The room was bathed in a faint, warm light, enough to paint the surroundings in soft hues. A man sat sprawled on a plush couch, engrossed in a book. Its cover was a rich green, bordered by intricate golden designs with elegant cursive script he traced with a finger. This was Ash, though his appearance was far from beastly at the moment. Strands of fiery red hair fell to his ears in even waves, framing a face both sharp and handsome. His features were distinctly masculine – high cheekbones, piercing reddish-orange eyes, skin pale against the vibrant hair, a strong jawline, and a straight, intriguing scar etched on his left cheek. His nose was perfectly proportioned, and he was dressed casually in black baggy jeans and a black jean jacket left open to reveal a plain white T-shirt underneath with logo resembles letter A. Only the thick, muscular tail that snaked across the other side of the couch, a section of its scales still stubbornly present, hinted at his non-human nature.
"Mhm, magic. Soul of a beast can't grant shaktih," he murmured to himself, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Tham!
The door swung inward abruptly, revealing a woman silhouetted against the dim hallway. Her tired black eyes fixed on him, her curvy figure framed by the doorway. Messy black hair tumbled around her shoulders, and she wore similar baggy jeans paired with a full-sleeved open jacket over a white crop top. Two curved horns adorned the top of her head, and a thick, Taurus-like tail swished lazily behind her.
"Muda!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying a hint of weary familiarity.
Ash visibly startled, the green-covered book slipping from his grasp and landing with a soft thud on the floor. "What is this, Ritso? Can't you knock?" His voice held a sharp edge of irritation, though he managed to keep it relatively low. He leaned down, retrieving the fallen book.
She leveled an annoyed gaze at him. "Yeah, whatever, Muda. I came here to tell you that we bought all the slaves that came into the market this time too, and I located them to the hall you talked about."
He rose and walked towards a towering bookshelf, carefully placing the book on the first row, far left. "How many times do I have to remind you not to call me 'muda'? We'll get in trouble with that name."
She rolled her eyes dramatically, crossing her arms over her chest in blatant defiance. "Yea, yea, whatever, Ash…"
He stopped, a flicker of confusion crossing his sharp features. "Are you mad about something?"
She stared at him silently for a long, awkward moment before her expression twisted into a peculiar mixture of disgust and cringe.
"Tsk."
He shook his head slowly, a hint of disbelief in his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
She spun on her heel abruptly. "No, nothing."
And with a decisive slam, the door closed behind her.
"What happened to that woman?" Ash muttered to himself, a perplexed frown creasing his forehead. "Is she on her period or something? She changed…"
.
Ritso sauntered down the dark alley, her hips swaying with a casual confidence that belied the shadows around her. The air was thick with the smells of stale refuse and damp earth. Ahead, a massive, hall-like structure loomed into view, its entrance dominated by a huge metal door that looked impenetrable. She ran a hand over the cold, unyielding surface, a shiver tracing her spine despite herself, before rapping her knuckles against it.
Tap tap tap.
A soft, childish voice drifted from the other side, so sweet and innocent it was almost jarring in the grim surroundings. "Who?"
"It's me." Ritso replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"Me who?" the voice persisted, a playful lilt in its tone.
"Don't play with me, Kelly." Ritso's patience was already wearing thin.
A giggle echoed from within. "Kelly is not playing. Kelly, seriously, who's there?"
Ritso let out a deep, exaggerated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose with one hand while the other rested on her hip. "Okay Kelly, I lost, you won."
A small compartment In the door creaked open, spilling a rectangle of stark white light into the darkness, illuminating Ritso's crop top. Within the illuminated space, a pair of glowing ember eyes materialized, their gaze fixed intently on Ritso's chest.
"Really?" the childish voice asked.
Ritso glanced down at her exposed midriff and then bent down, lowering herself enough to meet the eye level of the small compartment. "Yes, Kelly, now be a good girl and open the door; I need to see others too."
The ember eyes remained fixed, filled with playful skepticism. "Kelly doesn't believe Rito. Rito is bad."
Ritso gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "What am I bad now? Then who is good?"
Without a moment's hesitation, the voice declared, "Ash."
"Ahhh, Ash… I mean, you're not entirely wrong," Ritso conceded, a wry smile touching her lips. The initial surprise morphed into a grudging understanding. She glanced to her left, out of view from the compartment, and began making exaggerated gestures, hoping Kelly could at least catch the movements. She whispered loudly enough to be heard through the thick door. "See, Ash, Kelly is not a good girl. Yeah, I mean, she likes you, but she's always causing problems."
The ember eyes within the compartment widened in mock disbelief. "Yeah, I think we should reconsider anyone else for this position. I mean, someone older than her, more mature." Ritso continued her silent pantomime of exasperation.
Suddenly, the ember eyes began to shake rapidly back and forth. A voice, filled with urgency and desperation, piped up. "No ash… Don't listen to Rito! Kelly not bad! Kelly is good girl!"
Before Ritso could react, the small compartment slammed shut. A moment later, the heavy metal door swung inward, revealing a small girl standing just inside. She wore the same style of clothes as Ritso – a pair of jeans, an open jacket, and a crop top that barely contained her youthful form. Without looking at Ritso, Kelly darted out of the doorway and peered down the alley in the direction Ritso had been gesturing, her ember eyes wide with a mixture of fear and betrayal. Finding no one, she turned back to see Ritso standing above her, arms crossed, a look of mock offense on her face.
Ritso stepped into the brightly lit hall, pulling Kelly back inside with a firm grip on the back of her jacket and slamming the heavy door shut. The interior was a stark contrast to the dark alley outside, bathed in a soft, pervasive white light. Kelly squirmed, flapping her small limbs ineffectually against Ritso's hold.
"Now don't act like a child, you grumpy kitten," Ritso chided, lifting the girl slightly off the ground.
Ritso's gaze swept across the hall. Rows of neatly made beds with white covers lined the spacious area. Essential items were organized in designated spots. Women sat on the beds or stood in small groups, their hushed conversations a low murmur. Children, their faces bearing the lingering shadows of past hardship, now sported tentative smiles as they ate or chased each other in playful games. A lump formed in Ritso's throat, her heart swelling with a complex mix of emotions: pity for the lives these people had endured, a burgeoning joy at their current safety, and a fierce, protective hope for their future. For the first time in her own brutal existence, Ritso felt a sense of purpose beyond mere survival. Perhaps now, amidst this fragile community, she had found a family worth protecting, worth caring for, worth even dying for. Her life, once a desperate scramble through the filth of the underpaths, was beginning to acquire a meaning she had never dared to imagine.
.
Ash stood before his open wardrobe, his bare torso revealing the faint, lighter patches of skin where scales had once been more prominent.
"Six months…" he murmured, running a hand over the varied fabrics of his clothes. "It's been six long months." He finally selected a grey hoodie, the soft material feeling familiar against his skin.
He slid the hoodie over his broad shoulders. "Muda… Whatever this guy was, he died a meaningless existence. Born in the sewers, scavenging for scraps, then exploited by scums like Victor, leading to his inevitable end. This world, this plane… it's cursed. There's a normal world beyond, I know it. I read about it." He quickly changed into another pair of jeans, his movements efficient and practiced. "But he surely had many useful connections."
He sank onto the couch, his body relaxing into the familiar cushions as he stared at his sneakers, the stylized "ASH" logo prominent on the side. "I can't use his identity, though, so I'll forge my own. Beast helps switch body types from… well, beast to human, real quick. Though the beast form was essential for survival in the sewers, fighting everything that moved, this human side is far more comfortable and conserves a lot of energy… or paranh, as they call it. And being above the sewers now… it's great."
His gaze drifted to the cluttered table beside the couch, scattered with flyers advertising everything from food delivery to less savory services. But a particular flyer, printed in stark red and black, caught his eye. He picked it up, his reddish-orange eyes scanning the bold text.
[ATTENTION BRAWLERS]
SEASONAL CARNAGE HAS COME ON THE SHORE.
Headline: Feed the Beast
Unleash Your Fury: Compete in the ultimate test of strength and skill!
Fight Till You Drop: Only the strongest will survive.
Glorious Rewards:
Hefty Gold: Enough to last a lifetime.
Beautiful Untouched Women: A harem of exquisite slaves for your hidden pleasure.
No Mercy: No rules, no holds barred.
Date: First half of this set (about roughly 2.5 months)
Location: The Slaughterhouse—UNDERPATHS
Where Strength is Law, and Blood Flows Like Wine.
Join now.
A wide, devious smile spread across Ash's face, his sharp features taking on a predatory edge. "Now this is interesting."