Catherine's smile froze for a long time.

She had traveled to many places and knew well that the things people feared varied across different regions.

For example, some places are more afraid of clowns, others fear women in ghostly white dresses, hair disheveled, faces frighteningly distorted.

Different cultures, different customs, different upbringing.

Easily lead to discrepancies.

Take the name Baba Yaga, widely known across various Slavic regions, with many horror stories. Even after the church's invasion sparked, her reputation remains unaffected.

But placed here, probably not many have heard of her.

After all, where are witches found here?

Therefore, she never follows routines. Every time she carries out a task, she thoughtfully customizes a unique and terrifying scenario for each target based on local conditions and popular horror stories, fully extracting their negative emotions.

However,

Though tailored,

certain elements cannot be ignored.

Such as those primordial fears... Those fears ingrained in human bones, inherent fears—darkness, weightlessness, and sudden changes in sound.

These elements of primordial fear permeate human genes, unable to be erased by culture or environment.

Even if one can overcome them through acquired training, suddenly finding oneself in a dark environment, hearing rustling leaves that sound like moans, even the boldest person would likely hesitate for a moment.

At the very least, they'd assess the surroundings before moving.

Because not knowing what's happening, it takes time to understand one's situation, and one must consider the consequences.

Catherine had yet to encounter someone... who enters a dark environment, hears a sound, then angrily resolves the issue.

Without a hint of hesitation.

And most thoroughly... furiously chopping down trees!

What dark environment, what sudden change in sound, all disregarded, not even thinking, but immediately solving the problem first.

...What kind of psycho is this?

And most importantly, the opponent succeeded.

Though the Witch's Domain isn't an Anomaly Realm where outsiders can't cause damage, the destruction is usually limited to a small scale. Such large-scale deforestation shouldn't be possible.

Because ultimately, the entire campus where Chen Lusi is currently located is an extension of Catherine's Authority Ability. Whether it's those students, the two sisters, or Chen Lusi, they are merely guests.

Which guest would cut down the host's trees in the yard without permission?

You visit someone's house, it's normal to take a few sheets of paper, but you can't split their sofa in half, can you?

Yet Chen Lusi did it! And succeeded!

"..."

Catherine looked at the fallen trees, her face dark as she reached out to fix them.

But soon.

She noticed something, her eyes widened in disbelief.

She found she couldn't make the fallen trees disappear.

Clearly his home.

Clearly his trees.

Now, after being cut, they seem like someone else's belongings... lying across the road.

Unless she personally moves them using manpower, those trunks will remain across the road.

...Once the trees are chopped, they become his!?

"What a joke!?"

Catherine quickly turned her head, looking at the person and cat heading towards the dorm.

At the same time.

Not knowing what means were used, the cat always following Chen Lusi turned its head back, raised its head and met Catherine's gaze.

When Chen Lusi heard the cat, he instinctively turned his head, followed the cat's gaze, and exchanged a calm look with Catherine across the space.

And noticing Chen Lusi's gaze.

Somehow.

Catherine suddenly felt a pang of unease... instinctively cutting off the sight.

And only after cutting the connection did she abruptly come to her senses, her face becoming extremely unpleasant.

Because at that moment... she suddenly felt, pulling Chen Lusi into the Anomaly Realm was a very foolish thing.

Even facing Chen Lusi's gaze, a sense of fear rose in her heart.

But it's completely unreasonable, as the opponent had no modern weapons, no Holy Relics (Ancient Objects) on him, and she had seen the Celestial Punishment Weapon, its size couldn't possibly be hidden.

And the opponent possessed no Celestial Punishment Weapon, merely a little empowerer who hadn't even gathered Divine Format.

Why did she feel fear?

What grounds did she have to feel fear?

Even unable to directly face the opponent's gaze?

Catherine was feeling suspiciously uncertain, until she thought of the cat beside Chen Lusi and noticed the two sisters already at the dorm entrance, suddenly realizing.

Understanding where the fear came from.

Because Chen Lusi embraced a determination to die.

Clearly.

The two sisters are extremely important to him.

Important enough to make him act without thinking, immediately chopping trees out of rage.

Important enough to make him burst with an overwhelming force beyond his actual capability.

...The barefoot being unafraid of the shod, huh?

Catherine cast a glance back at Chen Lusi, finding that he had continued forward.

And instinctively headed towards the only lit dorm room.

It seems... no matter how impressive the previous tree-chopping rant looked, some things hidden in human bones cannot be changed.

Such as phototropism.

"...For important people, is one fearless even when facing death?"