Before leaving, she pulled Kael aside into a more secluded corner, her voice dropping into a serious tone. "What happened? How did that superior being escape?"

Kael exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Her name was Ariana. The moment we tried to lure her, she realized something was off. She detected the ambush and left immediately."

Ivy nodded slowly, accepting the explanation without further questions.

When she returned to the abandoned factory, an eerie silence greeted her.

There was no one left.

A wave of frustration washed over her. Even after capturing two superior beings, their main target, Roma, had escaped, along with the newly arrived one.

’We were so close...’

Not willing to leave empty-handed, she began searching the area. Her footsteps echoed softly as she moved deeper inside.

Then she saw it. A strange symbol etched into the floor.

Drawn to it, she stepped closer, her gaze locking onto its intricate patterns. The lines seemed almost alive, twisting subtly under her stare. Time slipped away unnoticed as she stood there, completely absorbed.

The world around her faded. Until footsteps. A hand tapped her shoulder.

Ivy flinched slightly, snapping out of her trance as she turned sharply toward Kayla. "What?"

Kayla’s face was filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine," Ivy replied, frowning slightly. "I was just inspecting this place. It’s only been a few minutes; why are you so worried?"

Kayla’s expression grew even more uneasy. "It’s been two hours."

The words hit her like a shock.

Ivy turned her head toward the outside, and her breath caught slightly. The sky had already dimmed into evening, shadows stretching long across the ground.

Her face paled. ’Two hours...? I didn’t even notice...’

Taking a slow breath to steady herself, she asked, "Did you find Roma or the others?"

Kayla nodded, a hint of relief appearing on her face. "We tracked them. They’ve moved into a nearby cave. If we reach there quickly and secure them, we still have a chance."

Ivy nodded without hesitation.

As soon as they reached the cave, that smell again hit Ivy’s nose; it was much stronger.

Stronger this time. Ivy inhaled sharply, her gaze snapping toward Mia.

Without warning, she moved. A swift strike. Mia collapsed instantly.

Ava’s eyes widened in shock as she rushed forward. "What are you doing?!" Her voice trembled with disbelief and anger.

Ivy’s lips pressed into a thin line. Without answering immediately, she waved her hand, and Mia’s unconscious body disappeared into her temporal storage.

Ava’s breathing grew uneven. "Ivy... explain yourself."

Ivy finally spoke, her tone calm but firm. "If my theory is correct... there’s something wrong with Mia."

Ava froze for a moment, her emotions clashing within her, but in the end, she said nothing more.

’Ivy wouldn’t harm us without reason...’

Inside the cave, the dim light revealed a figure sitting calmly on a stone boulder. Roma.

She sat there as if she had been waiting all along, her posture relaxed, her expression unreadable.

Ivy stopped at a distance, her entire body tense. She did not dare step closer.

Roma let out a soft chuckle, the sound echoing faintly through the cave, sending a chill down Ivy’s spine.

’She’s not afraid... not even a little...’ Ivy realized, her brows furrowing.

It was as if Roma did not consider her a threat at all.

The next moment, Ivy raised her hand, and a thunderball appeared in her hand.

It was Silas who knew how to control his superpower, and slowly he succeeded in making a thunderball.

In the very next moment, Ivy’s fingers flicked forward, and the condensed thunderbolt shot toward Roma like a streak of violent light, tearing through the stale air of the cave.

Felix’s muscles tensed as he instinctively leaned forward, his elastic limbs stretching slightly as if ready to spring.

’I should rush her... crush her before she reacts,’ he thought, his instincts screaming at him to attack directly.

Yet, deep down, he restrained himself, knowing that charging recklessly toward someone like Roma would be nothing short of suicidal.

Caleb stepped forward in perfect coordination, his hands moving subtly as he manipulated the flow of time around Roma to magnify Ivy’s attack on Roma.

Yet, Roma simply stood there.

Even as the thunderbolt struck her body directly, a faint smile curved her lips, her eyes glinting with quiet amusement, as if she were watching children play.

Martha’s brows furrowed deeply, unease creeping into her voice. "She’s too calm... too confident. This isn’t normal. She must have planned something long ago."

Ivy’s gaze sharpened instantly as she scanned their surroundings, her instincts screaming that something was terribly wrong.

At the same time, Felix pushed his ability further, his arm stretching unnaturally as he tried to reach Roma.

However, just as his fingers were about to touch her, it felt as though he was grasping at air, like trying to hold onto a mirage.

Roma moved.

No... she didn’t just move.

She vanished and reappeared, dodging every single attempt with effortless precision.

’She’s... too fast...’ Ivy’s pupils shrank.

Martha’s breath caught in her throat. ’That speed... that’s impossible...’

’As fast as light...?’

The realization struck both of them at the same time, and horror flashed across their faces.

"Get back!" Martha shouted urgently, her voice echoing sharply.

But she was too late.

With a deafening clang, a metallic cage dropped from above, slamming down around them before anyone could react.

Felix reacted instantly, his body compressing and stretching as he slipped through the gaps, escaping the cage in a split second.

He spun around, rushing to pry it open... but before he could touch it, a sudden force struck him violently.

His eyes widened in shock as his body was thrown backward, crashing heavily onto the ground with a dull thud.

"Felix!" Kael gasped.

Inside the cage, Ivy’s heart pounded wildly. Panic surged through her veins as she grabbed the bars and tried to force them apart with sheer strength.

The moment her skin touched the metal... a violent surge of electricity shot through her body.