Chapter 302: Cheering
The salty wind picked up gently off the ocean, carrying the fresh smell of salt and wet sand. Small waves rolled in, fizzing white at the edges before sliding back out. The black tear in the sky had finally zipped itself shut, leaving nothing but clear blue above. No more monsters. No more screams. Just quiet.
Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta stood together in a loose line at the water’s edge. Their hair danced in the breeze—pink, silver, black, red, purple, white, and dark brown strands floating and settling again. Some of them still had faint glows around their hands or weapons, but those were fading fast. They looked tired, but proud. Sand stuck to their clothes and skin in places, mixed with monster blood that was already drying dark.
"Hahaha... as expected from my Shadow Mystics." I said, pushing myself up from the flat rock I’d been sitting on, knees cracking a little from how long I’d been still. A tired laugh came out of me—real and warm.
I stood straight, rolling my shoulders once. My sword, which had been leaning against my leg, shimmered for a second and then vanished into thin air like smoke.
"There’s no way they can ever lose."
The beach felt peaceful now. Bodies of monsters lay scattered—some half-buried in craters, some floating face-down in the shallow water, others just lumps of green and black. The few that had run away were long gone, swallowed by the waves or the horizon.
Closer to the crowd, a guy with messy hair stared out at the water, blinking slowly.
"Hey... they did it," he said quietly, almost like he couldn’t believe it.
"Is it really over?" another man asked, voice soft, like he was afraid saying it too loud would bring the monsters back.
A woman next to him nodded, eyes wide. "Yeah... I think so."
And then it hit everyone at once.
A single cheer broke out from the back—loud, raw, happy.
"THEY REALLY WON!"
The whole crowd exploded. People screamed, jumped, threw their hands in the air, hugged strangers, clapped like crazy. Phones came out again, recording, flashing. The sound rolled over the beach like a wave of its own—pure joy.
"THEY REALLY WON!"
"SHADOW MYSTICS!"
"YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!"
"Eh eh eh... everyone’s screaming for us!" Beta spun around fast, cat ears twitching, eyes sparkling like stars.
She bounced on her toes, tail swishing so hard it made little sand clouds. She looked around with her mouth open, grinning huge.
"Yes, Beta. They are cheering for us." Alpha stood next to her, sword now sheathed on her back. She gave the smallest smile—one corner of her mouth lifting just a bit.
Zeta let out a long breath and dropped straight down onto the sand. She stretched her arms way over her head, then flopped backward with a happy groan.
"Finally..." she said, staring up at the sky. "I could sleep for a week right here."
Epsilon twirled her hands once. Purple flames flickered out like candles being blown, then disappeared completely. She tucked her weapons away into thin air.
"Hope Master is happy with us," she said softly, glancing toward where I was standing.
"He must be... obviously." Alpha looked over at me too. Her voice stayed calm, but there was something warm in it—sure.
A woman in a yellow sundress broke away from the group of onlookers. She ran forward barefoot, sand flying behind her, and grabbed both of Alpha’s hands without thinking twice.
"Thank you, girls!" she said, eyes shining with tears and excitement. "You saved us. You were really cool out there."
Alpha blinked once, surprised by the sudden touch, but she gave a small nod. "We’re just glad everyone’s safe."
A tall man with a baseball cap stepped up next, rubbing the back of his neck like he was shy.
"You guys saved us," he said again, voice full of respect. "Seriously. Thank you."
More people started crowding closer—careful not to get too pushy, but clearly wanting to say something.
Then two guys—college-age, wearing matching tourist T-shirts—pushed through with big grins. Both had their phones out already, like they’d rehearsed this.
One of them cleared his throat. "Hey... can I get your number?"
The other one jumped in quick. "Yeah, me too. You’re all amazing."
The air went quiet for half a second.
Alpha raised one perfect eyebrow. She tilted her head slightly, pink hair falling over one shoulder.
"Sure," she said in a calm, even tone. "Unless you want to be killed by Master Zero. Because we Shadow Mystics belong to him."
She didn’t smile. She didn’t blink. Just stared straight at them with that cold, serious look she saved for people who crossed lines.
Both guys froze. Their smiles dropped like stones. They slowly turned their heads toward me.
I was standing a few steps behind the girls, arms crossed, watching the whole thing. When their eyes met mine, I didn’t say a word. I just held their gaze—long, steady, the kind of look that makes your stomach drop.
Sweat beads popped up on their foreheads almost instantly. One of them swallowed so hard you could hear it.
"N-never mind..." the first guy mumbled.
"We’ll... we’ll go," the second one said.
They turned and speed-walked away—almost running—shoulders hunched, phones disappearing back into their pockets like they’d never pulled them out.
Eta burst out laughing the second they were far enough. "Hahaha! They seriously thought they had a chance!" She doubled over a little, holding her stomach, silver hair bouncing.
Gamma chuckled too, shaking her head. "Thankfully they didn’t approach Beta. Or else she would’ve scratched them to death."
Beta, who had been bouncing nearby listening, tilted her head. "Huh? Me? I would’ve just said hi and maybe poked them a little..."
She flexed her claws once—still a bit bloody—then grinned wide. "Okay, maybe a lot."
Alpha let out a tired breath and pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. "Yeah... you’re right," she said quietly.
The crowd was still cheering in the background, but it felt distant now.
I stepped forward, boots sinking softly into the sand. I placed one hand gently on Alpha’s shoulder.
"You did great," I said, voice low so only she and the girls could hear clearly.
Alpha’s whole body tensed for a split second. Then she recognized my touch, my voice. She looked up at me slowly.
Her cheeks flushed pink—soft at first, then deeper. Her usual calm mask cracked just enough to show something warmer underneath.
"M-Master..." she muttered, barely above a whisper.
"Yes, Alpha." I smiled down at her—a small, real one.
I leaned down. She didn’t pull away. Instead, her eyes fluttered half-closed.
I kissed her—slow, gentle, right on the lips.
The world around us blurred for a moment. The cheers, the waves, the wind—everything faded. It was just her, warm and steady under my hand, kissing me back like she’d been waiting for it all day.
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