The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 76: Ch : Rising Tensions- Part 2

A muscle in Valeria’s jaw tightened at the insult. There was no way she was going to let such clear insults go unnoticed.

"I’m here to do my job. Unlike some, I don’t need to play games to prove my worth."

Her words sound cutting, but her tone did not seem to be as sharp as before.

Ethan chuckled, a low, dangerous sound.

"Is that why you’re here with backup? Didn’t think you’d need that."

The group behind Valeria shifted uncomfortably. They wore matching gear, the insignia of the Vale family stitched onto their sleeves.

They looked young—too young. Their eyes held more fear than confidence, and Selene’s suspicion was confirmed.

Disposable.

’Ah, these poor people are being used and discarded by the Vale family. It makes me want to help them.’

Selene could not help but pity the people who were in a situation similar to her past self.

Valeria’s eyes flashed.

"Keep talking, and I’ll show you just how unnecessary backup is."

Selene’s fingers twitched at her side, but she forced herself to remain still.

"We’re here for the raid. Let’s not waste energy on petty threats."

Valeria’s lips pressed into a thin line. She turned sharply, signaling her team to follow.

"Stay out of my way, or you’ll regret it."

She threw over her shoulder.

As her entourage hurried to catch up, the government representative seemed to find his voice again.

"Um, shall we proceed to the entrance?"

Selene nodded, her expression serene.

"Lead the way."

As they moved forward, Zara leaned in to whisper.

"You sure you’ll be okay?"

Selene’s gaze remained ahead, but her voice was steady.

"I’ll be fine. And if I’m not—"

Selene’s steps faltered as her eyes landed on two familiar figures standing at the edge of the bustling camp.

Nora and Noah stood tall and composed, issuing commands to their team with an authority that belied their age.

It had been some time since she had last seen them, and the sight of them now sent a wave of conflicting emotions crashing through her.

The twins had grown—physically and otherwise.

Their figures were leaner, their expressions sharper, and their postures carried the weight of experience.

Selene knew that they would soon pass her height, just as they had in her last life, but seeing it happen again felt surreal.

She couldn’t shake the pang of pride mixed with the sharp sting of jealousy.

She remained silent, lost in her thoughts, and the change in her demeanor did not go unnoticed by her team.

Zara, ever perceptive, followed her line of sight and let out a soft sigh. Orion’s expression turned wary, and even Ethan’s casual stance shifted, a hint of tension threading through his relaxed posture.

"Let’s go! No need to stay here."

Zara whispered, slipping a gentle hand around Selene’s elbow.

Orion moved to her other side, subtly creating a barrier between Selene and the twins. Ethan trailed just behind them, his presence a wall of protection.

But they hadn’t made it more than a few steps before Noah’s eyes locked onto them. His focus zeroed in on Ethan, and his expression twisted with sudden fury.

The air around them dropped, the temperature plummeting in an instant.

Frost began to creep along the edges of tents and equipment, a thin sheen of ice coating the ground beneath Noah’s feet.

Shivers rippled through the camp, and hunters scrambled to find warmth, their breath fogging the frigid air.

Selene couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration at Noah’s ability to be able to not hurt anyone this time.

His control over his ice ability had progressed so much since they last met. But emotions still made him uncontrollable.

With a soft hum, she activated her Insight skill, and numbers and information flooded her vision.

Both Noah and Nora were already B-rank, their power levels far beyond what she had expected. More than that, they had broken into the top 100 of the rankings.

Pride bloomed in her chest, warm and heavy, but it was edged with a darker emotion.

Jealousy twisted within her—a reminder that while her siblings had always shone brightly, she had once been nothing more than a shadow.

Ethan’s voice pulled her back.

"What do you want to do?"

Selene exhaled slowly, the mist of her breath mingling with the cold air.

"I want to be alone. And leave them alone. They aren’t our problem."

She said, her voice low but firm.

A chuckle slipped from Ethan’s lips, light and amused.

"I’m not so sure about that."

She turned to him, brow arched in question, but before she could ask what he meant, movement caught her eye.

Noah was already storming toward them, weapon in hand.

His eyes blazed with a mix of anger and desperation, and the cold around him sharpened, ice crystals forming in the air as he moved.

His approach drew attention, the chaos of the camp stilling as people turned to watch.

"Where is she? Where is my sister? What did you do to her?"

He shouted, his voice cracking through the silence like a whip.

Selene’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Of course.

To Noah, Ethan was still the villain—the man who had ’kidnapped’ his older sister.

Ethan didn’t move, his expression unchanged.

His hands remained in his pockets, his entire demeanor as if Noah’s rage was nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

Selene glanced up at him, her own feelings carefully hidden behind a neutral mask.

"Go easy on him. We’ll need him for this raid."

She said.

Ethan’s lips curled into a smirk.

"Understood."

But he did not step forward. Instead, he stood still, waiting for Noah to close the distance.

His stillness only seemed to enrage Noah further, and Selene could feel the frost spreading beneath their feet, the ground beneath Noah’s boots cracking under the pressure of his aura.

"Answer me! If you hurt her, I’ll—"

Noah’s voice was raw, a wounded animal’s growl.

Ethan’s hand moved, so fast it was almost a blur. He caught Noah’s wrist mid-swing, the blade of Noah’s weapon mere inches from his face.