Chapter 15: The Silent Heart (RR)

The air inside the dungeon was thick with moisture, carrying the faint scent of damp stone and old blood.

Haru adjusted his grip on his sword, scanning the dimly lit corridor ahead. They had been descending for what felt like hours, deeper into the heart of the labyrinthine ruins.

The monsters were getting stronger, their attacks more coordinated. It was clear they had crossed into a new tier of danger.

Yet, for the first time in a long while, Haru didn't feel weak.

Behind him, **Shira**, the towering Oni warrior, walked silently, her crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dark. She never spoke—never needed to.

The weight of her massive Buster sword resting on her back was answer enough for any challenge they faced.

Beside him, **Rhaelynn**, the centaur archer, was frowning as she nocked an arrow, her keen eyes scanning their surroundings. Her long silver hair was tied back in a braid, and her equine lower half moved with quiet grace, despite the narrow dungeon halls.

And at the rear, **Aryan**, his vampire assassin, strode with her usual arrogance. She flicked a strand of dark red hair from her face and scowled. "This place reeks of decay. What kind of freak builds a dungeon this deep?"

Haru exhaled. "Probably the same kind of freak that's been trying to kill us every step of the way."

Aryan snorted, but said nothing.

Ahead of them, the tunnel widened into an **unexpected sight**—a **large, open chamber** with a massive stone house standing in the center.

"Wait…" Rhaelynn pulled her arrow back slightly, her ears twitching. "A house? Inside a dungeon?"

Haru narrowed his eyes. The structure didn't fit with the rest of the dungeon's aesthetic—its **wooden frame, warm torchlight, and welcoming aura** felt completely out of place amidst the crumbling ruins and death-filled corridors.

Then, his system chimed.

> **[Safe Zone Detected]**

> **All combat disabled within this area. Rest and recover.]**

A safe zone. **Finally.**

Haru let out a breath of relief. "Alright. Let's head inside and regroup."

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, Haru stepped into the house. Inside, a **large, rustic dining hall** greeted them. A long wooden table sat in the center, piled with food—freshly baked bread, roasted meats, and goblets filled with unknown liquid.

Aryan's eyes immediately locked onto the dark red goblets. "Bloodwine," she murmured, striding forward. "Finally, something drinkable."

Rhaelynn raised an eyebrow. "You sure it's safe?"

"Doesn't matter." Aryan grabbed a goblet and **downed it in one go.**

Haru sat at the table and rubbed his temples. The exhaustion was catching up to him. "We'll rest here for a bit. Eat, recover, and discuss what's ahead."

Shira silently moved to the side, sitting down without a word. Her massive frame made the chair creak under her weight.

Rhaelynn hesitated, but eventually sat across from Haru, setting her bow aside.

As they ate, they went over what they knew so far.

"The deeper we go, the **more intelligent** the monsters become," Rhaelynn said, chewing on a piece of bread. "We're not just fighting mindless beasts anymore."

Aryan, now on her **third goblet of bloodwine**, scoffed. "Good. Mindless beasts are boring."

Haru rolled his eyes. "That attitude nearly got you killed twice."

"Please." Aryan leaned back, flashing her fangs. "I had everything under control."

Haru ignored her and turned to Rhaelynn. "How much deeper do you think this place goes?"

The centaur archer frowned. "No idea. But my instincts tell me we haven't even reached the true danger yet."

A heavy silence settled over them.

Then—**a loud thud.**

They all turned.

Rhaelynn had **collapsed face-first onto the table, completely unconscious.**

Aryan, mid-sip of another goblet, blinked slowly before **slumping sideways onto the floor**, her limbs splayed out.

Haru's eyes widened. "What the hell—?"

Then his system pinged.

> **[Notice: Status effects applied.]**

> **[Mild intoxication detected in party members.]**

Haru exhaled. "Seriously?"

He turned to Shira. Unlike the others, the **Oni warrior sat completely still**, her sharp red eyes watching him.

She hadn't touched much of the alcohol. Neither had Haru.

Which meant they were the only two left standing.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the dungeon was silent.

Haru leaned back in his chair, exhaling. "I swear, I don't know how Aryan drinks that much."

Shira tilted her head slightly, as if amused.

Haru chuckled. "You really don't talk much, huh?"

The Oni simply stared at him.

Haru had gotten used to her silence. Shira didn't need words to communicate.

Her actions spoke volumes. Whether it was stepping in front of him in battle, cutting down enemies with terrifying precision, or watching over him when he was injured—she always **said everything without speaking at all.**

Now, sitting across from her in the dim torchlight, he realized something.

She was… **beautiful.**

It wasn't something he had **really** thought about before. Sure, she was *obviously* attractive—the toned muscles, the flawless dark blue skin, the piercing crimson eyes. But in the heat of battle, he had never actually stopped to **look at her.**

And now that he had…

He accidentally **said it out loud.**

"You're beautiful."

The words hung in the air.

A moment of silence.

Shira blinked, her eyes widening slightly.

Then—**a deep red blush crept across her cheeks.**

Haru froze. "Uh—"

Before he could say anything else, his system **pinged violently.**

> **[Notification: Affection Level Reached – 100%]**

> **[Shira has fallen in love with you.]**

Haru's **heart nearly stopped.**

What?

He swallowed. "Shira, I—"

He didn't get to finish.

Because in the next instant, **Shira moved.**

Her massive hand **grabbed Haru's wrist**, her grip strong but careful.

Then—**she lifted him.**

**Effortlessly.**

Haru barely had time to react before he was **suddenly thrown over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.**

"H-Hey! What are you—?!"

Shira **ignored him.**

She turned, **carrying him out of the dining hall.**

Haru's brain was short-circuiting.

Was this happening?!

He looked at his system notifications again.

> **[Shira's loyalty has reached maximum.]**

> **[Shira will now prioritize your safety and well-being above all else.]**

Shira continued walking, her massive form moving with **absolute confidence.**

Haru groaned. "I swear to god, if Rhaelynn wakes up and sees this, I will never hear the end of it."

The Oni warrior didn't answer.

(Smute Scene Warning )

Haru's heart raced as he found himself suddenly swept off his feet, the world spinning before he landed softly on the plush bed. He blinked up at the towering figure of Shira, her eyes blazing with an intensity that made his breath catch.

At over eight feet tall, the Blue Oni woman was a vision of raw, primal beauty, her muscular form dominating the small room.

Fear flickered through Haru's mind as Shira kicked the door shut behind her, the click echoing like a gunshot in the charged air.

He swallowed hard, trying to calm the nerves that had his pulse pounding in his ears.

Shira loomed over him, her gaze never leaving his face as she crept closer to the bed.

Haru's eyes flicked down, tracing the curves of her body, before darting back up to meet her scorching stare. In that moment, suspended in time, he felt the first stirrings of excitement begin to outweigh the trepidation.

Shira leaned in, her breath hot against his skin, and slowly, tentatively, their lips met in a kiss.

It started soft, a whisper of a touch, but it quickly ignited into something far more passionate. Shira's hands gripped his hair, tilting his head back as she deepened the kiss, her tongue delving into his mouth.

Haru gasped, his own hands coming up to grip her waist, feeling the power coiled in her muscles.

The kiss turned aggressive, hungry, a battle for dominance. Teeth clashed, tongues dueled, as Shira climbed onto the bed, straddling Haru's hips.

He could feel her weight, her strength, pinning him down as she ravaged his mouth. A thrill shot through him at the sheer, unbridled desire radiating off her.

Haru surrendered to the onslaught, letting Shira take what she wanted. His heart hammered against his ribs as he lost himself in the fiery passion of the moment, ready to face whatever storm of lust and pleasure she had in store for him.

The door was blocked, the world outside forgotten, as they sank deeper into the throes of lust.

Shira's lips blazed a trail of heat down Haru's neck as she pinned him harder against the bed, her teeth grazing his sensitive skin.

A shiver of pleasure mixed with fear rippled through him as she slowly, teasingly, began to peel away their clothing. The cool air kissed his newly exposed flesh, a stark contrast to the scorching touch of her hands and mouth.

Haru's breath hitched as Shira's weight settled fully atop him, the ancient bed creaking and shaking violently beneath their joined forms.

The old wood groaned in protest, the frame rattling against the wall as Shira's muscular thighs straddled his hips, her knees pressing into the mattress on either side of him.

The bed's edge dug into his back as she loomed over him, a dominant silhouette against the dim light.

Shira's smile was wicked, hungry, as she gazed down at her prey. Her eyes flashed with triumph and raw, animalistic desire. Haru could only stare up at her, heart pounding wildly, as she slowly, deliberately, lined up their bodies.

The thick head of his manhood nudged against her slick, heated entrance, and he shuddered at the contact.

Then, with a swift, brutal motion, Shira slammed her hips down, impaling herself on his rigid shaft. A guttural moan tore from Haru's throat at the sudden, intense sensation of her tight walls gripping him like a vice.

Shira let out a victorious roar, her head thrown back, as she began to move over him. The bed shook and bounced with the force of her thrusts, the headboard slamming against the wall in a relentless rhythm.

Haru could only cling to her, fingers digging into the firm globes of her ass, as she rode him hard and fast. Each downward slam of her hips sent jolts of electric pleasure surging through his veins.

The room filled with the lewd sounds of their coupling - the slap of skin on skin, the creaking of the abused bed, and their own harsh pants and moans. Shira set a punishing pace, determined to claim every inch of him, to mark him as hers in the most primal way possible.

Haru gasped and shuddered beneath Shira, his fingers digging into the taut muscles of her hips as she rode him with wild abandon.

Each powerful slam of her ass against him sent shockwaves of mind-numbing pleasure radiating through his body, her tight heat engulfing him completely. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before - a relentless, primal claiming that left him breathless and awestruck.

The ancient bed groaned and protested their vigorous coupling, the frame shuddering violently with each thunderous impact of Shira's hips. The headboard slammed against the wall like a battering ram, plaster cracking and flaking with each forceful thrust.

The very foundations of the bed creaked and swayed, the legs scraping against the floor as Shira picked up speed, her movements becoming a blur of furious, jackhammer precision.

With a final, earth-shattering slam of her hips, the bed finally succumbed to their passionate onslaught.

The frame splintered and collapsed, the mattress and broken pieces crashing down around them in a tumble of sheets and shattered wood. Shira and Haru tumbled down with it, their sweat-slicked bodies still entwined, as the ruins of the bed settled around them.

But even as they landed in a tangle of limbs and torn fabric, Shira captured Haru's lips in a slow, sensual kiss.

Her tongue languidly explored his mouth, a stark contrast to the earlier frenzy, as she pinned him beneath her on the debris of the destroyed bed. Haru could only melt into the tender embrace, his heart still racing but now for a different reason.

Slowly, their kisses deepened, their bodies molding together like two puzzle pieces finally clicking into place. Shira's hands roamed his body with a gentle touch, caressing and stroking, as she held him close.

Their breathing gradually slowed, hearts beating in sync, as they lost themselves in the intimate dance of their lips and tongues.

As they drifted off to sleep, Shira spooned Haru from behind, her muscular arms wrapped protectively around his smaller frame.

The young man fit perfectly in the curve of her body, his back pressed against her firm chest, her breath warm and steady against his neck.

They slept, sated and content, amidst the ruins of their lovemaking.

( End Smute )