The Dark Rebirth of Pandora: Revenge of the Abyss

Chapter 744: Crossover Part 11

”Shizune, is something wrong?” Ayla asks as I step out of the bathroom with my face flushed.

”N-Nothing...” When I deny it, she gets thoughtful for a few seconds before taking hold of my hand.

”Pandoraʼs up to something, isnʼt she? You two seem to be competing over something. Please donʼt underestimate me — Iʼm not an idiot, Iʼve noticed somethingʼs off.” When she says that, I find myself wondering if I should speak up. Pandora is powerful. Having an ally would be nice.

”Pandoraʼs been rubbing herself on things in my room... sheʼs masturbating right now while moaning my name in my bedroom, and itʼs frustrating and weird. That womanʼs lust makes me uncomfortable.” When I say this, Ayla shivers.

ʼHow can that woman enjoy herself with that gigantic thing on her ass... sheʼs vile... what a shallow woman.ʼ

”Do you have some kind of camera in your room or something?” I decide not to mention that I have a spell on more than just my bedroom, because it would be embarrassing to admit Iʼm monitoring even the bathroom and Aylaʼs room. After all, I canʼt leave any place unguarded where Pandora might hide things.

”Something like that... I thought she wanted to do something malicious when she sent us out to this universe, but sheʼs just acting like an animal. Itʼs honestly disgusting... Iʼm no prude, but sheʼs extreme, and itʼs pathetic.” Ayla and I leave the store, heading to an ice cream shop with the money Pandora gave us earlier.

”Have you ever considered that maybe sheʼs using her lust as a disguise? Pandora makes a lot of sexual jokes, but Iʼve met plenty of lustful monsters, and I can tell you — Pandora doesnʼt exude lust in her gaze.”

”Actually, her gaze is bloodthirsty, violent, and above all, dark.” When she says that, I get confused.

”What do you mean?”

”You canʼt tell?” she questions, confused, as she places an order with a machine and gets her ice cream. I place my order and get a strawberry ice cream.

”No.”

”I see. Well, you should know that Iʼm also biologically a monster — more specifically, a chimera — and Iʼve lived through a situation very steeped in lust... especially with monsters.”

”So Iʼve learned to recognize the pattern in various behaviors. I can say for certain — no matter the universe — if itʼs a monster and itʼs lustful, it will follow these patterns at least a little.”

”Thereʼs a pattern to it?” I guide her to a chair and table as we sit down. I take a glance at Pandora, who wonʼt stop moaning my name while using my toys.

”Of course there is. First, monsters donʼt focus on your eyes when theyʼre being lustful. They get kind of unfocused — thatʼs because lust takes away a lot of their focus. Monsters only lock eyes on you when theyʼre looking at something interesting, or prey.”

”Why do you think I complain so much about Pandoraʼs sexual jokes? She looks at me as if she literally wants to devour me. She doesnʼt look at me like something she desires, just like a piece of meat.”

”Another thing — monsters, when lustful, also get more instinctive. Have you ever seen Pandora distracted during her jokes or the masturbation she does?” When she says that, I think for a moment and reach the conclusion that no, Iʼve never seen Pandora ”distracted” during her unpleasant jokes. In fact, she stares way too much.

ʼRight now sheʼs like this... for the first time, she seems distracted...ʼ This is the first time Pandora has truly seemed ”distracted” by something. Maybe now sheʼs actually enjoying it, but the other times she always seemed focused.

”Interesting. How solid is this information?”

”Very. I can guarantee it — years of experience. Besides, I donʼt know Pandora, but Iʼve noticed she uses her tail a lot. There must be some emotional pattern she canʼt avoid.”

”Since sheʼs a monster and I can also sense things you probably canʼt, hereʼs a warning — sheʼs deceiving you. Pandora isnʼt shallow, not like she tries to pretend. She actually seems far too alert, almost paranoid about us.”

”After all, she switched rooms to one close to ours, sheʼs always on the couch, and she never sleeps, always wandering around the house. Those arenʼt the behaviors of someone relaxed.” When Ayla says this, I get completely confused.

”Why have you never mentioned this before if you noticed so many things?”

”...Because Iʼm weak. I donʼt want trouble with Pandora. Youʼre strong, and you can run from her, but I canʼt. And worse — youʼre just a fragment. Your death changes nothing for your universe. Iʼm the original of my universe. Even if Pandora doesnʼt kill me... she could abandon me somewhere and Iʼd be trapped...” She speaks with a tense tone.

I look at the spying spell with more focus. Does Pandora know? Did she notice Iʼm watching and start putting on this masturbation ”show” to distract me?

”But what would Pandora gain from that? If weʼre a problem for her, wouldnʼt it be better for her to be alone?” I question Ayla, who is more observant than I expected.

”I donʼt know. I have no way of predicting Pandora. Sheʼs a different kind of monster than I am. Sheʼs more primal. She reminds me of Fenrir.”

ʼFenrir? Like the legendary wolf?ʼ I decide not to ask too much. I havenʼt seen everything from Aylaʼs past, just a surface glimpse.

”Iʼm just saying — be careful. That woman is terrifying, but the point isnʼt her strength. Itʼs what sheʼs willing to do to get what she wants. Look at her eyes. Just like you can never turn your back on a tiger, you should never turn your back on Pandora.”

”Metaphorically and literally. I wouldnʼt put it past Pandora to put a spying spell on us or some kind of bomb spell. So much so that Iʼve never turned my back on Pandora when she was too close, and Iʼve avoided letting her touch my body as much as possible.”

”!!!”

”W-Wait, seriously?”

”Heh, yeah! Pandoraʼs magic is strange, chaotic, but nearly imperceptible, so Iʼve been careful.” When she says that, I get nervous, because Pandora always touches my back a lot, as if trying to grab something. Iʼve never tried to avoid it. From now on, I should.

ʼMy connection as a fragment is on my back...ʼ I shrink a little more into my chair as I taste a bit of the ice cream.

”Y-You know, I think Iʼm a little on edge. Could you not talk about her anymore? Also... can we be allies?” I deactivate the spying spell and extend my hand to Ayla. I donʼt want to watch that terrifying woman masturbating. Iʼd rather focus on the moment.

”Of course. I donʼt want to talk about her either. Honestly, itʼs frustrating, and it would be great to have an ally.” She shakes my hand as if weʼve just made a pact.

”So, what do you think of this universe? Itʼs very peaceful, and people donʼt even look at us — they just go about their business.” When she says that, I look around. It really is very peaceful and calm.

There are lots of people. Some look human, others seem completely alien in comparison, but everyone is calmly living their lives.

”Itʼs a really nice universe. The goddess or god who governs the balance is truly incredible.” I praise the one at the top, and Ayla smiles.

”It really is!!”