Normal.
Everything was... normal.
That was their assessment as the sound of gravel under their boots was the only noise breaking the eerie silence.
Their convoy had recently just rolled to a stop at the Camp's entrance.
What they expected would be an army and cold-blooded welcome of enemies… was nowhere to be found.
Which was exactly the problem.
"... What the hell?" Mina muttered, stepping out of the truck while scanning the area with narrowed eyes. "Where's the army of enemies waiting at the gates you promised us, Nero?"
"Maybe they're planning a surprise party instead~?"
Yuki bounced out next, her magical girl energy somehow still intact despite the tense atmosphere.
"This doesn't feel right." Juno emerged from the vehicle with tactical precision, his analytical mind already processing the discrepancies. "Based on our intelligence, there's at least a 38.35% chance of defensive positions, guards, or at minimum some acknowledgment of our arrival occurring…"
But instead, there was nothing.
Just... people going about their daily routines like it was any other Tuesday in the survival apocalypse.
A woman was hanging laundry on a makeshift clothesline, humming softly to herself.
Two men were playing cards near a campfire, occasionally laughing at something one of them said.
Children ran around playing tag between the tents, their voices echoing with innocent laughter.
It looked like a fucking vacation resort, not a den of… whatever enemies they were expecting.
"Ara~ Maybe we got it wrong?" Haori suggested gently, though uncertainty crept into her voice. "Perhaps Vincent truly was just being cautious, and we misinterpreted his actions?"
Gilbert scratched his head, looking around at the peaceful scene. "I mean... doesn't look like anyone's being held against their will here."
"This is... not what I expected after everything that happened."
Even Jin seemed confused as she leaned against the truck.
"..."
Nero remained silent.
His eyes swept across the camp with laser focus, looking at every detail, every person, every movement.
… And something was wrong here. Something was very, very fucking wrong.
But he can't put a finger on what it is.
'Lord Nero...' Aurelia's mental voice carried the same tension he felt. 'I sense no immediate threats, but...'
'But?'
'The atmosphere feels... artificial.'
Yeah, that was it exactly.
Everything looked perfect. Too perfect. Like someone had arranged a fucking diorama and forgotten to make it look lived-in.
"Juno, your assessment?" Nero asked the strategist cautiously.
But before Juno could respond, excited voices erupted from the camp's center.
"MOM! DAD!"
"HOLY SHIT, YOU'RE ALIVE!"
"I… I can't believe it… You guys are alive!"
Kaito, Yui, and Haru came sprinting toward them, their faces lighting up with pure joy and relief.
The trio looked completely fine - no visible injuries, no signs of distress, nothing to indicate they'd been through hell and back.
*Thump! Thump! Thump!*
The parents' hearts collectively skipped beats as they saw their children running toward them.
"KAITO!" Yuki's eyes filled with tears as she started rushing forward.
"My Yui!" Haori's motherly instincts kicked into overdrive.
"H-Haru... you idiot! I wasn't worried at all!" Mina's tsundere mask cracked completely.
Everyone started moving forward, relief washing over the group like a tidal wave.
Even Juno's analytical demeanor softened as he saw his daughter approaching.
The emotional reunion was about to begin when–
"Stop."
Nero's calm voice cut through the emotional drama, as if a cold water was poured in their reunion.
"..."
Everyone froze mid-step, turning to look at him with expressions ranging from confusion, questioning gazes and some with a hint of annoyance.
"Dude, what the fuck?" Kaito called out with his usual friendly grin. "We've been worried sick about you guys!"
"Nero, they're fine!" Yuki protested. "Can't you see they're okay?"
"..."
But Nero's expression remained cold, calculating. His eyes never left the approaching trio, studying their movements, their expressions, their body language.
Something was off. He couldn't put his finger on it, but his maxed out Greater Instinct was screaming danger.
And just as Yui reached her mother and was about to throw herself into Haori's arms with tears streaming down her face…
*Clap! Clap! Clap!*
Slow, deliberate applause echoed across the camp.
Vincent Cross emerged from behind one of the larger tents, his businessman smile perfectly in place as he approached their group with measured steps.
"Now, now, Nero," Vincent's voice carried that same smooth and casual tone. "Why are you interrupting such a beautiful reunion between family members?"
The camp leader looked exactly as Nero remembered… perfectly groomed, expensive clothes somehow still pristine despite the apocalypse, that insufferable smile that made you want to punch him in the face.
"Congratulations on completing your mission successfully," Vincent continued, his gaze lingering on Aurelia a bit too long. "I'm impressed that you managed to eliminate the Verdant Tyrant. Truly exceptional work from both of you."
His eyes swept over their group, taking inventory like he was counting merchandise.
"Though I must ask..." Vincent's expression shifted to one of mild concern. "Where are Marcus, Rebecca, and Laura? I was expecting them to return with you. Were they left back to handle some work?"
"..."
Nero didn't bother responding to Vincent's bullshit.
Instead, he focused on Aurelia's mental warning that had just reached him through their connection.
'Lord Nero... their eyes.'
'What about them?'
'Everyone in this camp. Their eyes… It's the same as when I confronted Rebecca's… but this time they're dulled instead of the pink-hearted shape I saw.'
Nero's gaze snapped to Kaito, Yui, and Haru, studying their faces more carefully, or more specially their eyes…
And turns out, the angel's right.
It was subtle, but definitely there.
Their pupils were slightly dilated, and their expressions, while appearing emotional, had an artificial quality to them.
Like actors following a script rather than people experiencing genuine emotions.
'They're all under some form of mental influence,' Aurelia confirmed his suspicions.
While Vincent continued his performance, Yui had reached her mother and was preparing for their long-awaited embrace.
"Mom... I missed you so much," Yui sobbed, moving to wrap her arms around Haori.
But before she could,
*Clang!*
The sound of metal rubbing against metal coldly reverberated the supposed-to-be warm and emotional reunion.
Nero had moved.
And on between his transformed metallic index and thumb claws was a poisoned blade that's aimed at Haori's neck.
… The movement was too precise, too practiced for someone who'd never wielded a weapon before.
Everyone froze.
Yui's eyes widened in shock, the artificial emotion replaced by confusion as her assassination attempt failed.
The knife trembled in her grip as Nero's hand held it in place.
*Waappp!*
Nero immediately snatched the weapon from her hand and turned to face Vincent, who had gone stiff.
"You plot your schemes well, Vincent," Nero said with a predatory grin. "But you suck absolute ass at hiding your real intentions."
*BOOM!*
Nero vanished from his position, his powerful leg launching him explosively in a single leap, turning him into a blur of motion as he launched himself at Vincent with killing intent radiating from every fiber of his being.
"!!!"
Vincent's eyes widened in terror as death approached him at breakneck speed.
But just as Nero's fist was about to connect with Vincent's face…
*BANNGGG!!!*
Kaito appeared between them, his enhanced strength allowing him to tank the blow that would have turned Vincent's head into paste.
The impact sent Kaito flying backward, clearly injured, but he successfully protected his target.
Nero landed gracefully, his transformation still active as metallic scales covered his arms and torso.
His eyes glowed with cold fury as he stared down the mind-controlled puppets surrounding him before settling at the manipulative fucker.
"Well, well..." Nero's voice carried the promise of violence. "Looks like playtime's over, you pathetic piece of shit."
"..."
The camp fell into deadly silence as Nero stood in the center of it all, looking like the protagonist of humanity's last stand - dangerous, confident, and absolutely done with everyone's bullshit.
Nero calmly walked towards Vincent, saying,
"From the start… I can already smell the bullshit here."
Nero's pupils turned into reptilian slits, his muscles bulged, while strength surged in every part of his body.
"G-Gather!"
Vincent, who finally snapped out of his daze, commanded.
And immediately, every resident from the Camp suddenly surrounded Nero and his group with weapons pointing at them.
"Tsk! Looks like we have to battle after all! Let's fight them!"
Hina clicked her tongue in annoyance, as a surge of energy covered her fist turning into a sort of powered punching gloves.
"Everyone, to your formation!"
Juno immediately ordered, as the group made a circled formation facing outwards.
But suddenly,
"Hehehe… looks like your plan failed, Vincent."
A cold voice of mockery dropped on everyone's ears, as a black-haired woman holding a bone staff suddenly appeared amidst the tense atmosphere.
"!!!"
Nero's maxed Great Instinct immediately screamed maximum danger, narrowing his eyes with extreme caution.
His senses never felt so alarmed before.
"..."
And looking at Aurelia, holding the hilt of her sword with such a serious expression, Nero immediately knew this would be the toughest enemy they would be facing so far.
"Good day, everyone," The beautiful mysterious girl spoke gorgeously. "Allow me to introduce myself… for I am Vex'ahlia, one of the leaders of the 3rd-Circle Harbinger of the Obsidian Covenant…"
And then she followed it up with a nasty grin that made everyone's blood run cold,
"And would also be the one to turn you into sacrifices for the greater glory of my immense power."
It's finally time to end this charade once and for all.
***
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