Demonic Po*nstar System

Chapter 622: Evening Plans

”Yeah...” Luna scowled. ”I’ll admit it. They’re the kings of cringe, but they’re strong. Clean formations, disciplined rotations, no wasted movement. Professionals.” She clicked her tongue. ”Still losers, though. They’ll never recover the generational aura loss that is going on right now.”

”Speak like a normal human being, please,” Nyx purred and got ignored.

Kaiden’s gaze drifted upward instead, to the very top of the list.

”New Dawn,” he said quietly. ”They’re strange... They have the kind of roster that should be blowing everyone else out of the water. Multiple global talents, resources, and the experience of a top 3 USA guild. And yet...” His eyes narrowed. ”They’re barely holding first place.”

Aria nodded slowly, eyes thoughtful. ”It does feel like they’re holding something back,” she agreed. ”Or waiting.”

”Mysterious,” Nyx murmured.

Aria exhaled softly, then smiled and leaned closer to him again. ”Still, there’s no point worrying about what they might be doing. We just do our best. That’s all we can control.”

Kaiden let out a quiet breath and nodded.

”Yeah.”

Then grinned. ”Or it would be the case, but you’re forgetting something.”

Confusion flickered across Aria’s face. ”I’m... forgetting something?” she echoed, then her eyes sharpened as she caught the look he was wearing. Her breath hitched. ”Wait. Kai, are you planning to...?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, Kaiden looked around at all of them, really looked this time. The slumped shoulders. The tired eyes. The way even Luna’s usual restless energy had dulled into something comfortably lethargic.

”We’re exhausted, and we’re done for the day. So, how about we leave the competition grounds and head to the Ashborn manor? We’ve got a lot to go over, and”—his lips curved—”I’ve got a ridiculous amount of Dungeon Master Points to spend on our home, too.”

Aria’s eyes lit up instantly, exhaustion evaporating in a flash. ”Really?” she bounced slightly where she sat. ”Yes! I’d love to visit Mom!”

Her excitement was contagious, a warmth that spread through the group.

They had spent the last ten days fighting monsters in this location, save for the day when they had to pass a brutal, supernatural trial.

It was safe to say that they were happy for a change of location, even if it was just for one evening.

The Ashborn manor was quite the ideal location for such an outing. Julia was there, and Aria’s siblings too. Furthermore, Naira and her mother were resting there as well.

And the two families weren’t the only ones who had found shelter there.

Kaiden’s gaze shifted until it settled on the blonde girl in demonic maid attire standing just off to the side.

”Alexandra, how do you feel about coming with us?”

She froze instantly.

Her blue eyes widened, pupils shrinking as if he’d struck her with a punch to the guts instead of a harmless question.

”M–Me?” she stammered.

”Your parents should be there too,” Kaiden replied calmly.

The color drained from her face.

Her hands clenched at her sides, fingers trembling against the black fabric of her dark, frilly outfit. Her mouth opened, then closed. No sound came out. Shame crashed over her in a visible wave, shoulders curling inward as if she were trying to make herself smaller.

”I... I can’t,” she whispered at last, voice barely there. ”I shouldn’t. They... they must hate me. After everything. After what I...” Her words tangled and broke apart. ”I disgraced them. I... There’s no way they’d want to see me.”

The room went quiet.

Nyx’s hands stilled on Kaiden’s shoulders. Luna stopped smirking. Even Aria’s excitement softened into concern as she looked at Alexandra with wide, sympathetic eyes.

Kaiden held the blonde woman’s gaze, steady and unflinching, giving her time to breathe through the spiral before he spoke.

His voice stayed even, grounded, the same tone he used when laying out battlefield facts that truly mattered.

”You were the victim of a horrible person’s cruelty,” he said plainly. ”Extreme cruelty. You didn’t choose that life. You were forced into it, cornered, used, and hurt. That means you get to decide how you heal from your trauma. You get to decide when you’re ready to take each step forward. What pace you move at. What feels safe. What feels bearable. Whatever makes you feel comfortable comes first, always.”

Alexandra’s lips trembled as she stared at him, breath shallow, eyes glassy as if those words were pressing against wounds that had never been allowed to close.

Kaiden paused, then continued, firmer underneath.

”But there’s one thing you don’t get to do.”

Her head lifted sharply, blue eyes locking onto his, shock flashing across her face.

”You don’t get to decide how other people think of you. You don’t get to decide what your parents feel. You don’t get to decide whether they hate you, pity you, miss you, or love you. Those thoughts belong to them. Taking that away from them hurts you and them at the same time.”

Her mouth opened, then closed again. Her fingers curled tighter into her frilly skirt, knuckles whitening as she fought the urge to retreat inward.

Nyx moved before Alexandra could spiral further.

She stepped away from Kaiden, closing the distance, and gently took Alexandra’s trembling hands into her own. Her grip was warm and sure, grounding without pressure.

”Blondie, come with us. Just come. Speak with your parents. Or at least see them. My parents abandoned me a long time ago, running away to be free of the debt. But your parents never gave up, never flew away from the fight...” Her thumbs brushed slow circles over the backs of Alexandra’s hands. ”You haven’t seen them in years, right?”

Alexandra swallowed hard. Her shoulders shook once as she nodded. The motion was small and incredibly fragile.

From above Kaiden’s head, the black halo stirred. Alice slipped free of it, taking shape beside Alexandra with her arms crossed and her chin lifted.

”If they hurt you,” Alice declared with absolute seriousness, ”I will beat them up.”

Alexandra gasped strongly with panic cutting through her fear. ”N-No, please don’t do that!” she rushed out, voice breaking as she shook her head.

Alice blinked, then huffed. ”Fine. But I’ll glare very intensely.”

That earned a faint, shaky breath of something close to a laugh from Alexandra.

She looked around then, really looked at them. At Aria’s open concern. At Luna watching her without mockery. At Nyx still holding her hands. At the two monster girls observing the ongoing discussion curiously but without chipping in. At Kaiden, waiting without pushing.

Her chest rose and fell unevenly as she gathered herself piece by piece.

”I’ll try...” she whispered finally. ”I can’t promise I’ll stay. If it’s too much... if I panic...” Her voice wavered as she met Kaiden’s eyes again. ”Please don’t be angry if I run away.”

Kaiden’s mouth curved into an easy, confident grin. ”I’ll hide you myself.”

Alexandra’s face heated instantly, color blooming across her cheeks as she looked down at her feet, fingers tightening slightly around Nyx’s hands.

With that settled, the tension eased. Preparations were brief. The Runewoven private wing was left behind as the group moved together through the corridors, exhaustion still present but tempered by anticipation.

For one evening, at least, the battlefield could wait.