The Monster Den

More than twenty people sat cross-legged on the floor, lining up on either side like soldiers in formation.

Some sported bold tattoos etched across their faces, while others bore intricate patterns of Cyberware marks that shimmered in the dim light.

All of them wore yukata and kimono, adding an air of traditional elegance to the otherwise eerie scene.

Despite the presence of twenty members, the room was enveloped in an unsettling silence, accentuated by the slight dampness and darkness.

At the center, near the throne, stood three boys and a girl. Axel recognized them easily, except for one boy. There were Kenji and Haruki, along with the crazy girl he met at the Eclipse chamber.

Even the eccentric girl, who wore a mini skirt and high boots and carried herself with an attitude that screamed "fuck you," now sported a kimono.

This change in attire spoke volumes about the reverence the lord held, as even someone as unconventional as her adhered to the traditional dress code.

'What the hell is she doing here.'

No matter the attire, if your essence reeks, so does everything you touch. She stood there, arms folded, weight shifted to one hip, emanating an air that whispered, "you all are dog poop."

Axel felt like a total hypocrite, disliking someone he'd only run into once... but hey, she'd practically handed him the reason to feel that way.

The third guy was a stranger to him, but beyond them, on this huge throne, sat someone oozing with dignity and authority.

Lord Kuro.

Just his being there sucked all the warmth out of the room, giving it this spooky vibe. His eyes? Like staring into the abyss, pure darkness. And his stance? As rigid as a board. His expression? Stone-faced, like trying to read a brick wall, which only made him seem scarier.

Gulp.

Nene stepped ahead, and Axel paused for a beat before trailing after her. He could sense all eyes on them, fixated like they were the main event. Nerves fluttered in his gut, but he refused to let them peek through.

'Forget about them, ignore them, don't even give them a second thought. Just stay calm and collected, like you're as chill as an iceberg.'

Even though he hadn't done a darn thing to deserve it, Axel couldn't shake the nerves.

Here he was, in the heart of a gangster family's hideout, surrounded by them no less. And not just any old gangster crew, but one of the most infamous ones around.

If they decided to kill him, not even the gods could swoop in and save his sorry hide.

Axel had no clue what they had up their sleeves, and the fear gripped him tight. Every single person in that room was a walking danger zone.

He had to keep his cool, no matter how much his insides churned with anxiety.

Nene halted beside the figures, gracefully lowering herself to the ground, her forehead meeting the floor.

"Kneel."

she murmured to Axel in a hushed tone.

Axel felt like he was in a fog, unsure of what to do in such a bizarre situation. It was his first time in the thick of something like this.

But the sound of Nene's voice pulled him along, and he followed suit, sinking down beside her.

The three boys and the girl remained standing a few paces away, casting imposing shadows in the dimly lit room.

"Rise."

came a refined, smooth voice that seemed to command the very air in the room. It was Lord Kuro. Nene and Axel both straightened up, responding to the unmistakable authority in the command.

"My lord, I've brought Axel-sama," Nene announced respectfully.

"You are dismissed," Lord Kuro replied with a wave of his hand.

Nene gave a nod, stumbling a bit as she backed away. She showed respect, keeping her head low, and only when she reached the door did she turn and leave the room.

She knew her place—she was just a servant, not one of the family. This was strictly a family affair. Each person sitting there had the blood of the Kuro clan running through their veins.

"Tch~"

Axel caught the sound of the wild girl clicking her tongue, as if she was ashamed to even be in his presence.

If she was here, and standing without a shred of respect for the lord, that meant she had to be his daughter.

'I've to deal with her now? Bloody hell!'

He glanced at Kenji and Haruki, both of them avoiding eye contact. Haruki looked like he'd been bawling his eyes out for ages, or maybe hadn't stopped crying at all.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the weirdo kid grinning at him, like they shared some secret from way back when. Axel narrowed his eyes at the boy.

'Is this the so-called best friend these idiots were going on about?'

The dude was undeniably good-looking, no question about it. Probably even more handsome than Axel himself, not that it took much to top him in the looks department.

The guy had this athletic build, muscles that spoke more of sports than gym sessions. His eyes were sharp, like they belonged to a warrior, and his messy hair somehow managed to look stylish.

Handsome bastards and bitches always manage to look good, even if they just rolled out of bed after a six-month snooze. Life's just not fair sometimes.

'Who is he though?

He seemed like the male counterpart to the wild girl, but way more easygoing and cheerful.

They were like night and day, with him being the sunny side that lights up the world, while she's the dark cloud that threatens to drown it in endless gloom.

'Must be lord's son.'

"I never imagined when I said I believed we'd meet again, it would be under these circumstances and... so soon," the boy said, his voice gentle yet firm.

'Wait...wait, wait, wait...This sound and this dialogue. It is him...'

"R-Raiden?"

The instant the name escaped his lips, something shifted nearby. The speed of it was so unnatural, he couldn't even comprehend what had happened. If he had decent eye implants, maybe he could've caught it.

"How dare you... speak his name with your filthy mouth?"

The wild girl screeched, suddenly right in front of him, their faces mere inches apart.

He could see the black abyss of her eyes, filled with madness. It was like staring into death itself. A chill ran down Axel's spine as fear gripped him.

To make matters worse, her katana was just inches away from his jugulars. If she so much as applied a hair's width of pressure, his head would have gone flying.