《The Supreme Star Lord Returns》 Chapter 1 Year 1026 of the Silver Alliance. Its name comes from the grand coalition of multiple races scattered across the vast Eldrathis Galaxy¡ªthe new home of humanity, who abandoned Earth over a millennium ago. Far greater than any galaxy before it, Eldrathis remains largely unexplored, with less than a tenth of its wonders discovered. A paradise of infinite potential, it holds untold mysteries and treasures amidst its hundreds of resource-rich planets and countless barren rocks drifting in the endless void. Humanity, one of the newest arrivals in this strange cosmos, is far from the top of the food chain. Yet, their unnatural adaptability and rapid reproduction make them a force to be reckoned with. Day by day, they push further into the unknown. And right now, one of those expeditions is venturing into one of the most dangerous places ever discovered¡­ The Dravaal Expanse. A desolate, enigmatic sector of Eldrathis, where dying stars cast eerie light upon shattered asteroid fields and worlds ravaged by time itself. Once, it was the heart of an ancient, powerful civilization, long extinct. Now, it is nothing but ruins¡ªmonuments of forgotten glory, scattered relics of lost technologies beyond comprehension. Many explorers and warlords have sought its secrets. Few return. And now, the crew of the Safira is heading straight for one of its most perilous planets: Zhaaros. A scorched world beneath a red sun, its surface cracked and ruined by ages past. But ruins are not the only thing lurking here¡­ Zhaaros is also home to the nomadic Thek¡¯Shar, a ruthless warrior race, and their massive, brutal hunting beasts¡ªthe dreaded Vhorr¡¯Ka. That¡¯s why the plan was simple: Get in. Find the ruins. Grab the relic. Get out. Fast. But speed doesn¡¯t seem to be on the mind of the Safira¡¯s lead archaeologist right now¡­ ¡­ ¡°Look at this¡­¡± Dr. Clara Dravenmoor, an exceptional archaeologist with a reputation for brilliance (and recklessness), runs her fingers over the rough, ancient symbols carved into the stone wall. Her sharp blue eyes shimmer with fascination. ¡°I have no idea what language this is,¡± she murmurs, half-laughing. ¡°It¡¯s got to be at least ten thousand years old¡ªmaybe more¡­¡± The carvings are crude but deliberate, thick strokes etched into the weathered walls of a vast, monolithic pyramid. Her delicate fingers trace the symbols, her brows furrowing. ¡®This is insane¡­¡¯ One in particular catches her eye¡ªa stick figure with a pointed object on its head. ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± ¡­ Beside the crowned figure, dozens of other stick figures are kneeling, repeating the same symbol over and over again. Clara''s breath stills. Something clicks. ¡°This¡­ This looks like a mix of Ancient Vael¡¯Sharr and Xharythuun!¡± Her voice rises in excitement as she digs through her satchel, pulling out a tablet and scrolling rapidly through ancient scripts. ¡°Come on, come on, where is it¡­ There!¡± She finds a match. Her gaze flickers between the screen and the wall as she whispers the translation aloud: ¡°E-electus exercitum¡­ aureum d-ducet¡­¡± The words feel strange on her tongue. ¡°The chosen one¡­ Golden what? Maybe?¡± She hesitates, reaching for the small communicator in her ear and pressing it. ¡°Hey, guys? You seeing this? A little help here?¡± Silence. Only static hisses back. ¡­ ¡°...Guys?¡± A flicker of unease crosses Clara¡¯s face. But something else draws her attention. More symbols¡ªdozens of them¡ªetched deep into the walls of the dark corridor ahead. ¡°I don¡¯t have time. Fine. I just need to be faster.¡± A small flashlight in hand, she presses forward, scanning the walls as she moves deeper into the ruin. Then¡ªshe stops. Another mural. More stick figures. But this time¡­ A new figure stands before the crowned one. A shadowy being, its form writhing, tendrils spiraling from its very heart. Clara tries to decipher the symbols surrounding the mural, using her knowledge of two ancient languages. ¡°Electus malum verum contraibit et illud in profundum sigillabit.¡± Once again, she struggles to grasp the true meaning of the words. ¡°This ¡®chosen one¡¯ again¡­¡± Her gaze shifts between the radiant, crowned figure and the ominous, shadowy entity. ¡°Malum verum? ¡®True evil¡¯?¡± For some reason, her curiosity is drawn more toward the dark figure than the so-called chosen one. "Who are you¡­?" ¡­ She follows the corridor, encountering more murals¡ªall depicting the same two figures, forever locked in battle. Clara is completely engrossed, tracing their story along the walls. She only stops when she reaches the end of the corridor. A dead end. "No, no, no¡­!" She frantically looks around, searching for an exit¡ªonly to find nothing but solid stone. Her fingers fly over her tablet, pulling up the mapped route of her journey. The blinking dot showing her current position lies at the center of a large square¡ªright in the heart of the pyramid. ¡°There should be something here!¡± She whirls around, retracing her steps until she reaches the last mural. This one depicts the dark figure being imprisoned¡ªsealed away by the chosen one and their followers. "Where¡­ where is it¡­" Her hands skim over the mural¡¯s engravings, searching for something¡ªanything. Then, her fingers land on the final inscription. ¡°Malum verum in tenebris sigillatum.¡± She narrows her eyes. ¡°True evil¡­?¡± She mutters under her breath, running the words over in her mind. Then, something clicks. She presses her fingertips against the final two words and repeats them aloud: ¡°Tenebris sigillatum?¡± The mural glows faintly. Her eyes widen. ¡°That¡¯s it!?¡± Excitement surges through her. She presses the words again and repeats them¡ªlouder this time. ¡°Sigillatum! Sigil! Sigil!!!¡± With each repetition, the glow intensifies. Then¡ª Tremble. Tremble. The entire wall shudders. A secret passageway slowly emerges from the stone, revealing a hidden chamber beyond. Clara¡¯s lips curl into a wild grin. "Fuck yeah!!!" She jumps in victory before composing herself, eyes locked on the darkness beyond the entrance. ¡­ Beyond the secret passage lies something even more ancient¡ªa vast chamber, darker than anything else within the pyramid. She reaches into her bag, pulling out several small metallic orbs and tossing them inside. They activate mid-air, dispersing waves of light that illuminate the chamber in full. And then¡ªher gaze snaps to the object at the center of the room. A massive stone container. Two meters long. One tall. Clara¡¯s breath catches. ¡°Damn, I found it!!¡± She pumps a fist in triumph, pure pride gleaming in her eyes. "I wish I could see the look on those Academy snobs¡¯ faces right now, hahaha!!" "They¡¯d kill for this¡­" But then¡ªher victory turns to curiosity. "...What the hell is this, anyway?" She steps forward, approaching the mysterious monolith at the heart of the chamber. Unlike the rest of the pyramid¡ªworn, archaic, ancient¡ªthis rectangular case is different. It looks fresh new. Its smooth, silver surface gleams, adorned with fluorescent blue lines that pulse faintly in the dim light. Clara¡¯s excitement fades into caution. She moves slowly, carefully, scanning for traps. "...Hmm?" Nothing. She checks the surrounding floor. The edges of the container. No pressure plates, no tripwires. Finally, she reaches out. ¡­ Her fingertips brush against the cold metal. And she jerks her hand back.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Shit! It¡¯s freezing!?" Her mind races. The air inside the pyramid is over forty degrees Celsius¡ªhot, dry, suffocating. But this thing¡­ It¡¯s like solid ice. She shakes her head, regaining focus. Pressing a finger against her earpiece, she tries again: ¡°Guys? You there??¡± Static. No response. ¡­ "Damn it! Don''t do this to me¡­ I¡­" Her words fade. Because her eyes are locked on the artifact again. And she remembers the warning. ¡°We can¡¯t open the artifact. We take it and transport it. That¡¯s the deal. No bonus if it¡¯s damaged.¡± Those words were repeated. Emphasized. The rules were clear. "...We can¡¯t. We must. Blah, blah, blah." Clara scoffs, rolling her eyes. Her fingertips glide over the mysterious casing. "I have to see inside¡­" A playful smirk tugs at her lips. "For science." Then, she chuckles. "¡­Fuck science. I found it. That gives me rights, right? Right!?" ¡­ A mischievous grin curls on Clara¡¯s lips as she places her right hand atop the metallic container. ¡°Let¡¯s see what kind of artifact is worth a billion credits¡­¡± As soon as her fingers make contact, she fights against the biting cold of the metal, pressing down harder. Suddenly¡ª Thin blue lines ignite across the surface. ¡°This better be worth it!¡± Clara exclaims, pushing with more force. More luminescent lines flicker to life, spreading like circuitry. Then¡ªwords appear. Not in the same ancient script as the murals. This one is precise, elegant, and technological. ¡°Xharythuun¡­?¡± She frowns. And then, she reads aloud: ¡°N-Noctis Aeternum¡­?¡± The words confuse her. Unlike the murals, these symbols are sleek, deliberate¡ªsomething she has only seen in high-tech ruins. Her eyes drift to two distinct markings after the phrase¡ªone indicating a pause, the other likely the number 1. Before she can think¡ª HISSSSSHHH!! A sudden blast of compressed air hisses from the seams of the container. Clara jerks her hand back¡ªher fingertips burning from the cold. ¡°What¡¯s in¡ª¡± She stops. Frozen in place. ¡­ Because lying inside the container¡ªsubmerged in a transparent red liquid¡ªis something she never expected. The artifact she and her crew had risked their lives for, the treasure of a long-lost civilization, the ancient relic worth a billion credits was¡­ ¡­ ¡°¡­A GUY?!?¡± Clara blinks. Once. Twice. The vision doesn¡¯t change. Inside the high-tech sarcophagus lies a man, his body perfectly preserved within the crimson fluid. Her hand hovers over the strange, almost-blood-like substance as her mind reels. This was supposed to be a weapon. Or some advanced technology that could reshape worlds. Not¡­ this. Not a man. ¡­ ¡°A GUY?! A FUCKING GUY?!¡± Frustration and disbelief war in her voice as she shakes her head. ¡°No, no, no¡­ This makes no damn sense.¡± Her eyes dart over his features. His skin appears red due to the liquid, but his face¡­ It¡¯s human. ¡­ ¡°How??¡± Her confusion deepens. The man¡¯s appearance is unnerving. Everything about him is¡­ flawless. His sharp, chiseled features, his unnatural symmetry, his impossibly smooth skin. He looks like a sculptor¡¯s perfect rendition of what a man should be. And yet¡ªthere¡¯s something off. His body is covered in tattoos¡ªarcane symbols, intricate patterns she¡¯s never seen before, spiraling across his naked form. Clara¡¯s curiosity turns to intrigue as her gaze wanders lower¡­ Her mind tries to analyze the markings, searching for familiar scripts¡ªuntil¡­ ¡­ Until she notices something else. Something bigger. Something HUGE. Clara¡¯s face ignites. ¡°D-DAMN!! That thing is massive!!¡± She snaps her gaze away, cheeks burning as she clenches her fists. ¡°Focus, Clara! Focus!¡± Fearing she might get hypnotized by the view, she forces herself to look up. And then¡ª ¡­ His eyes snap open. "WHA¡ª?!" Clara stumbles back, heart slamming into her ribs. Two glowing white irises, red-like now due to the water, bore into her, intense and sharp. Pure predatory instinct. Her breath catches. A cold chill runs down her spine. She moves. Her hand flies toward her pistol. But¡ª ¡­ WHOOSH! His hand bursts from the red liquid¡ªlightning fast. ¡°No!!¡± Clara barely has time to gasp before he grabs her wrist. Her instincts scream at her to fight, to rip free and shoot, but¡ª Something stops her. Their eyes meet. For the first time, she sees something else beneath his actually pure white eyes with black pupils. Confusion. Disorientation. Fear? He doesn¡¯t crush her wrist. His grip is firm but cautious. Careful. As if he doesn¡¯t want to hurt her. Something about that throws Clara off. She had expected violence. Aggression. Instead, he¡¯s¡­ hesitating. Like he doesn¡¯t understand what¡¯s happening. Like he doesn¡¯t know who¡ªor where¡ªhe is. Clara exhales slowly and does something unexpected¡ª ¡­ She lets go of her pistol. Raising her free hand, she offers a silent gesture of peace. ¡°Hey¡­ It¡¯s okay.¡± Her voice is calm, soothing. ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy¡ª¡± ¡­ ¡°Doctor Dravenmoor?!¡± The moment shatters like glass. A deep, hostile voice echoes behind her, its tone sharp with authority. Clara freezes. ¡°HUH?!¡± Clara whips her head around, eyes darting to the entrance of the chamber¡ªand there they are. A group of armed figures stands silhouetted in the doorway, weapons raised¡ªboth large and small, all aimed at her. One quick glance at their dirty, mismatched armor, and she already knows who they are. ¡°FUCK!!!¡± She doesn¡¯t hesitate. In a split-second, she vaults over the metal container, grabbing the mysterious man¡¯s arm and pulling him with her, both of them diving behind cover. ¡­ Shoosh! Her movements are fluid, precise, and powerful¡ªalmost inhumanly fast. She lands gracefully, her body absorbing the impact with ease. She expects the mysterious man to be caught off guard by the sudden motion. Whoosh! But¡ª He recovers mid-air. And lands perfectly in front of her. Effortless. Precise. Almost like he was mimicking her movements¡ª Only doing them better. ¡°Get down!¡± Clara throws out an open palm, motioning for him to lower his head. But¡ª He doesn¡¯t listen. Instead, his crimson eyes fixate on her hand. On the burn marks across her palm¡ªthe frostbite from the icy metal. He goes still. Then, without a word, he reaches out. His pale, elegant fingers hover just above her injured palm, his expression softening into something almost¡­ apologetic. As if he feels guilty. ¡°What? This?¡± Clara notices his expression¡ªthe strange concern in his eyes. It catches her off guard. She chuckles and waves it off. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We should probably focus on the guys trying to catch us¡ª¡± Her words die in her throat. Because he moves closer. Slowly. Purposefully. ¡­ His gaze locks onto hers as he reaches out again¡ªthis time, gently tracing his fingers down her arm before wrapping them around her wrist. His grip is firm, warm¡ªbut not forceful. Clara freezes. ¡°W-what¡­ are you doing¡­?¡± She watches, heart racing, as he leans in. Too close. His face is too close! ¡°No, no, no¡­ wait¡ª¡± She instinctively tries to lean back, but¡ª Her head bumps into the freezing metal. She winces. And the moment she tilts forward¡ª He doesn¡¯t stop. His lips touch hers. A kiss?!? Clara¡¯s mind screams in confusion. She jerks slightly, but the moment she tries to pull away¡ª She feels it. ¡­ A strange energy. Rushing through her body. Her eyes widen in shock. This¡­ This isn¡¯t normal. Warm. Addictive. Euphoric. An incomprehensible sensation floods her veins, spreading through her entire system like liquid fire and stardust. Her muscles relax. Her nerves ignite. Her heart pounds. She has never felt anything like this. Not just the energy¡ªbut him. Inside her. ¡­ His lips move softly, teasingly, exploring hers. Gentle. Slow. Perfect. And then¡ª He deepens the kiss. His tongue parts her lips, sliding in smoothly¡ªhis touch deliberate, intoxicating. His sweet, warm taste fills her mouth, flooding her body with even more of that mysterious energy. It¡¯s overwhelming. Insane. Clara¡¯s mind short-circuits. She has kissed people before. She has had great kisses before. But this¡ª This isn¡¯t just a kiss. This is something otherworldly. It feels like her soul is being rewritten. Like her entire body is weightless¡ªbut at the same time, stronger than ever. ¡­ Her breath hitches. Her vision blurs. She doesn¡¯t even realize she¡¯s moaning softly into his mouth. She doesn¡¯t even care. She just wants to¡ª Enjoy. ¡­ But then¡ª The warmth disappears. The energy vanishes. Her eyes flutter open¡ª And she sees him, pulling away. Her lips part. A silent plea. She doesn¡¯t even realize she¡¯s looking at him like that. But he does. And he smirks. A confident, teasing smirk. The kind that should be illegal on someone that attractive. Damn him. But then, his gaze shifts to her hand. Still holding her wrist, he lifts it up. Together, they look down. And¡ª Her wound is gone. Her skin is completely healed. No scars. No burns. Just perfect, smooth skin. In a matter of seconds. Clara gapes. ¡­ ¡°¡­What the¡­¡± Her mind is reeling. She has seen a lot of crazy shit in her life¡ª But this? This is next-level insanity. Then¡ªher shock melts into something else. A spark of mischief. A glimmer of pure, childish excitement. Her lips curl into the biggest grin she¡¯s ever had¡ª And then, she bursts into laughter. ¡­ ¡°WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST DO?!?!¡± Clara throws her head back, cackling. ¡°Hahahahahahah!!!¡± The mysterious man just kissed her¡­ and healed her. And now¡ª Clara Dravenmoor has a million new questions. Chapter 2 ¡°Hahaha!!¡± ¡°This is insane!¡± ¡°Total madness, hahaha!!¡± Clara¡¯s laughter fills the chamber, echoing off the ancient walls, leaving the armed group bewildered. They exchange uncertain glances, confusion clear on their faces, before looking toward the tall, broad-shouldered man standing at the front¡ªtheir leader. Their expressions silently beg for answers. ¡­ ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± ¡°Did we scare her too much?¡± ¡°Is she crazy?¡± ¡°Did you see that thing with her?¡± ¡°That¡­ what was¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!!¡± The tall man barks at his men, silencing their murmurs before turning his piercing gaze toward the metallic monolith in the center of the chamber. ¡°Doctor Dravenmoor? You doing alright over there with your new alien friend?¡± ¡°Alien friend?¡± Clara chuckles, carefree. ¡°Oh, that? Nah, nah¡ªhe¡¯s just my assistant. Albino.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The men stare at her. Silent. Stunned. Her shameless audacity leaves them momentarily speechless, especially their leader, who slowly shakes his head in disappointment. ¡°¡­Albino? Really?¡± ¡°Yeah! It¡¯s pretty self-explanatory, right? You saw him, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°And why, exactly, did you pull your ¡®assistant¡¯ out of an ancient alien monolith¡ªnaked and covered in red plasma?¡± ¡°Oh, that?¡± Clara shrugs casually. ¡°Simple. Albino sleeps anywhere, hehe¡­¡± ¡°No way.¡± ¡­ ¡°Yeah! I keep telling him not to lie down just anywhere when we¡¯re on missions, but he just won¡¯t listen¡­ Now he even refuses to wear clothes!¡± ¡°Crazy, huh?!¡± ¡­ The leader smirks darkly, watching over Clara¡¯s position closely as he subtly signals for his men to begin circling around the monolith. She hears their footsteps shifting, but she keeps up her act. ¡°So crazy, man!¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± His voice is low. Calculating. ¡°And here I was, thinking you were just stalling for time¡­ Trying to call in your bandit friends.¡± ¡°Oh? Nah!¡± Clara tilts her head playfully. ¡°Why would I need backup? Don¡¯t tell me I¡¯m in trouble?¡± She gasps dramatically. ¡°Wait¡ªis this because of Albino¡¯s behavior?!¡± ¡°I swear, I¡¯ll discipline him! Leave it to me!¡± ¡­ As Clara speaks, her fingers fly across her tablet, hidden behind the monolith. She sends out multiple messages¡ªfast, urgent. Where the hell are you? I need backup! ASAP. It¡¯s the Crimson Nebula! They surrounded me. -_- I found it, okay?! I found the artifact!! I need extraction NOW!! FUCK YOU!!! ¡­ She waits. No response. No matter how many times she sends the messages¡ªnothing. Only silence. ¡­ And she hears it. The footsteps of the armed men. Getting closer. She¡¯s running out of time. But in front of her¡ª The mysterious, naked man. Still watching her. Still smiling¡ª Confident. Curious. As if he¡¯s analyzing her. Studying her features. Or maybe¡ª Admiring her beauty? ¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± Her voice wavers. ¡°Not now¡­¡± A heat creeps up her neck, spreading to her cheeks. Clara never blushes. She shouldn¡¯t be feeling this right now¡ªnot when there are pirates closing in, ready to kill her and steal her greatest discovery. But how could she not feel something¡­ After tasting the most incredible kiss of her life? The mysterious man watches her reaction closely. He seems to enjoy it¡ªthe way her emotions shift, conflict, unravel. Then¡ª He reaches out. Slowly. ¡­ Clara tries to stop him. She wants to. But she doesn¡¯t move. His large, pale hand cups her cheek gently. His fingers stroke her skin, slow and tender. ¡°This¡­¡± Clara¡¯s lips part slightly. Her breath hitches. She pouts instinctively, struggling to hold his gaze without blushing even harder. But beyond all the chaos¡ª The pirates. The danger. The mystery. His touch makes her feel something insane. ¡­ Safety. Trust. Warmth. Affection. Happiness. A whirlwind of emotions stirs inside her, pulling her out of her panic and confusion. And in that moment¡ª As he touches her face¡­ Nothing else matters. Everything feels right. For a brief, fleeting moment¡ª Clara feels like everything is going to be okay. But. ¡­ A voice shatters the illusion. The pirate leader: "Doctor Dravenmoor?" His voice is mocking, calculated. "You doing alright over there?" "I mean¡­ You¡¯ve gone strangely quiet." "Having trouble getting in touch with your friends?" ¡°¡­¡± Clara sighs, letting her tablet fall to the side. She tilts her head slightly, raising a brow. "Actually, yeah¡­" "You wouldn¡¯t happen to know anything about that, would you?" The pirate leader¡¯s lips curl into a cruel smile. His men follow suit¡ªgrinning, snickering among themselves. ¡­ "As a matter of fact¡­ I do." His voice is dripping with amusement. "Right about now, my dear brother should already have your scumbag of a captain¡¯s head on a platter." "And of course, the rest of your merry little band of outlaws along with him." "Oh, and those who stayed behind on the Safira?" ¡­ His smirk widens. "They aren¡¯t doing much better." "Last I saw your ship, one of those big sandworms had latched onto the hull¡ª" "Dragging it down into an even bigger sand vortex, you know how it is." ¡°...¡± Silence. The pirate leader expects panic. Horror. Despair. Instead¡ª Clara bursts into laughter. "Hahahaha!!" ¡°...¡± The pirate leader blinks. His men glance at each other, uncertain. "Doctor?" ¡­ Clara wipes a tear of laughter from the corner of her eye, still grinning. "Those are great news!" "I mean, I was starting to think they just ditched me and were ignoring my calls until I found out the truth, hahaha¡­"The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The pirate narrows his eyes. He tilts his head, intrigued. "Oh?" "I like your sense of humor, Doctor Dravenmoor." His smirk returns, smooth, confident. "May I call you Clara?" "No, please." Clara waves him off casually. "We¡¯re still getting to know each other, so let¡¯s keep things professional, you know?" "Of course." The pirate chuckles. "I see your point." "Good." Her tone stays mocking. Her sarcastic little chuckles drift through the chamber, deliberately taunting them. ¡°...¡± She can hear their footsteps. Closer. Their movements are precise. Careful. Not reckless, not sloppy¡ª Almost as if they have a great deal of respect¡­ or fear for her. ¡­ "Any other bad news I should know about?" The pirate pauses for a moment. Then, a dark glint flashes in his pitch-black eyes. "Actually, yes." ¡­ "A particularly bad one, in fact." A slow, predatory grin spreads across his face. "My men¡­ are surrounding you." "And they¡­" He lets the words linger. "Well, let¡¯s just say they aren¡¯t exactly known for treating women well." "And your reputation, Doctor Dravenmoor¡ª" His eyes glint. "That you¡¯re as brilliant as you are beautiful¡ªis quite well known." ¡°...¡± Clara rolls her eyes. "Oh, how original." She scoffs. "That¡¯s not exactly news." "I mean¡­ Predatory pirates? Really?" ¡°...¡± The pirate leader shakes his head. "Doctor Dravenmoor¡­" Clara tilts her head. "Pirate leader?" His voice drops lower. "My patience has limits." She smirks. "I see." ¡­ The tension hangs thick. The pirates shift. Everyone can hear the deep exhale from the leader as he seems to compose himself. "I am a reasonable man, after all." His voice is measured. Controlled. "And I am a reasonable woman, right?" Clara raises a brow, amused. "Naturally." His smirk returns. "Then go ahead. Make your offer." The pirate leader¡¯s eyes flicker toward his men¡ª Who are now fully positioned. Spread across the corners of the chamber. Their hands tighten around their weapons. They¡¯re ready to attack. From all sides. ¡­ The pirates glance at their leader, waiting for his signal. But¡ª He raises a clenched fist. Telling them to wait. Clara, however¡ª She can hear them all. She knows exactly where they are. And she¡¯s already preparing. Her fingers move swiftly, reaching into her bag, grabbing tools. But the mysterious man in front of her¡ª ¡°...¡± He doesn¡¯t care. He keeps his focus entirely on her. His fingers still tracing her cheek. His touch soft. His expression¡ª Unbothered. "Pirate leader?" Clara¡¯s voice is calm, steady. "I¡¯m listening." The leader¡¯s lips twitch into a smirk. He knows she¡¯s stalling for time. But he still looks confident. Relaxed. "Your reputation is quite something in the Crimson Nebula." "Oh? Really?" Clara raises a brow, smirking. "Yeah." The pirate leader¡¯s grin widens. "You know, your friends are already dead." ¡­ "So instead of having a disgusting, filthy end in this dark corner of the galaxy¡ª" "You could join us." Clara snorts. "Oh, are you recruiting me? Hahaha!" "Yeah, something like that." The leader nods, still smirking. "You¡¯re smart. You¡¯ve got a lot to offer our organization." Clara scoffs. "No shit!" She leans back slightly, mockingly. "Come on, don¡¯t insult my intelligence. Be honest." ¡°...¡± The pirate leader chuckles. His yellowed teeth flash as he grins wider. "Alright. I¡¯ll be direct." His voice drops slightly. "You¡¯re beautiful and smart." "I see a bright future for you." Clara narrows her eyes. Waiting. She already knows where this is going. "As the concubine of our admiral." Her response is instant. "Not a fucking chance." ¡°...¡± Silence. A deep sigh escapes the pirate leader¡¯s lips. "Ahh¡­ I really wanted that bonus." He shrugs. Then, his eyes shift¡ª Fixating on the mysterious man beside her. "But this alien specimen should be enough for a promotion." He raises a hand. "Take her." The pirates move. Fast. Two flank from one side of the metallic monolith. Three from the other. Heavy rifles raised. Loaded. Ready. The plan is simple. Point their guns at Clara. She either surrenders¡ª Or they shoot. ¡­ "Huh?" "What¡ª" But before they can even start their words¡ª Clara moves first. Small metallic objects roll across the floor. Breaking the silence. Before the pirates can react. Before they can pull the trigger. Before they can even comprehend what¡¯s happening. Grenades. At their feet. "FUCK!!!" One of the pirates screams. Their eyes widen. The moment they see the glowing red lights¡ª It¡¯s already too late. But one person notices before all of them. As if in slow motion. The mysterious man. The one from the metal monolith. He doesn¡¯t hesitate. He moves like lightning. Because he has one priority. Only one thought. Clara. He grabs her. And with impossible strength, his legs explode with power¡ª Launching them backward. In midair, he spins their bodies. Shielding her. Giving his back to the explosion. *BOOOOOM!!!* **TREMBLE** The ground quakes. The walls shudder. The ceiling shakes. The entire chamber trembles. ¡­ Dust rises. Chunks of the ceiling crumble and crash to the ground. "AHHH!!" "SHIIIIT!!!" "DAMN!!!" The screams of the pirates echo through the chaos. But Clara¡ª She is calm. Serene. Because she is beneath him. The mysterious man shielding her body with his own. A protector. Gentle. But also¡ª A mountain. Solid. Unyielding. Unmovable. Handsome. And¡­ "How the hell do you smell so good?!" Clara almost gets lost in thoughts that make her blush hard. But she quickly snaps back to reality¡ª Just in time to see a pirate emerging behind them. Still pinned beneath her protector, she draws her pistol¡ª And fires before the attacker can react. *BANG!* Her weapon, a fusion of cutting-edge technology and archaic design, fires a reinforced round from its titanium cartridge. The bullet tears through the air. At impossible speed. Striking the pirate in the head. His helmet doesn¡¯t stand a chance. The bullet pierces straight through the dense metal¡ª Through his skull. Through his brain. Blasting out the back of his head in a sickening splash of blood. Instant death. Warm blood sprays onto the bare, pale back of the mysterious man. But he doesn¡¯t flinch. Doesn¡¯t react at all. Instead¡ª He pulls Clara to her feet. Effortless. Like lifting air. And Clara¡ª As if their bodies have been moving together for years¡ª Hooks her arm around his. As he pulls her upward¡ª She is already firing. *BANG!* *BANG!* A second target¡ª One of the pirates, still trying to stand. One shot to the leg. One shot to the back. The pirate stumbles. Falls. Dead. "YOU BITCH!!" A third pirate bursts through the dust, watching his partner get taken down like an animal. Furious, he raises his rifle¡ª But¡ª The dust is thick. It obscures his aim. The ringing from the explosion still throbs in his ears. He is slow. *BANG!* *BANG!* Two shots to the chest drop him before he can pull the trigger. Clara is fast. Lethal. But the gunfire reveals her position. And the pirates recover quickly. They begin to surround her. Inside the dust cloud¡ª They close in. Closing the trap. Clara has only a split second to feel¡ª The mysterious man pulling her. "WHA¡ª?" Confused¡ª But her body instinctively trusts him. He grabs her. Pulling her into his arms. And spins. Just in time¡ª To dodge the incoming bullets. The roar of an automatic rifle fills the chamber. One bullet. Two. Dozens. Clara dizzies in his arms¡ª Because he is moving too fast. He is weaving through gunfire. Dodging effortlessly. With her pressed against him. A dance. Agile. Precise. Graceful. Deadly. "Shit!" "Shit!" "Shit!" Clara curses wildly. But¡ª Not a single bullet touches her. Because he won¡¯t let them. ¡°Cease fire!!¡± ¡°Cease fire!!¡± ¡°STOP NOW!!¡± The pirate leader¡¯s voice roars through the chaos. And suddenly¡ª The gunfire stops. The mysterious man halts his impossible, bullet-dodging dance. Clara¡¯s head spins from the movement¡ª But her lips curl into a grin. "Hot damn!" She looks up¡ª Straight into his intense, unreadable gaze. But there¡¯s something tender in his white eyes. A softness she wasn¡¯t expecting. His hand reaches for her. Gently. His fingers brush over her cheeks. Then her lips. Then her neck. He¡¯s checking for wounds. She notices. And laughs. "I¡¯m fine." Her voice is soft. Sweeter than she ever remembers it being. "Thank you~" She feels so good in his arms. She almost¡ª Almost loses herself again. But¡ª Her focus snaps back. "We need to find a way out." "Fast!" She grabs his arm¡ª Pulling him through the dust and darkness of the chamber. But then¡ª ¡­ "Not so fast." A voice lurks in the shadows. Predatory. Waiting. The pirate leader. Clara curses. ¡°FUCK YOU!¡± She whips her pistol up¡ª Aiming straight at him. But¡ª He¡¯s already raised his own weapon. A massive shotgun. Locked on her. Loaded. Ready. The pirate leader is fast. No hesitation. He pulls the trigger. *BANG!* His shotgun¡ª Made of the same tempered black steel as Clara¡¯s pistol. Despite its archaic design, It¡¯s crafted with cutting-edge technology. Two shells. .12 gauge. And the contents¡ª Pure titanium fragments. At close range¡ª The spread covers two meters in diameter. A lethal cloud of shrapnel. Clara wouldn¡¯t even see her death coming. But¡ª There¡¯s only one thing in front of her. His pale, naked back. He moves like lightning. Again. But this time¡ª There¡¯s no way to pull her to safety. Not without risk. So instead¡ª He takes the hit. Facing the full blast of titanium. *CLASH!* BAM! The force slams into him brutally. His body whips backward, hitting the wall. *BOOOOOM!!!* The impact shakes the entire chamber. **TREMBLE** Clara hits the ground hard. She struggles to push herself up. She¡¯s dazed. Her arms shake. But she¡¯s alive. Just a few scratches. Nothing more. But then¡ª Her beautiful face twists. Her stomach clenches. Her chest tightens. There are tears in her eyes. Her voice¡ª Her scream¡ª "NOOOO!!!!!!!!" Her cry rips through the chamber. A sound of pure anguish. And beneath it¡ª An even deeper sound. Rage. Chapter 3 **TREMBLE** The entire chamber shakes, growing more unstable by the second. Dust rises in thick clouds, swirling under the dim, flickering light. The pirate leader¡¯s shotgun still smokes, faint wisps curling from its barrel. A stark contrast to the settling debris of the ancient pyramid. And then¡ª Clara¡¯s scream rips through the air. Furious. Raw. Unhinged. "BASTARDS!!!" "FUCK YOU!!" "I WILL KILL YOU ALL!!!" Blinded by rage, she dives forward, rolling across the stone floor. Her fingers snatch up her pistol¡ª And she fires the first shot at the closest pirate. BANG! BANG! BANG! Three bullets tear into his chest. The impact knocks him back before his body crashes to the ground. But he isn¡¯t the leader. And Clara won¡¯t stop until he¡¯s the one bleeding out at her feet. For what he did. For what he did to him. "DAMMED!!!" "ALL OF YOU!!!" She has never been this angry. Her long blonde hair whips wildly in the thick haze. Her sharp blue eyes burn through the dust, hunting for the next target. *PHEW!!* A shot slices through the dust cloud. 7.62¡Á51mm. High-powered assault rifle. The bullet finds her. Not a direct hit, but¡ª ¡­ It rips through the sleeve of her reinforced leather coat. "Argh!" A sharp burn stabs at her upper arm. The heat of the bullet sears against her skin. "YOU BITC¡ª" The pirate tries to line up another shot. But¡ª BANG! He never gets the chance. Clara tracks the bullet''s origin. And she returns the favor. Straight to his chest. By sheer luck¡ª It pierces his heart. The body drops. Lifeless. But Clara isn¡¯t satisfied. "WHERE ARE YOU?!" Her voice cuts through the chaos. "YOU COWARDLY BASTARD!!!" She wants the leader. "Doctor Dravenmoor." His voice¡ª Malicious. Amused. Behind her. "SHOW YOURSELF!" She whirls around, raising her pistol. But¡ª Her mag is almost empty. One bullet left. And she won¡¯t waste it on anyone but him. "I¡¯m right here." A large silhouette emerges through the dust. The pirate leader. But Clara doesn¡¯t fire. Not yet. Because¡ª He¡¯s holding a dead pirate in front of him. A human shield. "You bastard!" Clara grits her teeth. She adjusts her aim. If she can land a headshot, the bullet will pass through the skull¡ª And straight into him. She starts to align her shot. But¡ª Footsteps. To her side. Another pirate closing in. She hears him. But¡ª She ignores him. Because there¡¯s only one target that matters. Simple plan. Kill the leader. End this fight. But¡ª It fails. Her right arm hesitates. Slower than usual. The graze wound from earlier¡ª She feels it now. A sharp sting. A split-second delay. And that¡¯s all it takes. ¡­ *BAM!* The butt of a rifle slams into Clara¡¯s ribs. A brutal, bone-rattling impact. "SHIT!" Pain explodes through her body. She hits the ground hard, rolling over the dust-covered stone. Her ribs ache. Her muscles scream. But¡ª Her heart hurts more. "Grab her!!" The pirate leader¡¯s command is sharp. Immediate. The others rush in. More hands. More bodies closing in. She fights. But¡ª She¡¯s outnumbered. They yank her up, twisting her arms behind her back. "I¡¯M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!" Clara thrashes. Her rage only grows. "ALL OF YOU!!!" The pirate leader watches her struggle. A cruel, amused smirk pulling at his lips. "Doctor Dravenmoor¡­" His tone is slick with malice.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. His smile is dark. Twisted. He steps closer¡ª Hand lifting toward her face. "YOU DISGUSTING PIG!" Even pinned by two men¡ª She jerks her head away, refusing his touch. She spits on the ground. Her blue eyes burn with fury. "I AM GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!!!" The pirate leader laughs. And his crew joins him. "You are bold as hell!" His grin widens. "I like that. I really do." He keeps smiling at her. A predator. A serpent playing with its prey. "I didn¡¯t want things to end this way, you know?" "I don¡¯t really like hurting beautiful women¡­" He tilts his head, smirking. "Well. Maybe a little." "But I really didn¡¯t want to damage the alien specimen." He sighs dramatically. "That was some bullshit." "My boss isn¡¯t going to be happy." "And that¡­ is your fault, Doctor Dravenmoor." Clara¡¯s jaw tightens. Her teeth clench. Her eyes glint with pure, lethal intent. "Did I mention¡­" She leans in slightly. Voice lower. More dangerous. "That I¡¯m going to kill you?" The pirate leader watches her carefully. Amused. But also¡ª He sees it. That fire in her eyes. She isn¡¯t bluffing. She means every word. "Slowly¡­" She whispers. "And I¡¯ll enjoy watching your face¡­" Her lips curl into something twisted. Something dark. "As you shit yourself in fear." The pirates laugh again. But their leader¡ª His grin falters. Just for a second. "Damn!" He chuckles. "Let¡¯s see if you keep that attitude after a few weeks traveling with my crew." His eyes gleam. Sick amusement. Sick pleasure. Then¡ª His attention shifts. "You two." He nods toward the wreckage. The place where the mysterious man¡¯s body was thrown. "Go bring me whatever¡¯s left of the alien." Clara stiffens. Her entire body locks up. Her breath catches. A tear slips down her cheek. "He wasn¡¯t just an alien!!!" Her voice breaks. "He was¡­" She grits her teeth harder. Her hands curl into fists behind her back. "A gentle guy." The pirate leader raises a brow. Mocking. "Oh?" His grin returns. "Don¡¯t tell me¡­" His voice drips with fake sympathy. "You were already getting attached to the specimen?" Clara¡¯s fists tighten further. Her knuckles turn white. "Is this common?" The leader tilts his head. "Scientists falling for their discoveries?" He clicks his tongue. "Oh no¡­" He leans in slightly. His breath hot and vile. "Don¡¯t tell me you were in love with that pale-skinned alien?" "Hehehe¡­" He laughs. His men chuckle along with him. "Well, I guess extreme situations bring even the most unlikely pairs together." His eyes glint with amusement. His grin sharpens. "Right?" ¡°...¡± Clara feels her heart clench. She doesn¡¯t fully understand what happened between her and the mysterious man. But in the brief time they had together¡­ He protected her. Like no one ever had before. He left a mark. Deep. Unshakable. And then¡ª He was gone. He gave his life for hers. And now¡ª His death demands vengeance. The most brutal, merciless vengeance she can deliver. The pirate leader sees it. As he locks eyes with her¡ª He feels it in the way her icy blue stare burns. He can see it in her veins¡ª Pure rage. A part of him knows. Knows that if he doesn¡¯t kill her now¡­ She will stop at nothing to destroy him. "Maybe¡ª" "Captain!?" A pirate¡¯s voice cuts through the tension. Sharp. Confused. The leader turns, annoyed. "What?" The pirate looks uneasy. "He¡¯s not here." ¡­ "WHAT?!" "The alien." The pirate gulps. "I can''t find him¡­" The leader''s expression darkens. "HOW THE FUCK?!" ¡°...¡± The two pirates glance toward the crater in the chamber wall. Where the mysterious man had been thrown. The impact zone from the shotgun blast. But¡ª There¡¯s only shattered stone. No blood. No flesh. Nothing. One of the pirates notices something on the ground. He kneels. His fingers reach out. They touch a small, dark drop of liquid. ¡°...¡± He frowns. "It¡¯s cold." The black liquid slides slowly off his fingertip. "A little thick¡­" His voice is uncertain. ¡°...¡± The other pirate watches. His expression tightens. A strange, unnerved look crossing his face. "Wait." His voice drops. "You¡¯re not gonna¡ª" The first pirate leans in closer. Lifting his finger toward his face. Toward his nose. *Sniff* Then¡ª His eyes widen. Shock. Disbelief. Something else. He snaps his gaze up. Looks at his teammate. His expression is almost¡­ ¡­Amazed. "This smells delicious." ¡°...¡± "WHAT?!" The other pirate jerks back. ¡­ "For real!" The first pirate grins. His eyes light up. "Smell it yourself!" He extends his hand. Finger dripping with black liquid. The second pirate¡¯s face twists in disgust. "No way!" "I¡¯m serious, man!" "This is insane!" He keeps his hand extended. The second pirate grimaces. His face wrinkles in sheer disbelief. "Bruh." His voice flat. "I¡¯m not smelling your damn finger." The first pirate chuckles. But then¡ª His expression changes. The second pirate notices. Sees the way his eyes flicker. From amusement¡­ To confusion. To fear. ¡­ And then. Terror. All in the blink of an eye. ¡®What the fuck???¡¯ The pirate thinks it. But¡ª His mouth never gets the chance to say it. *WHOOOSH* *CRACK* For that pirate, the world¡ª Goes silent. Everything fades to black. His last sight¡ª The pure horror in his teammate¡¯s eyes. But the other pirate¡­ He sees something much worse. His friend¡¯s head¡ª Torn clean from his neck. Like a blood-filled balloon bursting open. A pale figure materializes behind him¡ª A flash of white in the dark. Lightning-fast. And strikes. With nothing but his bare arm. A single, horizontal motion. Fingers razor-straight. His arm¡ª A bloody blade. *SHRRRKKK* *THUMP* The severed head hits the floor. Blood fountains from the open neck. Drenching the pyramid stone in crimson. "FUCK¡ªWHAAAHH!!!" The surviving pirate¡¯s scream shatters the air. Panic. Desperation. PAIN. The pirate leader and his men¡ª They stare at Clara. ¡­ Eyes wide. Horrified. But her face¡ª It is no longer twisted in rage or despair. That beautiful glow returns to her expression. Her lips curl. A confident smile. A hopeful smile. A smile of relief. "He¡¯s not dead." "Doctor!?" The pirate leader steps forward. His expression¡ª Serious. More serious than ever. "What¡­ is it?" "It?" Clara shakes her head. "HE." Her eyes glimmer. "And I have no idea what he''s capable of." The leader grabs her chin. Hard. Forcing her to look at him. "DON¡¯T PLAY GAMES WITH ME!!" His voice is sharp. Dangerous. "What the fuck is that alien?!" Clara spits in his face. "Fuck you!!" His hand rises. To strike her. But¡ª He stops. His jaw tightens. His eyes burn with frustration. "Damn you!" "Just tell me what he is, or we¡¯re all going to die here!" Clara¡¯s voice is raw, honest. "I don¡¯t fucking know!!" And she means it. "You showed up before we even got to know each other." "I have no idea what he¡¯s capable of." The pirate leader studies her face. Sees nothing but sincerity. Then¡ª He hears something. His body jerks. He whips around. *WHOOSH* Something cuts through the dust¡ª At insane speed. **TREMBLE** The chamber shakes. More than before. The structure is failing. It won¡¯t stay standing much longer. "WHAT¡ªAAARHHH!!!" Another scream of agony. *RATATATATATATA¡ª An assault rifle unloads. "NO!" "NO! NO!" "NO! NO!! NO!!!" BANG! BANG! CRACK! SMASH! Gunfire. Screams. The sound of bones snapping. Blood splattering. A massacre. The pirates never stood a chance. Not against him. Not in the dark. Not in the chaos. Not here. They were never the predators. They only thought they were. Because when he is in the room¡ª There is only one predator. Only him. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ And He¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Hunts. Chapter 4 "WHAAAAAAAAH!!!" A scream. A scream of pure agony and terror. Echoing through the dust-choked chamber. A final scream. And then¡ª Silence. The pirate leader. The few men he has left. And Clara. All of them turn toward the sound. Something emerges from the swirling haze of dust. "WATCH OUT!!!" The pirate leader shouts. His men snap their rifles up. They aim. They prepare. But what rolls out of the darkness¡ª ¡­ Is something small. Oval. Wet. *THUD* It hits the ground. Rolling toward the pirate leader''s feet. Leaving a warm, crimson trail. Blood. A severed head. One of his men. ¡°...¡± The eyes¡ª Still wide with terror. Frozen in absolute horror. "This¡­" The remaining pirates freeze. Staring at the head. Staring at the expression of fear still carved into its face. Then¡ª One of them whispers. "Monster." Another joins him¡ª His voice shaking. "It¡¯s¡­" "A FUCKING¡ª" "MONSTER!!" The pirates break. Panic explodes. Their fingers slam onto their triggers. They fire wildly into the shadows. Bullets flood the chamber. A storm of gunfire. A rain of lead. They focus everything on the mysterious man in the dark. But¡ª They¡¯ve forgotten something. They¡¯ve forgotten Clara. And she''s not wasting the opportunity. "You''re DONE!" Her captors release her. They¡¯re too distracted. Too afraid of the real predator. And that¡¯s all she needs. *Shoosh* *BAM* With lightning speed, she spins on her heel. A high kick slams into the chest of a pirate firing his assault rifle. His body flies forward. Crashes into the ground. And¡ª He lands face-to-face with two pale feet. "N-NO¡­!" RIP. His head rolls away before he can even see his executioner. Meanwhile¡ª Clara tumbles forward. Rolling across the stone floor. Her hands find the fallen rifle. She grabs it. Flips onto her feet. And fires immediately. *RATATATATA!!!* The assault rifle kicks hard. Heavy. Brutal. 7.62¡Á51mm armor-piercing rounds. Each one tipped with reinforced steel. Designed to kill. The weapon is massive in Clara¡¯s hands. Almost too big. But she holds steady. Even as the recoil slams into her. Even as her entire body trembles from the power. She doesn''t need perfect accuracy. She just needs to aim in their direction. And they fall. One by one. Within seconds. The devastating force of the rifle shreds them apart. Ripping. Piercing. Breaking bone. Turning flesh into pulp. The pirates collapse. Their bodies in pieces. Blood coating the walls. The gunfire is deafening. The chamber shakes with every shot. Clara feels the weapon vibrate in her grip. Empty shells rain onto the floor. Clinking like a metal storm. The pirate leader turns. His focus had been on the monster in the dark. But now¡ª Now he knows. He has to deal with Clara first. His face twists in fury. "YOU BITCH!" ¡­ *CLICK* The pirate leader cocks his shotgun. Aimed directly at Clara. Only a few meters separate them. At this distance¡ª The titanium shrapnel blast will rip her apart. Thousands of tiny, burning fragments will turn her into dust and meat. Clara doesn¡¯t see him. She is too focused. Too caught up in the kill. Eliminating the last pirates shooting at her protector. Everything happens too fast. Just as the final pirate falls¡ª She catches the metallic glint of the shotgun. ¡­ Too late. Clara is tired. Her arms ache. The rifle in her hands burns hot. Heavy. She knows she can¡¯t react in time. She¡¯s done. The pirate leader, enraged and desperate¡ª Pulls the trigger. *BANG!* The bright titanium storm explodes. Tearing through everything in its path. Clara¡¯s eyes instinctively shut against the blinding flash of light. She waits for pain. For her body to be torn apart. For her bones to shatter. But¡ª *SMASH* The sound that follows¡ª Is not the sound of her flesh being destroyed. But the sound of something solid being hit. A wall. "How?!" Clara¡¯s eyes snap open. And she sees¡ª The pirate leader. Shaking. Convulsing. His shotgun still in his hands¡ª But now pointed toward the ceiling. Because¡ª A pale arm has burst through his chest. Tearing through flesh and ribs like an overripe fruit. Like peeling an orange inside out. And in that pale hand¡ª Still beating. Still pulsing. His heart. The same hand that had touched Clara so gently before. Now¡ª Dripping with blood. "A-a-arrrg-ghh¡­" The pirate leader trembles. His body enhanced by cybernetic modifications. His muscles reinforced with cutting-edge tech. That¡¯s the only reason he¡¯s still alive. Holding onto the last thread of life. But this isn¡¯t a blessing. It¡¯s a nightmare. Blood and foam spill from his lips. His nervous system spasms. The pain is indescribable.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. He can¡¯t breathe. He can¡¯t move. He can only watch. As his own heart twitches in that pale, merciless grip. "Not so fast!" Clara throws the rifle aside. She drops low. Rolls. And snatches up her pistol in one fluid motion. By the time she rises to her feet¡ª She¡¯s already pressing the barrel against his mouth. "I told you I¡¯d kill you, didn¡¯t I?" Her lips curl into a victorious smile. Her eyes burn with vengeance. The pirate leader¡ª He just wants it to be over. But¡ª The mysterious man behind him TWISTS HIS ARM. Fresh waves of agony tear through his body. "ARRRHHH!!!" He screams. He never knew pain could be like this. But it gets worse. Clara presses the gun harder against his teeth. His body shudders. Something warm runs down his legs. And then¡ª Something worse behind. Clara leans in. Her voice drops. Cold. Cruel. Mocking. "Now tell me¡­" She tilts her head. Smirking. Her words shatter what little pride he had left. "Are you already shitting yourself?" ¡®YOU BIT¡ª¡¯ *BAMG* He doesn¡¯t even finish. She pulls the trigger. ¡­ That last bullet. It could only be for him. The pirate leader¡¯s head explodes. *CRASH* Blood and brain matter splatter against the cold, ancient stone. His decapitated body slumps forward¡ª Sliding off the pale arm that had impaled him. And revealing¡ª The mysterious man behind him. Standing there. His skin is white as moonlight. Now painted in crimson. His expression? Calm. Confident. Unbothered. But¡ª When his ghostly white eyes meet Clara¡¯s crystal blue ones¡­ He smiles. Not a cocky smirk. Not a sinister grin. A gentle, warm smile. And Clara¡ª Without realizing it¡ª She is smiling back. Her eyes sparkle. Like two luminous pearls. She tries to think of something to say. Thank you? I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re not dead? LET¡¯S FUCKING GO?! In the end¡ª She follows her heart. *Shoosh* She jumps into his arms. And he catches her. She clings to him. With all the strength she has left. Her face buries into his bare, blood-soaked chest. She shudders. Softly. A small sob escapes. A few tears of relief. Of pure, raw joy. Clara is a strong woman. But she just survived hell. A brush with death. That does things to people. So¡ª For just a few seconds¡ª She allows herself to be a girl. To be human. And her silent protector¡ª He remains. A mountain. Solid. Unyielding. Unshakable. Gentle. A bastion of warmth. "Just let me¡­" She whispers, her eyes closing. She inhales deeply. And¡ª Even covered in blood and death¡ª He still smells incredible. "¡­Hold you like this." The mysterious man watches her. His soft smile grows. Pleased. Content. His large hands drift slowly down her back. Resting just above her hips. Everything fits perfectly. The moment is perfect. If not for¡ª The entire chamber trembling. Chunks of the ceiling collapse. Dust rises again. ¡­ *Shhhshhh* A crackle of static fills her earpiece. Then¡ª A young, excited voice. "D-Doctor Dravenmoor?!" "Are you there?" "C-Clara??" The signal cuts in and out. Interference. Clara¡¯s eyes widen. She quickly presses her earpiece. "Jex?!" "Can you hear me?" "Clara?!" "Yeah, I¡¯m here!" The girl on the other end exhales. Relieved. But Clara¡ª Clara is concerned. "Jex?! Are you guys okay?!" Clara¡¯s voice is sharp. Urgent. "I heard you¡¯re having trouble with a Vhorr¡¯Ka." "Huh?! My giant nightmare?!" "Yeah, that one." "It¡¯s wrapping around the Safira!!" "And it¡¯s pulling us into a sand vortex¡­!" Jex¡¯s voice crackles through static. "The damn thing is wrecking all external sectors¡ª" "Comms antennas are down, main weapons¡ªdamaged!" Clara¡¯s concern deepens. It¡¯s written all over her face. Her sharp blue eyes tighten with worry. Seeing that expression¡ª The mysterious man shifts. Uneasy. Confused. Concerned. "Where¡¯s Nyx?!" Clara fires the next question. "She hasn¡¯t returned from the Thek¡¯Shar camp yet!" "And the captain? The others??" Jex doesn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead¡ª Clara hears a loud, metallic groan. The sound of crushing steel. Her heart clenches. "Jex?!?!" "Here! Still here!" "The creature¡ªit''s tearing the Safira apart!!" A fierce, frustrated growl follows. "How the hell is this worm so damn strong?!?" Clara grits her teeth. "The others, Jex! Where are they??" "Ah! The captain and the rest are still holding off the Crimson Nebula¡ª" "Trying to buy you time to find the relic!" Clara shakes her head. "They¡¯re doing a shit job of it¡ª" "Because I¡¯m covered in pirate blood!!" Jex¡¯s worry deepens. "But¡ªare YOU okay?!?!" Clara¡¯s eyes flick to the mysterious man. His gaze is locked onto her. Watching. Attentive. Gentle. Her expression softens. "Don¡¯t worry." She exhales. Her lips curve slightly. "A friend helped me out¡­" "Oh?" Jex sounds relieved again. "Thank the good Lord!" Then¡ª Her voice tenses again. "Now hurry back." "Please, Clara¡ªwe need you!" Clara nods firmly. "I¡¯m on my way!" She cuts the comm. And turns to the mysterious man. Really looks at him. His perfect features. Somehow¡ª Even more handsome. His presence. Somehow¡ª More familiar. More comfortable. She easily loses herself in his serene, confident white eyes. But then¡ª She cups his face gently. "We need to go." Her voice is firm. "My friends are in trouble." "Our ride off this hellhole is under attack." "And the fucking ceiling is collapsing over our heads!" The mysterious man tilts his head slightly. A small, confused smile appearing. As if her urgency amuses him. Then¡ª He reaches out. His fingers brushing over her cheek. Gentle. Not caring at all about the falling debris. Or the crumbling ruins around them. Clara laughs softly. But her expression is slightly desperate. "You don¡¯t understand a single word I¡¯m saying, do you?" The mysterious man smiles. Clara shakes her head. Still holding his face. "I don¡¯t blame you." She exhales. Then¡ª "How long were you even trapped in that box?" Her voice lowers. Softens. "Probably too long to count, huh?" "Anyway, let¡¯s get the hell out of here!" She grabs his hand and starts pulling him toward the metallic box at the center of the chamber. But then¡ª She stops. And really looks at him. Top to bottom. Her cheeks heat up when her eyes land on a certain¡­ feature. "You need clothes." She almost regrets saying it. "..." He still stares at her. Confused. Amused. Curious. She pinches the collar of her coat between her fingers. Then slides them down to her waist. "Clothes." "This." His eyes flicker. He reaches out and touches her coat. She laughs. "Not mine!" She points. At the body of a pirate lying nearby. A clean kill. Shot straight through the head. His clothes still intact. "That guy¡¯s outfit isn¡¯t covered in shit." "It¡¯ll have to do for now." The mysterious man tilts his head. Still confused. Clara shakes her head. Then¡ª She points again. At her own clothes. At the pirate¡¯s clothes. Then¡ª At his bare body. "Clothes." His eyes brighten. Like a lightbulb just switched on. He opens his mouth. Clara waits. Expecting him to try saying the word. But¡ª No sound comes out. Instead¡ª He smiles at her. Then turns toward the dead pirate. Clara watches him go. She crosses her arms. Her head tilting. "You¡¯re the quiet type." She nods to herself. "Got it." She doesn¡¯t realize¡ª She¡¯s smiling. Watching his broad back. The way he moves. The way he carries himself. "I like your vibe." She turns. Heads toward the metallic box at the chamber¡¯s center. "I¡¯m not leaving without you." She grabs her bag from the ground. Rummages inside. Pulls out several thin, flexible metal strips. Skilled hands. She places the strips around the box¡ª A precise, perfect circuit. The moment she lays the final piece¡ª The strips glow. A soft gray light. Clara presses one. A strong burst of air blasts downward. *TREMBLE* The box lifts. Suspended in mid-air. Freed from the stone altar. "Time to go!" She turns back. And sees¡ª The mysterious man struggling to pull on the pirate¡¯s pants. Clara bursts out laughing. "Hey, Mr. Clumsy!" She rushes over. "Let me help you." He glances at her. Still confused. She grabs the pants. Holds them open. He steps into them. Familiar. Comfortable. As if they¡¯ve known each other forever. Clara pulls the pants up. But¡ª She steals one last glance. At that. Her face flushes. Again. "Let¡¯s keep that tucked away, okay?" A teasing smirk curves her lips. "Until you know what to do with it." "Hehe~" He may not understand her words. But he gets the feeling. His hand lifts. Fingers brushing against her cheek. His body leans in. But Clara catches his hand. "Not the time for that, big one." She pouts playfully and points up. "The fucking ceiling collapsing on us, remember?" He exhales. Not annoyed¡ª Just¡­ accepting. Clara smirks. Then¡ª She leans in. Presses a quick kiss to his lips. Just a fleeting moment. Just a fraction of that mystical, powerful energy radiating from his body. He smiles back. Soft. Warm. "Now it¡¯s time to go." "Say goodbye to your prison." He doesn¡¯t even look back. His focus¡ª Is entirely on her. "Alright¡­" Clara grabs his hand and pulls him toward the floating metal box. But¡ª As they approach it¡ª His expression shifts. Hesitation. A flicker of unease. He stares at the box. Like an old nightmare resurfacing. Like a wound not yet healed. Clara¡¯s chest tightens. She gives him a sorry look. "I know¡­" Her voice is gentler now. "If I had been trapped inside that thing alone¡ª" "I wouldn¡¯t wanna see it again either." She reaches into her bag. Pulls out a large cloth. And throws it over the box. Covering it. Then¡ª She climbs onto it. And extends her hand. The mysterious man watches her. Still uncertain. She puts on her most honest expression. "I know you don¡¯t understand me." Her voice is steady. Strong. "But I need you to trust me." "You saved my life." "I won¡¯t hand you over." Her eyes burn. Fierce. Unbreakable. "Fuck the Ebon Dominion." She tilts her chin up proudly. "You¡¯re with me now." "Part of the family." "And I protect my own." She thumps her chest. A bold, proud gesture. But¡ª He still seems confused. Clara pauses. Then¡ª She takes his hand. And places it over her chest. Right over her heart. Her blue eyes lock onto his. "Trust." She nods. He feels it. Her heartbeat. Strong. Steady. Unwavering. He smiles. And¡ª He nods too. Then¡ª He steps onto the floating box. Joining her. Clara grins. And pulls out a small, cone-shaped device. She sets it against the edge of the box. "You better hold on." She flashes a wild smile. Then¡ª Activates the thruster. A fierce red flame erupts beneath them. The box rockets forward¡ª With incredible speed. "LET¡¯S FUCKING GO!!" Clara steers them through the collapsing ruins. Using the thruster¡¯s direction to guide them. They shoot through the passage in the wall. Down the endless corridors of the pyramid. The mysterious man glances back. One last look. His white eyes hold many emotions. Hidden memories. A whisper of old pain. But also¡ª Excitement. Curiosity. And¡ª A thrill for the unknown. Chapter 5 Zhaaros¡ª The Dying Desert. Thousands of years ago¡ª It was the proud home of the feared Red Sun Warriors. Thek¡¯Shar. A name once respected across the Eldrathis Galaxy. Now¡ª The descendants of that era are nothing but a barbaric tribe. Trapped. Clinging to ancient traditions that even time has forgotten. Their great cities? Buried beneath an ocean of sand. Their former strength? Lost to the storms of history. And their land? Ruled by colossal sand-dwelling nightmares. Creatures so fearsome that even the most powerful warriors in the galaxy refuse to face them in open combat. ... SHOOOOOOSHHH The hot wind howls, tearing through the dunes. At the center of the storm¡ª A massive pyramid. Its ancient brown stones worn down by millennia. Cracked. Crumbling. Monolithic. And yet¡ª What is visible above the dunes is merely the tip. Beneath the sands¡ª Lies something even greater. Above¡ª A maelstrom of swirling sand. A cyclone twisting violently. Mimicking the gargantuan vortex below. At its center¡ª A ship. The Safira. The Scarlet Jewel of Nova Zevryn. But right now¡ª The Safira is no jewel. It is a toy. A trapped prey. Coiled tightly¡ª By a titanic monstrosity. Vhorr¡¯Ka. A fully grown Sentopian Death Centipede. And right now¡ª It has its entire body wrapped around the Safira. Squeezing the ship like a helpless insect. Making the massive red cruiser look small. Fragile. A plaything. A victim. SCCRRAAHRRRR!!! The creature¡¯s roar is soul-piercing. A monstrous screech like a million daggers stabbing into the mind. A colossal, unnatural grinding that makes the spine crawl. Its green-and-black mass coils tighter. The Safira groans and creaks under the pressure. Its massive body contracts. Squeezing¡ª Trying to crush the ship like a ripe fruit. ... Inside¡ª Chaos. Screams. Flashing lights. Blasting sirens. Electrical sparks raining from shattered panels. A ship on the brink of being destroyed. "WHAAAAAAAA?!?!" A piercing scream echoes through the hallways of the Safira. Jex. Terrified. Right outside the ship¡¯s bridge. Jex clings to severed cables as the ship spins violently. Her world is upside down. The ceiling is beneath her. The floor is above her head. The Vhorr¡¯Ka is twisting the Safira in its monstrous grip. Jex is a very specific type¡ª She¡¯s young. Too young to be an engineer this skilled. And yet¡ª She¡¯s the primary pilot of the Safira. A prodigy. A daredevil. A hot Latina. A stunning beauty. And¡ª Another foul-mouthed mess, thanks to Clara¡¯s influence. "FUCK!" "SHIT!" "DAMN!" ¡°MY FUCKING-¡± zzZzt! Bzt!!If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Panels collapse from the ship¡¯s interior. Short circuits. Severed cables whipping wildly. FIRE. ... "ECHO?!?!" Jex shouts. ... HIIISHSHSHSHHH ... Suddenly¡ª Cold jets of air blast from every direction. Extinguishing the flames. But also blasting her directly. ... "NOT ON ME, YOU DUMB ASSHOLE!!" She shakes her head furiously. ... "FIRE EXTINGUISHED SUCCESSFULLY." A calm, feminine AI voice echoes from the ship¡¯s walls. A self-satisfied tone. Jex rolls her eyes. "Of course." Pure sarcasm. ... TREMBLE. The corridor rotates again. ... "FUUUUUCK-ME!!" Jex curses. But this time¡ª The floor rights itself. She lets go of the cables. Lands on her feet. "Echo, damage report!" The AI responds immediately. "Hull integrity compromised. Multiple sectors sustaining critical damage." "External Hull Plating ¨C CRITICAL BREACH (Decks 3 through 7 exposed)" "Propulsion System ¨C MALFUNCTIONING (Primary thrusters offline, backup engaged)" "Weapons Array ¨C DISRUPTED (Targeting system failing)" "Shields ¨C DOWN (Shield matrix destroyed)" "Life Support ¨C PARTIAL FUNCTION (Oxygen reserves compromised, vents damaged)" "Internal Communications ¨C SEVERE INTERFERENCE (Deck-to-deck comms unreliable)" "Hangar Bay ¨C COLLAP¡ª" "Alright, alright!!" Jex interrupts. "I GET IT, WE¡¯RE FUCKED BEYOND BELIEF!!" ... "That is an accurate description of the situation." Echo responds calmly. Jex groans. Kicks a fallen panel out of her way. "FUCK THIS GIANT COCKROACH!!" She growls. "IT¡¯S TRYING TO DESTROY MY SHIP?!" ... "The creature is more similar to a centipede." Echo corrects her. Jex¡¯s eye twitches. "AND HOW THE FUCK DOES THAT HELP ME?!" "It is damaging the ship¡¯s structure with its hundreds of hardened, serrated legs. "Your focus should be disabling those limbs to neutralize the threat faster." Jex grits her teeth. Slams her fist against the wall. "AND HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT IF THE MAIN GUNS ARE DOWN?!?!" "There are many handheld weapons aboard. "The armory. Nyx¡¯s room." ... Echo attempts to be helpful. But Jex¡ª She¡¯s not convinced. Her eyes flash with desperation. "I CAN¡¯T DO SHIT OUTSIDE, ECHO¡­!" Jex glares toward the command bridge. Disappointed. "Those stupid nerds aren¡¯t doing shit either." She grits her teeth. "Where the hell is Nyx? The captain and the others too?!?" "I need them back NOW or there won¡¯t be anything left to come back to!!" ... Echo¡¯s calm, synthetic voice hums through the static. "Miss Nyx¡¯s transponder signal appeared on my radar a while ago. "She¡¯s less than a hundred miles starboard. Moving fast." ... Jex¡¯s eyes light up. "She¡¯s coming back?!" For a second¡ª Hope. But¡ª Echo continues. "There are also hundreds of other life signatures near her." ... Jex freezes. ... "Some very similar to the one currently attacking us." ... "WHAT?!?!" Her heart slams against her ribs. "SHE¡¯S BRINGING MORE SAND WORMS HERE?!?!" ... "I doubt that is Miss Nyx¡¯s intention." "OF COURSE, YOU BRAIN-DEAD AI!" Jex groans. Runs a hand through her dark ponytail. "It must be the fucking Thek¡¯Shar army chasing her!!" Echo pauses. Gives Jex a few seconds to process. Then¡ª "The captain and the rest of the crew are still a few miles out. "Near the Crimson Nebula¡¯s SHIP." Jex grits her teeth harder. "And Clara?" ... "Doctor Dravenmoor¡¯s signal is approaching rapidly." Jex snaps her head up. Her eyes widen with relief. "Clara?!" She rushes toward a nearby window. Her hands slam against the glass. She peers out¡ª Through the gargantuan, writhing body of the Vhorr¡¯Ka. And beyond it¡ª She sees the pyramid. "Where is she??" Echo¡¯s voice returns. "Wait¡­" "Wait¡­" "Wait¡­" ... BOOOOOOM. A massive explosion erupts from the midsection of the pyramid. A roaring cloud of dust and shattered stone bursts outward. Echo¡¯s tone changes. "There she is." Jex snaps her head toward the blast. And then¡ª She sees it. A fast-moving object emerging from the debris. Floating. Accelerating. "Doctor Dravenmoor and¡­" Echo¡¯s voice, normally calm and mechanical¡ª Sounds almost¡­ Curious. "An unidentified life form." Jex blinks. Her face twists in confusion. "What?" Her mind races. "Unidentified life form?" "What the hell does that mean??" ... Meanwhile¡ª "FUCK YEAH!!!" Clara¡¯s confident grin spreads across her beautiful, blood-streaked face. She bursts from the ruins¡ª Flying atop the cold metal box. The mysterious man beside her. Wind whips through her golden hair. Sand rushes past them. She throws her arms up in victory. For a moment¡ª She feels unstoppable. But¡ª Her celebration ends fast. Her smile fades. Her stomach drops. As her eyes lock onto the nightmare ahead. The colossal centipede. It¡¯s dragging the Safira down. Toward a sand vortex. Hundreds of meters wide. Only a few dozen meters away. The Safira¡¯s thrusters struggle. Only partially operational¡ª Not nearly enough to counter the monstrous strength of the creature. "Vhorr¡¯Ka!" Clara exclaims¡ª Worry etched across her face. "And this one¡¯s a BIG one!!" She doesn¡¯t hesitate. Her hand tightens around the thruster control. She accelerates the floating metal box¡ª Straight toward the Safira. "We have to reach the ship!" Her mind is locked onto the threat. The imminent danger. But the mysterious man¡ª He is not. His eyes gleam. His lips curl into a smile. He isn¡¯t watching the battle ahead. He¡¯s watching the world. Taking in¡ª He inhales deeply. Breathes in the desert air. Sand gets into his nose, mouth, eyes. But¡ª It doesn¡¯t matter. Because¡ª It¡¯s fresh air. Something he hasn¡¯t felt in¡­ A long. Long. Very long time. He places a hand on Clara¡¯s shoulder. And stands up. Balanced on the floating box. "What??" Clara glances back. Sees him¡ª His eyes closed. A pure, unfiltered smile. He¡¯s just breathing. Enjoying it. Freedom. Clara smiles too. Soft. Warm. "You¡¯re happy to be out of that damn hole, huh, finally?" She nods. Then¡ª "I hate to kill the vibe, but y¡¯know¡­" She jerks a thumb forward. At the titanic death-worm looming ahead. "THE GIANT FUCKING MONSTER IN OUR WAY." SCROOOOAAAAAAHHHHH!!! The Vhorr¡¯Ka screeches. A piercing, ear-shattering roar. "DAMN!!!" Clara claps her hands over her ears. Grimacing at the sheer volume. But the mysterious man¡­ He doesn¡¯t flinch. His eyes open. Pure, glowing white. He looks at the massive creature. And¡ª His lips curl up. That smirk. Confident. Fearless. Daring. Clara already loves it. "Go easy, big guy!" She frowns. His expression worries her. That look. Like he''s about to do something insane. He glances at her. Briefly¡ª Almost offended that she doubts him. "Hey, that thing is an ancient monster!" "..." He gives her a look. Sarcastic. Almost as if he¡¯s asking the obvious. As if to say¡ª "And what do you think I am?" Chapter 6 From the Safira¡¯s window, Jex watches Clara appear¡ªstanding atop a mysterious floating metal box. With her¡ªa stranger. A tall, pale-skinned man, shirtless, his strong chest bared to the wind. "Who the hell is that?" Then¡ªher brain short-circuits. "Wait?!" "He¡¯s not gonna¡ª" "WHAAAT?!?!" Jex watches in shock as the man leaps from the floating box. Mid-air. A few dozen meters above the deadly vortex of sand. And the craziest part? He jumps straight onto the giant sandworm. Bare-handed. No weapons. No hesitation. But what really shakes Jex¡ª His face. "That bastard is SMILING?!?!" She cannot believe the confident, almost thrilled grin on his face as he plunges toward the Vhorr¡¯Ka. Even Clara¡ªso used to wild bullshit¡ªglances at him, growing concerned. Still in freefall, his eyes blaze like someone about to pull off the craziest stunt in history. A predator. His prey. An ancient, colossal monster. And he doesn¡¯t care. Arms forward. Chest puffed out. He braces for impact. BAM! He slams hard against the creature¡¯s armored hide. It¡¯s strangely warm. Not as hard as he expected. His body compresses the thick plating slightly. Then¡ªit bounces back. The chitin is incredibly elastic. There¡¯s a weird, viscous slime coating its surface. He tries to grip something¡ªanything¡ª But there are no ridges. No gaps. Just seamless, organic plating. He slips. "..." He doesn¡¯t scream. But¡ªhe starts sliding downward. Like a goddamn waterslide.
"HEY YOU!!!" Clara panics. She watches him skid down the monster¡¯s back¡ª Straight toward the sand vortex. "GRAB ONTO SOMETHING!!!" She feels useless. She can¡¯t reach him. She can¡¯t help. Clara almost veers the floating box off course. The Vhorr¡¯Ka notices something sliding down its massive body. *SCROOOAHHHHHH!!!* The creature howls in rage. He stays calm. Hands searching for something¡ªanything to hold onto. Then¡ªhe finds it. What is this? Doesn¡¯t matter. He grips it tight. From the Safira, Jex¡¯s eyes widen. "No way¡­ That¡¯s¡­?" *SCRAAAH?!?* The creature lets out a different noise. Almost surprised. Maybe offended. The mysterious man wipes the stinking slime off his face. His grip remains firm on the thing. Something hard. Damp. Hot. Very hot. His hand burns. As he finally sees what it is¡ª he, too, is surprised. One of the Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s venomous spines. "SON OF A BITCH!!!" Clara cheers, unable to believe his audacity. The creature loosens its grip on the Safira, trying to dislodge the intruder. A perfect opening. Clara seizes the moment, steering toward the ship. "JEX!!!" Jex already knows. She sprints to the door, slamming the control panel. The hatch hisses open. "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!" Clara blasts inside, still on the floating box. BAM! THUD! She crashes into a counter. The box bounces back. Clara flies forward¡ªover a table¡ªrolling onto the floor. "FUCK!!!" "Clara?!?" Jex rushes to her, worried. Clara winces but grins, already getting up. "We have to help him!!!" Jex has a million questions. But now isn¡¯t the time. Now is the time for action.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. "The creature wrecked all external weapons!!" Jex reports quickly. "Then to the armory!!!" Clara takes off toward the lower deck. "Wait!" Jex jumps in front of her. "I think we have something better than rifles and pistols to deal with it." Clara¡¯s eyes light up with curiosity. "Talk fast!" "The mining drill." "I thought about it the second the external guns went offline." "I think it might work as an improvised weapon, but¡­" Jex lowers her head, shame flickering across her face. "I was too scared to go outside¡­" Clara¡¯s expression softens. "It¡¯s okay, Jex. You control the crane from here, and I¡¯ll handle the drill outside." Jex nods immediately. "Alright! I¡¯ll head to the bridge. You need to get to the cargo zone and climb onto the drill." Clara takes off toward the hallway. "I¡¯ll grab a few things from the armory too¡­" "Okay." Jex hesitates. "But what about your friend out there? We need to be fast!" Clara smirks. "He¡¯ll have to hold on a little longer¡­" As she rushes past a window, she catches sight of something that makes her brain short-circuit. The mysterious man is doing something she thought was impossible. He¡¯s gripping one of the creature¡¯s venomous spines with both hands, his feet braced against two more spines beside him. Then¡ªhe pushes. All the strength in his arms and legs¡ª CrrraaaCK!! He does it. He snaps one of the Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s deadly spines. SCRAAAAAAAAAAAWWW!!! The creature lets out a furious screech. But he doesn¡¯t care. He doesn¡¯t stop. He drives the jagged green spine directly into the creature¡¯s own flesh. The soft inner tissue pierces easily. The Vhorr¡¯Ka writhes, screeching in agony. Its focus shifts. It loosens its coils around the Safira. Now its full attention is on the intruder wreaking havoc on its low belly. The mysterious man doesn¡¯t waste time. He grabs another venomous spine. Crack! Another one breaks free in his hands. He stares at it. Then at the one still lodged in the creature¡¯s flesh. A spark. A wicked idea. His lips curl up. A bold. Reckless. Perversely genius idea. He yanks the first spine out of the creature¡¯s soft tissue. Now¡ª One venomous spine in each hand. He extends his arms. Then slams the spine into the side of the Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s armored plating. And just as he suspected¡ª The chitin, impervious to outside weapons, is NOT resistant to its own acid venom. SCREWWWWWW!!! The Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s scream pierces the air¡ªlouder, sharper, agonized. The mysterious man swings his body to the side, using the embedded spine as a pivot. He drives the second spine deeper into the creature¡¯s chitin. Now¡ª holding onto both like climbing axes¡ª he finally has stability, despite the slimy surface. But he doesn¡¯t stop there. With one spine firmly gripped, he yanks out the other and stabs it further up. Then again. And again. Climbing. Scaling the massive creature¡¯s body. The Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s armored plating¡ªnow just another mountain to conquer. The howling desert winds whip against him, but he moves with ease, fearless, relentless. The only thing that slows him down is when the creature thrashes violently, trying to shake him off.
Meanwhile¡ª Jex bursts into the bridge of the Safira, a wide control room filled with panels, screens, and command chairs behind a massive front-facing glass viewport. The Vhorr¡¯Ka has uncoiled its upper body from the ship, but its lower half still squeezes tight, keeping the Safira trapped. Jex isn¡¯t alone. Four crew members¡ªa woman and three men in white-and-red uniforms¡ªstand frozen at the back of the bridge, staring at the monstrous beast outside. Fear written all over their faces. "HEY, YOU THERE!" Jex drops into her pilot¡¯s chair¡ªthe primary seat of command¡ªand glares at them. "Do something useful!!" She points sharply at them. "Be ready to break us free the second Clara gives us an opening!" Despite their paralyzing fear, the crew snaps into action, moving to their stations to check various ship systems. Jex cracks her knuckles. "I¡¯m taking control of the mining drill." Her fingers fly over the controls, swift and precise. She switches the main display to show a live feed from the cargo bay. On the screen¡ª Clara rushes into the cargo zone, a large duffel bag slung over her shoulder, two heavy machine guns in her hands. She moves toward the drill chamber¡ªa small pressurized room leading to the Safira¡¯s side exit hatch. The mining drill itself is a massive square-shaped cockpit attached to a crane arm, resembling a construction rig. Reinforced metal plating protects the operator¡¯s seat inside, where a dual-hand control system and digital interface panel wait. At the center of the rig¡ª A high-powered laser drill, designed to cut through planetary rock. A weapon of pure destruction. Clara tosses her bag and guns inside the cabin before climbing in herself. She taps her earpiece. "Jex." Her voice is steady. "I¡¯m ready." "Get me outside!" Clara''s voice is sharp and determined. Jex hears her through the comms. "Right now!" Fingers flying across the controls, Jex activates the side hatch. The heavy metal doors groan open, their damaged plating screeching from the strain. The hatch fully opens. Immediately, violent desert winds rush inside, whipping up a storm of sand. Clara grabs a mask from beneath the seat and secures it over her face. Her blue eyes burn with fierce determination. "Let¡¯s fucking go!!" From the bridge, Jex manipulates the crane controls, lifting the mining drill rig¡ªClara included¡ªout of the ship. "I¡¯ll get you close, BE CAREFUL!" Jex¡¯s stomach knots. She¡¯s sending her best friend straight toward a goddamn eldritch death-centipede. But Clara¡ªshe¡¯s fearless. Her focus is locked on what¡¯s ahead. The mysterious man is climbing. His movements brutal, relentless. His venomous spines pierce the creature''s hide like climbing picks, leaving behind dozens of puncture wounds. Thick, murky green-brown fluid oozes from the gaping holes in the Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s exoskeleton. "Damn!" Clara grins, watching him. "Is he actually taking this thing down by himself?!" She laughs. A thrill shoots through her veins. Her hand reaches down, grabbing one of the heavy machine guns in the cockpit. She props it onto the drill rig¡¯s railing¡ª Aims. "Take this!" She pulls the trigger. RATATATATATA¡ª A storm of high-caliber bullets rip into the Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s underside¡ª Tearing into its legs¡ªits weakest point. SCRAAAOOOOWWWWW!!! The monster shrieks in agony, thrashing violently. Its coils loosen. Then¡ª It fully releases the Safira, twisting wildly, desperate to shake off the man scaling its body. Clara glances at him. Her heart pounds. Her eyes gleam with excitement. "Jex! Get me closer. Take me UP!!" "Alright!" Jex grits her teeth, adjusting the controls. With the Vhorr¡¯Ka finally letting go of the ship, she regains full control. She steadies the Safira in the air. Then¡ªmaneuvers the crane arm, pulling Clara closer to the thrashing beast. Clara fires every last round in both machine guns as she ascends toward its head. The bullets rip through flesh and chitin. The Vhorr¡¯Ka writhes, shrieking. Trapped in the heart of the sand vortex. It can¡¯t shake off the man on its back. And now Clara¡¯s in its sights. She¡¯s pissing it off. Badly. Its massive, glowing green eyes lock onto her. The red hue in them pulses. Pure, primal rage. RHOOOAAAAAAARRHHH!!! The Vhorr¡¯Ka roars and spews thick, slimy bile straight at Clara. "You ugly, disgusting thing!!" Clara curses, dodging as best she can, but some of the nasty goop splashes onto her. She shudders. ¡°Fucking gross!¡± She drops the empty machine gun and grabs the mining drill¡¯s controls. She aims it. Straight at the creature¡¯s gaping maw. But¡ªit doesn¡¯t stay still. The Vhorr¡¯Ka lunges. Mouth wide open. Fangs ready to devour her. Whooosh¡ª Before it can close its massive jaws, the mysterious man reaches the creature¡¯s head. He slams both venomous spines deep over its eyes. The Vhorr¡¯Ka screams. Its mouth hangs open¡ªcompletely exposed. "HERE!!" Clara doesn¡¯t waste the opportunity. She activates the mining laser. A thick, searing beam of red-hot energy fires directly into the beast¡¯s throat. The laser burns. Slices. The flesh inside the worm¡¯s mouth is thick and resistant, like reinforced steel¡ª But this is one of its weakest points. The Vhorr¡¯Ka convulses violently. Thrashing. Shaking. The mysterious man grips the spines tightly, holding on as the head whips around. "HANG ON!!!" Clara yells at him, keeping the full power of the mining laser pouring into the monster¡¯s mouth. Green and brown sludge rains down, along with chunks of burnt flesh and cartilage. The Vhorr¡¯Ka knows¡ª It won¡¯t last much longer. Suddenly¡ªit stops struggling against him. Instead¡ªit turns. Diving downward. Toward the sand vortex. It¡¯s trying to escape. "Trying to run?!" Clara catches on immediately. "JEX!!" "GOT IT!!" Jex lowers the crane, following the creature down. Clara knows they only have seconds before the Vhorr¡¯Ka disappears beneath the sandstorm. She yells at the mysterious man. "HEY YOU!" "BIG GUY!!" He glances up, eyes locking onto her. She signals him¡ªfist down. He nods. And then¡ªhe shoves the venomous spines as deep as possible into the creature¡¯s skull. SCRAAAAWWWWW!!! The Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s mouth gapes wide, unleashing a final, deafening cry of agony. "A little gift¡­" Clara grins wickedly, reaching for the duffel bag on the cabin floor. She unzips it. Dozens of grenades. A rectangular detonator on top. She presses a button. A timer flashes on the small screen. 10 9 8 She grabs the bag. And hurls it straight into the creature¡¯s open mouth. "FUCK YOU!!!" The duffel disappears effortlessly down the monster¡¯s throat. No time to celebrate. Clara turns to the mysterious man, arm outstretched. "COME ON!!!" He sees her hand. Understands. But¡ª As he stands up, without the venomous spines anchoring him¡ª He loses his balance. His feet slip. The thick slime covering the Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s body betrays him. He falls. "NO!!!" Clara doesn¡¯t think. She reacts. She jumps. Straight out of the mining drill cockpit, diving after him. In freefall, she keeps her hand stretched out. He does the same. They connect. His arms wrap around her. She screams. "JEX!!!" Jex acts fast. She slams the forward lever, tilting the Safira downward. With a quick twist of the controls, she swings the crane arm into position¡ª Catching Clara and the mysterious man midair, like a giant metal hand. "HOLD ON!!!" Jex yanks the controls back. The Safira reverses at full speed. A red glow begins to pulse from deep inside the Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s throat. Its skin bloats. Expanding violently. And then¡ª BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! Chapter 7 Vhorr¡¯Ka. The dreaded giant sandworms of Zhaaros. The biggest. The most powerful Clara had ever seen. And it just exploded. Bag full of explosives to the stomach? Her new favorite way to kill giant alien bugs. The detonation is massive, a firestorm of pure destruction. Its shockwave expands for hundreds of meters, sending scorching winds and burning debris across the desert. But Jex reacts fast. She pulls the Safira out of the danger zone, maneuvering it just in time. The crane cabin shakes violently, rocked by the aftershock turbulence. Green-brown slime and massive chunks of sandworm flesh rain down like a grotesque, alien monsoon. Inside the cabin, Clara and the mysterious man are on the floor. She¡¯s on top of him. Resting on his broad, bare chest. The moment would be perfect¡­ If he weren¡¯t completely covered in alien worm mucus. "Damn! You really need a bath!" She laughs. But despite her playful words, she hugs him tighter. Then¡ªwhispers softly. "You still smell good¡­" He exhales. A deep, relieved sigh. The battle was brutal. His heart still pounds. Adrenaline surges through his veins. That confident, cocky grin still lingers on his charming face. But¡ªhis expression softens. He looks down. At the beautiful woman in his arms. "..." He doesn¡¯t speak. But he¡¯s content. He reaches out. Slowly. Gently. Fingertips glide toward her messy blonde hair. Green slime. She¡¯s covered in it too. "Oops!" She blushes. An awkward, adorable smile curves her lips. "Looks like I need a bath too." Then¡ªher eyes gleam. A bold idea flashes through her mind. "Maybe we¡ª" **Shhh- ** Her earpiece buzzes. "Clara?! You guys okay???" Jex. Concerned. "Covered in alien slime." "Hahaha!" Jex laughs, then sighs. "Good. That¡¯s better than becoming worm food." "For sure!" Jex stabilizes the Safira midair. Clara pushes herself up and extends a hand to the mysterious man. Her eyes gleam. Her lips curve into a soft smile. "..." Their eyes meet. Her crystal-blue gems. His milky-white diamonds. He still hasn¡¯t spoken a single word since she pulled him out of that metal box. % But she trusts him completely. She nods. He nods back. Then¡ªhe takes her hand.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. They stand together. "Jex. Get us inside." "Alright!" Jex maneuvers the crane, guiding the drill rig back into the Safira. As soon as the cabin passes through the side hatch, the mysterious man¡¯s eyes widen. He¡¯s impressed. The Safira¡¯s interior is unlike anything he¡¯s seen. A blend of cutting-edge human technology and raw, industrial design. This is the cargo bay. A vast metallic hangar, towering overhead. Scattered across the floor¡ªvarious land and aerial vehicles, large shipping crates, and towering containers. Elevators and stairways lead to multiple access points. His gaze takes it all in. "Pretty badass, huh?" Clara grins, proudly. Her expression softens slightly as her eyes land on the damaged panels on the floor, torn cables hanging from the ceiling. "Looks like my home barely survived the fight with that oversized worm¡­" "Easy fix! What matters is that we¡¯re intact." Jex steps off the main elevator, walking toward Clara with a relieved smile. Clara nods, returning the smile. "Thanks, Jex. You really saved us out there." "Nah!" Jex shakes her head. "You did the heavy lifting. You and your¡­" She glances at the mysterious man, surprised, impressed¡ªcurious. "...New friend?" Clara has no idea where to start explaining. "Ehhh¡ª" She hesitates. Jex raises a brow, intrigued. "Long story?" "Long story." Clara sighs. "Alright, I¡¯ll wait¡­ at least until we¡¯re far away from this cursed planet." Clara nods, but her expression shifts¡ªconfused. Concerned. "No sign of the others?" "Echo?" Jex calls out to the AI. "Doctor Nyx¡¯s signal is a few hundred miles east." The AI¡¯s robotic voice echoes from the ship¡¯s speakers. "The captain and the rest of the crew are closer¡ªonly a few miles away, approaching rapidly." Clara lets out a relieved sigh. "Good to hear your voice again, Echo." "Hi, Doctor. I am also happy to have you back on board, safe and intact." Echo¡¯s normally mechanical voice carries a hint of warmth. Clara smiles. "Well, I¡¯d like to stay that way. Let¡¯s go get the others." As soon as she mentions them, Echo delivers news. "Receiving transmission from Captain¡ª" "Accept." Jex responds instantly. From a small wall-mounted projector, a grayish-blue holographic image flickers to life. The signal is glitchy, distorted by interference, but a face becomes visible. A large man with tanned skin. He¡¯s leaning forward, both arms gripping controls¡ªpiloting something. A speeder. The high-speed airborne vehicle kicks up thick clouds of yellow sand. Harsh desert winds whip against his protective visor and short, military-style black hair. "JEX?!" His voice is deep, serious, commanding. "Status on the Safira!? We saw the explosion!" "We¡¯re good, Captain Diego!" Jex reports quickly, her tone professional. "The Safira took some heavy scratches, but we¡¯re operational and ready." She grins slightly. Then glances at Clara and the mysterious man, eyes gleaming with admiration. "That explosion? That was Clara cleaning the house. Thank the good Lord she got back in time to save us." "Clara¡¯s there!?!" The deep voice that follows isn¡¯t Diego¡¯s. Another man leans into the transmission¡ªriding alongside the captain. Another speeder. He¡¯s also tanned, short military-cut hair, sharing strong Latin features with Diego. But his face is rougher. A long, deep scar runs from his right eye down to his jaw. When his battle-worn, yet concerned expression appears on the hologram¡ª Clara¡¯s smile vanishes. Her entire body tenses. Her eyes narrow. She takes a step back. Jex instinctively glances at Clara, sensing the tension radiating from her. But when she sees the dark, unreadable expression in the archaeologist¡¯s eyes, she hesitates. Yet, Clara nods. A silent confirmation. Jex relaxes slightly before turning back to the captain. "Affirmative." "Doctor Dravenmoor is on board, and she¡­" Jex can¡¯t contain her excitement. Admiration fills her voice. "She did it, Captain!" "She brought back the relic!!" Captain Diego¡¯s face lights up with a broad grin. The man beside him does too¡ª but there¡¯s something else in his gaze. A glint of greed. Behind them, the crew erupts in celebration. "Hell yeah!!" "MONEY! MONEY!! MONEY!!" "We¡¯re gonna be fucking rich!!!" The victory hype spreads like wildfire. But the scarred man next to Diego doesn¡¯t look nearly as pleased. His expression darkens. Then¡ªhis voice cuts through the noise, sharp and demanding. "CLARA!" "Show your pretty face!!" "We just fought through a hundred Crimson Nebula pirates so you could stroll through your beloved ruins¡ªuntouched!" Clara¡¯s jaw clenches. Then¡ªshe jumps in front of the transmission, rage igniting in her veins. "YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!" "Untouch¡ªMY ASS!!!" "There were TWO Crimson Nebula ships!" "The bastards got there first! They were WATCHING us!" "They ambushed me inside the pyramid!" "They were going to take the relic¡ªkill me¡ªprobably worse!" The captain and his second-in-command freeze. Surprised. Confused. "You fought off an entire Crimson pirate squad?!" Diego asks, skeptical. "No." Clara snaps back, fury still burning in her voice. "The rats cornered me¡ªlike the cowards they are!" "But¡ª" Her ferocious expression softens. Her eyes shift. Her lips curve¡ª naturally. She¡¯s looking at him. Her silent protector. Of course. The mysterious man stands there, watching Clara with a gentle curiosity. But he isn¡¯t facing the ship¡¯s transmission camera. The captain and his crew can¡¯t see him. They¡¯re confused. Diego curious. The other man? Frustrated. "WHO IS HE!?!" His already perpetually angry face twists in fury. Clara loves it. Her tongue nearly dances inside her mouth, teasingly. Her eyes sparkle¡ª bold. Defiant. "My new best friend, for the hell sure," she laughs and curses, but there is a lot of honesty in her words. A lot of good feelings. "Thanks to my father¡ªwho taught me the value of fucking GRATITUDE to those who actually do something GOOD for us." Jex covers her mouth to stifle a laugh. Captain Diego remains serious. Confused. Curious. But the other man? Absolutely furious. Disappointed. And most of all¡ªburning with jealousy. "You''re a fucking ungrateful bitch! That¡¯s what you are!!" He spits the words, full of venom. But Clara doesn¡¯t care. The mysterious man beside her, however¡­ His eyes darken. A cold. Deadly. Stare. "Javier!" Diego snaps at the angry man, shoving him out of the transmission frame. "Both of you!" "Now is NOT the time to air your dirty laundry." His tone is commanding. Final. He turns to Jex. "Jex! We¡¯re arriving. Leave the hatch open." "Alright." She nods. Diego gives Clara one last curious glance. "We¡¯ll talk more in person." "Ending transmission." The hologram flickers out. __________________________________________ "..." Jex looks at Clara, concerned. "Javier¡ª" "He¡¯s gonna¡ª" Clara cuts her off with a warm, friendly smile. "Don¡¯t worry about him. It¡¯ll be fine." "Mmm~" Jex nods hesitantly. Clara nods back. "Just focus on your job. I¡¯ll handle the rest." As Jex moves to the ship¡¯s control panels, Clara turns back to the mysterious man. Every time she looks at him, her eyes shine. She wants to smile. And he¡ªhe seems to feel something similar. Because that same cocky, confident grin spreads across his face. "You!" "My big guy!" Clara grabs his arm, tugging him toward the main elevator. "We need a drink after all the shit we just went through." "You need something REALLY strong!" "Hehe~" His expression brightens. But there¡¯s also confusion. Curiosity. As Clara pulls him through the corridors of the Safira, he takes everything in. Every glowing panel on the walls. Every technological console. Every piece of wooden furniture that contrasts against the steel. Every oddity that catches his eye. Everything seems new. Fascinating. But¡ªhis gaze always returns to Clara. "You need to stop looking at me like that¡­" Her cheeks flush as she says it. But her tone betrays her. She doesn¡¯t really want him to stop. She releases his hand, quickening her pace ahead of him. He watches her. Her back. The way her waist moves¡ªplayful. Bouncy. She¡¯s excited. She glances back over her shoulder. A mischievous smile. Seductive. Her voice drops. Low. Sweet. Charming. "Alright¡­ I¡¯ll let you look at me like that." "Only you." She winks. Then signals for him to follow. He follows. Of course. Chapter 8 Dr. Clara Dravenmoor. The brilliant and rebellious archaeologist of Or¨¦a Academy. Expelled for inappropriate conduct. Admired by her peers. But not just for her intelligence or daring personality. But also¡ªfor her unmatched beauty. 1.74 meters of pure ferocity. Her skin is fair¡ªsun-kissed with a healthy glow, like someone who¡¯s spent a lifetime near the ocean. It shines under the light, the color of a fleeting summer romance. Her long golden hair cascades down her back, reaching those dangerous curves¡ª The kind of curves that could steal the soul of a weak-minded man if he stared too long. And right now? Those hips sway with playful rhythm. That tiny waist moves effortlessly, teasing. She bounces ahead of the mysterious white-haired man, leading the way. His bright, piercing eyes roam from her top to her bottom. Enchanted. Captivated. Whether it¡¯s her stunning hair, her shapely waist, or those thick thighs¡ª He takes it all in. He knows she¡¯s playing with him. Teasing him. A petty revenge for how he affects her. But it doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s working. He follows her through the Safira, almost salivating. After passing through a few corridors and rooms, they arrive at a massive hall. A wide-open lounge, spanning dozens of square meters with a high ceiling. At the center¡ª A massive screen panel. A giant TV. A large oval table surrounded by chairs. Scattered sofas. Furniture of all kinds. A meeting room. And in one corner¡ª A marble countertop. Behind it, rows of shelves stacked with every type of liquor imaginable. A bar. But right now? It¡¯s a wreck. Chairs tossed over. The TV screen¡ªcracked. The bar¡ªflooded with colorful liquid. Most of the bottles¡ªshattered. "That damn worm!" Clara mutters, annoyed. Then¡ªher eyes flick to the bar. "Let¡¯s see if anything survived." With a graceful hop, she vaults over the counter. She starts searching. Most of the bottles are broken. Their contents spilled across every surface. "Hmm?" She spots a bottle on the floor. Intact. Or so it seems. Crack¡ª It shatters the moment she lifts it to chest level. "Shit!" She tosses the broken glass aside. And keeps searching. She digs through the shelves, then moves to the bar¡¯s back storage. "Matteo must have a secret stash somewhere around here¡­" Ignoring the wreckage, she feels along the wall¡ªsearching. Then¡ªher eyes light up. Click. Clara presses a hidden button. A small secret compartment slides open. And just like that¡ªa grin spreads across her face. "This is gold!" She quickly pulls out two glass bottles from the bartender¡¯s secret stash. Each about thirty centimeters tall, a few inches wide. The design isn¡¯t modern. Classic. Rustic. Something from old Earth. Detailed with elegant black and white accents. One bottle¡ªwhite glass, black liquid inside. The other¡ªblack glass, white liquid inside. Clara grabs two small glasses, setting them on the counter in front of the mysterious man. She fills the glass closest to him with the white liquid. "Matches you." She grins playfully. Then¡ªshe pours the black liquid into her own glass. He doesn¡¯t seem confused, but his curious eyes shine with amusement. "Like this¡­" She lifts her glass, waiting. He mirrors her movement. She nods warmly before gently tapping his glass with hers. Trink. The soft clink of glass sounds satisfying. "Salud!" Clara downs the entire shot in one go. He nods and follows. He expects something smooth. But instead¡ª Bitterness. His mouth floods with an intense, sharp taste. Hints of flavor swirl beneath it, but the overpowering bitterness drowns them out. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "¡­" He looks at Clara, confused. Slightly disappointed. But¡ª She¡¯s still smiling. Mouth full. Then¡ªbefore he can even swallow the bitter drink¡ª Clara leans in. And kisses him. Not just any kiss. She presses their lips together, slowly transferring some of the white liquid from her mouth into his. At the same time¡ªhis drink flows into hers. The two flavors mix. His eyes widen. Now¡ªthe bitter notes blend perfectly with the fruitier, softer sweetness. It¡¯s complex. Balanced. And intoxicating. Especially when mixed with Clara¡¯s taste. Their tongues dance together, deepening the kiss. "Mhmm~" Clara lets out soft, breathy moans. Her body heats up. Her heart pounds faster. She forces herself to break the kiss¡ª A thin strand of saliva lingers between their lips. Until gravity and distance snap it apart. Their eyes remain locked. He smiles¡ªsatisfied. She¡¯s slightly breathless, lips parted, cheeks flushed. A damn good sight for him. But¡ªClara quickly regains her composure. She wipes the saliva from the corner of her mouth. Then¡ªflashes a confident smirk. "Good, right?" He doesn¡¯t speak. He doesn¡¯t nod. He doesn¡¯t blink. But¡ªthe grin on his face says it all. "Mm!" Clara nods in approval. Then¡ªshe grabs the black-liquid bottle and pours into his glass. "This one¡¯s too sweet alone. Just like the other is too bitter¡­" She pours the white liquid into her own glass. Then raises it. "But together¡­" He follows. They both drink. Clara watches him, waiting. Expecting. He doesn¡¯t disappoint. But this time¡ªinstead of leaning in to kiss her¡­ He reaches out. Fingers tilt her chin upward¡ª Pulling her into the kiss himself. Clara melts. Every time she kisses him¡ª That strange, mysterious energy rushes through her. A magic stimulant. It heightens her senses. Strengthens her muscles. Heals her wounds. But it also fills her mind with questions. ''It¡¯s too good¡­'' ¡®Shit, how can this feel so damn good??¡¯ ¡®I hope there aren¡¯t any side effects¡­¡¯ ¡®Fuck, who am I kidding? I¡¯m already addicted!¡¯ Clara forces herself to break the kiss before she loses herself even more in this dangerous pleasure. "Slow down, big guy¡­" She whispers softly, almost hesitantly. But¡ªhe doesn¡¯t want to stop. He moves fast. Leaping over the bar, gripping her waist with both hands¡ª And pulling her in for another kiss. "Mmhm~?" Clara gasps¡ªsurprised by his sudden boldness. But¡ªher body loves it. Instinctively. She doesn¡¯t resist. More soft, breathy moans escape her lips as he devours her. Enjoying. Savoring. The sweet taste of her honeyed lips. Their kisses are hot. Wet. Intense. His hands start moving. Slowly¡ªtracing over the leather belt on her waist. Gliding toward her back. Clara feels her heartbeat skyrocket. A thin sheen of sweat glistens on her flawless skin. Her moans grow louder. She wants this. So much. But¡ªshe manages to control herself. She places both hands on his chest. A gentle request to slow down. He understands. And eases his pace. He breaks the kiss, but¡ª His nose brushes against her face. Affectionate. Tender. She loves it. Her lips curl into a loving smile. "This is good¡­" The words slip from her heart¡ªwarm and honest. But then¡ªsomething catches her eye. Holes. In his chest. Before¡ªhis body was too covered in blood and dust to notice. Now¡ªshe wipes his skin clean and sees them. Small, round holes¡ªless than two centimeters wide. Exposing raw, wounded flesh beneath. Tiny dry drops of dark blood. But¡ªhis flesh is glowing. Her curiosity wins. She gently touches his wounds. And¡ªa tingling sensation spreads across her fingertips. His wounds are healing. At an inhuman speed. Just like her frostbite vanished after his first kiss. "Unbelievable!" Clara¡¯s eyes widen, sparkling with excitement. She gets too excited¡ª Presses her fingers against his wounds. And¡ªshe feels it. A subtle reaction in his body. Like a shiver running down his spine. He doesn¡¯t complain. But¡ªshe understands. "Oh! Sorry me!!!" Clara quickly pulls back her fingers, her expression apologetic but also deeply loving and grateful. "These wounds¡­ they''re from when you took that shot for me¡­" Her voice is thick with gratitude and warmth. "Does it hurt a lot?" She meets his gaze. He doesn¡¯t blink. His expression remains the same¡ªcalm, confident, even excited. But¡ªhe is in pain. A lot of pain. His chest burns. His bones ache. His skin¡ªcovered in acid burns from the sandworm¡¯s venom. But¡ªhe¡¯s too happy to care about pain. "Of course it hurts, Clara, you airheaded idiot!" She mutters to herself, frustrated. Then, she glances around. "I¡¯ll grab a first aid kit. But Himeko will know what to do when she gets back." She turns back to him. "Wait here." He seems to understand. So, he stays at the bar. Pours himself another drink. But¡ªwithout Clara¡­ Mixing it in his glass is nothing compared to mixing it in her mouth. He stares at the drink, sighs. But¡ªhis eyes still shine with expectation. ¡­ Meanwhile¡ª Captain Diego and his crew enter the hangar bay. Several men and women on hovering bikes. One man rushes ahead, jumping off his bike before it even lands. He charges toward Jex, frustration and fury twisted on his face. "WHERE IS SHE?!?" "WHERE¡¯S CLARA?!?" Jex panics as this massive, muscular man¡ª Nearly two meters tall¡ª Storms toward her like a raging beast. "Ehh¡ª" She instinctively takes a step back, clearly trying to avoid him. But¡ªhe doesn¡¯t care. Blinded by anger, he reaches out with both of his massive hands¡ª Aiming for her shoulders. "JAVIER!!!" A rough, tired male voice calls from behind him. Javier stops. Before he can grab Jex. "Fuck you all!!" He curses under his breath, pissed. Then¡ªhe storms off toward the elevator, heavy, impatient steps echoing through the hangar. Jex lets out a deep sigh of relief. Then¡ªshe looks toward the man who saved her. A gentle-faced, gray-haired man. "Thanks, Matteo!" He nods at her, smiling kindly. Then¡ªhis gaze shifts toward Captain Diego, concern in his eyes. "Diego, you need to control him!" But¡ªthe captain ignores him. Instead¡ªDiego steps up to Jex, just as urgent as Javier. "Where is the relic?! Is it secure??" "Yes!" Jex quickly reports, respectful. "I had the nerds take it to the containment room." "Good!" Diego immediately turns away, hurrying toward the main elevator. Ignoring Jex¡¯s protests. "Captain!?" "What about Javier???" "He looks like he¡¯s about to do something bad to Clara!!" "Captain???" Diego enters the elevator. Then¡ªhe turns. His expression is cold. "I don¡¯t have time to deal with stupid love conflicts." "..." Jex lowers her head, worried. More people rush past her. A group of young men with neon-dyed hair, piercings, and tattoos covering their bodies. Classic cyberpunks. "Money, little girl!" "We came here for MONEY!!" "MONEY! MONEY!! MONEY!!!" "We¡¯re gonna be RICH!!!" The crew is euphoric, celebrating the mission¡¯s success. Meanwhile¡ªJex sighs, lowering her head again. Then¡ªa pair of leather cowboy boots step into her view. She looks up¡ª To Matteo¡¯s warm, but concerned face. "You worried about Dr. Dravenmoor¡¯s safety?" "Where is she?" Jex shakes her head. "That¡¯s not it¡­" "I¡¯m afraid things are about to spiral out of control." She bites her lip. Then¡ªshe mutters something under her breath. "Even without Nyx here¡­ Javier won¡¯t have the chance to bully Clara. Not with her new friend around." Matteo¡¯s tired eyes flicker with curiosity. "New guy?" "What¡¯s he like?" Jex hesitates. "He¡­" She doesn¡¯t even know where to start. Finally¡ªshe exhales. "You¡¯re better off seeing him for yourself¡­ or you won¡¯t believe me." "..." Chapter 9 Clara steps out of Safira¡¯s infirmary, a white medical case and some bandages in her hands. Her pace is fast, her face filled with concern¡ª But also, a warm and affectionate smile. "This will have to do." The moment she sets foot in the corridor¡ª Heavy footsteps thunder behind her. "THERE YOU ARE!!!" A deep male voice roars, full of anger. Clara instantly turns, an annoyed expression already on her face. "Don¡¯t come at me with your bullshit¡ª" She doesn¡¯t even get to finish. A large, furious man swats the medical case out of her hands. It crashes onto the floor, the plastic clattering loudly in the empty hallway. Clara locks eyes with her aggressor. Javier. He¡¯s fuming. Breathing heavily, nearly exploding with rage. "How dare you talk to me like that¡ª" Now¡ªit¡¯s his turn not to finish his sentence. Because¡ªClara is already moving. Her right leg swings up¡ª A high kick aimed straight for his face. She¡¯s fast. But Javier is faster. Shoosh¡ª His massive, brute hands catch her leg mid-air. He¡¯s wearing specialized combat gloves, a flexible metallic material woven into his sleeves, extending up to his elbows. Thin carbon-coated tubes are embedded in his arms, pumping synthetic stimulants through his veins. A high-performance combat drug. It turns him into a superhuman fighter¡ª But with brutal side effects. Especially on the mind. Clara doesn¡¯t care. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!" Still trapped in his grip, she pushes off the floor with her left leg¡ª Attempting another kick. But¡ªJavier is as strong as five men his size. Cybernetic enhancements and drugs boosting his raw strength. He easily swings Clara¡¯s body like a ragdoll¡ª And throws her backward. She crashes down, rolling swiftly across the floor. Mitigating the impact. Landing on her feet. Her eyes burn with fury. Her hand flies to her holster. Pulls out her high-caliber pistol. "You better back the fuck off!" She aims the gun at Javier. But¡ªhe doesn¡¯t care. He advances. "You''re gonna shoot your superior?? I don¡¯t think so!" Clara hesitates to shoot his body. But¡ªshe aims right next to his head. Pulls the trigger. BANG! The bullet slams into the wall. Ricochets onto the floor. Doesn¡¯t hit anyone. But¡ªthe sheer volume of the gunshot is deafening. Javier flinches, momentarily stunned¡ª Then¡ªhis rage explodes even more. "YOU BITCH!!!" Javier closes the distance between them in an instant, grabbing Clara¡¯s wrist¡ªthe one holding the pistol. She feels his brute grip tighten painfully. The gun slips from her hand, clattering to the floor. Then¡ªshe sees it. His other hand¡ªrising¡ªaimed straight for her face. She knows that punch will hurt. A lot. At that time¡ªshe feels fear. And with that fear¡ª A new thought enters her mind. She thinks of him. Her silent protector. She wishes¡ªprays¡ªthat he were here to help her. And like a last-minute miracle¡ª A pale, flawless hand appears. Grabbing Javier¡¯s wrist. Stopping his punch¡ªjust centimeters from Clara¡¯s face. "YOU!!!" Clara is stunned¡ªbut it¡¯s a good kind of surprise. He heard the commotion. Heard her voice. He was already on his way. "WHO?!?" Javier snaps his head to the side¡ªcompletely shocked. He didn¡¯t even see this pale bastard appear out of nowhere. And even worse¡ªhe can¡¯t move his damn arm. The mysterious man stands there, composed, his cold fingers wrapped around Javier¡¯s thick wrist. Javier, on the other hand, is not composed. His veins bulge, his muscles strain¡ªbut he can¡¯t break free from the grip. Clara¡¯s lips curl into a devilish smirk. She throws Javier a mocking glance. "Now you¡¯re really fucked." A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Javier doesn¡¯t care who this guy is. All that matters¡ªhe¡¯s the enemy now. Without a word, he releases Clara¡ª And throws a massive punch at the mysterious man. His metallic glove screeches through the air. Clara can feel the sheer weight of the attack. Shoosh! Javier is fast. Faster than Clara. But not faster than him. The mysterious man effortlessly catches Javier¡¯s fist in his open palm. Quickly. Easily. Like an adult stopping a toddler¡¯s tantrum. "WHAT?!" Something clicks in Javier¡¯s mind. This guy isn¡¯t just strong¡ªhe¡¯s inhumanly strong. His reflexes, his control¡ªJavier has never seen anything like it. The tall, pale man remains still, calm as a mountain. But now¡ªhis eyes change. A flicker of annoyance. Disappointment. Then¡ªcontempt. Javier feels it. His opponent loosens his grip¡ª Not because Javier fought back¡ª But because he wasn¡¯t even worth holding onto. Like he wasn¡¯t even worth the effort. For a fighter like Javier¡ª That¡¯s a bigger insult than any punch. A bitter taste fills his mouth. But¡ªhe won¡¯t back down so easily. "How about this, motherfucker?!?" With his free hand, he presses a small button on his gauntlet. A mechanism inside clicks. His gloves glow a violent blue¡ª And a surge of electricity courses through them. Javier has used these gloves to torture and kill before. But¡ªhe makes a critical mistake. His opponent is holding him directly¡ªskin to skin. The same 100 milliamperes of electricity that erupts into the mysterious man¡¯s body¡ª Shoots straight back into Javier. BzzZZz! "ARRRHHHH!!!" Javier screams as a violent current floods his system. His muscles convulse¡ªhis body jerks uncontrollably. Then¡ªhe¡¯s blasted backward. THUD! He tumbles across the corridor floor. Stops¡ªright in front of the elevator. Just as the doors slide open. "JAVIER!!" Diego steps out, eyes wide. He rushes forward, kneeling beside the fallen man. Javier¡¯s skin is burned, his veins darkened. His hair¡ªfrizzed from the electric shock. His clothes¡ªpartially scorched. "Ahh¡ªhahh¡ª" He tries to sit up¡ª And collapses. Unconscious. More crew members spill out of the elevator behind Diego. They immediately move to tend to Javier. Diego finally looks up¡ª His gaze locking onto Clara and the mysterious man. Unlike Javier, that man looks far better despite the wounds on his chest and skin from the previous battle. His hair, which had been frizzed up from the electrical discharge, now falls back onto his shoulders in perfect condition. The only reminder of Javier¡¯s attack is his slightly singed pants. He looks at Diego and sees anger taking over his face, but the man doesn¡¯t move. He just stares back with cold eyes. "You!!" Diego stands up and pulls a revolver from his holster. It has a long barrel of dark steel with wood-like details on the grip¡ªa classic, old-world Earth design. "No!!" Clara steps in front of the mysterious man, raising her hands toward Diego. "It wasn¡¯t his fault!" "Step aside, Clara!!" Diego commands, keeping his gun leveled at the pair. The mysterious man furrows his brow slightly and takes a step toward Diego, but Clara pushes his chest back forcefully. "Stop, please!" she pleads, nervous. The man stops, but Diego keeps the gun aimed, furious. "Who the hell are you???" He asks, frustrated, and then glances at Clara. "How dare you bring this stranger onto the ship and let him attack Javier!?" As everything unfolds, the other crew members of the Safira appear from the elevator and staircases, shocked and curious. "Who fired a shot?" "Was Javier shot??" "Who¡¯s that guy with Clara???" Most of them look confused and curious. But some grow hostile as they see Diego pointing his gun at the mysterious man, clearly siding with their captain. That might be the majority, but not everyone. Matteo, arriving with Jex, quickly steps in front of Diego. "Calm down, Diego! Let¡¯s figure out what happened here." "It¡¯s obvious what happened!" Diego pushes Matteo aside and keeps his gun trained on Clara and the white-haired man. "You¡¯re wrong!" Clara shouts quickly. "Javier! He was the one who attacked me, and this man just saved me!" "Bullshit!!!" Diego clenches his teeth, his finger slowly pressing against the revolver¡¯s trigger. "Real shit!!" Clara fears the worst. Not that this invincible man would get hurt, but that Diego might trigger a massacre, and everyone could end up dead. Since Diego doesn¡¯t look convinced by her words, she thinks fast. "ECHO! Echo!? Tell them the truth!!" Clara demands, and the robotic voice of the AI assistant echoes through the corridor¡¯s speakers. "Doctor Dravenmoor has given an accurate description of the situation. First Officer Santoro attacked her in a fit of rage, clearly under the influence of psychoactive drugs." "He would have undoubtedly harmed her if not for this man, who merely restrained him. However, Santoro initiated an electrical attack and suffered the consequences of his own actions due to their proximity." Echo''s report calms the entire crew, making it clear that the mysterious man is not an enemy. Most of them are now angry at Javier, who still lies unconscious on the floor. But Diego still refuses to lower his revolver, his eyes filled with malice. "I don¡¯t care who started the fight! My brother is the one who¡¯s hurt!!" "Captain!" One of the men helping Javier on the floor quickly speaks up. "He¡¯s going to be fine. Javier is tough as hell, you know that." While that guy speaks, he stares at the white-haired man. "Javier will just wake up sore, but what¡¯s weirder¡­ If both of them were electrocuted the same way, how is this guy standing there so calmly???" Curiosity about Clara¡¯s new companion spreads like wildfire among the Safira¡¯s crew. But Diego still scowls, keeping that large revolver aimed at the newcomer. Matteo, still trying to be as patient as possible, places a hand on Diego¡¯s raised arm. "Lower the gun, captain, please." "We all knew something like this would happen. Javier was going around after Clara like a mad dog, and you let it continue¡­" Diego shows no regret, only anger toward the mysterious man. "But this guy! This is all his fault!" "It¡¯s not his fault, Captain," Matteo says softly, though it still sounds like a scolding. "You¡¯re the one who let Javier do whatever he wanted." Matteo glances at Clara with a kind, grandfatherly expression. "And honestly, it¡¯s good that it happened this way¡­" "If it were Clara on the floor instead of Javier, everyone would be blaming you, Captain." The harsh truth in Matteo¡¯s words silences the room, even the most loyal of Diego¡¯s men nodding in reluctant agreement. Diego realizes he¡¯s being irrational and slowly lowers his gun, though his posture remains hostile. But he still points a finger at the white-haired man. "He¡¯s still an unauthorized intruder on my ship." "But¡ª" Clara tries to speak. "I want him gone!" Diego stomps his foot, unwilling to back down. Clara''s expression darkens. "I demand a summit meeting to decide this. You don¡¯t rule over us like some damn dictator!" "You!!" Diego clenches his fists. "You dare challenge me???" Clara nods, resolute. "He was the most important part of this mission¡¯s success. You can¡¯t just discard him like that." Diego looks confused. Before Clara can explain, Jex steps forward, standing beside her and the white-haired man. "He helped Clara save the Safira, Captain. And he also saved her in the pyramid, ensuring the relic¡¯s safety." Diego grows frustrated, unable to punish the mysterious man who already infuriates him. He tries to argue back, but Jex suddenly looks uneasy when an alarm starts blaring through the corridor. "Echo? Are they already close??" She asks, suddenly nervous. "Confirmed, they¡¯re at the ten-mile mark." Echo¡¯s voice responds immediately. "SHIT!" Jex curses, then glances between the captain and Clara. "We¡¯ve got way bigger problems right now, REALLY BIG ONES!" The entire crew grows tense, and Matteo is the first to ask. "What¡¯s wrong??" "You need to see this!" Jex grabs Clara by the wrist and sprints toward the corridor leading to the bridge. She gestures for the white-haired man to follow, and behind them, the rest of the crew rushes to catch up. As soon as they reach the bridge, everyone sees exactly what Jex was talking about¡ªthrough the large glass panels at the front of the ship: A gigantic sandstorm. Miles-wide, stretching high into the sky, a churning mass of dust and wind rolling in from the horizon. "A sandstorm??" Diego mutters aloud, confused. "It¡¯s not just that¡­" Clara¡¯s eyes widen as she recognizes the signs within the storm¡ªespecially the way the sand erupts upward, thrown violently from the ground. "Echo, zoom in!" Jex commands. The AI assistant instantly enhances the image on the large side screen of the bridge. And now, everyone can see the bizarre truth: The sand isn¡¯t just rising on its own. Beneath the storm, massive sandworms¡ªVhorr¡¯Ka¡ªmove at terrifying speed beneath the desert surface. Above them, huge saddle-like platforms of rock are strapped onto their backs, carrying dozens of humanoid creatures with dark orange, cracked skin. "Vhorr¡¯Ka!!" Clara exclaims. "It¡¯s a fucking army of them! The Thek¡¯Shar are coming, and they don¡¯t look friendly." "Wait! What¡¯s that up front???" Everyone focuses on a single dark spot ahead of the entire sandstorm. Echo zooms in further, and the entire crew is shocked once again. It¡¯s one of the crew¡¯s hoverbikes¡ªbut this one is painted in black and neon green, a distinct cyberpunk aesthetic. And on the bike, a slender, hooded figure. A wave of concern washes over Clara¡¯s beautiful face. "Nyx!!!" Chapter 10 The crew of the Safira is shocked as they see, displayed on the large screen in the bridge, their companion Nyx at the front of an alien barbarian army, riding her hoverbike. ¡°HOLY SHIT!¡± ¡°She really outdid herself¡­¡± ¡°This is insane!¡± The scene sparks a mix of emotions among the group. Everyone is astonished and, to some degree, impressed¡ªbut without exception, they are worried. After all, that storm of destruction is heading straight for them¡ªand fast. ¡°ECHO!¡± Clara calls out to the ship''s AI assistant. ¡°Open a channel to Nyx.¡± ¡°Establishing connection¡ª¡± The robotic voice responds immediately. But the news isn''t good. ¡°Failed. Too much interference in the signal.¡± ¡°Try again!¡± Clara demands, her voice full of concern. ¡°Establishing connection¡­ establishing¡­¡± All eyes remain locked on Nyx¡¯s image on the screen¡ªnervous, anxious, desperate. Until finally¡ª ¡°Guys.¡± A soft, calm voice comes through the ship¡¯s speakers. ¡°Nyx?!¡± Clara instantly responds. ¡°Clara? Ehh¡­ the situation got a little out of hand¡­¡± ¡°A little?? Fuck! We can see the entire Thek¡¯Shar army behind you!¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Nyx continues speaking with the same eerie calm, still piloting her hoverbike without even glancing back. ¡°I was doing well, infiltrating the Thek¡¯Shar high command¡­ but the Crimson Nebula got there before me.¡± Nyx pauses¡ªand the entire crew of the Safira tenses up, confused, curious. ¡°They knew about me too!¡± Clara exclaims, furious. ¡°How the hell¡ª¡± She stops. People exchange glances, all realizing the same thing. ¡­ ¡°We¡¯ll deal with that later¡ªright now, we need to get you the hell out of there!¡± Clara quickly refocuses. ¡°Did you get it?¡± Nyx asks, intrigued. ¡°Do you even doubt me?¡± Clara¡¯s voice is full of pride and confidence. ¡°Nice!¡± Nyx cheers. ¡°Focus, Nyx, focus!¡± Clara urges, then glances at Jex. ¡°We¡¯re coming to pick you up before the Thek¡¯Shar do.¡± ¡°No.¡± Diego¡¯s cold voice cuts through the conversation. ¡°The fuck??¡± Clara whirls toward him, furious. Diego points at the screen. ¡°Are you seeing the same thing I am???¡± Before Clara can respond, he continues. ¡°The Safira barely survived a fight against one of those giant worms, and you want us to fly straight into a whole army of them?¡± As soon as Diego speaks, many crew members side with him. ¡°This is madness! It would be pure stupidity.¡± ¡°That¡¯s suicide¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯d be taking us all to certain death.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do it¡­¡± Some disagree, but they understand the fear their comrades feel. Clara, on the other hand, flips them off. ¡°You cowardly shit-eaters!!!¡± She spits on the floor. ¡°How many times has Nyx saved your asses??¡± ¡°Not only has she saved every single one of you in battle¡ªshe¡¯s also patched up your wounds after!¡± ¡°This damn crew won¡¯t last long without her.¡± Despite her harsh words, Clara stirs something in their hearts. The crew members exchange glances, remembering all the times the terrifying but loyal Doctor Nyx had saved them. They owe her. They¡¯re grateful. But¡­ Fear still clouds their eyes. They don¡¯t want to fly into a swarm of giant sandworms¡ªnot even for a crewmate. Diego holds his stern expression toward Clara. ¡°You see? This is exactly why we have that rule: if a crew member puts the rest of us in danger, we leave them behind.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t ask us to break that rule, right Nyx?¡± Diego speaks louder so Nyx can hear over the open channel. ¡°I understand.¡± Nyx¡¯s calm voice responds. Clara grits her teeth. ¡°FUCK that stupid rule!¡± Impatience grows in Diego¡¯s eyes while the white-haired man watches everything in silence, ready to act if anyone threatens Clara directly. As the tension builds, Matteo quickly steps closer to Diego, using a calm and respectful tone. ¡°Captain¡­ we¡¯re talking about Nyx, one of the most valuable members of our crew.¡± Diego shakes his head. ¡°No, Matteo¡ª¡± ¡°There¡¯s another way.¡± Matteo interrupts. ¡°Instead of flying straight to Nyx, why don¡¯t we just give her a few minutes to get here?¡± When the old man suggests that, several crew members exchange glances, their eyes sparking with new hope. Diego sighs in frustration but continues listening. ¡°Jex can keep the Safira ready to take off at the first sign of danger. We just need to give Nyx a chance.¡± Matteo points at the image of Nyx on the screen. ¡°Look, she¡¯s about a mile ahead of the creatures. She might be able to widen the gap just enough to make it.¡± Diego strokes his chin, lost in thought, making the entire crew uneasy as they wait for his order. Clara doesn¡¯t wait. ¡°You owe her that, damn it! How many times has she saved you and your stupid brother?? You won¡¯t even give her a few minutes?!¡± ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, Clara!¡± Diego snaps, pointing a hostile finger at her. ¡°Do you ever stop complaining? No one does more for this crew than I do!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± He sighs, glancing back at the screen. ¡°Alright, Nyx. I¡¯ll give you a few minutes. That¡¯s all I can do without putting everyone else at risk.¡± ¡°Understood, Captain.¡± Nyx responds immediately. Her voice remains as calm as ever, but Clara notices something¡ªa faint sadness in her tone. ¡°Can you make it here in time, Nyx?¡± Clara asks, concern in her voice. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Nyx replies, still calm, but now with a touch of melancholy. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Diego asks first. ¡°These things are fast as hell, so I¡¯ve been pushing my hoverbike to the limit for hours¡­ burning through twice the usual fuel.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°I¡¯ve been running on reserves for a while now¡ªI don¡¯t think I¡¯ll last a few more miles.¡± Hearing that, the hope in the crew¡¯s eyes fades again. The creatures are closing in fast¡ªless than eight miles away. Every second counts. ¡°JEX!!!¡± Two voices shout at the same time. On one side, Diego, the captain of the Safira, loved by some, respected by others. On the other, Clara, a key crew member and loved companion. ¡°Fuck you!¡± She curses at Diego. ¡°I¡¯m going after her!!¡± Diego is furious with Clara¡ªbut since she¡¯s about to rush alone toward an army of giant monsters, he¡¯s not going to stop her. ¡°You¡¯ve got three minutes.¡± He says quickly. Clara clenches her fists but ignores her anger, sprinting toward the corridor. ¡°DON¡¯T LEAVE THIS DAMN PLANET WITHOUT US, JEX!¡± Before Jex can respond, Diego cuts in. ¡°She follows my orders!¡± Clara ignores Diego and keeps moving. As she passes the white-haired man, their eyes meet¡ªand he immediately follows her. In seconds, they cross the main corridor and descend the elevator into the hangar. Clara doesn¡¯t have time to think. She jumps onto the nearest hoverbike, all while using her earpiece to speak to Jex. ¡°Turn the ship and open the rear gate for me, Jex!!¡± ¡°Right now!¡± As Clara mounts the hoverbike, she feels the white-haired man step beside her¡ªbut she raises a hand, stopping him from getting on behind her. ¡°Only two seats, big guy.¡± Her voice is rushed, but her eyes hold deep affection as she glances at him. ¡°Wait for me here, I¡¯ll be back fast.¡± She nods. He nods. He doesn¡¯t need to understand her words to trust her. The rear hangar gate opens, revealing the storm of sand and death ahead. The ship is now facing the battlefield¡ªNyx is about seven miles away, with an army of Thek¡¯Shar warriors riding monstrous sandworms close behind her. The thundering sound of the giants tunneling beneath the ground fills the air, sending clouds of sand sky-high. Clara doesn¡¯t hesitate. She grabs the protective mask hanging from the hoverbike¡¯s handlebar, pulls it over her face, fires up the engine, and slams the accelerator. She rockets toward the storm. The white-haired man watches as Clara disappears into the distance, his gaze filled with admiration, excitement, and pride. Clara feels her heart pounding faster. She¡¯s afraid¡ªshe wishes the mysterious man who makes her feel so safe and confident were with her right now. But she focuses on the mission, pushing the hoverbike to its limit, slicing through the sandstorm with determination. ¡°Nyx, are you there??¡± she calls through the communicator. ¡°Clara!¡± Nyx¡¯s voice, once calm and cold, now sounds emotional. ¡°I¡¯m out of fuel¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°I see you!!¡± Clara shouts. ¡°Get ready to jump!!¡± Clara closes in on the massive sandworms, entering the densest part of the storm. Aboard the Safira, the crew watches Clara vanish into the sandstorm on the large screen in the bridge, their anxiety rising. In the hangar, Matteo and other crew members gather beside the white-haired man, watching the same intense scene unfold on a small tablet. At that moment, everyone wonders what¡¯s happening inside that massive, raging storm. Then¡ª ¡°FUCK YEAH!!!¡± With a victorious shout, Clara bursts out of the sandstorm on her hoverbike¡ªwith Nyx. On the bridge, Diego remains serious, while the rest of the crew cheers for the girls¡¯ escape. In the hangar, their friends celebrate loudly, and a spark of relief shines in the white-haired man¡¯s eyes. But it¡¯s not over yet. Clara and Nyx have lost some of their lead during the rescue¡ªnow, the monsters are less than half a mile away, and only two miles separate them from the Safira. From above the stone saddles, the large humanoid figures with orange-red cracked skin begin preparing to attack. ¡°They¡¯re going to make it¡­¡± Jex whispers, almost like a prayer. ¡°They won¡¯t make it!¡± Diego exclaims negatively. ¡°Jex! Get us out of here before those monsters take the Safira down for good.¡± He commands. ¡°But, Captain¡ª¡± ¡°No, Jex! Do you want to die for them??¡± Jex hesitates. She¡¯s afraid of the monsters, but she won¡¯t abandon her loyal friends. Diego sees her hesitation and shoves Jex away from the pilot¡¯s seat. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself! You can take over once we¡¯re in space.¡± Jex can¡¯t fight back¡ªshe¡¯s pushed aside as Diego grabs the controls of the Safira and begins liftoff. ¡°Echo, prepare thrusters!¡± Diego orders the AI assistant. But at the same time, Jex¡¯s eyes glow with determination and defiance. ¡°DON¡¯T DO IT, ECHO! WAIT FOR CLARA!!¡± ¡°What are you doing?!?¡± Diego shoots a furious glare at Jex. But she ignores him, and he turns to the AI again. ¡°You have to listen to me, Echo! I¡¯m the captain of this ship!!¡± ¡°My directives prioritize obeying the highest-ranking officer present.¡± The AI¡¯s voice remains robotic. ¡°Echo¡­¡± Jex¡¯s eyes narrow, pleading. ¡°My directives¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up and just do what I said!!¡± Diego yells. He slams buttons on the panel frantically, but nothing happens. ¡°Release the thrusters already, damn AI!!!¡± ¡°Look!¡± Jex points at the screen. ¡°They¡¯re less than a mile away¡ªjust a little longer¡­¡± ¡°So are the monsters!!!¡± Diego presses a red button, disabling Echo¡¯s functionality. ¡°Fuck this shit!!¡± He slams another button, and suddenly the entire ship vibrates as the main engines roar to life. Then he grips the large acceleration lever and pushes it forward. TREMBLE The Safira shakes violently, throwing people off balance¡ªthey stumble, grabbing onto whatever they can to avoid falling. ¡°The ship is still damaged! You need to go slower, or you¡¯ll kill us all!!¡± Jex shouts. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing!!¡± Diego grits his teeth, forcing the Safira to ascend as fast as possible. But because of the previous battle with the sandworm, the ship is critically damaged¡ªoperating at only half its usual capacity. Due to the delay in the main thrusters activating, Diego also pushes the ship forward, putting distance between them and the approaching horde of monsters¡ªand the girls. ¡°No! No!! No!!¡± Clara watches in horror as the Safira pulls away¡ªjust when they¡¯re only a few dozen meters away from reaching it. She can see the white-haired man standing at the rear hangar, the cargo bay door lowered like a ramp. The rest of the crew struggles to keep their balance, thrown around by the instability of the ship. ¡°JEX!! We¡¯re so close¡ªjust one more second!!¡± Clara begs through the communicator. ¡°I can¡¯t do anything¡ªit¡¯s the captain!!¡± ¡°SHIT!!!¡± Clara curses, pushing the hoverbike to its maximum speed, but the Safira is climbing too fast. They¡¯re less than 100 meters away, but they can¡¯t reach it¡ªand the creatures are now less than 500 meters behind them. Clara knows that if the Safira ascends just a little more, the hoverbike won¡¯t be able to keep up. This is their last chance. In that moment, her gaze locks with the mysterious white-haired man. He ignores the ship¡¯s instability, standing firm at the edge of the hangar ramp. One hand gripping the side of the door, the other out in front of him¡ªalmost like he¡¯s ready to extend it and catch Clara in mid-air. But there¡¯s still 100 meters between them, and neither of them can do anything. ¡°The capture claw!!¡± Nyx suddenly shouts in Clara¡¯s ear. Clara doesn¡¯t think twice¡ªshe presses a button on the hoverbike¡¯s panel, and a metal claw shoots out from the front of the vehicle, attached to a steel cable. The tool is designed to capture small creatures or even people, but right now, it¡¯s their only chance for survival. BAM The claw latches onto the edge of the hangar¡¯s door, snapping shut in a firm grip¡ªbut without a solid anchor, it immediately starts slipping. ¡°SHIT¡ª¡± Clara almost curses her bad luck, but¡ª Whoosh! Lightning-fast, the white-haired man sees the claw sliding loose¡ªand throws himself to the side on the hangar ramp, grabbing onto the steel cable. ¡°Damn!¡± Nyx exclaims, just as shocked. The Safira continues its rapid ascent into the sky, and Diego activates the hangar door closure to stabilize the ship. The ramp begins to rise, the hangar doors closing, while the white-haired man grips the edge of the hangar with one hand¡ªholding onto the steel cable with the other, keeping Clara and Nyx from falling. The combined weight of the two women and the hoverbike is nearly half a ton¡ªan impossible feat for any ordinary human. But it doesn¡¯t seem to affect him at all. The real problem? Both of his hands are occupied, and his position is terrible. Matteo, still recovering from being thrown to the floor by the ship¡¯s abrupt takeoff, sees the situation¡ªhis eyes widening in shock. ¡°HOLD ON!!!¡± The good old man rushes to the hangar¡¯s control panel and starts hitting the open button, fighting against the bridge¡¯s override commands. The hangar door stops, then starts closing again, then stops once more¡ªcaught in a repeating struggle. On the hoverbike, Clara desperately tries to climb the steel cable. ¡°We have to get up!!¡± But it¡¯s nearly impossible with the ship moving so violently. With no time to think, the white-haired man makes a decision. He only cares about saving Clara¡ªthe woman who freed him. So he tightens his grip¡ªpulling with all his strength. SHOOOSH He yanks the steel cable¡ªflinging the hoverbike forward. Clara and Nyx are launched toward the hangar¡ªshooting inside just as the doors are about to close. THUD The hoverbike crashes against the wall, sending Clara and Nyx tumbling across the floor. But in perfect synchronization, they spring up immediately and grab the steel cable together¡ªhauling the mysterious man in behind them. BAM He flies through the hangar doors at the last second¡ªcompletely out of control¡ªand collides with the girls. The three of them roll across the floor in a chaotic tangle. ¡°DAMN!!¡± ¡°YEAHH!!¡± ¡°Hahahaha~¡± Clara and Nyx burst into laughter, relieved. But he doesn¡¯t laugh. He doesn¡¯t say anything. He doesn¡¯t move. Because¡ª His face is buried deep between two divine mounds. Something soft is resting against his chest. Something even softer is pressing into his waist. That feels really good. Chapter 11 ¡°Hehehe~¡± Clara and Nyx¡¯s laughter echoes through the hangar¡ªrelieved, safe, happy. *TREMBLE* The Safira still shakes violently as it pushes through Zhaaros'' atmosphere, thanks to Diego''s reckless piloting, forcing the crew to hold onto anything stable to keep from falling. But Clara and Nyx? They¡¯re already on the floor, tangled up with the mysterious white-haired man in a very compromising position. After being pulled in by the steel cable, the white-haired man had landed right on top of both women, his face currently nestled between Clara¡¯s softest assets, while Nyx lies sprawled on top of him in the opposite direction. As soon as Clara finishes celebrating another miraculous escape from death, she lifts her head and sees his bright white hair. ¡°Heeh~??!¡± Her face turns red in an instant as she shoves his head away. ¡°Hold on, Big Guy!!¡± He watches as those heavenly pillows pull away, already missing them¡ªalong with Clara¡¯s sweet scent. He tries to get up, but in doing so, he shifts against Nyx, making her eyes widen in surprise. ¡°Ah?! You''re packing some serious equipment there???¡± ¡°You have no idea,¡± Clara smirks, her face turning slightly pink. He quickly regains his balance despite the shaking ship and extends his hand to Clara. She takes it, starting to pull herself up. ¡°Thank yo¡ª¡± *TREMBLE* The Safira lurches again, and Clara loses her balance. He reacts instantly, wrapping his arms around her, but the sudden movement pushes them both backward. THUD They slam against the wall, and he holds her tightly¡ªprotecting her from the impact. Now, they''re pressed even closer together. Clara looks up at him, her hands resting on his bare chest, and meets his bright white eyes, filled with that same confident, charming expression. She grins. ¡°Seems like keeping our distance isn¡¯t exactly wor¡ª¡± He doesn¡¯t let her finish. Instead, he captures her lips in a deep, burning kiss. ¡®Huh??¡¯ Clara is completely caught off guard, but she doesn¡¯t push him away. Even if she wanted to, she couldn¡¯t. Her body is already addicted to his kisses¡ªnot just because of the raw, powerful energy flowing from his body into hers, but also because she adores the taste of his lips, the feel of his touch. *TREMBLE* The Safira jerks violently again, sending everyone in the hangar flying¡ªincluding Clara and the white-haired man, forcing their kiss to break. ¡°Damn!!¡± Matteo curses, struggling to stay upright. ¡°The captain¡¯s gonna crash the damn ship at this rate!¡± Nyx grumbles, using her agility to get back on her feet. Then, she glances over¡ª And sees Clara and the white-haired man still clinging to each other. ¡°Guys!?¡± Jex¡¯s voice suddenly booms through the hangar speakers¡ª And finally, the Safira stabilizes. ¡°The captain handed the controls back to me. I¡¯m stabilizing the ship in Zhaaros¡¯ orbit.¡± ¡°Thanks the good Lord!!¡± The crew members in the hangar breathe in relief, finally able to stand properly. ¡°Clara? Nyx??¡± Jex¡¯s voice sounds concerned. ¡°Are you guys okay?? I saw everything through the cameras¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine.¡± Clara responds cheerfully, stealing a glance at the mysterious man. ¡°Good thing our new friend was ready to help again.¡± Jex comments, her tone grateful. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Clara can¡¯t hide the warm, affectionate smile spreading across her lips. ¡°I think he likes saving me, hehe~¡± As the Safira crew regains their footing in the hangar, Nyx walks toward Clara and the white-haired man with calm, steady steps. She pulls back her hood and looks directly into the white-haired man¡¯s brilliant, unreadable eyes. Her own gaze is resolute, an amiable expression softening her elegant face. She stands straight, her posture flawless¡ªlike a soldier at attention¡ªand then she bows formally. "Inochi wo arigatou." ("Thank you for my life.") Her voice is soft, carrying genuine sincerity. ¡°Ah, you don¡¯t have to be so formal, Himeko.¡± Clara playfully pats Nyx¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s already¡­¡± Clara steals another glance at him, her cheeks warming up again. ¡°Well, part of the group, you know.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Nyx lifts her gaze, flashing Clara a small, knowing smirk before taking a closer look at the mysterious man standing before her. The longer she examines him, the more impressed she becomes, and he does the same. He had assumed that Clara was in a league of her own when it came to flawless beauty, but this woman¡ªshe was undeniably unique. Yet, their contrasts were striking. Unlike Clara, whose golden-bronzed skin had an effortless sun-kissed glow, Nyx¡¯s skin was just as pale as his, almost porcelain-like. She was slightly shorter, standing at 1.72 meters, with a slender yet elegantly toned physique. Her curves? Just as mesmerizing¡ªbut subtly different. Her features were a breathtaking fusion of different Earth cultures¡ªher sharp green eyes and delicate nose carried traces of Eastern beauty, while her silky blonde hair¡ªtied into a high ponytail, adorned with two small braids framing the sides of her forehead¡ªgave her a strikingly Western elegance. But beyond her beauty, the most distinctive thing about Nyx was what adorned her arms¡ªor rather, what remained of them. Intricate floral tattoos stretched along her upper arms, seamlessly blending into cybernetic prosthetics. Her left arm¡ªfrom just above the elbow to her fingertips¡ªwas entirely cybernetic, composed of sleek metal plating and ultra-advanced wiring, humming with the precision of high-grade technology. Her right arm, however, told a different story¡ªthe cybernetic limb extended from just below her shoulder to her wrist, but her hand remained untouched, flesh and bone. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. There is also a small cybernetic implant behind her left shoulder, where a long katana rests¡ªits gleaming black steel blade adorned with subtle cybernetic enhancements around its hilt and base. With her tight black clothing and cybernetic augmentations, Nyx would easily be called a cyborg ninja on Earth. But aboard the Safira, she is known as a lethal assassin¡ªand at the same time, a miraculous healer. ¡°...¡± Nyx finds herself lost in thought, staring at the mysterious white-haired man. ¡°...¡± He also gazes at her in silence, creating a strange atmosphere. ¡°Ehhh?¡± Clara shifts uneasily, breaking the silence. ¡°He¡¯s not talking much... I guess he spent too long with those barbarians¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Nyx glances at him, then at Clara, her expression curious before she eventually nods in understanding. ¡°I see. We all need some rest.¡± ¡°Phew!!¡± Matteo approaches the trio, exhaling a long sigh of relief. ¡°We really need that!!¡± He smiles warmly at the girls and the white-haired man. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re both safe.¡± Scratching the back of his head, he grins sheepishly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t very helpful, was I? But lucky for us, our new friend here is as strong as an Argonian Bull! Haha!!¡± ¡°He really is strong¡­¡± Nyx glances at him with that same curious expression. ¡°Even Javier would have struggled to pull them up with the hoverbike like that¡ªand that¡¯s with all his implants¡­¡± ¡°Oh, Javier¡­¡± Matteo starts to say something but pauses. ¡°...¡± Clara also falls strangely silent, averting her gaze. ¡°What did he do this time??¡± Nyx immediately notices the shift in their moods, and her expression hardens. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, it¡¯s over now.¡± Clara responds quickly. Nyx ignores her and fixes a sharp stare at Matteo. And, of course, Matteo starts talking immediately. ¡°He attacked Clara.¡± ¡°That cowardly bastard!!!¡± Nyx¡¯s hand instinctively moves toward the katana on her back. But Clara signals for her to calm down. ¡°It¡¯s fine now. He didn¡¯t manage to hurt me at all.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Nyx gives her a doubtful look. ¡°Yeah, our friend took care of that too.¡± Matteo says proudly, giving a thumbs-up to the white-haired man. ¡°Oh?¡± Nyx turns her curious gaze back to him. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you just saved my life, but I think I already like you.¡± Nyx¡¯s bright green eyes meet the white-haired man¡¯s piercing gaze, and they nod subtly at each other in mutual respect. The atmosphere shifts, and Clara¡¯s eyes narrow slightly as she glances between the two. ¡°Ahem¡ª¡± Matteo breaks the silence. ¡°He¡¯s definitely going to need your help, Nyx. Yours and ours, especially since the captain doesn¡¯t seem too fond of him.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Nyx asks, but quickly shakes her head and sighs. ¡°Javier¡­ of course. Well, this big guy saved us, so we won¡¯t turn our backs on him.¡± ¡°No doubt.¡± Matteo nods firmly. ¡°But let¡¯s figure that out later. For now, I bet you could use a drink, huh? I sure as hell need one!¡± ¡°I need a bath.¡± Nyx dusts off her black trench coat. ¡°And then a drink, naturally.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs and check the damage¡­¡± Matteo heads toward the elevator. Nyx glances one last time at the mysterious man, then at Clara, before following Matteo. ¡°We¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± Clara smirks and winks at Nyx. Once Nyx and Matteo ascend in the elevator and the other crew members also return to the upper decks, Clara exhales in relief and turns to face the white-haired man. "My big guy!" She wraps her arms around him, and he gently holds her in return. ¡°You saved me again. Thank you!¡± Clara smiles lovingly, and he caresses her chin, tilting her head slightly as he leans in. That usual flush of warmth returns to her cheeks, and she lets him kiss her again. "Mm~" Clara doesn¡¯t even try to contain her soft moans of pleasure, letting them escape as she deepens the kiss, feeling that familiar rush of energy seep into her body¡ªempowering her, intoxicating her. The kiss lingers for over a minute before Clara finally pulls away, her breath uneven, her eyes shining, an expression of pure bliss on her face. "You really like kissing, huh?" ¡°...¡± He simply gazes at her with that same confident expression, his teasing smile ever present. Clara laughs. ¡°I¡¯ll let you do that more later, but right now, we need to plan our next move.¡± He seems curious, his attention fixed not just on her words, but on her soft, rosy lips as well. Meanwhile, Clara¡¯s brows furrow slightly as she thinks aloud. ¡°I completely trust Himeko, but the others¡­¡± She glances around, making sure no one is eavesdropping, before turning back to him. ¡°I mean, Jex and Matteo are among the best, and there are plenty of good people on this crew, but well¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see them staying calm if I tell them I found you inside an alien sarcophagus.¡± ¡°And of course, I should let them know you¡¯re probably a superpowered alien!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Her expression softens, her eyes filled with affection as she gently strokes his face. ¡°You¡¯ve saved my ass multiple times¡­ I can¡¯t do that to you.¡± ¡°The captain would lock you up in a cell¡­ or even eject you from the ship.¡± Clara grows more and more nervous. The white-haired man notices, wrapping one arm around her waist, his other hand gently brushing against her cheek. "This is good..." Clara sighs, looking up into his pure white eyes. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell them later. But for now¡­ let¡¯s just bend the truth a little:¡± ¡°I found you in the pyramid, trapped in a simple Thek¡¯Shar cell. You¡¯re just another treasure hunter, like us, but your crew met an unfortunate end while exploring those ruins.¡± ¡°Oh, and about you not talking¡­ you¡¯re mute, simple as that.¡± Clara grins and nods. But then she sees his curious expression. ¡°Wait¡­ are you actually mute? I haven¡¯t heard you make a single sound this whole time¡­¡± ¡°...¡± He doesn¡¯t answer. Just smiles. That same confident, unreadable smile. Clara sighs. But then, he touches her face again, his fingers trailing from her cheek down to her neck. Then, he leans in. Her lips part slightly, trembling in anticipation¡ªready for another kiss. But to her surprise, he doesn¡¯t kiss her. Instead, he moves closer to her ear, and¡ªeven more surprisingly¡­ ¡°Clara¡­¡± He whispers her name. His voice is deep, yet smooth, as clear as a bird¡¯s song, as steady as a mountain. And just as seductive as everything else about him. *Thump-thump* Clara feels her heartbeat quicken. ¡°You can talk!!!¡± Chapter 12 "So, he and Clara took down one of those worms alone?" Nyx asks as she steps out of the elevator with Matteo, her expression impressed and curious. "Yeah, Jex said it''s all recorded in the Safira''s logs." Matteo comments, equally impressed. "I want to see that." The duo walks down the main corridor until they pass by a large white door, which opens just as they reach it. Nyx instinctively glances to the side and sees a young man in a white coat stepping out. He''s just one of the infirmary nurses aboard the Safira, but right behind him, Nyx spots Javier sitting on the main medical bed while the doctor examines him. She immediately changes course, pushing past the nurse, who quickly steps out of her way, causing a small commotion. "Nyx?" The doctor looks at her with a curious expression, which quickly shifts to fear when he sees her calmly unsheathing her black steel katana from her back. "Nyx???" Matteo realizes what''s happening and follows her into the infirmary. But she doesn¡¯t stop. Resolute, Nyx presses the sharp edge of her katana against Javier¡¯s neck while pushing him against the medical bed. "Bastard. Didn''t I tell you what would happen if you laid a hand on Clara?" Her voice sounds like a calm thunder, a tone even more threatening and dangerous. Javier is still dizzy and disoriented, unable to do anything but groan in pain and grit his teeth at her. The doctor, on the other hand, starts stammering. "Doctor Nyx¡­ what are you¡­ planning to do¡­" Nyx shoots him a hostile glare. "Maxwell, you''d better leave before I cut off the useless thing between your legs too." ¡°Ehh¡ª¡± The doctor doesn¡¯t think twice and bolts out of the room, screaming for the captain. "And now, where were we?" Nyx looks back at Javier with pure contempt and fury. "..." He¡¯s too afraid to say anything, with her blade pressed against his throat. "Nyx..." Matteo steps beside her, speaking in his usual calm and friendly tone. "This situation is already a mess. Maybe this isn¡¯t the best time for this." Nyx narrows her eyes. "I can''t let this trash hurt my friends again." "I understand¡ª" "NYX!!!" Diego¡¯s voice booms down the corridor, followed by the sound of heavy boots, his steel soles striking the floor. He bursts into the infirmary, rushing in. "GET YOUR HANDS OFF HIM!!!" "This is your fault, Diego," Nyx says calmly, still holding the blade to Javier''s neck. "He has nothing to do with my decision to leave you behind!" Diego snaps back quickly. "You know the rule. I made a hard choice for the safety of the entire crew!" She shakes her head. "This has nothing to do with me." "Oh?" Diego looks confused, then something suddenly clicks in his mind. "This is about Clara, isn¡¯t it?" "..." Nyx says nothing, just keeps staring at Javier. "Calm down! Calm down!!" Diego urges, agitated. "He¡¯s already been punished for that, but I understand¡ªhe messed up, and it won¡¯t happen again, I promise." "How can you promise that?" Nyx scoffs. "You let this sack of shit do whatever he wants." "Dammit, Nyx! You can¡¯t attack your own crew, even after coming out of a tough situation!" "Tough situation?" Nyx raises an eyebrow, her tone sharp and questioning. "Speaking of that, how did the Crimson Nebula know I was infiltrating the Thek¡¯Shar?" "And how did they ambush Clara when you were supposedly handling the situation?" Before Diego can answer, Nyx¡¯s expression turns even colder. "There¡¯s a traitor among us. That much is obvious." She finishes her thought and turns her attention back to Javier. "And I can think of someone just as obvious." "No!" Diego shouts immediately. "How could he have betrayed us when he was with me and the others, fighting off the Crimson Nebula pirates?" "I agree something is wrong, but there''s no way it''s Javier." Diego thinks quickly and speaks again. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "I believe it was someone who stayed on the Safira while we were out¡­" "Jex?" Nyx shakes her head. "That girl is more loyal to this crew than anyone here." "Not Jex," Diego mutters, stepping forward and closing the infirmary door behind him. "But one of the assistants, naturally. Either way, we need to handle this carefully until we know exactly what happened." "Of course," Nyx says, her expression still hostile. As the tension in the room thickens, the infirmary door suddenly opens from the outside, revealing Clara with a concerned expression¡ªand the mysterious man behind her, calm and composed as always. "What¡¯s¡ª" Clara starts, only to pause in surprise at the scene before her. She almost laughs at Javier¡¯s pathetic state, with Nyx¡¯s blade still at his throat. "Nyx? What are you doing?" "Hunting down our rat," she replies, her tone cold. "Oh, that one¡­" Clara steps beside Nyx, her expression turning to one of pure disdain as she glares down at Javier. "I doubt this idiot would have the guts to betray us." "Not to mention, he''s way too dumb for such a complex plan." ¡°Hmm.¡± Nyx keeps staring at Javier, who clenches his teeth in silence. ¡°What the fuck??¡± Diego exclaims, annoyed. ¡°If you don¡¯t stop threatening him, I¡¯ll take drastic measures!¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Nyx asks coldly. ¡°Yeah,¡± Clara adds with mocking amusement. ¡°You don¡¯t have any balls.¡± A dark glint flashes in Diego¡¯s eyes, and his hand instinctively moves toward his holster. But before he can even touch his revolver, he sees a tall, pale figure step beside him¡ªsilent and cold as a starless night. The mysterious white-haired man. He gives Diego a calm yet hostile stare, sending an icy chill down the captain¡¯s spine. ¡°This guy!¡± Diego points at the mysterious man. ¡°Why is no one assuming he¡¯s the one who brought us trouble? Everything started going wrong when he showed up!¡± ¡°Him?¡± Clara rolls her eyes at Diego before glancing affectionately at the mysterious man. ¡°How could he have anything to do with the information leak when he was locked up in a prison inside the pyramid?¡± ¡°Also, don¡¯t blame him.¡± Nyx adds. ¡°Everything went wrong when someone sold us out¡ªhe saved us.¡± Diego runs out of arguments. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t blame him. But this isn¡¯t my fault or Javier¡¯s either!¡± ¡°If someone betrayed us, it could¡¯ve been the Umbrakarians!¡± ¡°The Umbrakarians?¡± Clara shakes her head. ¡°Why would they offer us so many credits to recover the relic and then sell us out to the Crimson Nebula?¡± ¡°That makes no sense.¡± Matteo nods in agreement. Diego shrugs. ¡°I don¡¯t know! Maybe they didn¡¯t think we¡¯d actually pull it off¡­ whatever, we won¡¯t get to the bottom of this if you keep pointing weapons at my brother.¡± As the captain grows more agitated, Clara notices the white-haired man stepping closer to him. Wanting to prevent a massacre, she gently places her hand on Nyx¡¯s arm. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll get to the bottom of this anyway and punish the rat severely.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Nyx¡¯s eyes still burn with the fire of vengeance, but she finally releases Javier, who gasps in relief. ¡°Good.¡± Diego also exhales. ¡°Now, can we focus on what¡¯s most important?¡± The group stares at him with questioning expressions, prompting him to elaborate. ¡°The relic, of course.¡± ¡°We got it, it was tough, but we secured the relic, and I got us out of that worm-infested hellhole at the last minute.¡± Clara and Nyx roll their eyes in perfect sync. ¡°Great piloting, captain.¡± ¡°Yeah, you almost killed us for real¡­¡± ¡°Ahem!¡± Diego tries to maintain a positive expression. ¡°Everyone¡¯s going to be much happier once we get our hands on that fortune. Now, I need everyone in the conference room to discuss our next steps.¡± ¡°Uh?¡± Clara gives him a questioning look. Nyx, on the other hand, slumps her shoulders, exhausted. ¡°I was hoping to take a bath¡­¡± ¡°No time for that, we need to deal with something urgent first.¡± Diego insists as he steps closer to Javier, positioning himself between him and the girls. ¡°You can go ahead and call the others. I¡¯ll help Javier get up.¡± ¡°Alright, captain.¡± Matteo says in a neutral tone, signaling for the girls and the mysterious man to leave the infirmary. ¡°The sooner we deal with this, the sooner you all can rest.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Clara still has a suspicious look on her face but leaves the infirmary with the others. They walk through the Safira¡¯s main corridor, reaching the large conference hall in just a few seconds¡ªthe same room with the wrecked bar. ¡°My bar¡­¡± Matteo sighs at the sight of so many shattered bottles. ¡°At least your secret stash is intact.¡± Clara comments. Then she glances at the mysterious man with a mischievous smile, her cheeks turning slightly red. ¡°Oh, that thing?¡± Matteo smirks as he searches for an intact bottle. Clara quickly diverts her gaze from the white-haired man before her thoughts turn inappropriate. Then she looks out through the large window of the room and sees the vast space outside the ship¡ªthe cold, dark void beyond Zhaaros. The Dravaal Expanse system. ¡°We already left Zhaaros¡¯ orbit?¡± Clara thinks out loud as she steps closer to the window. ¡°Yeah.¡± Jex appears from the corridor, smiling at the group. ¡°Good thing the captain gave me back control before he completely wrecked what was left of the Safira.¡± ¡°Great job, Jex!¡± Clara gives the girl a thumbs-up, making her smile proudly. Meanwhile, the white-haired man stands beside Clara, staring out at the endless black void speckled with floating rocks and thousands of glowing stars. Clara notices his contemplative look and gently taps his shoulder. ¡°Feels good to be out, doesn¡¯t it?¡± She whispers, winking at him. ¡°...¡± He blinks back at her, making her smile shine even brighter. More crew members enter the hall and head toward another corridor¡ªa medic who had treated Javier, a young man with green-dyed hair and a punk aesthetic, and a woman. The woman appears to be in her thirties, with long black hair and the air of a seasoned medieval warrior. She nods at Clara¡¯s group. ¡°The captain wants everyone in the conference room.¡± Her tone is neutral, slightly annoyed. ¡°We¡¯re on our way, Jimena.¡± Clara nods, responding in the same neutral tone. As the woman and her colleagues continue down the corridor, Clara glances at Nyx, Jex, and Matteo. ¡°Diego¡¯s terrible leadership is dividing the crew.¡± ¡°We need to stick together.¡± ¡°We still have general support, but we have to be reasonable.¡± ¡°¡®Reasonable¡¯ is a punch in the face for those idiots!¡± Clara clenches her fist, grinning confidently. Jex grabs Clara¡¯s fist and lowers her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s take it easy, okay?¡± ¡°We need to see what he wants now.¡± Matteo remarks, heading toward the others. The girls and the white-haired man follow, but Clara¡¯s expression remains skeptical. ¡°I have a feeling I know what Diego wants¡­ and it¡¯s not going to end nicely.¡± She glances at the mysterious man beside her, and he smiles while reaching out to gently caress her face. She still remembers his voice, even though he hasn¡¯t spoken a word since. Chapter 13 The white-haired man follows Clara and her friends through the corridors of the Safira. They climb a short staircase with a few steps and walk down a long hallway until they reach a large double door adorned with the emblem of a glowing red stone. The door opens as they approach, revealing a spacious room filled with elegant furniture, bookshelves packed with various items, and glass display cases containing rare artifacts. Yet, what stands out the most is the large round stone table at the center, surrounded by eleven grand and comfortable chairs. A few people are already seated around the table, including the doctor who treated Javier. The groups exchange glances, and most of the attention falls on the mysterious white-haired man¡ªcurious, slightly hostile looks that he completely ignores. As they pass through the doorway, Diego¡¯s voice echoes from the hallway behind them. ¡°Wait!¡± He approaches with hurried steps, followed closely by Javier, who shoots an even more hostile glare at the white-haired man. ¡°He¡¯s not a member of the crew.¡± Diego points at the white-haired man as he enters the grand room. Clara is about to say something, but Matteo quickly steps in front of her with a pleading expression. ¡°The captain is right¡ªhe¡¯s not officially a member of the Safira yet, and this meeting is for the core members.¡± Clara exhales lightly but doesn¡¯t argue. She turns to the white-haired man with an apologetic look. ¡°Sorry, big guy, you¡¯ll have to wait outside for a bit.¡± She walks him toward the hallway. Though he doesn¡¯t say anything, he seems to understand gestures well. Yet, he hesitates to leave Clara, glancing at Diego and Javier with a dark look. ¡°Them?¡± Clara smiles lovingly at the white-haired man and gestures toward Nyx. ¡°She¡¯ll make mincemeat out of both of them before they can do anything to me.¡± The white-haired man smirks, and when Nyx glances at him, he winks at her. ¡°Oh?¡± Nyx is surprised, not noticing the corners of her lips almost curling into a smile. He feels Clara touch his arm and turns his attention back to her. ¡°This will be quick. I have a plan!¡± She grins at him before stepping inside the room. As soon as the door closes, Diego rushes to the only unique chair at the table¡ªlarger, more elegant, and more decorated. The captain¡¯s seat, of course. Javier sits to one side of him, while Maxwell, the stern-looking woman, and the green-haired punk take seats in succession. On the opposite side of the table, Clara, Nyx, Jex, and Matteo take their places, leaving two empty chairs in the middle to complete the eleven. Matteo glances at one of the empty chairs. ¡°Where¡¯s Louis?¡± ¡°He¡¯s handling something for me,¡± Diego responds quickly. ¡°Can we begin?¡± ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± the green-haired punk asks, curious. ¡°The relic.¡± Diego¡¯s eyes gleam. ¡°I have a great idea for our next move.¡± Nyx casts a cold, inquisitive look at Diego. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to deliver it to the Umbrakarians to complete our contract?¡± ¡°Before that!¡± Clara rises and places both hands on the table. ¡°We need to talk about him.¡± The glow in Diego¡¯s eyes fades. ¡°Does it have to be now?¡± ¡°Yes, it does.¡± Clara slams her hand on the table, resolute. ¡°We only have the relic because of his efforts, so yeah, I¡¯m not letting you just dismiss him like that.¡± ¡°HE¡¯S A STRANGER!¡± Javier snaps irritably. ¡°We were all strangers before we got to know each other,¡± Matteo comments in his usual friendly tone. He gestures with his hands. ¡°And look at us now¡­¡± ¡°A big happy family,¡± the punk says sarcastically. ¡°We¡¯re still a team,¡± Diego glances at everyone, putting on his best friendly expression. ¡°We have problems like any family, but we can work them out, right?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not part of this family!¡± Javier insists, hostile. ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide,¡± Clara shoots back with equal hostility. Javier scoffs and looks away. There¡¯s something in his eyes¡ªnot just anger, but also pain and jealousy. ¡°Alright, Clara. If you want to settle this now, let¡¯s vote.¡± Diego speaks in a confident tone. ¡°Great.¡± She nods and sits back down. Diego nods and begins speaking. ¡°So, who¡¯s in favo¡ª¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Clara interrupts him. ¡°You can¡¯t just ask who¡¯s going to suck up to you like some spineless bootlicker.¡± Javier, Maxwell, the punk, and the scowling woman shoot hostile glares at Clara. But she smirks provocatively at them. ¡°First, let¡¯s make things clear.¡± Diego exhales sharply but gestures for her to speak. ¡°Alright, get on with it.¡± Clara smiles and glances at everyone around the table. ¡°You guys didn¡¯t see how insane Javier was when he attacked me, but that big guy out there was there¡ªand he saved me from this rabid dog!¡± ¡°YOU BITC¡ª¡± Javier starts to rise, but Diego signals for him to sit back down. Clara nods slightly at him and continues. ¡°But before that, he saved me from the Crimson Nebula, and he saved this entire ship from that Vhorr¡¯Ka.¡± This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Her tone is both grateful and admiring, but the others, including her friends, seem skeptical and curious. ¡°How exactly did you meet this guy again?¡± Matteo asks. ¡°Him?¡± Clara pauses for a second, as the image of her opening the mysterious monolith and finding him naked, covered in that red liquid, flashes through her mind. ¡°Yeah, him.¡± Matteo nods, as he¡¯s not the only one confused. Clara realizes she can¡¯t look uncertain now. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say?¡± ¡°I mean, there¡¯s not much to say. I found him locked up inside the pyramid. He was a Thek¡¯Shar prisoner.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± Maxwell, the doctor, asks. ¡°He told you that?¡± Jimena, the woman near Diego, adds. Everyone looks at Clara with curious expressions, and she has to think fast to avoid revealing the white-haired man¡¯s mysterious alien origin. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t say anything.¡± She states with a serious expression. ¡°Nothing?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Weird¡­¡± As everyone looks confused and doubtful, Clara glances at Nyx. ¡°I think he¡¯s in shock.¡± ¡°Shock?¡± ¡°Yes, I found him in an ancient cell, locked up by those savages, along with several other human corpses.¡± The room goes silent as everyone listens intently. Clara continues her story. ¡°There were broken guns and maps¡ªprobably a team of treasure hunters.¡± The others listen with eyes gleaming with curiosity, but there¡¯s something else in Nyx¡¯s gaze. ¡°If he was the only survivor¡­ surrounded by those savages¡­ it makes sense that he¡¯d be traumatized,¡± Nyx comments. ¡°Yeah, he was probably tortured or who knows what.¡± Clara quickly adds. ¡°And his dead friends?¡± Diego asks. ¡°Were they as strange as him?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Pale, with white hair¡­ and eyes¡­ like that.¡± ¡°Ehh¡­¡± Clara needs to think fast. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t exactly have time to examine the corpses in the cells!¡± ¡°They looked like they¡¯d been dead for a long time¡ªrotting bodies, bones¡­¡± ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake! I had just found the relic.¡± ¡°The Crimson Nebula was after me.¡± ¡°I found him.¡± ¡°I freed him.¡± ¡°He helped me.¡± ¡°That was it!¡± "..." Everyone looks at Clara with mixed expressions, but they¡¯re all confused and curious. "It must be the work of the Thek¡¯Shar." Nyx comments calmly. All eyes turn to her as she continues. "The barbarians probably did something to him¡ªmaybe tested new torture methods or who knows what¡­" "Any kind of crap could have left him like that. We have no way of knowing." Clara nods quickly. "I was going to ask you to take a good look at him as soon as possible¡­" "But the important thing is that he helped me." "He¡¯s on our side!" She says to everyone. "You don¡¯t know anything about him." Diego comments skeptically. "I know one thing¡­" A confident gleam appears in Clara¡¯s eyes as she glances at Jex. "Show them." "Mm." Jex nods and pulls a tablet from the pocket of her jacket. She taps the screen, then slides it to the center of the table. A light emerges from the tablet, creating a holographic projection: footage from Safira¡¯s cameras, displaying Clara and the mysterious white-haired man battling the gigantic alien sandworm. Everyone¡¯s eyes widen in shock as they watch the incredible scene of the white-haired man scaling the creature using its venomous spines. "Woah!" "Damn!!!" "Impossible¡­" Clara grins proudly. "Yeah, he really did that shit." Matteo nods, impressed. "He fights like a damn fearless barbarian!" Everyone at the table is undeniably impressed. But Diego and Javier have that same dark gleam in their eyes¡ªa mixture of fear and jealousy. "He¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t he?" Clara¡¯s smile stretches from ear to ear. "He¡¯s insane!" Diego snaps, irritated. "Unstable, dangerous, a threat!" "I could say the same about your brother!" Clara points at Javier. "But unlike him, my friend is calm, kind, polite, and very useful!" "Charming too." Jex adds, her eyes sparkling. "Without a doubt¡­" Nyx murmurs. Diego scoffs and shakes his head. "Well¡­" Clara gestures toward the footage of her and the mysterious man blowing up the giant sandworm. "I¡¯m not asking you all to become his best friends." "I¡¯m just asking you to give a chance to this super cool guy who saved our big prize and our home." "Give him a chance to prove himself as a valuable member of this family." Clara sighs deeply and continues. "And if we can¡¯t adapt to him, we can just give him a ride to some random planet and go our separate ways." "¡­" "Is that too much to ask? Just one chance?" Everyone seems deep in thought, but some reach a conclusion quickly. Jex is the first to raise her hand. "I vote we give him a chance." Nyx raises her hand as well. "Of course." Matteo is the third, and to Diego¡¯s surprise, the fourth is the green-haired punk. "Zion?!" Diego shoots a sharp look at him. But Zion shrugs, flashing a crooked smile. "Come on, boss, this guy¡¯s crazy¡ªso it¡¯s better to have him on our side!" As Diego shakes his head, disappointed, Clara beams and raises her hand victoriously. "Five to four." "Wait." Diego speaks in a serious tone. "We still have Louis¡¯ vote." "Really??" Clara throws her hands up in protest. "I''m sure he¡ª" Diego stops mid-sentence, his confident look fading as he sees the woman beside him raise her hand. Jimena shoots him a stern look as well. "The guy might be bizarre or whatever the hell he is, but he saved Safira and the relic¡ª" "And me, damn it!" Clara exclaims. "And me!" Jimena rolls her eyes. "Yeah, he deserves at least a chance." Clara gives her a thumbs-up before flipping off Diego. "That''s six votes in favor¡ªit''s decided." Diego can only scoff in frustration but has to accept it. "Also," Clara smirks provocatively. "Since he literally ensured we got the relic, I think it''s fair that he gets a share of the reward." "No way!" Javier slams his fist on the table. The punk shakes his head, and Diego does the same. "I''m not giving part of my reward to a stranger." "Nobody touches my money." Zion comments. "Come on, guys!" Clara presses. "His entire team died searching for that¡­ it''s the least we can do to honor fellow humans." "Not happening." Diego shuts it down. Clara sighs but already seems to expect this. "Well, you can''t stop me and¡­" She glances at her friends. "...anyone else who wants to give him a cut of our share." "You do whatever the hell you want with your portion once we deliver the relic." Diego waves it off. Clara grins, her bright blue eyes shimmering. "But¡­ if you''re not giving him a fair share, at least let him be part of this properly." "He deserves to be here." "..." Diego wants to deny it, and Javier shakes his head at him, making his opinion clear. But everyone else seems to agree with Clara, even if some don''t openly admit it. So, in the end, Diego nods begrudgingly. "Fine¡­" "Great!!!" Clara practically jumps with excitement. "But he stays in his damn corner and keeps his mouth shut!!" Diego insists. But Clara ignores him entirely, skipping toward the door. "Whatever!" She opens the door and finds the white-haired man staring out the window at the vastness of space. As soon as the door opens, he turns to face her, and their eyes meet again. It¡¯s been less than three minutes since they were apart, but Clara already feels her heart lighter upon seeing him again. "Hey, Big!" She waves at him with a bright smile. "Told you it''d be quick, didn''t I?" He smiles back as he steps toward the door. His glowing white eyes shine with expectation and curiosity. Chapter 14 Clara leads the mysterious white-haired man into the large conference room, drawing everyone''s attention inside. Diego and Javier scowl upon seeing the white-haired man, but the others seem both friendly and curious. ¡°Here,¡± Clara offers her own chair for him to sit in. Then, she moves toward the center of the table, placing her hand on one of the empty chairs. ¡°I''ll grab your old chair in a second.¡± She shoots a provocative look at Diego, who glares back, clearly annoyed. ¡°You¡¯re not planning on using it anymore, are you?¡± Diego visibly restrains his frustration and simply gestures dismissively with his hand. Clara grins, dragging the rolling chair next to hers, positioning herself between the white-haired man and Nyx. He now sits between Clara and Jex, who greets him with a bright smile and a V-sign gesture. Matteo gives him a slight nod with a friendly expression. Nyx also greets him but with a subtle smile and an intense gaze, which he returns with the same depth. Seeing the friendly scene, Javier rolls his eyes in disgust. Diego looks more impatient. ¡°Can we start now???¡± Clara nods, wearing her usual provocative smirk. ¡°Of course, Captain.¡± Her tone drips with sarcasm, but Diego ignores it and begins speaking. ¡°First and foremost, I want to congratulate everyone on a job well done.¡± ¡°Ahem!¡± Clara fake-coughs dramatically. Nyx and Jex nearly laugh, while Matteo shakes his head. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not even remotely considering your own performance as decent, at the very least.¡± ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, Clara!¡± Diego exclaims, but before he can say more, he notices the dark stare from the white-haired man falling on him, sending shivers down his spine. Yet, Diego forces himself to ignore the unsettling gaze and refocuses on Clara, attempting to maintain his composure. ¡°Elliot left me in charge of the Safira, so if you¡¯re not satisfied with my leadership¡ª¡± ¡°Okay, okay¡­¡± Clara scoffs playfully. ¡°You can go on.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Diego speaks slowly and loudly, his patience visibly thinning. ¡°As I was saying, everyone did great¡ªMUCH more useful than I was.¡± Clara nods enthusiastically, a proud smile on her face. A heavy sigh escapes Diego. ¡°But the most important thing now is¡­¡± ¡°We recovered the relic and escaped Zhaaros, so all that¡¯s left is to deliver it and complete the contract.¡± ¡°MONEY! MONEY!! MONEY!!!¡± Zion exclaims excitedly. ¡°Yeah, a billion credits is gonna make us rich!¡± Jex adds, equally thrilled. ¡°A billion and a half,¡± Matteo corrects. ¡°Yeah, there''s that bonus for delivering the relic intact, right?¡± Nyx glances at Clara briefly before turning her attention back to Diego. ¡°If I remember correctly, the bonus was specifically for not opening or modifying the relic.¡± Diego nods. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°BUT?¡± Clara raises an eyebrow at him, suspicious. Diego shrugs, leaning back in his chair in a relaxed manner. ¡°We can do that¡­ if that''s what you all want¡­¡± Everyone watches him with confused expressions until he raises a finger. ¡°BUT!¡± ¡°Yeah, Clara, there¡¯s always a BUT!¡± ¡°There always is,¡± she mocks. He shakes his head. ¡°Come on, folks!¡± Diego gestures dramatically. ¡°Who the fuck pays a billion credits for an old, useless relic?¡± Before anyone can respond, he continues. ¡°And half a billion more just for us not to open the damn box???¡± ¡°If it were the Xharythuun Empire, I might understand.¡± ¡°But come on! It¡¯s the Umbrakai!¡± ¡°They don¡¯t have infinite riches.¡± Diego''s supporters nod at every word, but Clara¡¯s group remains skeptical. Matteo, in particular, looks concerned. ¡°Where are you going with this, Captain?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a weapon, obviously.¡± Diego responds instantly. ¡°No shit!¡± Clara mocks again. ¡°What a fucking genius you are!¡± Diego ignores her and focuses on the others. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°I¡¯m not just saying it¡¯s a weapon¡­¡± ¡°Think about it. That thing was buried in a hole in Zhaaros, and even the fucking Thek¡¯Shar wouldn¡¯t go near it!¡± ¡°What kind of weapon scares those savages???¡± ¡°And why would the Umbrakarians send a small crew like us to retrieve it instead of going themselves?¡± ¡°¡­¡± No one has an answer to Diego¡¯s questions, but he nods. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you why.¡± ¡°Because that weapon is fucked up!¡± ¡°Whatever the hell it is, it must be insanely dangerous.¡± ¡°And extremely valuable,¡± Maxwell adds. ¡°Exactly.¡± Diego nods, his eyes gleaming with excitement. ¡°So, my dear crew, my proposal is simple¡ª¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t open it.¡± Nyx states coldly. Matteo nods. ¡°We made a contract with the Umbrakarians, Captain.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t some Dravaal Expanse treasure hunt where we can just sell to the highest bidder.¡± ¡°We were given specific intel to find and retrieve that relic. If we fuck this up¡­¡± There¡¯s a cold look on Nyx¡¯s face as she stares at Diego. ¡°We do not want to screw over the Umbrakai.¡± Diego shakes his head, disappointed. ¡°You two¡­ fucking cowards¡­¡± ¡°You have no idea what we¡¯re sitting on!¡± ¡°And you do?¡± Nyx raises an eyebrow. Diego suddenly stands up from the table, and Nyx nearly reaches for her sword. But instead, he smiles casually at her and the group. ¡°Come on!¡± He walks toward a large horizontal window dividing the conference room from another chamber, next to a door. The glass is dark at the moment, but Diego presses a button on the wall, and the window turns transparent, revealing the room beyond. Inside the room, the group watches as a man in his thirties, dressed in a gray lab coat and surrounded by various tools, moves around the relic that Clara retrieved from the ruins of Zhaaros: The box that once contained the mysterious white-haired man. The relic still floats in mid-air, held up by the anti-gravity devices Clara attached to it. Now, the man in the lab coat seems deeply engrossed in analyzing it. Diego and his supporters stare at the relic with curious and excited expressions, while Nyx and Matteo seem concerned, though not as much as Clara. The white-haired man lingers at the back of the group, casting only a brief glance at the box, his expression completely unreadable. ¡°You see this?¡± Diego taps on the glass, grabbing the attention of the man in the lab coat, then points at the box. ¡°Impressive, isn¡¯t it?¡± The man in the room asks, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Diego and his group nod eagerly. But Nyx keeps shooting him disapproving glances. ¡°What is Louis doing to the relic? If he damages it in any way¡­¡± Nyx warns. Diego raises his hands defensively. ¡°Relax, Nyx. He¡¯s just running some preliminary analyses.¡± Clara starts feeling uneasy, worried that her lie might come to light. But at the same time, she¡¯s incredibly curious about the white-haired man and his mysterious origins. ¡°What have you found out so far?¡± She asks. Louis makes a disappointed face. ¡°Absolutely nothing.¡± ¡°Nothing?¡± Diego frowns. ¡°Yep.¡± Louis gestures toward the box. ¡°This damn thing doesn¡¯t have a single button, wire, or even an external circuit¡­¡± ¡°Not even a single seam.¡± ¡°It¡¯s completely covered in this bizarre metal.¡± Clara tries to remain calm, but she finds herself biting her lip in nervousness¡ªand when she realizes it, Nyx is already staring at her with a curious expression. ¡°Clara?¡± She nearly jumps when she hears her name, but when she looks, it¡¯s Diego speaking, also watching her with suspicion. ¡°What?¡± Clara blurts out. ¡°You know something?¡± Diego asks. ¡°Why the hell would I?¡± She snaps defensively. Diego raises an eyebrow, puzzled by her reaction. ¡°Because you were the one who found it, obviously.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°What else did you discover about it in the pyramid?¡± Diego presses. ¡°Oh, that¡­¡± Clara shakes her head quickly. ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to find anything, obviously¡ªthe Crimson Nebula was after me, remember?¡± "Of course." Diego nods. "But you really can''t tell us anything about it? You''re our expert in antiquities." "I''m an expert in ancient languages and maps, not unknown alien technology." Despite her words, Diego keeps looking at Clara with an expectant expression. "Come on, Clara. I know you''re just as curious about this as I am." Clara glances at the relic, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. She can''t hide it. Diego grins eagerly, but Nyx shoots Clara a piercing look. She feels a little guilty. "I know we have a contract and all that¡­ but¡­" "It''s probably better if we at least have an idea of what kind of weapon we''re dealing with, right?" "If it''s even a weapon, of course." As Matteo shakes his head, Nyx lets out a long sigh. "I was against taking a contract from the Umbrakai, and I don''t think we should mess with this thing." Nyx can''t keep a stern face at Clara for long and ends up smiling slightly. "But I can''t stop you, can I?" "Hehe~" Clara giggles and steps into the room quickly. The group watches her closely, while Nyx and the white-haired man have slightly different expressions. Clara walks around the mysterious box, giving it a good look over the metal surface since she didn''t have much time to analyze it inside the pyramid. Louis watches her with a mildly irritated expression. "I told you, there¡¯s nothing on the outside." "Maybe¡­" Clara ignores him and keeps studying the box. Diego and the others grow impatient. "Any ideas, Clara? Anything at all?" "Hmm¡­" Clara stares intently at the top of the box. "Even though there aren¡¯t any clear markings, this thing reminds me of Xharythuun technology, at least aesthetically." "Oh?" A light flickers in Louis'' eyes. "That actually makes sense!" "And what does that mean?" Diego asks. "Touch-sensitive hidden buttons," Clara says aloud at the same time that Nyx mutters it under her breath. "Yes," Louis nods. "That could be it." Clara instinctively reaches out to touch the box, but stops when she remembers the ice burn. She clenches her hand into a fist. "Wait!" Louis gives her a curious look. "???" Clara becomes concerned. "This metal is extremely cold," he explains. "You should remember that¡ªsince you were the one who retrieved this relic from the ruins yourself, right?" "Yeah¡­ I almost forgot about that." She nods. Louis turns around, grabs a pair of gloves from the workbench, and tosses them to her. "Here." Clara catches the gloves and puts them on quickly. "Thank you." "Now let''s see if¡ª" Clara places her hand on the lid of the box, and just like before, glowing blue circuits light up through the metal. The box opens, but without the hissing air pressure sounds from the first time. "Holy shit!!" Louis exclaims. Everyone else looks shocked¡ªexcept for two people. Outside the containment room, Diego and his crew expect something to happen next, but nothing does. "Looks safe," Louis says, though his tone lacks confidence as he steps closer to peer inside the box. "HUH???" He looks completely confused when he sees nothing but a translucent red liquid inside the box. Clara realizes she should have the same expression¡ªso she quickly fakes it. "What the hell??" "What??" Diego looks concerned and rushes into the room. "What is wrong with the weapon¡ª" He looks inside the box, expecting to see some kind of mysterious alien device. But there¡¯s only that strange red liquid inside. The other crew members enter the room, curious to see what''s so strange about the mysterious box. Even Matteo seems intrigued. But the white-haired man remains outside the room, standing on the other side of the glass¡ªand so does Nyx. She steps closer to him, watching him with a curious expression. Then, she lowers her voice so that only he can hear. "You don''t seem the least bit curious to see what''s inside, do you?" "¡­" He meets her gaze with a mysterious, slightly amused expression. "Maybe because you already knew what it is?" He smiles confidently at Nyx. His usual charming smile that makes any woman''s heart skip a beat. "Heh~" She smirks back at him, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and expectation. Chapter 15 ¡°Red liquid?¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a weapon?¡± The main crew of the Safira stands around the mysterious metal box, confused by the sight of the red liquid inside. Most of them turn their curious and disappointed expressions toward Diego, who shares the same bewildered look. He, in turn, looks at Louis, who shakes his head, just as clueless as the others. Then, Diego shifts his gaze to Clara. ¡°Clara, do you have any idea what this means?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Clara resists the urge to glance at the mysterious man as flashes of seeing him submerged in the red liquid surface in her mind. ¡°Yes, you. Have you ever seen or heard of something like this at the Royal Academy or anywhere else?¡± Clara quickly shakes her head. ¡°I have no idea what this could be.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Diego stares at the box filled with the red liquid. Clara looks back and sees Nyx and the mysterious white-haired man locked in a silent stare. ¡°Nyx!¡± She calls her friend. Nyx responds with a friendly glance. Clara signals for Nyx to approach, and she steps into the containment room. ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Clara gestures toward the red liquid inside the box. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Nyx¡¯s eyes gleam as she observes the liquid. Everyone watches her with expectant expressions, and Diego can''t resist asking. ¡°Do you have any idea what it is?¡± Nyx stares at the liquid inside the box with a contemplative look, her eyes scanning for anything unusual. But just like the exterior, the surface inside is flawless. Only that strange red liquid remains. ¡°I¡¯d say this is some kind of container, maybe¡­¡± Nyx thinks out loud. ¡°A container?¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°So, the weapon was supposed to be inside?¡± A light flickers in Diego¡¯s eyes. ¡°Or¡­ this liquid is the weapon?¡± Nyx¡¯s lips nearly curl into a sarcastic smirk, but she suppresses the urge, maintaining her usual calm and composed demeanor. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Maxwell nods. ¡°It could be a chemical weapon!¡± The crew¡¯s expressions shift from curiosity to fear, and most of them instinctively step back from the box. ¡°We should be careful with this.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s active. Otherwise, we¡¯d already be dead, right?¡± ¡°We have no idea what this even is¡­¡± While everyone focuses on the box, Nyx steps back slightly, stealing a glance at the mysterious white-haired man before shifting her gaze to Clara. Clara tries to play it cool, but her bright, expectant eyes flick to Nyx. Nyx gives the slightest shake of her head. ¡°What do we do now?¡± Zion asks, disappointed by the mystery¡¯s underwhelming reveal. ¡°There¡¯s no way we can ask for more money when we have no idea what this even is,¡± Jex comments, equally let down. Matteo steps in front of Diego. ¡°We can still close the box and deliver it to the Umbrakarians as our contract specifies.¡± The other crew members look thoughtful. ¡°The reward will still be one and a half billion?¡± ¡°As long as they don¡¯t find out we opened the box, naturally.¡± Matteo looks at them with a stern expression. ¡°It¡¯s our best chance.¡± ¡°But of course, if you all want to take another route¡­¡± ¡°We could end up attracting the wrath of Umbrakai. And for what? Some bizarre red water?¡± Diego listens to Matteo¡¯s words but shakes his head. ¡°It can¡¯t end like this¡­¡± Diego stares into the red liquid inside the box. ¡°Whatever it is that Umbrakai wants, it¡¯s in there. It has to be!¡± Matteo steps up to Diego and taps his shoulder. ¡°Captain¡­ this isn¡¯t a loss, but you need to know when to call it.¡± ¡°No.¡± Diego shakes his head. He places a hand on his chin, pacing back and forth around the mysterious box while the others watch him in silence. After two minutes, he stops and raises a finger. ¡°I know someone!¡± ¡°Someone who can tell us what this red liquid is and how to use it.¡± ¡°Who??¡± ¡°She¡¯s a specialist in chemical weapons.¡± Diego explains. While most of the crew wear expressions of confusion and curiosity, a dark glint flashes through Nyx¡¯s eyes. ¡°And where do we find her?¡± Jex asks. ¡°At the Vaelstryx Institute.¡± Diego replies, and immediately, everyone¡¯s expressions shift to concern. ¡°No shit!¡± Zion exclaims. ¡°The Viridion Star? Really?¡± Louis lets out a long sigh. ¡°She¡¯s trustworthy, I guarantee it.¡± Diego says confidently. ¡°Captain Elliot himself introduced me to her a few years ago when we needed a toxin to capture the Skaroth.¡± While the group tries to make sense of what Diego is suggesting, Matteo¡¯s expression grows even more worried. ¡°I remember that¡­ wasn¡¯t that the time you and the captain went on some mysterious meeting, and he came back missing an eye?¡± Everyone shoots an inquisitive look at Diego, and Jimena follows up. ¡°You never told us what happened there.¡± Diego raises his hands defensively. ¡°I don¡¯t know! For real.¡± ¡°How do you not know?¡± ¡°I just accompanied the captain there, but he showed up like that¡­ he told me not to ask questions.¡± ¡°So, I assume there was some sort of deal between them.¡± A tense silence falls over the room, and Nyx breaks it with her cold, calm voice. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°And now that you are the captain, you really want to go back to this woman and make a deal yourself?¡± He puffs out his chest, putting on a confident expression. ¡°I do this for our family.¡± ¡°Bullshit.¡± Clara mutters under her breath, making the others nearly laugh. ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± Diego points at the whole group. ¡°Come on, one and a half billion is a lot, I admit.¡± ¡°But how long is that gonna last you guys??¡± ¡°Three years?¡± ¡°Five, for most.¡± ¡°If you manage your money well, of course.¡± No one speaks, and Diego turns to the green-haired punk. ¡°Be honest, Zion, wouldn¡¯t you rather we play this smart and secure wealth for the rest of our lives?¡± ¡°One last job.¡± Diego¡¯s words make the group ponder his proposal. ¡°I¡¯ll give you all some time to¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± Zion raises his hand before Diego can even finish. Javier follows suit, then Maxwell, Louis, and Jimena. Jex almost raises her hand but pauses, glancing at Matteo, Clara, and Nyx. Clara can¡¯t hide the expectation in her eyes, though it¡¯s more about discovering what¡¯s inside the box than the promise of an even bigger payday, of course. Matteo sighs. ¡°It¡¯s clear that the majority wants this¡­¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Jex raises her hand too, enthusiastically. Diego shoots a curious glance at Clara, and she smirks provocatively. ¡°As long as you¡¯re the one negotiating with this crazy Viridian scientist, I won¡¯t object.¡± The last person Diego looks at is Nyx. And she simply shakes her head. "I don''t think it''s a good idea, but my opinion alone doesn''t change anything, does it?" Diego smiles proudly. "Then it''s settled, we''re heading to Viridion Star!" "Yeah!" Most of the crew cheers. But Jex has a slightly uneasy expression. "Captain¡­" "What''s the problem?" "The Viridion Star is pretty far, and the Safira took a lot of damage from that damn worm." "We need repairs, of course." "Exactly." Jex nods. "A lot of repairs, actually." Diego frowns. "How bad is it?" Jex makes an apologetic face. "I still have to check all the details with Echo, but it''s pretty clear we''re in no condition to use the Hyper Jump." The others also look concerned. "So that means we¡¯ll have to figure something out here in the Dravaal Expanse?" "Looks like it." "Do you have anywhere in mind?" Jex shakes her head. "I don''t know much about this sector, and the preliminary scans of this region didn¡¯t show anything useful near Zhaaros." Diego scratches his head, frustrated. "Is there really no one around here who can help us in this godforsaken place?" While most people seem to have no idea, one person seems to be thinking of something but hesitates to speak. "Heh¡­" It¡¯s Maxwell, the medic. Diego shoots him a curious look. "You know someone here? Now¡¯s not the time to keep secrets." Maxwell nods. "There might be a group not too far from here, but¡­" "They''re not friendly, are they?" Clara asks. The doctor shrugs. "It¡¯s been a long time since I last dealt with them¡­ it was before Elliot recruited me for the Safira." "That¡¯s fine, Maxwell, just tell us who we''re dealing with." "Black market traders." "Of course." Matteo sighs, looking worried. "Are they that bad?" Jex asks. Maxwell shrugs again. "I don¡¯t know. Like I said, it¡¯s been a long time¡­" "Alright. Where are they?" Diego asks. "They used to have a station orbiting a small planet called Kael''Zorr-4." Jex quickly grabs her tablet and starts checking the Dravaal Expanse system map. "Here." She points to a small brown dot on the map. "It¡¯s not too far." "How long?" "We can get there in a few weeks at our current max speed." "A few weeks?" Diego looks disappointed. Jex nods. "Without the Hyper Jump, this is the best I can do without tearing the Safira apart." "Got it." Diego nods, then looks at the others. "Everyone, I know we all need some rest, so let¡¯s wrap this up for now." "Jex, set the Safira on course for Kael''Zorr-4, and you can rest as well." "We¡¯ll talk more later." "Dismissed." The group starts to disperse, most of them leaving the containment room and heading toward the main corridor. Clara and Nyx take one last close look at the mysterious box. Diego walks up to them and gestures toward the white-haired man through the glass. "Keep your new friend out of trouble." "Sure." Clara nods, while Nyx maintains her usual cold and calm expression. As Diego turns to talk with Louis and the others, Clara comments out loud to Nyx. "The Big Guy and I picked up a few new scratches from that worm, so¡ª" "Of course," Nyx smiles at Clara, "Let''s go to my lab. I''ll patch you both up." "Thanks." Clara follows Nyx back through the conference room, and together with the white-haired man, they head down the main corridor. Nyx remains quiet as the trio moves through the central part of the Safira, then climbs to the third floor, where the core crew members'' private rooms are located. They walk down a long hallway until they reach the very end, stopping in front of a black door with a leaf emblem at its center. Nyx positions her face in front of the facial scanner beside the door, and it opens. The white-haired man watches everything with curious eyes. But upon entering the spacious lab, he immediately notices how well-organized it is¡ªand more than that, how good it smells. The girls hear the deep breath he takes, and then they see his expression light up with delight as he glances at Nyx. "..." Nyx stares at him with a cold expression. But Clara catches the faint blush on Nyx''s pale cheeks and starts laughing. Nyx shakes her head and steps ahead of them, pointing at the white-haired man and then at a large examination bed in the corner of the room. "Lie down there. I''ll take a look at you." "..." He understands that he''s supposed to go to the bed, but he still seems curious and expectant. "You!" Nyx points at Clara while walking toward the opposite side of the room. Clara follows her with a guilty look. As soon as they''re a few meters away and the white-haired man is distracted, looking at Nyx''s equipment, she pulls Clara even closer. "What the hell was all that back there?" Nyx whispers in an inquisitive tone. "Ehh¡ª" Clara barely has time to react before Nyx continues. "I know you, Clara. You can''t lie to save your life! That''s why I liked you in the first place." Clara grins sheepishly. But Nyx still looks irritated. "I know your dirty little secret, you brat!" "Spit it out. That guy¡­" Nyx glances at the white-haired man before looking back at Clara. "The weapon Diego is looking for isn''t that red liquid, is it?" Clara shakes her head. Nyx glances at the mysterious man again. "It''s him, isn''t it?" "He was inside the relic, and you opened it in the pyramid!" Clara gives her an apologetic look. "But it wasn''t my fault!" Nyx raises an eyebrow. "How could it not be your fault? Did he force you to open it after coming out?" Clara shakes her head. "That doesn''t matter right now. What matters is that he saved me." "I couldn¡¯t do that to him¡­ if I tell the others, Diego will treat him like some alien freak, sell him off to the highest-bidding scientist to be cut open like a lab rat!" Nyx sighs, casting a soft, almost affectionate glance at the white-haired man¡ªwho smiles back at her just as warmly. "I see¡­" "So you''re not mad anymore?" Nyx shakes her head. "We''re still screwed, you know that, right?" Clara grins brightly. "How bad could it be?" "..." Nyx glares at her. But Clara keeps smiling as she glances over at the mysterious man. "Seriously. I just found this big, handsome guy locked inside a sarcophagus for probably hundreds of years in an ancient ruin¡­" "Oh! And besides being hot as fuck, he fights hand-to-hand with a Vhorr¡¯Ka like it''s nothing, and¡­" The excitement in Clara¡¯s eyes only grows as she speaks. "There''s something about him¡­" "Holy shit!!" "You''re gonna freak when I tell you." Chapter 16 Nyx stares at Clara, a mix of confusion and curiosity on her face. Then she glances at the mysterious white-haired man on the other side of the room. "I''m listening." Clara hesitates. "Eh¡ª" She clearly doesn¡¯t know where to start, so she grabs Nyx by the hand and pulls her toward the white-haired man. "Come on, I''ll show you." Nyx follows Clara hurriedly toward the mysterious man. Hearing them approach, he turns. Their eyes meet his, and he flashes that confident, expectant smile. Such a charming smile. The girls stop right in front of him. Standing so close makes the difference in size between them feel even more pronounced. Both of them gaze at him with bright eyes, thoughts running through their minds. ¡®1.96 meters?¡¯ Nyx wonders. ¡®Maybe 1.97?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s so big¡­¡¯ Clara stares at him with a silly grin, then takes Nyx¡¯s hand and guides it toward his chest. A flicker of curiosity flashes in his eyes, and she stops her movement. "Can I?" Clara asks him. "¡­" He maintains his confident smile and curious gaze. Clara lifts her other free hand. "This." She points to her own chest, presses her open palm against it, then gestures toward his bare chest. He takes her hand and places it on his chest himself, making her cheeks turn pink without her even noticing. "Ah?" Clara is surprised by his sudden action, but her smile grows even more affectionate when she feels his heartbeat. She smiles at him. "That¡¯s not quite what I meant." Clara moves her hand slightly to the side and then brings Nyx¡¯s hand, which she was holding, to his chest as well. The white-haired man looks at Nyx. His expression isn''t as affectionate as the one he gives Clara, but it''s friendly and welcoming. When Nyx touches his bare chest, her eyes widen slightly, and her lips curl into an excited smile. "So hot¡­" she comments, looking into his eyes. Clara nods. "He is hot, for sure!" Nyx chuckles and shakes her head at Clara. "I mean his body temperature." "Oh?" Clara laughs too. "Yeah, his chest is really warm, isn¡¯t it?" "Wait!" Nyx grows more surprised as she presses her hand against the white-haired man''s chest. "His heartbeat is so slow¡­ and deep." Clara looks at her, concerned. "But you can still feel it. And it seems to be in the right place." "I mean, like ours, like a human heart." Nyx shakes her head. "Actually, his heart seems to be positioned perfectly in the center of his chest." "Really?" Clara also rubs her open hand over the center of his chest. "¡­" He simply watches the girls with an amused smile while they ¡®massage his chest.¡¯ Nyx nods with a confident look. "Let¡¯s check with an X-ray, but yeah, it feels perfectly centered." Clara pulls her hand back and glances at Nyx. "Whatever. That¡¯s not what I wanted to show you, but¡­" Nyx also pulls her hand away, and Clara points to the white-haired man¡¯s chest, specifically to the small, shallow, circular marks on his skin. "Wounds from fighting the Vhorr¡¯Ka?" Nyx frowns as she examines the injuries up close. "What the hell???" "They''re healing so fast!" "How is this even possible..." Nyx stares at Clara, who simply smiles and shakes her head. "It wasn''t the Vhorr¡¯Ka¡¯s acid venom." "It wasn¡¯t??" "No." Clara shakes her head. "Those burns were superficial and already completely healed." "This was something deeper." If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "What??" Clara takes Nyx¡¯s hand again, and both of them turn their expectant gazes toward the mysterious man. He gives them a small nod, allowing them to proceed. They reach forward again, touching his bare chest. Nyx runs the tips of her cybernetic-free fingers over the small, round scars on his chest. "This doesn¡¯t seem like acid at all..." "The skin is already healed, but the muscles still seem to be regenerating¡­ but so fast..." "It looks like an old wound." "But also a fresh one..." "What could have¡ª" "Shotgun bullets." Clara interrupts Nyx. "Really?" Nyx is once again shocked. Clara nods, her expression completely serious. "Not just any shell..." "Titanium rounds." "AND¡ª" "From just a few meters away." "A hell of a gun. A lethal shot." Clara points to the center of the white-haired man''s chest. "BAM!" "Right in the middle." "But he got up fast, and together, we finished off that damn pirate!" Clara grins proudly and winks at the white-haired man, who winks back at her. Nyx looks at him, her expression even more impressed and intrigued. "Damn! So he¡¯s not just as tough as a Miamina turtle¡ªhe regenerates as fast as a silver bat?" The mysterious man remains as calm and amused as ever. But Clara¡¯s grin only widens, an excited, almost greedy glint flashing in her eyes. "That¡¯s not even the most impressive part." "IT''S NOT???" Clara stands directly in front of Nyx. "Remember how that mysterious box¡¯s metal was freezing cold?" Nyx watches as Clara raises her open palm. "I didn¡¯t have Louis¡¯ fancy gloves, and the cold metal burned my palm when I opened the box." "Huh?" Nyx is confused. But that confusion only grows when she looks at Clara¡¯s palm. It¡¯s completely flawless. No scars, no burns, nothing. Her skin is perfect. Nyx feels like her mind has been flipped upside down, as if nothing makes sense anymore. She looks at Clara, her expression utterly baffled. "What are you saying?" Clara¡¯s smile grows even brighter as she glances at the white-haired man, her eyes filled with gratitude and deep affection. Nyx¡¯s curiosity burns even stronger. "What are you trying to tell me?" "Are you saying that he actually..." "Somehow, he was able to use his super regeneration on YOU?" "But how??" "Did you just touch him, and it...?" "Or maybe that red liquid from the box?" As Nyx spirals into a frenzy of curiosity, Clara feels her cheeks heat up. "Ehh¡­" She¡¯s completely amazed by the mysterious man¡¯s ability to heal her, but she suddenly finds herself shy when it comes to telling her best friend how it happened. ¡°Don¡¯t play coy now, Clara!¡± ¡°Alright, alright¡­¡± Clara sighs. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the liquid. It was him.¡± ¡°But as how did he do it¡­¡± As Clara¡¯s expression turns more timid, Nyx¡¯s expression grows more concerned. ¡°How, Clara?? How???¡± ¡°Well, it¡­¡± Clara doesn¡¯t know how to say it, so she nervously touches her lips with the tip of her finger while glancing at the white-haired man. Specifically¡­ his mouth. A thought pops into Nyx¡¯s mind, and she immediately starts shaking her head, a horrified expression crossing her face. ¡°No, Clara.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that¡­¡± ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± Clara tries to put on an innocent look. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault!¡± ¡°How was it NOT???¡± Nyx grabs Clara¡¯s shoulders and stares into her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you found a mysterious man inside some ancient sarcophagus¡­¡± ¡°Clearly NOT HUMAN!!!¡± ¡°And you¡­¡± ¡°YOU KISSED HIM???¡± Clara feels like a guilty child being scolded. She tries to look away, but her eyes meet his. And¡­ her lips curve into another excited smile. ¡°Oh my god!¡± Nyx lets out a deep sigh. ¡°Come on, Clara!!¡± Nyx rushes toward a nearby laboratory counter and pulls something from a drawer. A large syringe. The needle glints in the light, and the chamber in the middle is connected to a digital display on the back. ¡°We need to analyze your body right now!¡± Nyx grabs Clara¡¯s arm to insert the needle¡ª But the white-haired man steps forward in a defensive stance. Clara immediately places her other hand on his chest, stopping him. ¡°It¡¯s okay. She just wants to help.¡± He seems to understand and backs down. Nyx doesn¡¯t waste time and inserts the needle into one of Clara¡¯s veins. A small sample of blood flows rapidly into the syringe, swirling inside the container. Data begins appearing on the small screen. ¡°That was so irresponsible, Clara!¡± Nyx scolds while reading the data. ¡°We have NO idea what kind of microorganisms live inside him¡­¡± ¡°Even the simplest alien bacterium could kill you!¡± ¡°Damn! We don¡¯t even know what he is!¡± Clara gently places her hand on Nyx¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Calm down, my friend.¡± ¡°I know it was irresponsible, but¡­¡± Clara¡¯s eyes glow with excitement as she glances at the white-haired man with a grateful smile. ¡°It made me feel so good.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never felt this¡­ this¡­ AMAZING!¡± ¡°For real. I felt so full of energy, so powerful¡­¡± ¡°And I felt that¡­¡± Nyx continues reading the data on the screen. Her eyes widen. ¡°No way¡­¡± Clara grows curious¡ªand worried. ¡°Did you find something wrong??¡± ¡°No.¡± Nyx shakes her head in disbelief. ¡°No??¡± ¡°No.¡± Nyx looks into Clara¡¯s eyes. ¡°The scanner didn¡¯t find anything different in your body.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a first analysis, but it should have detected any anomalies¡­¡± ¡°But.¡± ¡°But??¡± Clara grows even more curious. ¡°What did you find, Nyx??¡± Nyx takes a deep breath and then looks at Clara. ¡°You¡¯re healthy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Healthy as hell!¡± Nyx exclaims. ¡°Like, you have so many vitamins and hormones dancing inside you¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s like you just came out of some miracle treatment that improves your body in so many ways¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s insane!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Clara¡¯s smile brightens as she turns to the white-haired man. Her expression is filled with excitement and deep gratitude. ¡°Thanks, Big Guy!¡± She winks at him. He smiles back at her. And for a moment¡­ It¡¯s as if he¡¯s saying something. She can almost hear his voice in her mind¡ª That deep, confident, charming voice. You¡¯re welcome, darling. Chapter 17 ¡°...¡± Nyx watches Clara. Clara watches the mysterious man. He looks at both girls. The atmosphere is strange, but Clara can¡¯t stop smiling. And he finds the situation amusing. Nyx, on the other hand, lets out a deep sigh. ¡°Clara¡­ you have no idea how dangerous all of this is.¡± Clara taps Nyx¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I messed up, I know. But look.¡± She spreads her arms and spins, more radiant than ever. ¡°I¡¯m healthy as hell, just like you said.¡± Nyx shakes her head. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s concerning too, because we don¡¯t know anything about¡­¡± ¡°His lips?¡± Clara grins mischievously and winks at him. They can see Nyx struggling to hold back the urge to smack Clara. She takes a breath and calms herself. ¡°Yeah, that.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the problem?¡± Nyx raises both hands. ¡°Everything else?¡± ¡°I mean, for starters, what he can do¡ªnot just being so incredible but also sharing his¡­ thing¡­¡± ¡°Now it makes sense why the Umbrakai would pay a billion and a half credits to take him untouched.¡± Clara¡¯s expression turns serious. ¡°I¡¯m not going to let those fanatics do anything bad to him.¡± Nyx can see the determination in Clara¡¯s eyes. Just like the affection when she glances at the mysterious man. ¡°I don¡¯t want to just hand him over either.¡± Nyx glances at him with a grateful expression. ¡°He saved my life.¡± ¡°But.¡± ¡°But?¡± Nyx shakes her head. ¡°I can¡¯t even think straight right now¡­ I haven¡¯t even taken a bath yet!¡± ¡°Mm!¡± Clara nods. ¡°I need a bath too.¡± ¡°And our friend here.¡± She points to the white-haired man. Nyx casts a curious look at him and then glances at her own hand. ¡°Although¡­ he still smells good even after fighting a Vhorr¡¯Ka.¡± Clara grins. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°He smells amazing!¡± Nyx puts on a thoughtful expression. ¡°It must be some kind of hormone similar to ours but stronger¡­ that would explain your current state.¡± Clara shrugs. ¡°You¡¯re the biologist here.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, is there anything else you can tell me about him?¡± Nyx looks at him with a curious gaze. ¡°Hmm¡­ would you let me take a small sample to analyze more closely?¡± ¡°...¡± He watches her with a curious expression. Clara shakes her head and laughs. ¡°You forgot he was locked in that pyramid for who knows how many years?¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s learning our language, but you still have to use gestures.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Nyx picks up a needle and shows it to the white-haired man before pricking her own finger to draw a drop of blood. ¡°Just a few drops would be enough.¡± He stares at the needle, and his expression turns colder¡ªless excited than usual. Clara¡¯s expression also becomes more serious. ¡°No one likes being pricked and studied, do they?¡± A sad glimmer flashes in Nyx¡¯s eyes. ¡°Nobody.¡± Then she tries to smile at him kindly. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t want to study you like some kind of impressive specimen.¡± ¡°I just want to know a little more about you.¡± ¡°And given your situation, I¡¯d say having some answers could be beneficial for you too.¡± ¡°...¡± He simply continues looking at Nyx with a curious expression. Clara steps in front of him and gently holds his hands. ¡°You can trust her.¡± ¡°Ny¡ªHimeko is our friend. She won¡¯t use new information to harm us.¡± He glances between Clara and Nyx, then extends his hand with a friendly expression. Nyx nods at him, also offering a warm look. ¡°Thank you for trusting me.¡± She gently takes his hand and then tries to prick his finger with a clean analysis syringe. But to her surprise, the needle doesn¡¯t pierce his skin at first. ¡°His skin is tough!¡± Clara pokes his shoulder with her finger. ¡°But it still feels soft like ours.¡± Nyx keeps trying, but no matter how much force she uses, the needle bends instead of penetrating the skin of his finger. ¡°This won¡¯t work like this.¡± She thinks for a moment and then points at her own open mouth. ¡°Can I try your gums?¡± He simply opens his mouth. She leans in, bringing the needle close to his mouth. Being this close, she catches his breath and can¡¯t help but be surprised again. ¡°How does this guy smell so good???¡± Clara laughs as she watches. ¡°Don¡¯t mess this up, okay?¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°I¡¯m a professional.¡± Nyx still finds it difficult to pierce his gums, but using enough force, the needle finally punctures, and a few drops of his blood fill the syringe compartment. ¡°Black? His blood is black??¡± Clara nods. ¡°I actually saw a few drops on his chest after that bastard pirate shot him.¡± ¡°Is it that weird for it to be black?¡± Nyx smiles. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I even expected it to be red in the first place.¡± She gently withdraws the needle and gives him a caring look. ¡°Are you okay? Did it hurt?¡± ¡°...¡± He simply runs his tongue over the area, and the tiny puncture vanishes as if it had never existed. Clara shakes her head. ¡°I saw him take a full shot from a .12-gauge titanium shell without even groaning¡­¡± Nyx chuckles. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s tough, got it.¡± Then she glances at him again with a curious expression. ¡°Not to ask too much, but another sample might speed up the process of discovering more about you.¡± ¡°...¡± He still seems confused. Nyx picks up two cotton swabs and uses one to collect saliva from her own mouth, then shows the other clean one to him. ¡°May I?¡± He opens his mouth again, and she carefully swabs inside, collecting a bit of his saliva. ¡°Great. Now I¡¯ll need a few hours to analyze these samples properly.¡± Clara glances at the white-haired man with an excited smile. ¡°I¡¯m taking him to get a bath¡ªhe deserves it after all that mess.¡± Nyx gives Clara a sharp look. ¡°Clara¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of¡­ your bedroom?¡± Clara raises her hands. ¡°I can¡¯t just leave him wandering around, can I? Diego and Javier are waiting for any chance to stir up more trouble¡­¡± Nyx sighs. ¡°You have a point.¡± ¡°But!¡± ¡°Please, be responsible.¡± ¡°At least until we have the slightest idea of what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Clara gives Nyx a thumbs-up. Then she grabs the white-haired man¡¯s hand and pulls him toward the door. ¡°Come on, Big! I¡¯ll show you where you can wash up and relax a little.¡± ¡°Maybe even eat something delicious.¡± Nyx shakes her head as she watches Clara leave the lab so cheerfully with the mysterious man. As soon as they¡¯re gone and the door closes, she sits down and lets out an even deeper sigh. She looks down, staring at the cotton swab with his saliva. Her expression is a mix of curiosity and excitement. She can¡¯t resist the urge and brings it close to her nose. ¡°Damn!¡± ¡°How does he smell so good?!?¡± While Nyx begins analyzing his blood and saliva, Clara quickly leads him through the corridors of the Safira. Her bedroom is just two doors down from Nyx¡¯s lab, right next to her own bedroom. Security is not too high, and Clara unlocks the door with her personal access card. As soon as they step inside, the white-haired man looks around in surprise. Clara¡¯s bedroom is as large as Nyx¡¯s lab, spanning several square meters. But unlike the previous space, this room is quite messy. Of course, all of Safira''s rooms are messy due to the ship being turned upside down by the giant sandworm, yet Clara''s bedroom is already naturally chaotic. A large bed sits in the corner, and a small table in the center is covered with books, stone fragments, and various other items. A desk in the corner holds more dusty books, with even more stacked in bookshelves along the walls. Beyond a massive window that offers a breathtaking view of space from the upper section of the Safira, two additional doors lead to smaller rooms within Clara¡¯s quarters. One of those doors is open, and the white-haired man can see various tools and a few weapons on a workbench inside. Clara notices him looking around and gestures toward that room. ¡°That¡¯s my little workshop.¡± Then she points to the closed door. ¡°And that¡¯s the bathroom. You can take a nice hot shower in there.¡± He looks at Clara. His confident gaze locks onto hers, and then he takes a step toward her. "Wait!" Clara raises her hand, making him pause, confusion flickering in his eyes. Then, a sly smile spreads across her lips. "You¡¯re not gonna do that thing again, are you?" "..." He looks at her, intrigued. She sniffs the air playfully. "That thing you did in Nyx''s lab." He smiles. And takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. Clara watches intently as he seems to be taking in the scent of the room¡ªa mix of dust, old books, and her personal perfume. His lips curve wider, forming a deeply satisfied smile. And then... "Clara." He says her name again, and her heart beats faster. He opens his eyes, looks at her, and adds¡ª "Good." Clara''s eyes shine. "So you''re really learning our language fast!" "..." He doesn¡¯t say anything else, but he steps closer to her. He extends his hand, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Clara tries to avoid looking into his eyes as her cheeks heat up, and her body grows warmer. "Nyx told us to take it easy¡­" She tries to resist, but the moment he leans in to kiss her, her body betrays her. In fact, she realizes she¡¯s eager for it. Then he kisses her. His lips seal over hers in a soft kiss that quickly deepens as his tongue slips into her mouth. "Mmm~" She lets out sweet, muffled moans as she feels that warm energy flow into her again, making her body tingle. But Clara quickly breaks the kiss, looking at him with pleading eyes. "Take a shower first, okay?" "We can continue after..." "..." She laughs and points down at his pants. "You might smell good even after everything, but those pants stink of worm slime." She tugs him toward the bathroom. "Speaking of which, you need new clothes." As they step into the large bathroom, she takes a good look at his body. "You''re way too big. Matteo''s clothes won¡¯t fit you." "Fuck! And I am not asking that bastard Javier for anything." The white-haired man watches as Clara curses, an affectionate smile forming on his lips. She catches his amused expression and grins back. "Don¡¯t look at me like that." "Ah! I think one of Jex''s nerdy assistants was pretty tall." "Wait here, I¡¯ll go see if I can find something clean for you to wear." "..." He watches her, curious. Clara gestures toward the large glass-enclosed shower. "The shower¡¯s there if you want to start." She turns to leave. "I¡¯ll be back quick¡ª" But he suddenly pulls her by the arm and captures her lips in another kiss. Just a brief kiss¡ªbut a damn good one. Then he lets her go, that teasing smirk on his face. She rolls her eyes, but her smile never fades. Then she steps out of the bathroom and out of the bedroom. He finds himself alone in the spacious bathroom, surrounded by unfamiliar objects he has no idea how to use. His eyes scan the room curiously. The mirror above the sink catches his attention, so he steps toward it and sees his own reflection. His eyes widen for a moment, and he slowly lifts his hand to touch his face. His fingers run along his jaw and chin as if sensing the absence of something. A deep feeling stirs inside him. A melancholy over his own face feeling unfamiliar. An identity lost to time. "Ah..." He sighs. Then, shaking the feeling away, he turns and scans his surroundings once more, his usual curiosity and excitement returning. Clara¡¯s bathroom is like the rest of her bedroom¡ª Clothes scattered in the corners, along with bottles of hair cream, soaps, toothpaste, and other personal items. The white-haired man doesn¡¯t recognize most of these objects, so he picks them up one by one, inspecting them closely. He lifts a red lace panty from a pile of clothes and smiles as an idea forms in his mind about what it is. His eyes gleam as he lifts it closer to his face and takes a deep breath. "Hmm¡­" The scent is strong, clearly a used piece of clothing. Yet, beneath it, there¡¯s the sweet floral fragrance of Clara, making even her used garments intoxicating. Still holding her panties, he continues exploring the bathroom. He steps into the glass shower stall and notices the large, sleek white showerhead above him. The moment he stands directly under it, a motion sensor in the wall activates, and hot water begins cascading down onto him. "Huh?" His muscles tense, nearly stepping back by reflex, but the warmth of the water is pleasant. Somehow, he knows what this is¡ªwhat purpose this device serves. But the word that comes to mind is not "shower." It doesn¡¯t sound like Clara¡¯s language. He lets the hot water run over his body, enjoying the sensation, but the soaked pirate pants feel uncomfortable against his skin. So, he removes them, tossing them outside the stall. Now naked, the feeling of hot water washing over every inch of him is... exquisite. He closes his eyes, placing his hands against the shower wall, standing under the steady stream. The warmth, the sound, the pressure. That¡¯s good. For the first time since Clara freed him from that box, he can simply... relax. Thinking about that, he tries to recall something¡ªanything¡ªbefore the box. Before Clara. But nothing comes to his mind. He digs deeper, forcing himself to remember. "Argh!" A sharp pain surges through his skull, and he clenches his teeth. The frustration builds. Why can¡¯t he remember? It¡¯s as if a part of his life was taken from him. Everything was stolen. And then Clara appeared. She set him free. She gave him a new beginning. A second chance. As he thinks of her, warmth floods his chest¡ªaffection, adoration, and an overwhelming urge to protect. Her panties are still in his hand. He brings them to his nose again, indulging in her scent. He may not remember anything before Clara, but he knows what he wants for his future. Her. He desires her, deeply. And now he knows exactly what he must do. Take her. Protect her. Make her happy. Love her. Chapter 18 {NSFW} After a few minutes, Clara returns to her bedroom with a set of men¡¯s clothes in her hands. A large blue shirt with white polka dots, a loose pair of shorts with the same pattern, and a pair of soft, cushioned slippers. As soon as she steps into the room, she hears the sound of running water coming from the bathroom, thanks to the open door. ¡°You found the shower?¡± Clara tosses the clothes onto the bed and walks into the bathroom. The glass door of the shower stall is slightly open, and she can see the white-haired man standing under the hot water. Completely naked, of course. ¡°Crap!¡± She quickly averts her eyes, but not before catching a glimpse of his hot, muscular body¡ªespecially his huge tool hanging below. ¡®Why does he look aroused???¡¯ The thought pops into her mind. She doesn''t even notice one of her used panties in his hand. He looks at her with a confused yet amused expression. ¡°Clara?¡± He calls her name with that gentle, caring tone that makes Clara¡¯s heart skip a beat. ¡°Ah?¡± She keeps her gaze away. ¡°I just came to check if you figured out how to use the shower.¡± He looks up. ¡°Shower? Hmm¡­¡± Clara is surprised and laughs. ¡°Your pronunciation is excellent. Maybe this isn¡¯t your first time speaking our language?¡± ¡°...¡± He stays silent. That jumble of words doesn¡¯t make much sense to him. ¡°Let¡¯s take it slow,¡± Clara says in a soft, reassuring tone. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you everything. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Slowly, she turns back toward him, trying not to stare at his wet, naked body¡ªwhich is proving to be very difficult. Keeping her eyes high, she points to the shower. ¡°Shower.¡± She grabs a bar of soap from the sink and tosses it to him. His reflexes are flawless¡ªhe catches it with ease before examining it with a curious expression. ¡°Soap.¡± She points at the object in his hands, then gestures toward her body, miming the motion of washing. ¡°It¡¯s for cleaning ourselves.¡± He keeps looking at it, then brings it up to his nose, inhaling deeply to take in its pleasant floral scent. It smells like her. Like Clara. ¡°Soap?¡± He repeats the word while glancing at her. Clara smiles at him. ¡°Yeah, use it to clean your body.¡± ¡°...¡± He glances at the soap, then back at Clara. She thinks he¡¯s confused, but if she were paying attention, she would have noticed the mischievous smirk forming at the corner of his lips. And the predatory gleam in his eyes. But she doesn¡¯t notice¡ªand takes a step inside the shower stall. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll show you.¡± She reaches out to take the soap from him. But to her shock, he lets go of the soap and grabs her wrist instead. Shoosh! His movements are so fast that she barely has time to react. Yet, his touch is gentle. Warm. Loving. ¡°Whah?!¡± Clara is caught completely off guard as the white-haired man presses her against the shower wall, right beneath the hot running water. The steam blurs her vision, but she can still see his glowing white eyes getting closer. His lips drawing near. From her point of view, his face breaks through the curtain of water like a dragon emerging from a waterfall. ¡°N-¡± She doesn¡¯t even have time to speak before¡ª His mouth crashes onto hers. The kiss is sudden and overpowering, stealing the breath from her lungs. He seals her lips with a hot, searing kiss. That explosion again¡­ like a boom detonating inside her. Her lips are already getting used to his, to his intense and dominant movements. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. It¡¯s like a mixture¡ªthe raw hunger of a wild beast combined with the tenderness of a devoted lover. And possessive. So possessive. In his arms, she feels like she completely belongs to him. And he devours her. Devours her lips. His tongue pushes inside her mouth, and hers surrenders completely. For him, it¡¯s just as intoxicating. He can feel how her entire body melts willingly into his. No¡ªshe¡¯s not just allowing it. She¡¯s asking for it. Begging for it. For him to be more dominant. More intense. She wants it. He wants it. So he doesn¡¯t hesitate. He presses his lips even harder against hers, drinking in the soft, addictive warmth of her perfect mouth. With his tongue, he twists around hers, exploring every inch of her sweet little mouth, savoring her flavor. ¡®What a delicious, sweet taste¡­¡¯ He would think that¡ªif he had the words for it. ¡°Mmhm~¡± Clara lets out soft, desperate moans, trying to resist the kiss. At least¡ªshe thinks she¡¯s trying. But in truth, her lips dance to the rhythm he sets. Her body has no resistance. No hesitation. No aversion to him whatsoever. She can¡¯t stop. She can¡¯t help but ask for more. More. More. More. Then¡ªhe breaks the kiss. He gazes at her with that confident, teasing smile. He needs to see this. The sight of her blushing face. Her glistening blue eyes, filled with hunger. Drunk on him. Expecting more. "You..." Clara can see he¡¯s enjoying her helplessness. "You''re teasing me!" She pouts and tries to escape. ¡°My clothes are getting soaked¡ª¡± She tries, but he doesn¡¯t let her go. He pulls her right back into his arms, and she only has time to see his mouth descending toward her again¡ª KISS. Another one. Another deep, wet, searing kiss. That explosion again. Like their very first kiss. Unexpected. Overwhelming. Addictive. Perfect. She doesn¡¯t know if she¡¯s more addicted to his kiss or to the raw power that surges into her body through him. ¡®It¡¯s him,¡¯ the answer echoes in her mind. She knows it. It¡¯s not just that his kiss makes her feel invincible. It¡¯s the way it messes with her emotions. In a way that is insanely pleasurable. He keeps devouring her lips, like a starved beast. His nose brushes against hers, sliding across her flushed cheeks, as he grinds his mouth deeper into hers¡ªtaking her however he wants. And Clara feels it. His hands. Getting bolder. His fingers sliding beneath her wet blouse, dancing to the same rhythm as his lips. A part of her wants to say, "Let¡¯s slow down." But¡ª The only thing that escapes her mouth is a choked, gasping moan. A moan of pure, raw ecstasy. Then¡ª He breaks the kiss again, just to stare at her. Frustration. Clara feels it in every inch of her body. That ache. The question trembling on her lips¡ª WHY? But she tries to stay in control. She tries to look away from his bright, hypnotizing white eyes. She bites her lips, drops of hot water rolling down her flushed cheeks. ¡°Don¡¯t play with me like this¡­¡± She¡¯s begging. Her entire body is screaming for it. And that sight¡­ Her, shy and desperate. Her, biting her lips, trembling with need. It burns inside him like the most addictive fuel imaginable. His hand reaches for her neck, his fingers sliding up, cupping her delicate chin¡ª Forcing her to look at him. Her eyes shine just like his. And then, he smiles at her. Not a teasing smile this time. But a confident one. A loving one. A smile that says, without words¡ª She is his. And he will take care of her. Clara can¡¯t stop it¡ª Her lips curl into the most beautiful smile. And then, he kisses her. More intensely. More dominantly. More passionately. ¡°Ahhh~¡± ¡°Mmhm~~¡± Clara completely surrenders. She feels so safe in his arms that nothing else matters anymore. She lets her moans out freely, her voice echoing in the bathroom, mixing with the sound of the hot water cascading over them. Her hands become bolder, exploring his strong, muscular chest. ¡®So strong!¡¯ The thought flashes through her mind. As her hands move lower¡ª ¡®So hot!¡¯ ¡®So¡­ MINE!¡¯ Her fingers find his hand. She grabs it, guiding him up¡ª Up to her right breast. She wants him to touch her there. But¡ª There¡¯s too much wet fabric in the way. ¡°Wait¡ª¡± She breaks the kiss, struggling to pull her soaked blouse off. The wet fabric clings to her body, making it difficult, but he quickly helps her, pulling the sleeves up. And when his eyes return to her¡ª A beautiful surprise. Her perfect, full breasts, pressed tightly inside her snug, laced bra. He stares, mesmerized. His expression completely stunned, his gaze filled with love and hunger, unable to look away. And she sees it. That admiration in his eyes. That overwhelming desire. And it makes her smile. A proud, confident smile. Her eyes gleam with affection as she reaches up, cupping his face tenderly. Their eyes meet again. And in a soft, sultry whisper, she tells him¡ª ¡°I¡¯ve never shown them to another man before.¡± He may not understand her words exactly, But he understands her meaning¡ª From her voice. From her confident, loving smile. She is giving herself to him completely. And in response¡ª He kisses her again. He steals another quick kiss¡ª Just so he can return to admiring the sight of her perfect breasts. Clara laughs softly, amused by his stunned expression. ¡°Do you like them?¡± He understands the question. And nods immediately. "Hehe~¡± She giggles as her fingers drift toward the clasp of her bra. "You can touch them..." She unhooks the clasp. "Directly." And just like that¡ª Her breasts bounce free, spilling out from their prison. They had been squeezed so tightly inside her bra that now, they seem to sigh in relief. And he, the white-haired man, is completely mesmerized by the sight before him. The hot water cascades down her soft, glistening skin¡ª Her big, beautiful breasts jiggle gently, each perfect curve sculpted like divine treasures. A flawless D-cup. The ideal roundness. The perfect perky bounce. Her skin is a gorgeous golden hue, slightly lighter on her chest¡ª And at the very center, her nipples¡ª Small, rosy pink, and aching to be touched. ¡®Beautiful!¡¯ That is all his mind can say at this moment. And she is offering them to him. How could he resist? He reaches out, instinctively, desperately¡ª But before he can, she takes his hand herself. And guides him directly onto her soft, bare breast. The sensation is unbelievable. So warm. So soft. His fingers sink into that delicious plushness¡ª Grabbing. Groping. Savoring. "Nhah~!" Clara lets out a sharp, high-pitched moan¡ª A sound so cute, so needy, like a sweet little kitten. And he can¡¯t help himself. He kisses her again¡ª Sealing her lips with his, muffling her moans, devouring her sounds of pleasure. His hand relishes the softness of her perfect breast. But¡ª One isn¡¯t enough. So he takes both. His strong hands cup and knead her luscious curves, His fingers glide over her silky skin, His thumbs brush against her stiffening pink peaks¡ª "Ahhh..." Clara whimpers, arching into his touch, her moans growing louder¡ª As he continues to feast on her lips... She feels like a castaway in a storm of pleasure. A lost soul drifting in an unknown sea. And he is her boat. He is her anchor. The one who keeps her steady. Who prevents her from sinking into a vortex of no return. She only wants to stay in his arms. And enjoy. And he is enjoying, too. She loves the way he plays so eagerly with her breasts. She knows how amazing they are, but still¡ª It feels so damn good knowing he loves them this much. It makes her feel even more confident. But it also sparks something inside her. A desire. A craving. Something for her to play with, too. Her free hand slides down¡ª Caressing his firm chest, tracing the ridges of his abs. His skin was so smooth when she first freed him from that mysterious box, But now, she can feel a light trail of fine hair around his navel. That feels good. But she keeps going lower. Just above his thing. She feels a low patch of soft hair growing there, too. Her lips part slightly. Her fingers tremble in anticipation. And then¡ª She finally finds it. Her hand wraps around that thing¡­ Clara isn''t shy now. She feels bold. Determined. Ready. She grips it firmly. She wants to make it clear what she wants. And that this now belongs to her. That thing. So¡­ ?? Warm. ?? Big. ?? HARD. Chapter 19 {NSFW} "Haa¡­ Ahh¡­ Mhm~" Clara¡¯s muffled moans echo inside the bathroom. Her back is pressed against the fogged-up glass of the shower. The steam from the hot water blurs her vision, clouding the space around her. But there¡¯s nothing in front of her eyes now. Nothing except him¡ªthe mysterious white-haired man. The one who appeared in her life unexpectedly and turned her world upside down. Now, he enjoys every sound that escapes from her soft lips. The feel of her heated breath against his face. The sweet scent that lingers as her mouth parts slightly, trembling, wet from his own saliva. The sensation of her large, perfectly soft breasts crushed between his fingers¡­ SO GOOD! And then¡ª He feels it. Her delicate fingers wrapping around his hard length. Her hand is so warm. Just like every other inch of her body. Begging for him. Begging for more. For him to love her even harder. And so, he does. He devours her lips with even deeper, hungrier kisses while kneading her breasts. His hips thrust forward, pushing his rigid heat against her palm¡­ His swollen tip grazing against her bare stomach. "Ah~!" A sudden gasp of surprise escapes from Clara¡¯s lips. Then, a devilish grin spreads across her flushed face. "It¡¯s so big¡­" "And it¡¯s so hard." She watches the pleased smirk on his face. It¡¯s obvious he¡¯s enjoying it. So she keeps going¡­ Her soft hand gliding up and down over his solid shaft. Slow, teasing strokes. Her fingers swirling around his throbbing length. It¡¯s so thick, she can¡¯t wrap her fingers fully around it. Between kisses, she leans closer, her lips brushing against his ear. She has to stand on her tiptoes, and he leans down slightly to listen to her whisper. "Do you like this?" "Yeah." He answers. That¡¯s one of the easiest words for him to learn. Clara¡¯s grin widens. Her eyes gleam with affection and confidence. "Good." She hums. And she continues stroking him. This is her gift to him. For the way he¡¯s making her breasts feel so good. But she¡¯s enjoying it just as much. Holding this huge, hot, heavy thing in her hands makes her feel so¡­ Powerful. So desired. "You must have been so lonely inside that box¡­" Her voice isn¡¯t sad¡ªit¡¯s excited, eager, affectionate. "I bet you¡¯ve been wanting this for a long, long time." He doesn¡¯t answer with words. Instead, he pushes himself even harder against her, his muscular body grinding against her own. Squeezing her breasts and devouring her lips. "Haa¡­" "It¡¯s okay." Clara looks into his eyes. "I¡¯ll take care of your needs." "It¡¯s my responsibility since I woke you¡ª" "I want this." He lifts one of his hands and gently caresses her face with the back of his fingers. A tender, loving touch. Clara smiles and tightens her grip around his thick length. She can feel it pulsing, getting even harder in her delicate hand. He smiles. But just as things start to heat up even more, Clara places a hand on his chest and pushes him back. A flicker of confusion crosses his eyes, and Clara laughs. "Wait." She tells him, and he gives her space, stepping back. Then, she runs her fingers over his swollen shaft one last time before pressing the shower¡¯s sensor to turn off the water. "That¡¯s enough shower for now¡­" She keeps eye contact with him as she slowly steps out of the shower. Her fingers teasingly glide along his cock until he can no longer feel her touch. He stands there, watching her, his expression curious. Clara puts on her most seductive, naughty look as she slowly walks toward the bathroom door. She doesn''t mind spilling water all over the bathroom floor. Her hips sway like she¡¯s performing a silent invitation. When she reaches the door, she looks over her shoulder. She stares at him. And then, she slides a few fingers under the waistband of her soaked pants. The fabric is drenched, clinging to her skin, but Clara forces it down. She does it so slowly, bending forward as she lowers them all the way to the floor. Lifting that beautiful ass of hers. Toward him. It¡¯s big. Perfectly round. Playfully perky. Even without touching it, the white-haired man can already tell¡ªthat ass is as soft as a cloud. He takes in every inch of it, appreciating the stunning contrast between her golden skin and the lighter, delicate shade of her curves. And right in the center¡­ Her panties. Lacy. Pink. Just like her bra. Not too revealing, but not too modest either. It looks comfortable. And yet¡ª He can see it. The outline¡­ Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Her plump, inviting lips pressed tightly against the damp fabric. Soaked. So damn wet. Hypnotizing. He can¡¯t stop staring. He can¡¯t stop imagining what¡¯s underneath. He can¡¯t stop wanting it. Clara watches him, too. She sees the way his hungry gaze is locked onto her. Starving for her. It fills her heart with pride and confidence. She giggles sweetly. "Hehe~" "You like the view, don¡¯t you?" "You don¡¯t have to just stand there with your mouth open, you know¡­" She kicks the wet pants away and motions for him with her finger. A silent pled. Come here. She turns around and continues walking. Slowly. Her hips sway even more than before. Her perky ass bounces, emphasizing the sensual curve between her thick thighs and soft cheeks. Every part of Clara. Every tiny piece of her body¡­ They all captivate him on a level beyond reason. Of course, Clara could captivate any man anyway. He already thought she was beautiful even when she was covered in dust inside that dark pyramid. And it was obvious that she wore those tight leather outfits to hide her sinful curves. But now that he sees her like this¡­ She isn''t just beautiful. She¡¯s a goddess. And he follows her, of course. It¡¯s strange walking with a boner so hard, but the destination isn¡¯t far. He watches as she reaches the bed and climbs onto it. Even something as simple as that¡ª Clara makes it look so sensual. Her movements are slow, and she glances at him every so often, as if making it clear that the show is for him and only him. She bends over at the edge of the bed. Both hands on the mattress. And she arches her back, lifting her ass high. She arches a lot, even jiggling it slightly. His eyes shine as he watches. There¡¯s a phrase stamped all over his face. "You¡¯re trying to drive me crazy, woman?" If she could hear his thoughts, she would answer yes. Clara makes up for her lack of experience with creativity and zero shyness. While showing off that perfect ass, she glances at his rock-hard cock. Her eyes are glazed, shining, hungry. And then¡ª She sticks out that naughty tongue and licks her lips. He grins at her teasing. She winks at him, her expression full of love and mischief. And then¡ª She crawls onto the bed, getting on all fours. She locks eyes with him and tilts her head ever so slowly. She¡¯s calling to him. It¡¯s obvious. Inviting him to come closer and taste her goods. And he doesn¡¯t waste time. A few long strides and he reaches the bed. His hands go straight for those soft, round buttocks. SMACK! He can¡¯t contain his excitement, and the first contact of his hands with that plump, jiggly flesh makes a sharp sound that echoes across the room. Along with another sound¡­ "Ahh~!" Clara¡¯s sweet moan. A gasp of surprise¡ªbut a good one. "Easy, big one," she whispers, her voice breathy and dripping with arousal. "I¡¯m not going anywhere, so¡­" She jiggles her ass for him. "You can enjoy them as much as you want." There are no words to describe the craving inside him! He knows he¡¯ll never get tired of this, but his hands move on their own. His fingers sink deep into her soft, plush skin. That ass¡­ It¡¯s almost as soft as Clara¡¯s breasts. But they¡¯re different. The texture, the shape, the firmness¡­ It¡¯s something unique. Exceptional. Fucking divine. He quickly discovers his favorite movement. Squeezing her ass with his fingers in slow, circular motions. That way, every time he pushes her soft cheeks apart, the treasure hidden between them is put on full display. And just the sight of it could steal a man''s soul. It''s like a delicate flower, trapped, smothered between two massive, plush pillows. "Haaa¡­" "Thisss¡­" As Clara moans softly, he sees that flower¡­ Dripping. Tiny, glistening droplets spill through the thin fabric of her soaked panties. It can¡¯t contain her wetness. It¡¯s calling to him. With his senses far beyond those of a normal human, the white-haired man can already smell it from afar. The scent of her flower. The most intimate fragrance of Clara. And it smells like¡­ Like the purest, sweetest blossom he could ever imagine. Mixed with female sweat. Raw arousal hormones. But there''s no fun in just smelling it from a distance. So he gives in to his overwhelming desire. He grabs Clara¡¯s cheeks and spreads her ass wide apart. He opens the valley between the hills. And then¡ª He dives in. He buries his face deep into her most precious place. The fabric of her panties can''t stop him. His nose parts those luscious lips. That divine slit. "Ahhh~!" She moans loud. "Ohh!" He breathes deeply. This is so much better. Nothing compares to breathing in her intoxicating scent directly. The warm moisture tickles his nose. He moves his face only a little, left and right. Digging into that heavenly oasis. "Haaa~!" Clara feels her legs go weak. Having him "attacking" her most sensitive part like this is delicious. He stays still for just a second. Just enjoying that strong, rich scent filling his entire being. The smell of her arousal. The best of her pheromones. "Mhh¡­ Big¡­?" She calls for him. Her voice dripping with desire. He can''t stop now. His thick rod is rock-hard, a clear liquid dripping from Its tip onto the mattress. Clara can''t see it right now. But he can see hers. The sweet nectar leaking through her soaked panties. A new desire burns inside him¡ªand he already knows he won¡¯t resist it. So he pulls back his face just slightly. His cheeks are flushed, heated by Clara¡¯s warmth. He slowly opens his mouth, his tongue hanging out like a wolf about to devour its prey. Clara looks back, confused for just a second. "What are you¡ª?" He doesn¡¯t let her finish. He lunges forward and drags his tongue over all of it. From bottom to top, like a painter spreading color on a blank canvas¡­ He licks her flower. Taking in all the extra wetness from her panties. "Nhaah~!" Clara lets out another high-pitched moan of surprise as waves of stimulation suddenly surge through her body. Like electricity. And for him? The same happens¡ªbut instead of electricity, what runs through his entire being is the most intimate taste of Clara flooding his mouth. Along with her intoxicating scent. It¡¯s delicious. Addictive. That taste¡­ That smell¡­ It drives him insane. He rubs his nose against her and licks her precious flower wildly. Her panties add a charm to it that he already loves, but¡­ He can¡¯t wait to taste it directly. So, still using both his hands to spread her plush cheeks apart, he knows he has to get creative. His teeth! The idea sparks in his mind, and he acts instantly. He bites down on her panties and pulls hard. Shrrrip! The delicate pink fabric tears apart. And then¡ª Her beautiful, delicate flower is revealed. It''s pink! Naturally. But not just any pink. It''s a stunning shade, perfectly toned. A soft, light pink, yet more intense on her outer lips¡ªsmall, delicately sculpted curves, as if designed to adorn the more delicate, inner petals hidden within. At the very top of her slit, a tiny horizontal fold conceals a glistening, sensitive little pearl. And beneath that¡­ Her tight, drenched love cave, waiting to be explored. But there¡¯s another special button¡­ From this angle, it looks above her flower, but it¡¯s actually positioned just behind it, right at the center of her perky ass. A mixture of pink and light brown, this hidden rosebud is equally flawless. The white-haired man is mesmerized by such a vision of paradise. It wasn¡¯t made for mortal eyes. And certainly not for anyone else''s eyes¡­ But his. It belongs to him. Only to him. And he wants to taste it all. So, he dives in again, mouth craving, tongue desperate. Another broad stroke of his tongue. This time¡ªeven longer. Starting from the very bottom¡­ All the way to the very top! He runs his large tongue over Clara¡¯s gorgeous pussy, savoring its unique flavor. The taste is intoxicating. A perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and salt. Clara is sweating, naturally. But even her sweat, mixed with her love juices, creates a flavor that is utterly delicious. Meant only for his mouth to devour. "Ahhhh¡­" Clara moans uncontrollably, her breathy cries filling the room as she feels his broad, hot tongue gliding over every inch of her pussy. The tip of his tongue teases, slipping slightly between her inner lips¡­ Teasing her tiny clit with every flick. "BIG!!" "Sooo goood there¡­" She keeps moaning, and he keeps licking. He wants it all. Every single drop. So when the sweetness of her flower floods his mouth¡­ His tongue reaches the top, finding her secret button. The flavor here is slightly saltier, but still¡­ Still her. Still perfection. He pauses. Just to savor every last drop of her on his tongue. It¡¯s perfect. But¡­ Something still feels missing. He has an idea of what it is. So, in one smooth motion, he shifts Clara onto her side on the bed. Her legs feel weak from the endless waves of pleasure coursing through her body, so it¡¯s easy. Then¡­ He moves over her. Not like a beast¡­ But like a gentle protector. "Big¡­" She looks up at him with those moist, glowing eyes. Her breathing is heavy. Her skin glistening with sweat and desire. She looks so beautiful to him right now. He leans down over her. And kisses her lips. Now. Now it¡¯s perfect. The last missing flavor blends seamlessly into the mix. Sweet, slightly tangy, and just a hint of salt in the end. Clara¡¯s perfect taste. Chapter 20 {NSFW} Clara and the handsome white-haired man entwine their tongues and their bodies on the bed. He is lying on top of her, his bare chest pressed against her soft breasts. His hard rod brushes against her wet flower. He can feel a few strands of her blonde hair tickling his shaft. He breaks the kiss and looks down. Only to see that Clara has a neatly trimmed little garden at the top of her pussy. His eyes gleam as he leans back in to kiss Clara. But she gives him a curious and slightly concerned look. "Do you like it?" He has the perfect word for it¡ªone of the few he knows thanks to Clara: "Cute." Clara blushes. She clearly likes that compliment, as her blue pearl-like eyes shimmer with delight. "You seducer!" she teases, pressing quick tap kisses to his lips. "Are all the words you know just to please me?" He doesn¡¯t answer with words but with passionate kisses instead. The sensation of her sweet lips against his, combined with the warmth and softness of her body beneath him, is intoxicating. It makes his body react instantly. It makes him want to move more, to rub against her more. His hands roam over the curves of her waist, back up to her divine breasts. He kneads them with a firm yet gentle touch. "Ahh~" Clara lets out soft, sweet moans. "Not so intense¡ª" She pleads, but he doesn¡¯t want to stop. He doesn¡¯t want to slow down. And neither does she. "Hmm~" Clara moans again as those large hands¡ªthe same ones that once made her feel so safe¡ªnow make her feel so incredibly good. But of course, the best part is feeling his thick, hard length rubbing against her most sensitive spot. That awakens an overwhelming desire inside her. And inside him too. Both of them can feel it building up. A heat from deep within¡ªa natural, undeniable craving that goes beyond their very natures. "I want this¡­" The words slip from Clara¡¯s lips between kisses. She can¡¯t hold back her thoughts, that growing desire. She doesn¡¯t care. It¡¯s just her and him here. Their moment¡ªnothing is forbidden, everything is possible. Clara cups his face, making him look into her eyes. "I want you." She kisses him again. "I want you inside me." Her eyes glow with determination. There is no hesitation, no doubt¡ªonly desire. Raw, powerful desire. Now, it¡¯s his turn to kiss her lips. Not the soft little pecks she gave him before, but deep, devouring kisses¡ªlike a beast claiming its mate. His tongue invades her small mouth, drinking in her sweet nectar. "I¡­" His voice is still rough, a deep accent wrapping around the common language of the galaxy as if the words are unfamiliar on his tongue. But he pushes forward, trying his best. For Clara. "¡­ want¡­ You." ¡°Clara.¡± The way he speaks, the way he acts¡ªeverything about him is so direct, so honest. No games, no pretense. He simply goes straight to the point. And that makes Clara¡¯s heart race even faster¡ªespecially the confidence and security he gives her, just with a single look and a gentle smile. She doesn¡¯t waste time. Her hands go straight to his cock. She grips it firmly. ¡®It¡¯s so warm¡­¡¯ Thoughts rush through her mind, making her cheeks flush even redder. ¡®Throbbingin my hand like this¡­¡¯ She positions the tip of his cock at the entrance of her love cave. Their eyes remain locked. She sees a hint of concern in his gentle gaze. There¡¯s one thing they can¡¯t help but think about. Will it fit? His cock is so long and thick, in contrast to her delicate, tight little flower. "I haven¡¯t been young for a long time¡­" Clara says with a happy smile. "I suppose I should be more experienced at this point in my life, but¡­" A brief flicker of melancholy crosses her eyes. "I was always running, always chasing something¡­" "I never had time for this." She pouts and shakes her head. "In truth, I don¡¯t think I ever wanted this." She kisses his face as her fingers gently stroke his cock. "Not like I want it now." "With you." He smiles at her and kisses her again as he moves his hips just slightly, rubbing the tip of his cock against her wet inner lips. Clara giggles. "What am I doing, talking so much?" "I don¡¯t want to ruin the mood." Her blush deepens as she looks away. "I just wanted to say¡­" "Some men enjoy this, you know¡­ claiming lands that no other has explored before¡­" She forces herself to meet his gaze again, her own eyes shining with love and warmth. "You¡¯re going to be my first." His smile widens. He understands. She¡¯s making it clear¡ªshe is giving herself to him completely. The worry of hurting her still lingers in his mind. But that¡¯s a good thing. It makes him want to be even more gentle with her. It feels only natural that he should be careful with their first time. It just feels right. Then, he lowers himself and moves his hips slowly, inch by inch. In this position above her, it¡¯s easy for him to control everything. Clara spreads her legs a little wider, inviting him to enter and dig in. They don¡¯t need words. Their bodies speak perfectly through actions. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Clara keeps her hands wrapped around his cock, guiding it to the right angle and position. Her pussy is so wet, dripping with love juices, while his cock glistens with his own arousal. Every movement he makes is slow, deliberate. He pushes in a little more, savoring it calmly. The heat of her pussy, the way his cock throbs against her entrance. She¡¯s so slick, making it easier for his cock to slide in, slowly parting her tight love cave. "Haaa¡­" Clara can¡¯t help but moan. There¡¯s a slight sting¡ªafter all, her virgin pussy is incredibly tight, and his cock is thick. But she ignores the pain, focusing instead on the sensation of his hard length stretching her open. ¡®So hot¡­¡¯ ¡®So good¡­¡¯ For him, the feeling is divine. Her pussy is so tight, yet so incredibly warm. His thick rod glides deeper as her love cave stretches, welcoming him eagerly. It feels as if her body is sucking him in, making it almost impossible to resist the urge to just shove it in wildly. Clara feels it too¡ªher pussy feels hungry, desperate for his cock. "Slowly, please, big guy," she pleads sweetly. But he¡¯s already moving slow, steady, and gentle. Inch by inch, his cock slides deeper into Clara, until the tip is fully inside. That¡¯s when he feels it¡ªa thin, almost imperceptible barrier. Still gazing into her eyes, he smiles at her lovingly before pushing forward. His cock breaks through that sacred barrier. A few drops of blood trickle out. "Ahh~!" Clara feels a brief, sharp pain, but it vanishes almost instantly as a wave of pleasure crashes over her. She feels it¡ªthe energy that flows from his body through their kisses¡­ now she feels an even stronger version of it, radiating through this deeper connection between their bodies. The sensations this energy awakens in her are just as intoxicating as the feeling of his thick, hot length stretching her open. "Haaah~" "So good, big one~" "Keep going~" She begs. As if he could stop now. The sensation of her tight, burning-hot pussy clenching around his cock, squeezing the tip so desperately¡­ It¡¯s marvelous! "Ohh¡­" Even he can¡¯t suppress a low groan. The pleasure sends his body into a dizzying ecstasy. It feels as if his cock is melting from the heat and wetness inside Clara. And the pressure on the tip¡­ The suction is too strong. It¡¯s as if her pussy wants to devour his cock completely, uncaring of its size. "Mmhhmm~" Clara feels it too. Her body, her pussy, craves his cock¡ªcraves to be filled by it. It¡¯s as if she had been an empty shell before¡­ And now she finally knows what she was missing. "Haa¡­ please¡­ big¡­" She wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him down against her body. "Deeper~" Her voice is muffled, her warm, fragrant breath brushing subtly against his face. Her eyes are glazed with pleasure, her flushed skin glistening with tiny beads of sweat as they slide down her body. She whispers. "I want it deeper¡­" "Mmmh~" "I want you to¡­" "Fill me with your passion~!" ¡°Fill me with your¡­ ¡°Big¡­¡± ¡°Thick, rock-hard dick~!¡± How could he refuse? It all comes together¡ªher tight pussy clenching around his cock, twitching wildly around the tip. Her expressions grow even more heated, more adorable. Her plea. Begging for more¡­ for him to go further and take her¡­ Hard! He doesn¡¯t hesitate. He moves his hips down and forward. Still gentle, but determined. His cock slides deeper inside her love cave. Those slick, pink walls, drenched in love juices, welcome his thick cock with all the warmth they have to offer. "Haaaaa~!" Clara moans louder. He seals her lips, muffling her voice, with wild, hungry kisses. He devours her mouth as he feels her insides stretching around his thick cock. The sensation is wonderful. Her pussy seems to resist him, only for him to break through its resistance. And then, they both drown in pleasure. "Huhh~" "Haah~" "Nhmm~" Clara¡¯s moans slip between their sloppy kisses. He keeps pushing. Until¡­ He feels it¡ªthe tip of his cock reaches a wall. He has gone so deep inside her, hitting the very bottom of her love cave. And the sensation of touching that spot¡­ "Haaaa¡­" Clara already loves it. She melts. And looks into his eyes, her pupils like two glowing hearts. "You hit my best spot¡­" "It¡­ your cock, it¡¯s kissing my very bottom~" Clara wraps her legs tighter around him, locking them around his waist and pulling his body closer. She drags his cock deeper, making the tip rub against her very core. The sensation is intoxicating. His cock feels so big inside her tight little pussy. She feels like she¡¯s going to explode, but there¡¯s no pain¡ªonly pleasure. "Big¡­" She looks into his eyes, her breathing heavy, her lips slightly parted. "I can feel you throbbing inside me~" She glances downward. The sight is insane: "Not even halfway? Holy shit, haha~" She giggles, a little embarrassed that he has reached her deepest spot without even using half of his full length. He grins confidently and kisses her again. "It¡¯s fine¡­ I like this¡­" "I love how big you are~" "Just do it¡­" "Fuck me like crazy~!" Of course, he does. The feeling of slowly stretching her open, sinking his cock all the way to the bottom of her pussy, was amazing. But now, he gets to pull back, feeling Clara¡¯s tight insides squeeze his shaft even harder. Her walls cling to him with such force, sending waves of pleasure rippling through both their bodies. He pulls his hips back until he feels the tip of his cock slip back to the entrance of her love cave. He stops kissing her. Their eyes meet again. Clara can see it. She knows he¡¯s about to rock her entire body. The anticipation drives her crazy. He waits. Just a little¡­ Just enough to see the desperate desire in her eyes. Clara pouts. "You mean¡ª" He doesn¡¯t give her time to complain. He thrusts back in. All the way to her bottom. "NhaaaahH~!!" Clara feels her whole world shatter. His thick, hot, rock-hard cock fills her up again, making her pussy so unbelievably happy. He seals her lips again. Muffling her moans. And keeps going. Forward and back. Thrusting his cock deep inside her pussy. Rubbing it along every inch of her insides. Exploring, kissing every part of her with his cock. Slamming his piston to her very depths. Ripping more and more moans from her sweet lips. Feeling her body tremble with pleasure in his arms. It¡¯s delicious. He could go for hours, days even. There¡¯s no desire to stop. Only to stay inside her. To keep giving and receiving this intoxicating pleasure. It¡¯s addictive¡ªfor both of them. The bed shakes beneath them, creaking with every deep stroke inside her. More and more moans echo through the room. No matter how many times he drives his cock to the bottom of her, her pussy clenches around him even tighter, even hungrier. The sensation is so good. And it quickly builds something inside him. Clara feels it too¡ªthe craving in her pussy for something more. They feel that need growing for several minutes, until finally, he knows it¡¯s time. Clara¡¯s eyes are begging for it, just like her pussy is. Even before he does it, he knows exactly what it is. The purest, rawest way to mark her as his. To tell her entire body that this is her new life. To give her his most precious gift. "Haaaa¡­" Clara moans even louder as she feels him pick up the pace. She feels his cock pulsing wildly inside her. Her pussy knows it¡¯s time. "That¡­ let it~" "Let it all inside~!" She pleads¡ªhe fulfills. And then¡ª It explodes inside her. His cock reaches her deepest point, firing a huge load of hot, thick love milk. "AhhhhhH~!" She cries out, clinging to him desperately. "Ohhh!" He groans, feeling pure ecstasy wash over him like a violent torrent. That mysterious energy erupts inside him¡ªhis entire body feels like it¡¯s celebrating. And Clara feels it too. It flows from him to her, their bodies joined not just by their flesh but by something deeper. Sharing that same raw, burning energy. Clara watches as a bright red glow floods his sclera, his irises shining with an even more intense white light. And he sees the same happen to her¡ªher eyes glowing with red and white as he fills her pussy with his seed. Clara loses her mind from the pleasure. "What the hec¡­" "What is this???" Her body feels better than ever. "So fucking¡­" "AMAZING~!!!" Chapter 21 "Mhmm¡­" Clara lets out a soft, sweet moan as she nuzzles her nose against the chest of the white-haired man. "Your scent is so good~" She is lying on top of him in bed, a radiant glow on her face. In fact, her entire body seems to be shining with bliss. She takes a deep breath, sniffing him and then the air, like a curious little puppy searching for a scent. "Damn, I can smell everything so clearly now¡­" She looks around at her messy room and frowns. "My room smells like dust and old books!" She turns back to him, focusing on his face. "I can also see so much better now¡­ and your face is so perfect. Every little detail, every tiny speck¡­" She stretches up, bringing her lips toward his with those big, pleading blue eyes. He gives her what she wants¡ªa kiss. Clara melts into it, savoring it until their lips part, leaving a thin, glistening string of saliva between them. Her eyes sparkle even more as she stares at him with an expression of lust and excitement. "Your taste¡­ I can feel it so clearly." She gives him a curious look. "Do you feel like this all the time? It¡¯s so good¡­ I feel so¡­ powerful! So fucking good!!" He gently caresses her face, tilting her chin up to bring her lips back to his for more kisses. "I feel so good inside you." His words are becoming more natural, his voice steady. And as he speaks, his free hand runs along Clara¡¯s curves, sliding his fingertips under her clean panties. Her smile turns more mischievous, her cheeks darkening with another blush, but she holds his hand. "You already want more of it?" she asks playfully. "We did it three times in a row! I need a break, haha~" He pulls his hand away from her panties but instead cups her bare breasts, kneading them gently while kissing her neck. "I want you¡­ Clara." She giggles, letting him explore her body, enjoying his touch just as much as before. "Oh my god~! You¡¯re going to drive me crazy." "Crazy?" He repeats the word but still doesn¡¯t fully understand it. "Yeah," Clara holds his face and makes him look at her. Then, she rolls her eyes upward and shakes her head with an exaggeratedly wild expression. "Like this." "Oh," he smirks teasingly at her. "You were crazy a while ago." Clara¡¯s face turns even redder, and she averts her gaze. "You made me like that¡­ so that¡¯s your fault!" Now, it¡¯s his turn to cup her face, making her look into his eyes before he smiles at her tenderly. "You are so cute." She beams at him and kisses his lips repeatedly. "Thank you," she says in a tone full of affection and gratitude. "You make me feel so good." "I just want¡ª" Burrrr Clara stops mid-sentence when a deep growl echoes from her stomach. Her face turns bright red like a tomato, and she bursts into laughter. "Hungry! I think I¡¯m hungry too, hehe~" "Hungry?" He looks puzzled again. She takes his finger and puts it into her mouth, first sucking on it and then playfully nibbling. "Like this," she says with a teasing grin. Then, she stops and looks at him with sudden curiosity. "By the way, do you eat? I mean, like we do?" "¡­" He understands part of what she¡¯s asking, but he doesn¡¯t have a clear answer now. Clara keeps staring at him with that curious expression. "You were in that box for so long, and I never even offered you anything to eat, just that drink¡­" "Now I feel bad. You might be starving, right?" "But how could you go so long without eating¡­" "That red liquid? Maybe that¡¯s what keeps you healthy." Her expression shifts from curiosity to excitement as she glances at his muscular chest. "And damn, you¡¯re so healthy!" He smirks confidently at her, making her heart race. "Don¡¯t look at me like that¡­" She tries to avert her gaze, but every time he cups her face and strokes her chin with his fingers, she just wants to melt into him. "I guess we¡¯re about to do it again, aren¡¯t we?" He just smiles before capturing her lips in another kiss. But Clara suddenly breaks the kiss and glances toward the bedroom door. "Damn, I can hear footsteps in the hallway! And these walls are supposed to be soundproof." He also glances at the door. He already knows who¡¯s on the other side¡ªafter all, he can even smell her scent. Ding-ding A soft chime echoes inside the room. "Echo, who¡¯s at the door?" Clara asks out loud. The AI¡¯s robotic voice answers instantly. "First Navigation Officer, Jex." "Oh, Jex?" Clara smiles warmly. "Open communication." A blue light blinks on the device next to the door, and Clara speaks loudly from the bed. "Jex? Everything okay?" "Clara?" Jex¡¯s voice filters through the room, naturally curious. "Is everything alright in there?" Clara tries to suppress her flustered state and sound as normal as possible. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. "Yeah, sure!" "Sure?" "Why not?" "Hmm¡­" Jex sounds increasingly suspicious. "Then why is the door locked?" "I¡¯m just finishing getting dressed," Clara answers quickly. "¡­" Jex goes silent for a few seconds before speaking again. "The big guy is with you, isn¡¯t he?" Clara glances at him and smiles lovingly. "Yeah, Jex, he is." "Hehe~" They both hear Jex giggle from the other side of the door. Clara shakes her head. "Jex, did you need something?" "Oh, I just came to get you and him, of course, for lunch. Matteo and the others are preparing it." Clara¡¯s smile brightens, and her stomach rumbles even louder. "Great! We¡¯ll be there in a second." "Alright. See you in the kitchen," Jex says before ending the communication. Clara and the white-haired man exchange looks. Neither of them heard Jex¡¯s footsteps anymore, which means she¡¯s still on the other side of the door. What they don¡¯t see is Jex pressing her ear against the door with a very naughty grin on her face. Clara chuckles and shakes her head again. He doesn¡¯t care about Jex trying to peek on them. Instead, he seals Clara¡¯s lips with another deep, wet kiss. They roll in the bed, Clara eagerly responding to his kisses, though she still tries to escape his arms¡ªreluctantly. "Let¡¯s eat something with the others first, and then¡­" Her face flushes, but her eyes sparkle with anticipation, and her smile turns just as naughty. "I¡¯ll let you eat whatever you want." She teases boldly. He smirks lasciviously. "You." "Hehe~" She giggles before hopping out of bed. She doesn¡¯t say anything else but nods at him playfully. He watches her as she gets dressed, completely captivated. He enjoys watching her undress even more, but Clara is beautiful in every way, so he simply admires her perfect curves and radiant smile. Clara glances at him with each piece of clothing she puts on, as if checking his reactions. "Hey, you need to get dressed too." She grabs the clean set of clothes she had brought for him from the floor beside the bed and hands them to him. He looks at the outfit¡ªit¡¯s clearly pajamas. "It was the best I could find," Clara says affectionately. "They¡¯re new and clean, don¡¯t worry." He already knows that. After all, there¡¯s no trace of anyone else¡¯s scent on them. Someone must have bought them in a much larger size and never worn them. He gets dressed quickly, and soon, they¡¯re both ready. They wait only a minute¡ªjust long enough for Jex to finally give up trying to listen through the massive door. Then, they walk toward it. Clara pauses before opening the door, casting him a warm smile. "Big guy¡­" She stands on her tiptoes and presses a soft, quick kiss to his lips. "We should probably behave out there, okay?" He somewhat understands her concern. She seems a little guilty for even asking but still does. "It¡¯s just to avoid causing any unnecessary trouble right now." Confusion flickers in her eyes, but they always soften into love when she looks at him. She pokes his chest over his shirt. "Also, you haven¡¯t even asked me out or anything yet¡­" He looks confused, and she smirks mischievously. "I¡¯m just messing with you. But either way, we don¡¯t have to rush to tell everyone, right?" "And Himeko¡­" Clara can¡¯t quite hide the emotions flickering in her eyes. The fear of the scolding she¡¯s going to get from Nyx. But there¡¯s no hesitation or worry in the white-haired man¡¯s eyes. He leans in and captures her lips. That usual confident, dominant, and intoxicating kiss that drives Clara insane. As soon as he pulls away, she gives him a loving smile, her lips slightly parted, making it clear how much she wants more. He smirks at her, and she giggles. "As if I could stop you from doing whatever you want¡­" She quickly opens the door and steps out before she loses the will to do so. He follows her through the corridors of Safira. They walk through the central area¡ªthe common hall¡ªbefore heading down another hallway leading to a large open room spanning dozens of square meters. The room is mainly divided into two sections by a large counter with a smooth, blue marble top. On one side, a grand central dining table surrounded by large chairs, as well as smaller tables and sofas placed in the corners for more private meals. On the other side of the counter, a fully equipped kitchen¡ªlarge stoves, refrigerators, cabinets, and every cooking utensil imaginable, along with a pantry stocked with food and drinks. Right now, the aftermath of the battle with the sand worm on Zhaaros is still visible, but the crew of Safira is hard at work cleaning up the kitchen. Jimena and Louis are leading the cleanup of the common area with a few assistants, while Matteo is cooking with the help of another crew member. Jex steps out of the pantry, carrying a bundle of fresh vegetables, and grins when she sees Clara and the handsome white-haired man. "You guys got here fast!" She greets them warmly, though there¡¯s a clear teasing glint in her eyes. "I¡¯m starving!" Clara exclaims as she takes a deep breath, both she and the white-haired man savoring the delicious aroma of freshly cooked food filling the air. "It smells so good!!" Clara crosses the counter and approaches the stove, taking a peek at what Matteo is cooking¡ªa thick, juicy steak sizzling in a heavy cast-iron pan. "Is that Grovan meat?" Clara licks her lips. The Grovan she¡¯s referring to is a large, quadrupedal herbivore known for its thick, armored hide and bioluminescent markings that shift color depending on mood and environment. Grovans play a vital role in planetary ecosystems, prized for their nutrient-rich milk and uniquely adaptable digestive system that allows them to thrive on a variety of alien flora. But more than anything¡ª Their meat is unbelievably tender, juicy, and delicious¡ªeven better than Earth¡¯s finest elite cattle. Matteo nods at Clara while lifting one of the large steaks from the pan with a long fork, placing it onto a wooden cutting board on the counter. "I kept a few steaks saved for a special occasion. It was supposed to be our reward after completing the mission, but¡­" His expression softens as he glances between Clara and the mysterious white-haired man. "I think you two need this after taking down that Vhorr¡¯Ka alone." Clara¡¯s grin widens even more as she eagerly grabs a fork and knife from under the counter, ready to attack the Grovan steak. "I¡¯m not gonna turn down such an offer!" Under the envious stares of the rest of the crew, Clara cuts into the thick red steak, watching as its juices spill onto the cutting board. Perfectly rare¡ªjust how she loves it. She can¡¯t wait to bring that first bite to her mouth, chewing it quickly. "Mmmm¡­ fucking delicious!" She beams before slicing another piece¡ªbut this time, she offers it to the white-haired man, stretching her arm across the counter. "Here, for you~" Her expression is so warm and full of affection as she offers him the bite with her own fork. And he doesn¡¯t hesitate to accept it. The meat is incredible¡ªsucculent, fragrant, melting effortlessly in his mouth. The sweet scent of Clara¡¯s breath is an added bonus he thoroughly enjoys. "Very good." He praises. Hearing his deep voice is already a surprise to everyone in the room, but the crew doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s more shocking¡ª That¡ª Or the way Clara is already treating the mysterious stranger so affectionately. And yet¡ª The happy couple remains completely oblivious to all the stunned stares, too busy enjoying their juicy steak together. Chapter 22 The mysterious white-haired man eagerly eats everything Clara offers him. Each bite of that succulent meat, each taste¡ªan explosion of flavor in his mouth. He hadn¡¯t realized how hungry he was until he tasted it. And now, he feels as if he hasn¡¯t eaten anything for a long, long time. And Clara can see it in his glowing white eyes, shining with happiness. "It¡¯s good, isn¡¯t it?" she asks, a bright smile on her face. "So much." His words still sound awkward, but sincere. The other crew members in Safira¡¯s dining hall glance at the couple with curiosity. But among them, there are a few friendly faces¡ªespecially Matteo, who suddenly bursts into laughter. "You two are starving, huh?" Clara nods quickly, and the white-haired man also gives a small, affirmative nod. "Haha!" Matteo grabs another raw steak from the tray that Jex brings over and tosses it onto the sizzling pan. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll cook a few more for you." Clara gives him a thumbs-up. "Thanks!" Then, she grabs a clean plate from the counter and heads toward the stove, scooping up some cooked grains and vegetables. Matteo uses a long fork to pick up a piece of an orange vegetable¡ªone that resembles a carrot, but is round like a potato. "Here," he places it on Clara¡¯s plate. She finishes preparing the plate, picks up the other one with the large steak, and then walks toward one of the tables in the corner of the dining hall. She gestures for the white-haired man to follow her, keeping a little distance from the other crew members. Clara sits across from him, setting both plates in the center of the small table before grabbing a pair of silverware¡ªa fork and a knife. "Oh?" She glances at him in confusion, then holds up the utensils. "Do you know how to use these?" "These?" He stares at the utensils, confused. Clara smiles gently. "Don¡¯t worry, utensils like these are mostly used by humans." She pauses, looking thoughtful, then shakes her head. "Well, maybe it used to be that way, but it seems like it¡¯s becoming more common among other species nowadays." "Just another custom that our people have spread across the universe." She smiles proudly. "¡­" He still looks a bit lost, not fully grasping her words. Clara quickly picks up her fork, spears a piece of meat, and then demonstrates¡ªcutting it cleanly with the knife. "Like this¡­" She eats a piece, then holds up the utensils again. "Fork. Knife." He repeats her words, learning quickly. Then, she hands the utensils to him. "Try it yourself." He picks them up, finding the fork unfamiliar in his hand, but the knife¡ªthe knife feels natural. He holds the fork in his right hand as Clara did, but as soon as he grips the knife in his left hand, it moves fluidly¡ªeffortlessly twirling between his fingers. Clara¡¯s eyes widen in surprise. "Damn!" "You¡¯re pretty skilled with a blade, aren¡¯t you?" He doesn¡¯t answer but focuses on mimicking her actions, cutting the meat¡ªa simple task he executes with rapid and precise movements. Clara watches closely, her gaze full of curiosity and interest. Each motion of his, the way he cuts, the way his face shifts into a pleased expression when he takes a bite¡ªfascinating. "Hmm¡­" He chews the meat slowly, savoring the flavor. "Delicious." He finishes chewing and, without hesitation, cuts another piece. But instead of eating it¡ª He does what Clara did earlier and extends it toward her, offering it to her on the tip of his fork. Unlike him, who had immediately accepted her offer, Clara hesitates, a shy and uncertain look in her eyes. He frowns slightly, confused. "Why?" She glances around, noticing the lingering stares from people in the corners of the dining hall¡ªsome watching them, some silently judging. "We probably shouldn¡¯t¡­" He turns to look behind him and also notices the gazes being thrown their way. But he turns his attention back to Clara and smiles at her lovingly. "Them?" He makes a thoughtful expression. "What¡¯s that word you love?" "Word?" Clara looks confused. He chuckles. "Fuck." "Fuck?" "Fuck them." He winks at her. "Hehe~" She giggles adorably. He laughs too. "Yeah," she nods. "Fuck them all." Then, she leans forward and bites the piece of meat off his fork. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Clara uses her own utensils too, but they share the meal together like a couple. Meanwhile, Matteo continues cooking, and Jex brings more food over for them. Nyx also enters the dining hall, spotting the trio. She grabs a plate and walks over to their table. "Hey, you." She nods at Clara and also at the white-haired man. "Hi you," he greets Nyx with a kind and friendly smile, surprising her. Clara glances at Jex, and though her expression is entirely friendly, there¡¯s a hint of hesitation in her eyes. So she speaks to Nyx first. "He¡¯s recovering quickly and starting to talk more." "Oh." Nyx looks intrigued but tries to remain as neutral as possible in front of Jex. "That¡¯s good!" Jex smiles warmly at him. "So, where are you from?" "¡­" He doesn¡¯t understand the question. Before Jex can ask anything else, Clara jumps in. "He¡¯s still recovering, you know." Nyx nods and quickly adds, "I also detected some small brain damage¡ªspecifically the kind that affects memory." "Shit!" Jex looks at him with sympathy. "That sucks, man." "¡­" He¡¯s confused. After all, he feels perfectly fine¡ªdespite the memory loss. He glances at Clara and Nyx, and when they subtly nod at him, he mimics their expression, putting on a fake sad look and nodding to Jex. "I get it," Jex says, trying to offer a kind, friendly smile. "Don¡¯t worry¡ªI won¡¯t bother you while you recover." He simply nods, and Clara smiles at Jex. "Thanks, Jex." Then, she glances at him, unable to hide the affectionate yet curious look in her eyes. "When he¡¯s back to normal, we all want to hear his stories¡ªthat¡¯s for sure." "Yep!" Jex winks at him. Then, she stands up and heads toward the kitchen. "I¡¯ll grab something for us to drink." The trio nods, and as soon as Jex is a little further away, Nyx sits beside Clara and leans in, whispering. "How is he already speaking this well???" Clara grins. "He learns fast!" "So that¡¯s it?" Nyx gives her a suspicious look, then glances between them. "Was that all you were doing for the last few hours? Teaching him our language?" Clara tries to maintain an innocent posture, but her face starts to turn pink when she sees him glancing at her with that affectionate and seductive look. Nyx shakes her head. "I know I can¡¯t stop you, but¡­" "But?" "Nothing." Nyx shakes her head again. "It¡¯s your life. Besides¡­" Clara looks very curious as Nyx glances at the white-haired man, this time with a friendly smile. "The initial scans didn¡¯t reveal anything harmful to humans in his body." Nyx notices the instant relief on Clara¡¯s face¡ªshe even lets out a small sigh. "I knew it." Clara giggles excitedly. "Of course," Nyx tries to sound sarcastic but ends up laughing too. But then¡ª Her eyes shift back to him, and her expression suddenly becomes stunned. "But seriously¡­ he¡¯s unbelievable." Clara¡¯s curiosity grows. "Tell me, what else did you find out?" Nyx glances around, but since everyone else is far from their table, she leans in and whispers to Clara without fear of being overheard. "His body is very similar to ours." "Really?" Clara looks surprised. "Yeah," Nyx continues. "But it¡¯s also completely different¡­" "What do you mean??" "Apart from the obvious physical resemblances, his blood is also similar to ours." "The plasma contains water, mineral salts, vitamins¡­" "He also has red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Just like us humans." Clara listens with a look of amazement. But then Nyx¡¯s expression shifts¡ªbecoming even more curious and incredulous. "Yet¡­" "Everything is different. Better, actually." "Better?" "Yeah. His tissue, his cells¡­ they¡¯re superior to ours." "His tissue is way more resilient, and his cells¡­ two nuclei." "Two nuclei???" "Insane, right?" Nyx grins. "Two fucking nuclei." "And you know the best part? One regenerates the other." "Damn!" Clara doesn¡¯t know much about biology, but she knows enough to understand how incredible that is. Nyx nods and continues explaining. "That¡¯s why his tissue regeneration is so fast. Damaged cells regenerate almost instantly because of the two nuclei¡ªwithout needing any external nutrients." "His cells still have a structure similar to ours. They use water, oxygen, and everything else. Even the mitochondria generate energy, but¡­" "He doesn¡¯t need any of it." "The two nuclei in his cells generate everything they need to sustain and heal themselves." "Wait!" Clara¡¯s eyes widen. "You¡¯re saying¡­" "Yeah," Nyx nods. "He could be immortal¡ªat least, nutritionally speaking." "Really?" "Well¡­" Nyx looks thoughtful. "I¡¯m only talking about how his cells are self-sufficient." "But they can still be damaged and destroyed, just like ours." Clara looks at the mysterious man as he eats the meat and vegetables from his plate. "So¡­ his cells produce their own energy¡­ but he¡¯s also eating like us, and he seems hungry." Nyx stares at him too, wearing the same thoughtful expression. "I wonder what will happen when he gives his cells more nutrients¡­" He notices both girls looking at him with fascinated, curious expressions, making him confused. But before he can ask, Nyx looks away, glancing behind him¡ªspecifically at Jex, who is approaching with a tray holding a pitcher of purple liquid and four glasses. Nyx nudges Clara under the table, and both of them stop talking about the white-haired man. "I¡¯m back!" Jex says cheerfully as she reaches the table and sets the tray down. "And I brought Vylaris wine!" She quickly starts pouring the fragrant purple liquid into the glasses. "Clara¡­ Nyx¡­" Jex hands them each a glass, then pours one for the white-haired man. As the aromatic wine fills his glass, Jex looks at his face with curiosity. "I still don¡¯t know your name." "¡­" He knows what a name is¡ªbut he can¡¯t remember his own. Jex shifts her curious gaze to Clara. Clara looks intrigued too. She wants to know the name of the man she has completely given herself to. And while his excuse of being injured and traumatized after being trapped in the pyramid makes sense, not remembering his own name is, at the very least, suspicious. Clara tries to think quickly. A name for him¡­ anything. As she looks at his handsome, pale face, she wonders¡ªwhat name would suit him best? Oliver? Luke? Richard? The human names sound strange in Clara¡¯s mind. Nothing mundane or ordinary seems to fit him. Even for a fake name, calling him something like that feels so¡­ wrong. As she ponders, Clara remembers something¡ªsomething she read inside the pyramid. Words written in an ancient language she still doesn¡¯t fully understand. The phrase that had appeared on the surface of the metal box where he was imprisoned¡ªonly the first time she touched it. Noctis Aeternum. Clara doesn¡¯t know exactly what those words mean, but based on another ancient language, Xharythuun, she knows they have something to do with night and darkness. And even though everything about the mysterious man is pale¡ªexcept for the dark tattoos on his body¡ªthere is something shadowy and enigmatic about him. "Noctis." Clara speaks the name out loud, and despite how exotic it sounds, it feels like it belongs to him. "Noctis?" Jex, Nyx, and even the white-haired man himself react with surprise. Jex and Nyx simply find the name unusual and different. But he¡ªhe feels something deeper. A strange familiarity with that name. As if he¡¯s heard it before. As if he knows it. But at the same time, he has no idea what it means. Only a feeling. "Yeah," Clara can see that he likes the name too¡ªshe can tell from the way his glowing white eyes soften. "It¡¯s pretty exotic, isn¡¯t it? But that¡¯s what he told me." She smiles and winks at him. "Didn¡¯t you, Noct?" He smiles and nods at her. "Noct?" Jex bursts into laughter. "Come on, Clara! You already gave him a nickname too?" Chapter 23 "Noct?" Nyx smiles at him and raises her glass of wine. "Then a toast to the newest member of Safira¡­" Clara also lifts her glass of wine, as does Jex, and all three of them speak at the same time: "To Noct!" They clink glasses, a sharp chime echoing in the air. Ding ??? "Salud!" Noct likes his name¡ªand his nickname¡ªbut more than anything, he enjoys being surrounded by three beautiful women who are already becoming precious friends. He raises his glass, smiles at the girls, and repeats the new word. "Salud." The girls cheer excitedly, unintentionally drawing even more attention from the other crew members in the dining hall. Matteo approaches their table with a curious expression and a tray of snacks. "What¡¯s the celebration?" Jex answers immediately. "Clara and Noct¡¯s victory over the Vhorr¡¯Ka!" Nyx nods and quickly adds, "And the fact that we¡¯re alive and kicking." Clara is the third to speak. "And that things just keep getting better¡­" She glances at Noct and gives him a wink. "Oh?" Matteo smiles amicably at him. "Noct? Cool name you¡¯ve got." "Isn¡¯t it?" Jex adds with a friendly smile. But then she turns her attention to Clara. "Unless that¡¯s one of those pet names couples give each other¡­" "Jex!" Clara exclaims, trying to hide the blush spreading across her cheeks. Jex giggles like a mischievous child pulling a prank. "Kidding! Hehe~" "It¡¯s actually short for Noctis," Jex adds, winking at Noct. "I see," Matteo nods at him. "No matter how exotic your name is, I¡¯m still really grateful for all the help you gave us." Noct simply nods back at Matteo with a friendly smile. "Enough with the welcomes and thank-yous," Nyx chimes in, lifting her glass again. "Let¡¯s drink now. Drink until I forget that damn stinking planet." Jex and Clara both nod. "Good idea." "Fuck yeah!" "Mind if I join you?" Matteo asks, glancing at Clara and Noct. "Of course!" Clara answers quickly. "We¡¯re all family here." She can¡¯t help but glance at Noct again¡ªher gaze not just friendly, but affectionate and warm as it lands on him. "Haha!" Matteo sets the tray of snacks in the center of the table, then heads to the pantry to grab another glass and a bottle of wine. He returns to the group and takes a seat beside Noct. Since the seating is circular, Noct ends up close to Clara in one corner, while Nyx and Jex sit across from her. And so the group begins to enjoy the wine and snack while chatting casually¡ªa little private celebration of their own. The other crew members in the dining hall keep their distance, most of them being junior crew¡ªassistants and support staff. Even the core crew members who enter the room keep away from Noct¡¯s group, still casting doubtful looks in his direction. After an hour and four bottles of Vylaris wine, Clara is already drunk, Nyx is the least affected of the women but still tipsy, and Jex can¡¯t even stand properly. Matteo is holding his alcohol better than the girls¡ªbut not like Noct. Thanks to his super regeneration, Noct doesn¡¯t get dizzy even after five glasses of the strong wine. However, his body is affected in some subtle ways¡ªhis limbs feel slightly numb, and his senses are a bit slower. It¡¯s not exactly a pleasant sensation, but he does feel more relaxed, a little aroused, and genuinely happy. Not only is the wine delicious, but the company¡ªbeautiful women and a new friend¡ªis wonderful. Even without the slightest idea of how long he had been inside that box¡ªor anything about his life before that¡ªhe feels like he missed that a lot. Being surrounded by friends. But it¡¯s not just about friendship. Because the more Clara drinks, the more affectionate glances she throws Noct¡¯s way. Her cheeks are rosier from the wine, and her gaze grows more heated with each passing moment. Jex and Matteo keep talking nonstop, telling the story of how they accepted the Umbrakai mission and traveled to Zhaaros. Clara chats a lot too, while Nyx and Noct remain the quietest at the table¡ªNyx, naturally more reserved, and Noct, still learning the basics of their language. The conversation is lively, until two people enter the dining hall. "Oh no, the shitty brothers are here!" Clara tries to whisper, but her tone is louder than she intended. "Shh!" Jex gestures for her to lower her voice, barely holding back a laugh. "Don¡¯t say it out loud, you dummy! Hehe~" Clara covers her mouth to suppress a giggle. Nyx shakes her head but can¡¯t help chuckling either, just like Matteo. Noct, on the other hand, doesn¡¯t find the Santoro brothers¡¯ arrival funny at all. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. He still wants to rip open the man who had attacked Clara¡ªbut he held back, because she had seemed concerned about that. He still doesn¡¯t understand the full relationship between Diego and Javier, or their standing within Safira¡¯s crew, but it¡¯s clear Diego acts like a leader, and Javier takes advantage of that. Unlike the pirates who attacked Clara with weapons inside the pyramid, these two don¡¯t pose an immediate threat. Yet, Noct is certain of one thing: he doesn¡¯t want them anywhere near. What he doesn¡¯t know yet is the best way to handle the pair without causing problems for Clara and the others. The laughter of the girls echoes through the hall, impossible to ignore. When the Santoro brothers spot the group, their reactions are vastly different. Javier sees Clara first, and his expression is a mix of desire and frustration. A shadowy gleam flashes through his hostile eyes. His scowl deepens the moment he sees Noct, who completely ignores him. That only makes Javier clench his jaw and head toward the stove to grab some food. Diego, on the other hand, puts on a friendly smile and waves toward the group. "Hey guys!" He walks over to the table with long, casual strides, his posture completely different from before. "Having a little fun?" he asks, noticing the empty wine bottles stacked near the edge of the table. Matteo starts to stand. "Captain¡ª" But Diego places a hand on the old man¡¯s shoulder, gently urging him to sit again. "It¡¯s alright, Matteo. You all deserve a break." Diego¡¯s eyes drift from the girls to Noct. "We all do, don¡¯t we?" Noct notices the curious gaze on him and returns it with his cold, glowing white eyes. Diego trades his friendly look for something more apologetic. "I¡¯m sorry, my friend." His tone sounds almost too sincere, but Noct keeps a distant, unreadable expression. Diego lets out a deep sigh. "I know¡­ we didn¡¯t start off well." "Tsk!" Clara scoffs. "That¡¯s one way to put it." Diego ignores the comment and glances over his shoulder, briefly locking eyes with Javier across the room. Then his attention returns to Noct. "My brother and I owe you a real apology." Clara nearly fires off another comment, but Diego raises a hand toward her quickly. "Let me finish." Noct feels a strong urge to crush Diego¡¯s hand and put this annoying man in his place, but he sees Nyx¡¯s concerned expression¡ªshe subtly shakes her head at him. Noct doesn¡¯t want to act recklessly, so he waits and lets Diego continue. "I truly am sorry. We treated you terribly, and that was a failure on my part." The girls roll their eyes, and Noct continues staring at Diego with icy detachment. But Diego keeps trying to be friendly. ¡°Javier admitted he abused stims when we faced the Crimson Nebula pirates on Zhaaros¡ª¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t excuse him for attacking Clara,¡± Nyx comments in a cold, hostile tone. Diego nods. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that, but my brother wasn¡¯t in his best state and things got out of control¡­¡± Diego raises his hands, still keeping that apologetic posture toward Noct. ¡°Again, I¡¯m sorry, man. We were unfair to you, and you helped us a lot¡­¡± Noct sees Diego glancing at Javier, and he can¡¯t help but throw a hostile look at the brute. Diego notices and quickly goes on. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. I already made it clear how that kind of behavior won¡¯t be tolerated. He¡¯s not going to attack any of our people like that again.¡± Noct doesn¡¯t fully understand Diego¡¯s words¡ªand doesn¡¯t care to. He may have gone easy on them before, but now he just wants a reason¡ªa small excuse to kill them both. Diego sees something dark in Noct¡¯s eyes. Something that makes him want to stay as far away from him as possible. Yet Diego still tries to keep a friendly expression for a little longer. ¡°I just wanted to say that¡­ and welcome to Safira, of course.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Noct keeps his cold stare, making Diego more and more uncomfortable. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t expect you to forgive me now¡­ ehh, I won¡¯t interrupt your celebration anymore.¡± ¡°See you later, right?¡± Diego glances at the girls one more time with a sorry look, then walks back to his brother¡¯s side to grab some food. The mood at the table stays awkward until Diego is all the way across the dining hall. Then Jex throws a mischievous smile at Noct. ¡°Noct, holy shit! You¡¯re cold as an ice block.¡± He smiles at Jex. She smiles back. ¡°Seriously, man. That asshole screwed me over today, but I would¡¯ve said something just to get him to stop humiliating himself like some whiny dog, haha!¡± Clara shakes her head. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by Diego. He¡¯s a snake, and all his friendly words are poisoned lies.¡± Nyx nods. ¡°He just wants to earn points with the crew after that disaster with Javier. But at the end of the day, he only cares about himself.¡± ¡°And his idiot brother,¡± Clara adds. Jex glances toward Diego with a frustrated look and whispers, ¡°And why is he in charge, anyway?¡± Clara shrugs. ¡°I have no idea why Captain Elliott left Safira to that bastard.¡± Jex laughs. ¡°Captain must¡¯ve been really out of it.¡± Matteo sighs. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡± Everyone looks at him, curious. ¡°You should be the captain,¡± Jex says. ¡°You¡¯re the oldest member on Safira, experienced, and you¡¯ve got a good relationship with everyone.¡± Clara nods, and Nyx keeps her usual neutral expression. But Matteo shakes his head. ¡°Nah. No one wants an old man like me leading such an ambitious group.¡± He points at Nyx. ¡°Nyx would be a smarter, more determined leader.¡± ¡°Or someone charismatic and inspiring, like Clara.¡± Clara smiles proudly, but Jex gives Matteo a disappointed glare. ¡°What about me, huh?¡± ¡°You could be a good leader too, but in a few years. Right now, you¡¯re still too young.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± She pouts. Matteo laughs, but then glances at the Santoro brothers again. ¡°Either way, Elliott made his choice. And I think I understand his reasoning.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Well, think about the kind of world we live in¡­¡± "Independent crews like ours are rare because most people want the protection of big organizations." "Without a powerful name backing us, it¡¯s at least good to have a leader who inspires fear in our enemies." The group listens to Matteo¡¯s words, and Jex makes a thoughtful expression. "Like a bully leader to stop other bullies from messing with us?" Matteo nods. "Exactly. And in that sense, Diego and his brother play their role well¡ªas violent brutes." "Every toolbox needs a good hammer," Nyx comments, though her eyes drift toward Noct. Jex also glances at him. "Diego and Javier may be strong and intimidating, but come on, our new friend Noct went hand-to-hand with a damn Vhorr¡¯Ka." Clara nods and smiles at Noct. "True. Noct makes Diego and his shitty brother look like stray puppies next to a towering bear." Matteo nods as well, offering Noct a friendly look. "I agree." But then his eyes move to Noct¡¯s arms¡ªlong, pale, and a bit thin right now. "But¡­" The girls notice it too, and Jex is the first to say it. "You look a bit too skinny, Noct." Clara and Nyx exchange confused glances, but Matteo smiles in a reassuring way. "Can¡¯t be helped. He was a prisoner for who knows how long with those savages." Jex nods. "For real. Now, if we feed him properly and he works out for a few months¡­" She winks at Noct. "You¡¯ll look like a damn giant bodybuilder and make Javier look like a scrawny punk." Clara and Nyx can¡¯t help but agree with Jex. Noct may be incredibly handsome now, but his large frame¡ªwith broad chest and long limbs¡ªfeels perfect for a more muscular build. He already has some visible muscle, but he still looks a bit malnourished, clearly due to spending so long in the box, only surrounded by that red liquid. "¡­" Noct doesn¡¯t understand what the girls are talking about. But he can see the same gleam in Clara¡¯s eyes now shining in Jex¡¯s¡ªand even Nyx¡¯s. All three girls look excited about something. Waiting for something from him. Begging for it. His lips curl into an eager smile before he even realizes. He wants to satisfy them¡ªlike doing so would satisfy his own desire. In a matter of seconds, Matteo feels completely left out at the table. All the girls¡¯ attention is on Noct. And his attention? It¡¯s fully on them. And the old man complains. "Come on, guys! Are you really gonna do this shit?"