by Prax Venter
“Could I watch you create one before the cycle resets?” Mark asked, his mind racing with possibilities. If he was looking deep into her head while she did it, there was a chance he could gain some insight on the ability itself. It was a longshot, but if he could learn the smallest bit of anything from a stranger… it could open all manner of doorways. Besides, practice was practice and they had hours.
“Mark,” Chorra said quietly, pulling his eye to hers. He instantly felt a mix of embarrassment, mistrust, and restrained desire. “The special condition is that I need to reach an orgasm to charge the ability.”
He rubbed a hand from his forehead to his chin before he started chuckling. Everything in this world was linked to orgasms.
“That is not an issue,” Abby said, taking a step closer to the feather-coated woman. “In fact, if Mark willed it, you would have no choice but to climax regardless of physical contact.”
“Hold on,” Mark said, raising an open palm. “No one is making anyone cum without their consent. Sorry, Chorra, I didn’t know that’s what it took, but I really should have known. If you’re into it, great, but I don’t expect you to-”
“Why do you want this?” the bare-breasted harpy interrupted. “The created charm would not function here, I’ve tried, and it would vanish on the next cycle. Do you only crave intimacy with me?”
Mark looked her straight in the eye. “No. Not like you are suggesting. You’re attractive, for sure, but I’ve got all I could ever want with Abby. And losing my other bonded Enthralled… Let’s just say I’m not craving much intimacy at all. But I’ve got a special talent for looking deep into people. I only wanted to watch and maybe learn something.”
“Are you saying you believe you are capable of learning my ability?”
He shrugged. “Probably not, but I seem to have a hidden potential that needs exploring. I totally understand if you aren’t willing to conduct this experiment. To answer your question, we were headed to a nice quiet spot for the day and try something similar on each other.”
The teal harpy’s big eyes drifted to his equally bare chest. “I did not expect to do this with you, but I don’t know if I’ll ever have another opportunity to feel the fabled Lover’s touch.”
His blind eye inadvertently scooped out a distant memory of a dry, spiky, lizard-like creature holding a chain tied roughly around her wings. She’d escaped his violent use of her body and grown a specific preference for the smooth softness of human flesh. Chorra viewed herself as fragile and required a gentle touch. That, and she apparently hadn’t had an actual orgasm in an exceptionally long time.
Through their bond, he felt shock and recognition from Abby as she also received a portion of this information. Something was definitely happening with his eye, their connections, or both. Either way, they were all growing more powerful.
“If you’ll allow it,” the petite Abyssal horror, said taking another step closer to Chorra. “I would very much enjoy participating. I have learned much from Sasha about how to stimulate female sex organs.” She reached out one of her deft appendages to slowly brush against the harpy’s long wing-feathers hanging from her wrist-like loose sleeves. Abby confidently made use of what he’d learned regarding the type of contact Chorra liked and it was working.
The other monster-woman pulled in a deep breath before nodding slowly.
Mark gave them both a grin before turning to continue putting space between them and Detrious.
“Let’s keep moving for now and find someplace more secluded.”
He shook his head to himself as he walked and considered drafting up a monster-woman scoresheet. Maybe he’d get some extra abilities for banging one of every type. His thoughts turned back to his missing ability to summon weapons and armor, and that Gods and Goddesses were certainly active in this universe. Worshiping them came with tangible benefits. The Wind Goddess dealt with Queen Ki of Thomellia. Pendula, the supposed Goddess of Time helped create Sanctuary- even He Who Judges was some type of deity. Maybe the God of Quests? There seemed to be a hierarchy in place, and if that was the case, Mark was willing to bet there was a whole pantheon of major and minor virtual deities out there. In addition to finding more Crystal Heart shards, Mark added spiritual research to their growing list of things to do. Maybe he could collect all the Gods too.
“Chorra,” he said, “you mentioned the spirituality you felt from this eternally looping place, and I know you must have heard Detrious’s theory about the Goddess Pendula creating Sanctuary in response to murdering that Time Walker person. Have you ever tried, you know, communing with her?”
The bird-woman shook her head. “As I said, I didn’t concern myself with such puzzles. I was happy to be here and merely followed the breeze.”
“And now that this Goddess is virtually an established fact?” Abby asked.
“It’s true, my eyes have been opened, and I am finally paying attention to my surroundings. Perhaps I should, but I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“I wish I could help you,” Mark said. “But I do know that your intention directly impacts the universe, Chorra. Maybe mentally send her your appreciation first thing every cycle.”
“I’ll do that.” She sounded distant.
“Great,” Mark said. “I think this should be far enough away from that lunatic. Let’s try and find somewhere soft to stop.”
“I know of a place a little farther ahead,” Chorra said, lifting her feathered arm and indicating somewhere on the other side of the river and up canyon. The well-endowed harpy had rough pink skin covering her small hands and vibrant teal feathers of various sizes covering most everything else. As she took the lead, he couldn’t help but check out the smooth, tight feathers down her thighs down to her formidable talon legs. He wondered what he’d find under her tail feathers.
“According to my data stores,” Abby whispered, “real-world avian creatures typically have one pleasure hole that serves multiple purposes.”
Chorra turned her head almost 180-degrees to look at them over her shoulder.
“What was that about my hole?”
- 9 -
The vibrant teal harpy woman with pink accents led them across the cool river over to the side Detrious had claimed for himself. There was a moment’s hesitation as to whether it was worth the risk, but Mark quickly realized he didn’t care. The lunatic probably wouldn’t come all this way, but if he did and turned them all to ash, it would result in a quick trip back into the arms of Sasha and Jezebel.
Mark popped off his boots before crossing and left them near the river. Once they were across, Chorra followed a small stream flowing under a loose pile of rocks that must have fallen from the wall of the canyon. He looked up to see the top far in the distance and saw moss and vines hanging down. This place was such a strange mix of gentle desert and lush forests.
After the short climb over the stones, they came to a hollowed-out clearing mostly shaded by bushy trees growing out from dirt piled up along the walls. Barely a trickle of water ran down the back wall of this secluded space and it must have helped the wispy grass grow fat. Most of the ground was a lush carpet of green.
“This is pleasant,” Abby said, scanning their little cove.
“I’ve had a lot of time to explore,” Chorra said as she clasped her small hands over her feathered stomach. She was nervous about what they came here to do. The spontaneity of it was beginning to bother her and the more she thought about it the more anxious she got.
“Chorra,” Mark said, catching her attention. “Are you okay waiting while Abby and I probe each other’s minds? This way you have a chance to think more about allowing us to pleasure you later.”
She pulled in a deep breath of the warm, sweet air. “Yes. It is refreshing for a human male to not immediately try penetration the moment they know I’m interested.”
Mark gave her a pained smile. “Yikes. No, Abby wasn’t kidding about us learning how to do penetration right. We’ve had lots of practice. Also, as a Lover
with a magic eye, I can cheat and see exactly how you want to be touched.”
“Not every man would care,” she said, narrowing her large eyes. Mark felt a sadness wash over her as she considered the life she could have lived if she hadn’t been abducted by a slaver at a young age. The memories of Sanctuary clung together in her mind, and although a vast amount of time was represented in those memories, so very much was the same. Her new dedication to the truth of Sanctuary rose to the top of her mind and thoughts of Meegon rose with them. There was a spark in him that told her he did care how she wanted to be touched. He just wasn’t any good at knowing what to do.
“You need to tell him how,” Abby said, and both Mark and Chorra looked at her.
“What? Who?” the harpy said, narrowing her eyes even further.
“Directly tell Meegon how you like to be pleasured. He does not possess Mark’s truth-seeing abilities and must be instructed. I would suggest forgoing verbal instructions and guiding his hand yourself the next time the two of you are intimate. Do not relent until he does it correctly.”
Mark sighed. “Yeah, my Enthralled have started to pick up broadcasts from my uncontrollable all-seeing eye. Abby, we’re going to need to work on at least the illusion of privacy.”
“You are absolutely not of this world,” Chorra said, taking a step back.
“No,” he said, “but we do love the place and its people.”
Embarrassment echoed to him from his bonded abyssal horror and noticed her tentacles coiling around her slender stomach.
“I understand,” she said. “I am sharing too much information. Yet, Chorra, know that I was only trying to offer beneficial advice.”
“I know,” she said. “I know you people are kind.” The harpy looked up toward the blue skies peeking between the leaves. “I’m going to fly up to the top while you two do whatever it is you’re going to do. I have a lot to think about. Will a few hours be enough time?”
Mark nodded. “I have no idea, but that sounds like a great time to come check on us.”
She looked them both in the eye and then thrust her chest outward as she extended her beautiful wings before them. Mark’s focus was drawn to her soft, fluffy breasts topped with stiff red nipples.
“Thank you for being on our side,” she said and then pumped her powerful wings against the air. Gusts of wind drove him to protect his one good eye before she was too far above to affect them.
He turned to the petite green woman standing nearby.
“Yes, yes,” she said, stepping up to embrace him. “The novelty of complete emotional information was overwhelming at first. From now on I will practice restraint.”
“Good,” he said, patting her back. “Now, let’s get into that pretty little head of yours.”
Mark moved to sit down near one of the sheer stone walls and noticed his ripped pants once again. He grabbed one of the frayed edges with a tight fist and just tore the remainder off. He was fully naked now, but he no longer cared. They probably weren’t going to leave this place before the reset anyway.
Abby walked up behind him. “How am I to meditate with all of my favorite flesh exposed?”
Mark shrugged and sat his bare ass down on the soft vegetation.
“How competent would an airship captain be if they never experienced stormy skies?”
With a sly smile, the green woman standing in front of him slipped off her bright-yellow bikini and boots before sitting in his lap.
“How do you want me oriented?” she asked, her small nose about an inch from his.
“I don’t know,” he said as he tried to put her smooth thighs and perfect face out of his mind so he could concentrate.
She reached one of her tentacles down between them and pulled his swelling erection directly into her warm vagina.
“Abby,” he said reluctantly, “this may be too much of a distraction.” He’d said the words, but he already knew it was too late. They were already past the point of no return and the thought of asking her to get off him would only lead to everyone’s disappointment.
She wrapped her legs and appendages around him in response.
“Nonsense, Captain. We will remain quiet and motionless as our sex organs lock us together in intimacy.” The petite abyssal horror pressed her forehead to his as his inflating shaft filled her up from the inside. “Close your good eye,” she whispered into his ear. “It is time to venture into those stormy skies.”
He wrapped one hand around the small of her back and the other found the back of her head as he pulled her in for a soft, gentle kiss. Neither of them acting to grind their crotches together was almost torture, but he was the one foolish enough to say that bullshit about captains and stormy skies.
“Here we go,” Mark said before he bent his will on following Abby’s imaginary tether from his heart.
With Sasha and Jezebel completely absent for the first time since he woke up within this custom-grown Crystal Heart program, it was easy to find the path to Abby. There were a few moments where the memories of their violent and painful deaths almost made him start over, but he made himself ignore them for now. The others would be fine, despite the echo of pain in his heart.
In the end, perhaps sitting with their bodies intimately connected was the right way to go and even though they were motionless, the knowledge that he was balls deep into her small, tight body sent shivers down his spine. Each persistent wave of subtle, comfortable pleasure they both felt served as a guide to sync their mental frequencies.
An instant before Mark penetrated deep into Abby’s mind, he became aware of the tools he’d used to get there. His recent lesson in Aether Theory and how it could be manipulated, the special unique link he had with Abby’s foreign code from a different game, and their current physical intimacy culminated to trigger a burst of energy that sent his mind into hers.
The space before him appeared as purple mist dotted with slowly rotating globes of yellow light. As these illuminated nodes of power rotated, many also shifted their position up or down. After a moment of nauseating disorientation, Mark pinpointed the empty center that everything whirled around.
Once he moved his perspective into the vacant column in the middle, he paused a moment to catch his virtual breath and take it all in. Sasha’s core was similar, but hers spun much faster and was made from metal and crackling bursts of electricity. He watched Abby’s glowing orbs dance like honeybees as they shifted and spun and came to the realization that this mental dreamscape environment wasn’t reality… or even virtual reality. This was what his magic eye was translating for him.
That was the key. This was not any intentional part of the Crystal Heart game world. What he was seeing were truly only lines of code, function calls, variables and switches turning on and off as Abby’s matrix processed… whatever processes these were.
With more intensity, Mark tried to penetrate one of the nodes that seemed to move in a regular repeating pattern. As he pushed deeper, he realized that this portion of Abby was keeping her game-world heart beating and his presence was causing a problem.
The node he’d pried open began to move erratically, and he knew if she died in his arms right now, she would be resurrected thanks to the cycle of Sanctuary. However, the notion that their ability points and memories didn’t reset caused him a small amount of panic that almost ejected him from her mind altogether.
He was fucking with what made her “Abby” and needed to fix what he’d disturbed before doing anything else.
Time was losing all meaning in this strange internal realm, but Mark believed he’d spent a significant portion of it trying to carefully nudge this one important function back into its normal pattern. It took that distant part of his brain that hurt to use, but he was able to put his beloved abyssal horror back the way she was.
Afraid to do any more harm, Mark thought about pulling out, but they might never be in a better position to fully explore this fragile dreamscape. It occurred to him that the real goal here was to unlock
new abilities and these spinning nodes of light appeared to be parts of her that were already active in some way.
That was when Mark turned away from her core and searched the infinite void of darkness behind him. At first, there was nothing to perceive. Up, down, left, right. Everywhere but behind was a stretch of nothing that seemed to represent the edges of her mind.
With an invisible smirk, Mark made a mental note to joke about all the empty space inside her head when he noticed faint shadows far in the distance.
Mark’s augmented eye began to tingle as if it was drawing more energy to function, and instead of trying to control it, Mark poured his will into saturating his Truth Seeing ability with unfettered power.
As he pushed harder and harder, he burst past a new threshold in his skill set, and a vibrant shell-like spectrum of possibilities snapped into existence. The information before him was visual nonsense, but he could sense it was some sort of buffer zone between her mind and the Crystal Heart game world running all around her. This new space was expansive and enveloped her mind. This represented all of abyssal horror Entity Serial Seven Thirteen N Four Twenty Nine’s attributes within the simulation.
Her matrix column of dancing orbs within hazy purple space still spun behind him, but now an impossible complex system of information dwarfed all of it, and Mark suddenly felt very small. There was a lot here. Some of it shone bright, like her name and the abstract concept of her health bar. He could tell what these were, but it still felt as if he were an infant child learning to stand up for the first time only to face a 50-foot chalkboard filled with one complex equation.
Movement caught his phantom eye and without really trying to do so, his perspective on this place expanded to include everything. He was now conscious of an entire 360-degree view from a single disembodied point.
Mark took an undetermined amount of time staying mentally still while his brain adjusted. Yet, he was now lidless and couldn’t unsee any of it if he tried. The motion he detected was a thin strand of energy flowing around the space between Abby’s core and the… what was he going to call this new space? Game character sheet? Data shell? Interface to the world? He settled on thinking of this vast, mostly dormant landscape as their digital avatar’s World Shell, and the pointless exercise allowed his mind time to sync with its new inputs.