In Z-City, buried a thousand meters beneath the surface within the Monster Cavern, a secret research facility pulsed faintly under dim lights.
On a luxurious bed draped in silk sheets, Sykes reclined languidly. She had just finished bathing, her lace-trimmed nightgown slipping casually over her body, revealing stretches of pale, flawless skin. Her jade-like feet swayed unconsciously in the air—delicate, arching smoothly, soles soft and pink as if dusted with snow.
For now, she was in an excellent mood. With relish, she "observed" the strongest man on the surface through a Little hole hidden deep in the shadows outside Kaito's apartment.
"What a fascinating method of evolution…"
Her red lips parted slightly, a playful sigh escaping as she twirled a strand of blue hair between her fingers. Through her psychic link, she could clearly trace the flow of power within Kaito's body—an entirely different path from her own Near-Death Evolution Theory. And yet, it was equally efficient, perhaps even faster.
That unknown method of rapid growth ignited a dangerous heat in her chest—excitement tangled with obsession. Beneath her nightgown, her skin flushed like rose petals in bloom, betraying her restless fascination.
But the pleasure didn't last.
Her body suddenly stiffened.
"…Impossible!"
Her eyes widened in shock. The Little Jiongyan had been discovered again.
And this time—worse.
Kaito had somehow seized control of her clone, dragging it before him with an ability she could neither identify nor resist. Through its vision, the moment her gaze locked with his dark golden pupils, a chill unlike anything she'd felt in years swept down her spine.
"This presence… no… how can this be…?"
Her breath caught, shoulders trembling as the strap of her gown slipped away, exposing her bare skin. That oppressive weight, that crushing reminder—she had only felt it once before, when facing that one.
"No… there's only one of him in this world. Kaito, a hero, cannot possibly…"
She clutched her nightgown tightly to her chest, knuckles whitening, forcing herself to steady her heartbeat.
"Calm down. I must calm down."
Drawing a long breath, her chest rose and fell as a plan formed in her mind.
"Since I've been discovered… why not turn the tables?"
A cunning light glimmered in her eyes. She would feign her innocence—perhaps a harmless monster that had wandered into human society, one that had accidentally offended Kaito. If she played it right, begged forgiveness, and demonstrated harmlessness… maybe she could linger by his side, just like Mosquito Girl.
But before she could act—Kaito's voice cut through the silence.
"Sykes, is peeping really that interesting?"
The casual words struck her ears like thunder.
"Damn it…!"
Her blood ran cold. The disguise she had so carefully crafted—the Great Eyes meant to shield her while she pursued her research, while she prepared for that one's grand human eradication plan—shattered in an instant.
Now, everything lay bare before him.
Her nails dug into her chest through the thin fabric, wrinkling it. Panic clawed at her mind, searching desperately for an angle—negotiate, entice, even offer up a secret if it meant buying time. As long as she could stall him, as long as her true identity remained hidden…
But she never got the chance.
"Boom—!"
Agony erupted deep within her soul.
The crimson tendrils binding her clone twisted into malevolent flames, scorching her from the inside out.
"Ahhh—!!"
Her scream echoed through the underground chamber. She curled on the bed, long legs pressed tightly together, toes curling against the sheets as the torment surged.
It was indescribable. Like a red-hot steel rod driving into her brain, stirring mercilessly. And her strong psychic power betrayed her, refusing her the mercy of unconsciousness. She endured every second of the torture, raw and unfiltered.
"Ugh… ah…"
With trembling will, she severed her connection to the Little Jiongyan. Her body collapsed limply onto the bed, sweat soaking her nightgown until it clung to her curves.
Her hair lay in disarray, her chest heaving, lips parting to release broken gasps.
"Kaito…!!"
Sykes gritted her teeth, eyes burning with rage. Forcing herself upright, she trembled, the neckline of her gown falling wide and revealing pale skin and the deep valley of her chest.
"You will pay for this… I swear…"
Sykes staggered toward the laboratory's control panel, her long legs still trembling. With each step, the hem of her nightgown shifted, revealing fleeting glimpses of pale thigh.
Her fingertips brushed across the panel, summoning King's data onto the screen. Cold light reflected on her flushed face, her eyes burning with vengeance.
"Strongest on the surface? Heh… I'll show you the consequences of offending me… Sykes."
She licked her lips unconsciously, a simple gesture that carried unintentional allure. Already, schemes of retaliation began weaving through her mind. With deliberate calm, she turned toward the bathroom to bathe again. The nightgown slipped from her shoulders, cascading down and revealing the flawless curve of her figure.
Meanwhile, on Kaito's side.
The moment the malevolent flames devoured the Little Jiongyan, a strange psychic link sparked to life between him and Sykes. For an instant, his perception surged along that invisible thread, plunging straight into the Monster Research Facility buried a thousand meters below.
What he "saw" nearly made his breath hitch.
Sykes lay curled on a bed of tangled silk sheets, her body trembling from the pain. Her nightgown, already thin, was drenched in sweat, clinging tightly to her curves. With each ragged breath, her chest rose and fell, skin gleaming under the dim light. Her long legs shifted restlessly, toes curling from the lingering torment.
And then—most fatally—the fabric had ridden up her thighs, baring a stretch of flawless white skin.
"Hiss…"
Kaito inhaled sharply. He had known Sykes was beautiful, but this—this raw, unguarded vision was far beyond what he had expected. For the briefest moment, his heart thumped irregularly, the Emperor Engine pounding louder in his chest.
The scene was overwhelming—more intoxicating than anything he'd glimpsed before. Her mixture of fury and vulnerability, bound to such a dangerously alluring form, carried a power that no artifice could match.
But the link didn't last.
With a final surge of will, Sykes severed the connection. The vision shattered, the "live broadcast" collapsing into darkness.
Patreon Rene_chan, support.