QT: Against My Will-Chapter 531 - 8.48 - Scorchy and Frosty - Monster Heist

Nathaniel reached into the pocket of his uniform and withdrew a small vial of liquid. He tilted his head back and allowed a few drops to fall on the wounds on his face, the liquid quickly sealing the gash and halting the flow of blood.

The people who had been present in the dining hall during Nathaniel and Shina’s battle were left utterly flabbergasted by what they had just witnessed — both terrified and weirded out by the display.

In the military, everyone was used to the alphas posturing dominant displays, such as projecting powerful auras and engaging in intense eye contact. They would engage in a fight during sparring at most.

"I can’t believe what I just saw," one soldier whispered to another. "They went from zero to a hundred in seconds! And went from hundred to zero just as fast!"

"I know, right?" the other soldier replied, still staring at Nathaniel and Shina as they repaired the dining hall, "It’s clear they were holding back, but the damage they inflicted was still incredible. Do you think they’ll get punished?"

"No idea. I’m just glad they didn’t destroy the whole place," the first soldier said with a chuckle. "Can you imagine the lecture we would’ve gotten from the captain?"

As the soldiers watched Nathaniel and Shina clean up the mess they had made, they found it odd yet amusing. Those two’s ability to handle themselves in combat, as well as their willingness to take responsibility for their actions, had garnered the respect of their fellow soldiers.

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Lu Kai strode down the dimly lit hallway. With each step, he could feel the throbbing ache in his muscles. Yet, he refused to let his pain show on Nathaniel’s face, ’This Shina Night... has the actions-first, words later approach...it seems."

Unable to see what happened, Ru Quan could only feel Nathaniel’s wounds, ’As long as she has fun, I’ll bear the consequences.’

’Was it your fucking Frosty again?’ Ziek had returned from his training, and was on his way to another planet — XiaoPu’s birthplace.

’Yeah,’ Lu Kai answered, letting Ziek see what had occurred.

’...’ Ziek held back for a second before spewing out, ’I can’t believe she is playing along with your fucked up antics.’

Lu Kai had always been the enigma of their group. He used to be the kind of nerd who didn’t give a hoot about what others thought of him. He would walk into a classroom with disheveled hair and a shirt that looked like he had just rolled out of bed.

If they had to take over the main and second male lead roles, everyone knew that simply being themselves would guarantee failure. Let’s face it, nobody wanted to show even the tiniest bit of interest in anyone other than Bing Shi.

So, Lu Kai devised the personas of Frosty and Scorchy, characters that were distinct from his own.

Little did he know that spending years embodying these roles would eventually leave their mark on him, seamlessly integrating them into who he had become. He once found himself styling his hair back in the space and realized that he was completely doomed.

’Frosty’ was the nickname they used to refer to scholars like Nathaniel Hauxley, known for their impeccable style. Their words were always carefully chosen and delivered with precision and eloquence to further enhance their aura of aloofness.

On the other hand, personas who possessed a fiery and passionate nature were called ’Scorchys’ — super sociable individuals with a vibrant and magnetic energy that drew people in.

Lu Kai’s expression was neutral, with no visible signs of disappointment or resignation, ’Honestly, I’m not even sure if I’m interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with her as Nathaniel. I kind of like the way things are between us.’

Xuan Mu raised an eyebrow, his expression curious as he questioned Nathaniel, ’You like being stuck in this awkward limbo where you’re not sure where you stand with her?’

’I like that there’s no pressure to turn it into anything more. It’s just fun.’ Lu Kai shrugged. He was still her husband for crying out loud. They had a connection that most people could only dream of, ’No pressure, no expectations. We can just focus on having a good time and not complicate things with love and romance.’

Ziek shrugged, ’Suit yourself, man. But don’t forget you almost got a fucking boner for being invited to a late-night snack.’

Lu Kai cracked a laugh, "I am, in the end, nothing more than a marionette swaying to the whims of our emotions." In the haunting cadence of his laughter, there resided a solemn embrace of rationality, its grip overpowering the lure of his own desires. ’Alas, she tempted me with a fruit I’ve already tasted; a forbidden apple I’ve already savored.’

Xuan Mu’s lips twisted into a slight smirk as he warned the other man, ’You better watch your back. If she takes it personally, your poetry won’t be able to save you. You might just be signing your own death warrant.’

With a playful glint in his eyes, Lu Kai taunted back, "Oh, come now, Xuan Mu. Spare me the threats. We both know that my Frostys hold a power you can only dream of."

Xuan Mu chuckled, his amusement evident as he replied, ’Oh, Lu Kai, you underestimate the extent of my dreams."

Ziek felt an overwhelming urge to pour bleach into his ears as he listened to their eloquent conversation. He disconnected himself from their discourse, turning his attention to Ru Quan, who had shown zero interest in their inner monologue right from the start.

Lu Kai used Nathaniel’s voice to interject between their conversation, a touch of dryness in his tone, ’It’s interesting to see how you puff up your chest when Bing Shi is back as if her presence alone makes you invincible. But rest assured, we all know how behind that confident facade of yours, there lies a fragility that will always haunt you.’

A shadow passed over Xuan Mu’s face, his eyes losing their spark as he absorbed Nathaniel’s words. Without Bing Shi, there would be no Xuan Mu. His entire being revolved around her, like a planet orbiting its radiant sun. She was the catalyst that breathed life into his existence, the very essence that defined him.

Xuan Mu smiled after a bit of thinking, ’You know what? I’m simply ecstatic to witness the day when your impeccable rationality crumbles in the face of love. I can already picture the transformation, the once unyielding fortress of logic giving way to the intoxicating chaos of emotions.’

Nathaniel reacted with a hint of skepticism, his eyes tinged with a mixture of curiosity and doubt. "You mean, if that day ever comes," he retorted.

Bing Shi’s death caused Lu Kai to breathe new life into his existence, shaping himself in ways he never thought possible. He despised the weak version of himself, the one who was as unstable as a wobbling tower, constantly on the verge of collapse.

With the likes of Nathaniel, he had discovered depths of resilience and strength that he never knew existed within him. With each passing day, he became more convinced that there was nothing that could break his resolve.

Amidst the revelations and complexities surrounding Lu Kai’s Scorchys and Frostys, there was another persona hidden within the depths of their psyche; a part of them that wanted to give up.

The more they reflected on the sacrifices and efforts they had made for her sake, the deeper their resentment grew. They were torn between their love and the growing hatred they harbored.

Fearful of the overwhelming intensity of their own emotions, they made the decision to seal those emotions deep within one of their many personas, concealing the nameless man from themselves and from the world.

This protective measure and many others were choices made out of self-love. Lu Kai, Ziek, and Xuan Mu remained oblivious to the dark deeds Bing Shi had inflicted upon Ru Quan’s body and were unaware of the internal struggles she faced with her existence.

Bing Shi asked Ru Quan to keep this truth hidden from the rest, unwilling to burden them with the weight of her problems.

But the nameless man, aware of the truth, simmered with an endless rage. After all, he was an embodiment of their repressed emotions. The mere thought that Bing Shi intended to discard all of their painstaking efforts and leave everything behind drove him to the brink of insanity. How dare she contemplate casting aside the very essence of his meaning?!

He strongly believed that he was no longer in love with Bing Shi. Yet, bound by the choices he had made, the nameless man held the rage, the roiling tempest of emotions, at bay — to protect the delicate balance that they had created among themselves.