[Disaster countdown: 46 seconds]
Everyone's attention was drawn for a moment by the words, "Just like you once ate me." Then the churning river surged into a huge wave and crashed straight down on River Witch.
The water knocked River Witch off balance, sending her tumbling to the ground. Before she could get back up, her already battered, bloodied body—mangled by Master of Ten Thousand's attacks—suddenly seemed to lose all vitality and fell apart.
Filth like patches of mud seeped from her skin. The viscous liquid dripped down, mingled with the river, and instantly blended into the water until it was indistinguishable.
Within seconds, Aran's young body and face took on River Witch's old appearance. They were clearly two entirely different faces, yet for a fleeting moment, the deduction players seemed to see the image of the old woman they had encountered in River Witch's Tower on that body.
Her mouth hung open as she swallowed the filthy river water, rapidly transforming into a drowned corpse. Another wave crashed over her, and a phantom River Witch tore free from her body. Like a vengeful ghost who had drowned in the river, she disappeared into the current without a trace.
When the water receded, all that remained was Aran's pale skin, thin as a sheet. Her eyes were wide open, her face frozen in terror and resentment. It was hard not to wonder if this was what young Aran had really looked like when River Witch skinned her and took her place.
"Holy shit!"
Zhao Ruru, who naturally had a booming voice, and Quinn, who was rather laid-back, shouted the loudest.
"What kind of creature is River Witch, exactly?"
Master of Ten Thousand was strung up on the tangible shadows and couldn't move. Pain and blood blurred his vision,