Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord
Chapter 112: Late night party

Chapter 112: Late night party

The forest was silent. No growls. No tremors. Just the distant rustle of leaves as the Smasher vanished into the depths of the woods.

Jayden exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. That wasn’t just a random beast. That was an intelligent and strategic mind. It hadn’t just stolen the corpses—it had deliberately avoided further combat.

He considered giving a chase, but that would be pointless as the beast was long gone.

"Ahhhhh!" Jayden yelled in anger and frustration. The power he’d worked so hard for had been stolen from right under his nose. Both the energy of the D-Rank Howler and the Earth Smasher were gone.. just like that. The genes, the abilities, the corpses, even the crystals... they were all gone.

"Fuck!" he clenched his fist in rage. All his efforts had been for nothing... except for the few exp he’d received.

With a heavy heart, and a silent promise for retribution, Jayden slipped his shoes back on and left the forest.

As the taxi drove him back to Emerald City, he anticipated when next he would return to the forest and have his vengeance.

.....

The dim glow of the bedside lamp painted long shadows across Jayden’s room as he lay sprawled across his mattress, one arm draped heavily over his eyes. The scent of pine and damp earth still clung stubbornly to his skin despite the scalding shower he’d taken - a visceral reminder of the forest.. of the battle, of the humiliating theft that still burned like acid in his chest.

His ribs ached faintly where the Earth Smasher had struck him, the lingering pain a mocking echo of his failure. He could still see it so clearly - the way the beast had moved with calculated precision rather than mindless aggression, how its beady eyes had gleamed with something disturbingly close to intelligence as it made off with his hard-won prizes.

Jayden’s fingers twitched at his side, his claws threatening to unsheathe at the memory. All that potential, stolen right from his grasp. His jaw tightened until his teeth ached.

TAP.

A soft knock at the door snapped him out his thoughts.

"Jayden?"

A voice followed... hesitant, warm, and thin. It was unmistakably Jessica.

For a brief moment, the simmering anger in his chest flickered, replaced by something softer, something infinitely more complicated.

He sat up slowly, running a hand through his still-damp hair before padding to the door. When he opened it, there she stood.. haloed in the golden hallway light, her eyes wide and uncertain. She was worrying her lower lip between her teeth, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her oversized sweater. The sight sent an odd warmth spreading through his chest.

They stood there in silence for a long moment, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Jayden found himself cataloging every detail... the way her eyelashes cast delicate shadows on her cheeks, the faint scent of lavender that always seemed to cling to her, the nervous flutter of her pulse at the base of her throat.

Then Jayden smirked. "You gonna stand there all night?"

Jessica’s lips parted, but no words came out. Jayden chuckled, then reached for her hand, his calloused fingers brushing against her softer ones before gently tugging her inside. The door clicked shut behind her, sealing them in the quiet intimacy of his room.

Before she could speak, Jayden leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

Jessica froze.

Her breath hitched, her entire face blooming red. Jayden pulled back just enough to watch the reaction—the way her eyelashes fluttered, the way her lips parted in surprise. It was adorable.

"Y-You can’t just do that," she stammered, her voice trembling.

Jayden felt the corner of his mouth twitch upward despite himself. "Do what?"

"That!" Jessica gestured wildly between them, her cheeks darkening further. "You—ugh... you know what!"

The sheer indignation in her voice was so endearing that Jayden couldn’t help but chuckle, low and warm. "Pretty sure I just did."

Jessica made a sound somewhere between a groan and a squeak, burying her face in her hands. Jayden watched, amused, as the tips of her ears turned red.

Then, abruptly, she stiffened, her head snapping up. "I just remembered... i came here to tell you something."

Jayden tilted his head with a smirk. "So you didn’t come just to stare at me?"

She swatted at his arm, her touch feather-light. "Shut up! There’s a party tonight. At the old docks. And you’re coming with me."

Jayden blinked. "A party."

"Yes." she replied.

Jayden opened his mouth.. then closed it. He hated parties. The noise, the crowds, the people.. especially the kinds who love nothing more than alcohol and more alcohol.

But then he saw it. The way Jessica’s eyes shone with hopeful anticipation, the way she bit her lip nervously as she waited for his response. Something in his chest twisted painfully.

Before he could stop himself, he heard his own voice say, "Fine. But you owe me a kiss."

The radiant smile that broke across Jessica’s face was worth every ounce of his impending suffering. She let out a delighted squeal and launched herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck in a hug so sudden it nearly knocked him off balance.

Jayden stiffened instinctively before relaxing into the embrace, his arms coming up hesitantly to circle her waist.

"Thank you thank you thank you!" Jessica breathed into his shoulder, her warmth seeping into him like sunlight. Then, before he could process what was happening, she pressed a quick, shy kiss to his cheek... a perfect mirror of his earlier action. Then she pulled back and quickly darted for the door.

"Be ready in two hours!" she called over her shoulder, her voice bubbling with excitement. "And wear something nice!"

The door slammed shut behind her, leaving Jayden standing alone in the sudden silence, his fingers brushing absently at the spot on his cheek where her lips had been.

A slow, reluctant smile tugged at his mouth. "The things we do for love, huh?"

With a long-suffering sigh, Jayden turned toward his closet, already dreading the night ahead. But beneath the dread, there was something else - something warm and unfamiliar fluttering in his chest.

Something dangerously close to happiness.

...

Jayden adjusted the collar of his dark, fitted henley in the mirror, the fabric stretching slightly over his shoulders as he moved. His black jeans were simple but well-tailored, paired with a white sneakers. He ran a hand through his tousled hair one last time... just as a soft knock sounded at his door.

"Jayden?" Jessica’s voice was a whisper, barely audible through the door.

He opened the door gently—and then forgot how to breathe.

Jessica stood before him, bathed in the soft glow of the hallway light. She wore a flowing, off-the-shoulder dress the color of crushed violets, the delicate fabric skimming her curves before cascading to her knees. Her brown hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, catching the light like silk. A delicate silver chain adorned her neck, drawing attention to the elegant line of her collarbone. But it was her eyes that held him captive... wide, luminous, and framed by lashes that fluttered nervously as she took in his stunned expression.

For a moment, time stopped. Jayden couldn’t blink, couldn’t speak. All he could do was stare, his pulse roaring in his ears.

A playful smirk tugged at Jessica’s lips. "Hey, dreamer boy." She reached out, tapping his nose lightly. "Let’s go... before we get caught."

Jayden snapped out of his trance with a slow, appreciative smile. "Is everyone asleep?"

"Yes," she whispered, her voice tinged with excitement.

He nodded, stepping aside to let her slip into his room before closing the door behind her. The air between them hummed with unspoken electricity as they moved silently toward the balcony. The night breeze greeted them, carrying the distant sounds of the city.

Without a word, Jayden turned to Jessica, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "Hold on," he murmured, his voice low and rough.

Her breath hitched as he effortlessly scooped her into his arms, one arm beneath her knees, the other supporting her back. She instinctively curled against his chest, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt.

Then—WHOOSH.

The world blurred as Jayden leapt from the balcony, his momentum propelling them through the air in a graceful arc. Jessica’s stomach dropped, her laughter a breathless gasp against his neck as they soared over the garden below. The wind rushed past them, tugging at their clothes, carrying the scent of night-blooming jasmine.

They landed with barely a sound, Jayden’s shoes touching down on the soft grass ten meters from the house. He held her for a moment longer than necessary, their faces inches apart, their breaths mingling. Then, reluctantly, he set her down gently, his hands lingering at her waist.

Jessica’s smile was radiant as she looked up at him, her cheeks flushed. "Show-off," she teased, her voice warm.

Jayden smirked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Maybe... but you love it."

She didn’t deny it. Instead, she took his hand, threading her fingers through his. "Come on," she said, tugging him forward. "The night’s just beginning."

Together, they walked toward the distant glow of the party, their silhouettes merging with the shadows of the night. The air was alive with possibility, and for the first time that day, Jayden’s thoughts weren’t on battles or stolen power—but on the girl beside him, and the promise of something sweeter than victory.

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