Before Nier stretched a massive, dilapidated building, its sprawling main facility looming ominously under the morning sky.

The structure was a relic of neglect, its once-vibrant exterior now a patchwork of faded, peeling paint. Patches of moss and unruly grass clung to the cracked walls, as if nature itself were slowly reclaiming the forgotten edifice.

Countless large windows lined the building in tight, orderly rows, their sheer number overwhelming to the eye.

Most were shattered, some jaggedly broken, as though struck by stones hurled in anger, while others bore the scars of time, cracked and splintered from years of relentless storms and earthquakes that had shaken the region.

Kayland led the group with purpose, his steps confident and carefree for the most part.

Nier of course followed closely behind, his senses sharp, while the two men who came with Kayland followed suit in the silence, their heavy assault rifles gripped tightly, barrels glinting faintly in the muted light.

"Right through that wall, bro."

Kayland said, his voice low but firm, as he pointed to a gaping hole in the facility’s outer wall.

The jagged opening looked as though something massive had plowed through it, leaving a trail of crumbled brick and exposed rebar in its wake.

Without hesitation, Nier nodded and stepped through the breach, following Kayland into the shadowy interior.

Inside, the factory was a cavernous, desolate space, steeped in an eerie stillness.

Faint beams of light pierced the darkness through the broken windows, illuminating swirling clouds of dust that danced lazily in the air.

The machinery, long since abandoned, stood silent and rusted, their metal frames corroded and overtaken by creeping vines of oxidation.

Cobwebs stretched across corners and between machines, their delicate threads glistening faintly in the dim light. The air was thick and stale, carrying the musty scent of decay and disuse.

As they pressed deeper into the factory, more figures came into view, armed men, their postures tense and alert, moving with purpose as they work together.

Nier's eyes narrowed as he observed their activities. Some were methodically packaging weapons, crates upon crates of firearms, ammunition, and other instruments of violence, stacked high in the flickering shadows.

'So this is the kind of life my friend lives behind closed doors ha?!'

Nier thought to himself, his mind racing.

The realization hit him hard, but he steeled himself against the oppressive atmosphere. The sheer weight of the negative energy in this place was palpable, a suffocating force that seemed to seep into every corner of the factory.

Yet Nier refused to let it take hold of him. Reminds of last night flash through him, as he was overwhelmed by the memories of negativity in his parents room, an experience that had left him unconscious for hours.

This forsaken factory, radiating that sam energy with such great amounts was the last place he could afford to lose himself.

As such he decided to not absorb any currently here.

But without any further protest, Nier pressed forward, his boots echoing softly against the cracked concrete floor.

The group ascended a rusted metal staircase, its steps groaning under their weight, and entered the narrower, more claustrophobic corridors of the upper level.

At the end of the hallway, a large metal door came into view, its surface gleaming faintly. Latest content published on novel•fire.net

Unlike the decaying structure around it, the door appeared strikingly modern, its sleek design and unblemished surface standing in stark contrast to the crumbling factory.

It was clear it had been installed as of recently, atleast within the decade, as it was a jarring anomaly in a building that had been abandoned since the late 1930s.

At the same time Kayland took out a remote control, and press a button which unlock the door.

As Nier and Kayland approached the modern metal door, its sleek surface glinting incongruously in the factory, Nier's attention was drawn to two figures standing just beyond the threshold.

The first was a young woman, her striking appearance immediately draw his focus.

She had medium colored blonde hair that fell straight reaching her back, catching the faint light with a subtle sheen. Her eyes were her most arresting feature, one a piercing blue, the other a deep green, a rare heterochromia that gave her an charming presence.

She wore an impeccably tailored outfit, a sleek, modern blazer in deep navy over a crisp white blouse, paired with fitted blue trousers.

Her expression was stoic, almost unimpressed in a way similar to Nier, as though the grim surroundings were beneath her notice.

Meanwhile...beside her stood a man, tall and lean, with sharp, angular features and a meticulously groomed appearance.

His dark hair was slicked back, revealing a high forehead and intense, coal-black eyes that seemed to miss nothing.

A faint scar traced the edge of his jaw, adding a hint of ruggedness to his otherwise polished look. He was dressed in a charcoal gray suit, its clean lines and subtle sheen betraying its exorbitant cost.

In his hands, he held an ornate, antique wooden box, its surface filled with strange, almost arcane symbols. The box had clearly been retrieved from one of the smart safes lining the room, its aged wood a stark contrast to the cutting-edge technology that once secured it.

But that wasn't Nier main focus.

No his attention went back to the girl.

Nier's stomach churned as he studied the woman. Her cool demeanor did little to ease his growing unease.

His curse had a way of warping the women he encountered, turning them into something obsessive, their fixation manifesting in unpredictable ways.

Some became quiet but stalky, others cool yet dangerously possessive. Each case of yanderism was unique, but no less unsettling.

The thought of this woman, succumbing to that fixation made his pulse quicken. He couldn't afford to let his guard down here.

But that aside, he looked at Tom while saying.

"Give it here bud."

Tom of course followed his orders, and Kayland took the box from his hand.

He then turned to to Nier and said.

"Well here it is bro, your inheritance."