Asterios sighed as he lay on the ground under the weight of a beautiful Dryad lady who reclined on his chest while passed out. He gazed upon the artificial sun bathing them and his gorgeous mentor with warm light, who rested by the pair on her side, a cordial smile adorning her elegant lips. Both ladies were spiritually glowing with his essence, recovered from their exhaustion induced by the multiple rituals to strengthen him.

“We should be getting back. Silvia is a very understanding woman but it’s rude making a princess wait. Especially when she has to be excited about her advancement,” he said, stroking Tia’s smooth backside.

“Empress, you meant.” Althea let out a gentle chuckle, making him snort quietly. “Stop pretending and get up. We both know this was nowhere near enough to knock you out. Not in this place, at least.”

The person in question scrunched her adorable nose and grumbled something under her breath. Her eyelids lifted as she stretched, rubbing her entire front all over Asterios. A proud smirk decorated her petite lips as she gazed up at him sweetly.

“I’ll concede this time, my dear friend,” she replied in defeat. “But that’s going to change once I get my body back. I will require cuddles and snuggles after a good loving session or else I might fall into eternal slumber and take root.”

“The only root you are willing to take belongs to Asterios,” the Dragon lady countered, making the flower girl giggle.

Althea rose to her feet and dragged the mischievous female up too. They helped Asterios do the same and stood together, admiring the charming scenery and each other’s pleasant forms.

Tia leaned into his chest and placed a tiny peck on his cheek. “Thank you for tending to me again even though you were supposed to quickly supply Althea with your essence.”

“It’s only natural.” Asterios nodded.

His mentor stole his lips directly, gazing into his ferocious eyes with gratitude. “Yes. Thank you for your attention. I’ll be able to rejoin our companions on the outside right away now. And Tia won’t complain about getting bored for the upcoming hours as she will be busy properly assimilating all of your strength.”

“The rituals made me feel a little bit pent up so I should be the one thanking you two for being there to let me manage it.” He caressed their waists while holding onto both of his stunning mates. “My mind feels sharper now and we will need to be at the peak of our performance when we infiltrate the fortress.”

“For a True Dragon that is supposed to be greedy and egoistic, you seem to gain a lot of benefits by sharing your power with your lovers.” Tia traced the outline of his chin with her finger. “Can’t help but feel like your ancestors strayed from the correct path at some point in their past.”

“That is an ancient history not many know about,” Althea commented thoughtfully. “Save maybe for the progenitors.”

“Keep this question in mind until we catch up with my dad.” Asterios chuckled, offering them one more kiss each. “We have other things to focus on in the meantime. I’ll visit you later, Tia.”

“I’ll be patiently waiting for the next time you choose to embrace, my master.” The Dryad stepped back and bowed courteously. “Take good care of my precious sister-mate for me. Only you can bring the truest wishes of her heart out of its tranquil depths.”

Althea’s cheeks gained a rosy shade as she lightly glared at the tree girl. He smiled knowingly, pulled his mentor into his arms, and kissed her deeply as they disappeared from his inner world. Tia let herself drop onto the soft rug of leaves with an affectionate grin, her palm rubbing circles over her full tummy as she basked in the sunlight brought to her doorstep generously by her beloved Dragon.

※ ※ ※

When Asterios and Althea opened their eyes back in the cluster chamber, they froze.

It was all black, but not the shrouded-in-darkness black like usual after they turned the power off.

Almost every bit of visible white surface had been charred so hard it resembled coal. Or it was coal.

Every wall was highly deformed. Numerous ridges and holes filled them with irregular patterns. But, no matter how much damage they could spot around them, one thing was clear. It was all done with utmost precision and control, having in mind the structural integrity of the underground facility. The white mineral had been shaved or melted off in just as big an amount as it was allowed without putting the inhabitants of the rooms at risk.

The cause of all that interior redecoration floated ahead of them in the center of the chamber. Silvia noticed their arrival and moved closer, gliding over the floor and melting a small trail underneath her feet, which now had a more detailed definition. Just like all of her body.

Her amber flaming figure stopped before Asterios and Althea and they took a moment to once more examine the differences they had spotted back in his Ancestral Realm. Previously, Silvia’s avatar showed only her glowing eyes as brighter open slits. Now, she had a cute nose, full lips, sharpened ears, full breasts topped with darker nipples, and a delicate line at the apex of her thighs, clearly hiding her newly displayed femininity. Her hair had become even more unruly, burning fiercely behind her back.

But, all in all, Silvia’s new form was just… more like Silvia rather than a bland mannequin.

“Welcome back, Ast.” She greeted him with a regal smile, her lips moving accordingly, a flash of glowing amber tongue slipping past them.

“That looks like an upgrade. Is it an upgrade?” He raised a curious brow at her, stepping closer.

She slowly floated into his personal space, stopping just before their noses touched. He could feel her radiate heat but it seemed only inviting to him. So inviting that he subconsciously reached out and brushed his palm over her stomach until it cupped her full breast. The corner of her lips quirked up in a knowing smirk and she pressed her hot mouth into his for the briefest moment.

“Considering the thoughts currently occupying my mind as I experience your touch, it definitely is.” Silvia released a soft breath into his face. “I think I’m closer to my ancestor now.”

“It would appear so,” Althea said with a studious look in her emerald eyes. “You certainly are capable of forming a union with a prospective mate after the change.”

“It might be a bit hard fighting by your side on the battlefield.” Asterios chuckled amusedly, his gaze wandering south.

The fiery princess twirled around and a rolling flame flowed down her figure. A dress made of the same spiritual energy appeared on her amber form. It resembled those from Selene’s culture, a sleeveless top with a high collar and rectangular segment extending to the ground at the front and back, leaving her lean thighs and hips partially exposed from the sides.

“I’ll come up with something as we go. For now, this feels the most appropriate.” She returned to stand in front of him.

Asterios reached to touch the material and it appeared solid in a different manner than most spiritual manifestations. This was as sophisticated and powerful as his own draconic attire, perhaps even more imbued with fire than he had ever tried to achieve. He had no doubt she could freely change the texture, color, and other aspects if only she wanted. But, keeping it close to the shade of her breathtaking avatar was a great choice.

“I take it your looks aren’t the only thing that changed?” He glanced around at the burnt marks.

“Didn’t you mean to say got better?” She cordially brushed his cheek.

“That would imply that you weren’t already an unrivaled beauty and we both know there’s not a single thing that needs improvement in that regard,” Asterios answered, his honesty felt by both ladies clear as a day.

Silvia dismissed her flames and her feet touched the ground, her form back to the human woman dressed in black they remembered. A tiny splash of rosiness adorned her cheeks from the sincere compliment.

“I can’t wait to show you the strength I gained through your generosity,” she replied to his earlier question. “I keep receiving so much from you and the others since the day we met and you took me under your wing.”

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Abyss made herself apparent next to them, causing everyone to flinch. “You are quickly approaching the realm of a Primordial Spirit. The bond with a True Dragon is bringing you past the limits of your human half. Extremely fascinating.”

The princess turned to her with a hesitant expression. “Does that mean… I will permanently become like that one day?”

She kept sneaking glances at Asterios and he could tell what she was worrying about. It wasn’t an unfounded worry considering the fact that she seemed to be in possession of real organs now.

“It won’t change how beautiful you are or how much I love you.” He embraced her from behind and pressed a kiss to her temple.

“I can’t guarantee anything but it doesn’t look like you are losing your humanity the stronger you become,” the dark-skinned lady said without any emotion. “If you will allow me, I shall continue to study your progress and offer as much guidance as I can.”

“I would be grateful.” Silvia curtsied politely.

“We would be grateful.” Asterios made a small bow too.

They shared a smile before separating.

“Umbra, how is the situation outside?” He turned to his shadowy butler.

“Peaceful from what it sounds like. The quakes ceased a little while ago. Your mates didn’t report any distress,” the Lord of Shadows explained.

“Let’s meet up with them, then.” Asterios nodded appreciatively. “We have all the energy we need for the key. It’s time to solve this puzzle.”

Everyone agreed and he surrounded the two ladies with his shadows, bringing them with him as he rushed for the exit. They moved through the corridors without an issue and ascended the carved tunnel until they reached the surface. Asterios paused abruptly after shooting out of it, a bit surprised that it ended sooner than he remembered. As he and the women emerged from the shadows, they understood why.

The entrance to the hole Abyss had made was now located at the bottom of a massive crater. A smoothly carved pit surrounded them, its depth highly impressive, rivaling that of a sizable hill or a small mountain. Confused a bit, he transferred himself to the upper edge, Althea and Silvia joining him.

As they lay their eyes on the land ahead, they all blinked slowly.

“What the hell happened here while we were gone?” Asterios frowned deeply.

If he were to describe what he saw with one word, it would be mayhem.

There was almost no trace of the bone pyramids they remembered as all the nearby terrain had been violently terraformed. Deep craters, trenches, cuts, marks, slashes, carved-out ridges, torn fragments, and generally utterly destroyed landscape spanned before them. It was no war that had taken place here but complete devastation. He had a hard time imagining what kind of an entity was capable of turning over so much ground in a matter of minutes.

“Where are all the skeletons?” Asterios wondered out loud.

“Gone. Reduced to dust.” Umbra glanced around by his side.

“And the guy you mentioned?” he asked.

“I can’t sense him anymore,” his subordinate replied. “He either fled… or perished during whatever took place on the surface. This is a Titan-level scope of destruction. Almost a second descent of Kaguya.”

Movement caught their attention and everyone watched a big white fox covered in cyan spiritual armor run towards them through the sky. On its back sat a certain cheerful panthergirl with another person slung over her shoulder. As they arrived closer, that person turned out to be a completely limp Tina. They came to a stop in front of the group and Miria jumped down, Selene shifting back right after, the two of them appearing side by side with wide smiles.

“You are back, Master.” His feline lover gazed upon him with as much affection as always.

Ast’s eyes were locked on the azure-haired lady, all of them showing wear and tear associated with difficult battles, but her attire appearing the most ripped and shredded all over. As he was opening his mouth to speak, Miria put Tina down, who groaned weakly and stumbled as she turned to face him. With an unsteady step, she thrust herself into his chest, caught in his arms.

Tina’s fingers grasped his collar and roughly pulled him down into an aggressive kiss, sealing their lips for a long and fervent moment.

“Deal with it for now.” His usually timid Summoner girlfriend drew back only because she needed air. “I’ll be back to my usual self in a little while.”

She didn’t wait for his response, going right back to kissing him with deep passion.

“Gods, I love the feeling of your lips against mine.” Tina sighed dreamily, pausing her pursuit briefly. “I so wish you would put them elsewhere right now.”

Asterios stared at her with disbelief, letting the very enthusiastic girl keep nibbling on his mouth, and looked over her shoulder at his two other mates.

“Who broke Tina’s filter?” he inquired.

Miria and Selene exchanged glances, then pointed fingers at each other at the same time.

Snorting to himself, he shook his head.

The duo shared their memories with him and the others, showcasing their attempt at diversion and all the collateral damage that followed. Over half of it was courtesy of the short human girl currently acting quite amorous and definitely much bolder than her everyday self. It was hard to call it a diversion anymore.

A slight tug brought Ast’s attention to his needy mate.

“Uppies.” Tina raised her arms into the air and stared into his eyes pleadingly while he stared back, utterly dumbfounded. “Piggyback.”

Still in complete disbelief, he turned around and she actually climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms and legs around him as he supported her soft thighs with his hands. She sighed delightedly and rubbed her warm cheek into his.

“Are you proud of me?” Tina asked quietly.

“Yes. Yes, I am,” Asterios replied without a second thought. “You are fantastic.”

She hummed softly. “My heart does a tiny flip every time you compliment me. I don’t think it’s good for its health.”

That was way too much and he finally burst out laughing, letting heartfelt chuckles consume him. Tina didn’t mind. She didn’t seem to care about anything right now. Other than being brutally honest and snuggling with him. The other women joined in with amused grins and smirks while Miria and Selene blushed guiltily.

“Alright. I don’t mind humoring my sweet little mate for as long as she wants me to, but we should move to the sky castle,” Asterios said, meeting his team’s gazes. “I think there are some leftover assailants still trying their luck with the structure.”

“I’ll take care of them,” Silvia offered and stepped past him, tapping his shoulder lightly.

She lit ablaze and turned into her primordial state. A blast of heat hit the ground with enough energy to melt a small circle underneath her into a puddle and she launched into the air like an arrow, leaving a wide flaming trail behind her figure. Her frame grew smaller and smaller as she flew towards the white fortress and the ongoing siege.

A few seconds later, she was gone from their sight, at least as long as no one enhanced their vision. Then, a small orange flare blinked in the dark sky and a humongous ball of amber fire exploded into existence. It expanded in a flash, completely covering the whole structure and a good part of the sealed firmament for the briefest moment. Achieving its purpose, it simmered out with a rolling wave.

The group on the ground watched the display with astonishment. Miria’s and Selene’s jaws hung open in awe. Even Tina chanced a peek, her eyes wide, a smile full of wonder creeping onto her pretty lips. Charred and smoldering corpses fell all around them with trails of gray smoke, bursting into ash as they struck the devastated land.

The perpetrator of the recent massacre flew back to them soon after, navigating around the crispy rain. Pausing to hover in front of everyone, Silvia grinned excitedly.

“I made sure not to touch the structure,” the flaming princess reported. “We should be safe to enter now.”

She met Tina’s gaze and an unspoken respect passed between the two ladies. There was no jealousy, just pure joy at seeing each other grow without leaving either behind. Then, they looked at Asterios, waiting for his next command.

Shaking his head, he brought out his draconic wings. “Regroup in front of the entrance. We’ll take a rest there to tend to the wounded.”

Without waiting for a response, he made a powerful flap and surged upwards. Taking a peek over his shoulder to make sure his additional appendages didn’t inconvenience his passenger, he soared towards the suspended fortress. The ladies were right behind him, following through their own means. They reached their destination in no time, gathering before the round gate.

Bringing out their supplies, they spent a while looking after each other. Tina finally released Asterios from her clutches, and with one final kiss, she took a step back, her face quickly beginning to flush as her demeanor returned to normal. Offering a quiet thank you to her beloved, she skipped away to rejoin Silvia and chat with the princess.

Althea went after her while he cared for Miria and Selene. They weren’t exactly hurt, but he helped them recover both physically and spiritually. The process was rather enjoyable as it involved a lot of tail fluffing and affectionate kissing. He praised his beastfolk mates for their performance in their spar with Tina, aware of the amazing use they made of the abilities they could draw from him. Especially the clever panthergirl.

Back at full strength and prepared to tackle whatever challenges the weird amalgamation of cubes was going to throw at them, they walked up to the circular gate.

Asterios brought out the key, which was now full if they considered the broken pieces replaced by the golden glow, and pressed it into the niche. He observed the rings as they lit up in a set sequence, and this time, they seemed to all go through their activation without a spiritual blast. With the noise of scraping stone, the gate shuddered, revealing spiraling cuts going towards its middle, which then retreated into its edges, opening up a path.

A circular white corridor awaited them, its surface covered with shimmering golden paths like in all the previous facilities. Only the shape was any different at first sight.

“Everything was cubes and rectangles before, why suddenly switch to tubes?” Miria tilted her head confusedly.

“You don’t try to understand insane people,” Abyss commented from the side.

“Professor would have agreed with that,” Tina added, evoking a few chuckles from the group.

“Be on your guard, everyone. I assume this place will have even stronger and more devious defenses,” Asterios warned them.

“Unless the token deactivated them all,” Selene said with a smirk.

“Only one way to check,” Althea stated.

They all nodded and crossed the doorstep.

One way or another, the seal was going down tonight.