Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

The masked man finally stopped when they reached a sparse patch of woods.

Paige Summers and Marcus could already see the people standing ahead.

There weren’t many of them—just eleven. Some were leaning against their vehicles, others were squatting to the side, and a few were sitting right on the car roofs. As Paige Summers scanned the group, she noted they were all men, and quite tall. She could make out their brawny muscles even through their combat uniforms. However, each man’s head and face was tightly covered, completely obscuring his features.

Though she couldn’t see their faces, the men exuded a palpable aggression that she could feel even from more than twenty meters away.

’Something feels off,’ Paige Summers thought.

’This group is strange...’ But if she were asked to explain what was strange about them, she couldn’t provide any specific examples. She just had a feeling that something about them was indescribably awkward.

The slight man who had led them there walked over to his comrades and whispered a few words to a man leaning against one of the cars. After receiving a response, he immediately stepped back and stood obediently behind him.

Clearly, this was the man in charge.

The man straightened up and took a few steps forward. His gaze swept over Marcus Monroe and Paige Summers before finally settling on Marcus.

”My friend, stop meddling in our affairs. Whatever your conditions are, just name them. I’m a very generous person!”

Marcus Monroe, in a foul mood, lifted his eyelids. ”Sure. Him, him, and him...” He pointed a finger at three of the men behind their leader. ”Gouge their eyes out and give them to me. Then I might consider your request.”

One of the three men he’d pointed to flew into a rage, raising his submachine gun and aiming it at Marcus Monroe’s head. ”You’re asking to die!”

Marcus Monroe snorted, then suddenly broke into a smile. ”You can try. We’ll see who’s really asking to die.”

As he spoke, he had already unleashed several Energy Blades, sending them streaking toward the three men who had so thoroughly annoyed him.

Meanwhile, a Crossbow materialized in Paige Summers’s hands, and she fired a rapid three-shot burst straight at their leader!

The two moved in perfect sync, their first moves aimed to kill.

Their opponents were on guard, but they hadn’t expected them to attack so suddenly, causing a moment’s hesitation. In that tiny window, Marcus Monroe launched a second wave of Energy Blades, while Paige Summers, now wielding a long knife, clashed with the leader who had dodged her crossbow bolts.

One handled the group, the other focused on a single target. Their objective was perfectly clear.

Regardless of who these people were, one thing was certain: they were the enemy.

That’s why they struck first.

Once the fighting began, it became clear their opponents were, as expected, quite powerful.

Paige Summers was faring well enough, as she was only fighting one man. With her speed, she would never be at a disadvantage. But her opponent was also an expert fighter, so she couldn’t find an opening to land a killing blow.

Marcus Monroe, on the other hand, was starting to struggle.

He was simply outnumbered.

Although he had managed to injure the one who’d shouted ”You’re asking to die!” and another defiant man he’d focused on, the rest were not to be underestimated. He could hold them off for the moment, but he’d be in trouble if it dragged on.

Realizing their advantage would soon disappear, Paige Summers acted decisively. She finally found an opening and kicked the man in the groin, shouting, ”Go!”

The man’s face contorted in agony and he froze on the spot, no longer able to attack her.

Immediately, with one in front and the other behind, she and Marcus Monroe dodged the volley of bullets and superpower attacks from their pursuers, sprinting out of the woods.

But their opponents weren’t about to let them go and immediately gave chase.

But just then, a thunderous BOOM echoed from the distance!

That was... the sound of artillery!

Paige Summers and Marcus Monroe soon noticed that their pursuers were retreating, and at an incredible speed.

The two of them gradually slowed to a stop.

Marcus Monroe’s lips suddenly curled into a smirk. ”That’s Kiera Walsh,” he said with certainty.

Paige Summers nodded, breathing a small sigh of relief. ”It looks like Sweetie successfully got Shawn Monroe back.”

”If I’d known Kiera Walsh could get her hands on artillery, I would’ve just killed Shawn Monroe on the first day. That way he wouldn’t have been able to keep hiding for his own selfish reasons!”

Paige Summers thought for a moment. ”It must have just been delivered. If she had it before, there’s no reason she wouldn’t have used it during the initial assault on the city.”

Marcus Monroe slapped his forehead. ”Right, forgot about that.”

Paige Summers fell silent.

’I get the feeling he forgot on purpose,’ she thought. ’He probably just felt Shawn Monroe was too much of a hindrance as a hostage. It’s best to change the subject.’

”They probably won’t be paying attention to the tunnel now. We should go back and destroy it.”

Marcus Monroe shook his head slightly. ”No need. We’re going straight back to camp.”

A question formed in Paige Summers’s eyes, then they widened. ”What did you do?”

”Micro-bombs...”

Paige Summers stared at him in astonishment.

’Micro-bombs... Does that mean he was planting them this whole time? I didn’t notice a thing. And he never mentioned it.’

Marcus Monroe shot her a look, his expression mocking. ”What? Surprised? Think I should have told you? Feel wronged because I don’t trust you?”

Paige Summers didn’t say anything.

It wasn’t that she felt wronged. It was a more complex emotion.

Because she hadn’t told Marcus Monroe everything either, and she couldn’t just use the excuse that there was no time or opportunity. The simple fact was that the trust they once shared was gone.

Marcus Monroe’s hands shot out, gripping her shoulders. His face, twisted with rage, was inches from hers as he stared down at her.

”Fine, then! Let’s just get it all out in the open! You think I don’t trust you? When have you ever trusted me? Did you really think I’d believe some Zombie’s stupid, self-serving speech? Conquer the world... Ha! Do I look like a complete moron, or are you just impossibly stupid? Who the hell do you take me for? I’ve never met a woman like you! Acting all meek and staying by my side while secretly suspecting me, distrusting me! If that’s how you feel, then why don’t you just get the hell away from me!”