[93] Shadows of Retribution

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Chapter 93: Shadows of Retribution

In the somber stillness of an abandoned church, Raynare stood amidst the ruins of a once sacred place, her thoughts shrouded in schemes as dark as the shadows around her.

The church's old, dilapidated walls seemed to resonate with her own ambitions – hidden, yet disgusting. Her gaze was fixated on an old, tattered map spread across a makeshift wooden table, its edges curling like withered leaves. It was a map of the local area, with red dots that indicated the presumed position of a certain man.

"Freed, Freed, Freed!" she muttered under her breath, a mix of irritation and curiosity in her voice. "Where have you vanished...? Where have you hidden Asia?"

The name 'Asia' brought a particular glint to her eyes. The Twilight Healing Sacred Gear, a Gear of unparalleled value even amongst all the others, was just within her grasp. Asia was sent to her, for her to scavenge her Sacred Gear. But now that bitch was nowhere to be found. Did that make sense?

Raynare's plan was clear: find Asia, capture her, and then sacrifice her in a ritual that would transfer the Sacred Gear to a more... deserving host. Herself.

But none of that could happen without finding Asia. 'Where is that nun bitch hiding?'

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Two uniquely dressed figures emerged from the shadows, their presence barely more than a whisper against the stone floor.

Dohnaseek and Mittelt, her subordinates, were not figures of grand ambition or strategy. To Raynare, they were little more than tools – pawns driven by base desires and simple pleasures.

"Any word on Freed's whereabouts?" Raynare asked, her tone sharp as a blade.

"None. He's like a ghost. Disappeared without a trace." said Dohnaseek, a man with a gaze that seemed to undress everything it fell upon. He shrugged, unserious about this.

Beside him, Mittelt, a short blonde woman laughed in a mocking tone and leaned against a crumbling pillar and spoke. "Maybe he found a prettier girl to chase, Raynare. You know how he is,"

Raynare's lip curled in distaste. 'These two perverts... Did they even properly search?' Their minds were as shallow as puddles after a light rain, how they were once angels made Raynare wonder.

Internally, she sighed. She hoped she had better subordinates, but she'd have to work with this. They were necessary – means to an end in her grand design. Freed was more useful, though equally mentally deranged, but now that bastard was nowhere to be found.

'Did he get killed...? Or did he really run away with Asia?' Raynare was left wondering, letting out a sigh. Whatever the case, she would find Asia on her own. Only that way would Azazel take notice of her...

"Stay focused," Raynare snapped at her minions. "We can't afford any distractions. Freed's failure already cost us a lot, now we better locate Asia before anyone else doe-"

Boom!

The sound of an explosion suddenly reverberated through the church, interrupting her speech. The impact shook the very foundation of their hideout, which was bad news since the building began to crumble. A sense of urgency swept through the air like a cold wind.

One of their lookouts, a figure shrouded in a dark priest outfit, rushed in, panic etched on his face. "Intruders! Someone's breached the perimeter!"

Raynare's eyes narrowed into slits, a dangerous light flickering within them. "Intruders?" she echoed, her mind racing. This was neither the time nor the place for interruptions.

Eternal Saṃsāra: The Wanderer of Worlds, Book 1Where stories live. Discover now