Walking Disasters and Me

You have purchased [Heavenly Maiden's Supreme Sapphic Harmony Balancing Technique (Peak Divine Rank)] for 175,000 Points! Luck has activated! This purchase has been upgraded to [Venerable Sapphic Embrace of the Divine Maiden (Peak Empyrean Rank)] for no additional charge!

You have purchased [Spotless Body Refinement Pill (Peak Heaven Rank)] for 5,000 Points! Luck has activated! This purchase has been upgraded to [Immaculate Shell of Meteoric Strength (Peak Transcendent Rank)] for no additional charge!

You have purchased [Perfected Spirit Attunement Pill (Peak Heaven Rank)] for 5,000 Points! Luck has activated! This purchase has been upgraded to [Pristine Well of the Infallible Spirit (Peak Transcendent Rank)] for no additional charge!

You have purchased [Savior's Domed Grace Talisman (Peak Heaven Rank)] for 5,000 Points! Luck has activated! This purchase has been upgraded to [Unbreakable Talisman of Stalwart Protection (Peak Transcendent Rank)] for no additional charge!

Remaining Shop Points: 55,050

[4 Leaf Clover lvl 9 (MAX), Ready to Evolve] cooldown: 96 hours

The pills, thankfully, get directly thrown into my soul space along with the technique and the talisman. I quickly close my eyes and disperse their energy throughout my being using Qi, and almost instantly breakthrough to the next minor Realms in both paths. A soft yet audible thrum of power from my ascension later, and all of their essence has been distributed to their respective locations.

Just as a test to see the new - and likely ridiculous - speed which I'm going to be cultivating now, I focus on the silver moon in my flow model. Its burgeoning power waiting to be released, though I bring my attention more towards what this Rank entails. Widening the dantian.

With calm and almost seamless effort, I begin imagining the moon expanding. Shifting the channels and tributaries of the spirit network to accommodate the theoretical new size. As I remain focused, soul avatar's eyes closed in effort, I shift my secondary spirit sense to overlook the flow model and begin willing the changes I'm envisioning to take shape. Strangely, this still hurts quite a lot. Almost to the point that it breaks me out of my concentration.

Every inch gained by the slowly expanding crust of the moon coinciding with a painful, stabbing sensation in a ring underneath my tummy. But, I grit my teeth until the pain becomes too unbearable for the moment, both fields of vision returning to singular as my avatar gasps out in a groan. What I see though is already incredible, and arguably worth the pain.

The moon, once the smallest feature in the flow model overall, now seems to have gained almost a third more mass. The wells of its storage potential increasing by the same amount as well, or at least that is what I feel intrinsically. Although I haven't really found what that upper limit was to begin with yet since all of my skills and techniques basically just use Qi that I've transmuted instantly. Aside from [Aegis of the Void].

A quick check to the status screen confirms my hard work. 3rd Realm of the 3rd Rank in body, 2nd Realm of the 3rd in spirit, and peak 3rd for soul. I suppose that'll have to do for... like 5 minutes of work... Heavens, I am a monster...

I open my real eyes back up to see Ios eagerly awaiting my return to reality. Sure smile gracing her face framed in golden, curly curtains as the same certainty dances in her eyes. "Seems like everything got attached to your soul no problem~. Good thing you already took that Divine Ranked pill to help accommodate stuff like this. Congrats and getting halfway through your body path too, you absolute beast~."

A laugh escapes me as I can't help but agree. "Guess I can't deny that anymore. Ready to go see the girls and share the good news?"

Ios smirk deepens as she stands, my own form following suit shortly after. Both of us getting dressed again with me in the bath robe and her in a similarly simple robe. "I don't think you're going to escape that garden in one piece once they hear you explain what you just bought~. Though it will never not be funny to see their mouths all hanging open in shock, hehe~."

"I mean... They wouldn't like, jump me right after learning about the dual cultivation technique, right?" I cautiously ask as we exit the room, the joy of sharing some amazing news now taking a tone of trepidation as I feel a worried bead of sweat form on my brow.

"Who's to say~." Ios chimes back unhelpfully, sending me a coy wink as we walk together through the hall. "The original one I picked out for you was already beyond overpowered. Something that people would fight wars over just to lay their hands on. Or to get their hands on you, for that matter. The upgraded one though? That's a whole 'nother ballpark, Aims~. We honestly will have to be super careful about not spreading that news around until if we want to avoid a globe spanning war or something."

The rising tension begins to spark pink as well as blue at the thought of what may be about to transpire, a knot of the combined color gulping down my throat with effort. Though the idea sticks with me, and I find that the only thing it stirs is the growing pink of my heating core. Regardless, I keep up the playful act as I reply, "Gee, thanks for saying something now, Ios." Ios only giggles in reply as I sigh, looking up towards the ceiling for a moment before just... accepting it. Including accepting that the thought of all of us together sounds... fun~.

"Well, I suppose it was going to be a hassle anyway we approached it. At least now we're going to be getting the maximum benefit for the trouble." I respond back after a couple moments of silence.

"That's the spirit~!" Ios jokes as she bumps into my arm, a smile coming back to both our faces as we cross the last intersection leading to the gardens. A quadruplet of voices already audible from the sunlight ebbing through the open doors carried on the sweet, fresh mountain air. Their conversations mixed and overlapping, but comforting all the same. Even if Ios' taunts spark a bit of hesitation in me now. Despite the growing allure of the so far still theoretical situation, I don't know if my poor heart can handle getting tossed around to test out the new sexy dual technique's efficacy so soon!!

Ios stifles a laugh from my side as we wait just out of sight to the open courtyard. In my head, she calmly gives some reassuring words while she squeezes my hand. 'I was just messing with you, sweetheart. I'm sure they'll be surprised, and I wouldn't doubt that Akiko may have a pretty big spike of lust after hearing the upgraded description, but we both know they're not sex crazed hooligans. They'll respect it if you aren't ready to be cuddle piled into sharing the benefits of the technique right off the bat. Otherwise, we wouldn't love them, right?'

R-right, I nervously answer back internally. Even though the tantalizing thought still remains and settles further into me. I sigh before grasping her smaller hand in mine again and cross us through the fading refuge of the estate's walls. My entrance being announced by a whip of wind that jostles my long, crimson strands. A hand coming to pin some of the rebellious locks to my face as my teal eyes overlook the scene before us.

Gerra lays with her head in the lap of Jun Li who appears to be making her a flower crown out of the abundant assortment available to her here. Both of their faces peaceful, though the catkin looks to be a hairs breath away from falling into a slumber. I'm sure sunbathing on such a comfy pillow while being pampered is likely a single step below heaven for her~.

Sam and Akiko are resting on the bench underneath the cherry blossom tree, white snowy tails lounging on their laps and wrapped around the blacksmith as cushions as they quietly talk to themselves. A pristine, almost radiant relief on not just Samantha's features, but Akiko's as well. A peaceful scene that does wonders to smooth the fraying knots of imagined worry in my mind. At least, until all of them shift their vision towards me in unison, which is slightly unsettling.

"Ah, welcome my love~." Akiko says from her seated position, waving me over to her as Sam and the kitsune make space on the bench. Jun Li leans down to kiss Gerra's forehead before helping the both of them to standing and making their way over as well. All of us grouped up as I plop between the two women at the bench, a couple soft tails coming to deliver my own pampering as Akiko resumes. Ios standing by Jun Li and Gerra.

"Dear Samantha was so eager to gather us, although she has yet to divulge the reason. Even after some... intensive interrogation techniques~. Though I do likely know the reasoning for it given the relationship between you and I." A tail tip flutters between me and Sam, her emerald eyes widening as she quickly covers her armpits and ribs as best she can and scooting away from the suddenly dangerous appendage.

"M-Mistress, p-please! It is Amelia's news to share, continued punishment in this way is unbecoming!!" I blink a couple times before turning back to the playful smirk of Akiko, only the barest hint of teasing cruelty on her lips as she fills me in on... whatever is happening right now.

"Samantha is quite ticklish, even at her Rank. And makes the most lovely and cute sounds when the act is performed on her~. Alas, this time it has only yielded the fruit of her delightful peals of laughter and teary eyes and not the sought for clarifying information~."

A crips laugh pulls from my chest, memories of me and Sandy teasing and playing with each other the same way not too long ago. A familiarity that only further reinforces this group as family to my mind. And the notion that the outwardly stoic yet soft and loveable Sam also has this side to her too is just a cherry on top of everything~.

I lean over and give her a kiss on the cheek, smirking a bit myself as I cheekily say to her, "Well, thank you for suffering so much for my sake, Sam~. I'll make it up to you and definitely won't take advantage of this new and exciting information in the future~."

She gives a huff as she turns her face away from us. Rosy red cheeks burning bright as she replies, "Hmph. What happened to the meek and cute Amelia? What have you done with her, huh?"

Laughter softly claims the space from all of us, even Sam as she eventually returns to face the group with a smile of her own. Eventually, we compose ourselves and I look to each of them in turn, settling on Akiko. "I appreciate the presentation, but don't you guys already know what Sam brought y'all together here for? With your mega hearing senses and stuff?"

The white hair shakes along with her head in the negative. "While it is true that some eavesdropping is always going to be unavoidable, we have all been continually trying to restrain our attention from prying. Unless it is an outburst or something dangerous or concerning, we have been making our best attempt to give you some sense of privacy until you tell us otherwise. Especially since you frequently forget to use the privacy enchantment in your lodgings~."

Oh shit... I kind of forgot about that little feature... However, the idea that they're all doing what they can to make me feel at ease makes a small stinging sensation come to the corner of my eyes. The love and warmth from Akiko as she smiles down to me, and of the others as I look back to them again, only amplifying the feeling.

"T-thanks." I finally say after wiping the corner with the poofy bath robe. "Although honestly, I don't really mind it if you guys overhear what I say now. I feel like I've... mostly moved past the cultural worry that was hanging me up when I first came here, if that makes sense."

All of them gain a slightly brighter shine to their faces as they nod in agreement, Akiko giving me a quick hug and kiss atop the crown of my head. One of her free tails wagging ferociously, same as all three of Jun Li's. "I am beyond overjoyed to hear that, my love~. Thank you, for trusting us so."

I can't help but give a short, amused huff as I reply back, "I mean, I've had sex with almost everyone here by this point. Sorry Gerra~. So it'd kind of be silly if I didn't trust you all." I flick my eyes to see the little joke land perfectly on the pink haired woman as she gapes open her mouth and then crosses her arms in a pout. Her feline tail whipping the air in frustration. Don't worry kitty cat~. You're next~. Hehe~.

I reach over and pat her head, her person the only one that elected to sit in front of the bench instead of stand. "The news Sam so bravely guarded will help that matter, though~. I just wanted to tease you a little~."

Gerra harumphs again, the arms across her chest pulling tighter though she makes no move to stop me from administering head pats. Even her tail now softly waves behind her in enjoyment~. Her pink eyes peer up to mine as she answers back in - mostly - fake annoyance. "Well, don't keep us in suspense then little bird. Must be some downright blessed words after that little poke you just gave me."

"It is~." I answer confidently before addressing the group as a whole. "So the first piece of news. With Sam and Sandra's help, I was able to destroy the heart demon that was causing me intimacy issues." As the only two not in the loop eye's widen, I look over towards the smith and grab her hand, sincere eyes meeting hers as I squeeze it gently. "I literally couldn't have done it without either of them." She smiles softly back to me as I face Jun Li and the others once more. "Without any of you, really. Your love and support made my recovery possible, something that I am immensely grateful for and am eager to return."

Jun Li and Gerra vault from their positions to wrap me in a hug, various cheers and praises of success and relief spilling from their lips as I get smushed between their chests. Bliss~. Akiko chuckles from the side along with Ios who leans up against the pink leafed tree with her own smirk, Sam content to watch the spectacle from her spot with the still vibrant smile.

Eventually, they release me from my pillowy prison. At least, partially. The seating arrangement now consisting of me somehow sitting in both Jun Li and Gerra's laps as their tails intertwine and wrap around me in joyous undulations. A certain clinginess - especially from Jun Li - at the exclamation of my regained mental health and what that entails.

"Glad I'm not the only one who's excited by that news~." I lightly joke as I lean back into their shared embrace, both of them nuzzling their heads against mind and purring loudly. My ribcage rumbles from their audible affection as I steer the ship named conversation back into port.

"As part of that, and since we found out about my Yin Yang imbalance issues, I uhm... bought that dual cultivation technique which should be a huge help. Not just for me and my balance, but all of us. Pretty extremely too, even more so than Ios explained to us in the onsen." Jun Li stills for a moment as Gerra does the same. Even Akiko seems a bit taken a back, though that is probably because she knows how crazy the system can get with me.

Their combined stares bore into me, droplets of nervous worry beading at my brow as I cough. "I'll uh... I'll just read out what the version I got says." And hope that I don't become a withered husk of drained euphoric pleasure directly afterwards, I think to myself. Though there are certainly worse ways to go~.

It takes almost a full minute of verbatim reading, Ios even kindly displaying the text in hovering holographic form from her wrist like before so they all can read along with me. And, as Ios predicted, all four of their mouths are wide and hanging like a turkey looking up at a rainstorm. Though the rainstorm in this case is the absolutely broken ass technique I just informed them is now bonded to my soul.

Akiko seems to be the first to shake off the mental stun, her head creaking over to face me in the still astonished grips of Gerra and Jun Li. "L-love. This... This is more than just a powerful dual cultivation technique. This is a fate changing, realm scorning ability. You would make even the most middling of cultivators a powerhouse should you choose to lay with them. Once. To say nothing of the untold amount of death to the opposite gender should you choose to activate the second portion of that technique."

"Y-yeah..." I awkwardly reply back, leaning back a bit into the protective bosom of Jun Li as Akiko's near manic gaze stays lasered at me. "To be honest, I don't ever really plan on using that second part, but we need the benefits this gives. This way, for sure, none of us are going to fall behind or be in danger while on Mara."

Akiko seems unconvinced, or at least unwilling to leave the matter to rest. "Amelia, my love, I know your reasoning behind procuring this. And I was wholly for you getting the version that spirit Ios showed us in the onsen. But I fear this may be beyond the pale. It would make you, and us by extension, gods upon Mara. Without doubt.

But what happens when we leave these terrestrial bonds? When we ascend to higher planes of understanding, to Immortality and the universe at large? Beings higher than 6th Rank roam those vast, sparkling oceans. And who can fathom what jealousy beings like that could bring should they come to discover such a technique out of their reach. I wish you had discussed what this upgraded version entailed with me, with us, before you bound it to your soul."

I feel a bit of annoyance and indignation flare inside me, not expecting to get scolded out of nowhere after sharing such an amazing piece of news with everyone. I mean, sure. I get that its probably the most powerful thing in existence for a good parsec around and that in and of itself is kind of scary. But still, I did this for us. For her, and the girls, and Sandra, and Ios as well as her sister. The Yin Yang balancing is just a nice bonus in my eyes.

The real importance of this technique, and the weaker one before it, was to make sure they all keep pace with Sandy and I far, far into the future! And now I made sure that was the case, spending the most Points I've ever spent on something. Something for them!

I almost begin entertaining the immature thought that maybe she's being skittish about that longevity - something I was about to bat away mentally - before I feel a ping come from the bond between us. Fear, true fear. Not for her, but for me. My face which was shifting to a frown settles back into neutrality as I take in her face one more time. The wide, trembling eyes. Barely restrained twitching ears and tails. Hands pressed into themselves to keep them from shaking. Her body giving tone to the words she spoke.

"You're scared." I say out softly. Not an accusation, but an observation. A one sided olive branch to myself as I reach over and fold her hand in mine. White furred triangular ears finally succumbing to instinct and flattening against her head as she whines and nods her head. The others now breaking out of their stupor as they process the brief exchange.

I... I guess I can't really fault her for being worried. And despite my teasing to Ios earlier, it's not like I didn't think of those things before pulling the trigger on using [4 Leaf Clover] either. It's just...

"I know this is intense and brings a fuck ton of danger with it." I say as I scoot over and plop into her lap. Her arms coming to hold me tightly against her faintly shivering body. "But the benefits outweigh the risks. And I would buy it a hundred times over - if I had the points to - so long as it ensures we all stay together and stay safe. If that means we all need to keep this little piece of me a secret, then so be it. So long as everyone here is with me for the rest of my days, it'll have been beyond worth it."

I lean up, pressing our lips together in comfort as well as passion. Planting my surety as well as love as deep as I can onto her until her body stops vibrating in worry. Once the last fleeting feeling of fear wisps away from the bond, I pull back and cup her cheek with my hand. A rising ball of courage coming to take root inside of me at the taste of her lips. "Now, are you and the others back to your senses? Or do y'all need a few more minutes before we see how this technique really works~?"

Akiko, as well as the others including Ios, all give me a stunned expression before the snowy kitsune stammers out, "D-do you mean to say-"

"Yes." I reply back as the fledgling confidence is becoming weathered under their gazes. Though I do turn to Gerra and ask the only other important question left to mind. "That is, if you're fine with our first time being in a g-group?"

A canine pokes past her lower lip as the pink haired woman regains her thoughts, devilish and chaotic all in the same breath. Coral eyes shining in excited prospect as her tail snaps in the air once, "Oh, I'd be delighted to have that be my first flight with you, little bird~."

Her tongue darts over her lips in hungry plea, making me almost begin second guessing myself and my bravado before I'm scooped up by Akiko and carried back into the estate in an entourage. An entourage consisting of sinfully smirking faces, sparkling eyes, and - at least as far as I can tell through the bond with Ios and Akiko - five very horny women. With an eagerly anxious heart, I realize I may be in danger~.