The sound of paper rustling against the wooden desk echoed in the silent room.
Keqing sat motionless, her violet eyes focused on the streaks of ink upon the paper.
She read intently from top to bottom, before heaving a long sigh and moving that sheet to another pile.
Repeating the process, as if it were an unending ritual that ensnared her.
The creak of a turning doorknob did not disturb her concentration. Keqing did not turn at all.
A handsome male figure entered the room, carefully closing the door behind him. Zhongsun Nao, he gazed at Keqing with his heart pounding rapidly.
He clutched his chest, gripping his shirt, for his admiration for Keqing was so immense, making it difficult to breathe.
Keqing has never noticed me at all, Zhongsun Nao murmured in a pained tone.
I want her to see me, to acknowledge my existence...
He longed to have a close relationship with Keqing. Yet, no matter how many times he tried, Keqing always evaded and evaded!
He grew increasingly frustrated with her aloofness.
A long sigh escaped his lips. With slow steps, Zhongsun Nao approached, his eyes fixed on Keqing's straight back.
Drawing nearer, Keqing's intoxicating scent wafted over, filling his eyes with a terrifying haze of lust. He stopped right behind Keqing, then encircled his arms around her, possessively embracing that slender frame.
Keqing started, her body tensing. Her eyes trembled with fear, while her hands slowly moved towards the embracing arms.
In an instant, she pushed Zhongsun Nao away, her footsteps hastily retreating with a deathly pale face betraying sheer terror.
Keqing's heart seemed ready to explode at any moment, her hands shaking violently. Her lower lip bitten hard, straining to hold back the hysterical scream caught in her throat.
Her gaze was filled with horror, as if hoping this was all just a nightmare soon to pass.
Yet, Zhongsun Nao did not relent. Heartache drove him to quickly approach again, causing Keqing to panic further and attempt to back away.
He lunged, slamming Keqing's body to the floor with a heavy thud. He pinned her wrists down, trapping her in a helpless position.
A groan of pain escaped Keqing's clenched lips. Her eyes squeezed tightly shut. But when they reopened, a terrifying purple glow emanated from within.
Thunderous rumbles roared as a bolt struck Zhongsun Nao's body, instantly freezing him in place!
Wasting no time, Keqing rose and ran towards the exit. However, soon after, Zhongsun Nao regained consciousness, prompting him to give furious chase.
Keqing glanced back, dread creeping across her face. Her hand grasped a sword leaning against a table, gripping it tightly.
With closed eyes, Keqing turned to face Zhongsun Nao who lunged at her with a lust-filled expression.
At this moment, that smile vanished, a pained look instantly crossing his face. His hand clutched his own abdomen, and fresh red fluid began dripping from there, pooling on the floor.
Zhongsun Nao's eyes widened, his gaze shifting to the sword now impaling his body. Blood coughed from his lips, and he stumbled back step-by-step before finally collapsing with a heavy thud.
Keqing stood rooted, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in her head.
"CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE KILLED A PLAYER, YOU NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A PLAYER.
"ALL ITEMS, SKILLS, STATS, QUESTS, EFFECTS BELONGING TO THE PLAYER YOU KILLED WILL BECOME YOURS."
...
A heavy snort reverberated, almost resembling a monster's roar resounding through the air.
Approaching footsteps echoed, treading upon the cold metal floor. Droplets of water added rhythm to the silence in that cramped space, falling to strike the metallic surface with muted splashing.
From behind the icy bars, reflected in Charles's eyes, the expanse of transparent crystal seemed to imprison him within a frigid cage.
His body shivered violently, his arms hugging himself tighter, trying to preserve warmth amidst the creeping frozen air. His lips were blue, his skin pale, yet his gaze still smoldered with an undaunted spirit.
Slowly, Charles turned his head, regarding the Treasure Hoarders also confined within the same icy bars.
Those pallid faces looked like they were about to embrace death from the gripping cold. The frail bodies lay shivering with breaths puffing out thin white vapors hanging in the air.
Half of them had already lost consciousness, slumped lifelessly with eyes closed.
Charles's attention was drawn again, a gigantic humanoid figure standing behind those icy bars. A crystalline ice monster with blue eyes, reflecting a piercing chill.
In its grasp, a glistening ice spear.
The heavy tapping of that spear's tip echoed, tapping against the metal floor.
Charles closed his eyes.
...
"The boss is dead. What will you all do now? Kill me?"
A forced smirk adorned Charles's face, as if trying to provoke anger from the huddled Treasure Hoarders before him.
Charles's fists clenched tightly, filled with smoldering vengeance. The wounds on his body were proof of the torment inflicted upon him by those Treasure Hoarders.
His resentment was undoubtedly about to erupt.
Fury swelled within him, the urge to strangle them all and let their bodies slowly freeze gripping his thoughts.
Yet, he tried to restrain himself, hugging his shivering frame as the snowy wind lashed his face.
With staggering steps, Charles approached the silently seated Treasure Hoarders.
Their gazes were vacant, devoid of hope and meaning, only staring bleakly towards the ice palace. Snow covered those pallid faces, like living corpses who had surrendered to fate.
Then they turned their eyes towards Charles.
"Damn it. Don't look at me like that," Charles hissed, before directing his hand towards a snowy tree nearby.
The sizzle of electro lightning crackled, followed by a violet bolt striking the trunk. Whispers of flame filled the air, and instantly the tree was engulfed in blazing orange.
"Get up, move closer to the tree. I don't want you all dying just yet," Charles said in a slightly softened tone.
He still harbored resentment towards them... But he tried to rein in that emotion. Otherwise, he would undoubtedly lose his humanity.
If that possibility came to pass, he might as well be dead.
One by one, the Treasure Hoarders rose and approached the glowing tree, forming a circle to seek warmth.
Sobs echoed back and forth, followed by choruses of gratitude.
Charles observed them one by one. He could see a glimmer of hope rekindling in those once-dull gazes.
He looked up, regarding the overcast skies obscuring the glimmering stars.
"How do I move forward from here? That needs consideration," he murmured to himself.
Yet, that murmur was soon drowned out.
Approaching footsteps echoed, in overwhelming numbers.
And Charles, closed his eyes.