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TODAY'S FUN FIXER FACT!
"A-A-A-ARCHtypes are g-gifts given to people who g-gain the trust of ARCHs. ARCHtypes usually take the f-form of weapons and clothing, but they can t-take any form and have any functionality. Some Fixers only u-use ARCHtypes because they hate the idea of working with ARCHs, but... I-I don't really mind them... as long as the m-mission gets d-done!!" —Kotone Furue
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Bashnya Coalition Special "Retrieval" Division — 5th District — Angel's Solace Dine-In Restaurant
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"So, what would you all like to eat? Don't be shy, take a menu!"
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Jianhuan, Armor, and Leopold stared at her for a few seconds before Jianhuan reached for his menu at the center of the table.
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"Hm. Let's see..."
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Leopold could still feel the sensation of his skin stretched taut around his bones, slowly tearing away, but he was slowly recovering. He reached for a menu, and Armor did the same. The woman in the brown suit picked up her menu and began to peruse it, carefully turning each page as she spoke to them over the clatter of spoons and forks on glass plates—the sounds of people eating hundreds of dishes around them.
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"I make it a habit to visit this restaurant before a difficult mission, so that I may enjoy their food one last time."
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She stopped on a page.
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"But every time I visit, I can't think of one thing to try."
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Jianhuan laughed to himself.
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"Why not try a sample of everything on the menu?"
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She quickly closed the menu and placed it down on the table at a perfect 90-degree angle.
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"...No, thank you. I'm not hungry."
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She looked up at Armor.
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"You. I can tell you're hungry, aren't you? Why not order what you like?"
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"..."
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Armor paused, staring at a single item on the menu, wondering if he should ask her to buy it for him.
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"I'm not hungry either. We should be focusing on the mission, not this."
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She looked over at Leopold.
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"Are you hungry, Leopold?"
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He hadn't been following their conversation, so when she suddenly said his name, he turned to her, eyes wide.
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"U-Uh... I'd like... a sundae."
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"Coming right up. Does anyone else have their order ready?"
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Jianhuan raised his hand.
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"I'd like the Xi-Hengzhongguo wagyu. I have an uncle from Xi-Hengzhongguo."
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The woman flagged down a waiter.
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"Could we get him a sundae with extra chocolate and peanuts? Also, could we get the Xi-Hengzhongguo wagyu for that man over there? As for me, I'll take a small plate of everything on the menu, all varieties and flavors, please."
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Everyone at the table was shocked to hear her order.
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"A-Are you sure, ma'am? That would cost you... about... over 30 million Nanum."
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"Yes, I'm sure. Please, pay for it with this card, and make it quick."
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"Yes, ma'am!"
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The waiter rushed to the kitchen to tell the head chef about the woman and her 30 million Nanum order. The chef stormed out of the kitchen and approached the Bashnya's table.
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"Excuse me, ma'am. Were you sure you wanted to order everything on our menu??"
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"Yes, I'm sure. Please, hurry."
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The chef took his hat off and lowered it to his chest.
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"Ma'am, I'm sorry, but we just can't do that. We don't have enough food to give you one of everything."
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She looked the chef in his eyes, her own glistening a vibrant amber.
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"Tell me, chef..."
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"—?"
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"How hungry are you?"
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"What do you mean, ma'am?"
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She sighed.
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"I guess I'll starve..."
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"Wha—?"
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She bit at the air, her jaw snapping shut with a high, crystalline chime that split the silence like glass. In that instant, an unseen force swept through the room. The chefs convulsed, bodies contorting in agony as their bones compacted with sickening precision. Flesh flattened and burst under the immense invisible pressure, eyes bulging before exploding, skulls caving in with a grotesque wet pop. A crimson spray erupted from their heads, painting the walls in an arc of blood and viscera. The air filled with the metallic tang of violence. Jianhuan watched the display before him, smiling. They were used to this by now.
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"I think I might have overreacted."
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She took a moment to clean the bloody matter off her face before continuing. Civilians panicked, abandoning their meals and fleeing.
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"I guess we won't be getting any food here for a while."
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Jianhuan stood up from his seat, sighing to himself.
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"All is well. I wasn't that hungry, anyway."
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Armor also got up.
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"Excuse me, employer, but that power of yours is impeccable. You've demonstrated it to us plenty of times, but we still do not know your name."
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The woman's eyes widened.
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"How could I forget to introduce myself? Apologies. My name is Gluttony, I'm an ARCHtype created by an ARCH."
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Everyone's expression shifted to surprise; even Armor paused, staring at the woman who called herself Gluttony. She spoke again.
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"Well, if we can't get a good meal, I should at least treat you all to some shopping. We're near the mall, shall we go?"
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The Bashnya Special Division stepped over the viscera spread across the restaurant floor. The acrid smell lingered in the air as they exited, a stark contrast to the vibrant life that was surging around them earlier. Outside, the main road bustled with activity, a river of humanity flowing in all directions. Brightly lit storefronts lined the street, their colorful displays vying for the attention of passersby. The chatter of families and the laughter of children filled the atmosphere with a cacophony of everyday life. People hurried past, some clutching coffee cups and others engrossed in their phones, completely oblivious to the malicious violence that had just passed over the restaurant. As the Special Division walked, they maneuvered through a throng of commuters. A cluster of students, backpacks slung over their shoulders, congregated outside a nearby café, their voices a buzz of excitement as they shared stories of the morning's lessons. An elderly couple ambled hand in hand, pausing occasionally to admire the window displays filled with the latest fashions. The sound of a street performer strumming a guitar added a melodic backdrop to the scene, drawing a small crowd who swayed gently to the music. Food vendors called out their daily specials, the sizzling of street food filling the air with enticing aromas. The vibrant life of the district pulsed around the division—an ordinary tapestry woven with moments of joy, laughter, and connection. Yet, amidst this everyday hustle and bustle, the members of the Special Division walked with a palpable gravity, their expressions empty, stark reminders of the chaos left behind. They weaved through the crowd, their presence casting an unexpected shadow over the sense of normalcy that defined the area.
Something was wrong.
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"—?!"
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Armor noticed her alertness.
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"What's wrong, employer?"
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"I... felt something off about those two who just passed by."
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Looking back, the Special Division saw two men frozen in place, sensing the sudden energy shift. One was tall, adorned with gold chains, goggles perched on his forehead, and hands tucked in his pockets. The other was also tall, with long black hair, partially braided and mostly gathered in a high ponytail that flowed in the wind. Both of them wore Argus Directorate uniforms. Jianhuan smirked.
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"Hello, brother."
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Yuhuan tried to turn and keep walking, but Roby grabbed his shoulder.
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"We're staying."
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Yuhuan turned to Roby, meeting his intense gaze.
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"...All right. What do you want?"
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Gluttony answered.
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"We were just making our way to the mall when we noticed you. You're both Fixers, right? Is that the Argus Directorate patch on your suits?"
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Yuhuan glanced down at his patch, the same yellow club with "IV" emblazoned, as he saw from the Sub-Train after the recruitment exam.
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"Yes, we're both members of the Argus Directorates. Do you need anything?"
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She smiled at them.
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"Yes, I do."
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Her hair flowed as she stepped toward them. She placed her hand on Yuhuan's patch, but he didn't move. She whispered in his ear.
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"Send your director a message for me."
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Yuhuan narrowly dodged an unseen force, spinning away just in time. He unsheathed his yanyuedao, adopting a fighting stance and leveling the blade at the Special Division. Roby removed his hands from his pockets, displaying golden brass knuckles, each engraved with an "R." Gluttony turned toward Yuhuan, now only feet away, and smiled.
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"You're quick."
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Jianhuan grinned.
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"Protect the employer!"
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Instantly, the Special Division broke from its cluster and surrounded the two Directorates. Roby turned to Yuhuan.
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"Hey, ain't that your brother? Can't you talk this out with him??"
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"My grandpa would tell us stories of how he killed his younger brother in sword training. These kinds of situations are quite common for our family."
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"Yeesh!"
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Leopold stuck out his thumb, whispering to himself.
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"Dogs...!"
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His thumb lit ablaze, a small flame that slowly engulfed him, casting long shadows as three monstrous dogs emerged from behind him. One had eyes the size of daggers, another, eyes the size of billboards, and the last, eyes the size of towers.
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"Maul em'!"
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The dogs surged forward, barking as they charged toward Yuhuan and Roby. The medium-sized dog lunged at Yuhuan, but Roby quickly turned and landed a punch that sent it whimpering across the street. Leopold then issued another command, this time gesturing as if fire were erupting from his hands.
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"Burn em'!"
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The massive dog took a deep breath, its chest expanding as it prepared for an astonishing display of power. Suddenly, it unleashed a roaring torrent of flames that shot forth like a fiery dragon from its mouth. Roby and Yuhuan instinctively dove to the side, adrenaline coursing through their veins, as the searing heat washed over them. In a frantic voice, Roby shouted to Yuhuan, the urgency of the moment clear in his tone.
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"I'll take the houndmaster and that knight guy in the armor! You take out your brother and that weird chick!"
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"Right!"
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Yuhuan charged toward Armor, his blade poised for a wide, sweeping slash aimed at breaking through the formidable defenses that stood before him. The air crackled with intensity as he unleashed the attack, but Armor met the assault with unwavering resolve, raising his arm to intercept the glistening edge of the sword. The blade clanged against the thick, reinforced metal of Armor's gauntlet, sending a jolt up Yuhuan's arm as he applied pressure, but the armor stubbornly held firm, impervious to his blows. Frustrated, he sprang back, his chest heaving as he caught his breath, the adrenaline coursing through him as he prepared for the next move.
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"That armor isn't a bad idea."
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"Thank you."
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Armor unsheathed his greatsword and slammed it into the concrete where Yuhuan had been standing, Yuhuan having jumped out of the way just in time. Armor raised the sword again, preparing another strike, but before he could attack, Gluttony bit down, launching an invisible force at Yuhuan and sending him flying into a nearby building. Screaming, civilians scurried away from the fight.
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"Run away!
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"There's a fight in this precinct!"
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"I don't wanna die!!"
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Roby was prepared to unleash a barrage of punches on Leopold when the large dog rammed into him, sending Roby tumbling to the ground. As Yuhuan and Roby tried to get back on their feet, Gluttony spoke a single word that shook them to their core...
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"Barony."
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As the last rays of sunlight dwindled, the fabric of reality began to contort and warp, creating an unsettling atmosphere. Grotesque mouths, seemingly sprouting from the very ground, writhed and clacked open and shut in a cacophony, their insatiable hunger palpable in the air. Above them, the sky hung heavy with an ominous shade of murky brown, pulsating and swirling as if it were alive; an eerie, stomach-churning echo rumbled across the landscape, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Staring back at them, the formidable figure loomed. Gluttony, the ARCHtype resembling insatiable desire and hunger, watches with an unblinking gaze.
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"This is...!"
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"A barony..."
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Roby's voice quaked with a mix of dread and disbelief as the shocking truth washed over him. Beneath their feet, the ground throbbed with an unsettling rhythm. Soft and uneven, as if alive. Yuhuan's gaze dropped instinctively, his heart racing as he tried to make sense of the strange sensation. Mouths. Endless mouths guarded by layered lips, shifting and breathing.
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Roby staggered back
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"It's… alive."
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Across from them, Gluttony stood in awe of this world.
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"It's so beautiful."
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She locked eyes with them, her brown eyes sparkling with a bright intensity.
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"This barony has no end, borders, or exit."
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She tilted her head slightly.
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"You'll never leave."
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"N-Never…?"
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The word barely left Roby's mouth before it broke into a gasp. Yuhuan stepped forward, his foot sinking slightly into the surface beneath him. The lips beneath his shoe parted, then sealed again.
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"Why did you attack us?"
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"I could tell you…"
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She took a slow step forward.
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"...Or you could struggle your way to the answer."
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"The former."
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She sighed, almost disappointed.
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"I could feel the energy of that Elegy on you. I'm sure you both know who I'm talking about, right? Your director?"
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"...Antollio?"
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"So that's his name."
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Before Yuhuan could speak again, Roby snapped.
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"Then take him! Just let us out of here!"
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"Roby, you bastard!"
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"What?! You wanna rot here forever?!"
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Gluttony giggled to herself, her laugh echoing through the barony. Yuhuan and Roby were both confused.
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"I don't want Antollio!"
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She pivoted gracefully, lifting her hand as if conducting an unseen symphony. In an astonishing display, a door materialized before her, its frame emerging as if from the depths of her very being, with flesh peeling back to reveal the entrance.
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"I want what he's chasing."
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She glanced over her shoulder.
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"And keeping you here?"
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Her smile returned.
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"...Only slows him down."
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Roby lunged forward, but the ground reacted instantly. The lips beneath them stretched, pulling, sealing around their legs like a living trap. Roby yelled as he punched at them.
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"HEY! LET GO!!"
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Yuhuan didn't struggle. He just stared at her.
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"So that's it? You leave us here? We don't even know what he's after!"
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Gluttony paused in the doorway. Half her body had already passed through.
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"It doesn't matter."
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She paused for a moment.
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"I'll let you out when it's over."
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"...And if we die before then?"
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She paused for a moment, a soft smile playing on her lips as if caught in a fleeting thought. Her gaze lingered, heavy with unspoken words, and for a heartbeat, the air crackled with anticipation. Time seemed to slow before she stepped forward, crossing the threshold with a gentle grace. The door behind her shut with a whisper, seamlessly vanishing as if it had never existed, leaving only the silence of the space she had just left... an unanswered question lingering in the stillness.