Demonic Po*nstar System

Chapter 145: Speaking with Vaelira

Vaelira pulled a small metal case from her coat, flicking it open with a practiced motion. A single cigarette rested between her lips. She plucked another one and held it out to him.

“Smoke?” she offered in a neutral tone.

“No, thanks.”

“Suit yourself,” she shrugged her shoulders and lit her cigarette, inhaling deeply. “Haaah… I needed this so badly…” she exhaled with utmost satisfaction. Then, the blonde woman looked at Kaiden once again. She sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“For?” Kaiden asked with a raised eyebrow, trying to make sense of what was happening.

“For how I treated you. All four of you are doing better than my so-called ‘guild mates’ who have been training for years, yet I gave you a great deal of trouble.”

“No doubt about that. Why, though?”

“To make the stream more enjoyable. Watching us suffer in the desert heat gets boring quickly… I needed to provide them with some drama.”

“I see.”

“So I’m not getting your forgiveness?” Vaelira asked wryly.

“No. To hell with your stream numbers. We’re combatants first and entertainers second. By inciting drama in our group, you’ve alienated us from the rest of Nova Circuit. A D-rank dungeon is not your high school playground, Vaelira. You’re not only risking the lives of me and my lovers but also your fellow guild members. Instead of working together to clear this difficult dungeon, we have to watch our backs.”

A second sigh escaped her lips. “I wish life was so simple… My parents went all-in on this opportunity; they took out loans to promote my stream. If I don’t make it big, it’ll all be for naught.”

Kaiden had to laugh out loud, this conversation was becoming plain ridiculous. “So? What does that change? You’re damned A-tier awakened, Vaelira. Just farm a few levels and sign a contract with a big guild if you’re so worried about money. Financial troubles don’t make what you did today right, in fact, it just makes you an even greedier bitch than I already knew you to be. You endangered human lives to further your streamer career.”

“Fine. I’m a pathetic, greedy bitch, I get it…” she exhaled with a big gust of smoke, her eyes unnaturally tired. It was more than mere exhaustion from their harsh day in the desert. There was something deeper there. Years of pressure, bottled frustration, and silent regret pooling in her weary expression.

“The lanky nerdy loser who professed his love for me all those years ago underwent a ridiculous glow-up, created a harem of gorgeous beauties who love him dearly, and he somehow managed to start his journey as an awakened without the backing of a guild… I’m so jealous. Haaah… I should’ve become your girlfriend back then.”

Kaiden was surprised by her tone, she was being uncharacteristically genuine for some odd reason. However, he didn’t like her final statement. “If we became an item, I sincerely hope I would’ve become disillusioned with you after getting to know the real you because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have met these three precious existences. It would’ve been the greatest mistake of my life.”

“Heh… You’re not pulling any punches, Kaiden. I’m still a lady, you know? What would you do if I burst into tears?”

“Take a picture, probably.”

“Ouch! You truly do hate me, don’t you?” she chuckled, and Kaiden couldn’t help but sense sadness in her tone. She felt miserable. That being said, he didn’t care about her mental well-being because he knew very well she would resume her antagonistic attitude once the cameras started rolling tomorrow morning. As such, even if he made peace with her now, it wouldn’t change anything.

“I don’t hate you enough to kill you even if I could get away without repercussions, but I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to rush to your rescue if you were in danger.”

Vaelira winced at his cold asnwer and sighed for the umpteenth time. “How did you do it?”

“Did what?”

“Everything!” she exclaimed. “You awakened after 20, marking you as one of the few truly lucky ones. You won the lottery with a one-in-a-million chance. You also somehow picked up three sexy chicks and managed to create an environment that’s relatively harmonious with them instead of having constant fights out of jealousy. Sharing a partner in the modern, Western world is incredibly taxing on one’s soul. You have an F-tier class yet fight on par with C or even B-tiers! Then what the fuck is going on with your damned camera? Can I buy it off you? I’ll give you literally anything in my possession in exchange,” she said with a sultry tone and a glance toward his crotch, telling Kaiden even her body was counted among her offering.

“No, thanks. You’re a pretty girl, but you look a bit like a blonde, evil, and very budget version of Aria. No offense.”

“Much taken,” Vaelira replied with lips that twitched out of sheer irritation. She was not at all used to being spoken to in such a manner, especially by a man she rejected and then mocked.

However, Kaiden wasn’t bothered. “I was incredibly lucky to awaken and also to meet the girls. As for how we live in harmony, well, Nyx and Luna might like to bicker a lot, but deep down, they’re very good friends. We have a unique bond shared among the four of us. I don’t know what to tell you because your brain that’s always calculating how to give yourself the best outcome wouldn’t understand even if I explained. I honestly don’t think you’ll ever be able to fall genuinely in love. Your greedy mind won’t let you, it’s a waste of opportunity. You’ll just sleep around with S-tier awakened and high-ranking politicians to further your career.”

“… We’ll see. Perhaps you’re right,” she admitted with another exhausted sigh. The words hung in the air longer than they should have.

The blonde-haired woman was too tired to fight with him or defend her honor. For some reason, getting verbally pummeled felt strangely liberating. She inhaled another puff of smoke and parted her lips, wishing to continue their chatting. But when she did so, only his back welcomed her eyes. He was walking back toward the tent where his girls slumbered, intent on protecting their sleep.

“Douche…” Vaelira scoffed, watching his retreating form with an ashen gaze. Then, with another scoff, she did the same.

The night passed without a single notable event. The girls kept their distance from Vaelira’s guards, letting everyone get some much-needed rest.

Then, they gathered their belongings, started the streams, and got ready to make the final push.

Save for the peace the pyramid granted them at the entrance, the rest of this location was anything but friendly. They’d struggled for hours navigating the unbelievably spacious building. There was some strange space magic present, making it larger than it should’ve been based on the pyramid’s size from the outside.

Sandstorms within enclosed halls, flesh-hungry mummies, necrocarabs, among other monstrosities and traps, had already drained the group’s patience and resources. There were wounds to show for it, both physical and emotional, and yet Kaiden’s party remained steadfast, using teamwork and trust in one another to push through where others might’ve fallen apart. On the bright side, Kaiden and his Valkyries reached level 15 before having to face the boss.

But then, finally, they stepped into a grand chamber with towering pillars and an elevated staircase leading to an ominous golden doorway. Something about this felt place different.

This was the end of the road; they instinctively knew it.

However, that wasn’t all.

The air was thick with an ominous presence.

“Feels like we’re being watched,” Luna whispered while glancing around.

“Because we are.” Sasha’s voice was hushed as well, her eyes jumping between the shadows of the many pillars.

A heavy silence fell over the group.

Then, with a blur of movement, two figures lunged from behind the pillars. They were towering warriors clad in ornately engraved feline-themed armor, standing at 3 meters (9’8).

The pair landed with the force of crashing boulders, cracking the stone beneath them. Their curved khopesh blades reflected the light like crescent moons, and their glowing amber eyes locked onto the intruders with the pure intent to kill.

Their auras pulsed with ancient rage.

[Royal Guard of the Sun-Kissed – Level 18]

[Royal Guard of the Sun-Kissed – Level 18]