Walking Disasters and Me

Probably close to half an hour later, Sam and I emerge from the languid lapping of the bath. A fresh, poofy robe back on my person for the second time in two days though I'm far from complaining. Whatever wool or fur they processed to make these things is divine~. Your sacrifice was not in vain, poor creature or plant. My sweat - and other liquid - soaked clothes from earlier bundled tightly in one of my hands.

Sam gives a chuckle as I fluff the collar of the rube into my neck, a pleased hum easily spilling forth from the preening fuzzy sensations before she grabs my free hand and we head further into the estate. "I'll probably go change into something and check on Ios. She's supposed to be seeing if she can cultivate in that new body of hers." I say after a comfortable silence broken by our footfalls.

"Oh? That would be most beneficial for her. I know not where she derives her strength from in that form, but it is already decently powerful. Adding cultivation to her repertoire will only enhance that fact." She replies as she looks towards me with a genuinely curious set to her face.

"Mhm~." My hum replies first before I follow up, "She gets a decent percentage of my system stats, which I should also probably check on when I buy that dual cultivation manual, now that I think about it. Regardless, she should be able to keep up with me fairly well, but testing if her - and eventually her sister - can cultivate is a pretty big deal. Not only since it'll buff her up, but also~..."

I lean over, my lips brushing past her soft, blonde curls as I whisper into her ear, "Her and Jun Li finally started kissing~. She wants to cultivate so they can really start getting physical~. Hehe~."

An obviously fake gasp pulls from her throat in response to my words. "Scandalous~." She says back in her own conspiratorial whisper, "And so soon? Why, I had not thought the impeccable and aloof spirit Ios to be such a womanizer~."

"Right~? Barely has a body for a couple days and already found herself not just in my bed, but now is seeking Jun Li's comfort as well~. What is a maiden to think~?" The back of my hand dramatically flies to my forehead as Sam comfortingly pats my back, our feet plodding along the whole while.

"Truly, a shameful situation~. If we ignore the fact that you have now - repeatedly - bedded four of the now five residents here in the estate, of course~." A cheeky toned reply comes despite the reassuring rubs on my robe.

I falter my steps and look back at her in a much more honest gasp of shock before saying, "Alright, I walked into that one." Both of us laughing with ease before I wrap my arm around hers and bump our shoulders together. "I'm happy for her. She's been holding a flame for Miss J pretty much since I got here. I'm sure she also cares for everyone else, but its so painfully obvious she's smitten for the black-haired beauty. Not that I can blame her."

"Nor can I." Sam says as she rests her head on my now nearer shoulder. "Jun Li is a wonderful woman in a multitude of respects. Whoever dislikes her has something wrong inside of their mind."

I smirk a bit, squeezing her held arm a little tighter as I tease, "Didn't you dislike her at first, miss protective knight?"

A playful scoff as she tucks further into me, "That is true, and I had something wrong in my mind back then, so my statement stands~."

My lips press upon her golden head as I giggle. "Fair enough~. Oh, we're here already?" Both of us come to a halt before the familiar paneling of my door. Sam slips from my grasp after leaning over to deliver a parting kiss. Her hand softly cupping my cheek as she breaks away, relief and peace heavy on her presence.

"So we are~. I shall go collect the others in the garden in, say, an hour or so. I am sure that Gerra will want to make something special - again - for your victory, and it is always a delight to see her scamper about like an unsuspecting cat suddenly splashed with water~. Bring spirit Ios, if you are able." Her devious smile tilts at the proposed idea.

"A bit on the nose, isn't it?" I lightly chuckle back, though she gives me an adorable tilt to her head at the idiom. My heart somersaulting at the cute antic before I wave my hand in the space between us. "I-it's just a saying from back on Earth. I was just meaning you made a very obvious comparison to Gerra and a cat given her species and stuff."

Realization dawns in her clover eyes as she replies back, "Ah! I see. Yes, I suppose that was rather crude. However still applicable~. Well, I shall be off then." Another parting kiss and wave sees her shapely backside trotting away down the hall, its alluring visage disappearing around a corner. Recent memories of my teeth, tongue, and fingers pressing and licking into the flesh there sending my tummy into a tail dive before I can shake the temptress images away.

"Heavens," I mutter as I put a hand to my face, "I'm still so ridiculously horny even after all she and I got up and in to... Maybe... Maybe I'm ready to try being with more than one of them at a time if I'm still this pent up?" Remembering that no secret is safe in this estate, I cough and quickly open up the door to my room and step inside.

The door once more seals shut before I turn around and notice the obvious mediating form of Ios in all her petite glory on my bed~. The mischievous temptation to go and startle her only kept at bay by her serene face set in concentration. Though, she has spooked me a few times while I've been hyper focused... No, I mentally sigh with regret, don't let her bad habits rub off on you. Even if it would be hilarious~.

My head bonks the ceiling as Ios suddenly speaks without opening her eyes, "You talk almost as much in your head as you did at the door, Aims." Small fragments of wood rain down on me as my rear plonks onto the floor in an ungracefu- *Ahem* purposeful fashion. Ios' amused eyes opening as her lips curl in the same.

"Ugh." I bemoan from the ground as I rub my head. "Serves me right, I guess... I'll get you one of these days though, you master troll. Mark my words!!"

"Uh huh. Real intimidating when you're all splayed out with your kitty on display for the whole world to see after making a hole in the roof, sweetheart~." Her taunting voice replies from the bed, confusion wafting within me before I realize I have my legs crooked at 90 degrees. The space between them perfectly facing her almost in invitation. Despite all my newfound confidence and the return of blushing pink libido, it seems my shyness still wins out in the end as I quickly close her front row access to the show.

"Hmph!" I pout out playfully before standing and dusting the wooden fibers off the white robe. "So, how did trying to cultivate go, cheeky woman?"

Ios smirk deepens as she closes her eyes once more, but this time I can feel the ambient Qi littering the room begin to be pulled into her as my eyes widen. After a few moments, the flow stops and she meets my gaze once more, "Pretty well~. I can technically break through to the 1st Rank of the 50-point manual I bought to test with at any time~."

Mobility returns to my stunned limbs as I jump and tackle her onto the bed, rubbing our faces together as I smush down atop her smaller body. "That's awesome, Ios~!! I'm so happy for you!" A delighted peal of laughter at the assault is followed by her own face returning the affection and arms coming to wrap around me.

"Thanks, sweetheart~. Guess now I should figure out more permanent manuals for my paths and really start going at it. And it looks like I wasn't the only one who had a rousing success, huh~?" She pushes me back from our combined nuzzling just enough so that I can take in her proud, relief filled eyes. A warm smile carrying the same torch of emotion as she runs a thumb across my cheek. "I'm so proud of you, Aims."

My heart hiccups at the loving touch, stinging eyes prickling the corners of my vision before I nod against her hand and lower down to kiss her softly. Both of us meshing and folding our lips together in a caring way. That is, until the unshackled pink bonfire still hungry for fuel and purpose begins to spark inside me again. Hands drifting from shoulder and arm to more tempting places as my robe falls away. Stomachs and ribs. Breasts. Thighs and hips.

Moans spilling forth from both of our lips as the feather light touches tantalize the skin and only further spur the flames now being fed by both her and I through our connection. A leg slipped between mine nearly seals the deal, hips grinding together on their own as I gasp out bliss. Head thrown back in paradise before I remember a crucial detail. "W-wait..." I regretfully breathe out, the last dregs of restraint barely keeping my thinking mind together.

Ios pauses, sending a confused look up to me as I tremble for a moment at the self-delaying release. "I-I want to get the dual cultivation manual first, before I do any sexy times again. Well, any more sexy times *Cough*."

She gives a short, sing song clipped laugh before she rakes her fingernails along my rib cage. Heat spilling like lava from their pointed passing. "That's all well and good, but I haven't really started cultivating yet so it wouldn't impact me if you had it or not~. But... if you really want to stop..." She says teasingly as her thumbs edge just to the V of my hips, putting pressure just on the outskirts of my now overflowing core.

My mind blanks as she gives one last tempting circle of my flesh under her fingers with a knowing smirk. Lunging lips meeting her giggling ones as the roar of the pink inferno can no longer be ignored, valiant effort though it was.

The clock chimes a fresh passing of the hour as we both splay together in a pile of limbs, signaling our quick efforts of around thirty minutes of fun. Slick, sex soaked contact along seemingly every point of skin and every nerve of feeling. Ios' heavy breathing from her worn out body as she rests atop me, her head resting in the valley between my breasts. "You sodon't play fair..." I finally mumble out.

The heat of her breath against my sensitive round skin further sparks my core again as she chuckles. "All's fair in love and war, honey~. And besides, you seemed to like it just fine~."

"Duh." I reply as I hug her smaller form tight to my body and kiss the crown of her head. "Sex with you and Akiko is always just... different. Not better, per se, but the soul connection definitely adds a more intense layer to it."

"Mhm~." The now sleepy woman answers back as I begin combing through her blonde hair. "That's one of the perks, for sure~."

I let her lie on me for a few more minutes, the metronome click of the clock passing the time with its measured movements before I rouse her back to waking. "I'm going to get up and take a shower since we just undid all the hard work Sam and I did at the onsen~. After that, I'll look over the changes to the status screen from the tribulation and buy the fancy sex manual and then we gotta meet the others in the garden. Want to join me?"

She perks up instantly, the now suddenly not sleepy face of Ios peering back from between my mountains. "If I ever say no to that question, have Jun Li check me over for my own health."

We laugh our way to the shower, bodies still pressed together in closeness as the steam fills the room and we disperse of the evidence of our latest tryst. It feels beyond amazing to finally have this piece of my life back. A completeness to my being that I didn't realize was so integral to both my mental as well as physical health and happiness.

Something that must be a result of what Sandra said, that I had a... stunted view and relationship to sex. Because now? As horny and degenerate as it makes me sound, I honestly don't think I can live without it again. The freeness and relief that settles on my soul after joining with someone I love is just... no medicine in existence can make me feel as happy and whole as that experience does.

Ios seems content to let my thoughts wander as she helps me bathe, and I her in turn. Cheeky glances cast from both our eyes here and there, a lingering touch that brings out cute giggles from either of our lips as the suds and soap wash away under the steaming stream of water. Soon enough, both of us lounge on the couch in the room - not trusting either of us to stay out of trouble if we go back to the bed - and I pull up the status screen to peruse over.

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"Wow, that's a monstrous jump in the Health and Stamina pools. But only around a 1k increase to everything still stat wise which is kind of lame." I remark offhandedly as we look over the changes. Ios laughs and jabs me softly in the side with one of her elbows.

"Oh yes, how tragic that just your ascension into the 3rd Rank almost added peak level power to your stats for someone of the same level on Mara. Truly, the unjust treatment and crimes are boundless and life is unfair~."

I stick my tongue back in reply to which it is quickly met with a kiss, her lips encompassing the tip of the red muscle as I blush and suck it back in. "Meanie." I huff before dismissing the screen and laying back on the couch.

Ios simply gives a wink and then saddles up to my side, resting her head on my chest as my arm comes around to hold her to me. "Judging by what you're about to buy, you'll likely have points coming out of your ears soon. The perks of Ranking up are mostly going to be relegated to upping your Health and Stamina pools and recovery rates until you break into the 5th Rank. Any free points that come from ascending are just nice little gifts until that point since you're always so wildly ahead of the curve."

"Yeah, I suppose that's true. On both accounts. Already having 3k points back in the bank after two brief *Ahem* sessions is reassuring. Not to mention I want to pick up crafting stuff again soon too." My answer comes in turn as I begin to mull over my next steps. "So, we haven't ever used [4 Leaf Clover] for only one thing before. And the text of the skill isn't clear if I can just... piecemeal out its power. In case it stays active until all four charges are used, do we need anything super beefy that we can hide away in either my soul space or a bag or something?"

Ios leans back up to sitting proper, her hand coming to rest on her chin as she considers my words. "That's... a good point actually. Honestly, there's a ton of things we could load you up with that will greatly help your growth. A couple pills similar to the soul enhancing one for both your body and spirit, the dual cultivation manual obviously, some life saving treasures tied to your soul, a bloodline purification pill. And a lot more, but those are the big ones I can think of off the top of my head. Sadly though, those options are going to be weaker than Peak Divine Rank due to that dual cultivation technique eating up the lion's share of your points."

Strangely or not, I don't find the idea of getting those pills for my body and soul to be nearly as invalidating as I did for the soul pill originally. Something about what I just went through kind of... erasing the notion that my power isn't my own. However, one thing she said still brings a question mark to my mind. "Bloodline purification pill?" I turn back and ask curiously, brows coming to furrow on my face. "Isn't that for people like Akiko or Gerra? Folks who have ancestral bloodlines or gained ones through trials or whatever?"

Ios waggles her hand in the air in a 'yes and no' motion. "Eh, sort of. That is how the vast majority of beast humans receive their bloodlines if they aren't already born with them, yes. But its not exclusive to just them. Humans, demons, and divines can also take on bloodlines that they have affinities with. Everyone - outside of beasts and beast humans - innate bloodlines also reveal themselves after they reach Immortality, but some folks either don't want to wait for the bump in power or don't want to risk gambling on possibly getting a weaker variant that may set them back. Undead, of course, can't get one at all if they didn't already possess one in life."

"Divines? Like angels? Also, undead?!" I gear up for what is apparently another Ios info bomb. It's actually been a while since she threw one at me, but I'm curious to see how long the nostalgia outweighs the mental fatigue.

Ios barks a short laugh to both my words and thoughts before replying, "Well, divines certainly think of themselves as such. Holy saviors that solely hold the power to protect and guide the 'lower masses' and bend them to their beliefs. You're going to absolutely love them with all the religious bull shit you had to deal with on Earth~." I frown a bit at the thought, an almost unnatural spike of anger rousing within me that blips away just as fast as it arrives while Ios continues.

"But no faction is a monolith. There are still some - if extremely few - 'good' demons in the universe, just as there are some actual levelheaded and earnest divines who don't have their head up their ass. Humans, as always, are just a continual mixed bag of greed, empathy, pride, and lust. So, no change there~. Undead are kind of an enigma. Most just want to exist and cultivate, or to continue whatever passions they had when they were alive. Though some do dabble in actively creating more of their kind, either by raising corpses from battlefields or more... direct methods. Generally, though, they're a pretty relaxed bunch."

"Good to know a ghost isn't going to try and steal my soul or something, I guess... Let's just hope it's a long while before I meet any of the - assumedly - feathered fucks as well." Ios gives me a questioning look that I wave off. "Like you said, my experience with that kind of thing is uncharitable, to say the least. Anyway, so I can technically get a bloodline?"

She nods in reply. "Yep~! Although you'd have to either find one in a secret realm, have one given to you by a willing person via ingesting and circulating a drop of their blood, or we could technically buy one from the shop. Just a warning though, it will change a lot of aspects about you. Physically and - if your will isn't strong enough to overcome it - personality wise too. The trade off is the power and skills it gives you. The higher ranking the bloodline, the stronger its boons. As well as its changes."

Right, well that settles that. "No thanks then. I'm sure it would be a wild force multiplier on myself, but I'm perfectly happy with who and how I am. Last thing I want is to grow some dragon tail or fox ears or something. At least, not ones I can't get rid of when I want like you, miss shapeshifter~."

A wink is sent my way as a familiar succubus like tail comes to tickle my nose before disappearing once more from my rosy cheeks. Ios chuckles before she responds back, "Just wanted to lay out your options and tell you the truth of what it entailed since you asked, sweetheart~. I figured that'd be your answer anyway, and for what its worth I agree with you. Unless you come across something that just downright speaks to your soul, adding in a bloodline is a bit too much of a gamble for your current growth rate. So! Want to look at some lifesaving treasures then?"

And we do for some few minutes. A talisman that activates on a certain Health threshold that will teleport me back to a safe location. One that also looks for the same trigger but makes me invulnerable to damage for an hour, and one that makes a shield erupt around me that also is indestructible below a certain Rank of power. Other's are more... aggressive in nature, harkening back to that age old motto 'a best defense is a good offense'. Ones that would make my heat seeking missile look like a child's toy or summon an ancient and powerful spirit to lay low any who are threatening me.

Sadly, even with Luck triggering on them, the spare items are going to end up at only Peak Transcendent Rank. As well as pretty much emptying out my point wallet like Ios was saying. But, as she reminds me, that's still godly levels of power for Mara. In the end, we queue up the items to be bought as we look over their upgraded versions:

[Venerable Sapphic Embrace of the Divine Maiden (Peak Empyrean Rank)]: One of the most powerful dual cultivation techniques for female-to-female relations in all existence. Any females who lay with the holder of this technique will instantly and perfectly harmonize their Yin Yang balance according to attributes, perfect foundations and flow models, skyrocket understandings and comprehensions, and have any impurities of the body, spirit, and soul painlessly disintegrated. The holder also receives these benefits with the addition of slightly increasing their natural beauty in the eyes of members of the same sex after each joining. This effect can be described as +0.1 CHA per session towards members of the same gender.

This technique can only be performed and benefited from by females. At the holders wish, any male, entity, or creature with a penis who attempts to court or mate with the holder of this technique will instantly and agonizingly have their soul ripped from their body and destroyed. The essence of their lost soul will be transformed into usable Qi and knowledge for the holder of this technique to advance their understandings and power. This effect will only occur to beings that are one major Realm above the holder or lower in any cultivation path. Beings higher than this threshold will receive massive backlash to their soul instead. This technique, along with any of its lineage, will always be soulbonded to the purchaser through any and all lifetimes provided the soul is not destroyed.

[Immaculate Shell of Meteoric Strength (Peak Transcendent Rank)]: This pill was crafted by alchemists of the highest order, forged in a cauldron of iron clad might that could withstand a planetary impact. This strength is reflected in its effects. When ingested, the recipient becomes incredibly attuned with their body and dantian, strengthening both to astounding levels of power and lowering the effort of advancing understandings and sculpting your body. This effect greatly aides any level of cultivation, from mortal to Immortal. The sooner it is ingested, the more the benefits will compound.

[Pristine Well of the Infallible Spirit (Peak Transcendent Rank)]: This pill blossomed to life under the careful attentions of serene masters, taking shape in a cauldron blessed by every aspect of their being. When ingested, the recipient becomes one with their flow model, skyrocketing understanding of how their meridians, channels, soul, and dantian come together to create harmony. It will vastly increase advancement and comprehension of the spiritual path, greatly aiding any levels of cultivation from mortal to Immortal. The sooner it is ingested, the more the benefits will compound.

[Unbreakable Talisman of Stalwart Protection (Peak Transcendent Rank)]: This soulbonded talisman will self-activate upon the holder's health reaching dangerous levels. When activated, a large 20 ft radius golden dome will erupt around the holder shielding any inside from outside effects, abilities, techniques, or attacks that are peak 6th Ranked or lower. Its activation will also push away any enemies and shield any allies inside the doom. This dome will move with the holder and stay active for one hour. Can also be manually activated.

"Alright~." I say as I crack my knuckles, eyes brimming with barely subdued excitement at what I'm about to do. "Let's do this~. [4 Leaf Clover]!"