Glendios Hello, everyone! Another chapter had finally been made!
As I said before, in the previous chapter's notes, I had decided to edit chapter 42 of the story, due to a rather huge and rather annoying problem of writer's block, and admittedly, inability to keep a character's original behaviour stick, or write it with the justice it deserves. Thus, the final part of chapter 42 had been edited, to make the characterization in the next chapters feel more natural in return, so check it out again, if you'd like to. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Now, onto the chapter!
"A deal..."
Mei Wu, hearing Jiko Ai, only said skeptically, almost feeling as if she was making a question instead.
Honestly, Mei Wu felt rather odd sensing Jiko Ai's emotions as the alter ego looked at her.
Lust was very much prominent. A rather strong sense of possessiveness that demanded that Mei Wu stays alive as well, there was no doubt of it, but ther was also... love?
Yes, this felt like how Kasumi Ai's Qi felt whenever she was enjoying herself with Mei Wu... minus the occasional perverted humor. And no, Mei Wu would not even try to think of what happened when Ai decided to 'train' her. That definitely was in the lust category as far as she was concerned.
Jiko Ai, despite her amusement by Mei Wu's embarrassment, decided to get to the point. Her sensitive senses noticed as one of the Protector Bees was coming towards them and would reach in maybe a couple minutes or so, and Mei Wu definitely felt the same.
"It's a rather fair deal, I assure you. As much as I'd prefer to just lock her up and monopolize this body, neither you or she would like that, and I really can't let her be locked forever, nor do I want that anyways. Not to mention that I really love you too much to just torment you... well, torment you more than Kasumi Ai did in your 'training' session. I just want to satisfy myself, and for Kasumi Ai to actually work with her instincts, especially at this time. In other words, I want her to work with me, not against me."
Mei Wu pursed her lips at that. The words, they made sense, they really did. That perspective was just so simple and easy to understand, even a child would be able to comprehend it with only little thinking, and for warriors and cultivators, it was basically an almost-absolute fact they worked by.
Everyone wanted a way to satisfy their needs or desires, and with others to work with them instead of against them, most of the time. Though how one defined 'working with others' wasn't always the same, but in general, people desired others to be with them rather than against them, unless they were purposely wanting to be hated or they just didn't give a damn.
In Mei Wu's opinion and what she could understand from the short period they interacted, Jiko Ai desired two things mostly;
The first being her base desires as an alraune which consist of preying on beasts, humans and other races alike, mostly to kill and feed on their corpses, and probably using some as energy batteries.
Secondly, a desire born from the same love that Kasumi Ai had for Mei Wu, which is to interact and to be intimate with the pink-haired woman. Even that desire was seemingly barely stopped from becoming completely uncontrollable and turning into an obsessive craving and lust.
Mei Wu found herself wondering. If Ai kept restraining the Narcissism for even one more week, especially since they weren't allowed to go outside, and that they couldn't also have actual sex... would Jiko Ai's behaviour right now be even as tame as this, or would she truly take control until she was satisfied, or the alraune evolved enough?
"Honestly, she should have tried to convince the Queen Bee to let her exit from another entrance and hunt some animals or beasts. Either that or make you both satisfy each other. Dual cultivation can only do so much for a Predator Rainblossom Alraune's physical cravings." Jiko Ai tsked in annoyance, before shaking her head.
"Anyways... what I want is to be allowed more freedom. Honestly, even she doing the work would be fine, but I'd prefer to actually do some preying and kissing personally, at least. Now that this mess happened, I just don't feel it would be fair if I get to just watch you two kiss and grope each other. Plus, the fact that I would probably be cognizant enough to notice you dual cultivating." she sighed in irritation. "Worst method to cockblock a sweet and nice alraune like me, split personality or not..."
Grumbling at that, and ignoring the split second where Mei Wu choked with a blush at the blatant explanation of how Jiko Ai will basically peep on any romantic or sexual act regarding her lover, the alter ego only shook her head.
"So, here's the deal. I get... one day with you out of two weeks, or maybe a bit more. Honestly, I'd like more, but I can't leave that idiot alone in that sleep forever, so I would need to talk with her about it. You get to watch how awesome your girlfriend truly is when she's not being restrained and with all the accessible powers of an alraune, and probably a 'we survived!' sex with her. At least I'd like to think you'd love that? Nah, of course, you'd love to. Kinky lady, not that I mind."
"Jiko Ai!"
Once more, the alter ego ignored the mortified shriek as she turned around to look at the Protector Bee that had by now reached them, the sound of buzzing loud and clear.
Mei Wu managed to control herself now that the Protector Bee was in plain sight, and its presence was more clear than ever. It was rather difficult, but she did it, and then she focused on the bee that was buzzing loudly, and the human noticed how the Protector Bee was feeling serious and amused at once, as it looked at Jiko Ai, buzzing loudly in what Mei Wu understood as a question.
"Yes, I, and Kasumi Ai are alright. No need for the Queen Bee to worry about that." the alraune answered.
Another round of buzzing.
"Yes, alter egos, split personalities, all that. Don't worry about it, and yes, I promise that I'm not a threat. Look, I will discuss it with her later, or just have Kasumi Ai and our cute lover explain it, okay?"
Mei Wu, despite feeling how Xie Xiu and Xie Yao were ready to fight even from afar, couldn't help but feel like she wasn't taking the situation as seriously as she usually did, watching the alraune and bee argue with each other.
'I feel like I'm supposed not to give a damn at all seeing this...' she thought with a deadpan even as the Apoptosis Qi was always ready.
Suddenly, she found Jiko Ai's face right in front of her, causing her to jump in shock and fright from the surprise.
"Wu-chan; help me use all my powers!" the alter ego all but demanded with a grin.
"H-huh!?" needless to say, the human woman was baffled at that.
The grin on Jiko Ai's face widened even further, and Mei Wu couldn't stop herself from shivering as she felt the desire of a predator rising once more. "You see, now that we, I and Ai have become a gold-ranked alraune, we could use most of our abilities and skills as Thorny Alraunes, though sadly it's still highly draining, usually. Thankfully, alraunes' ability to drain energy makes this almost a non-issue. In other words..."
The hunger and malice started to ooze from the alraune, and Mei Wu was genuinely happy that it wasn't focused on her. This amount would have probably knocked her unconscious had she been the target of it, even if the Apoptosis was targeting Jiko Ai.
"I want to show you just what makes us alraunes and thorny flowers such predators, and it would be so beautiful, in my very humble opinion."
Mei Wu gulped audibly at that, before a resolute expression appeared on her face.
"As long as you keep your promise, I will help you. Even though it's completely pointless since the Queen Bee would probably deal with it..." she mumbled the last part exasperately, before looking at the Protector Bee.
"Please tell the Queen Bee not to attack them for now. I'm sure we are ready for this."
The bee beast only buzzed, clearly unamused, but it did as asked and left to tell the Queen Bee, leaving the two women alone.
"So..." Mei Wu started, "how do we do this?"
"Very simple, really. Just stand on top of my monstrous body, and let me do the rest of the work." giggling, Jiko Ai told her as she had already returned to stand inside the protective petal wall on the top of the giant plant body as well.
The pink-haired woman only sighed and did as told, ignoring the inert aphrodisiac liqued as it splashed and moved, looking at the alraune's face. "So, what now?"
By the heavens, she really hoped it won't be something ridiculous...
"I have to gently stab you with three of my vines to finish the preparations~!"
The heavens were indeed cruel. Though she could theorize what the plan was, with that.
"You mean like you did before to drain and restore my energy, while healing yourself before?" she asked suspiciously, though she prepared herself for the possibility regardless, and only got a nod of confirmation at that.
"Yep!"
Three vines gently pierced her flesh, just above her chest. It stung a bit, but the pain vanished just as quick as it came. Not a second later, Mei Wu felt the sensation of her Qi being drained and refilled endlessly, at a rate that seemed to boggle the mind.
Had the healing nectar not been injected in her body, she would be dead in a minute from how fast the energy drain was. Still, she also had one more question.
"I get that a vine is for healing and restoring my energy, and the other is for draining it... but what is the third one's job?" she could feel it pumping something into her body as well, but she didn't know what.
"An counter to my aphrodisiac."
The blunt and happy response suddenly caused her to freeze, fear showing at her expression. "Wait, you mean...?!"
"Don't worry." Jiko Ai spoke to her, and for the first time, she seemed so serious. "I promised you that I would help you. And before I got control of Ai's body, I promised her that I won't break you. And I plan to keep these promises no matter what."
"You wanted to test the aphrodisiac with or without my help anyways, didn't you?" it wasn't a question, really.
"Yes." the alter ego admitted, before Mei Wu felt it.
Nature Qi started to rise, almost blossoming as the focus of Jiko Ai increased tremendously.
Thick branches started forming, larger and more numerous than any branches Mei Wu noticed her beloved create. From every branch, plants and bulbs seemed to grow, and grow, and continue to do so.
Mei Wu then realized that these weren't just plants or trees, but beasts. Alraunes, to be precise. There were Normal, bronze and silver-ranked ones, each looking rather young, as far as their human bodies looked, as they dropped onto the ground, and without glancing at all, dashed towards where the Xie clan's elder were situated.
And yet, Jiko Ai didn't stop at just that. More started appearing, each looking as hungry as a starving man that suddenly found himself in a feast.
"I see you are interested in what I just did, right? I don't blame you." Jiko Ai only chuckled, and Mei Wu had the impression that the Narcissism was almost praying for a chance to explain her abilities like a story villain.
"You see, Thorny Flowers, and Thorny Alraunes. Ai already told you that they are a 'family', so to speak, and she told and showed you many of their skills. One of them being the Division Propagation skill. I am certain that you must have heard of it, but to reiterate, many plant-type beasts could create inferior clones of themselves, particularly those that are similar to flowers and mushrooms. Normally, for many plant-type beasts, this skill is usually used as a distraction, or maybe a significant power multiplier when fighting an enemy of a rather similar level. But we, the Thorny Flowers and Alraunes, use it in a much terrifying manner."
Even more alraunes were forming, and Mei Wu then realized that this wasn't the end of it, because apparently, thorny flowers of various sizes and levels, though only Bronze-ranked ones, also appeared, joining the hungry alraunes.
"We are predators, beings that delight in eating our enemies. Whether they were alive or dead, matters little to us. We only desire to feast on them, and to consume every bit of them until nothing remains. And that is present in our most preferred style, that you are now seeing."
Just how many plant-type beasts are going to be created? Mei Wu could already see more than ten different plant beasts, all being born, and moving along as well, all while Jiko Ai never stopped smirking.
"We simply love multiplying, you know? It's just so much fun~! So much joy~! So much food for us to eat~! No matter how annoying a prey is, we shall keep multiplying, growing in numbers until we overwhelm them or they somehow manage to escape; No matter how threatening a predator is, even they would lose against hundreds, if not thousands of alraunes and thorny flowers of different ranks and levels, unless they utterly overwhelm us from the start~!"
Mei Wu was honestly flabbergasted. The sheer amount of Qi signatures, linked to Jiko/Kasumi Ai's was truly absurd. Even more so, the explanation, along with the predatory feel she was getting from Jiko Ai truly made her fear for the lives of Xie Xiu and Xie Yao, and even their disciples as well.
At times, one would feel sorry even for his mortal enemy when he notices just how unfair the heavens are being towards them. And this one was a situation Mei Wu felt deserving of such feeling.
"Aa~ah! I'm just so happy~! To think that I would get a chance of unleashing myself this hard on my enemies, my sweet and delectable prey! I almost feel like crying of happiness! Ahahahaha!"
Suddenly, Mei Wu's nose was assaulted by a powerful smell. One that almost made her feel weak and lose all reason, her hand almost instinctually moving to touch her nether regions. Then it stopped just as fast. Somehow, she wasn't consumed by the wave of lust.
Mei Wu took a sharp breath at the sheer overpowering scent, as pheromones and aphrodisiacs spread through the air. The pool of aphrodisiac nectar that was present was activated, and for just a second, her sharp, abnormal qi sense made her imagine as delicate, fragile hands made of pure lust and seduction were embracing, yet somehow trying to drag her into more of them, before she realized that they could not do more than barely touch her body before vanishing as if they never existed.
'The aphrodisiac nectar's antidote!' she almost sighed with relief, looking at the third vine that was doing its work in stopping the effects of the aphrodisiac nectar that would have utterly wiped out her ability to reason and turned her into a lust-filled nymphomaniac in mere seconds, had she not been protected.
"So this is an alraune's aphrodisiac nectar..." she whispered to herself.
"That's right." Jiko Ai looked at her with a smile that became softer, when she saw the pink-haired woman's shocked and still scared expression. "It's strong, isn't it? I believe that Ai told you about how alraunes are upgraded versions of the thorny flower, correct? This is one of the upgrades, made primarily to attract and ensnare the prey with a powerful sensation of lust, for the human-looking beings. It cannot be truly resisted, since its composition changes from time to time, and it almost never cycles to a previous one. That's why she told you to be far away if she ever had to activate it."
Yeah, Mei Wu could understand why. If she had ever fought Ai, and the alraune only used the aphrodisiac and did the bare minimum to protect herself from Mei Wu's attacks, even the Apoptosis Qi would do nothing against the sheer density of the aphrodisiac.
Maybe she could nullify most of the effect with the Apoptosis, but the remaining part that would affect her? That would be disastrous as it is, and if the fight grew longer, then Mei Wu would most definitely be consumed by the lust.
"Thank the heavens for that right?" Mei Wu gave a weak smile at that.
"Yes, we shall thank them for that, indeed." the alraune's eyes widened after she said that, looking at the direction where even from afar, they could notice as some large... creature?- yes, a large creature was visible even from their place, easily taller than the trees.
The feeling of qi was unmistakable.
"The Xie clan. They had finally readied themselves for their last stand..." Mei Wu told herself, as she noticed Jiko Ai's demeanor change, as once more, hunger and lust oozed from the alraune.
She knew that this would probably be the last clash. It almost felt a bit melancholic, in a way, making the human remember the entire conversation she just had, and the promise she had just made.
"Aaa~aahhh~! Finally, I would have some real fun~! It was almost worth the wait~! He, hehe... hehahahaha~!" The alter ego though looked gleeful, as if she had waited for so long for this chance.
Mei Wu, once more, focused on the woman, grim determination on her face.
The Queen Bee had no idea what to think about this development. She really did not.
As she was there, flying, she felt both proud, yet baffled, and a bit terrified of this new change.
It had been a rather enlightening and nervewracking, to say the least. And while she won't admit it to other beings right now, she honestly hated the fact that Kasumi Ai had seemingly been taken over by a split persona, from what her Protector Bee told her. And she couldn't stop the feelings of irritation, disappointment and worry that entered her heart, realizing that it was her decision to give the two women a choice that resulted in Ai nearly dying.
She didn't like it. Not one bit.
Even more so when she didn't decide to stay with Kasumi Ai and Mei Wu when they were fighting inside her hive. That was a huge oversight on her part, and one she would make sure she would not do again. Not with the alraune and the human, who she found herself surprisingly way more furious than expected, when they were in genuine danger.
To say that she felt rather differently about the possibility of their death than she usually felt regarding the death of her bee subordinates would be an understatement. She had never felt that much rage at seeing one under her care so close to death.
Her bees, while their deaths were tragic, were replaceable, cruel and regretful it might be to admit. Kasumi Ai and Mei Wu? The Queen Bee would admit that the feeling of anger in her was way more raw and powerful.
Maybe a part of it is how she knew they would act almost casually with her, as long as things were serious? Or maybe the fact that they were so vastly different in how they acted, unlike her bees, breaking the monotony, and their attitude was amusing? Or prehaps it was because they helped her so much, with the alraune's healing nectar and the two women's methods of cultivation giving her some ideas on how to progress, if she ever evolved that far?
Maybe a combination of all of these, for all the Queen Bee knew.
And as much as she hated thinking about it, she had to think of the future, now that her hive was exposed. It was always going to be discovered, sooner or later, whether it took a few years or hundreds. It was bound to happen. But facing it was a different situation altogether.
With a feeling of reluctance and disappointment, yet a fierce determination as well, the Queen Bee decided; she will talk with the two about her worries after the Xie clan's party is dealt with.
For now though, she would make sure to stay close to these two to protect them. This is the least she could do.
They will not die on her watch right now, even if they didn't need it, with the miniature army of plant beasts moving towards the enemy.
Glendios Hello, everyone! Another chapter had finally been made!
As I said before, in the previous chapter's notes, I had decided to edit chapter 42 of the story, due to a rather huge and rather annoying problem of writer's block, and admittedly, inability to keep a character's original behaviour stick, or write it with the justice it deserves. Thus, the final part of chapter 42 had been edited, to make the characterization in the next chapters feel more natural in return, so check it out again, if you'd like to. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Now, onto the chapter!
"A deal..."
Mei Wu, hearing Jiko Ai, only said skeptically, almost feeling as if she was making a question instead.
Honestly, Mei Wu felt rather odd sensing Jiko Ai's emotions as the alter ego looked at her.
Lust was very much prominent. A rather strong sense of possessiveness that demanded that Mei Wu stays alive as well, there was no doubt of it, but ther was also... love?
Yes, this felt like how Kasumi Ai's Qi felt whenever she was enjoying herself with Mei Wu... minus the occasional perverted humor. And no, Mei Wu would not even try to think of what happened when Ai decided to 'train' her. That definitely was in the lust category as far as she was concerned.
Jiko Ai, despite her amusement by Mei Wu's embarrassment, decided to get to the point. Her sensitive senses noticed as one of the Protector Bees was coming towards them and would reach in maybe a couple minutes or so, and Mei Wu definitely felt the same.
"It's a rather fair deal, I assure you. As much as I'd prefer to just lock her up and monopolize this body, neither you or she would like that, and I really can't let her be locked forever, nor do I want that anyways. Not to mention that I really love you too much to just torment you... well, torment you more than Kasumi Ai did in your 'training' session. I just want to satisfy myself, and for Kasumi Ai to actually work with her instincts, especially at this time. In other words, I want her to work with me, not against me."
Mei Wu pursed her lips at that. The words, they made sense, they really did. That perspective was just so simple and easy to understand, even a child would be able to comprehend it with only little thinking, and for warriors and cultivators, it was basically an almost-absolute fact they worked by.
Everyone wanted a way to satisfy their needs or desires, and with others to work with them instead of against them, most of the time. Though how one defined 'working with others' wasn't always the same, but in general, people desired others to be with them rather than against them, unless they were purposely wanting to be hated or they just didn't give a damn.
In Mei Wu's opinion and what she could understand from the short period they interacted, Jiko Ai desired two things mostly;
The first being her base desires as an alraune which consist of preying on beasts, humans and other races alike, mostly to kill and feed on their corpses, and probably using some as energy batteries.
Secondly, a desire born from the same love that Kasumi Ai had for Mei Wu, which is to interact and to be intimate with the pink-haired woman. Even that desire was seemingly barely stopped from becoming completely uncontrollable and turning into an obsessive craving and lust.
Mei Wu found herself wondering. If Ai kept restraining the Narcissism for even one more week, especially since they weren't allowed to go outside, and that they couldn't also have actual sex... would Jiko Ai's behaviour right now be even as tame as this, or would she truly take control until she was satisfied, or the alraune evolved enough?
"Honestly, she should have tried to convince the Queen Bee to let her exit from another entrance and hunt some animals or beasts. Either that or make you both satisfy each other. Dual cultivation can only do so much for a Predator Rainblossom Alraune's physical cravings." Jiko Ai tsked in annoyance, before shaking her head.
"Anyways... what I want is to be allowed more freedom. Honestly, even she doing the work would be fine, but I'd prefer to actually do some preying and kissing personally, at least. Now that this mess happened, I just don't feel it would be fair if I get to just watch you two kiss and grope each other. Plus, the fact that I would probably be cognizant enough to notice you dual cultivating." she sighed in irritation. "Worst method to cockblock a sweet and nice alraune like me, split personality or not..."
Grumbling at that, and ignoring the split second where Mei Wu choked with a blush at the blatant explanation of how Jiko Ai will basically peep on any romantic or sexual act regarding her lover, the alter ego only shook her head.
"So, here's the deal. I get... one day with you out of two weeks, or maybe a bit more. Honestly, I'd like more, but I can't leave that idiot alone in that sleep forever, so I would need to talk with her about it. You get to watch how awesome your girlfriend truly is when she's not being restrained and with all the accessible powers of an alraune, and probably a 'we survived!' sex with her. At least I'd like to think you'd love that? Nah, of course, you'd love to. Kinky lady, not that I mind."
"Jiko Ai!"
Once more, the alter ego ignored the mortified shriek as she turned around to look at the Protector Bee that had by now reached them, the sound of buzzing loud and clear.
Mei Wu managed to control herself now that the Protector Bee was in plain sight, and its presence was more clear than ever. It was rather difficult, but she did it, and then she focused on the bee that was buzzing loudly, and the human noticed how the Protector Bee was feeling serious and amused at once, as it looked at Jiko Ai, buzzing loudly in what Mei Wu understood as a question.
"Yes, I, and Kasumi Ai are alright. No need for the Queen Bee to worry about that." the alraune answered.
Another round of buzzing.
"Yes, alter egos, split personalities, all that. Don't worry about it, and yes, I promise that I'm not a threat. Look, I will discuss it with her later, or just have Kasumi Ai and our cute lover explain it, okay?"
Mei Wu, despite feeling how Xie Xiu and Xie Yao were ready to fight even from afar, couldn't help but feel like she wasn't taking the situation as seriously as she usually did, watching the alraune and bee argue with each other.
'I feel like I'm supposed not to give a damn at all seeing this...' she thought with a deadpan even as the Apoptosis Qi was always ready.
Suddenly, she found Jiko Ai's face right in front of her, causing her to jump in shock and fright from the surprise.
"Wu-chan; help me use all my powers!" the alter ego all but demanded with a grin.
"H-huh!?" needless to say, the human woman was baffled at that.
The grin on Jiko Ai's face widened even further, and Mei Wu couldn't stop herself from shivering as she felt the desire of a predator rising once more. "You see, now that we, I and Ai have become a gold-ranked alraune, we could use most of our abilities and skills as Thorny Alraunes, though sadly it's still highly draining, usually. Thankfully, alraunes' ability to drain energy makes this almost a non-issue. In other words..."
The hunger and malice started to ooze from the alraune, and Mei Wu was genuinely happy that it wasn't focused on her. This amount would have probably knocked her unconscious had she been the target of it, even if the Apoptosis was targeting Jiko Ai.
"I want to show you just what makes us alraunes and thorny flowers such predators, and it would be so beautiful, in my very humble opinion."
Mei Wu gulped audibly at that, before a resolute expression appeared on her face.
"As long as you keep your promise, I will help you. Even though it's completely pointless since the Queen Bee would probably deal with it..." she mumbled the last part exasperately, before looking at the Protector Bee.
"Please tell the Queen Bee not to attack them for now. I'm sure we are ready for this."
The bee beast only buzzed, clearly unamused, but it did as asked and left to tell the Queen Bee, leaving the two women alone.
"So..." Mei Wu started, "how do we do this?"
"Very simple, really. Just stand on top of my monstrous body, and let me do the rest of the work." giggling, Jiko Ai told her as she had already returned to stand inside the protective petal wall on the top of the giant plant body as well.
The pink-haired woman only sighed and did as told, ignoring the inert aphrodisiac liqued as it splashed and moved, looking at the alraune's face. "So, what now?"
By the heavens, she really hoped it won't be something ridiculous...
"I have to gently stab you with three of my vines to finish the preparations~!"
The heavens were indeed cruel. Though she could theorize what the plan was, with that.
"You mean like you did before to drain and restore my energy, while healing yourself before?" she asked suspiciously, though she prepared herself for the possibility regardless, and only got a nod of confirmation at that.
"Yep!"
Three vines gently pierced her flesh, just above her chest. It stung a bit, but the pain vanished just as quick as it came. Not a second later, Mei Wu felt the sensation of her Qi being drained and refilled endlessly, at a rate that seemed to boggle the mind.
Had the healing nectar not been injected in her body, she would be dead in a minute from how fast the energy drain was. Still, she also had one more question.
"I get that a vine is for healing and restoring my energy, and the other is for draining it... but what is the third one's job?" she could feel it pumping something into her body as well, but she didn't know what.
"An counter to my aphrodisiac."
The blunt and happy response suddenly caused her to freeze, fear showing at her expression. "Wait, you mean...?!"
"Don't worry." Jiko Ai spoke to her, and for the first time, she seemed so serious. "I promised you that I would help you. And before I got control of Ai's body, I promised her that I won't break you. And I plan to keep these promises no matter what."
"You wanted to test the aphrodisiac with or without my help anyways, didn't you?" it wasn't a question, really.
"Yes." the alter ego admitted, before Mei Wu felt it.
Nature Qi started to rise, almost blossoming as the focus of Jiko Ai increased tremendously.
Thick branches started forming, larger and more numerous than any branches Mei Wu noticed her beloved create. From every branch, plants and bulbs seemed to grow, and grow, and continue to do so.
Mei Wu then realized that these weren't just plants or trees, but beasts. Alraunes, to be precise. There were Normal, bronze and silver-ranked ones, each looking rather young, as far as their human bodies looked, as they dropped onto the ground, and without glancing at all, dashed towards where the Xie clan's elder were situated.
And yet, Jiko Ai didn't stop at just that. More started appearing, each looking as hungry as a starving man that suddenly found himself in a feast.
"I see you are interested in what I just did, right? I don't blame you." Jiko Ai only chuckled, and Mei Wu had the impression that the Narcissism was almost praying for a chance to explain her abilities like a story villain.
"You see, Thorny Flowers, and Thorny Alraunes. Ai already told you that they are a 'family', so to speak, and she told and showed you many of their skills. One of them being the Division Propagation skill. I am certain that you must have heard of it, but to reiterate, many plant-type beasts could create inferior clones of themselves, particularly those that are similar to flowers and mushrooms. Normally, for many plant-type beasts, this skill is usually used as a distraction, or maybe a significant power multiplier when fighting an enemy of a rather similar level. But we, the Thorny Flowers and Alraunes, use it in a much terrifying manner."
Even more alraunes were forming, and Mei Wu then realized that this wasn't the end of it, because apparently, thorny flowers of various sizes and levels, though only Bronze-ranked ones, also appeared, joining the hungry alraunes.
"We are predators, beings that delight in eating our enemies. Whether they were alive or dead, matters little to us. We only desire to feast on them, and to consume every bit of them until nothing remains. And that is present in our most preferred style, that you are now seeing."
Just how many plant-type beasts are going to be created? Mei Wu could already see more than ten different plant beasts, all being born, and moving along as well, all while Jiko Ai never stopped smirking.
"We simply love multiplying, you know? It's just so much fun~! So much joy~! So much food for us to eat~! No matter how annoying a prey is, we shall keep multiplying, growing in numbers until we overwhelm them or they somehow manage to escape; No matter how threatening a predator is, even they would lose against hundreds, if not thousands of alraunes and thorny flowers of different ranks and levels, unless they utterly overwhelm us from the start~!"
Mei Wu was honestly flabbergasted. The sheer amount of Qi signatures, linked to Jiko/Kasumi Ai's was truly absurd. Even more so, the explanation, along with the predatory feel she was getting from Jiko Ai truly made her fear for the lives of Xie Xiu and Xie Yao, and even their disciples as well.
At times, one would feel sorry even for his mortal enemy when he notices just how unfair the heavens are being towards them. And this one was a situation Mei Wu felt deserving of such feeling.
"Aa~ah! I'm just so happy~! To think that I would get a chance of unleashing myself this hard on my enemies, my sweet and delectable prey! I almost feel like crying of happiness! Ahahahaha!"
Suddenly, Mei Wu's nose was assaulted by a powerful smell. One that almost made her feel weak and lose all reason, her hand almost instinctually moving to touch her nether regions. Then it stopped just as fast. Somehow, she wasn't consumed by the wave of lust.
Mei Wu took a sharp breath at the sheer overpowering scent, as pheromones and aphrodisiacs spread through the air. The pool of aphrodisiac nectar that was present was activated, and for just a second, her sharp, abnormal qi sense made her imagine as delicate, fragile hands made of pure lust and seduction were embracing, yet somehow trying to drag her into more of them, before she realized that they could not do more than barely touch her body before vanishing as if they never existed.
'The aphrodisiac nectar's antidote!' she almost sighed with relief, looking at the third vine that was doing its work in stopping the effects of the aphrodisiac nectar that would have utterly wiped out her ability to reason and turned her into a lust-filled nymphomaniac in mere seconds, had she not been protected.
"So this is an alraune's aphrodisiac nectar..." she whispered to herself.
"That's right." Jiko Ai looked at her with a smile that became softer, when she saw the pink-haired woman's shocked and still scared expression. "It's strong, isn't it? I believe that Ai told you about how alraunes are upgraded versions of the thorny flower, correct? This is one of the upgrades, made primarily to attract and ensnare the prey with a powerful sensation of lust, for the human-looking beings. It cannot be truly resisted, since its composition changes from time to time, and it almost never cycles to a previous one. That's why she told you to be far away if she ever had to activate it."
Yeah, Mei Wu could understand why. If she had ever fought Ai, and the alraune only used the aphrodisiac and did the bare minimum to protect herself from Mei Wu's attacks, even the Apoptosis Qi would do nothing against the sheer density of the aphrodisiac.
Maybe she could nullify most of the effect with the Apoptosis, but the remaining part that would affect her? That would be disastrous as it is, and if the fight grew longer, then Mei Wu would most definitely be consumed by the lust.
"Thank the heavens for that right?" Mei Wu gave a weak smile at that.
"Yes, we shall thank them for that, indeed." the alraune's eyes widened after she said that, looking at the direction where even from afar, they could notice as some large... creature?- yes, a large creature was visible even from their place, easily taller than the trees.
The feeling of qi was unmistakable.
"The Xie clan. They had finally readied themselves for their last stand..." Mei Wu told herself, as she noticed Jiko Ai's demeanor change, as once more, hunger and lust oozed from the alraune.
She knew that this would probably be the last clash. It almost felt a bit melancholic, in a way, making the human remember the entire conversation she just had, and the promise she had just made.
"Aaa~aahhh~! Finally, I would have some real fun~! It was almost worth the wait~! He, hehe... hehahahaha~!" The alter ego though looked gleeful, as if she had waited for so long for this chance.
Mei Wu, once more, focused on the woman, grim determination on her face.
The Queen Bee had no idea what to think about this development. She really did not.
As she was there, flying, she felt both proud, yet baffled, and a bit terrified of this new change.
It had been a rather enlightening and nervewracking, to say the least. And while she won't admit it to other beings right now, she honestly hated the fact that Kasumi Ai had seemingly been taken over by a split persona, from what her Protector Bee told her. And she couldn't stop the feelings of irritation, disappointment and worry that entered her heart, realizing that it was her decision to give the two women a choice that resulted in Ai nearly dying.
She didn't like it. Not one bit.
Even more so when she didn't decide to stay with Kasumi Ai and Mei Wu when they were fighting inside her hive. That was a huge oversight on her part, and one she would make sure she would not do again. Not with the alraune and the human, who she found herself surprisingly way more furious than expected, when they were in genuine danger.
To say that she felt rather differently about the possibility of their death than she usually felt regarding the death of her bee subordinates would be an understatement. She had never felt that much rage at seeing one under her care so close to death.
Her bees, while their deaths were tragic, were replaceable, cruel and regretful it might be to admit. Kasumi Ai and Mei Wu? The Queen Bee would admit that the feeling of anger in her was way more raw and powerful.
Maybe a part of it is how she knew they would act almost casually with her, as long as things were serious? Or maybe the fact that they were so vastly different in how they acted, unlike her bees, breaking the monotony, and their attitude was amusing? Or prehaps it was because they helped her so much, with the alraune's healing nectar and the two women's methods of cultivation giving her some ideas on how to progress, if she ever evolved that far?
Maybe a combination of all of these, for all the Queen Bee knew.
And as much as she hated thinking about it, she had to think of the future, now that her hive was exposed. It was always going to be discovered, sooner or later, whether it took a few years or hundreds. It was bound to happen. But facing it was a different situation altogether.
With a feeling of reluctance and disappointment, yet a fierce determination as well, the Queen Bee decided; she will talk with the two about her worries after the Xie clan's party is dealt with.
For now though, she would make sure to stay close to these two to protect them. This is the least she could do.
They will not die on her watch right now, even if they didn't need it, with the miniature army of plant beasts moving towards the enemy.
