Thanks for the stones! Here's the bonus chapter!
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My tent came into view at the edge of camp. Most of the others had already retired for the night, exhausted by grief and combat. As I approached, I sensed a familiar mana signature inside my shelter—the distinctive pink-tinged energy that belonged to Nicole.
I paused, considering whether to redirect her to her own tent. The responsible thing would be to establish boundaries. This wasn't some vacation.
But I remembered the haunted look in her eyes after Kaisen's attack. Some traumas cut deeper than others, and Nicole, for all her bluster and social media confidence, was still processing the reality of our situation.
I pushed aside the tent flap and stepped inside.
Nicole sat on the edge of my air mattress, knees pulled up to her chest. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying, her pink hair tied back in a simple ponytail instead of her usual elaborate style.
When she saw me, she quickly wiped her eyes and straightened. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think you'd found better accommodation."
The attempt at her usual flippant tone fell flat, her voice catching on the last word.
"Just handling something at the burial site." I
Nicole nodded, her eyes following the movement. "The others are talking about what happened with Kaisen."
"I don't regret what I did." Though, none of them really know.
"I know." She picked at a loose thread on my blanket. "It's just... I've seen berserkers before. But they're controlled. They have safety protocols. Kaisen was just..."
"A liability," I finished.
"He looked at me like I was meat." Nicole's voice dropped to a whisper. "Not even a person. Just something to use."
I removed my shirt, acutely aware of her presence as I prepared for sleep.
"You should get some sleep," I said, keeping my tone neutral. "Tomorrow won't be easier."
Nicole stood suddenly, crossing the short distance between us. Then, she wrapped her arms around my waist, burying her face against my chest. Her body trembled with silent sobs, tears dampening my t-shirt.
I remained still for a moment, surprised by the gesture. Nicole Demara, social media princess, wasn't known for genuine displays of emotion. This wasn't performance. This was raw, unfiltered vulnerability.
Slowly, I brought one hand up to rest between her shoulder blades. "It's been a long day," I said quietly.
She nodded against my chest, not looking up. "I keep seeing their faces. Jin and Sonya and Elise. They were so..."
"I know."
Nicole's arms tightened around my waist, her tears soaking through my shirt. I'd seen enough breakdowns to recognize when someone was spiraling.
"Let's go to bed, okay?"
Nicole wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, smudging what little makeup remained. She stood there for a moment, looking lost in the dim light of the battery-powered lantern. Then, she reached for her zipper.
I turned away, busying myself with checking the tent flap. Behind me, I heard the rustle of clothing hitting the floor.
"Xavier?" Her voice sounded smaller than before.
I glanced back. Nicole stood in black lace lingerie that left little to imagination. The contrast between her high-end underwear and our survival situation might have been comical if not for the vulnerability etched across her face.
She crossed her arms under her chest, shoulders hunching inward. "Do you have a spare shirt? In your... inventory thing or whatever?"
I raised an eyebrow. "My inventory isn't a department store."
"Please?"
I sighed, accessing my inventory. I did have a few changes of clothes. I pulled out a black t-shirt—plain, practical, and clean.
"Here." I tossed it to her.
Nicole slipped it on quickly, the fabric settling around her like a dress that barely reached mid-thigh.
"Thanks." She tugged at the hem, trying to pull it lower. "It's softer than I expected."
"Uniqlo. Breathable. Good quality." I sat on the edge of the mattress, removing my boots.
Nicole hovered uncertainly before perching beside me. "You're prepared for everything, aren't you?"
"Not everything." The faces of Jin, Sonya, and Elise flashed through my mind. "Not nearly."
We sat in silence, the distant sounds of the oasis filtering through the tent walls—rustling leaves, the occasional splash from the water, the strange chirping of whatever passed for wildlife in this place.
"We should sleep," I said, shifting to lie down on the mattress.
Nicole hesitated only briefly before stretching out beside me. The air mattress dipped under our combined weight, naturally bringing our bodies closer together. After a moment's awkward adjustment, she settled against my side, her head finding the hollow between my shoulder and chest.
"Is this okay?" she asked, her breath warm against my skin.
I nodded, acutely aware of the curves pressed against me. The tent suddenly felt several degrees warmer.
"You know," Nicole said after a while, her voice taking on a hint of her usual playfulness, "most guys would be freaking out right now."
"I'm not most guys."
"Clearly." Her hand came to rest on my chest, fingers splaying right above my heart. "Your heart's barely even racing."
"Disappointed?" I asked.
Nicole laughed softly, the sound muffled against my chest. "No. It's... refreshing, actually." Her fingers idly traced patterns on my shirt. "Most men I meet either treat me like I'm made of glass or like I'm just a hot body with a rich father."
"And which would you prefer?"
Her hand stilled. "Neither." She tilted her head up to look at me. "I'd prefer to be seen as a person. Complicated. Messy. Real."
I studied her face—the slight puffiness around her eyes from crying, the constellation of faint freckles visible now without her usual foundation, the small scar near her hairline that her carefully styled bangs usually concealed.
"Real is messy," I said.
"Tell me about it." Nicole's smile turned rueful. "Millions of followers, and not one of them knows the real me. Not even close."
"And that's how you want it?"
She shrugged. "It's safer that way."
We fell silent again. I reached over and turned off the lantern, plunging the tent into darkness broken only by the faint moonlight filtering through the thin fabric. Nicole tensed momentarily at the sudden darkness, her fingers clutching my shirt.
"It's okay," I said quietly.
She nodded, gradually relaxing against me. Her breathing slowed, becoming deeper and more regular.
Just as I thought she might have fallen asleep, she spoke again.
"Xavier?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think we're going to die here?"
I considered the question. "Not if I can help it."
"That's not really an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
She shifted, propping herself up on one elbow to look down at me.
"My father..." she began, then stopped, swallowing hard. "My father always said that in gates, the only thing that matters is power. Either you have it, or you die."
"Your father sounds real fun at parties."
Nicole snorted. "He's a nightmare. But he's not wrong, is he?"
"Power matters," I conceded. "But so does how you use it. When. Why."
"Spoken like someone who has it."
Rather than respond, I reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her breath caught, and for a moment, we remained frozen—her leaning over me, my hand lingering near her face.
Then Nicole smiled, a genuine expression that transformed her features. "You're a mystery, Xavier Valentine."
"No more than anyone else."
"Liar." The word held no heat, almost affectionate in its delivery. She settled back against my chest, her arm draping across my torso. "But that's okay. I'm getting better at seeing through you."
I pulled Nicole closer, her warmth settling against my side like a missing puzzle piece. She sighed—a small, contented sound—and draped her leg over mine.
"This is nice," she murmured, her words vibrating against my chest.
I ran my fingers absently through her pink hair, surprised by its softness. "It is."
The moonlight filtered through the tent fabric, casting everything in pale blue. Nicole's breathing had begun to slow, edging toward sleep, but my mind remained active. The new ability from the rune stone presented possibilities worth exploring.
'Arcan,' I called silently. 'With my current mana reserves, could a clone remain active all night?'
『Easily,』 she replied. 『Your current capacity would allow a single clone to remain active for approximately twelve hours before requiring dispersion.』
'And would I receive the memories upon dispersion?'
『Complete integration.』
Good. I focused on the new ability, drawing mana from my core and shaping it with intent. Mana Clone.
The familiar separation sensation rippled through me as light peeled away from my body, condensing beside the air mattress. Within seconds, an exact duplicate of myself stood there, looking down at us with raised eyebrows.
Nicole startled, jerking upright. "What the—"
"Relax," I said, keeping my arm around her shoulders. "It's my ability."
The clone whistled low, shaking his head. "Well, isn't this cozy?" His voice was identical to mine, down to the slight rasp from the day's dust.
Nicole looked between us, her green eyes wide. "That's... unsettling."
The clone grinned—my own grin, but somehow more carefree. "You think this is unsettling? Imagine how I feel." He gestured toward us. "I have all his memories, including how soft your hair is and how good you smell, but I'm standing over here like a creep."
"Enough," I said, fixing him with a stern look. "I need you to patrol the perimeter. Make sure we stay safe tonight."
The clone straightened, offering an exaggerated salute. "You got it, boss." He winked at Nicole. "Don't worry, I'll knock before returning."
"Just go," I muttered.
My duplicate chuckled, ducking through the tent flap with a final mock salute. As he disappeared into the night, I felt our connection stabilize—a background awareness of his movements and perceptions, like watching a secondary monitor from the corner of my eye.
Nicole settled back against me, though not as relaxed as before. "Does he... I mean, is he actually you?"
"Yes and no." I adjusted my position to accommodate her. "He has my memories up to the moment of creation and aspects of my personality, but he's running on lower power. Think of him as a semi-autonomous extension."
"So he knows everything you know?"
"Everything I knew when I created him, yes."
Nicole processed this, her fingers drumming against my chest. "That's... convenient." She paused. "And kind of terrifying. Can you feel what he's feeling right now?"
"Not directly. I'm aware of his general state and location, but I'll only receive his full experiences when he disperses." I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Huh." She shifted, her leg sliding higher over mine. "So if I were to do something like this—" her hand slipped under my shirt, warm fingers splaying across my abdomen, "—he wouldn't know?"
"He'd know when he redeploys."
"But not in real-time?"
"No."
Nicole smirked, though the expression didn't quite reach her eyes. "Good to know."
Through my connection with the clone, I sensed him circling the campsite, alert and watchful. He'd already identified optimal vantage points and established a patrol route that minimized his visibility while maximizing coverage. Efficient, as expected.
"Your sister," Nicole said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Noel. What's she like?"
The question surprised me. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious. You mentioned her earlier." She traced idle patterns on my chest. "And I've been thinking about family."
I considered my response carefully. Noel was my blind spot, the one topic I couldn't approach with clinical detachment.
"She's brilliant," I said finally. "Sharper than most people realize. Stubborn. Protective."
"Of you?" Nicole sounded skeptical.
"We protect each other." I stared up at the tent ceiling. "After our parents died, it was just us. We had to figure things out quickly."
Nicole nodded against my chest. "My father started training me when I was five. Special tutors, controlled environments, simulated scenarios. By the time I was ten, I could recite corporate takeover strategies in three languages."
"Sounds intense."
"It was normal to me." Her voice grew distant. "I didn't realize other kids weren't being prepped for board meetings during recess."
Through the clone's eyes, I caught glimpses of the sleeping camp—Alexander in a small tent near the central fire pit, Shikamaru in his, Theo slumped against a tree trunk, apparently having fallen asleep during watch. Dave and Josh shared a tent near the supply cache, while Yuzuriha had made her tent furthest from the others.
"What are you thinking about?" Nicole asked, noticing my distraction.
"The clone is checking the camp. Everyone's asleep."
"Everyone except us." Her hand resumed its exploration under my shirt. "So we're alone. Sort of."
I caught her wrist as her fingers traced the edge of my waistband. "Nicole."
She lifted her head, green eyes reflecting the faint moonlight filtering through the tent. "What? Afraid I'll damage your virtue?"
"We're in a survival situation."
"Exactly. We could die tomorrow." She leaned closer, her breath warm against my cheek. "Kaisen nearly killed me today. Or worse. If you hadn't intervened..." She shuddered against me.
"But I did intervene," I said quietly. "And you're safe now."
"Am I?" Her voice cracked slightly. "Three people died today, Xavier. How long until it's my turn? Or yours?"
I had no answer for that. Instead, I pulled her closer, one hand cradling the back of her head.
"I don't want to die," Nicole whispered against my neck. "Not here. Not like this."
"You won't."
She pulled back slightly, studying my face. "You sound so certain."
"I am."
Her fingers traced the line of my jaw. "Speaking of certain things... I saw you with Yuzuriha last night."
"What about it?"
"She was in your tent." Nicole's tone remained casual, but her fingers had stopped moving. "Are you two...?"
I exhaled slowly. "It's complicated."
"Isn't it always?" She rolled onto her back, staring up at the tent ceiling. "She's pretty. In that exotic, deadly way."
"Nicole—"
"No, I get it. Really." Her laugh sounded hollow. "I'm not judging. End of the world and all that."
I propped myself up on one elbow, looking down at her. "Yuzuriha and I have something with each other."
"And what about us?" Nicole's eyes met mine. "What do we have?"
"Right now? A tent and an air mattress."
She smacked my chest lightly. "I'm serious."
"So am I." I caught her hand, holding it against my heart.
Nicole's expression softened. "Is it because I'm the spoiled princess and you're the working-class hero?"
"Something like that."
She shook her head, pink hair splaying across the mattress. "You know, for someone so perceptive, you can be incredibly dense."
"How's that?"
"You think I care about social status? About money?" She sat up, the borrowed t-shirt sliding off one shoulder. "My father has billions. My ex-boyfriends had yachts and private islands. None of it matters here."
I remained silent, watching the emotions play across her face.
"In this place," she continued, gesturing around the tent, "I'm not Nicole Demara, heiress and influencer. I'm just Nicole. Scared, useless Nicole who can't even fight off one creepy berserker without—"
"You're not useless."
She scoffed. "Right. I'm extremely valuable as bait, apparently."
"That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears. "What possible use am I in this hellhole?"
I sat up, bringing us face to face. "You're surviving. That's enough."
"It's not enough for me." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I want to be more than just baggage you're carrying."
"Nicole—"
"Don't patronize me, Xavier. I see how you look at Yuzuriha. Like you respect her. Like she belongs here, fighting alongside you."
"You're different people with different skills."
"Exactly. She's useful. I'm decorative."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "That's not how I see you."
"No? Then how do you see me?" Her chin lifted defiantly. "And don't give me some bullshit line about hidden potential or—"
I kissed her. Not gently, not tentatively, but with all the pent-up tension and frustration that had been building between us. My hands framed her face, thumbs brushing the soft skin of her cheeks as I pressed my lips to hers.
For a heartbeat, she froze. Then she melted against me, a small sound escaping her throat as her arms wound around my neck. Her lips parted beneath mine, eager and demanding.
When we finally broke apart, her breathing came in short gasps, cheeks flushed and pupils dilated.
"That's how I see you."
Nicole stared at me, lips slightly parted and swollen from our kiss. Then she surged forward, recapturing my mouth with an intensity that knocked me back onto the mattress. She followed me down, hands grasping my shoulders as she half-lay across my chest.
This kiss was different—desperate, hungry, seeking something beyond physical contact. Her fingers twisted in my hair, holding me to her as if afraid I might disappear. I wrapped my arms around her waist, steadying her as she pressed herself against me.
When she finally pulled back, her eyes were wide and wondering. "You kissed me."
"You noticed that, huh?"
She smacked my shoulder, but couldn't hide her smile. "Smartass."
I brushed my thumb across her lower lip. "To answer your question from before—yes, I care about Yuzuriha. She understands parts of me that most people don't."
Nicole's smile faltered.
"But," I continued, holding her gaze, "what I feel for her doesn't diminish what I feel for you."
"And what exactly do you feel for me?" Her voice was barely audible.
"Something I shouldn't."
She studied my face. "Because of Yuzuriha?"
"Because of everything." I gestured vaguely at our surroundings. "This place. Our situation. Who we are outside of it."
"What if I don't care about any of that?" Her fingers traced the line of my collarbone. "What if I just want this—whatever this is—right now?"
"Nicole—"
"I don't know what happens when we get out of here. Maybe we go back to our separate lives—you to your C-rank gates and sister, me to my social media empire and overbearing father." She traced my lower lip with her thumb. "But right now, in this place... can we just be us? No past, no future. Just now."
I studied her face—the earnestness in her eyes, the slight tremble in her fingers. This wasn't the calculated seduction of a socialite or the manipulation of a spoiled heiress. This was raw vulnerability from someone who rarely showed it.
"Just now," I agreed, pulling her back to me.
Her smile lit up her entire face before her lips met mine again. This time, when her hands slid under my shirt, I didn't stop her.
Just now. Just us.