Her hands rested gently on Rio's chest. He lay there, still processing everything — from the terror on Earth to the madness of this Doomed Star. But now, something strange stirred inside him.
The seductive aroma from the jar — spilled earlier by those idiotic Hunters — began to take effect. His heartbeat quickened. His breathing got heavier. He leaned in, instinctively, and kissed Nyxara.
Her eyes opened slowly. But instead of punishing him, she gently pushed him away.
"...Umm... Sorry, I didn't mean to do that," Rio stammered, flustered. "Even though you're... well... kind of dangerously beautiful, I didn't want to— I mean— it wasn't intentional!"
Nyxara exhaled slowly, calmly. "I know. It wasn't your desire, it was theirs — those two fools. They've already been dealt with. You would've died if I hadn't stopped you in time. That... scent... it's connected to a curse — a very old one from my mother's lineage."
"A curse? But... why does it affect you like that? And why didn't you just leave the room if you knew it was in the air?" Rio tilted his head with a suspicious smirk.
Nyxara's body trembled. Her temperature was rapidly rising. Waves of unstable energy began leaking from her. A glow — powerful and chaotic — began to form around her body.
Then, she collapsed.
"Nyxara!" Rio lunged forward to catch her.
"What the hell... Now it's you collapsing? What am I supposed to do?" He looked around, helpless.
Her aura rings and enchantments were all left outside the inner barrier. And now, Rio was sealed in with a woman undergoing some kind of dangerous transformation.
"Dammit... I can't break this with raw power. But... that power from before — how did it trigger last time?" Rio muttered to himself, activating the GODWAR suit.
Nyxara mumbled weakly, her voice a whisper filled with warning: "You'll die if you stay... here..."
And then, with a trembling breath, she dispelled the inner barrier.
"Tell me what to do! I want to help!" Rio called out.
But she didn't answer. Instead, her wings folded tightly around her upper body like a blanket— completely enclosing her upper curves .Moans of pain and distress began echoing throughout the floor.
"Ahh... ahhhh... nnnnnhhh..." Her voice echoed with agony and primal power.
But due to her prior order, no guards dared to enter.
Outside, the IMPERIAL GUARDIAN banged on the door.
"My Lady!? Are you alright?! Did something happen?! Please — order me to enter!!"
Rio clenched his fists. "If anything happens to her… I'm dead for sure. That guy outside? He could destroy a kingdom from MARU just for fun!"
He looked at her trembling, glowing figure.
"Urrrrr..." (The rustle of cloth.)
Rio hesitated, then partially removed her clothing to assess her condition. "Damn… What a body…"
Suddenly —
[Dense Mysterious Voice]: "Do your work, human. But do nothing unnecessary. She is undergoing a breakthrough... and you can too."
"Who the hell are you?! Never mind, I'll ask later! How do I absorb this energy??"
Rio walked in circles. Then instinctively, he grabbed her from waist.
The GODWAR suit responded instantly.
[Suit Status: Power Reserve = 1459%]
"WHAT?! 1459%!?"
He knelt beside her. "Okay... focus. I need to understand this energy... convert it... make it mine."
Suddenly, another voice pierced the silence.
Zanna: "Nyxara! Are you alright?! Can I come in!?"
She began to break the barrier.
The outer shield was opaque — see-through from only one side.
"Damn it! Let's just see what happens next..." Rio muttered, unsure if he was speaking to himself... or that strange voice again.
---
Meanwhile, on MARU:
Lython Ryunn stood before a massive planetary radar.
"Marcus... where is that boy?"
He turned to his servant. "You were given one job: protect Rio. Where is he?"
Marcus lowered his head. "I'm... trying to locate him, my lord."
Suddenly, the radar blared:
[Objective Power Radiation Found!]
[Trajectory: Alpha Solar System (Earth)]
[WARNING: GODWAR SUIT — OUT OF RANGE]