Uncertain Duplicity

"This is the center of the Cave," Ruga said, his voice echoing through the vast chamber. "It's really broad, right?"

"Yeah," Fujiwara agreed. "This could hold more than 100,000 people. How come we didn't know of such a broad place before?"

"Yeah, I know right…" Ruga's response was distant.

Asami, sensing his unease, gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ruga, are you alright?"

He sighed. "I'm fine. I'm just... frustrated. Powerless."

"Calm down," Asami urged. "We still have time to convince them. We'll cooperate. Let's try again, okay?"

Ruga hesitated before nodding. "Yeah… you're right. Let's head back. We need to warn and save everyone."

Staring at Asami's azure eyes he thought silently, "That's right. Asami has always been my light in the darkest times. If only…"

"Right," Asami smiled.

"Bro," Fujiwara chimed in, "if we use our authority, we can convince the higher-ups." Takeda added, "Even if they resist, we should start by evacuating those who believe us."

"Yeah, we can't waste any more time," Ruga agreed. The group, along with the 93 others, began to head back. Some had come to verify Ruga's claims, others out of loyalty, but all were tense. After a minute of walking, Ruga suddenly stopped

His body tensed, back straightening, his face obscured by the shadows cast by the cave.

Asami stepped forward, a growing sense of dread crawling up her spine. "Ruga...? What's wrong?"

He turned slowly. His eyes were dark and hollow, void of any warmth or hope.

"Don't worry," he said softly, his voice eerily calm, a faint, almost unnoticeable smile appearing on his face. "You won't have to suffer like before."

The words sent a chill down her spine. Before anyone could react, shadows emerged from the darkness. Hundreds of figures appeared—humans, or so they seemed. They looked...normal, with no visible weapons or muscles. But at the front stood a girl with dark scarlet eyes, her head tilted slightly as she grinned.

"It's fun time," she whispered, her voice laced with hollow glee.

And then they moved—fast, impossibly fast, tearing through the moonlight and firelight with inhuman speed. Screams filled the cave as martial artists and Ruga's companions were ripped apart. Females were dragged into the darkness, their bodies twisted and broken to render them immobile, followed by rape.

Asami's heart pounded in her chest as she watched her friends and allies being butchered, their cries of agony filling the air.

"RUGA! We need to save everyone! We need to call for reinforcements!" she screamed, her voice desperate.

But Ruga stood still, his cold eyes locked on her, devoid of any empathy, almost... looking down on her. A sickening realization crept into Asami's mind.

"RUGA?! DON'T TELL ME YOU... YOU LURED US HERE!" Asami shouted, her voice cracking with terror and disbelief. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"

Takeda and Fujiwara, standing nearby, paled as they fought to protect themselves. But it was useless. They were shoved to the ground, immobilized by the overwhelmingly powerful humans.

Ruga's expression remained unreadable. "The time has come again," he said quietly. "These... are the Vajra."

Takeda, his voice trembling, managed to stammer, "But... the Vajra are—"

"Humanoid creatures with fangs and red eyes?" Ruga interrupted, a cold smirk on his face. "A fairy tale, nothing more. These are the true Vajra. Humans who evacuated underground during the meteor strike that wiped out the dinosaurs. This is the evolution they achieved by living in the depths of hell for thousands of years. They will.."

Fujiwara, his face twisted in rage, shouted, interrupting Ruga, "STOP YOUR BULLSHIT! MAKE THEM STOP, RUGA!"

Asami, trembling, whispered, "Ruga... you..."

Ruga's smirk remained the same as he looked at her. With a still as steel-like expression he said-

"You see, Asami... this isn't my second regression."

"It's my twelfth."