Chapter 8: The Secret in the Portraits

GUN SYMBOL RESIDENCE

On the other side of the city was a residence. On the steel fence a gun symbol radiated, marking their base. The houses inside were identical, each one occupied.

On the fence stood two men, curious and alert, guarding diligently. A man stood by the door, his eyes fixed ahead with unbroken focus.

Inside, the Commander sat lazily in a chair in the sitting room, his arms draped around two girls beside him. Their faces were not strangers—they were among those seen in the portraits at the Girls’ Residence.

Screams echoed through the house as two muscular men carried a skinny man down from upstairs, dragging him into the sitting room.

“Forgive me, please!” the man begged, tears flooding his face as he was thrown at the Commander’s feet.

“I helped you level up. I gave you the protection you needed. And you repay me by betraying me… for the group of builders?” The Commander rose from his seat, his tone sharpened, words designed to pierce fear into him.

“Please! I won’t do it again, I’ve learned my lesson!”

“Don’t worry. You won’t.” An oversized hammer appeared in his grip, the weight of it gleaming in the light.

“No… no! Please have mercy!” the man screamed, trying to break free, but the guards forced him down.

The hammer swung down, smashing his skull into a mess of blood and bone.

Blood splattered across the floor.

The people surrounding the scene didn’t flinch. They had long grown used to such sights.

The Commander’s system screen flashed before him:

[Acquired > +50 Blue Points]

“This fate awaits whoever betrays me again!!” he roared, letting his underlings feel the weight of his words.

Then, just as suddenly, he dropped back into his chair, his arms returning to where they had been before.

“Any news from the meeting at the Girls’ Residence?” he asked casually, as if he hadn’t just killed a man in front of them.

“Yeah. Sources say they’re fighting,” a minion replied.

“That’s perfect.” The Commander grinned, sharp and wide.

“Any info about their special skills yet?”

“No, sir. Our source hasn’t seen any.”

“No worries. With these upgrades, we can counter every skill they might posses.” His grin deepened, confidence radiating from his words.

—

LOVE SYMBOL RESIDENCE

Sparks flew as Charlotte’s knuckles clashed against Alexander’s twin blades. Her grin widened as she forced him back, eyes lit with excitement at the pressure she was unleashing.

“You look smart—I hate it!!” she shouted, her knuckles grinding harder against the blades.

“You look strong… I hate it!” Alexander barked back, clearly trying to enrage her.

Her left arm shot forward, aiming for his gut with brutal force.

Alexander stopped parrying, leapt back in an instant, and created space to breathe.

“Why did you run? You chicken!” she mocked.

“Twin blades and knuckles—both short-range weapons,” he said calmly, pushing his glasses up.

“So? That doesn’t matter when you’ve got strength!” Charlotte fired back, confidence dripping from her tone.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Alexander said, holding his blades at the ends, his stance defensive. “That’s why from now on—I’ll keep my distance.”

She launched at him again.

“I… told… you!” she growled, arms wide, trying to crush him with her overwhelming grip.

Alexander danced back, his footwork fluid, avoiding the whistling air her grip cut through. He moved with ease, almost as if he were performing a dance.

“It… doesn’t… matter!!” Charlotte roared again, this time throwing a right hook.

Two steps back, then a slide to the left—Alexander dodged. The trick worked for a while, until Charlotte started adapting. Each time, the space between them closed more. Alexander knew it—he was slowly being forced into her territory.

Phwah!

Her punch missed his head by inches, slamming into the wall behind him. Cement cracked and chunks of stone scattered, but Charlotte yanked her fist free without hesitation, unfazed by pain.

“You’re mine now!” she hissed. Her left leg swept behind him, blocking his retreat, forcing him into her trap. The glowing knuckles shot toward his face with raw speed and brute strength.

Alexander’s lips curled into a grin.

“Got you.”

He ducked low, chest folding down, pulling his head with it. One hand gripped his blade tight and he drove it into her gut. The strike opened space for him to slip past.

“Aaah!!” Charlotte groaned, her hand shooting to clutch the fresh wound.

Alexander steadied himself, then dashed out into the sitting room, blade still in his right hand.Just as they had discussed earlier.

“Anyone who gets an opening should rush to help the one who needs it most!” Alexander remembered.

Right now, Jamie needed them.

Emily’s attention shifted the moment she spotted Alexander rushing in. That split-second distraction cost her—Bray’s kick smashed into her face, sending her crashing against the portraits on the wall.

But instead of reacting to the pain, her eyes widened at the sight of one of the frames falling. Ignoring her own injury, she leapt desperately toward the tumbling portrait, hands outstretched to protect it from shattering.

Bray froze in confusion. That was the last thing he’d expected. His foot still hovered in midair as he stared at her strange reaction, bewilderment etched across his face.

Alexander caught the moment too, but unlike Bray, he didn’t linger. He knew Jamie needed him more than ever—there was no time to figure out what the portrait meant.

With precision, Alexander kicked open a door, only to see Jamie on the ground, struggling to rise. His legs trembled, his stomach still heavy with pain. Lora stood before him, a shuriken in her hand.

Both their heads turned at Alexander’s entrance.

“Leave him alone!” Alexander barked, his blade shot foward and stabbing into her leg.

But she didn’t flinch. Instead, she turned slowly, her once-beautiful face now twisted into something monstrous.

“She’s Laura, right?!” Alexander shouted, startled.

“Yeah, she is! Please, help—she’s crazy!” Jamie cried.

“Shh… don’t say that, my love,” she whispered back, her voice trembling as if brokenhearted.

“My love?!” Alexander demanded. “What’s she talking about?

“Don’t answer him,” Laura snapped, eyes locked on Jamie. “Mother told me there will always be people who want to destroy the love between two young people!”

Without hesitation, Alexander rushed to her. Shuriken flew—left, right—but his precise footwork carried him forward, weaving past the blades until he was close enough to force her into one-on-one combat.

Jamie gasped, his body still aching, but he refused to stay down.

“Bray might need our help!” Alexander shouted.

And it was true. Inside, Bray was still facing Emily—and the injured but recovering Charlotte. By now, Charlotte could have regained enough strength to rejoin the fight. If that happened, Bray would be trapped in a two-versus-one battle.

Laura’s eyes widened with heartbreak.

“Why do you want to fight me, my love?”

“I already have a girlfriend!!” Alexander snapped.

Her voice cracked into a scream. “Then I’ll kill you, so you’ll stop breaking my heart!!”

She pressed her ring. A glowing system screen appeared before her:

Strength: 10

Agility: 30

Endurance: 40

Speed: 25

Intelligence: 15

Mana: 20

Combat Experience: 30

Level: 59

[Blue points:50]

“+20 Strength!”

“+30 Speed!”

Her body ignited with aura, her frame vibrating with newfound power.

The boys braced themselves, ready to fight her together.

Suddenly—

“Everyone stop fighting!” Charlotte’s voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.

The three appeared —Charlotte, Emily, and Bray—walking side by side.

They had made an alliance.

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