."Brilliant." His applause echoed through the office. "A truly brilliant defense, Professor Aliyah."His voice remained as warm and composed as ever, but beneath that calm exterior, something darker was beginning to surface."Occupational hazard..." He let out a faint, humorless chuckle. "That's certainly... an original argument."This time, he abandoned the theoretical debate entirely. Instead, he played his strongest card."Since you believe that's all this is," he said, "allow me to ask you one more question."He picked up the remote control on the table and pressed another button.The livestream split into two screens once again. On the right side appeared surveillance footage.The location was instantly recognizable.Platform 7.The infamous haunted platform. A wave of unease swept through the millions watching.The

The livestream began. In an instant, millions of eyes were fixed on Aliyah's sunlit office.The screen split neatly into two halves.On the left was Aliyah, composed and elegant, every bit the gentle psychology professor. On the right was Andrei, impeccably dressed, wearing the calm, confident smile of a man who belonged among society's elite.The viewer count skyrocketed.Thirty million.Then it climbed even higher at an astonishing speed.The live chat exploded, comments pouring across the screen like a river bursting through a broken dam."The Final Trial is starting!" "No way! Who is this Andrei? He looks incredible!" "He's judging Michael? Seriously? Michael's my idol!" "Stop being blinded by fandom! Read the title, this is a psychological trial. They're using professional analysis!"Andrei ignored the flood of comments completely.His attention never left Aliyah. There was just enough regret in his eyes to make him seem sincere, and just enough determination to convince the a

Ashley's heart shot into her throat. Then, at last, a woman's voice came through the phone.It sounded remarkably like Ashley's, about seventy percent alike, but it was clearer, calmer, and carried not the slightest hint of fear."I need five minutes. I'm going to the restroom."A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of Michael's lips."Good."Aliyah sat behind the spacious rosewood desk in her office, her posture graceful and composed.Warm afternoon sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, wrapping the room in a soft golden glow. A cup of freshly brewed black tea rested in front of her, thin wisps of steam rising into the air, filling the office with its rich aroma.To anyone passing by, it looked like an ordinary afternoon. Only Aliyah knew how deceptive that appearance was.Hidden beneath the collar of her blouse was a pinhole camera no larger than the head of a pin. Buried against the bone behind her ear, a flesh-colored bone-conduction earpiece quietly relayed Micha

Michael's words struck Ashley like a bolt of lightning.Her entire body trembled violently, and her mind went completely blank.Her sister. Aliyah.The little sister who had always trailed behind her since they were children, timid and quick to tears. The quiet scholar she had always protected, someone she believed was too innocent and sheltered for the harshness of the world.A fear buried deep in her instincts seized her heart in an instant. Cold spread through every inch of her body, leaving her limbs stiff and numb. Almost on reflex, she reached into her pocket for her phone. She needed to hear Aliyah's voice. Right now.But her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn't even hold the phone. Again and again, her trembling fingers slipped against its cold metal frame."Calm down."A hand reached over and gently covered the back of hers.It wasn't a large hand, but it was unbelievably steady. The simple touch stopped her frantic, futile movements.It was Michael.Only moments ago

"That incident became a wound buried deep in your heart," Michael said. "And because of it, when you grew up, you chose to become a police officer. You've spent your whole life chasing control and order with almost obsessive determination."Ashley stared at him without speaking."Every time you try to help me," Michael continued, "every time you try to drag me back onto what you think is the right path, you're not saving me."He stepped closer, leaning toward her just enough that only she could hear his next words."You're trying to make up for your childhood regrets."His voice dropped even lower."You're trying to save that powerless little girl you used to be."Ashley's body stiffened.She staggered backward until her shoulders struck the side of the mobile command vehicle. For a moment, she nearly lost her balance.Her face was drained of color. Her breathing became shallow. Disbelief filled her eyes.He was right. Every word of it.As she looked at Michael, she finally understood