by Prax Venter
His Enthralled Druid comforted him with an embrace as she led him away from gawkers at the restaurant. After a few stumbling steps, Mark realized he could see so much more of the physical world around him, yet it was as if all color became sun-bleached.
That was until he tried to take a whiff.
“Holy shit...” The words leaked from his mouth as a fragrant map of everything around them flashed into vivid existence within his perception. It was more like ludicrously detailed radar that faded when he exhaled.
“What do you see?” Jezebel whispered as they found another side street to regroup off the main road.
“Not see,” Mark said, lifting his new True Smell snout up into the crisp air. “I can feel a lot further. Less intense than an emotional deep dive into someone’s mind, but this range…”
Jezebel reached out to touch his cheek, her eyes focusing on his nose then his fully restored left eye.
“Fascinating,” she mused, smoothing back his whiskers. “You moved your data scar down to tear a hole in this nostril instead.”
Mark raised his brows. “Eh, more like I hacked the mirrored part of your shifting ability for its duration. I think. I seriously hope this is temporary. Seeing more is great and all, but I’m positive one magic nose-hole will be useless to a human-shaped Mark.”
As they drifted closer to a more central location of the Wind Level, Mark orientated his nose on searching out Audra’s signature musk. He drifted back to that chilly night in her loft with his head cushioned by her unwashed pillows as her heavy, soft breasts loafed onto his chest while her starving pussy...
The smallest particle of Audra’s musk drifting among the uncountable mist around him landed in his left nostril and the sensation triggered a cascade of interconnected memories.
“Lemon Wisp tea,” he muttered as he began moving toward the administrative end of the Wind Level.
With the scent search widened to include that particular type of citrusy hot beverage and her acrid concoctions of paint and thinner, Mark’s tail swung behind him as Jezebel chased his loping strides along the most vibrant paths of saturation through her home city.
He forced himself to slow down as sprinting headlong toward the end of this sensory thread could complicate things, yet eventually, his nose led them to the double brass doors of a brutalist stone tower jutting outward over the edge of the wind level. The thing was a fantasy skyscraper.
Mark read the bold blue letters above the door. “Eye ‘O the Storm Emporium.”
The chopping propellers of multiple arriving airships drew his attention for a few moments, but the double doors opened for a pair of elegantly dressed Vulpath ahead of them and a waft of Audra’s raw musk hit Mark so hard he began to drool.
“She’s in there somewhere,” he said.
Jezebel snorted from behind him. “I believe you.”
He cast a glance over his shoulder, sent her a loving caress through their bond and then offered her his elbow. Jezebel dipped her caramel-splattered head graciously then looped her arm through his before they strolled side by side into a mushroom-shaped tower of white stone.
A sprawling u-shaped bar wrapped with crystal-clear windows dazzled his physical vision, so Mark squinted his eyes and followed his nose instead. The sensual painter’s scent drew them up a red-velvet staircase past a glaring casino, a dusty library, and finally ending at a side hallway labeled “Lounge of the Relevant.”
“In here,” Mark said, pointing to the sign before his fully working eyes fell to a black gold gilded rope draped across the narrow, off-shoot entrance. Connected to the rope was a podium and behind the podium was a wild-furred body builder of a Vulpath woman with her huge arms crossed under mountainous, pointed breasts with half exposed hot-pink areolas. She was easily two feet taller than even Mark’s new expanded size, and he wondered if she were some hybrid species.
“I don’t think so, goldie boy,” she said with a sly smirk and hooked thumb pointing back the way they came. “Take it outside, you two.”
“We’re here to see Audra,” Mark said, trying the first thing he thought of to get past her, but frustration quickly mounted when he received no vibrant emotions from this towering creature. Her steady yellow eyes locked on his, yet all True Sight information was silent.
“Doesn’t matter whose name you drop, runt. You don’t belong. Now get that silky tail back downstairs.”
“Pardon me, but how would we gain entrance?” Jezebel asked, trying to attack the problem logically. Mark gazed around the bouncer to see people in opulent garments mingling around another bar-like area, but he didn’t readily see their target.
The Vulpath woman uncrossed her arms and tilted her head.
“You try waltzing straight into The Lounge and don’t even know what it is? You are either foreigners, brain damaged, or looking for trouble. I don’t care which it is, turn around. Now.”
A small growl rumbled behind this wolfwoman’s chest with that last word and what mundane instincts Mark had picked up told him her dull job had led to repeated daydreams of kicking someone’s ass.
Then, a pungent sweet and salty smell clocked his nose sideways. After blinking away the sensation, Mark panned down the Vulpath’s thin cotton robe to her obscured crotch. It took him a few heartbeats to realize that she was only marginally aroused by him, yet his own libido spiked from a single particle of her musk.
“This fucking game…” Mark mumbled as he ran his furry hands over his eyes and around his protruding snout.
He then shot her a toothy grin and was about to try and smooth-talk his way past her with no abilities when he realized he did still have access a newer skill he’d never fully explored.
With a mental signal toward Jezebel to be ready for anything, Vulpath-Mark focused on the shaggy werewolf in front of him and triggered his Charm ability.
A pink halo snapped into existence between the bouncer’s tall ears and then zipped down through her whole body, blowing off sparks as it traveled. The magical effect stopped in her abdomen where it shrank down to nothing.
“Flapping shutters,” she said, blinking the stars away from her intense eyes. “W-who are you again?”
With an internal sigh and a glance over at Jezebel, Mark stepped into this giant Vulpath’s personal space.
He turned his gaze up into her stunned eyes as he reached through her robe and took a fistful of her labia.
The burly, big-titted bouncer snarled and her physical reaction fully exposed one of her oversized nipples, but after a staring contest that lasted a few heartbeats, she broke down and started panting.
“What did- ah… are you doing to me?”
Mark gently reached up to fix her robe with his free hand, intentionally dragging it back over her stiffening, hot-pink nub.
“I’m not a threat to you or anyone in Thomellia. In exchange for letting you cum ridiculously hard, you will let us through. Deal?” As he spoke the words, he massaged a light Lover’s heal directly into her thick, hairy pussy.
Lookout Jezebel made a little yip behind him, but she also deftly sent a silent warning through their bond.
With a wolfish wink, Mark left the heal ability still trickling into her glistening black folds then stepped away calmly as three other Vulpath came strolling through the area. Each had different-colored silks wrapped around their monster bodies and each barked back and forth over the curve of some ‘objectively important’ statue. Their echoes continued to bounce around the curved hall as Mark moved back to finish the transaction.
“Wait,” the bouncer said, her bushy tail tucked between her muscular thighs. “I- ungh, have trained my whole life… disciplined my mind, cultivated Gales of Clarity... I must know why I cannot resist your- paah- power over me.”
Mark thought about how to answer her, but the moment he stopped to think about what he was doing, the giant snake-woman carved of emerald on the Earth Level flashed in his mind.
Why was this statue important?
No, he onc
e knew someone important. Someone he respected who had strong moral objections against forcing people into doing things they would not want to do.
More deep-rooted memories were there linked by the thinnest threads- faint drifting patterns in the infinite static mess beyond reality. But he’d seen enough. He’d remembered enough. A part of him wanted to feel sad that Original Mark’s memories were making him a different person once again, but in the end, he’d be an idiot to throw away what made him a better person.
“My name is Mark,” he said, ending both the heal and hypno-erotic power granted by the prime-level goddess of pleasure. “And this is Jezebel. We are wanted by Lady Maliah yet shapeshifted ourselves to walk among the Vulpath. We have been given powers and gifts by the Gods because they know we want to save the world. That was a Charm directly from She Who Pleases. I’m sorry for almost costing you your job, but it’s very important to us that we learn what’s happening out there. I also want to warn an old friend.”
The giantess blinked at him. “The Lover and Druid…” she whispered, and he smelled a dangerous mix of lust and fear billowing from this hardened war machine.
“What’s your name?” Mark said calmly.
“Lissa,” she said, shifting her gaze to Jezebel. “I b-believe you, though. I do. The thing invading our world known as Maliah has betrayed the Kalorplast. You may have stolen their silly Orb of Legend, but the atrocities she’s committed… the loss of culture and lives…” The highly trained bouncer named Lissa shook out her savage black fur as a shiver ran though her then snapped her focus on Mark, searching his golden fur with fresh, wild eyes. “Thomellia has officially sided against Maliah as of yesterday.”
“It’s all gone?” Jezebel asked, her ears pressing sideways.
“I don’t know everything. But as is my oath, I must ask you to banish your false skins. I will escort you personally to the candidate, Audra, if you do.”
Lissa had regained her footing after being forced to obey him unquestioningly, and even without his magic eye, she smelled honorable. And smarter than she looked.
“You may appear to feel this way,” Jezebel said, squeezing her oversized hand on Mark’s shoulder. “But my oath protects this one. Surely you know that there will be those willing to risk much for our promised bounty.”
Mark only gave a her a shrug. Jez was right.
The towering Vulpath narrowed her eyes at Jezebel and then crossed her huge arms again. Mark couldn’t help but follow the firm torpedoes bouncing near his face under her robe as her movements re-exposed half of each nipple.
“Fine. I still get to fuck him when this is all over, then. This powerful Charm left behind… an itch.”
Jezebel squeezed Mark’s shoulder as she saturated him with a swirl of love through their bond.
“I will allow it,” the System Host said with a firm nod of her tan snout. She then flipped on her glowing wings and ominously hovered in the middle of the empty hall. “When this is all over, I will personally bring him to wherever you exist.”
“Then,” Mark added, embracing his role in this X-rated game world once more, “I vow with all my heart to deeply scratch that itch.”
Another group came by so Jezebel shut off her flight and landed back on her paws as four hurried Vulpath shuffled past without a glance.
“Lumpy,” Lissa barked over her shoulder once they were alone again. “Get out here.”
“I am entitled to…” the normal-sized Vulpath male trailed off as he came stepping out of a hidden sliding door. He took both Mark and Jezebel in before he finished with, “My morning tea- what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Lissa said with an easy, fang-filled grin as she took a step down the hall. “I need to keep a promise. Take over, yeah?”
The other bare-chested Vulpath with baggy shorts swirled in blue patterns sighed.
“Yeah, yeah. Show your cousins or whatever around, Liss. I got it.”
The massive female wolfwoman gathered Mark and Jezebel with her yellow eyes and then stalked forward into The Lounge of Relevance.
- 8 -
Alcohol, perfume, and dust tickled Mark’s nose as he stepped into the half-maze and half art-gallery beyond the narrow hall. ‘Dust’ was the primary scent of the convoluted, abstract architecture within this ancient place, but Audra’s distinctive flavor grew stronger with every twist along the woven carpet floors.
“Please tell us what this is,” Jezebel whispered as they moved past a row of hypnotic murals whose blood-soaked battles jumped to life. “Cultural heritage of Thomellia?”
“Na,” Lissa said with a shake of her furry head. “Top popular works, updated monthly.”
“More like a best seller list,” Mark said.
“Mm,” the bulky bouncer growled an agreement. “Sell from here and you’re certainly one of the best. You two truly have no clue, do you?”
“We have an educated guess,” Jezebel responded. “But I am endlessly fascinated by the cultures of this world. I wish we had time to learn more.”
Lissa let out a snort. “I also harbor much curiosity regarding your harem. You four are blessed, cursed, wanted, celebrated, and hunted. Such chaos and adventure!”
A few Vulpath patrons who did belong there turned their canine snouts up at Mark and Jezebel, promoting their escort to grow quiet.
“The other two…” Lissa whispered after another turn. “The Succubus and Horror, they are merely hiding?”
“They are fine,” Mark said quickly.
They then passed by a gray-furred Vulpath standing on a small, raised stage as he patiently carved a reindeer sculpture from white-barked logs using only his sharp claws while others stood around and participated in what appeared to be a chaotic, audience-run auction.
“Live performances too?” Jezebel asked.
“The good ones are allowed to show off,” their guide said, with a smile. “He’s known to all as Uncle Jym, and he’s good. Cranks out a sculpture a day without magic. Most agree his process is his art.”
The group made a right turn around an accurate statue of a screaming sasquatch carved from crystal before facing another row of floor-to-ceiling windows, another fully stocked bar surrounded by a small field of wingback armchairs, and Audra.
Mark’s tail had just begun to automatically tickle the backs of his legs when the burly bouncer eclipsed the mid-morning sun streaming into the lounge.
“I must ask you to wait here,” she said, her huge hand held up. “My duty is to the members first, and I follow protocol. If Audra Elroolith does not agree to meet, I will be forced to walk you back out.”
“I understand,” Mark said.
The wolfish, black-furred amazon stalked away from them toward the windows where his cream-colored Vulpath stood talking with two handsome males. Just by the way her black robes hung carefree and open, Mark could tell the painter was still on the path they’d left her on.
“She’s not going to recognize us,” Jezebel said.
Mark held up one hand. “She’ll remember this…”
He waited for the right moment- the moment her stunning blue eyes met his from across the room and then expertly stimulated both her furry inner thighs with a moderate heal.
“Oh!” She yipped and began dashing forward- her suitors forgotten.
Mark and Jezebel also dashed forward to meet her, and all three collided in a fierce embrace in the middle of the mostly empty lounge.
“How?” she sighed by his ear, and Mark could only shudder under the fragrant warmth of his once-Enthralled.
“We’ve grown,” Jezebel said.
“You’ve changed,” Audra said, pulling back and studying Mark’s modified Vulpath face. “But you still smell like Mark. I’m so glad you’re alive!” The beautiful painter then flinched and looked around the area to see the towering Lissa stalking back to stand guard a few paces away.
“You know who they are?” Audra asked the bouncer, fear ebbing from her.
“It’s okay,” Mar
k said, calmly laying a hand on her shoulder. “I told Lissa the truth.”
“Of course you did,” the painter sighed and then pulled him alone against her soft breasts. “Everything is in disarray since that ghastly message from Maliah. Who is she? Why does she want you dead? Does it have to do with stealing the- wait, where’s Sasha?”
“Safely waiting for our return,” Mark said, breaking the embrace. “We came to see you and get some information for ourselves. The short answer to all your questions is that we’re trying to save the universe, Audra.”
“Please,” Jezebel said, “tell us what happened in Starglade.”
The refined Vulpath woman collected herself and motioned for them to take more private seats near the windows. Mark could smell Lissa’s tingling desire to remain a part of the exciting day and reached out to lay his golden hand on her solid bicep as they passed.
“A member of The Lounge is about to be cornered and flanked by us dangerous unknowns. I for one would feel much safer if you continued to watch over her, closely.”
Lissa’s intense eyes lingered on his as her tail began to sway, and Mark felt the part of his Lover Class thrum with a stifled pulse.
If he weren’t at max capacity, he would have just Enthralled her right there on the spot. Yet, he couldn’t shake the idea of taking this dutiful beauty out to run free with him in the wilds anyway.
“A member’s safety,” she agreed and then followed them to the windowed back wall of the lounge.
Again, they could see for miles until the atmosphere compounded in gauzy layers before it turned everything beyond into gray mist. Lissa’s hulking form served as a physical screen between them and the rest of the bar as Audra began to tell what she knew.
“From the self-wagging chatter of those showing off their clearance, I’ve learned that the Kalorplast mages probed her impossible body for weakness, and she found out. The current belief is that they were threatened into compliance with a total commitment of resources toward locating you. They were generally willing after you stole what they claim-”
“We didn’t steal it,” Jezebel said a bit too loudly. “We returned it…”