Lee's arrival at Uno's shelter marked the beginning of a new chapter in her quest for revenge and satisfaction. As she observed the close-knit relationships Uno had with his friends and fellow survivors, jealousy began to gnaw at her heart. She couldn't bear to see the bonds of friendship and trust that had eluded her for so long in her own life.
In the darkness of her envy, Lee resolved to continue her sinister manipulation. Every mission or task undertaken by the group to save survivors or gather essential supplies became a stage for her nefarious schemes. Lee skillfully employed her manipulative abilities to drive a wedge between Uno and his friends.
She sowed the seeds of discord, exploiting any minor disagreements or differences of opinion, and magnifying them into unbridgeable chasms of distrust. Her covert influence wormed its way into the hearts and minds of Uno's friends, causing fractures in their once-strong relationships.
As Uno's friends began to drift apart, Lee reveled in the chaos she had unleashed. She watched with a cold sense of satisfaction as her dark influence pushed them further and further apart. Her presence in the shelter, cloaked in the guise of camaraderie, hid the malevolent force that was tearing Uno's group asunder.
While Uno and his friends were preoccupied with their internal strife, Lee felt a twisted sense of satisfaction, believing that she had finally gained the upper hand. Revenge and jealousy fueled her actions, driving her to manipulate the lives of those around her, all in the name of exacting her dark retribution.
Every time she succeeded in her mischievous act, it bolstered her confidence.
As Lee's disturbing story unfolded, Uno found himself overwhelmed with sorrow. Tears welled up in his eyes as the weight of the revelation hit him like a tidal wave. His voice quivered with pain as he muttered each name, one by one.
"I'm sorry, Linda, Mike, James, Jiah, Kwan," Uno whispered, the names representing the stories and lives that had been tragically cut short. Each name was a stark reminder of the friends he had lost, and the person responsible for their untimely deaths was none other than Lee.
Uno's grief was immeasurable, and the burden of the truth weighed heavily on his shoulders. The shelter, once a place of hope and camaraderie, had now become a somber testament to the tragedy that had unfolded within its walls.
The knowledge that one person's sinister actions had caused the deaths of his dear friends was a heavy cross to bear.
As Uno wept for his lost companions, the shelter's atmosphere grew somber.
Lee fixed her eyes on Az, desperation and disbelief etched across her face. She couldn't fathom how this man had seen through her carefully crafted web of manipulation.
As her voice trembled, she asked, "How did you... How did you see past my manipulation?" Lee's voice was raw with a mixture of emotions – anger, fear, and vulnerability.
Az, with a calm and calculating demeanor, locked eyes with her and responded, his words dripping with a sense of triumph, "I'm built different, Lee. I don't fall for tricks easily." His gaze bore into hers, emphasizing the depth of his conviction.
Az continued, "After you left, I followed you. I interrogated your friend there," he nodded towards the alien head, "then I went to look for Uno. I asked him if in every mission his friends went out on, you were with them. Uno confirmed it, and it all started to make sense."
The situation took a turn as Lee was handcuffed and ready to be taken away by one of the men. However, just as things seemed to finally end, chaos erupted.
In a desperate attempt, Lee let out a chilling scream, "Kill emm!" The sudden command sent one of her accomplices, a man wielding a knife, charging towards Lumi. It was a moment of sheer panic.
In a split second, Az's hand covered the man's face, preventing the attack. An angry whisper escaped Az's lips, "Hand off, bitch!" The man's face displayed confusion, unable to comprehend how Az had moved so swiftly. Before the assailant could react, Az forcefully slammed his head against the ground, rendering him unconscious.
The shelter's residents stood there in a mixture of shock and confusion, their minds racing to grasp the unfolding situation. But Az's quick thinking had saved the day.
Eventually, the subdued culprits were led away, both handcuffed. Lee's shrill laughter echoed as she was taken, her ominous words haunting the air, "They will come, they will for all of you, hahahahahaha!" Her sinister laughter faded as she was escorted away.
As the tension gradually subsided, Uno and his companions walked away from the scene, a palpable sense of sadness hanging in the air. Az observed them silently, contemplating the depth of the events that had unfolded. Lumi stood by his side, a silent presence offering support and understanding.
Then, in the midst of this heavy atmosphere, a notification suddenly appeared before Az:
Congratulations, Cryptic Adversary Defeated
The notification took him by surprise, and a sense of accomplishment washed over him. The reward for this cryptic adversary's defeat was significant – he received 4000 alien skulls.
Az's eyes widened as he read the message, realizing that his actions had not only unraveled the mystery but also brought about a significant triumph.
With a sense of excitement and curiosity, Az accessed his status tab to check for any updates. As he scanned the information displayed, his eyes widened, and a grin slowly spread across his face.
Name: Az
Class: Fantasy
Title: Deception Counteragent
Level: 13
STR | Strength: 1700
DEX | Dexterity: 1700
MND | Mind: 1200
INT | Intelligence: 1200
ARC | Arcane: 7200
Alien Skull Available: 5000
He vividly remembered that he had gained the additional 1000 skulls from the fallen alien he had slain earlier – the one whose head had rolled at his feet. Not only had he accumulated an impressive 5000 alien skulls, but his title had also transformed into "Deception Counteragent."
The feeling of accomplishment welled up within him, and he couldn't help but express his elation. With a gleeful look, he turned to Lumi to share his newfound title, his usual goofy self shining through.
"Hey, Lumi!" Az exclaimed, pointing to the updated title on his status tab. "Check this out! I'm now a 'Deception Counteragent.' Pretty cool, huh?" His enthusiasm was infectious, and he couldn't wait to see Lumi's reaction to his latest achievement.
As Az proudly showed off his new title, Lumi's anger was palpable as she glared at Az. She was deeply concerned for his safety, and his careless attitude had hit a nerve.
Ignoring his achievement, her voice quivered with a mix of anger and relief. "You died, didn't you?" Lumi demanded, her concern palpable.
Az, trying to maintain his composure, responded confidently, "No worries, Lumi. We can come back if we die, didn't we.."
Lumi's worry didn't subside, and without hesitation, she delivered a solid punch to Az's face. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she scolded him, "Don't do that again!" Her anger was mixed with fear of Az's reckless behavior.
Az winced but didn't resist. Instead, he gazed up at the sky, his nose bleeding from the punch, and reluctantly agreed, "Okay, okay, I won't do that again. But, you know, I can't make any promises, tho." He chuckled softly, hoping to lighten the mood and calm Lumi down.
Az was abruptly pulled from his conversation with Lumi as he heard a voice calling from behind. It was one of the men who had been with Uno earlier. The man approached Az and began, "Hey, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for punching you in the face back there. I let my emotions get the best of me."
Az, appearing somewhat puzzled, scratched his head and replied, "Oh, that? I forgot about it, no worries." He accepted the apology easily, even though he didn't quite recall the incident himself.
"I'm Hex," the man introduced himself. He clarified that his uncle's name was Mike, one of Uno's friends. Hex explained that after the invasion, he had frantically searched for his uncle as he was the nearest family he had, as his parents lived in a different region.
"Now I know he was killed by Lee!" Hex's expression held a mix of grief and anger, and he mentioned this while holding back his emotions.
"With communication cut off, I didn't know what had happened to my parents and could only hope for their safety." Hex then inquired about Az's parents
Az's expression shifted, he hesitated for a moment before giving a brief response, "My parents... I don't have much to say about them." It was clear that this topic was sensitive for him, and he preferred not to dwell on it.
Lumi watched Az intently, and for the first time since they had met, she saw a different side of him.