Fated Adventure.

[Saeko Busujima has joined the Peerage.]

[Highschool Of the Dead is available for Travel.]

The notification appeared and so did Saeko standing next to me. She stiffened for a moment, her spirit was activated, she received her blessing, and she got the standard money, clothing and other items we get on arrival to new worlds.

Rachel narrowed her eyes recognizing the girl. After all the dream space was filled up with all sorts of anime and manga. "Do you have a thing for girls with purple hair?"

Looking around, sure enough Rachel has purple and black hair, Serenity had purple hair, Saeko had purple hair, Luna, Fleur and Yue were blonde, Hermione and Xiao Wu had brown hair and Zhu Zhuqing had black hair.

Uhh, that's a trap question if I ever saw one. "I just pick the best!"

Her eyes narrowed but her lips twitched. "Good answer."

"Anyway, this is Saeko Busujima. Saeko these are my other peerage or harem members. Your new sisters." I introduced them.

Her eyes looked around the room before stopping on Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu then narrowing back on me.

"That's a bit hard to explain, but for starters the mischievous looking one is around 100,000 years old. As for the other one, different set of circumstances and I haven't done anything inappropriate." I waved my hand. "You girls can explain to her."

"I'll explain." Yue said with a cheeky smile.

"Nope!" I steered Saeko towards Serenity and Rachel. "Can you two explain things to her please along with the background for everyone. I still plan to recruit another one or two peerage members."

"Yes, master." Serenity smiled and Rachel nodded dragging to girl off.

As for me, this time instead of a pawn I grabbed a knight piece, I had two knights in mind. One might be easier to recruit than the other. Let's go for the easier one first hopefully.

With a thought my mind shifted to the dream space.

~~~~~

Hunger. Violence. Death.

These were the laws of Hueco Mundo.

For as long as she could remember, they had dictated her existence. She had carved her own path through the endless white sands, growing stronger, surviving while others fell. Even now, with her companions under her protection, there was no peace—only the ever-present threat of being hunted by those who saw her as nothing more than a prize to be devoured.

And yet, something was different this time.

Tier Harribel tensed her blade-arm as she crouched low, her instincts screaming at the unknown presence before her.

This was not a Hollow.

This was not a human.

This was something else.

The moment she became aware of his existence, knowledge flooded into her mind—alien yet clear, telling her of what he was and what he offered. But that only made her more wary. Knowledge was not trust.

The man before her stood calmly, his blue eyes meeting hers without hesitation, without fear. That, more than anything, set her on edge.

"Hello, my name is Ryan." His voice was smooth, steady. He raised his hands in a gesture of peace, but she did not lower her guard.

"What do you want?" she asked, voice sharp, warning him that an unsatisfactory answer would result in bloodshed.

His smile didn't waver. "To make a deal with you," he said. "I can offer you a way to evolve—and a safe place for you and your followers."

Her eyes narrowed. "And why should I believe anything you say?"

The man nodded, as if he had expected the question. Good, she thought. He's not a fool.

"You don't have to believe me," he admitted easily. "I'm simply offering you an opportunity. I could offer it to others from your world, but I'd rather offer it to you."

Her eyes narrowed.

Lies. That was what men did. That was what predators did. They sought out what they wanted, and if force failed, they used deception.

Her life had been a constant battle against those who wished to claim her—who thought that because she was strong and a woman, she must belong to them.

This was no different.

Her voice turned cold. "Typical man."

But instead of taking offense, he simply nodded.

"You're right," he said. His words were direct, without hesitation or false charm. "I am a typical man. I find power and beauty attractive. But I'm not forcing anything on you. I'm offering you a chance—nothing more, nothing less."

Harribel hesitated.

This was not what she expected.

She had prepared for arrogance, for threats, for the moment he tried to take what he wanted. But there was none of that. His words were steady, unwavering. His blue eyes held no malice, only certainty.

"You fight every day to survive," he continued. "Your world is an endless desert. No peace, no safety, no future—only war, only hunger, only the same cycle of violence." His voice was calm but carried weight. "I can take you beyond that. I can give you something more."

Her heart pounded in her chest.

It was tempting.

It was too tempting.

She had fought to survive, not just for herself but for those she had chosen to protect. Apacci. Mila Rose. Sung-Sun. She had done everything to keep them from being devoured, to keep them from the fate that awaited weaker Hollows.

But how long could they last? How long before something stronger came along—before she failed them?

She clenched her teeth. He's lying. He has to be lying.

"And in return?" she demanded.

Ryan's eyes met hers once more. "I get you, you become my partner. You protect me and those I care about, and I protect you and yours."

That was it. No demand for servitude. No chains, no forced submission. Just an agreement between two warriors.

A long silence stretched between them.

She could feel the danger emanating from him. There was power hidden beneath his skin, restrained but undeniable. He was strong—but he was not like the monsters she had fought. He had no interest in taking her by force.

That made him more dangerous than anything she had encountered before.

A slow exhale left her maw.

"Tch. You're a dangerous man."

A smirk played at his lips. "I try."

For the first time in her life, she chose to trust a man. Not just for herself but for those under her, and if she had to offer herself up for a chance of safety for them she would do so. Plus she was curious about the outside worlds he spoke of, what lay beyond the endless desert and the menos forests?