Abyss Draconis

"Now, all Contract Grimoires would only have 50% effectiveness on me."

"Coupled with the fact that I am stronger than you, that 50% quickly drops to 30%. So my words in those grimoires are as good as lies..." Rakshasa whispered close to Ryuk, studying his expression.

She expected to see a flicker of shock, nervousness, or caution in those ocean-blue eyes. But there was nothing.

No ripple at all — none of the disturbance one would expect. But she knew no one could have anticipated that.

After all, no one, except herself, really knew she had that strong a resistance against contract grimoires.

So, why couldn't she sense any unease?

"Sounds like your luck's really good," he said, as he turned his gaze back to the sea, only to have his face held and slowly turned back to her.

"I expected fear," she said to Ryuk, whose expression furrowed slightly in displeasure at her sudden touch.

She seemed to notice that and quickly withdrew her hands.

"I'm sorry. Just used to it..." she tried to explain, but he understood.

One of the things he'd heard about succubi was not only their charm but also their touch—the kind that sets hearts ablaze with desire and intent.

They must be too used to using touch to get what they want.

But Ryuk? He never liked being touched by just anyone.

That was a blessing only a select few possessed, and he preferred to keep things that way.

"I understand," he said, as silence settled for quite some time before Ryuk finally spoke.

"You said you expected fear from me. You expected me to be afraid that learning the contract grimoire alone couldn't bind you that much."

"You think I would be afraid that you would go out into the world and start causing chaos, no?" He asked, as she turned to him with a sharp, assessing gaze.

"I'm not scared of you, Rakshasa." He said, as a matter-of-factly, and she asked.

"Why?"

"Are you evil? Yes."

"Are you wild? Yes."

"Wicked? Most likely."

"A killer? "For sure."

"But... are you a monster?" he asked, and her eyes shimmered with a strange light at that word.

It was somehow the one word that always triggered her nerves. It always did.

"No. You're not a monster," he said with a confident smile.

"If I were gatekeeping a monster, then maybe I'd be scared she'd run off and bring ruin to my world."

"But luckily, no. I'm dealing with a person who might be wild, but at least has a sense of conscience."

"What's there to fear so much about?"

"Me deciding to go wild on a killing spree just to give you a headache?" she asked, her voice teasing as Ryuk chuckled.

"You might think you're stronger than me, Rakshasa. But if I can't bring you down myself, I have someone who can do it solo," he said, and she scoffed.

"Antares? He looks strong, but I doubt he can take me on alone."

"Even back then, when I saw those Aetheris Barbarians in the Planetary port, they were fierce-looking, but never really gave me that dangerous feel."

"He shouldn't be that different from the rest of his race, so I doubt there's anything he can do that surprises me..." she said with a confident grin.

[No, idiot. Antares is a special one.] The system replied as Ryuk chuckled.

"Don't find out, Rakshasa. If you do, it won't just be your skin that gets hurt."

"You'll hurt something deeper," Ryuk whispered almost silently, yet Rakshasa felt her heart pound within her chest as she asked warily,

"And what will get hurt deeper?"

"I think you already know what it is," he replied with a smile.

"Tch,"

She turned her gaze away, but Ryuk could feel her teeth clenched tightly, and it didn't seem to be for fun.

"Hey? You okay?" he asked, as Rakshasa's fingers gripped the grass beneath her, tightly, turning them to dust..

The tension broke eventually as she let out a slow breath and relaxed her grip.

"I've just never had someone say it that way..." she said, as Ryuk's eyebrow furrowed a bit in confusion.

"Say what way?"

"People only ever say 'more than a monster' to me when they're aflame—running amok with desire, their emotions unable to be held in check."

"That way, words—whether sweet or bitter—never really get to me. I know they're never really being themselves. It's all pushed forward by the feeling of lust..." she said, with obvious disdain leaking from every word.

"But when you say it, Ryuk."

"When you say, 'I know you're not a monster.'"

"When you say, 'You'll get hurt deeper.'"

"I feel every single word reverberating through me, like a current of lightning."

"You mean every single word you say, and it's hard to know whether to take it seriously or just ignore like always, because you're not clouded by lust like they all are."

"It's... It's the first time," she said, turning away as Ryuk smiled before quietly replying.

"Don't worry. With your humanoid form, you'll have a chance to see more of people's true sides soon, and to have more of your true side revealed too," he said, but she shook her head.

"It will never be this real. They'll always see the likable side first, before they're revealed the monster within."

"And even if they bear with that monster side eventually, they never will if it was what they showed to them first... unlike you."

"So, it never will be this real..." she said, matter-of-factly as Ryuk's eyes narrowed slightly.

Her words really made some sense.

Right now, the person beside him was a radiant beauty— a truly captivating one.

And one has to know, Ryuk's rating of beauty was pretty high since he'd been amongst the best of the best from the very first day he'd begun getting to know the opposite sex.

Coupled with the fact that Rakshasa was a succubus with her charm that drew people to her more easily, she would probably have a lot of men falling for her feet soon.

But would that fall ever be real?

Would they ever really be able to fall if they had seen what he had first seen?

If they had seen her monstrous form first, instead of the radiant, charming beauty.

Could it be as real as that?

"Remember when I said life just finds a way to get you into situations you least expect?" he suddenly said, as he turned to her.

"Maybe you might just be in for quite the shock. You never know..."

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A/N:

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