Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 88: The Choice Is Yours.

Chapter 88: The Choice Is Yours.

Maya’s face turned crimson as she quickly averted her gaze. "Damn," she muttered under her breath. "What’s with the no-clothes policy? And seriously... that’s one hell of a..." She caught herself, clamping her mouth shut before she could finish her sentence. Her cheeks burned even brighter, and she pretended to be intensely interested in the ground.

The naked man strolled toward Larry and Ethan with a confident smile plastered across his face. His demeanor radiated casual authority. "Welcome to my organization," he said, his voice deep and resonant.

Larry and Ethan exchanged puzzled glances before their eyes darted toward Scarlett, silently asking for an explanation. The red-haired man’s apparent dismissal of the others didn’t sit right with them.

He can’t scent us because we’re higher than him in rank and we’re also half-monsters.

Kato’s voice cut into Scarlett’s thoughts through their mind link. His tone carried a mix of irritation and amusement.

I already figured that out, Scarlett replied sharply through the same link, her mental voice curt. She broke the connection, shifting her focus back to the man who now stood smugly before them.

"Anyway," the man said, his smirk deepening, "I welcome all of you to my little organization. Now, this is where the real test begins." His words hung ominously in the air, and his sharp eyes seemed to scrutinize them all. "Without a doubt, the two among you who have powers will naturally want to slay monsters. But a life of freedom? That’s another question entirely."

Before anyone could respond, a sharp, feminine voice interrupted. "And for those without powers, you’ll have a choice to make," the black haired woman beside him said with an aura that demanded respect. "Do you want to join the monster slayers, or would you prefer to remain normal citizens and live an ordinary life?"

The woman paused, then added curtly, "I’m Ayra, by the way."

The dark-haired man with her stepped forward, his stance equally imposing. "And I’m Jones," he introduced with a small nod, his braided black hair gleaming under the faint light.

Finally, the naked man gave a theatrical bow, his fiery red hair falling into his face as he smirked. "And I’m Austin," he said, as if his lack of clothing wasn’t the least bit odd. "Now, to help you all understand how the rules here work, I’d like to personally escort you into the main building. Follow me." Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and strode purposefully into the shadows.

Maya leaned in close to Scarlett, her voice a whisper. "Are we seriously following this guy?"

Louise crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "And how come he doesn’t know you and Kato are people with powers too?" His brow furrowed in thought before he added, "Now that I think of it, there’s no way this guy is legit. What if he just picked Larry and Ethan at random? He clearly doesn’t know what he’s doing."

Kato’s voice cut in, his tone cool and matter-of-fact.

"He couldn’t sense Scarlett or me because we’re half-monsters now, while he’s not."

Without waiting for further debate, Kato began striding toward the shadows where Austin had disappeared.

"We’d better hurry up. Let’s at least hear what kind of system he’s talking about," he called over his shoulder.

Scarlett nodded, her confident smile calming the unease that hung over the group. "Come on," she urged. "He’s going to explain everything. Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet." Her reassuring demeanor convinced the others to follow her, and they stepped into the shadowy corridor. Ayra and Jones remained behind, their unreadable gazes fixed on the departing group.

As they moved deeper into the darkness, Maya’s voice trembled. "This is creepy. Why are we carrying firewood as makeshift torches? Aren’t we supposed to be in some kind of high-level organization?" She huddled closer to Scarlett, glancing nervously at the flickering flames in her hand.

The low growls of unseen monsters reverberated through the air, growing louder with each step. The sound sent shivers down everyone’s spines, everyone except Scarlett and Kato, who remained eerily calm.

Louise glanced around nervously, his breath quickening. "Why do I feel like the monsters are underground? We could smell their stench earlier, but now it’s gone. Their growls, though... they’re even louder than before."

Austin’s voice came from ahead, smooth and taunting. "You’re absolutely right. The monsters are directly beneath your feet."

The group froze, his words striking them like a physical blow. Fear rippled through their ranks, and Maya gasped, her torch shaking in her trembling hands.

"What the heck?" she shouted, her voice shrill with panic. "We’re walking on top of monsters? What if they break through the ground? What if they attack us?" Her fear escalated with every word, and her wide eyes darted frantically to Scarlett for reassurance.

"This is solid ground my colleagues and I walk on every day," Austin said confidently, his tone sharp as he came to a halt before a massive metal door. "We’re not stupid enough to let monsters compromise the very ground we tread on. The creatures are a full thousand meters beneath your feet," he added, his voice filled with certainty.

The group exchanged uncertain glances, the tension lingering even as his words tried to assure them.

"Anyway," Austin continued, turning his attention to the towering door. "We’ve arrived."

His hand moved to a keypad on the door, and without hesitation, he input a passcode. A mechanical beep sounded, followed by a deep rumble as the door swung open. A wave of sound rushed out, voices, laughter, and the hum of activity filled the air.

"You couldn’t hear this before because the hallway is soundproof," Austin explained, stepping into the brightly lit room beyond. "Come in."

Scarlett and her group hesitated for a moment, but curiosity and a lack of other options spurred them forward. As they entered, the door closed behind them with a resounding clang.

Inside, the room was nothing short of luxurious. Bright fluorescent lights illuminated every corner, enhanced by the soft glow of ornate chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The furnishings were elegant and abundant, with distinct zones catering to different activities, a gaming center, a spa, and even a library.

What struck the group most, however, was the people. Men and women moved about freely, completely naked, their bodies unhidden. Each of them appeared at ease, unbothered by their lack of clothing. There were no children in sight, only adults engaged in various activities.

"What the hell is going on here?" Maya whispered, her voice shaky as her wide eyes scanned the scene. Her gaze lingered, much to her discomfort, on the well-endowed men walking by. She swallowed hard and quickly averted her eyes.

"Welcome to paradise," Austin announced, spreading his arms dramatically. A wide smile stretched across his face. "Paradise, where you’re free to do anything you want, within the rules, of course. As long as you follow them, you’ll have no problems."

"Oh, fuck it!"

A loud moan echoed through the room, drawing the group’s attention. Their heads turned as one toward the source, a woman on all fours in the center of the room, being taken from behind by four different men who rotated turns.

"That’s part of the enjoyment I’m talking about," Austin said, his grin widening as he noted their shocked expressions. "An enjoyment reserved for those who choose not to become monster slayers."

"Enjoyment?" Maya repeated, her voice rising in disbelief. Her eyes were wide with a mix of horror and astonishment. "This is madness!"

Austin ignored her outburst. "I told you, you have choices," he said coolly. "You can choose to become monster slayers, risking your lives on dangerous hunts. Or, you can choose to become free citizens of this organization. As free citizens, you’ll give up clothes entirely and embrace complete freedom. Walk naked. Do whatever you want. But"... his tone darkened...."there are rules. Break them, and you’ll face the consequences."

"Consequences?" Louise asked hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Austin nodded, his expression grim. "Yes. Break the rules, and you could end up as monster food. While most monsters are kept for torture and eventual execution, some are fed humans as a reward. That only happens when a person fails to follow the rules. Rare, but it happens."

He walked toward a golden throne positioned prominently in the center of the room and sat down with an air of authority. As soon as he did, the room shifted. Every naked person stopped what they were doing, turned toward him, and bowed briefly before returning to their activities.

"I, along with Jones and Ayra, rule this organization," Austin declared, his voice echoing through the room. "Whether you choose to be monster slayers or free citizens, the first rule remains the same: obey our commands. That’s non-negotiable."

Maya leaned close to Scarlett, her voice low but furious. "I’m not interested in any of this. Let’s get out of here." Her clenched fists trembled with anger.

Scarlett, however, remained still, her piercing gaze locked on Austin. Kato, standing beside her, looked equally intrigued, his posture tense but attentive.

Meanwhile, Louise’s attention had drifted elsewhere. His gaze followed the naked women moving gracefully through the room, their breasts bouncing as they walked. His face flushed as he stared, completely oblivious to his surroundings.

"Hey, Louise," Larry whispered sharply, nudging him. "What’s wrong with you?"

Louise didn’t respond, his eyes still fixed on the women.

Larry’s gaze dropped briefly, and his expression soured. "Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me," he muttered as he noticed Louise’s obvious arousal. "You’re insane, man," Larry hissed, giving him a hard shove on the shoulder. "Focus. We’re here for answers, not this nonsense."

Louise blinked, startled back to reality. He swallowed hard and nodded, his gaze reluctantly shifting to Austin.

"So," Scarlett said finally, breaking the silence. A faint smirk played on her lips. "What’s the second rule?"

Austin mirrored her smirk. "The second rule is simple: never betray any member of this organization. Betrayal results in severe punishment."

"And the third?" Kato asked, his arms crossed and his tone filled with skepticism.

Austin’s smirk widened. "The third rule will be revealed only after you’ve made your choice."

He stood from his throne, pacing slowly around the group, his intense gaze sizing them up. "So, the question is: do you want to be monster slayers, joining me on dangerous hunts? Or do you wish to become free citizens, embracing a life of ultimate freedom here in paradise?"

He stopped and turned to face Scarlett, his voice lowering to a near growl. "The choice is yours."