Worthy Core

DAY 821

Although things did quiet down for a few hours as both the dungeon and the invaders recovered from the impact of the most recent battle, the following night was hardly a restful one. Unlike the cramped quarters of Floor One or Three, or Floor Two with its minimal actual floor space, the forest of Floor Four was very difficult to garrison properly. Even with mages destroying a large chunk of the foliage in order to clear a line of sight there were still innumerable places for Xenia to place monster spawns and traps, and when the midnight reset hit a few more soldiers did fall before the Supremes were able to bring things under control.

After that they'd gone to the unusual step of building actual fortifications within a dungeon floor. If the entire chamber couldn't be secured, then they would instead fortify a smaller area which would be more manageable. With a few Supreme and Master tiers lending a hand it wasn't too difficult to create some stone walls - ironically not unlike the ones they had destroyed to get here - and then fill the space with tents, magical defenses, and other essentials for a military encampment.

Considering the work went through the night, though, everyone was still too exhausted to consider immediately setting out for another round of combat the next morning.

That doesn't bother Pretty too much, though. As a man completely in control of all physical sensations it's quite easy for the incubus to simply wipe away all traces of exhaustion from his body, a magical act with surely no downsides whatsoever. He's not one for cramped quarters though, and so instead the demon spends his morning...sightseeing.

Despite Tiffany's fears, Xenia hadn't actually significantly changed the design of the floor overnight. The chamber ceiling still glows with bioluminescent moss and fungi, the gentle river still flows around the island of the boss arena, and the trees which haven't been blown up or burned down are still quite picturesque. For now though Pretty focuses his attention on the river, walking along its bank and idly wondering if there might be any fish or monsters inside. Still, despite his wandering thoughts he's not taken by surprise when a voice speaks up from behind him.

"You skipped breakfast."

Pretty turns around slowly, knowing which blonde-haired demon he'll see standing there. The half-dozen other demons and kobolds are strangers, although their presence isn't much of a surprise either. "I'm not much for army rations. And an incubus needs to watch his figure, you know."

Tiffany rolls her eyes. "I'm not talking about the food, Pretty. Come on, you burned a lot of power in the fighting yesterday, and I know you're maintaining that suffering spell of yours on that human still. We're going to need you in top shape considering we still have at least five more floors to go."

"Still not fond of army rations." Sighing, the man attempts a change of subject. "How about yourself? Your arcane hunger feeling satisfied from the battle?"

"Yes, actually." The demon smiles at the thought. "The kind of combat we're taking part in here is one of a kind - or at least extremely rare. Once we make it through this, I think I'll write a book about the experience!"

"Good for you. But if you don't mind..." Pretty's words become pointless as the soldiers begin to disrobe, along with Tiffany herself. The man has to admit, the woman has a body that would put most succubi to shame. Her tits are the perfect size for a good squeezing, and the blonde bush between her legs has been so elegantly trimmed that magic must have been involved. It's not uncommon for arcane demons to put on a few extra pounds, living their lives in libraries and archives and laboratories, but the Supreme-tier Warp Mistress has clearly been keeping up on her exercise routine. The men and women behind her aren't too shabby either, trained soldiers that they are.

Still, he feels the need to protest just a little longer. "As your squad commander, it's important that we keep a certain professional relationship. You really don't need to throw yourself at - "

"Oh, shove it, old man. That didn't work on me that night we first met a few weeks ago, or the times after that. If you don't want women - or men - throwing themselves at you, try not getting yourself a legendary reputation for giving good dick."

"I suppose I should have considered that in my younger years. Ah well, I suppose we may as well. You've brought blankets? Good. Allow me to - " Pretty's already begun pulling off his robes when he's interrupted yet again, this time by the river itself.

"We want some good dick!"

The group of Domain soldiers and specialists turns to stare at the pair of water elementals poking their torsos out from the surface of the river - one with a vaguely masculine appearance, the other feminine, although water elementals tend to have rather indistinct forms in general.

The incubus peers suspiciously at the two. "You...want some good dick. You...water elementals. Hrmm, I believe I heard something about this. Is one of you Slooshy, I believe? I suppose I should introduce myself, I'm Pretty."

The first elemental nods in agreement. "Yeah, you sure are! I'm wet."

Her companion tilts his head. "I think maybe that was a name? I'm not sure, fleshies have weird ones sometimes."

"Oh, maybe. Well, big sis Slooshy's hiding out right now, so wrong on that one. I'm Squirt, and this is Spurt!"

The male nods along. "And you should come into the river and give us a good dicking! In fact, all of you should dive on in and dick us real good!"

"Auspicious names, and yet..." Pretty turns towards Tiffany, who shares his suspicious expression.

"It's not my area of expertise, but I have to say that I have never heard of elementals having an interest in such a thing. You're just trying to drown us!"

"Nooooo!" Squirt shakes her head fiercely. "Though I heard that magnetic girl talking to Slooshy once, and she says it's a lot of fun! And we watch fleshies do it all the time! Sometimes the dungeon lets Challengers party down here or just hang out, if no one's doing a run. And they seem to love dicking, and..." She trails off before giving her companion a confused look.

"Cunting each other?"

"Yeah, they love dicking and cunting! So we think you should do that with us! ...Here, in the river! Where it's nice and warm...or cold, whichever is better for dicking in. Dive in!"

One of the younger demons, a raven-haired succubus, steps forward to address her elders. "Sir, ma'am, we have been warned about this. The water elementals in the river serve the dungeon. Shall we eliminate them?" She eyes the two before considering her blade, still strapped to her waist. "Perhaps with the right magic..."

"No, no, none of that." Pretty raises a hand before gesturing for her to step back. "They may live here but you're not bound to the dungeon, are you, my fluid friends? I'm not in the habit of killing civilians in the aftermath of my victories." He pauses before adding a clarification. "Even if they do attempt to drown me and my companions through trickery. My tolerance does have limits though, so none of that, if you would."

"Awwww..."

The pair look so dejected Pretty can't help but chuckle. "But I am willing to entertain a limited truce, if you don't harm me or mine, we shall not harm you. And...you can even watch, I suppose, since you seem to enjoy it." A smirk grows on his lips as a thought occurs to him. "Or perhaps...something more?"

The elementals are clearly unclear as to what he's referring to, but their expressions turn to surprise as ripples suddenly spread across their bodies. Spurt speaks for the two of them. "Whoa! What was that? Did something just touch us? From all the way over there?"

The incubus nods, before slipping into lecturer mode. "Transferring sensations to an elemental is far harder than even doing so to a slime. After all, while a slime can alter their physical bodies, they do at least have experience with the concepts of pleasure and pain even if they aren't experiencing them at that particular moment. Fortunately for you, I have worked with a few elementals in my time, and learned to reproduce the sensations in a way your minds can comprehend." He points at the small rock hidden at the base of Spurt's torso. "Your cores, for example, are quite sensitive in a number of ways. It's not much, but it's something to work with."

"So...you magic dicked us? Have we just been dicked?"

Tiffany's expression is flat as she responds. "...No. I'm not sure what sort of tickle Pretty just gave you, but I'm very certain a magic dicking would've been more...spectacular."

"I'm pleased you have so much faith in my abilities." Pretty beams at his companion before turning back to the pair. "But yes, that was just a bare taste of what I can do, if you'd like. Although again - not getting into the river with you."

"Fine, we'll take it!" Squirt's eager voice answers quickly. "We don't mind watching!"

"Wonderful! Maybe this morning's mealtime will be a little more interesting than I was expecting." Clapping his hands together, Pretty turns once more back towards his Domain companions. "Now, where were we?"

"You were about to get your damn robes off."

"Ah, yes! Suppose we ought to get to it - no time for idle hands in the military, they say."

"Right then!" Tiffany quickly gets to directing the other soldiers before anything else tries to interrupt them. "This spot looks flat and dry - you two, put the blankets down there. Refreshments there, and - who has the pillows? Don't tell me we forgot - ah, a bottomless bag, I see you succubi are well-prepared. There we go!" When she next looks back at Pretty, there's a feral grin on her face, white teeth shining between dark red lips.

"Now - I go first."

---

As the elementals find comfortable places to rest on the river shoreline and Domain soldiers begin arranging blankets and pillows, a very conflicted dungeon master watches on from the opposite shore. "Should I be like...doing something about this, Guy? They're corrupting our elementals with magic dick powers! And also having way too much fun in my forest. Especially for a pack of dicks like this bunch!"

The hovering guide for once seems unsure as to what sort of advice they ought to be giving. "Well, there's certainly many options, if you wished to. Perhaps altering the height of the river as a warning, or to ruin the mood. Or you could send a message to Slooshy, and have her warn her 'siblings' away from the Domain soldiers. Hrmm, perhaps not a monster attack while those two are in the vicinity, yes? But they do seem...willing to take part in this truce, and seeing as how Zappy still maintains a part-time job dancing on our stages in the Fiver's Lounge, it's clear that at least some elementals do have an interest or curiosity involving such topics. If you're asking morally, I cannot say. You are in effect their landlord, not their master nor their mother."

"True...and if we watch along, see how this works, maybe we can learn something about that weird body-controlling magic of his?"

The guide turns to 'face' their boss. "If you just wish to observe a Domain army orgy, I am not about to judge you for it. Heavens know we've observed far odder things these past few years."

"Oh, shush. This is...purely for tactical reasons..."