Soft sunlight broke through the half-closed curtains, illuminating the once-dark room with a warm golden glow.
Near the bed, a pile of used tissues lay scattered, some clinging to dried sticky stains on the floor. The scent of sweat, bodily fluids, and something sharper still hung in the air, creating an atmosphere that was hard to ignore. The large bed in the center of the room looked like a battlefield—its white silk sheets were tangled and pulled away from the corners of the mattress, pillows were strewn about, and there were damp patches that hadn't fully dried in several places.
"Mhm~..."
Hayasaka woke up slowly, her eyes blinking to adjust to the light that seeped in. She was still wearing the white-dotted red cheongsam that now looked pitiful—wrinkled, stiff in some parts, and slightly torn at the waist. The thin fabric clung tightly to her sweaty skin, revealing the curves of her body in a far from elegant way. She glanced at the side of the bed next to her, finding it empty.
"Ren-sama has already left, huh..." She murmured in a hoarse voice, her hand groping the still-warm sheets on Ren's side of the bed.
"Ugh... It seems he really has a fetish for Chinese dresses. He was more aggressive than any other night."
Every small movement she made caused the cheongsam fabric to rub against her still-sensitive skin. The sensation sent small shivers throughout her body, making her bite her lower lip to suppress a sigh that almost escaped unintentionally.
With faltering steps, Hayasaka got out of bed, her legs trembling slightly as they touched the cold floor. She took a deep breath, trying to ignore the faint ache between her thighs, then walked towards the bathroom connected to the bedroom.
In front of the large mirror, she stared at her reflection. Her face was flushed, her hair was disheveled, and her cheongsam looked pathetic. With trembling hands, she unbuttoned the fastenings at her chest, letting the fabric slide down, revealing her naked body covered in marks.
"Oh my God..."
Her eyes widened at the red marks scattered on her neck, chest, and inner thighs. Bite marks, kisses, and scratches adorned her skin, evidence of a passionate night.
Hayasaka turned around, seeing the scratch marks on her back, reminding her of the moments when she lost control and surrendered to pleasure. Her sensitive area felt swollen and slightly sore, a reminder of the intensity that made her faint in Ren's embrace.
She picked up the cheongsam lying on the floor, frowning at its condition. The fabric was torn in several places, the result of Ren's impatient rough pulls. Dried white stains were in several spots, mixed with her own sweat, making the fabric stiff and uncomfortable.
"Kaguya-sama won't be able to tease me for being inexperienced anymore. On the contrary, her relationship with the Student Council President is still just so-so."
Thinking about what she had done with Ren last night—and how wild it was—her face instantly flushed. Hayasaka hurriedly turned her gaze away from the mirror, trying to banish the sudden wave of embarrassment that flooded her mind.
With steps that were still a bit wobbly, she headed towards the large bathtub that the servants had prepared earlier. The warm water inside was still faintly steaming, and the scent of lavender oil dripped into it immediately greeted her.
Soaking herself in the water, Hayasaka let the warmth creep over her skin, easing the tension and pain. She closed her eyes, letting her mind and body relax.
"Haaah~ so comfortable~ this would be even more satisfying if I were soaking in a hot spring."
"Last night... was I too obedient to Ren-sama's desires?"
Her fingers unconsciously touched the bite mark on her shoulder.
"He said all men have fantasies, but... this is more than just ordinary fantasies."
The image of Ren smiling mischievously while tearing her cheongsam flashed in her mind, followed by the sound of his heavy breathing and amorous whispers in her ear. Hayasaka opened her eyes suddenly, her face flushing again.
"Goodness, Ai, stop thinking about that!" She scolded herself, splashing water on her face to clear her head.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Canvey Island was in a sorry state, so much so that it was difficult to call it an island anymore. In fact, it might not be long before the name was removed from the map.
How could it not be? Its original area of 18.44 square kilometers or 7.12 square miles had almost vanished, its land shattered into pieces. The analogy of a cake cut with a knife into several parts perfectly described the current state of Canvey Island—cracked, broken, and slowly sinking into the sea.
Floating on the surface of the seawater, Ren let the small waves carry him wherever they went. His body felt heavy, exhaustion setting in after fighting two Heretic Gods in a row within hours.
His wet hair stuck to his forehead, and the clothes he wore were tattered, barely covering his body anymore. However, amidst that state, he let out a long sigh and said to himself:
"Fortunately, I have Karna's Man of Steel Divine Authorities, which reduces the impact of attacks by 90%. Otherwise, I would have barely had a chance to survive under Roland's slashes. Even so, the remaining 10% almost killed me."
Although the words sounded serious, there wasn't the slightest hint of fear on Ren's face. All that was there was satisfaction, a faint smile that showed he enjoyed this challenge. For him, fighting against Heretic Gods wasn't just about survival, but also about proving his strength as a Campione.
"Now I have seven Divine Authorities. This number is equal to Luo Hao's, and not too far from Marquis Voban who has ten."
Ren recalled the number of Divine Authorities possessed by other Campione in this era. Annie—or better known as John due to his disguise—had five. Alec had six, Doni also six, Madam Aisha five, and Godou, the youngest Campione, only one. However, Ren knew very well that Godou's one Divine Authorities could not be underestimated.
"Although Godou only has one Divine Authorities, it has ten different powers. It's practically the same as him having ten Divine Authorities at once. The protagonist is still the protagonist, huh..." Ren chuckled softly, there was a cynical tone in his voice.
"While I have to work hard to increase the Divine Authorities in my arsenal, Godou was already so strong from his rebirth as a Campione."
It would be a lie if Ren said he wasn't envious of Godou. In the past, he had once devised a plan to seize Prometheus' Grimoire from him, replacing Godou's role in killing Melqart and Verethragna, and taking their Divine Authorities for himself.
Unfortunately, he was late in realizing that the comprehensive world he was in—a fusion of various anime—included Campione. By the time he finally knew, Godou had already gone to Sardinia, Italy, and his first battle as a Campione was over. Even if Ren chased after him then, it would have been too late.
"Whatever. Lamenting lost opportunities is the biggest waste of time ever, and nothing is more precious than time." Ren said cheerfully, banishing the thought.
He turned his attention to the Holy Grail clutched in his left hand. Its glow had completely faded, its magical energy exhausted after being used to summon the last Heretic God.
"The Holy Grail is useless to me now. It's no longer possible to use it to summon Heretic Gods. Should I return it to Guinevere?" He murmured, twirling the artifact in his hand.
"No, the remaining time of the agreement is still long. Let that snake-hearted woman wait longer."
Ren smiled faintly, imagining Guinevere's frustrated expression when she realized his plan to awaken the King of the End was delayed again. For him, it was a small bonus from today's battle.
With a quick movement, he stored the Holy Grail into his storage space dimension.
Activating Godspeed, Ren disappeared from the surface of the sea in an instant.
*WHOOSH!*
The wind whistled in his ears as he sped back towards London, leaving the ruins of Canvey Island, now slowly sinking behind him.