[3/4]
———-
Swoosh!*
Renji quickly sneaks into the tent and quickly pulls the curtain shut, making sure no one outside sees him. Then he turned his attention back to the dragon lady inside the tent, not sure if he should be surprised or scared.
“Long time no see, Nova” Renji used this line before, but the name he followed it with was longer last time. 𝘪.𝑐ℴ𝘮
Seeing the character he adored in the game, his virtual wife, now in real life in front of him, Renji was naturally thrilled.
Like Suthia, the “offline” Nova in front of him is much more beautiful than her game avatar.
But unlike the gentle little nun, Nova’s features are more angular and defined, giving her a cold and aloof aura. Her high nose bridge, unique purple eyes, and faint ink-like eyeshadow enhance her unapproachable demeanor.
To all the ministers and officials of the Dragon Kingdom, the Empress always sits with her legs crossed and gazes down indifferently. That’s exactly how she is.
But here, in this tent in the wilds of the southern barbarian lands, the dragon lady, sitting with her legs tightly closed and kneeling, loses that unapproachable and dominating aura.
The cold beauty remains, as the temperament can’t change, but the aloofness is replaced by an aggressive vibe, a trait typical of an Empress.
And it’s clear who she’s targeting.
Renji feels a chill down his spine under Nova’s intense gaze, quickly looking for something to say to avoid “ending up in the dragon’s belly”
Renji: “Nova, how did you, um, how did you…”
“How did I?” Nova tilts her head, puzzled.
Renji: “Find this place?”
Nova then shows him the teleportation coordinates Karl had given her, which she had secretly recorded.
Renji: “…”
‘Karl! You’re the one who led the her here!?’
‘I trusted you so much!!’
Now feeling betrayed, Renji clenches his teeth, hearing Karl’s sincere voice in his mind, saying something like, -“I don’t mind! How could I mind that Lord Ashen reset me! I really don’t mind at all heheh~!”-
‘Damn it!’
‘I Always knew these special ability guys are freaking deceitful at heart!’
On the other side, Nova, unaware of Renji’s inner thoughts, was growing impatient. Seeing her master not responding, she finally couldn’t help but ask:
“Master, can we start now?”
“Start what!?”
Alarmed by Suthia’s previous ‘attack’ in holy Kingdome, Renji immediately becomes alert.
Fortunately, Nova’s next words ease his concern.
“The contract. Can I ask Master to renew Nova’s contract?”
As she speaks, Nova turns slightly, lifting her long red hair to expose the back of her neck to Renji. There, the original Emperor’s contract has become very damaged, its lines blurred and almost unrecognizable.
This sight touches Renji’s heart with warmth and emotion.
‘Look at that!’
‘The most straightforward and loyal Vanguard Dragoness is the best! She’s not thinking about how to drain me or transform him into a cyber-giant, but her first thought is to get her contract renewed!’
Renji feels guilty for misunderstanding Nova before, thinking she might want to do something to him because of Suthia and Zero. 𝘪𝘳.𝒸𝑜𝑚
‘I’m sorry!’
‘I misunderstood you, Nova!’
‘Indeed, the Vanguard class is the closest to me, my little comfort!’
Renji wastes no time and activates the contract. Now at level 23, with an additional contract slot every five levels plus the initial one, he has ‘five’ slots available.
Currently, he has contracts with Eileen, 86, Suthia, and the latest with Ashe, leaving one slot open, as per Renji’s gaming habit of always keeping one slot in reserve.
He places his hand on Nova’s shoulder, and she feels the familiar sensation from her master, the feeling of the contract, causing her to tremble with excitement.
Nova lowers her head, her usually intimidating dragon horns now seemingly softer. She quietly revels in the joy of something lost now about to return.
But…
[Contract failed….]
[Contract failed….]
[Contract failed….]
[Contra…]
Renji tries several times, but the result was relentlessly cold and merciless: the contract failed. Renji had somewhat expected this outcome.
Initially, contracting Suthia was a fluke, first contracting Maria who was possessing Suthia’s body, and only under special circumstances was it barely successful. Later, through their joint “effort” the contract was transferred to Suthia’s true self.
However, facing the genuine Nova, a six-star, level 90, full-leveled ‘Calamity’ class character, Renji, at level 23, finds the gap too vast to bridge, even with Nova’s willing compliance.
On the other side, sensing something amiss, Nova’s emotions gradually become unstable.
“Master, is there something wrong with my body?”
“No, it’s my bad, I’m sorry Nova. It seems I can’t make contract with you for now.” Renji sighs, realizing that skipping steps isn’t so easy with Nova.
To contract with Nova, there seem to be two options: Renji either needs to level up to level 50 or higher and then combine efforts with Nova’s willingness, or…
Nova must enter a “special state” like Suthia did.
But Nova’s aura feels much stronger than Suthia’s. As the strongest single combatant among ‘them’, a mere “special state” won’t suffice; it might need to be an “extremely special state.”
However, before Renji could continue his thoughts, Nova’s emotions, seemingly repressed to the breaking point, completely unravel.
Yes, she has waited for this for five hundred years, searched for five hundred years, but when it’s time to fulfill her dream, she finds it unreachable due to her body…
Though Renji hasn’t explicitly stated it, Nova senses that it’s because her master was too weak now, and no matter how she tries to conform, her immense power can’t accept the contract.
At this realization, Nova clenches her teeth, her fists tightly gripped.
‘A body that can’t be “contracted” by master, no matter how strong, is useless to me!’
If her instincts refuse the contract, she’ll use her will to forcibly weaken her instincts, weaken herself, until she can be contracted by her master.
Swoosh!*
A crimson flame blade appears in Nova’s hand, poised to strike her own body.
Startled, Renji quickly intervenes.
“What are you doing!?”
“Nova… Nova must punish this body that betrayed master. I will make it accept Master Ashen’s contract!”
Indeed, this is one way to enter a ‘special state,’ but it’s a method Renji can’t accept. He was okay with the tactics he used with Suthia, but Nova’s current approach is something he absolutely cannot tolerate.
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