"So, what's the split?"
Axel removed his mask, taking a deep breath now that they were finally alone in the room. The dim lighting of the backroom auction house cast long shadows across the floor, the heavy scent of leather and tal filling the air. He turned toward Naful, who had just removed her own mask, her expression one of calm expectation.
"The split?" Axel echoed, montarily taken aback by her question. Was she seriously asking for a cut of the money? The thought irritated him. 'What else would I expect from a human?'
"I an the split between you and the Auction House. Do they take thirty percent? More?" She clarified, her nonchalant deanor grating on his nerves. 'He must think I want his small change... How pathetic.'
Axel's eyes narrowed, but he quickly regained his composure, recognizing the trap. "It's an auction to raise money for hunters. The house doesn't take a cut when selling to other hunters. It's like a free promotion. So, my billion Kyota is mine in full." He leaned back in the chair, pretending to be deep in thought. But in truth, his mind raced.
The money was secured, but what was next? Power—he needed more power. His eyes flicked to the glowing interface of his system in the corner of his vision. There was still much to unravel, and he had questions that needed answers.
Naful—or rather, *Noel*, as she was in this setting—reclined in her seat, watching him with a sly grin. "I'll be waiting for you to finish your stupid processing. Annie's making food at ho, by the way."
Axel's mind snapped back to reality. 'Wait a minute, I should probably ask her about that package she ntioned earlier. What was in it, and why was it left in my apartnt?'
"Uh, Noel, about the—"
Before he could finish, a sudden, sharp *beep* echoed through the room. It ca from the entrance, pulling Axel's attention away from his train of thought.
'A visitor? Now?' Annoyed but curious, Axel stood and moved to the door, which humd with the sound of its digital locks disengaging. His fingers tapped against the console, and within seconds, the door slid open.
Standing before him was a tall, striking woman, her long, raven-black hair flowing down her back, and her deep-set eyes locked onto his with an unnerving intensity. "Hi, I'm Trisha," she said smoothly. "You must be Naless... I can tell from the sll, the aura you're giving off. There's no mistaking it."
Axel raised an eyebrow, imdiately understanding why other hunters kept their distance from her. Trisha had a reputation—sharp instincts, keen senses, and an unpredictability that made her dangerous.
"So," Axel said, his voice cold, "what do you want? My item's already been sold. You're too late."
Her lips curled into a faint smile. "I was hoping you had more to offer," she said, stepping closer, her eyes never leaving his. "Not because I wanted the item itself. I don't care about the sword. I was interested in *you*."
Axel froze, his composure cracking just slightly.
She continued, her voice a low murmur. "I saw the look in your eyes when that idiot almost bought your sword. And even after it sold for a billion Kyota, that sa look lingered. You weren't relieved. You were still thinking about sothing, weren't you?"
This girl wasn't just perceptive—she was *dangerous*. 'She's awfully nice for soone who's supposed to be ruthless,' Axel thought, stretching his hand out toward her. "Let's start over. I'm Axel."
"Trisha," she said, shaking his hand, her grip firm. There was no warmth in her touch, only cool efficiency.
"So, what can I do for you?" Axel asked, forcing a smile. "I don't have anything like that sword on right now, but we could exchange contacts. Maybe I'll have sothing in the future. For now... let's call it the start of a professional friendship."
The words tasted foul in his mouth, but it was necessary. If he could gain her trust, or at least keep her close, he might be able to use her later. He couldn't afford to show any weakness now.
"I'll see you around, Axel," Trisha said, her eyes flashing with a hint of mischief. "Don't die before then."
She turned and walked away, vanishing from sight in seconds. Axel stood in the doorway for a mont, wrestling with the strange mix of relief and suspicion brewing in his chest.
'Fight all temptations, Axel. Everything's an illusion, this girl is not to be fully trusted just yet, she has motives hiding behind her kindness,' he reminded himself. Slamming the door behind him, he turned to face Noel, who was watching him with an amused expression.
"So, what's next in this grand plan of yours?" she asked, one eyebrow arched, her tone teasing but her eyes sharp.
Axel smiled, his confidence returning. "What's next? Simple. We wait. And we leave this place—avoid more physical etings with other hunters. Then, the real ga begins."
---
**Elsewhere…**
"What the hell is this? *Help !*" A man's desperate screams echoed through the dark alley as a Fatek alien pulled him into the shadows. The sound of tearing flesh and the crunch of bones followed, each scream more pained and desperate than the last.
The woman who had led the man here stood still, her eyes lifeless, as she watched the grueso scene unfold before her. The Fatek finished its work, its alien form stepping into the dim light, its eyes glowing with a cruel satisfaction.
"What are you waiting for?" the Fatek growled, his voice dripping with authority. "Get more flesh. The masterpiece is nearly complete."
The woman flinched but remained frozen in place, her hands trembling. "I'm tired of this... this back-and-forth," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "These n stink like—"
A low growl from the Fatek cut her off, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Do not test ," he said, his voice like venom. "I will wipe out you and your family from this miserable planet if you ever question my authority again."
The threat struck her like a blow, her defiance crumbling instantly. "I... I'm sorry," she stamred, quickly turning and fleeing to fulfill her duty. The ntion of her family had shattered her composure.
The Fatek watched her go, his expression darkening as he turned and reentered the building, slamming the door behind him. His footsteps echoed through the bloodstained hall, the scent of dried flesh and death thick in the air—a scent that would turn the stomach of any human but slled like *victory* to him.
'A year in human ti,' he thought, his lip curling into a sneer. 'That's how long we've been working on this project. But no more.'
He reached the end of the hall and stood before a large tallic door, its surface stained with bloody handprints. Grabbing the handle, he twisted it open, revealing a massive underground chamber.
A gorge had been carved into the ground, a room sixty feet wide and forty feet long. Several Fateks worked inside, monitoring computers and strange laboratory instrunts. At the center of the room was a large, man-sized cocoon, its surface pulsing with a sickly red glow.
The pieces of human flesh the Fatek had just harvested were dropped before the cocoon, the blood seeping into the ground.
"Hakakihsiskei!" one of the Fateks hissed, and in an instant, thin, rope-like tentacles erged from the cocoon, slithering out to wrap around the flesh, dragging it toward the base.
As soon as the flesh touched the cocoon, it was absorbed into it, disappearing in seconds. The tentacles retracted, and the cocoon glowed even brighter.
The Fatek leader watched with satisfaction, his eyes gleaming. 'Yes... it's almost ready. The new era of the Fateks. Combined with the flesh of the Awakened ones, we'll harness the powers that those human bastards have been hiding from us for so long.'
'Just a few pieces left… and then it's ga ti.'
---
Author's note
I want to express my deepest gratitude to you, Josh Senpai, for your unwavering support of this project. Your encouragent ans the world to , and it's because of people like you that I even have a fighting chance in this contest. Your belief in my work has truly helped push forward.
As a token of appreciation, I'm excited to announce that I'll be mass releasing new chapters very soon! Brace yourself for a whirlwind of content, as I plan to release in quick succession. The story is about to take off in a way that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Get ready for an adventure-packed week, where things will get even crazier than before. We're about to embark on a rollercoaster of emotions, suspense, and action—just as you've co to expect. And don't forget, this is based on a true-life story, which only adds to the intensity of what's to co! Thank you once again for your continued support. Stay tuned!
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