[#] I have some big news for you guys, I'll give you details at the end of the chapter.
[#] I have a YouTube channel where I post audiobooks of my fics and original stories. Search for 'avipbr', is the purple robot knight with green eyes.
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-S2-LoveNexus Corp. – Where Innovation and Love meet!-S2-
The audience applauds, the lights flash, the set gleams. In the center, a woman in an impeccable suit, her blonde hair styled to perfection, smiles at the camera. Behind her, a screen displays the program's logo: 'Gal Night'.
"Good evening, everyone! I'm Nina Ross, and today we have a special program. Our guest is none other than Yzhilde, the CEO of LoveNexus Corp!"
The audience cheers, whistles and applause echoing in the studio. Yzhilde, seated on the sofa next to Nina, waves with a confident smile on her face.
"Yzhilde, it's a pleasure to have you here with us."
"The pleasure is mine, Nina. Thank you for the invitation."
"Let's get straight to the point. LoveNexus Corp has been in the headlines lately. Can you tell us more about what you've been doing?"
Yzhilde settles on the sofa, her gaze steady.
"Of course, Nina. LoveNexus Corp is an innovative company, composed of extraordinary Monster Girls. We are revolutionizing various areas, from science and technology to entertainment and food."
"And how do you achieve that?"
"With a vibrant and dedicated team. Each mamono brings her unique skills, and together, we transform reality."
Nina nods, impressed, but quickly her expression changes to serious, moving on to the next topic:
"That's fascinating but recently an illegal mamono appeared in the news. What does LoveNexus Corp have to say about that?"
Yzhilde straightens her posture, directing her gaze directly at the camera, which zooms in on her face. Her voice comes out firm, and without hesitation, she begins to speak:
"Firstly, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to clarify everything here today, Nina." The host nods in acknowledgment as Yzhilde continues to speak. "And on behalf of LoveNexus Corp, I would like to apologize to all of humanity for this lapse in security. I guarantee, that this will not happen again."
The audience murmurs, the tension palpable. Nina seizes the moment, leaning forward.
"And how do you plan to ensure that?"
"We are implementing new security measures, training our teams, and reinforcing our runic protocols against extradimensional invasions. The safety of humans is our priority."
Nina nods, satisfied with the answer. The atmosphere in the studio begins to ease, the viewers relax.
Nina smiles, breaking the tension.
"Well, at least this mamono had a good heart. She saved an innocent woman from four men. That counts for something, doesn't it?"
Yzhilde swallows hard, disguising her discomfort.
"You are absolutely right, Nina. This mamono, in particular, is a very kind species. Always thinking of others."
The audience agrees in glee, clapping fervently. Nina leans back on the sofa, satisfied.
"Yzhilde, it has been a pleasure having you here. We hope to see you again soon."
"The pleasure was mine, Nina. Thank you for the opportunity."
The interview ends, the credits roll. Yzhilde laughs nervously, but Nina doesn't notice. The CEO of LoveNexus Corp gets up, waves to the audience, and leaves the studio, her smile disappearing as soon as the cameras turn off.
-S2-LoveNexus Corp. – Where Innovation and Love meet!-S2-
Yzhilde bursts into her dressing room backstage at 'Gal Night'. The Lilim's face was paler than usual, and her red eyes were watery. Kurina, standing, notices her boss's anguish. Without a word, the blue oni secretary opens her arms, offering comfort. Yzhilde throws herself into the embrace, her body trembling, tears flowing freely.
"Kurina-chan, I almost... I almost lost everything." Her voice choked, her despair evident.
Kurina hugs Yzhilde tightly, her hand stroking the white hair.
"Shhh, Yzhilde-dono. It's alright now. You managed."
Yzhilde pulls away, her eyes flashing with anger and frustration.
"All because of an idiotic manticore! How could she be so careless?"
Kurina remains calm, her voice firm.
"She made a terrible mistake, Yzhilde-dono. But you fixed it. LoveNexus Corp still stands, and you showed the world that we are capable of handling our problems."
Yzhilde takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself.
"I know, Kurina-chan. But the damage is done. The trust... the trust we built..."
Kurina holds Yzhilde by the shoulders, her gaze serious.
"I'm already working on it, Yzhilde-dono. We've already sent bribes to human politicians in the form of vigor-enhancing potions. But for public opinion… we need something different."
Yzhilde interrupts, her voice hard.
"She will pay, Kurina-chan. I will ensure she never puts LoveNexus Corp at risk again."
Sighing wearily, Kurina pulls the crying Lilim away and speaks, looking into her eyes:
"Yzhilde-dono, that's a terrible idea. The manticore in question is seen by the general public as a heroine. Punishing her will generate a lot of backlash."
Yzhilde, still shaken, looks at Kurina, her eyes full of doubt.
"But, Kurina-chan, what can I do? I can't let her go unpunished."
A sadistic smile forms on Kurina's lips.
"You just need to punish her in the form of a reward, Yzhilde-dono."
Yzhilde frowns, confused.
"What do you mean, Kurina-chan?"
Kurina leans closer, her voice low, conspiratorial.
"Turn the punishment into a prize. Give her a 'reward' that is actually a form of control. Something that keeps her in line, but that the public sees as recognition for her 'heroism'."
Yzhilde blinks, understanding beginning to dawn in her eyes.
"You mean...?"
Kurina nods, her smile widening.
"Exactly. Give her a title or a prominent position. But with conditions. Conditions that force her to follow our rules to the letter. If she fails..."
Yzhilde finishes, her voice firm.
"She loses everything. And the public will see it as a just consequence of her actions."
-S2-LoveNexus Corp. – Where Innovation and Love meet!-S2-
Kleber advances through the corridors of LoveNexus, the air thick, heavy with tension.
Despite the building and everything inside being modern, the architecture seemed to harken back to a bygone era while remaining attached to contemporary conveniences. The term 'neo-victorian' comes to Kleber's mind.
The human tries to organize his thoughts, but the memories of the conversation with Rajah after the encounter with the Amazonesses are hazy, fragmented. The silence between them is tense, almost suffocating.
He opens his mouth, about to break the silence, but Lis interrupts him with her cold voice:
"We've arrived." the Banshee warns.
Kleber stops, his eyes fixed on the imposing double doors of Yzhilde's office.
It has been two months since the human had the meeting with the Lilim. And now that he has been called to this meeting without a prior reason, Kleber was a bundle of nerves.
'Could it be that she's not satisfied with my performance?' Kleber thought, trying to ward off the tension by looking down, trying in vain to focus on anything else. 'Am I going to lose my job?'
Lis, noticing Kleber's hesitation, speaks, touching his shoulder:
"Don't keep the Rune Mistress waiting."
Kleber nods, his hand trembling slightly as he reaches for the doorknob. The door opens with a soft click, revealing the luxurious office. Yzhilde, seated on her chair, raises her eyes, her gaze piercing. Standing beside her is Kurina, the blue oni in a formal posture, but her gaze is that of someone who was already expecting them.
As soon as the human takes the first step inside the office he feels the air inside is cool, but a wave of heat rises up the human's neck as he notices a third presence in the room.
Kleber's eyes are drawn instantly to the tall and imposing figure of the unknown mamono.
The wild beauty of the powerful mamono grabs the human's attention with her semi-turned body, displaying generous curves, distracting Kleber from the muscular feline limbs that end the mamono's legs and arms. Blood-red hair cascades down her back with two feline ears adorning the top of her head, contrasting with her alabaster skin.
The body is a work of art, defined muscles, but without losing femininity. The breasts are huge and firm, the waist thin, the hips wide. And the threatening scorpion tail with the bulbous tip does not retract the physical attraction the human feels for her.
[Image]
"That's..." Kleber murmurs softly.
The sound of the human's voice attracts the attention of emerald green eyes that gleam with a wild intensity that becomes predatory upon noticing Kleber's presence.
"Male!" the mamono shouts, pouncing towards Kleber.
Rajah reacts instantly, pulling Kleber out of the aggressive mamono's reach. The movement is fast, precise, but before the red-haired mamono can advance further, Yzhilde stops her with a simple wave of her hand, causing her to fall face-first onto the floor.
PUFF!
On the floor the manticore mamono spasms in pain, her screams echoing through the office.
"Old hag!" The words come out through gritted teeth, her face contorted into a mask of hatred. "Unloved, spoiled cunt!"
Yzhilde remains impassive, her red eyes gleaming with a calm that contradicts the rage boiling within her.
"Silence." The Lilim's voice is a whisper, but it carries an unquestionable authority. "Or I'll lock you in a stall, to milk your venom while you're fed through a tube for the rest of your life."
Kleber, still held securely by Rajah, watches the scene with wide eyes. The tension in the air is palpable, the Rune Mistress's threat silencing the rebellious mamono on the floor, who rises tensely.
Yzhilde turns her gaze back to Kleber, her red eyes gleaming with an intensity that makes the human swallow hard.
"This is Felizia Bloodfang, she is a manticore." The Lilim's voice is soft, but it carries an unquestionable authority. "Felizia, this is Kleber Cruz. Lovenexus's wellbeing agent."
Kleber, still held by Rajah, tries to break free from the protective embrace, but the tigress maintains her firm grip. He clears his throat, his voice coming out shaky:
"Nice to meet you, Felizia."
The manticore does not respond. Her emerald green eyes fixed on Kleber, the intensity of her gaze sending a shiver down the human's spine. The mamono's lips curl into a predatory smile, her sharp teeth gleaming in the soft light of the office.
Yzhilde continues, her voice calm but firm:
"I called you here today because Rajah and Lissë Lómiel Seregwaith had an unsatisfactory performance as your bodyguards. Mr. Cruz almost had a heart attack while working with the Amazonesses, something unacceptable." The Lilim pauses, her eyes narrowing in the direction of the Jinko and Banshee. "Therefore, I am assigning Felizia Bloodfang to join you as an extra bodyguard."
Rajah releases Kleber and, indignant, takes a step forward to question the Lilim:
"Yzhilde-dono, I-."
"Silence, Rajah." the Rune Mistress commands in an icy tone. "Your failure is undeniable. Felizia will ensure this does not happen again."
Lis, silent until then, takes a step forward, her gray eyes fixed on Yzhilde and speaks:
"But she is a wild mamono who tried to attack Kleber as soon as she saw him."
The Lilim's smile is a spectacle of cunning, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Yzhilde leans back in her chair, her fingers drumming on the armrest.
"Don't worry, my dears. I have taken all necessary precautions." Yzhilde's voice is a purr, laden with satisfaction. "Felizia is under absolute control."
The Rune Mistress stands up, her footsteps echoing through the office as she approaches Felizia. The manticore, still tense, recoils slightly, her emerald green eyes fixed on the Lilim.
"I placed a true masterpiece of a runic matrix on her body." Yzhilde explains, her hand sliding down the manticore's neck, her fingers tracing the lines of the runes tattooed on her alabaster skin. "If she tries to attack any human, she will suffer agonizing pain for hours."
The Lilim's voice is soft, but it carries an explicit threat to everyone. Felizia swallows hard, the fear evident in her eyes.
"And then," Yzhilde continues, her voice low, almost a whisper, "she will finally die. Painfully, of course."
The manticore shudders, her breathing quickening. Her emerald green eyes gleam with a mixture of fear and anger.
"But... but you promised..." Felizia's voice trembles, the despair evident in every syllable. "You said I was going to have a husband."
Yzhilde smiles, her red eyes shining with amusement.
"And it's true, Felizia." The Lilim replies, her voice soft, almost affectionate. "You can lie with Kleber as many times as you want."
The manticore's eyes widened, hope shining in her gaze. Before anyone can react, Felizia leaps towards Kleber again. But Yzhilde is faster. With a simple wave of her hand, Felizia falls face-first to the ground once more, the manticore screaming in pain.
The manticore's body contorts, her screams echoing through the office. Yzhilde watches, impassive, as Felizia writhes on the floor, the pain evident in every movement.
"You just need his full and 100% sober consent." the Rune Mistress says, punctuating her sentence with a Machiavellian laugh.
After a few seconds of laughing, Kurina calls the Lilim's attention with a fake cough into her hand.
"Oops, I almost forgot." the Lilim says, feigning regret. "Felizia has a press conference, and the responsibility for her behavior is yours, Mr. Cruz."
"Me?!" Kleber exclaims, his eyes wide, his body trembling. "Why do I have to take care of her?"
Yzhilde smiles, her lips curved into an ironic arc, and replies:
"Because, my dear Kleber, she is your bodyguard."
The sentence lands like a bomb, the impact making Kleber's heart race.
"W-What?" the human stammers, his voice trembling. "When is the interview?"
The blue oni steps forward and replies loudly:
"The press conference will be in one hour."
Panic takes hold of Kleber, his eyes wide, his breathing quickening.
"One hour?!" the human exclaims, his voice almost a scream. "That's impossible! I won't be able to control her!"
Yzhilde, still smiling, takes a step forward, her hand landing on Kleber's shoulder. The touch is soft, but it carries an unquestionable authority.
"I trust you, Kleber." The Lilim's voice is firm, but it carries a touch of affection. "I know you are capable."
The human swallows hard, his gaze fixed on Yzhilde.
"But... but..."
The Rune Mistress interrupts him, her voice soft but firm:
"I've already sent the words that activate the runes on Felizia's body to your email." she explains, her red eyes gleaming with an intensity that makes Kleber shudder. "Use them to control her."
The manticore, still on the floor, raises her eyes, her gaze fixed on Kleber. The intensity of her gaze sends a shiver down the human's spine.
"Why don't you do it?" Kleber asks, his voice trembling. "You're the Rune Mistress, you know more about this than I do."
Yzhilde smiles, her red eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Because, my dear Kleber, I have other responsibilities." she explains, her voice soft but firm. "And because I trust you."
The human swallows hard, his gaze fixed on Yzhilde.
"But... but..."
The Lilim interrupts him, her voice soft but firm:
"You can do it, Kleber." she says, her red eyes gleaming with an intensity that makes the human shudder. "I know you can."
Kleber takes a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Felizia. The manticore, still on the floor, raises her eyes, her gaze fixed on Kleber. The intensity of her gaze sends a shiver down the human's spine.
"Alright." he says, his voice firm. "I'll do it."
Yzhilde smiles, her red eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Excellent." Lilem says in a soft voice.
-S2-LoveNexus Corp. – Where Innovation and Love meet!-S2-
In the green room, a table laden with snacks awaits, untouched.
At least until the arrival of a manticore weighing 130 kg (300 lbs) of pure muscle.
Felizia's voracity as she lunges at the food leaves Kleber speechless. She tears open four bags of chips and swallows them without chewing, devours huge sandwiches in a few bites, and gulps down soda and juice bottles as if they were water in the desert.
Despite it being the first time Kleber felt pity for snacks in his life, the human shakes his head, ridding himself of his astonishment. After all, he had less than fifteen minutes to make Felizia behave like a civilized person.
"Felizia, we need to-." The human tries to speak but is cut off by a shout.
"MINE!" the manticore bellows, placing herself between Kleber and the snack table.
Surprised by the mamono's wild and childish action, Kleber blinks confusedly for a second, before trying to speak again.
"You can eat everything." the human said, making Felizia return to eating. "But we need to talk about the interview."
Kleber's voice is firm, but it carries a touch of desperation. The manticore, however, completely ignores him, continuing to eat.
"Felizia, please." the human insists, his voice louder. "The interview is in fifteen minutes. I don't want to use your runes, and we need to prepare."
The manticore raises her eyes for an instant, her gaze fixed on Kleber. There is a glint of defiance in her green eyes, an intensity that sends a shiver down the human's spine. But then, she returns to focusing on the food, as if Kleber didn't exist.
"Damn it!" Kleber complains, stomping his foot on the ground in frustration. "What do I have to do for you to listen to me?"
Kleber's question makes the manticore freeze. Felizia's feline eyes widen as she stares at the human with an intensity that makes him recoil. The room, once filled with the sound of voracious chewing, is now silent, except for the distant sound of voices and footsteps in the hallway.
Felizia slowly turns to Kleber, the remnants of food still clinging to the corners of her mouth. With an almost human gesture, she wipes her lips with the back of her hand, her eyes never leaving Kleber's. There is a palpable tension in the air, a feeling that something crucial is about to happen.
"Would you do anything for me to obey you?" Felizia asks, her voice a low but clear growl. "Without using those sour bitch runes?"
There is a challenge in her words, a provocation that makes Kleber's heart beat faster.
Kleber swallows hard, feeling the weight of the question. He knows he needs to earn Felizia's respect, but he also knows he is dealing with a dangerous and unpredictable creature.
"I need you to cooperate." Kleber says, his voice firm, but without the arrogance of before. "I'm not asking you to become something you're not, but we need to work together. At least during the interview."
Breathing heavily, Felizia approaches Kleber, drawing Rajah's attention.
"Don't come any closer!" the white-furred tigress orders. "You filthy savage."
The manticore turns frustratedly towards the Jinko, challenging her.
"Or what?" Felizia questions, growling as she raises her scorpion tail high. "That white-haired hag's curse won't work on you, you striped rug."
Rajah's fur bristles, a guttural growl echoing in her throat. The Jinko's yellow eyes narrow, focused on the scorpion tail that hovers menacingly in the air. The tension in the room is palpable, a spark ready to ignite the powder keg.
But, at the height of the tension of this confrontation, a voice cuts through the air.
"Stop!" Kleber shouts, placing himself between the two mamonos. "We can't fight here!"
Kleber's gaze alternates between Rajah and Felizia, his breathing quickening. He knows that any false move could unleash chaos. But fortunately for the human, both mamonos relax their shoulders, assuming a more composed posture.
Swallowing hard, Kleber turns to the Manticore.
"What do you want, Felizia?" Kleber asks, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands.
Felizia averts her gaze from Rajah, a mocking smile curving her lips. After irritating the Jinko, she turns to Kleber, her green eyes gleaming with a malice that makes the human swallow hard.
"I want you." Felizia says, her voice a low but clear purr. "For an entire night."
The declaration hangs in the air, heavy and laden with implications. Kleber blinks, surprised, while Rajah maintains her defensive stance, her eyes never leaving Felizia's tail.
"What do you mean by that?" Kleber asks, his voice hesitant.
Felizia takes a step forward, her smile widening.
"Exactly what I said, human." she replies, her voice a dangerous whisper. "An entire night with you, without interruptions."
Kleber swallows hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He knows he is in a delicate position, but he also knows he needs to maintain control of the situation.
"And if I agree?" Kleber asks, his voice firm. "Will you cooperate during the interview?"
Felizia laughs, a low, guttural sound that makes Rajah's fur bristle even more.
"You have my word, human." Felizia says, her eyes gleaming with an intensity that sends a shiver down Kleber's spine.
-S2-LoveNexus Corp. – Where Innovation and Love meet!-S2-
E ai gurizada…
[#]Big news, short version:
Starting in November, I'll be posting a total of 5 chapters per month, each from a different story, instead of 8 chapters total, with 2 chapters for each of 4 stories.
[#]Big news, long version:
First, I want to thank my subscribers. You're helping my family, but also you're giving me hope that I can one day make a life from my writing.
The support I've received on Ko-fi has been a huge help for me and my family, but it hasn't been enough for me to dedicate myself fully to writing. I'll definitely keep writing and working on growing my audience, but I also took on a job to help cover some bills.
Right now, I already have enough material prepared to keep my usual release until October. After that, I'll likely need to slow down a little, though I won't be stopping. Writing is the only 'productive' thing I do that truly brings me joy and pride.
One idea I'm considering is shifting to 5 chapters per month instead of 8. I'll be posting a total of 5 chapters per month, each from a different story, instead of 8 chapters total, with 2 chapters for each of 4 stories.
And which story is taking that fifth slot? It's 'RWBY NOT!', since it has been drawing a lot of comments on several platforms.