Rena sat motionless on the cold floor, the polished marble of the grand chamber reflecting the faint glow from the chandelier above. Her crimson eyes, still heavy with the fire of transformation, locked onto the silver, piercing gaze of Naoko, who remained unmoved behind her imposing desk. The silence stretched like a blade between them, thick with tension and unspoken power.
Naoko's voice finally broke through the stillness—cold, unwavering, and sharp as ice.
"Have you understood everything I explained?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly, drilling into Rena's very soul.
Rena swallowed hard, her throat dry, words caught in the storm of emotions swirling within her. Her voice emerged, hesitant and trembling.
"Yes," she whispered, the single word barely audible.
Without a flicker of warmth or encouragement, Naoko gestured toward a shadowed corner behind the pristine black leather couch.
"Hide there. Now."
Rena didn't question the order. Her body moved on instinct, her bare feet silent on the marble as she slipped behind the couch, the cold surface pressing against her exposed skin. Her new form—pale, radiant skin contrasting against the dark room—felt fragile despite the strength she'd gained. Her long white hair, its faint red-tipped strands cascading past her shoulders, brushed softly against the floor. Her red eyes glimmered with both awe and fear.
Moments later, a quiet presence stirred the stillness as a servant quietly entered the office. Naoko's tone held the same chill as she commanded, "Bring me the black shapeshifting gown."
The servant bowed silently and departed, leaving Rina cloaked in shadows and uncertainty.
The minutes stretched endlessly. Rina's breath hitched, her fingers twitching nervously as she waited. Then, the faint sound of soft footsteps echoed again. The servant returned, placing the gown gently on the polished wooden table before Naoko, who barely glanced at it.
Naoko's gaze shifted back to Rina. "Enough hiding," she said bluntly, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Come. Wear this."
Rena rose slowly, her body aching yet pulsing with the strange new vitality the transformation had bestowed. She stepped out from behind the couch, the light catching the subtle curve of her silhouette—her slender frame now more pronounced, her long legs leading to delicate, arched feet. The gown shimmered darkly, a fluid shadow waiting to embrace her.
Her bare chest, the soft swell of her breasts uncovered and glowing faintly with the residual mana, was exposed for a fleeting moment as she reached for the gown. The fabric slid over her skin like liquid night, cool and smooth, molding itself to every contour of her reshaped form. The shapeshifting garment seemed alive, adjusting to emphasize her slender waist, the gentle swell of her hips, and the perfect roundness of her rear.
Her long lashes cast shadows on high cheekbones, her lips a delicate pink contrast against porcelain skin. The deep red of her eyes held both vulnerability and a simmering fire that no mortal could extinguish.
As she fastened the gown's subtle clasps, her movements were careful, slow—each second a dance of hesitation and growing confidence.
Naoko's eyes did not soften. "I did not request undergarments," she said, voice flat and dismissive. "This gown is long enough. Once you are dressed, return to your room immediately."
Rena swallowed the rising blush heating her cheeks. "Yes, lady Naoko," she answered quietly, her voice a mixture of respect and lingering unease. "Thank you."
Naoko returned her gaze to the papers scattered across her desk, dismissing Rina without another word.
Rena bowed her head slightly, then turned to leave. The gown swayed with each step—a cloak of shadow that masked the raw strength now pulsing beneath her skin. Every fiber of her being was charged with a power that was both intoxicating and terrifying.
As she passed the dark corners of the room, Rina felt the weight of her new identity settle upon her like the gown itself—an unyielding reminder that she was no longer just the girl she had been. She was becoming something else entirely—something forged in flame, shadow, and unbreakable will.
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Heat: Who do you like more, Jin or Rena, the hero or the heroine, and who would win if Jin and Rena faced each other in a fight?