Seven Sins System Chapter 370. Long Night Stroll

Seven Sins System Chapter 370. Long Night Stroll

"Not really," she muttered, her tone like a rain cloud over our conversation. I could practically feel the chill radiating from her words, and it wasn't anger I detected but a heavy dose of disappointment.

I nodded, keeping my response short and sweet. "Got it." And just like that, our little exchange ended without missing a beat in my stride.

Out of a sudden, the van parked on our side unleashed its metallic jaws with a creak, revealing a crew of burly guys who spilled out like a pack of wolves on the prowl. They moved with a precision that hinted at a well-rehearsed routine, each one wearing a faceless mask that screamed cheap knockoff of my demonic soldiers back in the underworld. It was like a distorted mirror reflecting a version of my own eerie realm.

The sudden appearance of these masked intruders set off an instinctual alarm in me. Muscles tensed, I prepared for what was about to unfold. I wasn't one to shy away from a brawl, especially when facing mere mortals. I could take them down barehanded without breaking a sweat.

Yet, as the adrenaline pumped through my veins, something shifted. A faint yet unmistakable demonic energy lingered in the air, not emanating from their bodies but from the dark crystals adorning their necklaces. A realization struck me like a bolt of lightning – these were no ordinary goons. The same dark crystals Gem had wielded were around these masked assailants’ necks. They were from the cult, no doubt about it.

At that moment, I decided to pivot from my usual confrontational stance. Instead of meeting aggression with aggression, I stood still and put on my shocked expression.

A cloth soaked in some unknown substance pressed against my mouth and nose. The scent of chloroform wafted through the air, a pathetic attempt by the assailants to knock me out. I couldn't help but scoff internally at the amateur move – chloroform, really? As a devil, that kind of trickery had about as much effect on me as a light breeze. And Puriel, being a goddess, was equally immune.

Despite the sheer absurdity of the situation, I decided to play along. I feigned vulnerability, letting my body go limp as if succumbing to the supposed effects of the chloroform. It was a theatrical performance, a charade to allow these masked minions to think they had the upper hand.

Once my eyes fluttered closed, I could sense the immediate reaction from one of the assailants. They caught my now seemingly weak body before it could hit the ground. It was a moment I had been waiting for.

-          Bam!

A sudden and loud thud echoed in front of me. My eyes instinctively fluttered open a bit, and through the narrow gap, I witnessed the battle scene.

There she was, Puriel, unleashing her might upon the unsuspecting cultist. A fierce blow from her connected with a resounding impact, sending the perpetrator crashing to the ground. It was a move straight out of the divine playbook – swift, precise, and powerful. However, something in Puriel's expression told me she hadn't quite grasped the fact that these masked goons were affiliated with the cult.

She turned towards me, her face etched with confusion as she caught sight of my limp body. I could sense her puzzlement, wondering why I hadn't fought back or shown any resistance. As her gaze met mine, I moved my mouth just enough to form silent words, "They are from the cult." It was a hushed revelation, a message delivered without sound.

Puriel's eyes widened with understanding. At that moment, she played along with my charade, pretending to faint as well.

‘IS SHE DUMB?!’ I mentally screamed, desperately trying to stifle the urge to facepalm at Puriel's less-than-academy awards-worthy performance. Seriously, her acting level was scraping the bottom of the barrel. I mean, come on, if she was gonna play possum, at least let the bad guys make a move first. Maybe throw in some dramatic hits or a dash of chloroform action, like what happened to me. But nope, Puriel decided to pull the classic "faint like a crazy fan girl who just saw her idol at close range" move.

'Ah, screw that! I don't care!' I shrugged it off, mentally flipping the nonchalant switch. I closed my eyes once again, opting to focus on the bigger picture. At the end of the day, the cultists had their sights set on me, not Puriel. Whether they'd drag her into their mess or not was about as relevant to me as yesterday's news.

The crucial bit was getting a one-way ticket to the cult's VIP lounge – their leader, their headquarters, or whatever mysterious lair they called home. It was my golden opportunity to unravel the mystery and figure out who the heck had been running around pretending to be me. So, as Puriel continued her Academy Award-worthy performance, I lay there, my mind racing with anticipation. Whatever these cultists had in store, I was ready to play along until the perfect moment presented itself to turn the tables.

The cultists seized their golden opportunity, hoisting me up like a sack of potatoes and unceremoniously tossing me into the back of the van. The metallic surface of the floor met my back with an unforgiving chill.

My initial assumption was that Puriel, with her over-the-top theatrics, would be left on the sidewalk, a perplexed victim of a half-baked abduction. But much to my surprise – and dismay – they snatched her too. With a thud, they tossed her into the van, her body landing on top of me.

Now, there she was, pressed against me, our bodies uncomfortably close. Her chest grazed against mine, and I could feel the warmth radiating from her skin. Puriel's face rested against the side of my head, and the whole situation took an unexpected turn into awkward territory.

‘Wow, she's hotter than I expected,’ I thought as we got tossed into the back of the van like yesterday's trash. It was a weird moment of realization, hitting me like a curveball. In the battlefield chaos, where light and dark collided in chaos showdowns, I never really saw Puriel as a girl or woman. Our encounters were all about swords clashing, magic flying, and not much room for checking each other out.