Rudra walked out of the arena and made his way back to Sera and Miu. After everything that happened, most people would be thinking, *What should I do next? What's the enemy's next move?*—all those depressing thoughts.
But that wasn't what Rudra was worried about. His mind was stuck on one question: *Will Miu be okay after seeing me kill someone like that? Will she leave me?*
These thoughts were eating him up inside, but strangely, he wasn't worried about Sera at all. He knew that if she had been in his place, she wouldn't have wasted any time. Everyone would have been dead, and she would have wiped out every devil without a second thought.
That's why they say anger is a person's biggest enemy. But honestly, the common devils involved had done nothing wrong; they were just there to watch the rating game like always.
This wasn't the first time Rudra had killed someone. He had hunted terrifying monsters capable of swallowing stars like the sun without breaking a sweat. But this was his first time killing someone with a mind, someone who could think and reason. It felt... unpleasant. Next time, he wouldn't hesitate; he'd disintegrate them in an instant.
Lost in his thoughts, Rudra slowly made his way towards the V.I.P room, taking his time as he wondered how he'd face Miu and the other girls.
==========
[V.I.P Room]
The room was engulfed in silence. No one spoke a word. Miu and Kaori's bodies were trembling, sweat running down their foreheads. Their heartbeats were so loud, you could hear them in the silence.
Meanwhile, Grafiya's expression remained neutral, but her face had lost color, and her throat was dry. She had seen her share of torture and killing, but this gruesome, bloody scene had shaken her to the core. She couldn't stop thinking about what Riser had said that triggered Rudra's uncontrollable rage.
Sitting on the sofa, Akeno stared at Rudra's image on the screen, her eyes unblinking. When Rudra had revealed shocking details about her past, Akeno was left speechless. Before she could gather herself, Rudra had already left.
But now, as she reflected, it was all clear. There was no way Rudra wasn't telling the truth. The similarities were too strong to be a coincidence—whether it was their personalities or their anger. It was almost like they were twins... but they weren't.
The silence was suddenly broken when Sera appeared out of nowhere, and all the ladies' eyes turned to her.
"What are you all looking at? Rudra's coming. Get ready to go home." Sera said nonchalantly, picking up an apple from the table and taking a bite.
*Nom~ Nom~*
"K-kya happened out there, Sera?" Miu asked, gathering her courage, though her mind was still scattered.
"Riser made a comment about Rudra's family. Family is Rudra's reverse scale. Touching it is like dipping your hand into boiling lava," Sera said with seriousness. Her eyes locked onto Miu's, and she added,
"Miu, the decision is now in your hands. Can you accept this side of Rudra? If not, I will never let you meet him again. Forget that he was ever a part of your life." Sera's tone was dead serious because, to her, if Miu couldn't accept Rudra as he was, then there was no point in being with him.
People love someone who accepts them for who they are, without needing to hide or pretend for the world. They want to feel completely free with that person.
Sera had already told Miu everything about Rudra and the supernatural world, and she had warned her that, at some point, Rudra would have to take a life. Miu had accepted it back then, but Sera understood that it's not easy to accept something that goes against your morals. In some cases, it's nearly impossible.
And the world they lived in was such that society had created these twisted, unnecessary rules, all for selfish reasons.
Some so-called intellectuals had twisted common sense so much that they had brainwashed humans, making them question even the nature that nurtured them. 'How ironic,' Sera thought. 'The same nature that raised life is now being questioned by humanity.'
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[Miu's POV]
Miu was in turmoil. 'God, what kind of test are you putting me through?'
The man she loved, the one she always saw as calm, composed, and peaceful, had shown a side of himself today that could put even the demons from bedtime stories to shame.
"What do I do now?" Her thoughts were spiraling. It wasn't like she couldn't understand—she was mature enough to know the fine line between right and wrong. But this... this was something else.
It's barely been a month since she and Rudra had become close, and in that short time, she had fallen for him so deeply that life without him felt impossible.
Of all the men she had ever met, none had ever looked at her with pure eyes. Every gaze had landed on her body first, stripping her down with lust before ever trying to know her. Every offer she received was for some side role or a bikini shoot meant to be as erotic as possible.
She was tired of it. *Isn't there anyone who can see me for who I am, and not just as a body to lust over?*
That had been her prayer. And it seemed like, somehow, God had heard her. Because soon after, she met Rudra.
He was like a prince, her *knight in shining armor.* He pulled her out of that dark world and brought her into the light.
"Can I really leave him?" she asked herself. 'Can I walk away from a man who loves me for who I am, beyond my body, beyond anything superficial?'
"No! Absolutely not!" Miu screamed with all her might, her voice trembling with emotion. "I love Rudra more than myself... Even though I'm a weak girl, I would die for him if I had to!" Her words echoed through the room, her outburst breaking the heavy silence that had followed Sera's question.
Kaori and Akeno jumped in shock at Miu's sudden shout, clutching their chests as they tried to calm her down.
Graffia, being the seasoned warrior she was, sensed Miu's emotional storm from the start and remained composed.
Sera, on the other hand, wore a sly smile. Placing her hands on her hips, she struck an alluring pose that made the hearts of the other women in the room race, their faces turning crimson from the sheer beauty and grace she exuded.
"Hehe~ so, you've made up your mind... Hmm~! Congratulations, you passed. Tonight, I leave Rudra in your hands." Sera snapped her fingers as she finished speaking, and with a playful grin, she, Kaori, Graffia, and Akeno vanished from the room.
Left alone, Miu stood there, her head hanging, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She understood the double meaning in Sera's words all too well.
"Baka... pervert Sera!" Miu muttered under her breath, her face growing even redder. Sera had planted indecent thoughts in her mind, and as much as she hated to admit it, Miu knew it was part of nature's game—women are always attracted to strong men, and rudra was at the apex of food chain.
Suddenly, a knock at the door jolted Miu from her deep thoughts.
*Knock!*
*Knock!*
She turned her head towards the door as it slowly opened, and someone stepped inside...
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[ Rudra POV ]
Rudra, lost in his thoughts, hadn't even realised when he reached the VIP room's door.
"There's nothing more I can do now. The decision rests entirely with Miu..." His mind had been stuck on a loop, wondering what Miu and the other girls who knew him would think about everything.
To be honest, Rudra wasn't great at socializing. His already weak social skills had only worsened, and he disliked the idea of faking relationships or lying just to get by.
Relationships built on lies are fragile, like glass—once they break, there's no putting them back together.
But relationships built on honesty and trust? Even the gods couldn't break those.
That's the principle Rudra had stuck to. Since arriving in this world, he hadn't told a single lie to Miu or anyone else he'd met.
"Alright... let's do this." Rudra whispered to himself. He stood outside the door for a moment, staring at the lifeless wood in front of him. It was almost laughable—the same guy with the strength to bring anyone to their knees was now sweating bullets because of one woman.
He knocked twice, then opened the door and stepped inside.
=========
As soon as Rudra entered the room, his eyes met Miu's. She immediately noticed how his usually cheery personality was missing, replaced with an unusual calmness and stiffness.
Neither of them spoke. Rudra was the first to move, walking away from the door and locking it behind him.
*TAP*
*TAP*
*TAP*
He stopped just short of Miu, giving her some space. Their eyes didn't leave each other, a silent tension hanging in the air. But how long could they stay like this? Sooner or later, someone had to break the silence, and Rudra took that step. His heart was restless, and he finally opened his mouth to speak.
"Miu… I'm sorry—" he began, but before he could say more, Miu placed her finger gently on his lips, stopping him.
"Sss... You don't need to say anything," Miu whispered, her voice soft and soothing. Her loving tone pierced through the dark cloud of fear surrounding Rudra's heart, reaching deep within.
The anxiety in Rudra's eyes faded, replaced with a new light—a light of trust and love.
Miu slowly removed her hand from his lips and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his chest.
"I knew from the moment I confessed my love for you that one day, something like this would happen... something that would bring me to this crossroad." She paused, and Rudra wrapped his arms around her as well, holding her tight.
"You don't need to be afraid... My love isn't so fragile that I can't accept you for who you are. You're kind, caring… that's the Rudra I fell in love with. The one who loved my soul, not just my body." This time, Miu didn't hide her emotions; she laid them bare with all her sincerity.
Rudra's voice was hesitant but curious, "Aren't you going to ask why I did what I did?"
Miu stepped back, and with a playful glint in her eyes, she smacked his chest lightly.
"Idiot... Sera's right—you don't know anything about romance, do you?" Miu was a little upset. Even though she was inexperienced in matters of love, she knew enough to expect a line like 'I love you' at a moment like this, but Rudra had completely killed the mood.
"Sorry... Haha!" Rudra chuckled nervously.
Miu rolled her eyes. "No, I'm not going to ask. I trust you enough to know you wouldn't hurt anyone without reason. And I'm sure whoever made you this angry deserved it." She answered his unspoken questions while grabbing the collar of his white shirt, pulling him closer.
The distance between them closed, their lips mere inches apart. Miu's breath brushed against Rudra's face. Her flushed cheeks, rosy lips, her intoxicating scent, and those silky strands of hair caressing both sides of her face—it all sent Rudra into a trance.
"Miu... I know I've said this before, but I need to say it again. Will you be mine? Will you be my beloved?" Rudra confessed, his voice filled with emotion.
Miu's heartbeat quickened. She couldn't hold back anymore. Her lips met his in a tender, passionate kiss.
They kissed each other slowly, lovingly, their hands gently caressing each other's backs. After what felt like an eternity, they pulled apart, their lips connected by a thin string of saliva, a silent testament to their deepening love.
The desire in their eyes for each other only grew stronger. Miu, her breathing heavy, leaned into Rudra again, her face inches from his.
"Make me yours…" she whispered breathlessly, her heart pounding against his chest, a rhythm Rudra could feel.
Without a word, Rudra captured her lips once again, this time with more urgency. He kissed her lower lip first, sucking on it softly, before moving to her upper lip. Miu responded, reciprocating the passion, kissing his upper lip and then gently biting his lower lip.
Their instincts took over, both lost in each other, until Miu's hips brushed against the corner of the table, knocking a glass off and shattering it on the floor. The noise pulled them out of their heated moment.
They both laughed, looking into each other's eyes.
"We should head home... There's no privacy here," Miu said, still catching her breath.
Rudra grinned playfully. "Your wish is my command, my queen." He tightened his hold around her waist, pulling her close.
Miu smiled back, grabbing onto his shirt firmly, pressing herself against him. "Take me, my king," she whispered.
With a snap of his fingers, the room vanished, leaving behind only the shattered glass and spilled wine as they disappeared into the Underworld's V.I.P room, their moment of passion just beginning.
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