258 NO AFFECTIONS? MAYBE IT'S A NEW PLAYER
Leo and Dassa were once more than friends. She wanted to use that connection to get to him.
"Don't you remember our intimate times together? Or connection?" she asked.
Leo smiled before replying, "Yes, I remember but memories are merely that memories. As to connection, perhaps I am not the same person you met before."
Leo's revelation shocked Dassa.
"What do you mean we have no connection? Something is not right here," Dassa asked herself.
Leo treats Dassa like a stranger now. That wasn't supposed to be this way given their earlier friendship.. relationship. Leo was known in Sodom city as someone who cherishes his friends, especially his women. His attitude towards Dassa was highly irregular.
Then she realized it.
"If I am not the original Dassa, it is possible that this Leo isn't the original Leo. He could be possessed by a demon or perhaps… replaced by the System," Dassa speculated to herself.
Players in the Realm of Sin who dies sometimes get revived by another backup player although they would occupy the original character's memories.
"This makes sense now", Dassa told herself before adding, "if he's not the same Leo, he would not have the emotional connection to do her bidding. Then don't blame me for what I'm about to do."
Dassa suddenly leaned into Leo, her lips meeting him in a kiss that was more strategy than passion. It was a calculated move.
As their lips touched, dark, intangible energy began to seep from her body, a manifestation of malice, carefully cultivated and now unleashed. The essence twisted and writhed in the air, invisible to the untrained eye, before homing in on its target: Leo.
Dassa came to obtain information about the Rose Dungeon or alternatively recruit Leo for favors. But Leo was too smart to divulge such information to a woman that he has no feelings for.
She knows that now. This Leo wasn't the same.
It was time for plan B.
The malevolent energy swirled around Leo, tendrils of darkness seeking entry into his being. But Leo's expression remained unreadable, his demeanor as calm and detached as ever.
For a fleeting moment, doubt crept into her mind.
Had he sensed it? Did he know what she had done? But then his hands moved to her chest, his touch casual, almost indifferent, and she allowed herself a small, inward smile.
"He doesn't know about the demons", she told herself or so it seemed.
The mission was nearly complete.
Her demons were now within him, and though he showed no outward reaction, Dassa knew what was planted in him. It would be Lilleo Gullee's undoing, her route to control him. That was the ultimate objective if the preliminary ones fail.
Suddenly, the quiet of the room was shattered by the sudden entrance of Petunia, Leo's wife. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the scene before her: her husband in bed with a naked woman.
"What the hell is going on here?" she demanded, her voice trembling with anger.
Leo unceremoniously pushed Dassa to the floor, his tone dripping with feigned innocence. "She came to interview as a courtesan and bloody climbed on me to impress me. What was I supposed to do?"
"Get out", Petunia told her.
Humiliated and furious, Dassa quickly gathered her clothes and dressed, her pride in tatters.
As she stormed out of the room, Leo called after her, his voice laced with mockery. "Sorry girl, but you're not good enough to work as one of our girls."
The words stung, but Dassa held her head high as she left Court La Mood.
"We'll see who will laugh the last", Dassa told herself as she left.
Leo and Petunia watched as Dassa walked away. When they were sure she was gone, Petunia asked, "What was that all about?"
"She came to seduce me I guess but you broke her off", Leo replied to her with a smile.
"Its not as simple as that", Petunia speculated before adding, "she must be seeking answers about the Rose dungeon."
"Perhaps… but there is something more to that act", Leo reasoned.
Soon, shadows began to rise behind Leo, dark and ominous, twisting into grotesque shapes. From the depths of the darkness, demonic figures emerged, their forms shifting and writhing as if alive.
Each one clawed and fought, their ghastly hands reaching out, desperate to consume his soul and body. They were ancient, malevolent entities, each vying to claim him as their own, to use his essence as a vessel for their revival.
-------
[At the Inn of Travellers]
The Inn of the Traveler was alive with the warm hum of conversation and the clatter of dishes as patrons enjoyed their evening meal. The aroma of roasted meats and freshly baked bread filled the air, creating an atmosphere of comfort and camaraderie.
But the peace was shattered in an instant when one of the diners suddenly shot to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor.
"What's happening to me?" the man screamed, his voice raw with panic.
Dark, snaking veins began to spread across his skin, pulsing with unnatural energy. His muscles bulged and tensed, his body contorting as though something inside him was fighting to break free.
Without warning, he overturned the table in front of him, sending plates and cutlery crashing to the ground, and lunged at the nearest person.
"He's gone mad!" someone shouted, their voice cutting through the chaos.
Several burly men rushed forward, grappling with the crazed patron in an attempt to restrain him.
But the man's strength was unnatural, far beyond what any ordinary person could muster. "Bring the chains! We can't hold him for long!" one of the men yelled, his voice strained with effort.
Thick metal chains were quickly fetched and wrapped around the thrashing man. Even bound, he continued to struggle, his roars echoing through the inn. The other patrons watched in stunned silence, their meals forgotten as fear and confusion spread through the room.
"What happened to him?" someone finally asked, breaking the tense silence.