I told Leric we’d work with him. He then proceeded to disappear into a soul cabin. The man looked like he hadn’t slept in a day, so he was likely tired.
I wouldn’t let any sort of naivety influence my dealings with him. And if I sensed even a hint of betrayal, I’d behead him at the first chance.
But I didn’t doubt his desperation, nor his love for Johana. Both were genuine.
I returned to the shrine on the fourth floor to make my prayer. I knelt in front of the altar and opened the book to the page with the fast travel point.
I closed my eyes. “Hear me, O’ Deep Ones. I have come to seek the world from you.”
When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the shrine. I floated in the void. A massive creature hovered in front of me, but it was hidden behind shadows.
“Thou hath found the book,” a voice from everywhere said. It was a lot calmer than the voice of the Shadowsoul. More soothing.
“Uh, indeed. I… hath… found it.”
“Thou art ready for the burdens of power?”
“I… art ready. Yes.”
The massive creature stirred. Whirls of light surrounded me. The light coalesced into a blazing ball, which then surged into my core.
I felt like I was coming apart, cell by cell. It was as if lightning were pouring through my veins.
I would’ve screamed, but I didn’t want to show my pain to the Deep One.
Soon, the sensation passed.
NEW NIHILITY ABILITY UNLOCKED
FAST TRAVEL POINT CREATION GRANTED
Creation Points: 1
Time to next Creation Point: 23 Hours 59 Minutes 59 Seconds
It felt good to gain a new power. And it felt good to see a cooldown of only one day. It could’ve been a lot worse.
Also, it seemed I could accumulate the creation points. So if I didn’t create a fast travel point that day, I could create two the next day.
“Thank… eth you…” I said.
“I needeth not your thanks, mortal,” the voice said. “I demandeth your service.”
“Well I’m going to kill the Shadowsoul, so don’t you worry.” I wasn’t doing it in service to the Deep Ones, but they could believe what they wanted.
“Why would I worry?”
“Ah, so you can speak normal English.”
“I speaketh all languages.”
“Oh yeah? Why are you hiding yourself behind all those shadows?”
“Because if thou glimpsed me, thou would be annihilated from time itself.”
That didn’t sound very fun. “All right. Well, send me home, then.”
With a whirl of light, I materialized back in the shrine. I did a fist pump, ecstatic to have such an incredible, new ability.
I told the girls. Ayla was disappointed I didn’t pray for ten times the soulcores. But maybe one day, we could gain that power, too.
First thing I did was put a fast travel point in Ruby’s village. I also gave permission for all my girls and everyone in the village to use the fast travel point. Ruby’s village and our onsen were now, basically, one.
Perhaps some of the villagers would even decide to settle here. Good thing Miranda was busy expanding the place. I told her to add new bathing areas for the villagers, too.
Afterward, I enjoyed a date night with Ayla. Maria cooked us lizard stew. No, it wasn’t made from the lizardmen we’d fought on the third floor, but smaller lizards that ran around on the first floor. Like everything Maria made, it was delicious.
Ayla and I had crazy amazing sex that night. Unfortunately, our soulbond didn’t level up, but I could sense it was close.
The next morning, the girls and I went to the edge of the shield wall to speak with Leric.
“I’ve got a plan,” I said. “We’re going to save Johana and kill Rohan, all in one mission.”
Leric crossed his arms. “I’m listening.”
I explained the plan. We discussed it, careful to analyze each detail. Everyone brought up their concerns, and we addressed each one.
It wasn’t the most careful of plans. In fact, it was the riskiest mission we’d embark on thus far. But with great risks come great rewards.
Leric and all my curseborn wives had their parts to play. Ruby would remain at the onsen to help Miranda.
Before heading out, I visited the Soulful Doll to increase my stats.
Soul Level: 14
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 1
Agility: 4 + 3
Endurance: 1
Vigor: 1
Mind: 1
Luck: 1
Soulcores Required for Next Level: 450 (2004)
I put one point in vigor, one in strength, and one in endurance, taking my Soul Level to 17. Putting a point in endurance made me feel less tired, immediately.
“Good luck,” the Soulful Doll said, its usual creepy grin spread across its face.
“Thanks,” I replied. “I’ll have a trove of soulcores to feed you once this is over.”
“I look forward to it.” The doll let out a spine chilling laugh.
I left the temple to make my final preparations. Once those were done, it was time to go.
Ruby ran up to me before I was about to depart.
“I made something for you.” She held up a hat. It resembled something Indiana Jones would wear.
“Thank you.”
“Read what it does.”
I read the label. Grants the wearer 3 Vigor.
“Holy shit. This is incredibly impressive. How’d you make it?”
“I looked through the crafting ingredients you all had collected, thus far, then looked through Esme’s crafting book for things I could make. So… ta-da!”
“Very resourceful.” I gave her a kiss. “Keep it up.”
I could give the hat to Ayla so we’d both gain the increased vigor, since we often fought in the vanguard together.
“On that note,” I said, “Ayla often fights in the vanguard, but she doesn’t have any armor. Think you could make her leather armor?”
Ruby nodded giddily. “Yes. Yes! I think I saw a crafting recipe for leather armor. I’d love to make her some.”
I kissed Ruby again. “See? You can do this, Ruby.”
“Only because you gave me a chance. Good luck out there, Remy.”
“I’ll come back to you soon, don’t worry.”
Together with Leric and the girls, I fast traveled to the overworld to begin the mission.
We all piled into the rollercoaster car. I drove. We dismounted a mile from Port City, then walked the rest of the way.
First, we found a part of the shield barrier that was lightly guarded. With the Shield Breaking Ring on my finger, I punched a hole the size of a door in the barrier.
Soldiers patrolled every street. Leric led us to an abandoned villa, though we had to be careful while creeping through the alleyways and under bridges.
The villa obviously hadn’t been occupied in years. A thick layer of dust covered all the furniture. The first thing I did was create a fast travel point in the living room, which was a wide space with high ceilings. I set the permissions so that only myself and my harem could use it.
We then set escape doors near the fast travel point — one for each of us.
The first part of the plan, establishing a base of operations, was complete.
Now it was Sherry’s turn to take center stage. I gave her the Illusionist’s Mask.
“Handsome, I’m a little nervous,” she said as we conversed away from the others. “I don’t want to mess this up.”
I caressed her cheek. “You won’t. I believe in you.”
“I can’t wait to see you on that throne.” She giggled.
“I already promised Ayla she’d be the first one I fucked on it. But you can be second.”
“Damn, she’s fast. I’m jealous.”
“Don’t worry. You can be the first I fuck in the royal bed.”
“Mmm. That’s even better, I’d say.”
I gave her a passionate kiss with lots of tongue, grabbing her thick ass the while.
We all made sure we had plenty of health potions and other items in our soul storages. I also ensured everyone had the necessary gear equipped. I basically equipped every gear piece I owned on the girls, with the exception of the fez and those starter clothes I’d bought from the first vendor I encountered in this world.
Maria was the only one without any special gear. Her job was to stay in the villa and keep the fast travel and escape doors secure. If guards found the location of our base, she had permission to take them out, even if she had to summon Cthulhu to do it.
Ayla, Esme, and Tara would come with me. The four of us would compose the main strike team. Leric would set out in advance of us.
His role was the most tense part of the plan. If he betrayed us, we’d all be in danger, though I had a Plan B in case he did. Only a fool trusts someone like Leric blindly.
He was about to set out for the prince’s palace and was taking things in and out of his soul storage, equipping and unequipping all sorts of gear, while standing near the villa entrance.
“Good luck,” I said to him.
“Do me a favor,” he said. “If something happens to Johana and she dies, then kill me, too.”
What a depressing request. “I’m not an executioner.”
“Just do it. I’ve decided I can’t live without her.”
“I don’t owe you any favors, Leric. Kill yourself if you must.”
He let out a dejected sigh. “Fair enough.”
“Look, nothing’s going to happen to her. We’re going to save her, okay?”
“You don’t know the prince…”
“True, but I know myself. I know what I’m capable of. I know I can save her.”
“Your enthusiasm is… infectious, I admit.”
“Good.” I gave him a pat on the back. This was as kind and encouraging as I ever planned to be with him. “Now stop being such a pain in the ass. Go do your part. We’ll be right behind you.”
Leric nodded. He opened the door and walked out into the street.
I told Leric we’d work with him. He then proceeded to disappear into a soul cabin. The man looked like he hadn’t slept in a day, so he was likely tired.
I wouldn’t let any sort of naivety influence my dealings with him. And if I sensed even a hint of betrayal, I’d behead him at the first chance.
But I didn’t doubt his desperation, nor his love for Johana. Both were genuine.
I returned to the shrine on the fourth floor to make my prayer. I knelt in front of the altar and opened the book to the page with the fast travel point.
I closed my eyes. “Hear me, O’ Deep Ones. I have come to seek the world from you.”
When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the shrine. I floated in the void. A massive creature hovered in front of me, but it was hidden behind shadows.
“Thou hath found the book,” a voice from everywhere said. It was a lot calmer than the voice of the Shadowsoul. More soothing.
“Uh, indeed. I… hath… found it.”
“Thou art ready for the burdens of power?”
“I… art ready. Yes.”
The massive creature stirred. Whirls of light surrounded me. The light coalesced into a blazing ball, which then surged into my core.
I felt like I was coming apart, cell by cell. It was as if lightning were pouring through my veins.
I would’ve screamed, but I didn’t want to show my pain to the Deep One.
Soon, the sensation passed.
NEW NIHILITY ABILITY UNLOCKED
FAST TRAVEL POINT CREATION GRANTED
Creation Points: 1
Time to next Creation Point: 23 Hours 59 Minutes 59 Seconds
It felt good to gain a new power. And it felt good to see a cooldown of only one day. It could’ve been a lot worse.
Also, it seemed I could accumulate the creation points. So if I didn’t create a fast travel point that day, I could create two the next day.
“Thank… eth you…” I said.
“I needeth not your thanks, mortal,” the voice said. “I demandeth your service.”
“Well I’m going to kill the Shadowsoul, so don’t you worry.” I wasn’t doing it in service to the Deep Ones, but they could believe what they wanted.
“Why would I worry?”
“Ah, so you can speak normal English.”
“I speaketh all languages.”
“Oh yeah? Why are you hiding yourself behind all those shadows?”
“Because if thou glimpsed me, thou would be annihilated from time itself.”
That didn’t sound very fun. “All right. Well, send me home, then.”
With a whirl of light, I materialized back in the shrine. I did a fist pump, ecstatic to have such an incredible, new ability.
I told the girls. Ayla was disappointed I didn’t pray for ten times the soulcores. But maybe one day, we could gain that power, too.
First thing I did was put a fast travel point in Ruby’s village. I also gave permission for all my girls and everyone in the village to use the fast travel point. Ruby’s village and our onsen were now, basically, one.
Perhaps some of the villagers would even decide to settle here. Good thing Miranda was busy expanding the place. I told her to add new bathing areas for the villagers, too.
Afterward, I enjoyed a date night with Ayla. Maria cooked us lizard stew. No, it wasn’t made from the lizardmen we’d fought on the third floor, but smaller lizards that ran around on the first floor. Like everything Maria made, it was delicious.
Ayla and I had crazy amazing sex that night. Unfortunately, our soulbond didn’t level up, but I could sense it was close.
The next morning, the girls and I went to the edge of the shield wall to speak with Leric.
“I’ve got a plan,” I said. “We’re going to save Johana and kill Rohan, all in one mission.”
Leric crossed his arms. “I’m listening.”
I explained the plan. We discussed it, careful to analyze each detail. Everyone brought up their concerns, and we addressed each one.
It wasn’t the most careful of plans. In fact, it was the riskiest mission we’d embark on thus far. But with great risks come great rewards.
Leric and all my curseborn wives had their parts to play. Ruby would remain at the onsen to help Miranda.
Before heading out, I visited the Soulful Doll to increase my stats.
Soul Level: 14
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 1
Agility: 4 + 3
Endurance: 1
Vigor: 1
Mind: 1
Luck: 1
Soulcores Required for Next Level: 450 (2004)
I put one point in vigor, one in strength, and one in endurance, taking my Soul Level to 17. Putting a point in endurance made me feel less tired, immediately.
“Good luck,” the Soulful Doll said, its usual creepy grin spread across its face.
“Thanks,” I replied. “I’ll have a trove of soulcores to feed you once this is over.”
“I look forward to it.” The doll let out a spine chilling laugh.
I left the temple to make my final preparations. Once those were done, it was time to go.
Ruby ran up to me before I was about to depart.
“I made something for you.” She held up a hat. It resembled something Indiana Jones would wear.
“Thank you.”
“Read what it does.”
I read the label. Grants the wearer 3 Vigor.
“Holy shit. This is incredibly impressive. How’d you make it?”
“I looked through the crafting ingredients you all had collected, thus far, then looked through Esme’s crafting book for things I could make. So… ta-da!”
“Very resourceful.” I gave her a kiss. “Keep it up.”
I could give the hat to Ayla so we’d both gain the increased vigor, since we often fought in the vanguard together.
“On that note,” I said, “Ayla often fights in the vanguard, but she doesn’t have any armor. Think you could make her leather armor?”
Ruby nodded giddily. “Yes. Yes! I think I saw a crafting recipe for leather armor. I’d love to make her some.”
I kissed Ruby again. “See? You can do this, Ruby.”
“Only because you gave me a chance. Good luck out there, Remy.”
“I’ll come back to you soon, don’t worry.”
Together with Leric and the girls, I fast traveled to the overworld to begin the mission.
We all piled into the rollercoaster car. I drove. We dismounted a mile from Port City, then walked the rest of the way.
First, we found a part of the shield barrier that was lightly guarded. With the Shield Breaking Ring on my finger, I punched a hole the size of a door in the barrier.
Soldiers patrolled every street. Leric led us to an abandoned villa, though we had to be careful while creeping through the alleyways and under bridges.
The villa obviously hadn’t been occupied in years. A thick layer of dust covered all the furniture. The first thing I did was create a fast travel point in the living room, which was a wide space with high ceilings. I set the permissions so that only myself and my harem could use it.
We then set escape doors near the fast travel point — one for each of us.
The first part of the plan, establishing a base of operations, was complete.
Now it was Sherry’s turn to take center stage. I gave her the Illusionist’s Mask.
“Handsome, I’m a little nervous,” she said as we conversed away from the others. “I don’t want to mess this up.”
I caressed her cheek. “You won’t. I believe in you.”
“I can’t wait to see you on that throne.” She giggled.
“I already promised Ayla she’d be the first one I fucked on it. But you can be second.”
“Damn, she’s fast. I’m jealous.”
“Don’t worry. You can be the first I fuck in the royal bed.”
“Mmm. That’s even better, I’d say.”
I gave her a passionate kiss with lots of tongue, grabbing her thick ass the while.
We all made sure we had plenty of health potions and other items in our soul storages. I also ensured everyone had the necessary gear equipped. I basically equipped every gear piece I owned on the girls, with the exception of the fez and those starter clothes I’d bought from the first vendor I encountered in this world.
Maria was the only one without any special gear. Her job was to stay in the villa and keep the fast travel and escape doors secure. If guards found the location of our base, she had permission to take them out, even if she had to summon Cthulhu to do it.
Ayla, Esme, and Tara would come with me. The four of us would compose the main strike team. Leric would set out in advance of us.
His role was the most tense part of the plan. If he betrayed us, we’d all be in danger, though I had a Plan B in case he did. Only a fool trusts someone like Leric blindly.
He was about to set out for the prince’s palace and was taking things in and out of his soul storage, equipping and unequipping all sorts of gear, while standing near the villa entrance.
“Good luck,” I said to him.
“Do me a favor,” he said. “If something happens to Johana and she dies, then kill me, too.”
What a depressing request. “I’m not an executioner.”
“Just do it. I’ve decided I can’t live without her.”
“I don’t owe you any favors, Leric. Kill yourself if you must.”
He let out a dejected sigh. “Fair enough.”
“Look, nothing’s going to happen to her. We’re going to save her, okay?”
“You don’t know the prince…”
“True, but I know myself. I know what I’m capable of. I know I can save her.”
“Your enthusiasm is… infectious, I admit.”
“Good.” I gave him a pat on the back. This was as kind and encouraging as I ever planned to be with him. “Now stop being such a pain in the ass. Go do your part. We’ll be right behind you.”
Leric nodded. He opened the door and walked out into the street.
