Chapter 219: Pride

Words : 1098 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Sin Stance: Pride Description: The Sin of Pride manifests as an embodiment of arcane supremacy. It is a stance rooted not in rage or hunger, but in the unshakable belief that one is born to stand above all others. When the Paragon of Sin enters Pride Stance, his body becomes a conduit for pure mana, his presence refined into something majestic, overwhelming, and elegant. This is not brutish power. It is precision, control, and dominance. ... "Why do I feel a different air around ya’ll?" Rae asked as she and her twin sister led them out of the bunker at their request. "You didn’t level up. You hadn’t even killed a single entity! You were just having fun with your streams." The tanned girl of chaos was rewarded with silence, all refusing to answer her inquiries. This, in turn, made her pout strongly. Now, where were they going? To the dungeons, of course. But not just any dungeon. After what happened with Theodore in the publicly open dungeon, they knew going into one with their current fame and infamy wasn’t the best choice they could make. The Awakened Association seemed rather lax with enforcing the rules inside. Instead, they wanted to gain access to a private dungeon. Kaiden tried to ask Grace for a free dungeon through Riven, but was promptly denied. He knew it would be like this, but it was worth a try in his mind. Then came the next choices. Guilds. The issue with them stemmed from the fact that he didn’t make any proper connections yet. They had many enemies, or at least people who thought very opportunistically about them, so joining a strong group that could turn against them inside the dungeon was a no-go. For now, at least. The level 25 breakthrough was close, at least until they got there and upgraded their spells, the girls and he wanted to play it safe. Thus, their destination was none other than the HQ of Nova Circuit. Once near, they left the twins behind and moved in with just the five of them. Most eyes turned when Kaiden and his party walked through the sensor gates. Not just because of their fame, but because of the aura they now radiated. Kaiden’s was the calmest of all... and yet, for those sensitive to magic, it was like standing in the path of a descending thunderstorm. He walked in the center, with Luna and Nyx flanking him on his left and right. Aria was just a step behind with her mage robes loose, looking very much like a goddess playing things casual. Next to her, Bastet walked with complete nonchalance in her steps. Suddenly, a voice rang out from across the building: "Well, well. Look who decided to walk in like they matter." Kaiden didn’t have to look to know who it was. That smug, rusty-dagger of a tone could only belong to one person. Jack. The walking fortress of the Nova Circuit squad was standing with arms folded near the main elevator bank, the light catching against his armor’s reinforced knuckles and shoulder guards. His helmet was clipped at his waist, revealing a shaved head, sharp jawline, and a permanent expression of entertained condescension. Behind him, Leon leaned on his sword while Sasha, the ever-crisp ranger with red hair tied in a sleek ponytail, stood with narrowed eyes. And in the center? Vaelira. The Puppeteer Queen. Cold. Sharp. And watching. Jack smirked. "So, the streamer squad’s here for a real challenge, huh? I heard you decided to stop cucking yourself by only uploading to female viewers so that you can start owning your girls like a man?" His words sliced through the air with mocking intent. "A hopeless exhibitionist like you must struggle... Can you even get it up anymore?" A mighty, violent twitch moved through Aria’s brow. Luna chuckled once. Nyx’s lip curled upward, more amused than angry. But it was Sasha who stepped forward with the actual venom. "Must’ve been too much for their fragile little hearts," she said, glancing at Kaiden’s trio with false sympathy. "Now that they have some cash, they no longer want to show their bodies off on camera. No longer desperate for money like starved dogs." Vaelira, for her part, said nothing. Not yet. She simply raised her hand slowly and tapped one polished nail against her temple, noting every detail, every response, every opening. "Master~" Bastet’s sultry voice purred as she stretched her arms behind her head, ears twitching lazily. Her tail flicked once, like a whip through the air. "Why are these people dressed for combat in their own guild building...?" She blinked up at Kaiden innocently, her voice lilting in a way that was far too soft, far too sweet to be sincere. "Are there monsters lurking here?" The way she said the word ’monsters’ carried just enough weight to echo. Kaiden didn’t answer because he didn’t have to. Luna did for him. "Oh, they’re just being cautious," she said with a smug little smirk. "Someone must’ve left quite the impression last time... Someone very dangerous. Knowing that that certain someone was coming, they probably felt the need to get ready. Just in case." A beat of silence passed. Then Bastet tilted her head with a glimmer in her eye. "Hmm? Whoever could you be talking about?~ They sound like a very scary enemy!" She purred the words while her hips swayed with each step she took forward. But everyone knew who Luna meant. Her. Bastet, the Sun-Kissed Pharaoh. The boss monster. The apex predator who nearly slaughtered all of them before being tamed by Kaiden. The memory was no doubt seared into the minds of those standing before them now. And then it happened. No spell was cast. No system alert sounded. But suddenly, violently, Bastet’s feline pupils contracted into vertical slits, sharp and thin. Her fangs were revealed as she bared them at the group before her. A primal silence fell across the lobby as her golden irises locked onto them like a predator sighting prey. The change in her aura was instant. Predatory. Blood-hungry. Violent. She didn’t growl. She didn’t move. She simply looked. And Jack, the so-called immovable tank, flinched. It was the faintest motion, a subtle shift of his weight, a reflexive half-step backward as his arm instinctively rose, shield angling into position. The air was suffocating. Leon’s fingers tensed on his blade. Sasha gasped through her nose, her posture stiffening. Only Vaelira stayed entirely still, though her brow twitched with interest. Bastet’s lips curled into a delighted smile. "Ara?"

Chapter 219: Pride

Comments (0)