Chapter 729 Sin City ? ? ?? ?
As Ren and the group approached Sin City, the stark contrast between the vast desert that surrounded it and the cobbled stone floor beneath their feet became immediately apparent.
The transition from the unforgiving sands to the city"s borders brought a sense of familiarity, a reminder of the bustling city life they once knew back home.
However, any comfort in the resemblance was overshadowed by the foreboding atmosphere that enveloped Sin City.
"We better conceal our ident.i.ties here," Ren advised, glancing around. "We don"t want to draw the attention of demons and devils just because we"re surface dwellers."
"I"ve got you covered," Vivi a.s.sured, retrieving something from her pouch that she wore as a sling bag.
She then presented fake demon and devil horns to Ren and the others. "Tada~. With these, you won"t be easily mistaken for surface dwellers. They don"t come off easily once attached to your heads, either. I"ve crafted them using magical essence."
"Your puke, you mean," Lorelai deadpanned.
Vivi didn"t take offense. "It"s magical essence," she insisted.
Ren and the others took the horns, hesitatingly placing them over their heads.
"Let"s just pretend they"re not puke and that they"re actually made of rainbow dust," Elena suggested.
"It doesn"t make it feel any better," Evie muttered.
"Stop complaining; we"re almost in Sin City, where Desira is rumored to reign." Azazel grinned, pointing over at the horizon. "Look."
Everyone quieted down and they each hop off Tiki"s back to walk over at the city"s entrance.
The city"s architecture rose like ominous sentinels from the cobblestone streets, their structures adorned with darkened hues that seemed to absorb the sunlight rather than reflect it.
Sin City"s skyline, while lacking the towering skysc.r.a.pers of their previous urban landscapes, possessed an eerie beauty in its own right.
Buildings of varying heights and designs formed a labyrinthine sprawl, casting long shadows on the narrow streets below.
The ambiance within Sin City mirrored the red-light districts of j.a.pan, but here, the atmosphere was intensified by an otherworldly aura.
The air was thick with a heady mixture of enchantment and decadence. Dimly lit lanterns hung sporadically along the cobblestone streets, casting an ethereal glow on the faces of those who wandered the city. The occasional flickering neon sign hinted at the underlying allure of the City.
"It reminds me of Area 69," Ren mused.
Evie shot him a menacing look. "And how do you know the appearance of Area 69?"
Ren mentally kicked himself. He had just dug his own grave.
"I didn"t go in there, if that"s what you"re asking. I just saw it on the net. Besides, who doesn"t know about Area 69 nowadays?" Ren tried to play it off, not admitting that he had indeed been in that area.
Although it was in his past life and not fueled by the l.u.s.t of the flesh. The connection traced back to a co-worker"s celebration of his promotion at Area 69, making it a favorite entertainment spot for everyone.
The location boasted a variety of entertainment facilities, including karaoke joints, bowling centers, movie areas, making it a go-to place for any group"s leisure activities.
Though Area 69 was located in a separate zone entirely, it still belong in the same area. Students often used the entertainment section as an excuse to go there, their parents not knowing that their intention was to enter the forbidden zone.
Evie eyed Ren suspiciously before deciding to let it go.
Ren was right; everyone knew about the place. It was a bustling hangout for teenage boys after school and workers after hours, so he couldn"t fault him if he went their during his curiosity years.
As the group ventured deeper, the streets became a tapestry of sounds and sights. Seductive melodies emanated from hidden corners, blending with the rhythmic footsteps of those on mysterious errands.
The architecture itself seemed to pulse with an energy that resonated through every brick and cobblestone, creating an almost sentient feeling to the surroundings.
Creatures of various forms and origins lurked in the alleys and recesses of Sin City, their appearances as diverse as the city"s buildings.
Succubi and incubi flaunted their allure, enticing pa.s.sersby with promises of forbidden pleasures.
Mysterious beings, draped in shadows and cloaked in illusions, moved through the crowds, their intentions veiled in secrecy.
The air carried a scent of both danger and desire, a potent combination that added to the allure of Sin City.
"Ren . . . you better not look at those women, alright?" Elena warned with a threatening smile. "Though you"re allowed to look at whoever you want, I will remind you that you"re already committed to a relationship with us, and that means no looking at other girls is part of your responsibility."
Evie nodded in agreement.
Ren didn"t commented least he wanted the conversation to never end.
However, a beautiful demon suddenly blocked their way. The demon had a slim form, complete with a white tuxedo and an alluring smile.
"A pleasant evening, my beautiful ladies," the demon greeted with a seductive smile. "My name is Mika. I wonder if you ladies would like to ditch these boring men beside you and come with me instead. I will make you smile ALL night."
Ren stepped forward, blocking Evie and the others from the demon. "How about I make you scream the whole night?"
Mika blinked, then laughed, moving closer to Ren and whispering, "I also don"t mind that set up if you want."
Ren shivered before Evie and Elena punched the demon away from them.
"Get lost!" Elena growled.
Lorelai sighed. "What do you expect from this kind of town? They"re so . . ."
"l.u.s.tful?" Vivi finished.
Lorelai nodded. "That"s right."
Azazel snickered. "Be careful, charm is a common thing here, I heard."
"But anyway, this town is different from Vivi"s territory," Evie noticed.
"You"re right. The citizens here seem happy," Lorelai remarked, appearing disappointed more than anything else. "I thought that all warlords are wreaking havoc in these lands right now."
"Don"t let these happy smiles and merriment fool you," Azazel warned. "The demons and devils here are overindulging themselves too much in their l.u.s.ts, making them miserable and ruining their lives without them knowing it."