Pain. A searing, intense pain coursed through Takeshi Mori's arm, prompting him to reflexively touch the wound with his other hand. It pulsed through his entire body like venomous ivy.
Rage and resentment clouded his mind. Mori's gaze, burning with fury, pierced the group of children who had dared to raise a hand against him.
Did they really have to show off like that?! — The thought tore through the fog of his anger.
His face contorted into a grimace of pain and malice. The adrenaline receded, leaving him weakened by blood loss.
But now was not the time to show weakness. Not in front of his men.
Mori looked at them and unwittingly stopped at the fattest - the cause of his pain.
A finger, like an arrow, pointed at Kohta, causing the boy to flinch and pale. Mori's underlings understood without a word.
Two hulking figures seized the terrified boy by the arms and dragged him to their boss's feet. Kohta trembled like a hunted animal, sweat pouring down his face. He lowered his head, covering it with his hands, trying to shield himself from the impending threat.
Mori stared down at the cowering boy, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face.
"You know how much you hurt me, huh, kid?" His voice boomed in the silence, causing everyone present to flinch.
"…S-sorry," Kohta whispered, barely audible, shrinking toward the floor.
"Huh? Louder, boy! I can't hear you!" Mori roared, and Kohta, summoning the last of his courage, shouted:
"S-sorry… I'm sorry!"
The echo of his desperate cry faded into the grim silence of the room.
The men beside Takeshi smirked, while Takashi's group remained in a state of nervous anticipation, bracing for what was to come.
They didn't dare do or say anything—they were in a bad position themselves, and the instinct for self-preservation screamed: "Don't interfere!"
Mori, his face unreadable, stared at the weeping boy begging for mercy. Then, unexpectedly, he rose and approached Kohta, speaking in a deceptively calm voice:
"I accept your apology, kid."
"R-really…?" A flicker of hope ignited in Kohta's eyes.
But in the next instant, Mori's fist slammed into his face. His glasses shattered, shards piercing his skin, and Kohta let out a wail of pure despair.
"AAAAAhhhhh!"
He clutched his bleeding eyes, but the pain did not subside. It pierced his entire body. Mori, meanwhile, began his beating – each blow bringing unbearable pain.
Crimson bruises blossomed across the boy's body, rapidly darkening into ominous contusions. The sadistic assault continued, and Takashi's group could not tear their eyes away from the horrifying spectacle.
Saya was the most shaken of all. Her eyes were wide with terror. She watched Kohta's beating—the very Kohta who had once saved her.
He may have been clumsy, unattractive, and shy, but he was kind.
Reliable.
To see him like this…
"S-stop… Stop it! STOP IT!" The cry tore from her lips. Her voice trembled with rage and despair.
Mori, hearing her, froze. His right hand, bloodied and reddened, throbbed with pain, but he seemed oblivious. Kohta lay on the floor, reduced to a formless, bloody mass, emitting only incoherent groans. Blood pooled on the floor, forming an ominous puddle.
"So that's how it is. Fine. Okay. I'll stop it since our 'princess' wants me to," Mori said, snatching a steel pipe from one of his henchmen.
And he brought it down on Kohta's head with full force. Saya involuntarily clamped a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle a scream of horror. Blow after blow rained down on the lifeless body.
Kohta had already lost consciousness, but Mori continued to brutalize him. Soon, brain fluid began to leak from the cracked skull.
Saya vomited.
The others turned away, unable to bear the gruesome sight.
Even Saeko winced and averted her gaze, but Sakamoto, noticing this, smirked maliciously, touched her face, and forcibly made her watch.
"Don't you enjoy this kind of spectacle, Saeko-san? I thought you loved the suffering of others," he purred, caressing her cheeks affectionately.
"What… are you talking about!? Do we even know each other?" she asked with confusion in her voice.
Sakamoto shook his head with feigned sadness.
"Don't you remember? It's almost hurtful, Saeko-san… Although, in fairness, I have to admit: you were just a child back then, so I forgive your forgetfulness," he replied in a gentle tone, continuing to caress her cheeks, making her look at him with hatred.
But Sakamoto didn't seem fazed in the slightest.
Takeshi Mori, having finished his dirty work, tossed the bloodied pipe to a subordinate and slumped into a chair.
He ran a bloodstained hand through his hair and closed his eyes, lost in thought. He no longer paid attention to the world around him.
He had to do it. His men wouldn't have understood if he had simply let the situation go.
***
Mori involuntarily opened his eyes, his gaze fixing on the lifeless body of the boy. The convulsions had ceased; life had left him—unmistakably dead.
Brought it on himself, the fool.
Perhaps it was even better this way—to die quickly rather than rot alive in the teeth of zombies.
But was it worth it? No.
Takeshi Mori surveyed the remaining captives—slaves, more like it.
They didn't deserve any other status.
Initially, he had only intended to frighten them: surround them, make some threats, defuse the tension with a stupid joke, and let them go.
Yes, the girls would probably suffer—his men, and even he himself, needed to let off steam. But Mori would have taken care of it, ensured they were treated gently, like fragile vases dusted with care.
Two of the guys from their group would have been admitted to the common table. Food would have been shared, the rules explained—and that would have been it.
Saya Takagi would not have been touched. Mori understood—the head's daughter was untouchable; messing with her would be more trouble than it was worth. She would have been left alone.
Well, it was a small price to pay, wasn't it?
Everyone wins: his men are fed and satisfied, and this group is under protection.
But now?
Now, they dared to attack? And even wound him?
Mori couldn't let that go unpunished. He wouldn't be "kind" anymore; he would treat them as they deserved: they would occupy another cell in his hierarchy, become "slaves."
There would be no mercy there—they would be treated accordingly.
This category was reserved for those who had transgressed or disagreed with their views and goals, and the other group clearly wasn't "with them."
Well, if that's how it is—fine. Nothing could be done.
"You can start, guys. Just don't touch our 'princess'—I'll take care of her myself," he gave the order, detachedly and wearily, that his men had been waiting for.
As soon as the words left his lips, the eyes of all the guys turned to the girls. Predatory flames danced within them. The entire group flinched. Takashi tried to get up, but a sharp pain in his side pierced him, forcing him to double over.
One of the guys kicked him with a sweeping blow, knocking him to the ground.
"Takashi!" Rei cried out, but she was already surrounded, grabbed by the arms.
Rei kicked and struggled desperately, but the forces were unequal. One of the guys punched her in the solar plexus, stealing her breath. She went limp, and smiles bloomed on the faces of her tormentors.
Saya retreated in panic until her back bumped against someone's chest. She swung to strike, but her hand was intercepted, immobilized.
"Let go of me! LET ME GO!" she screamed shrilly, but in that same instant, she received a blow to the face.
All her spirit instantly vanished. Confused, rubbing her cheek, Saya stared at the guy who had appeared beside her. She was seized and dragged toward Mori.
"Oh-oh… Looks like this is a problem…" Shizuka muttered, her gaze extinguished.
The guys eyed her lustfully, licking their lips in predatory grins.
"Hey, guys! Look at these tits! Have you ever seen anything like this?" someone blurted out, and he involuntarily touched her chest, squeezing it hard.
Shizuka gasped, and her soft moan inadvertently aroused the others even more.
"Takeda! Get your ass over here! Or there won't be anything left for you!" someone roared.
Takeda—the one being addressed—wasn't looking at them; his gaze was fixed on Saeko. He was about to move toward her but suddenly froze: the wooden tip of a bokken appeared at his throat.
He flinched and stared at Sakamoto, who was smiling warmly, but his gaze…
"Takeda, motherfucker! Get your ass over here! Leave that girl alone—can't you see she's already taken!? And anyway, the blonde's better!"
"…F-fuck you!" the guy's face flushed, turning crimson with shame and anger, which caused an outburst of laughter from the others.
And yet, Takeda cast a disappointed glance at the violet-haired beauty and at Sakamoto, sighed heavily, and trudged toward the others.
Rei, meanwhile, had already had her clothes torn off, exposing her charms, and was being forcibly bent over—clearly preparing for something "interesting." Several people held Takashi, specifically grabbing his hair and forcing him to watch the desperate Rei, who also saw his face.
"T-Takashi…"
"She's your girlfriend, huh? Well, now she'll be ours! Ahahaha!" someone laughed, and something inside the guy snapped.
***
Sakamoto, meanwhile, was restraining Saeko, inadvertently cupping her breasts and squeezing them in his hands. His warm breath scorched her skin, and he whispered,
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for this moment? Though you clearly wouldn't understand."
In a calm voice, he continued,
"When I was training at Busujima's dojo, I always saw you. Such a detached, cold girl—it inadvertently captivated me. But back then, I decided to just let it go…"
And Sakamoto began to tell his story: he was one of the guys who trained at her father's dojo, and he had managed to flourish, even winning the kendo championship.
Back then, he thought all doors were open to him, and he could do anything.
Only life was always unpredictable.
His parents fell into debt, he himself struggled to make ends meet, and kendo took a backseat. Until one day, he joined a gang for survival—things improved, but then…
One day, in the hustle and bustle of the streets, he saw her—that same girl from the dojo, grown up, blossomed. He began to follow her, and a cunning plan matured in his head.
Sakamoto yearned to get closer to her, to start a relationship. He decided to stage a performance: orchestrate a chance encounter where she would be harassed by a drunk man, so that he could then appear as her savior.
A heroic rescue, an innocent conversation, memories of the past, and, perhaps, something more…
But the plan was not destined to come to fruition.
Saeko beat up that man.
What was so special about that? Simple self-defense, and nothing more.
But the ferocity, the insane, enjoying smile with which she beat him, caused Sakamoto to freeze in amazement.
At that moment, Saeko seemed even more attractive to him—dangerous, alluring to the point of madness.
His thoughts were consumed by her, but the sudden apocalypse separated them.
And what an incredible coincidence—fate had brought them together again!
Sakamoto, intoxicated by the proximity of the one he was hopelessly in love with, greedily inhaled her scent, awakening the basest instincts. His flesh, roused by desire, pressed against her hip, demanding immediate satisfaction.
Saeko desperately tried to break free, to continue the fight, but his strong grip left her no chance. Despair bound her, her resistance weakened, and a predatory smile bloomed on Sakamoto's lips.
He grabbed her face in his hands, looked into the depths of her eyes, and prepared for a kiss, anticipating the beginning…
BANG!
The thunderous sound tore through the silence, causing everyone to flinch and freeze. Expressions of shock and horror froze on their faces—all eyes were fixed on the sudden spectacle.
Saeko was the most affected: her face was instantly stained with blood, as were her hair and half of her body. With widened eyes, she stared at the place where the harassing guy's head had been—it had exploded.
She felt the grip on her body loosen, and Sakamoto's body fell to the ground with a dull thud.
The others, stunned by Sakamoto's sudden death, couldn't understand what had happened. Mori, who had watched the demise of his most loyal subordinate, was shaken to the core.
***
Suddenly, the space trembled, and a female figure of unparalleled beauty appeared in the center of the room. Her heels touched the floor with a light sound, her black hair swayed slightly, and in her arms, she held… a little girl?
The contrast was striking.
"Huh? Big sis, what's going on here?" rang an angelic voice from Maylen's embrace, pure and melodious.
Who else could appear so dramatically and unpredictably?
Maylen surveyed the surroundings, staring at Takashi's group and Saeko, who also stared with a mute expression, clearly not knowing what to say.
Rubbing the bridge of her nose in annoyance, Maylen said in an icy tone,
"What have you all done here? I left you alone for one day, and you're already up to your necks in shit?"
She spoke in a calm voice, but her gaze was clearly unkind.
Thoughts involuntarily raced through her mind:
Just one day! While I was rescuing little Alice and trying to unwind in the city to relieve some stress! And what's the result?! They were almost killed and raped! Are they out of their minds?!
Maylen was indignant, enraged, and completely furious! Involuntarily, her murderous intent spilled out, causing the bandits to pale and stare at her in horror, falling to their knees—some even wet themselves and lost consciousness.
The floor beneath Maylen's feet shuddered, cracks like spiderwebs spread across the walls and floor. Mori desperately aimed his gun at her, but his arm twisted at an unnatural angle, and he let out a heart-wrenching scream:
"AAAAaah! You goddamn bitch, it hurts so much!"
Tears spurted from his eyes, his gaze darting wildly. He tried to scream again, but his body split in two, and he collapsed onto the floor, drenching everything around in blood and entrails.
His henchmen turned green with horror, many falling to the floor, trembling all over.
Those who still retained remnants of their sanity rushed to the exit, trying to escape. But as soon as they turned the corner, screams echoed, and a stream of blood and flesh gushed onto the floor, accompanied by the squelching and crunching of bones being ground.
Takashi's group, hearing these sounds, had no desire whatsoever to find out what was happening around the corner. Everyone involuntarily swallowed, trying to suppress their nausea.
"These are nobodies, Alice! And that's how they should be treated!" Maylen declared, nodding. The little girl in her arms repeated her gesture, agreeing.
The brutality of what was happening seemed to not faze Alice in the slightest. She was already impressed and completely fascinated by Maylen.
The dark goddess was pleased. She affectionately stroked Alice's head and offered her a candy. The girl gladly accepted the treat.
Maylen glanced at the survivors and decided to finish them off as quickly as possible, without further words or humiliation.
Why waste time on these insects?
And everything happened in the blink of an eye.
The shadows beneath the bandits' feet trembled, stretched out, and transformed into instruments of death. They grabbed their victims and hurled them against the walls, smashing their heads into a bloody mess.
"Aaa! No, please, no!"
"Please, have mercy!"
Cries of despair echoed through the room, but death continued its dance of cruelty and inhumanity. Bodies were torn to pieces, blood gushing in all directions, drenching everything around.
Rei, Saya, Shizuka, Saeko, and Takashi were completely covered in blood, their gazes blank and distant.
When it was all over, an eerie silence reigned.
Maylen stood in the center, holding little Alice in her arms. They were the only ones untouched by the blood. Their faces expressed serenity and calmness, as if nothing had happened.
The gang of bandits that had previously dominated and held power in their hands had vanished in an instant. It was just… too simple and quick, that the others didn't know how to react. With what brutality the people were killed, but at the same time… why didn't everyone else feel pity or sadness this time?
As Maylen was about to speak again, suddenly she was embraced from behind, and she heard Rei's quiet whisper:
"…Thank you… Thank you…"
Maylen was surprised and indignant at the same time!
Damn it, my dress! She's stained it with her blood! And anyway, shouldn't she be hugging her 'boyfriend'?
Her gaze darted toward Takashi. He was shocked, as if his world had collapsed once again, and looked at her with desperate eyes. Maylen understood everything.
She abruptly broke away from Rei's embrace, leaving her in complete bewilderment.
"No! Absolutely not! I'm not participating in this!" her voice turned cold, and she shuddered, distancing herself.
Taking out a can of air freshener, Maylen began spraying it on herself and into the air, generously showering Rei, causing her to cough and cover her face with her hands.
Maylen was furious!
I don't like this genre, Rei! I'm evil and all, but no! Fu-fu, being like that! Besides, the girls are only mine—period!
She began to shower Rei even more with sprays from the can.
The others watched the comical scene: everything around was covered in blood, and Maylen was chasing Rei with her spray can, holding Alice in her arms, and she was running away, trying to escape the refreshing onslaught.
The spectacle made everyone exchange glances and smile slightly. Even Saya smiled, but her smile immediately faded when she saw Kohta's body.
The mood turned somber again.
To be sure, she approached the body and checked his pulse. There was none. The body was cold and lifeless.
He was dead.
Forgive me… Kohta. — Saya bid farewell mentally and went to Shizuka, helping her to stand.
Saeko, meanwhile, was the most detached and lost of all, constantly staring at Maylen's figure. She lowered her head, her eyes hidden by her bangs, and she became as if disconnected from the world. Takashi also looked at Kohta's body, saying nothing—his gaze was unreadable.
Meanwhile, Maylen and Rei had already finished their "games"—or rather, the can was simply empty. The goddess's face was frustrated, and she looked resentfully at the label with the inscription "unlimited"—it was clearly a lie!—and quickly discarded it with the words:
"Alright! Get closer so we can get out of here quickly! It's already kinda rotten here!"
The lips of the others trembled, but no one said anything and began to approach. Takashi, slightly groaning and holding his side, walked towards them;
Saeko heard Maylen's words and tried to move, but a sharp pain in her leg buckled her, and she fell to the ground.
Maylen sighed heavily, lowered Alice to the floor—causing her to look resentfully at the receding back of the goddess—and approached her protégée.
Without saying a word, she picked Saeko up in her arms, like a princess. Saeko, torn from her somber thoughts, stared at Maylen with bewildered eyes, whose gaze was deep and mesmerizing. Her gaze met Maylen's smiling face.
"Well, darling? Time to get out of here!"
With these words, Maylen headed towards the others. The quiet swordswoman in her arms whispered,
"…Y-yes."
Maylen approached the others, and, as they got closer, a magic circle appeared beneath their feet, which involuntarily caused surprise at the magical spectacle and unknown writings on it. In an instant, before their eyes was a bloodied room—and then they were on the street, catching the stunned gazes of people who had stopped their activities and stared at the arrivals.
"That's Takagi-san's daughter, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, definitely… looks like her."
The whispers of those around gradually turned into a murmur, attracting more and more attention.
Soichiro Takagi, who was nearby, heard the noise and decided to check what was going on.
As soon as he approached, the crowd parted, and he froze, not believing his eyes.
Among the arrivals, he noticed his daughter. She was covered in blood, but he couldn't not recognize her.
Saya also noticed a familiar gaze. She turned around and saw her father.
Without hesitation, she rushed to him and embraced him tightly.
"F-father!…"
Tears streamed from her eyes, and she buried her face in his chest. He gently stroked her head. Although his face remained impassive, stern, and expressed the strength of a true leader, warm emotions raged inside.
Soichiro was glad to see his daughter alive and unharmed, returning home.