?<strong>Chapter 865:</strong>


    Driven by curiosity, she circled around him. Despite her efforts, his face remained elusive, though he struck a familiar chord within her.


    Kneeling to match his height, she inquired with a hint of curiosity, “What’s your name, little one? Tell me, and I can take you somewhere exciting.”


    The boy clutched a book, paying her no mind, lost in its pages.


    Annoyed by his indifference, Elyse reached out to pinch his cheek, her voice rising in frustration, “Why are you ignoring me?”


    Her fingers barely grazed him when he suddenly seized her hand.


    Looking up, Elyse found that the boy had aged into a teenager, now towering over her. Despite his youth, his presence was imposing.


    With the unclear visage of the boy now emanating a threatening aura, Elyse felt a wave of unease.


    Cocking his head, the boy challenged her with a question, “Are you afraid?”


    Elyse was momentarily stunned, pausing without response. Suddenly, the boy lunged at her, pinning her to the ground as he shouted in anger, “Why are you afraid of me?”


    Although just a teenager, the boy stood nearly six feet tall. Beside him, Elyse looked very small.


    Feeling overwhelmed by his towering presence, Elyse shook with fear, yet she could tell that the boy felt even more pain and fear than she did.


    Gathering her bravery, Elyse responded, “I’m not afraid of you. You’ve got the wrong idea.”


    “I got the wrong idea?” he repeated her words beforeughing dismissively. “That’s a weak excuse. You don’t actually like me. You hate me.”


    Elyse shook her head in denial. “How could I hate you? You’re mistaken about that too.”


    “Really?” The boy’s tone was skeptical.


    As Elyse attempted to rise, the boy forced her back down. He abruptly screamed, “No! You are lying! You do not truly care about me. You are a liar, full of lies, and I will never trust you again!”


    Elyse winced, striving to maintain herposure. “I mean it. I’m not lying to you. You can believe me.” She swallowed hard, anxiously awaiting his response.


    The boy then fell into a haunting silence. He slowly helped her to her feet and stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders as he whispered, “You say you’re not afraid of me and that you like me. Prove it.”


    Elyse felt a shiver down her spine. After a brief silence, she inquired, “How can I prove it?”


    “Turn around and look at me. If you’re not afraid, then I’ll believe you,” the boy said in apelling tone.


    Hesitating briefly, Elyse eventually nodded.


    He released her.


    As Elyse slowly turned around, her eyes widened in shock upon seeing him. She covered her mouth and stepped back in horror.


    The boy had changed into a monstrous figure. He was enormous and looked incredibly sinister.


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