บท 12: New World Order
{Warning: The ending of this chapter is pretty messed up.}
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{Asuka}
Asuka's reflection stared back at her from the smudged mirror, her eyes red-rimmed and swollen from the tears she had shed in secret.
She reached up to wipe away the remnants of her distress, her slender fingers trembling slightly as she tried to compose herself.
She and Dylan had just come back to the mall.
Images of Zenith flashed through her mind, memories of their time together mingling with the harsh reality of the present. Now, Zenith was something entirely different.
The sickly pallor of Zenith's skin, the haunting glow of her dark green eyes, the otherworldly armor she wore...
And yet, after finding out she was, in fact, alive, all Asuka wanted was to embrace her again, regardless of the form she was in.
But now, with them having left her behind a second time, she feared that her friend's fate had finally been sealed.
Taking a deep breath, Asuka straightened her posture and adjusted the dress Dylan forced her to wear.
It was practically a symbol, a constant reminder of her subservience.
With her pitiful level, "disagreeing" wasn't a concept that existed.
Asuka Nakamura
Class: Priestess
Level 6
MP: 100/100
EXP: 0/60
AP: 0
WST: 100
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Endurance: 1
Speed: 2
Precision: 4
Strength: 1
Arcane: 10
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Skills:
Alchemy: 5
Archery: 5
Blade: 5
Blunt: 5
Blacksmithing: 5
Blocking: 5
Dual Wielding: 5
Unarmed: 5
Healing Magic: 10
Combat Magic: 5
Utility Magic: 5
Lance: 5
Summoning: 5
Sneaking: 5
Speech: 5
Scouting: 5
With a heavy heart, she stepped out of the bathroom and made her way through the dimly lit aisles of the furniture store that Dylan called home.
As she approached one of the beds, she found Iris, another of Dylan's slaves, already lying there, her expression weary and resigned, but her face brightened up the instant she saw Asuka.
Asuka settled down beside her.
Iris's voice was barely more than a whisper as she leaned in close to Asuka, her eyes lit with excitement despite the dim lighting of the room.
"You won't believe what I saw today," she murmured, a hint of longing in her tone. "There were some people from the subway station, and let me tell you, one of them was... well, let's just say he was easy on the eyes."
Asuka's stomach clenched at the mention of outsiders, her heart sinking like a stone as she shot a nervous glance towards the door.
"Don't let anyone hear you say stuff like that," she whispered urgently.
But Iris's excitement seemed to override her sense of caution as she leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with a reckless abandon.
"Oh, come on, Asuka," she persisted, a mischievous grin playing at the corners of her lips. "We're allowed to have a little fun, aren't we? Besides, it's not like anyone's going to find out if it's just us."
Asuka's heart hammered in her chest, torn between her desire to indulge in a moment of levity and the overwhelming fear of the consequences that could follow.
As if on cue, she saw Dylan approaching from outside.
His eyes flickered with a dangerous intensity as he surveyed the scene before him, his gaze lingering on Asuka and Iris with a mixture of disdain and contempt.
"What were you two whispering about?" he demanded, his voice cold and menacing.
Asuka's heart clenched in her chest, a surge of fear coursing through her veins as she braced herself for Dylan's wrath. She knew that any misstep could have dire consequences, but she also knew that she couldn't let fear dictate her every move.
Iris, remained perfectly calm.
"We were just talking about the dungeon I went to," Iris replied with a polite smile. "Spiders and skeletons. You should have seen it, it was crazy."
Dylan narrowed his eyes at her.
Asuka moved to ease his mood.
Standing up, she walked over, her hands gently resting on his shoulders.
"Something on your mind, Dylan?" she asked softly, her voice filled with genuine concern.
Dylan's gaze bore into hers, his eyes dark and accusing as he spoke.
"I thought you had moved on from Zenith," he said, his tone sharp with disbelief.
Asuka's heart sank at his words, a pang of guilt twisting in her chest.
"I have, Dylan," she insisted, her voice wavering slightly. "I was just... surprised to see that she's still alive, that's all."
"Was." Dylan corrected.
His expression remained skeptical, his doubts evident in the furrow of his brow and the tight set of his jaw.
He opened his mouth to speak again, his words heavy with the weight of his suspicions, but before he could utter a single threat, his attention was diverted by the arrival of his soldiers.
A group of his men approached, led by Dylan's right-hand woman.
A somewhat short lady clad in black leather with a red ponytail so long it almost touched the floor stood before them. She threw a smirk Asuka and Iris's way, just a casual, subtle reminder that she was above them.
Then, however, their expressions turned serious as they reported their findings.
"Boss," the woman said.
"Yes, Haruka?"
"We caught a few scouts from the Police Station," she replied. "They're being held up in the GameCheck right now."
Dylan's gaze flickered to Asuka one last time, a lingering look of accusation in his eyes, before he turned away.
"I guess I'll give them a proper greeting."
On that note, he left. Haruka, trailing the others, blew Asuka a kiss hauntingly as she walked off.
Asuka sighed.
Iris's curiosity got the better of her as she glanced at Asuka, her eyes filled with intrigue.
"Who's Zenith?" she asked.
A wistful smile tugged at the corners of Asuka's lips as she turned to face Iris, her gaze distant as she recalled memories of happier times.
"Zenith... she's my best friend," she replied softly, her voice tinged with a mixture of fondness and sorrow. "Or, was, I guess."
Iris leaned in closer, her curiosity piqued.
"What happened to her?" she pressed, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Asuka's expression darkened as she recounted the events that had unfolded during the early days of the apocalypse.
"We were together when it all started," she began, her voice heavy with emotion. "Dylan, uhm... was forced to leave her behind. He... he cost her her life."
Iris gasped in disbelief, her hand flying to her mouth as she processed Asuka's words.
"But... she's alive now?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with awe.
Asuka nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on a distant point in the room.
"Somehow, she came back," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "For a little while, anyway. Pretty sure she died again."
Iris couldn't hide her astonishment, her eyes wide with wonder.
"That's... incredible," she breathed, her mind reeling at the thought. "I mean, sucks to die twice, but still."
As Asuka's thoughts drifted back to Zenith, a melancholic look settled over her features, her heart heavy with longing. Iris noticed the change in her demeanor and gently placed a hand on her arm.
"Was she... just your friend?" she asked softly, her voice filled with sympathy.
Asuka's gaze softened, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips.
"Yeah... Not for lack of trying," Asuka giggled. "I... I held out on dating anyone for a long time," she confessed, her voice tinged with regret. "I was... I was just hoping that one day, Zenith would ask me out. Never happened, though."
Silence fell between them as Asuka's thoughts lingered on the memories of her lost friend, her heart heavy with the weight of unspoken words and unfinished conversations.
At that moment, Zenith was all she could think about, her presence a constant ache in her heart.
Sometime later Dylan returned, his demeanor had shifted, his usual facade of composure replaced by a raw intensity that sent a shiver down Asuka's spine.
His shirt had quite a few spots of blood on it that hadn't been there before.
Without a word, he motioned for Iris to leave.
Iris obeyed without protest, her steps echoing softly against the tiled floor as she made her way out of the room.
Dylan's movements were deliberate then as he moved to dim the lights, casting the room in shadow save for the soft glow of a single lamp, before he shut the outside world off entirely, lowering the store's shutters.
As the darkness closed in around them, he began to shed his clothing, his eyes never leaving Asuka's.
As he stood before her, naked and unashamed, his gaze bore into hers with a predatory intensity.
"Have you really moved on from her?" he demanded, his voice low and gravelly.
Asuka met his gaze with a steely resolve, her jaw set in defiance.
"Yes," she replied firmly, her voice unwavering despite the tremor in her heart.
Dylan's lips curled into a predatory smile as he stepped closer, his presence looming over her like a shadow.
"Prove it," he commanded, his tone laced with challenge.
A sense of dread washed over Asuka as she realized what he was asking of her. But she knew better than to defy him, knew the consequences of disobeying his orders. With trembling hands, she began to unbutton her shirt, her movements slow and deliberate as she bared herself before him.
As each piece of clothing fell to the floor, Dylan's gaze grew more intense, his hunger palpable in the air between them. And as Asuka stood before him, stripped bare and vulnerable, she pulled together a smile.
"Come here..." She said, proud of herself that her voice didn't break.
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