by Riker Kane
The screen blinked and my stats appeared.
Ultima
Level 99 Battle God
Hit Points 400
Endurance 300
Earth (Strength) 26
Fire (Speed) 27
Water (Durability) 26
Life/Death (Control) 55 (+7)
“You have gained seven levels since you last returned here.”
“Seven levels.” I put my hands behind my back, raising an eyebrow at my stats. “Everything into control, huh? Looks like it’s all or nothing now.”
I looked at both of my hands and flexed my fingers again. “Cybil… It feels like I got something else. Romanis died and left behind something. I thought it was a Rune or a Core but it disappeared completely. I’m pretty sure I absorbed it. Do you have any readings on that?”
My stats remained on the screen and Cybil didn’t respond. I gave her a few seconds but still there was nothing.
“Cybil?”
“I apologize, Ultima. I am detecting an anomaly.”
“An anomaly? I saw the fortress implode. Are you telling me Romanis is still out there?”
“The evil I sensed is gone. There are no residuals from the fortress or Romanis himself.”
I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “But…?”
“There is a greater power resonating within the Life Rune.”
Elemental Levels
Light - Level 10 (+6)
Dark - Level 9
Water - Level 2
Fire - Level 3
Stone - Level 3
“You have gained six levels in your affinity to light.”
I scrunched my face in confusion, unsure I was reading it correctly. “Six in light… But it was a Dark Rune I absorbed.”
“Romanis’s elemental properties are secondary to the power of the Mana itself. When you absorbed his strength, it manifested itself into the essence of the Life Rune. There is no mistake.”
“Hmm…” I rubbed my chin in disbelief. “Six levels. That’s as strong as the power the Reaper gave me.”
“You did not kill an ordinary Herald. If what we have learned is true, Romanis was a Paladin to a higher power. It was evidenced by the strength I detected from him. You absorbed him completely.”
“Right…” I nodded in understanding, though I still wasn’t completely sure it made sense. “That much power… I hope I won’t need it. I’ve had enough fighting for a long time.”
“Iorus is safe. You have succeeded. I am confident in my decision to grant you the powers I have.”
It had been more than a year since Cybil and the other gods of Iorus gave me the strength to be Ultima. Even now, I was still getting used to it. With this kind of power, I could defend an entire world.
“I sense your apprehension,” Cybil said. “Do you regret your decision?”
“No. Iorus… Iorus is home. If some other threat comes over the horizon, I’ll be ready.”
“I continue to recover and gain strength. I detect no wickedness within Iorus though Pandora remains resonating in the distance.”
“Pandora will always be out there… I’ll take that as my cue for a job well done.” I took a step back and thought about what I’d accomplished. It was hard to believe I could finally take a chance to catch my breath. “Hey, Cybil. It might be a long time until I’m back in Zion. Iorus has a lot of work to do to recover.”
“You are not obligated to visit me. Do what you must.”
“Yeah… I will.” I smiled even though I knew she wouldn’t return it. “I’ll see you around, Cybil.”
“I await your return, Ultima.”
~ ~ ~
Ekko stood quietly with a few representatives from Chenai. Next to him, Couture crossed his arms and smiled as he waited with some of his people from Malora. The big goblin Arctis was alone as he waited patiently.
Mistress Vacindra stood opposite from the group from Valen in the Main Hall. Next to her, Queen Cellica raised her head proudly with her hands at her sides. And next to her, Balec, Nameno, and Ceah stood.
Everybody had gathered within the Main Hall of the Central Keep. I stood next to my throne with Lyra, Rhiannon, and Zafina by me. We were all quiet, focused on the old man who had everybody’s attention.
Joris had his hands behind his back as he stared at the stone floors. The room was silent except for the torches burning on the walls.
The old man coughed to clear his throat before finally raising his head. “Those from the other world destroyed everything we knew and love. Our families were taken from us. Our history had been violently interrupted. Everything, simple and complex, had changed in an instant.
“We will never again be able to look at the stars on a clear Qashian night. We will never be able to visit the places of our youth. We will never be able to put our arms around the ones we loved because they are lost.
“But we have our memories. We remember the images of our world. We remember the places we’ve been to. We remember the time we spent with those most important to us. And when we do that, they are never lost.
“We will take our memories with us… And we will create new ones.” Joris turned to me, his head raised proudly. Though his eyes glazed over on the verge of tears, his smile was big as I’d ever seen it. “We are Qashians. But I am grateful to you and those before us to call Iorus our home.”
I nodded and turned to address everybody. “Earth. Qashia. Iorus. It doesn’t matter where we’re from. We’re all the same. And together, we’ll forge a new destiny for ourselves. There is nothing stopping us from finding the happiness we seek right here.”
I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts. Even though all eyes were on me, I didn’t feel any pressure. The mood in the room filled me with more pride than I’d ever felt before.
“We’ve been through a lot. We’ve faced the greatest evil. An evil with a greater power than any of us could have imagined. But there is a greater power than evil itself. It is the unity we share among us all. That is how we triumphed… together. And as we move into the future, we will continue to triumph… together.
“This world is all of ours. Today, we celebrate our triumph. Let our triumph ring throughout the world for everybody to hear.”
“To Iorus!” Joris threw his hand into the air.
“To Iorus!” Everybody joined with a chorus of cheers and loud applause.
I looked at Rhiannon, Lyra, and Zafina. All three of them were silent as the cheers continued. Though they didn’t make any noise, they were all smiling—smiles of relief and satisfaction.
The hard battle was already over but seeing everybody come together gave me a chance to finally exhale.
“Operation Reconciliation… complete.”
42: True Reconciliation
The Main Hall was cleared and tables were brought in for a celebration. Cauldrons were boiling with hearty stews and enough meat was roasted for the hundreds who’d gathered for the festivities. From the island of Dragonpine to the mountaintops of Euphoria and the marshes of Asrath, representatives from every known village had come to enjoy the celebration. There were enough people that it spilled out of the hall and into the Navican grasslands. It was a peaceful enough night that nobody minded being out in the open. The minstrels played and the conversation was lively. From the goblins to the Qashians, those fortunate enough to be at the gathering were all smiles. It wasn’t like any party I’d ever been to.
It went on for hours, late into the night with no signs of stopping. A belly swelled with sweet drinks and enough meat to keep my hunger satisfied for days, I retired to the Revival Pool for some peace and quiet.
I sat back in the bubbling blue waters, my eyes closed and the steam covering my face. “This is the life…” I let out a deep sigh and chuckled. If I was back home, I could’ve had a jacuzzi just as fancy as this. I guess being out here in Iorus made it a little more special.
The door creaked open but I didn’t pay any attention to it. I figured it was Zafina or Rhiannon at
tempting to drag me back to the party. But when I opened my eyes, I was surprised to find Mistress Vacindra standing along the edge of the water in her black dress.
“I find it curious you’re here,” she said.
“I’m a little tired. Thought nobody would notice me sneaking away.”
“I assumed you would have retired to your quarters.”
“The thought crossed my mind. The Revival Pool is a little more private and secluded… I was wrong though.” I gave her a wink.
Vacindra bowed her head. “I did not mean to interrupt your attempt at privacy.”
“Don’t worry. There are hundreds of people out there. I don’t mind the company of one person… Is there a reason you decided to see me?”
“Zafina told me where you were located. I thought it would be appropriate to step away and gather my strength. I do not anticipate this celebration will end even when the sun rises.”
I chuckled at the thought of everybody partying into the night. “Let ‘em have their fun. How often do we save the world from destruction?”
“A fair assessment. You had more to do with the saving of this world than anybody else.”
“We all did something. If you ask me, I think Guillard is more important than me.”
“Ah… The one who risked his life. He is being celebrated as much as you.”
“Deservedly so. That’s not to say you don’t deserve some praise either. We couldn’t have done this without you either. Aeona… She’s really something.”
“Aeona’s will is undeniable.”
“Trust me. The last thing I’ll ever try to do is deny Aeona.”
Vacindra’s full red lips curled into a smile. Her hands behind her back, she looked as elegant as anybody on Iorus in her black gown. The plunging neckline all the way down to her stomach let me see the pale skin that matched her cheeks.
“Since I am here, I think it is appropriate for me to thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me—”
Before I could finish, she reached behind her back and worked the strap holding everything up. Her black dress cascaded down into a pile around her ankles, revealing the rest of her. Her body was full-figured but firm. Her breasts were two perfectly-shaped spheres—C-cups I assumed—that would’ve made her a perfect lingerie model. Between her legs, a small line of black hair outlined the pink slit. It was hard for me to figure out what to stare at.
Vacindra didn’t care that I was staring at all, stepping into the bubbling water with her hands at her sides.
“The water’s kind of warm, isn’t it?” I said with a smile.
Vacindra’s smirk left her. There was only an intense gaze in her eyes as she let her long, dark hair flow behind her.
“I must be honest with you,” she said. “Though my intention is to thank you, I am curious.”
“Curious?”
“Yes. I am the most loyal follower of Aeona… and you are the Battle God Ultima. Our union is only natural, don’t you agree?”
“Hmm… I think there might be something to that.”
Vacindra’s lustful intent was clear in her eyes. She moved across the shallow pool like a predator stalking its prey. Then again, prey had never been so willing.
Vacindra moved next to me and the scent on her neck filled my nostrils. It was something pungent but not unpleasant. It smelled familiar but I wasn’t able to place it.
“Is that…”
She put her lips to mine to interrupt my thoughts. I felt a slight sting on my lips that moved onto my tongue as she darted her tongue between my teeth. It was like tasting a spicy pepper that was just as sweet. The intensity of her kiss made me hold back a gasp. Our arms moved around each other, keeping each other close before we moved away to catch our breath.
I blinked my eyes, trying to fight off the slight haze I was in. “What is that?”
“I am accustomed to Aeona’s venom.”
“Venom… No wonder it seemed familiar.”
“Do not worry. It is not dangerous and certainly not lethal. Do you not believe it heightens the experience?”
My lips twisted as I thought about it. “I don’t know. I think I’ll need another taste to figure it out.”
She grinned before moving her face back to mine. Our kiss grew deeper and the intensity on my tongue grew stronger. The warm sensation spread to my cheeks and through the rest of my face. It moved down my chest and toward my stomach. But even stronger than that, my desire made my length throb. She was pressing against me so hard, there was no point in trying to hide it from her.
“I want to feel you within me.” Vacindra’s flowery tone was followed by her grabbing me. She pumped her hand on my shaft, squeezing my skin with the right pressure to make me even harder.
I reached down between her legs and returned the favor, parting her folds with two fingers. She gasped softly then guided me toward her.
Her eyes fluttered as I slipped my entire length into her. Vacindra’s warmth tightened around me immediately, making my whole body shudder.
“Yes… You are the Battle God.”
I wrapped my arms around her back and held her close as I tangled my tongue with hers. Any witty comebacks I could’ve had for her were lost as I plunged myself into her with hard, slow strokes. When you were with a woman as beautiful as Vacindra, it was hard not to think about anything else.
She leaned back in the water, pulling her lips away so she could focus more on riding me. Lyra moved her hips on me with a wild passion. Vacindra was more domineering, grinding against me and treating me as if I were an object.
I didn’t mind holding her in my arms and letting her do all the work. The sight of her breasts bouncing and her black hair wet and whipping behind her was nearly satisfying enough. What made the view even more incredible was Vacindra’s face. Her look was always so intense and serious. She was the leader of Asrath—the liaison between the Warriors and the serpent they worshipped. Now she was a pale-faced woman with reddening cheeks, fluttering eyelids, and an open mouth that didn’t let anything out except for soft whimpers.
My hands moved to Vacindra’s waist as she bucked even harder. Her body moved closer to mine as she stole another kiss before her lips moved to my cheek.
“I want to feel you inside of me… I want to feel every drop of the venom you possess… Join with me, Virgil… Let me feel the intensity of the god you possess within you…”
Vacindra’s assertive tone made me thicken inside of her to the point I thought I would explode right then and there. It was no wonder how easy it was for her to ride me with how stiff I was.
I braced myself against the side of the pool as she increased her pace. My hips moved on their own and now we were colliding against one another. Our lips moved back together in sloppy kisses. The nearer we got, the shorter our breaths became.
“I want to receive you… Give it to me…”
Vacindra’s soft moans made me lose myself. I gritted my teeth, holding on for a moment before exploding inside of her. Hard throbs made my whole body shudder. I squeezed her waist tighter to make sure she took every drop of me.
She didn’t seem to care how hard I gripped her. She couldn’t complain. Not when she writhed so bad from her orgasm. Her walls contracted against me, milking me as if her body itself craved me.
I gave her everything I had before sinking into the water. A deep sigh escaped me. The stinging sensation of the poison lingered but the pleasure from taking a woman like Vacindra was more satisfying than anything.
The raven-haired mistress smiled as she moved away from me. She took a seat opposite me in the pool and spread her arms out to relax.
“How was it?” I asked with a chuckle.
“Like nothing I have ever experienced before. I would like you to visit me in Asrath so that we may do this many times again.”
“Hmm… Another woman, another person treating me like a piece of meat,” I sighed.
“Then you are not interested?”
I
put my hands up. “I didn’t say that. But you know, even a Battle God has limited endurance.”
“Indeed. I would like to test it.”
We shared a laugh as the warm bright waters continued bubbling around us.
My eyes closed and I was beginning to drift off when the door opened up again. I turned my head up and saw Zafina, Rhiannon, and Lyra walking in together.
“It appears we are late for the true festivities.” Rhiannon eyed me, not bothering to hide the smile on her lips.
“It’s getting loud out there,” Lyra said. “It’s nice and quiet in here.” Without hesitating, Lyra peeled off her top and climbed out of her skirt in the blink of an eye then splashed into the water.
“The Revival Pool appears to be an appropriate respite for such a celebration.” Zafina followed Lyra’s lead, taking off her robe and revealing the caramel tan body underneath it. She plunged into the water slowly with Rhiannon following shortly after. The entire time, Vacindra remained quiet on the opposite end of the small pool.
“It’s a bit cramped in here,” I said, my legs rubbing up against both Lyra’s and Zafina’s. “Was the Revival Pool intended for so many people?”
“Then how about we make some space?” Lyra moved into my lap then put her lips to mine for a kiss. “Better?” She grinned and got a chuckle out of me.
“Better.”
“It is no wonder why everyone is so drawn to you,” Vacindra said. “You possess a power like no other.”
“I am the one and only Battle God. The question is whether or not the rest of you feel like sharing.”
The ladies looked at one another. With all of the silence between them, there was a moment it seemed like they would all come to blows. But the moment passed quickly and their seductive smiles matched as they turned to me.
“We would not be victorious had we not worked together,” Zafina said. “It is only appropriate we celebrate together as well.”
“I should probably invite Queen Cellica here as well…” I mumbled, laughing to myself again.