“Hahaha!!”
“This is insane!”
“Total madness, hahaha!!”
Clara’s laughter fills the chamber, echoing off the ancient walls, leaving the armed group bewildered.
They exchange uncertain glances, confusion clear on their faces, before looking toward the tall, broad-shouldered man standing at the front—their leader.
Their expressions silently beg for answers.
…
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Did we scare her too much?”
“Is she crazy?”
“Did you see that thing with her?”
“That… what was—”
“Shut up!!”
The tall man barks at his men, silencing their murmurs before turning his piercing gaze toward the metallic monolith in the center of the chamber.
“Doctor Dravenmoor? You doing alright over there with your new alien friend?”
“Alien friend?”
Clara chuckles, carefree.
“Oh, that? Nah, nah—he’s just my assistant. Albino.”
“…”
The men stare at her.
Silent.
Stunned.
Her shameless audacity leaves them momentarily speechless, especially their leader, who slowly shakes his head in disappointment.
“…Albino? Really?”
“Yeah! It’s pretty self-explanatory, right? You saw him, didn’t you?”
“Hmm…”
…
“And why, exactly, did you pull your ‘assistant’ out of an ancient alien monolith—naked and covered in red plasma?”
“Oh, that?”
Clara shrugs casually.
“Simple. Albino sleeps anywhere, hehe…”
“No way.”
…
“Yeah! I keep telling him not to lie down just anywhere when we’re on missions, but he just won’t listen… Now he even refuses to wear clothes!”
“Crazy, huh?!”
…
The leader smirks darkly, watching over Clara’s position closely as he subtly signals for his men to begin circling around the monolith.
She hears their footsteps shifting, but she keeps up her act.
“So crazy, man!”
“I see…”
His voice is low. Calculating.
“And here I was, thinking you were just stalling for time… Trying to call in your bandit friends.”
“Oh? Nah!”
Clara tilts her head playfully.
“Why would I need backup? Don’t tell me I’m in trouble?”
She gasps dramatically.
“Wait—is this because of Albino’s behavior?!”
“I swear, I’ll discipline him! Leave it to me!”
…
As Clara speaks, her fingers fly across her tablet, hidden behind the monolith.
She sends out multiple messages—fast, urgent.
Where the hell are you?
I need backup!
ASAP.
It’s the Crimson Nebula!
They surrounded me.
-_-
I found it, okay?!
I found the artifact!!
I need extraction NOW!!
FUCK YOU!!!
…
She waits.
No response.
No matter how many times she sends the messages—nothing.
Only silence.
…
And she hears it.
The footsteps of the armed men.
Getting closer.
She’s running out of time.
But in front of her—
The mysterious, naked man.
Still watching her.
Still smiling—
Confident. Curious.
As if he’s analyzing her.
Studying her features.
Or maybe—
Admiring her beauty?
…
“Don’t look at me like that.”
Her voice wavers.
“Not now…”
A heat creeps up her neck, spreading to her cheeks.
Clara never blushes.
She shouldn’t be feeling this right now—not when there are pirates closing in, ready to kill her and steal her greatest discovery.
But how could she not feel something…
After tasting the most incredible kiss of her life?
The mysterious man watches her reaction closely.
He seems to enjoy it—the way her emotions shift, conflict, unravel.
Then—
He reaches out.
Slowly.
…
Clara tries to stop him.
She wants to.
But she doesn’t move.
His large, pale hand cups her cheek gently.
His fingers stroke her skin, slow and tender.
“This…”
Clara’s lips part slightly.
Her breath hitches.
She pouts instinctively, struggling to hold his gaze without blushing even harder.
But beyond all the chaos—
The pirates. The danger. The mystery.
His touch makes her feel something insane.
…
Safety.
Trust.
Warmth.
Affection.
Happiness.
A whirlwind of emotions stirs inside her, pulling her out of her panic and confusion.
And in that moment—
As he touches her face…
Nothing else matters.
Everything feels right.
For a brief, fleeting moment—
Clara feels like everything is going to be okay.
But.
…
A voice shatters the illusion.
The pirate leader:
"Doctor Dravenmoor?"
His voice is mocking, calculated.
"You doing alright over there?"
"I mean… You’ve gone strangely quiet."
"Having trouble getting in touch with your friends?"
“…”
Clara sighs, letting her tablet fall to the side.
She tilts her head slightly, raising a brow.
"Actually, yeah…"
"You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?"
The pirate leader’s lips curl into a cruel smile.
His men follow suit—grinning, snickering among themselves.
…
"As a matter of fact… I do."
His voice is dripping with amusement.
"Right about now, my dear brother should already have your scumbag of a captain’s head on a platter."
"And of course, the rest of your merry little band of outlaws along with him."
"Oh, and those who stayed behind on the Safira?"
…
His smirk widens.
"They aren’t doing much better."
"Last I saw your ship, one of those big sandworms had latched onto the hull—"
"Dragging it down into an even bigger sand vortex, you know how it is."
“...”
Silence.
The pirate leader expects panic. Horror. Despair.
Instead—
Clara bursts into laughter.
"Hahahaha!!"
“...”
The pirate leader blinks.
His men glance at each other, uncertain.
"Doctor?"
…
Clara wipes a tear of laughter from the corner of her eye, still grinning.
"Those are great news!"
"I mean, I was starting to think they just ditched me and were ignoring my calls until I found out the truth, hahaha…"
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The pirate narrows his eyes.
He tilts his head, intrigued.
"Oh?"
"I like your sense of humor, Doctor Dravenmoor."
His smirk returns, smooth, confident.
"May I call you Clara?"
"No, please."
Clara waves him off casually.
"We’re still getting to know each other, so let’s keep things professional, you know?"
"Of course."
The pirate chuckles.
"I see your point."
"Good."
Her tone stays mocking.
Her sarcastic little chuckles drift through the chamber, deliberately taunting them.
“...”
She can hear their footsteps.
Closer.
Their movements are precise. Careful.
Not reckless, not sloppy—
Almost as if they have a great deal of respect… or fear for her.
…
"Any other bad news I should know about?"
The pirate pauses for a moment.
Then, a dark glint flashes in his pitch-black eyes.
"Actually, yes."
…
"A particularly bad one, in fact."
A slow, predatory grin spreads across his face.
"My men… are surrounding you."
"And they…"
He lets the words linger.
"Well, let’s just say they aren’t exactly known for treating women well."
"And your reputation, Doctor Dravenmoor—"
His eyes glint.
"That you’re as brilliant as you are beautiful—is quite well known."
“...”
Clara rolls her eyes.
"Oh, how original."
She scoffs.
"That’s not exactly news."
"I mean… Predatory pirates? Really?"
“...”
The pirate leader shakes his head.
"Doctor Dravenmoor…"
Clara tilts her head.
"Pirate leader?"
His voice drops lower.
"My patience has limits."
She smirks.
"I see."
…
The tension hangs thick.
The pirates shift.
Everyone can hear the deep exhale from the leader as he seems to compose himself.
"I am a reasonable man, after all."
His voice is measured. Controlled.
"And I am a reasonable woman, right?"
Clara raises a brow, amused.
"Naturally."
His smirk returns.
"Then go ahead. Make your offer."
The pirate leader’s eyes flicker toward his men—
Who are now fully positioned.
Spread across the corners of the chamber.
Their hands tighten around their weapons.
They’re ready to attack.
From all sides.
…
The pirates glance at their leader, waiting for his signal.
But—
He raises a clenched fist.
Telling them to wait.
Clara, however—
She can hear them all.
She knows exactly where they are.
And she’s already preparing.
Her fingers move swiftly, reaching into her bag, grabbing tools.
But the mysterious man in front of her—
“...”
He doesn’t care.
He keeps his focus entirely on her.
His fingers still tracing her cheek.
His touch soft.
His expression—
Unbothered.
"Pirate leader?"
Clara’s voice is calm, steady.
"I’m listening."
The leader’s lips twitch into a smirk.
He knows she’s stalling for time.
But he still looks confident. Relaxed.
"Your reputation is quite something in the Crimson Nebula."
"Oh? Really?"
Clara raises a brow, smirking.
"Yeah."
The pirate leader’s grin widens.
"You know, your friends are already dead."
…
"So instead of having a disgusting, filthy end in this dark corner of the galaxy—"
"You could join us."
Clara snorts.
"Oh, are you recruiting me? Hahaha!"
"Yeah, something like that."
The leader nods, still smirking.
"You’re smart. You’ve got a lot to offer our organization."
Clara scoffs.
"No shit!"
She leans back slightly, mockingly.
"Come on, don’t insult my intelligence. Be honest."
“...”
The pirate leader chuckles.
His yellowed teeth flash as he grins wider.
"Alright. I’ll be direct."
His voice drops slightly.
"You’re beautiful and smart."
"I see a bright future for you."
Clara narrows her eyes.
Waiting.
She already knows where this is going.
"As the concubine of our admiral."
Her response is instant.
"Not a fucking chance."
“...”
Silence.
A deep sigh escapes the pirate leader’s lips.
"Ahh… I really wanted that bonus."
He shrugs.
Then, his eyes shift—
Fixating on the mysterious man beside her.
"But this alien specimen should be enough for a promotion."
He raises a hand.
"Take her."
The pirates move.
Fast.
Two flank from one side of the metallic monolith.
Three from the other.
Heavy rifles raised. Loaded. Ready.
The plan is simple.
Point their guns at Clara.
She either surrenders—
Or they shoot.
…
"Huh?"
"What—"
But before they can even start their words—
Clara moves first.
Small metallic objects roll across the floor.
Breaking the silence.
Before the pirates can react.
Before they can pull the trigger.
Before they can even comprehend what’s happening.
Grenades.
At their feet.
"FUCK!!!"
One of the pirates screams.
Their eyes widen.
The moment they see the glowing red lights—
It’s already too late.
But one person notices before all of them.
As if in slow motion.
The mysterious man.
The one from the metal monolith.
He doesn’t hesitate.
He moves like lightning.
Because he has one priority.
Only one thought.
Clara.
He grabs her.
And with impossible strength, his legs explode with power—
Launching them backward.
In midair, he spins their bodies.
Shielding her.
Giving his back to the explosion.
*BOOOOOM!!!*
**TREMBLE**
The ground quakes.
The walls shudder.
The ceiling shakes.
The entire chamber trembles.
…
Dust rises.
Chunks of the ceiling crumble and crash to the ground.
"AHHH!!"
"SHIIIIT!!!"
"DAMN!!!"
The screams of the pirates echo through the chaos.
But Clara—
She is calm.
Serene.
Because she is beneath him.
The mysterious man shielding her body with his own.
A protector.
Gentle.
But also—
A mountain.
Solid. Unyielding.
Unmovable.
Handsome.
And…
"How the hell do you smell so good?!"
Clara almost gets lost in thoughts that make her blush hard.
But she quickly snaps back to reality—
Just in time to see a pirate emerging behind them.
Still pinned beneath her protector, she draws her pistol—
And fires before the attacker can react.
*BANG!*
Her weapon, a fusion of cutting-edge technology and archaic design, fires a reinforced round from its titanium cartridge.
The bullet tears through the air.
At impossible speed.
Striking the pirate in the head.
His helmet doesn’t stand a chance.
The bullet pierces straight through the dense metal—
Through his skull.
Through his brain.
Blasting out the back of his head in a sickening splash of blood.
Instant death.
Warm blood sprays onto the bare, pale back of the mysterious man.
But he doesn’t flinch.
Doesn’t react at all.
Instead—
He pulls Clara to her feet.
Effortless. Like lifting air.
And Clara—
As if their bodies have been moving together for years—
Hooks her arm around his.
As he pulls her upward—
She is already firing.
*BANG!* *BANG!*
A second target—
One of the pirates, still trying to stand.
One shot to the leg.
One shot to the back.
The pirate stumbles.
Falls.
Dead.
"YOU BITCH!!"
A third pirate bursts through the dust, watching his partner get taken down like an animal.
Furious, he raises his rifle—
But—
The dust is thick.
It obscures his aim.
The ringing from the explosion still throbs in his ears.
He is slow.
*BANG!* *BANG!*
Two shots to the chest drop him before he can pull the trigger.
Clara is fast.
Lethal.
But the gunfire reveals her position.
And the pirates recover quickly.
They begin to surround her.
Inside the dust cloud—
They close in.
Closing the trap.
Clara has only a split second to feel—
The mysterious man pulling her.
"WHA—?"
Confused—
But her body instinctively trusts him.
He grabs her.
Pulling her into his arms.
And spins.
Just in time—
To dodge the incoming bullets.
The roar of an automatic rifle fills the chamber.
One bullet.
Two.
Dozens.
Clara dizzies in his arms—
Because he is moving too fast.
He is weaving through gunfire.
Dodging effortlessly.
With her pressed against him.
A dance.
Agile. Precise.
Graceful. Deadly.
"Shit!"
"Shit!"
"Shit!"
Clara curses wildly.
But—
Not a single bullet touches her.
Because he won’t let them.
“Cease fire!!”
“Cease fire!!”
“STOP NOW!!”
The pirate leader’s voice roars through the chaos.
And suddenly—
The gunfire stops.
The mysterious man halts his impossible, bullet-dodging dance.
Clara’s head spins from the movement—
But her lips curl into a grin.
"Hot damn!"
She looks up—
Straight into his intense, unreadable gaze.
But there’s something tender in his white eyes.
A softness she wasn’t expecting.
His hand reaches for her.
Gently.
His fingers brush over her cheeks.
Then her lips.
Then her neck.
He’s checking for wounds.
She notices.
And laughs.
"I’m fine."
Her voice is soft.
Sweeter than she ever remembers it being.
"Thank you~"
She feels so good in his arms.
She almost—
Almost loses herself again.
But—
Her focus snaps back.
"We need to find a way out."
"Fast!"
She grabs his arm—
Pulling him through the dust and darkness of the chamber.
But then—
…
"Not so fast."
A voice lurks in the shadows.
Predatory. Waiting.
The pirate leader.
Clara curses.
“FUCK YOU!”
She whips her pistol up—
Aiming straight at him.
But—
He’s already raised his own weapon.
A massive shotgun.
Locked on her.
Loaded. Ready.
The pirate leader is fast.
No hesitation.
He pulls the trigger.
*BANG!*
His shotgun—
Made of the same tempered black steel as Clara’s pistol.
Despite its archaic design,
It’s crafted with cutting-edge technology.
Two shells.
.12 gauge.
And the contents—
Pure titanium fragments.
At close range—
The spread covers two meters in diameter.
A lethal cloud of shrapnel.
Clara wouldn’t even see her death coming.
But—
There’s only one thing in front of her.
His pale, naked back.
He moves like lightning.
Again.
But this time—
There’s no way to pull her to safety.
Not without risk.
So instead—
He takes the hit.
Facing the full blast of titanium.
*CLASH!*
BAM!
The force slams into him brutally.
His body whips backward, hitting the wall.
*BOOOOOM!!!*
The impact shakes the entire chamber.
**TREMBLE**
Clara hits the ground hard.
She struggles to push herself up.
She’s dazed.
Her arms shake.
But she’s alive.
Just a few scratches.
Nothing more.
But then—
Her beautiful face twists.
Her stomach clenches.
Her chest tightens.
There are tears in her eyes.
Her voice—
Her scream—
"NOOOO!!!!!!!!"
Her cry rips through the chamber.
A sound of pure anguish.
And beneath it—
An even deeper sound.
Rage.