Aksai forced the woodland clone to stop retreating. It stayed where it was, half-sitting, half-kneeling, as if unsure whether to stand or flee.
The woman continued, her tone turning calmer.
"In fact, I should be your ally," she said. "Because of your connection with the Holy Land Torel."
Aksai froze. She smiled faintly and tilted her head.
"Don't be so surprised. Aren't you the descendant of Amel Everwood?" she asked. "And the legacy disciple of the Holy Land Torel?"
Before Aksai could respond, she spoke again.
"I know them both," she said. "The Heavenly Poison Sect and the Holy Land Torel were allies long ago. We fought together against the Mad Immortal when he descended into this world."
Her eyes drifted away from the clone and toward the massive serpentine corpse beneath her. Her expression grew distant.
"Do you know who struck me down and left me in this state?" she asked quietly.
She did not wait for an answer.
"It was the Mad Immortal."
