After the dense conversation full of twists that had taken place between the young Salin and Mr. Hark during the night, inside the quarters where Hark had settled for that evening.

  What was supposed to be a calm night of pure business for Hark ended with him encountering an unexpected fate for someone so important to him within the underworld of the Oculi.

  Yet this fact was about to gain an even greater magnitude than Salin and Mia could imagine, since that luxurious event—which to the eyes of any human was nothing more than a very lively nightclub in the city center.

  Was, beneath the ground, used by the Oculi to fulfill their vile desires toward humans: nothing more than a place where they could reserve one of the many underground rooms to indulge themselves not only in a carnal way,

  But also by tasting human flesh from those they initially brought under the pretense of intimacy—when, in truth, it was meant to mentally violate their victims, deliberately stimulating a more "refined" flavor of their flesh by forcing them to experience extreme fear, both mental and physical.

  This revealed that the incredible nightclub located inside a large abandoned factory—renovated to host not only a luxurious music event, fully enclosed and hidden from the eyes of the city by walls designed to suppress any external noise.

  Appeared, to the humans on the terrace who were unaware of the existence of beings like the Oculi among them—as was the case for most of the human population around the world.

  As nothing more than a dreamlike party. The Oculi possessed completely normal human appearances to everyone's eyes,

  Yet within themselves, they were entirely different from any human being. It was evident that all the Oculi and humans in that above-ground section—the so-called dream nightclub—were enjoying themselves, drinking and dancing.

  While simultaneously, beneath the surface, in the subsoil and its many levels, existed nothing less than a representation of hell—where no person entered one of those many luxurious rooms and ever emerged unscathed, mentally or physically.

  Still in the City Center

  Location: Crimson Petal Event

  A Few Hours Later

  After Miss Mia and the young Salin managed to leave the event successfully—without being noticed by the Oculi among the many humans present, nor by the event's own security staff, who, due to the overwhelming crowd, were dealing with numerous internal issues that prevented fully efficient surveillance.

  And with the security cameras having been damaged after multiple power outages that burned out their circuits a few hours before the event reached its maximum visitor capacity across its two floors.

  Salin and Mia, after accessing the underground area with great difficulty and even greater caution so as not to be noticed by the event's guards, nevertheless found themselves forced into combat, leaving several guards dead when the security team scheduled to rotate every hour in the sublevel arrived.

  They reached, under surveillance, the corridor where Hark's room was located, along with the rooms of several other Oculi of high influence who were not yet in their quarters.

  All of them were still upstairs at the event, indulging in drinks and the music that played throughout the night, enjoying the celebration at its peak amid so many humans and interesting figures.

  The guards immediately realized that those guards had not been killed by ordinary Oculi, but by humans—whose presence was unmistakably left behind by the characteristic human scent permeating the entire corridor.

  The chief of that place was immediately contacted about the massacre discovered in the underground level.

  As a result, he began to tremble with fear, knowing that within minutes that location would receive the presence of none other than the right-hand arm of the Begeneri twins.

  The chief instantly shouted orders through the communicators, commanding all nearby guards to clean that entire corridor at any cost.

  He ordered them to leave the corridor looking flawless in appearance, removing every trace of the massacre.

  For the lives of all of them would be at risk if that slaughter inside the event were discovered by the important guest who was about to arrive.

  None of those present knew that the entire massacre had been carried out by Mia and Salin.

  Who at that exact moment were already several kilometers away from the event, leaving the city via the main avenue toward their home—after having obtained what they came for directly from Hark's own hands.

  But before the terrified guards could even carry out their chief's order to clean the corridor near Hark's room, it was already evident that numerous Oculi corpses lay dismembered throughout the hallway.

  At the same time, large amounts of black blood stained the walls and ceiling, spilled from the guards who had been killed there.

  Main Entrance of the Event

  Ground Floor of the Event

  A Few Moments Later

  People could be seen leaving and others entering, chatting among themselves, when none other than the right-hand man of the Begeneri twins stepped into the event in an elegant and calm manner.

  With just a single step inside that place, he unleashed nothing less than a completely bloodthirsty presence upon all the Oculi, making their bodies instinctively bristle at the same time.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  As a direct consequence, every Oculi inside the event—from the ground floor down to the underground levels—abruptly froze in place for a few moments in the presence of someone they all recognized, and whom they knew that, should he wish to amuse himself, not a single Oculi or human would remain alive in that place.

  All of this sanguinary sensation, however, went entirely unnoticed by any of the many humans—women and men alike—who were there enjoying the party, which was lively and energetic, with flashing lights and loud music giving the environment an air of excitement and indulgence for everyone present.

  Yet, simultaneously, in that exact moment, it felt as if the atmosphere had grown denser, almost as though the air itself were crushing the bodies of all the Oculi present.

  For none other than the right-hand man of the Inanis faction, follower of the ideals of the Begeneri twins, was there—this person being the young Astaroth.

  With only a few steps into the event, he was immediately approached by a security guard, who respectfully introduced himself and honored Astaroth's presence at the venue.

  At the same time, the guard began escorting Astaroth toward one of the most VIP areas of the entire event, granting him a higher vantage point overlooking the main floor where everyone was dancing, while the lights shone with greater intensity down below.

  It was clear that the young Astaroth was wearing a very handsome black suit, made of a fabric that seemed not only comfortable but also exquisitely tailored.

  It gave him the visual presence of someone of very high status among all those present—many of whom were wealthy, whether human or Oculi.

  It was noticeable that some people found themselves staring at him, drawn by his striking beauty, as well as by his short white hair, which was not dyed but naturally the color of the purest, whitest snow.

  Astaroth walked toward his previously reserved place, where he intended to settle some important matters with a certain person.

  His two personal bodyguards followed closely behind him, both dressed in black attire that consisted of impeccably maintained and luxurious suits.

  Each of them wore a mask representing the face of a wolf in a golden hue, yet with no shine on its surface, as the texture was completely matte.

  It could be perceived that the masks were made of perfectly molded iron, covering the entire face of each bodyguard snugly as they followed Astaroth.

  The two stood guard with a posture that conveyed superiority and total devotion to Lord Astaroth.

  Behind their masks, the two bodyguards subtly yet mercilessly scanned their surroundings, viewing everyone there as nothing more than "insects."

  Meanwhile, as they calmly weaved through the crowd, Astaroth remained entirely serene, while at the same time showing that he was enjoying the place and all the excitement created by the people present throughout the environment.

  An environment filled with lights and lasers cutting through the total darkness that seemed to last for a few seconds, during one of the most rhythmic and vocal sections of the music.

  After a Few Seconds

  On the First Floor of the Event

  It can be observed that Mr. Astaroth, his bodyguards, and the guide reach the first floor and proceed toward the second staircase that leads to the VIP area on the second floor.

  As they walk calmly amid the many people around them enjoying themselves and chatting, something happens—nothing less than an unexpected incident along the way.

  Thus, a group of humans is revealed: one man and two very drunk women who end up bumping into Astaroth. Immediately after that, the group shows total contempt for Astaroth in his path.

  Since the man and the two women were heading toward the ground floor of the event after leaving the VIP area on the second floor—the very place Astaroth was heading toward at that exact moment, following the guide in front of him.

  The man, smiling in a superior manner, calls Astaroth pathetic and mocks his attire, saying he has three identical suits at home, all of far greater luxury.

  He says all of this while wrapping both arms around the two women, who smile and laugh at his ironic remarks.

  The security guard appointed by the event's owner to serve as the young Astaroth's guide, immediately after those words are spoken to Astaroth, feels his body turn ice-cold—as if he were in the Arctic, facing the greatest cold ever recorded on that planet since its creation.

  Simultaneously, the world around them seems to slow down for everyone present, and the sounds of the event become faintly muffled.

  Astaroth's two personal bodyguards turn toward the man, their fists clenching in perfect synchronization.

  The two guards, whose eyes had previously appeared normal behind their masks, now reveal eyes completely black—without irises or pupils. At once, a subtle ripple can be seen emanating from their fists.

  This occurs as they release their Oculi abilities in response to the man's audacity in addressing Astaroth as if he were superior.

  However, with a single, subtle voice command from Astaroth, both guards are ordered not to intervene or react aggressively toward the man and the two women accompanying him.

  As a result, they return to their positions, showing no reaction whatsoever against what they were ordered to do.

  Meanwhile, time still seems slowed, and the man once again calls the young Astaroth an idiot and pathetic.

  The man then decides to mock whoever Astaroth's superior might be, saying that such a person must pity him—because although Astaroth might have an impressive appearance, physically, in the man's presence, he seemed to be nothing more than a flawed prototype of a man.

  After saying this, the man decides to stop wasting his time on Astaroth. He turns his back on him and waves goodbye in a completely contemptuous manner, while the two women at his side laugh, agreeing and praising the man for being far more incredible than Astaroth.

  At the same time, the guard serving as the guide toward the VIP area thinks about advancing on the man, wishing to make him pay with his life—along with the two women—for such human audacity against an Oculi as important as the young Astaroth.

  However, before the guard can move, channeling his Oculi abilities into his fists as they clench subtly with visible force, he suddenly feels his entire body paralyzed, his movement abruptly halted.

  After what seems to be Astaroth's deep breath echoing through the place, the flow of time returns to normal—yet the surroundings feel completely silent.

  It becomes possible to see Astaroth standing ahead of the guide, his back turned, staring at the staircase where the man and the two women are still descending.

  [Astaroth — Calm & Playfully Hollow Voice] ...Do not dare attack that human, Mr. "Guide." —

  Gradually, he slightly turns his face, smiling in a completely amused manner, while his eyes are clearly visible as pure white—without irises, pupils, or any glimmer across their entire surface.

  [Astaroth — Calm & Playfully Hollow Voice] For if you touch even a single finger on that man or on the two women accompanying him before I do, I... —

  From just a few meters away, the guide can witness that terrifying scene: Astaroth with his back turned, slightly revealing his face as he glances sideways at him, while around him—visible only to the eyes of an Oculi—the air itself seems to ripple, growing denser and heavier.

  [Astaroth — Calm & Playfully Hollow Voice] ...I promise I will burn you from the inside out while you are still alive, begging me for mercy. Do you understand? [A gentle, cheerful & attentive laugh] —

  Astaroth is exerting every ounce of effort to control his most fervent desires in that moment—desires to fulfill his will in the most painful, pleasurable, sadistic, and entertaining way possible.

  Astaroth's bodyguards remain motionless, feeling that murderous sensation that makes them tremble slightly, recognizing that Astaroth is holding himself back from destroying not only that place, but everything within a radius of several meters around the event.

  The guard guiding Astaroth immediately lowers his head and bends at the waist, begging for forgiveness for his near-impulsive action, without having been ordered to intervene, admitting he did not think and asking to be pardoned.

  When he lifts his face toward Astaroth again, he no longer finds him with his back turned toward the stairs. Instead, Astaroth is now fully facing the guide.

  Reflected in the frightened eyes of the guide is nothing less than a gaze that exudes a murderous presence—without a single drop of feeling or emotion visible coming from Astaroth.

  [Astaroth — Calm & Sympathetic Voice] Given all this, what do you say we continue toward my reserved table on the second floor of this rather interesting event, so full of entertaining people? [A soft, tranquil sigh] —