On the outskirts of New York City, a detached luxury villa stood in silence.
A black sedan slowly approached along the smooth, tree-lined road and came to a steady stop before the villa's ornate iron gates.
The car door opened, and Neuman stepped out lightly, a relaxed smile on her face as she turned sideways, waved, and softly said goodbye to the driver.
She turned and walked leisurely into the villa along the courtyard's stone path, but after just two or three steps, a sudden chill swept over her, instantly wiping away all her ease and pleasure.
Inside the villa's living room, a tall, slender figure lounged on the sofa, eyes lowered as he idly flipped through a fashion magazine.
Every muscle in Neuman's body instantly tensed. She stopped in her tracks, the smile draining from her face as extreme wariness and solemnity filled her eyes.
It was Translucent.
Without making the slightest sound, he had slipped into her private villa and was quietly waiting here.
An overwhelming sense of danger instantly seized her mind, and her survival instincts erupted.
The whites of Neuman's eyes instantly spread until her pupils disappeared. She silently activated her blood ability, secretly targeting Solomon on the sofa and trying with all her strength to control the blood inside him, seeking to immobilize, restrain, or even severely injure him outright.
But no matter how hard she pushed her ability or how much pressure she exerted, the blood inside Solomon continued flowing steadily, entirely unaffected and beyond her control. The Blood Manipulation ability she took such pride in had completely failed against him, rendered utterly useless.
As Neuman forced her ability to work, heat flooded her nose, and warm blood began dripping uncontrollably, sliding down past the corner of her mouth.
Shocked to her core, she