Monster Core 2

by Dante King

  “I’m starting to get an idea,” I said.

  Tyria slid downward and folded her legs effortlessly underneath herself. She tugged at the laces of my boots, and I lifted each foot in turn so that she could remove them. There was something irresistible about her patient movements and gentle ministrations. A few moments later, my boots lay beside by my weapons belt, breastplate, tunic, and gloves.

  Tyria’s hungry hands pulled at my trousers. How long had she been fantasizing about something like this? I wasn’t about to interrupt that dreamlike hunger in her eyes. My trousers vanished into the water under my feet.

  Tyria looked up at me and smiled as her hand found my Tainted Elf’s impressive length. The nymph pulled gently at me and gestured for me to sit with her in the pool.

  I wasn’t about to protest, so I slid into the rippling water. Tyria’s dripping hands found my neck and face. She washed the blood from my skin and I noticed a war in her emerald eyes. A war between patience and something else entirely.

  I kissed her wrist as it passed my face. “Your hospitality is much appreciated.”

  “I’m not allowed to have guests,” she said. “This makes for both a pleasant surprise and an ocean of regret later.”

  I frowned. “Regret?”

  Tyria made a dismissive gesture and sidled forward a little. She settled down on one of my thighs as her hands gently traced over my member.

  “You’ll be out of here soon enough, I’m sure. Don’t concern yourself with the ramblings of a lesser dungeon. It’s beneath your notice.”

  “Lesser dungeon?” I managed to say as her lips closed over me.

  “Yes,” she looked up to say. “I am weak among the Nature Dungeons.”

  Her mouth climbed up and down my length as her eyes bore into mine, unaware of anything except my pleasure. When I was near to climaxing, she slid forward and mounted me. As our hips ground together, I could feel tremors reverberating through her skin. The silver ferns around us danced with each movement she made. They glowed brighter with each animalistic sound of pleasure from her chest and dulled a little as she caught her breath.

  The nymph’s moans grew deeper and harder. Her whole form trembled as she arched backward. Her hair hovered as the water around my skin suddenly flashed into mist. The moon-like light from the ferns turned blinding.

  Tyria’s whole body exploded with pleasure as she came.

  She stopped for only a moment to catch her breath before she began again in earnest, but this time, she grabbed my cock in her hand and slid it between her wet folds. The smooth feeling of her flesh was just the same inside as it was outside.

  The nymph was tight and hungry for pleasure. She was more than happy to take the lead, but I didn’t let her do all the work. My hips torqued as I drove up into her while water splashed against my skin. The moon-like ferns around us started to pulsate with light again as Tyria’s moans reached a new height. My hands gripped her back and pulled her closer so she could take my entirety.

  My consciousness shifted. I’d experienced my Vampiric Expertise power with another dungeon only once. I could sense my core miles away. It blazed with sudden light and energy in the Throne Room of Zagorath. My core seemed so distant. Like a star at the other end of the universe.

  I felt for a moment as if I existed within both its crystalline facets and my Tainted Elf. Some unbreakable thread of reality tied us together.

  Tyria’s desperate rocking grew faster and harder. Pleasure blazed through my elf’s body and coiled, ready to spring.

  Then, I truly found Tyria.

  Her core wasn’t anything like mine. It was shaped like an unfurling flower and shimmered with emerald energy. Nature Essence hummed through every vein and atom of her entrancing nymph form.

  An animalistic snarl exploded from the throat of my Tainted Elf as I came into Tyria. Our consciousnesses intertwined as the pathways required for Nature Essence opened within my gem.

  I tasted this new energy for the first time. The essence rushed with a water-like stream of life. It was far more liquid than the smoke-like Infernal Essence or the crackling lightning I’d taken from Abby. I drank of it and felt the new energy coil through my core, many miles away. Understanding blasted through my mind as a blinding light whispered of new possibilities, combinations, and power.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Zagorath Gained New Abilities

  Can now harvest Nature Essence

  Can now craft with Nature Essence

  New skill: Beast Affinity

  Zagorath Increased in Power!

  Total Champions Increased: 4 → 5

  Enthrall has become Greater Enthrall

  Learned Essence Farsight - Can manipulate Essence while in Avatar form

  Maximum Physical Essence Increased: 30,000 → 40,000

  Maximum Avatar Time: 360 minutes → 480 minutes

  Tyria’s consciousness slid away from mine as my Vampiric Expertise power began to fade. I lifted myself from the pool, rolled onto my back, and felt the soft grass on my skin.

  I’d not only obtained new abilities by fucking Tyria, but I’d also effectively leveled up. My timer had refreshed, so I had a whole lot more time to spend in the Nature Realm. Good. Because I had a whole lot of questions for Tyria.

  “Beast Affinity,” I muttered as I considered my new ability.

  “Sorry?” Tyria asked as she came to lie beside me.

  “I gained the skill from you.”

  “When we. . . “

  I nodded. “I am a Tainted Elf Lord. I have a skill called Vampiric Expertise. It allows me to gain some of the powers from anyone I sleep with.”

  “So, you’re now a Nature Dungeon?” Tyria frowned as she laid next to me.

  “Not quite. I can harvest Nature Essence, craft with it, and, presumably, use its seals. I also have your Beast Affinity skill.”

  “You are rather impressive, Von Dominus.”

  “Thank you. Now, what can you tell me about Beast Affinity?”

  “When I was forged into a dungeon core, I wasn’t supposed to be powerful. Maya told me that I was her maidservant. It was my place to keep the local guilds under control and maintain the balance as ordained by Eveline. I wasn’t even given a soul forge, or traps, like most of you favored dungeons, rubbing shoulders with the goddess.” A smirk flitted across Tyria’s face. “I had to invite Grynwild into my depths and tame it until it served me.”

  “So, you brought the wolves and treants into your dungeon, then made them your own?”

  “Correct. I don’t spawn them, as is typical of dungeons with soul forges. Which is why it will be rather difficult to replace the treant you killed.”

  “You have to lure new ones into the dungeon?”

  “No,” Tyria explained, “but it takes a large amount of Nature Essence to restore them. Once I’ve captured a beast, I can reproduce them.”

  “You can capture a single beast and reproduce as many of the same kind as you like?”

  “I can only reproduce as many as I’ve captured. It took me multiple years to gather 30 wolves into my depths.”

  “And my adventurers and the Deadeye Guild killed them all in a day.” I couldn’t help gloating; we’d blown through her dungeon with ease.

  “You should tread carefully, Von Domninus.” She folded her hands on my chest and nestled her chin on them as she gazed into my eyes. Every inch of her skin felt like gloriously cool silk. It was almost impossible to just keep my tone conversational and not roll her over and take her again.

  “You’ve turned Bolnir and the others to your side,” she murmured thoughtfully. “They’re all regulars down here. You were right, you know. Until you brought your own adventurer and champion, they couldn’t make it past the Third Floor. Lucius and his kin took issue with your offers of power and prestige.”

  “I tend to have that kind of effect,” I said.

  The nymph rolled her eyes and flicked a tendril of hair out of her eye. “So, the guild is part of your game. But
you’re not satisfied with only that, are you? You came down here without any intention of letting your new servants find me. You wanted me all to yourself.”

  “Maybe I’m looking to re-establish dominant dungeons throughout the realms,” I suggested. “ I need to be able to talk to them to be able to forge alliances.”

  “Von Dominus—”

  “Dom,” I told her.

  “Dom, then.” Tyria rolled the name around on her tongue. “You might be able to fool your followers, but you can’t fool me. You’re not interested in allies. You’re interested in vassals. You’re perfectly happy to share power, so long as you have enough of it that no one can threaten you.”

  I smiled at her perceptiveness. “And you act like my followers don’t know that, Tyria. They know who’s in charge, but each of them gains power by my side. You’re right. I don’t want my own rising against me. But I look after them.”

  “Your own,” Tyria repeated. “You sound just like my mistress.”

  “Maya?” I asked. Tyria had introduced herself as the maidservant of Maya. “Is she your goddess?”

  I thought there was only one goddess per realm, but maybe there were demigoddesses as well.

  Tyria beamed. “One thing you have going for you. You pay attention when people talk. No, she is not a goddess.”

  “Another Nature dungeon?”

  “Mhm. And more powerful than you or me.” The nymph smiled and laid her head down on my chest. “She’s going to be so very upset when she finds out about you.”

  “I could free you of her,” I said.

  Tyria sighed and relaxed back onto her hands as her eyes found my gaze again. “Dom, you’re powerful; I’m not disputing that. The things this avatar of yours can do to my champions.“ She shuddered a little at the thought. “It’s terrifying. But Maya is ancient. She’s constantly locked in battle with the Sap Lords. They’ve never conquered her, not in centuries.”

  “Maybe she’s too valuable for them to lose.”

  “Are you suggesting that my mistress is dancing to the tune of the Sap Lords?” Tyria asked with a playful poke at my nose. “I’ll have you remember that we’re all held in constant balance by Eveline, you young and impetuous dungeon. No one side has dominance over the other. Unless you know something that’s hidden from the rest of us.”

  Yeah, I did know something. I knew that it was Lilith’s design that I destroy Entropy, the strongest guild in the Sinarius Realms. I knew that she wanted me to conquer dungeon after dungeon and become the most powerful living being in this world. Aside from the goddess herself, of course.

  But I didn’t tell Tyria any of that. I simply smiled at her and pulled a hand from behind my head. My fingers traced a line over her lean form. Tyria moaned softly as my fingers danced over her bare back.

  “So, you’re not interested in freedom from Maya?” I asked.

  Tyria laughed. “Take it up with her. I’m not like you, Dom. I don’t like fighting for my life. Not unless I absolutely have to. If you’re going to take over the Deadeye Guild, at least keep them visiting. I might not always get a full meal, but I get lucky every now and then.”

  “I’ll make sure to do that.”

  “You know,” the nymph said, “you’re really not as dangerous as Eveline made your kind out to be. Every legend, everything I’ve ever heard about Lilith and her followers? They make you out to be absolute monsters.”

  “Glad you’re coming around. It’s certainly better than having you try to take my head from my shoulders.” I sat up and started to grab my armor and weapons. “I’ll not harm you, Tyria. I’m reasonable, provided you don’t aggravate me. And even then, I’m willing to give quarter when it’s the wise option.”

  “You know that Maya will come after you when she finds out what you’re doing.”

  “You didn’t quite mention how she would even be able to find out about this. Do you plan to tell her?”

  “Maya has every dungeon in the realm under her dominion. All she needs to do is reach out and ask, and I must tell her everything.”

  “Sounds like slavery,” I muttered.

  “She’s fair, if a little harsh. I’ll be fine.”

  “I can protect you. Leave your dungeon and come with me.”

  “If I leave, that will only bring more trouble.”

  Now, in my armor and with my daggers strapped around me, I moved toward Tyria. I caught her under the arms and slid my hands over her chest. I squeezed her gently, then kissed her neck from behind. The nymph turned to honey in my hands as she moaned. She was more than ready for round two, but I had to go.

  “I’ll be back,” I whispered in her ear.

  “I look forward to it,” she breathed in reply.

  “And I know you’ll choose to side with me, in the end.”

  “Conquer Maya first, and we’ll see about that.”

  That was good enough for me.

  “Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Von Dominus,” Tyria smiled, completely naked as she bid me farewell. “Visit again soon. And bring me more adventurers.”

  “You have 10 elves to consume upstairs,” I said with a chuckle. “I’d say that’s a good show of faith, wouldn’t you?”

  “It’s a start.” Tyria’s eyes twinkled as she evaporated into green-tinted mist.

  I clasped my hooded cloak around my shoulders and cast my eyes over the dungeon. Tyria’s treant unfurled itself from the archway that led up to the next floor. I inclined my head in its direction as I passed. Tyria didn’t have a soul forge to respawn her minions, but these monsters of hers were still dungeon champions. In a way, she had her own kind of mechanism for enthralling creatures. She lured powerful beasts to her dungeon and tamed them. I couldn’t wait to test the skill in Zagorath.

  I considered what Infernal beasts would be worth bringing to my dungeon as I moved through the levels. I had a few ideas, but nothing concrete. It was a matter to handle later. First, I needed to locate Puck at the travel stone. Ralph would likely still be tied up at Elderwood House, but with a Nature Sigil, he would blend in with the other Deadeye Guild members.

  The corpses of the elves of the First Floor were gone. Tyria had consumed them into various essences. I didn’t feel any sense of loss as I exited the dungeon because my prizes were waiting for me.

  Light bled through the treetops as the golden fingers of dawn chased the sky and fought back the darkness. I made sure to keep my hearing focused on irregular sounds as I went to the tree where I’d stashed the items. After I removed the leaves, I gathered the wand I’d taken from the sorcerer, the longbow, dagger, and silver chainmail. I secured the dagger and wand to my belt, looped the longbow over my shoulder, and hooked the chainmail under my arm. I was a walking armory, but there was no way I’d leave this realm without some loot.

  A small path snaked away from Tyria’s dungeon and joined a network of barely visible game trails. I followed the freshest path through the brush, and it didn’t take long before I reached the travel stone.

  With no sign of Puck, I waited a few minutes as I considered my next step. I’d dispatched Elohin and his elves single-handedly in my dungeon avatar form. I would’ve destroyed them with even less effort if they’d been inside Zagorath. I needed more of a challenge. Someone who positively brimmed with Nature and Soul Essence.

  I needed the Sap Lords. They sounded like the best dungeon-divers in the Nature Realm. These lords were able to scare professionals like Bolnir into submission easily. With the lords dead, the guild--and the Nature Realm--would be mine for the taking. And if I could draw these Sap Lords into Zagorath, then I would gain the best items this realm had to offer.

  Ralph was in the best position to antagonize the lords. Bolnir and the rest of the Deadeye Guild would know the way to do it. Luckily, my avatar timer had refreshed after I’d conquered Tyria. I had a whole lot more time to make my mark in the Nature Realm.

  Puck suddenly materialized from a cloud of shadows, accompanied by the aromas of brimstone and sul
fur.

  “Master, I see you have gathered prizes from the dungeon.”

  “I have,” I said as I tossed him the chainmail and longbow.

  “What am I to do with these? I cannot wear the mail or wield the bow.”

  “Carry them.”

  “I’m to be your glorified pack mule?”

  “Yes,” I answered.

  Puck groaned as he gripped the items. “You’re not returning to Zagorath?”

  “No. I wish to see Elderwood Clearing. I would like to brew some chaos.”

  “Sounds delectable,” Puck smacked his lips.

  “Did the others reach the village safely?” I asked.

  “I spoke with Ralph before meeting you here.” The Shade struck up a girlish tone as he quoted Ralph. “‘Bolnir has restored order and told the rest of the guild that I’m their newest member. Master will be pleased with us. I wonder if he’ll allow me an evening with the beautiful Abigail.’” Puck coughed as he finished imitating my adventurer.

  “He didn’t say that last part, did he?”

  “No, but I’m sure he meant it.”

  “I thought you two had become friends?”

  “I wouldn’t say friends. We are more allies of necessity.”

  “Right,” I said.

  The Shade shook his head and resumed his usual sarcastic tone. “I tell you, the stable boy may have his uses, but he’s still insufferably irreverent.”

  Puck might’ve been calling the kettle black, but it didn’t make any difference to me. The news sounded perfect. If the dwarf had done his part, then we had a base of operations.

  “Now, take me to Elderwood Clearing,” I said.

  “With pleasure.” Puck faded into a black cloud and drifted into the air. “I take it that you managed to—ahem—reason with the dungeon?”