CHAPTER 15-Veiled Desires and Fateful Alliances
Ever since Yumiko rescued NOVA and took him to her house, weeks had passed.
NOVA, now going by the name Steve, had come to terms with the fact that he had returned to being a normal human, stripped of his invulnerability like a cursed fate.
Although he had initially believed he had been freed from his supernatural abilities, unknown shadows lurked, observing their every move.
Steve himself was uncertain about his own intentions, but he couldn't deny a growing interest in Yumiko.
"Where is your home?" Yumiko asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Huh?" Steve responded, caught off guard by Yumiko's question.
"I mean, where do you usually stay?" Yumiko clarified.
"I..." Steve began to reply, but his words trailed off without clarity.
"You came from the unknown, and I've been taking care of you. You've been staying in my house for weeks now," Yumiko stated matter-of-factly, not allowing him a chance to speak.
"Could you please stop and let me answer?" Steve finally managed to interject, wanting to share his story.
"I lost my parents when I was a kid and was later raised by an old man, but he was killed by an unknown assailant. I have nothing that can be considered a home," Steve explained, a touch of sadness in his voice.
"A very sad tale indeed," Yumiko replied, empathetic to his plight.
"Wait, it's not just a story. It's my life," Steve protested, hoping to make her understand the gravity of his past.
"As a woman, I can't say this, but make yourself at home," Yumiko offered, a hint of warmth in her words.
"Wait, really?" Steve asked, a glimmer of happiness in his eyes.
"Yes, but don't get any funny ideas. Remember, you're sharing a house with a woman, and I don't have any romantic feelings for you," Yumiko warned, keeping a practical perspective.
"You're thinking too far," Steve replied, trying to dispel any misconceptions.
"It's just that you're a tall, handsome, and fit man," Yumiko remarked, teasingly.
"I already told you, you're thinking too far," Steve reiterated, trying to downplay his appearance.
"Don't worry, I don't have any feelings for you. I have a goal to complete," Yumiko emphasized, keeping her focus intact.
Steve paused, letting go of his arrogance, and asked, "What goal?"
"Sorry, I can't share that with you," Yumiko replied, guarding her secret.
"Since we're sharing the same house, we could at least share some information about each other," Steve suggested, hoping for a mutual understanding.
"I told you not to develop any feelings for me," Yumiko reminded him.
"Could you please stop overthinking things?" Steve pleaded, exasperated.
"Fine, I haven't shared this with anyone before," Yumiko finally relented, revealing a glimpse into her own past.
"Like you, I lost my parents. They were killed by someone," Yumiko confessed, her pain evident in her voice.
Steve's thoughts raced as he tried to comprehend her revelation. "What?"
"I want to seek revenge against the person who took my parents' lives," Yumiko declared, her determination shining through.
"Revenge won't heal your pain. I've been in a similar situation before," Steve warned, drawing from his own experience.
"Don't try to condemn me. And by the way, I don't have any romantic feelings for you just because you said those words," Yumiko retorted, refusing to be swayed.
Annoyed, Steve rubbed his temples and muttered, "Damn woman, why do you overthink things so much?"
"I'm telling you all this because I confronted the killer who took my parents' lives. I was consumed by rage, but I realized that killing him wouldn't make a difference between him and me, so I let him live," Steve explained, recounting his own choices.
"What a pitiful tale," Yumiko commented, seemingly unimpressed.
"It's not just a tale!" Steve snapped, his annoyance growing.
"You spared him because he's human," Yumiko stated, revealing a crucial piece of information.
"What do you mean?" Steve inquired, intrigued by her words.
"The man who killed my parents isn't even human. He's known as the king of all wild beasts or the strongest creature in existence," Yumiko revealed, sending shivers down Steve's spine.
"You're saying that such beasts exist?" Steve questioned, his disbelief evident.
"Yes, they do. Not here, but they have come through a portal from somewhere. I trained extensively to kill that creature, but when I entered the portal, I witnessed its immense strength. It's far beyond anything I can defeat," Yumiko explained, the weight of her task clear.
"Do you have any plans to defeat it?" Steve inquired, his concern for Yumiko growing.
"It's not about defeating; I want to kill it. And why are you so interested in my plans and details? I already told you not to develop feelings for me," Yumiko responded, cautious of his intentions.
"You damn woman, don't overthink. I'm just trying to help you," Steve exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.
"Do you truly want to help me?" Yumiko asked, seeking reassurance.
"I just want to help because you saved me in the past. Don't overthink things again, okay?" Steve reassured her, his intentions genuine.
"Fine then, let's go to sleep. We need to wake up early. Bring three buckets of water and a hundred apples" Yumiko instructed, moving on to the practicalities.
"This is too much, and besides, the river is too far," Steve complained, feeling overwhelmed.
"If you want to train and become strong enough to face even the weakest creature in that portal, this is necessary," Yumiko explained, emphasizing the importance of his training.
"Damn it, if only I still had my powers. I could handle it with ease," Steve muttered to himself, a tinge of regret in his voice.
"Don't waste time thinking. Just go to sleep already," Yumiko urged, reminding him to focus on the task at hand.
"Okay, fine. I'll do as you say. Just don't shout," Steve replied, resigned to follow Yumiko's instructions.
Their adventure was about to begin as they set out to confront the strongest beast. Little did they know, a mysterious creature had approached the wild beast.
"What do you want from me?" the wild beast growled, sensing the presence of the mysterious creature.
"Two individuals are coming to kill you," the mysterious creature revealed, its intentions clear.
"I'll kill them if they dare to challenge me," the wild beast declared, confident in its abilities.
"Shilva, do whatever you want with the woman, but leave the man to me. He's my prey," the mysterious creature commanded, striking a deal with the strongest beast, Shilva, to spare Steve's life.
Their adventure had just begun—a treacherous journey to vanquish the strongest creature. The weight of the task ahead filled them with a mix of anticipation and fear, their hearts pounding in their chests.
Written by Riteesh