Crimson Overlord-Chapter 334: Games 2

The air crackled with a tension that dwarfed even the competitive spirit of their poker game. Nemesis’s crimson eyes narrowed, a flicker of something akin to vulnerability warring with her usual fierce pride. The weight of Luna’s dare hung heavy in the stillness of the room.

"Fear," Nemesis finally began, her voice a low growl that seemed to emanate from deep within her. "A concept many would not associate with someone like me." She paused, her gaze flitting briefly across Kaguya’s serene face and Luna’s expectant grin.

"But," she continued, her voice softening to a barely audible whisper, "even the mightiest warrior harbors a single, crippling fear." She took a deep breath, her fiery spirit seeming to dim for a fleeting moment. "I fear... oblivion."

A surprised gasp escaped Kaguya’s lips, her indigo eyes widening in unexpected sympathy. Even Luna, usually a picture of playful mirth, seemed momentarily stunned by Nemesis’s revelation. The concept of this powerful ancestor fearing nothingness was a stark contrast to the image she projected.

Seeing the surprise on their faces, Nemesis straightened in her chair, a hint of defiance returning to her voice.

"Don’t misunderstand," she said, her tone hardening. "This fear does not cripple me. It fuels me. It drives me to leave my mark on the world, to ensure my actions, my vengeance, echo through eternity."

A beat of silence followed, broken only by the crackling fire in the hearth. Then, Kaguya spoke, her voice laced with understanding. "Oblivion. A fear I too share, in a sense."

She met Nemesis’s gaze with a hint of vulnerability in her own eyes. "As someone with immense potential, our legacies are of utmost importance. To be forgotten... that is a fate worse than death."

A soft, unexpected chuckle escaped Luna.

"Well, this got a bit deep, didn’t it?" she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "But hey, I appreciate the honesty, both of you. Now, my turn to pick on someone!"

She looked at Kaguya, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes. "Alright, moonbeam, truth or dare?"

Kaguya, a serene smile gracing her lips, met Luna’s gaze with a playful challenge. freewebnσvel.cѳm

"Truth," she said, her voice as smooth as moonlight on water.

Luna grinned. "Alright, here it is. Is it true that you once..." She leaned in and whispered something in Kaguya’s ear, her voice barely audible.

A blush, as rare as a sunrise on the moon, crept up Kaguya’s pale cheeks. She let out a soft laugh, a sound more akin to tinkling bells than human laughter.

"Perhaps that is a story for another time," she said, her voice laced with amusement.

The night wore on, the three women playing their game of truth or dare, revealing secrets, both large and small.

Exhaustion tugged at the edges of their consciousness, the playful energy of their truth-or-dare session fading into comfortable drowsiness. But before succumbing to sleep, the three women, fueled by a newfound camaraderie, decided on one last game: Monopoly.

A board depicting a fantastical cityscape, far removed from the elegant villa they inhabited, unfolded on the low table. Gleaming metal tokens, each a miniature representation of a mythical creature – a griffin for Nemesis, a moon rabbit for Kaguya, and a mischievous imp for Luna – were placed on the "GO" square. Stacks of vibrantly colored bills, representing an otherworldly currency, were meticulously divided amongst them.

Unlike the previous games, a playful rivalry crackled in the air this time, tinged with a hint of friendly competition. Nemesis, ever the strategist, meticulously planned her next move, her crimson eyes narrowed in concentration as she surveyed the board. Kaguya, with a serene smile, analyzed the properties, her pale fingers tapping a silent rhythm on the table. Luna, bouncing in her seat with barely contained excitement, rolled the dice with a flourish, her imp token leaping forward a few spaces.

The game unfolded like a whimsical battle. Nemesis, true to form, focused on acquiring properties, strategically placing hotels, and levying exorbitant rents. Kaguya, ever the diplomat, negotiated deals and bartered for trades, her calm demeanor masking a cunning mind. Luna, the embodiment of chaotic energy, landed on a string of chance squares, her fortunes fluctuating wildly with each roll of the dice.

Laughter filled the room as they landed on comical spaces - "Sent to the Demon Barber! Pay for a shave or lose a turn!" or "Found a hidden treasure! Collect a windfall!"

Their playful banter, punctuated by groans of frustration and triumphant cheers, echoed through the villa.

Despite the lighthearted atmosphere, a subtle layer of strategy remained. Nemesis, ever the opportunist, used her knowledge of their finances to her advantage, driving Luna to the brink of bankruptcy with a well-timed hotel purchase. Kaguya, ever the pragmatist, focused on acquiring monopolies, her serene smile belying the calculated moves she made.

As the hours ticked by, the stacks of bills dwindled, replaced by towering monopolies and a single, desperate token – Luna’s imp, clinging precariously to a single remaining property. With a dramatic roll of the dice, however, fate intervened. Luna landed on Nemesis’s most lucrative hotel chain, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Looks like the little imp strikes back!" she declared, her voice laced with playful triumph. Nemesis, for the first time in the game, found herself facing financial ruin. A grudging smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Well played, Luna," she conceded, her competitive spirit momentarily subdued.

In the end, it was Kaguya, with her shrewd negotiations and strategically placed monopolies, who emerged victorious. She claimed the last remaining property, a celestial palace towering over the fantastical cityscape, a fitting symbol for her moonlit serenity.

As they gathered their winnings, a comfortable silence descended upon them. The game of Monopoly, like their previous games, had been more than just a way to pass the time. It had been a chance to observe each other’s strengths and weaknesses, to strategize and negotiate, all skills that would be invaluable in the trials that awaited them in the future.

But most importantly, it solidified their bond. They were no longer just women drawn together by a shared connection to Orpheus; they were allies, their trust forged in the crucible of games and laughter.