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Story Codes: Teen male/Teen female, Female/Teen female, Oral Sex, Fantasy, Gamelit, Magic, Monster Sex, Exhibitionism, Voyeurism

For a list of all the dungeon builder stories click here

Comments are very welcome. I would like all criticism, positive and negative, so long as it’s
constructive, and feedback is very appreciated.

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Click here for Part 4.

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The next day, after a hearty breakfast of omelets (how my mother whipped up omelets, I had no idea), I entered the throne room to practice my magic. After fighting Jindag, I had a fair idea of what sort of spells I could cast. He had used Life and Water magics to great effect, healing himself with the former and attacking me with the latter.

It added to my arsenal of Dark and Lightning spells.

Brimming in my soul were the ability to cast spells, like a mage, I supposed. I said a formula and the magic happened. It wasn’t like a cleric who prayed to one of the twenty-four gods. There was a Lord and Lady for each of the twelve flavors of magic and a cleric seemed to be able to serve one. Me, I just called upon their domain for some reason.

With Dark, I could blind my enemies, wrap myself up in night, or even throw a dagger of black at the enemy. With Lightning, I could stun with my touch, guard myself with a static aura that zapped incoming attacks, and throw a spear of lightning.

“Okay, Lord Leo, let’s start with Life,” said Souleen as I stood in the middle of the throne room.

My companions were watching save for Mom who was washing the dishes. Garnet wore her apron, she had helped with cooking breakfast, and just looked so adorable in it. Maya lounged on my throne, her watery legs thrown over one of the armrests. Lana sat gracefully on her own thrown, legs daintily crossed, looking like the movie starlet she was. Halia flowed throw sword forms to the side, her black hair streaming behind her in the tight braid.

“Soothing Touch will let you heal minor wounds,” said Souleen. “It’s an external spell, but you can cast it on yourself. Technically, you can cast any external spell on yourself, since you can project your magic back into your own body as a part of the external world, but this is actually a beneficial one.”

I nodded. Magic came as External (prayed to the Lord), Internal (prayed to the Lady), or a Ritual (prayed to both). External spells projected my power. They were my attacks. Internal spells I could only cast onto myself. They were buffs or defenses. Rituals created greater effects that could last permanently but also took time to wrought. I didn’t know any from Lightning or Dark.

“You do have to touch to heal,” Souleen said.

“So I gathered from the name,” I said.

“Sometimes, you have to be obvious with Leo,” Maya said playfully.

“What, is this a party line?” I demanded.

“Yep!” Garnet said.

A chorus of monster girls answered, too.

“The only other Life Spell you know is an internal spell,” Souleen continued. “Revitalize. This energizes you.”

“Ah, that ass-muncher used it,” I thought, remembering how Jindag had given himself a boost to his energy. “So what can I do with Water?”

“You have two external spells with it. Water Breath lets you breathe a gush of water. Try it out.”

I heard the words whispering in my heart. I already knew them, I just had to remember them. I repeated them. “Waters gush and flow, let the force of Lord Enki sweep!”

The moment I finished the words, I drew on my reserve of mana held in the Void Crystal, and a gush of water vomited from my mouth. I could feel it forming in me and then spewing out at a hard volume. I moved my head, the flow following where I looked. Water splashed over the map, a flowing tide that spread over the floor. It ended after two seconds.

“It has force. Can knock down enemies,” Souleen said.

“And the other spell, the drowning one?” I remembered that terror of suddenly being in a ball of water and stuck in it, unable to breathe or escape.

“Watery Grasp,” Souleen said. “Deadly and dangerous. It will persist long enough to drown someone.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, taking in a deep breath. Words drifted through my heart. “Water’s crushing weight surround, feel the grasp of Lord Enki squeeze!”

The water surged out and seized Maya. She gasped as she was lifted into the center of the ball. She was almost lost in the roiling sphere. Her own body, made of water, blending in. I smiled as I could just see her naked form swimming around in here.

“Mmm, this is nice,” Maya said. The undine sounded at peace in there. “I could just enjoy this all day long, Leo.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I thought. “Pity I can barely see you in there.”

“Missing these?” she asked and pressed up to the front where her round breasts came into clear view. She jiggled them.

“Better,” I thought.

“Is he making you show off your tits,” came my mother’s amused voice.

“Oh, he doesn’t have to make me do that,” Maya thought.

“Kweh, heh, heh,” Garnet chortled nearby, still wearing her apron. My little sister’s red wings spread wide. “Big bro, your perversity is so inspiring. It makes me so wet. See!” She lifted the front of her apron to show off her gleaming slit. That tight delight was a mouth-watering sight. A bead of her juices ran down her pale flesh to the tops of her thigh-high boots.

“Oh, yes, he is such a perv,” Lana Fulmine said. “He once pretended to be Baron Doom and made me put on Jane Dangerous’s booty shorts so he could ravish me and make me into his slut.” A smile crossed the movie star’s lips. We had done that when we first arrived. Jane Dangerous, the treasure hunting adventurer, was the character that had made Lana Fulmine into a household name. Baron Doom was her arch-nemesis.

A fun day of roleplay after our first trip to Astovin.

“Okay, okay, only one spell left to learn,” Souleen said. “Breathe Water. Not a surprising spell, I know, but one that you’ll want to have if you ever come up against another builder with the Water Glyph or the wrong type of monster girl.”

I focused on my soul, letting the words for that spell rising within me. It came easily now. I just had to focus on the essence of water, how it flowed down the easiest path while slowly tearing apart that which constrained it.

“Soothing water sustains, let the love of Lady Ninli engulf,” I chanted and felt the magic falling over myself. An internal spell. I could only give myself water breathing.

Pity.

But I had to test it out. So I sauntered up to Maya in the sphere of water, my magic sustaining the Water Grasp spell. I could feel it in the back of my mind. I stared at it, flashes of Jindag nearly drowning me in one almost overwhelmed me with fear.

I had my magic. I didn’t have to be afraid.

Maya was in there. I never had to be afraid when my best friend was around.

It was strange diving into a ball of floating water. I jumped forward like I was diving into a pool, but before I could even start to arch over to plunge in head first, I slammed into the sphere. It was like a belly flop except I barely had any momentum so it didn’t hurt. I was in the water, weightless and almost disoriented.

Maya grabbed me. Her blue face was clear to see with her this close, her watery hair fanning out in the liquid. She beamed at me and then pulled me into the center. We drifted around, the world outside distorted, bent around us by the curve of the ball.

I breathed in the water. It flowed through my mouth and down my throat. Instead of coughing, I could feel it dissolving in my lungs. It was a strange sensation. I laughed, my voice coming out oddly distorted while bubbles rose around me.

Bubbles… I breathed in water and the spell turned the liquid into air inside of me. Then I exhaled it out. Did the spell do something like electrolysis, separating the oxygen molecules from the two hydrogens? Or was it just magically transmuting the liquid into breathable air.

No idea, but it felt so normal as I breathed in again.

Maya swam around me, her hands brushing my body. She moved with such grace through the water. This was her element. Literally. My undine girlfriend was at home here. Her hands caressed over my back and ass. She brushed my cock.

Then her mouth was on it.

I gasped and bucked. My spasming sent me slowly tumbling. The distorted world outside the sphere of water rotated as my naughty undine nursed on my cock. Her warm, wet mouth sucked with hunger.

“Damn,” I sent her telepathically. “Maya, you are such a cock-sucker.”

“I know,” she sent back happily, her mouth busy nursing on my dick. “I always knew I’d be one for you. If you’d just stop drooling over every other woman. The baristas, the MILFs, the teachers, the cheerleaders.”

“Porn stars.” Nina Naughty flashed through my mind.

“Yes!” She sucked hard, my dick throbbing in her wonderful mouth.

Then her legs swung before me. She grabbed my head with them and pressed me into her hairless pussy. Her hot folds pressed into my mouth, feeling liquid and solid at the same time. I licked through her folds and tasted her sweeter water.

I shuddered at the sensation while she moaned around my cock and sucked harder. I hugged her body to me, her breasts pressing into my stomach. Her body rippled in my arms, waves washing through her liquid form.

“Where you shaved in the real world?” I asked as I licked her pussy, her hairless twat rubbing on my mouth.

“Nope. But knowing how much of a perv you are, I’m not surprised you love my bald twat.”

“I do.”

I thrust my tongue into her snatch, loving the feel of her pussy walls around me, the way the waves flowing through her body rippled through her cunt. Her thighs squeezed tight about my head. She held me with such passion to her twat. I groaned, feasting on her with hunger.

My hands grabbed her asscheeks. I held on tight, kneading her booty. She felt so wonderful in my arms. My tongue danced through her snatch. I stirred around in her, loving her. She groaned, her cunt so deliciously warm about my tongue.

Her body undulated against me, waves of a gentle sea massaging me. She nursed on my dick with such hunger. It was an impressive delight. I groaned, loving every moment of her bobbing her head. She worked that mouth up and down my dick. She suckled with hunger while I plundered her pussy.

I breathed the water, and maybe her cunt cream, while feasting on her. The sweet delight of her twat filled my mouth. I held her as we floated weightlessly. The rest of the world had vanished. There were just Maya and me in this paradise of water.

It was warm and comforting. I didn’t have to worry about drowning. My magic kept me alive while her mouth worshiped my cock. I swirled my tongue through her, making her moan. Making her purr. She suckled with passion, her mouth bobbing up and down my shaft.

“Fuck, Maya,” I sent to her. “I wish I had given you a chance.”

“I dreamed of it,” she thought back, moaning the entire time. “Now I get you, Leo.”

“Love you, Maya!”

“I love you so much!”

She sucked with such hunger on my dick. It was an amazing situation. I groaned and licked. My tongue slid through her folds. I stroked all her naughty bits. I loved her pussy lips. I savored their texture. I loved its flavor. I fluttered my tongue up and down her folds and licked the hell out of her pussy.

It was a wondrous delight to enjoy. I caressed her with all the passion I possessed. I brushed her clit. She moaned around my dick, my balls tightening from her wonderful suction. I suckled on her bud, that rippling bead feeling wonderful in my mouth.

My nose nuzzled into her folds. I breathed in sweet water, her cunt cream. Her passion sustained me. My fingers dug into her rump. I held her undulating butt-cheeks. The world drifted around us as my passion swelled and swelled. I rose to that moment of eruption.

“Maya!” I thought with a groan.

“Flood my mouth, perv! Give me your cum. I love it!”

“Mmm, and I’m the perv?”

“We both are!” Her body bucked.

A flood of sweet juices gushed out of her snatch. I breathed in her passion then opened my mouth wide and drank her cream. Her boobs rubbed into my chest, the waves rippling through her body growing wilder. I gripped her ass while she moaned around my cock.

The humming delight wreathed the tip of my dick. My balls tightened. Then I growled into her pussy and exploded.

My cum pumped into my undine’s mouth. I basted my best friend with all my cum. My legs thrashed in the water. Up and down had lost all meaning. I growled into her cunt as my cum pumped into her mouth.

“So good!” Maya groaned in my mind. “Leo! Leo! I love your cum!”

“Me, too!” Garnet added. “You got Lana so wet she started eating my pussy.”

“Because you sat on my face!” Lana moaned.

I shuddered and bucked through my orgasm. I pumped load after load of my cum into Maya’s hungry mouth. I drank all the pussy cream I could out of her snatch. I loved every moment of it. I reveled in the taste of her. The wonderful delight of devouring her cunt. she was amazing to eat.

Then she pulled her mouth off my cock and her legs from my face. She spun around me. Her thighs went around my waist. I gasped as she impaled her juicy pussy down my cock, her flesh rippling with her agitated waves.

“Leo!” she moaned as she sank on me.

“Go, Maya, go!” the mermaids all cheered. All the monster girls were listening to our thoughts.

“Oh, I’m going for it,” she moaned, her back arching, her tits heaving before me.

She rode me as we floated through the water. I groaned, tumbling in the sphere as she pumped her thighs, working her cunt up and down my dick. Her hot and juicy snatch held me tight. Pleasure flowed through my body, my balls drinking in the heat.

My arms thrust out as I floated through this heaven. I watched her tits slowly heave in the water, rippling with such delight. They were so gorgeous, a darker shade of blue than the rest of our world. Bubbles rose from my mouth as I groaned.

Growled.

It was incredible.

Her moans echoed through the water around us as she slammed her cunt down my cock over and over again. Her thighs flexed as they held my waist. Her pussy massaged my dick and sucked at me over and over again.

I relaxed into peace as I savored my undine’s pussy. The hot sheath embraced me. Massaged me. My cock throbbed in her depths. I would have such a mighty orgasm. I would just explode with passion and pump her full of my cum. She would brim with it.

I groaned as we tumbled through the water. It was incredible to enjoy. This was such rapture. Such passion. Her cunt massaged me. My toes curled. I groaned, savoring this wonderful delight working up and down my cock.

“Yes, yes, yes!” I thought. “Oh, damn, that’s amazing. That’s fucking delicious, Maya!”

“Mmm, you like this?” she asked and then added a swivel to her hips, stirring her cunt around my dick.

“Wonderful!”

She smiled at me. Her hands rubbed up and down my chest, brushing over the four glyphs tattooed over my heart. Her fingers were soft and gentle as she worked her cunt up and down my dick. I groaned, our bodies rotating. We twisted and turned as we floated through our paradise.

Her pussy gripped my cock harder. She grew hotter. Somehow wetter. I groaned at that silky flesh sliding up and own my cock. My fingers flexed. I groaned, bubbles rising from my mouth and drifting around her breasts.

The pressure built at the tip of my cock. Her cunt massaged my dick. She brought me closer and closer to that moment of eruption. That moment when I would spurt all my jizz into her cunt. It would be incredible.

“Maya!” I sent with a groan.

“Cum in me whenever you’re ready,” she sent. “I love your cum, Leo. All that perverted seed! Makes me feel so naughty.”

“Mmm, my slutty, little undine!”

“You’re the only man I’d let call me that!” she sent as she slammed her cunt down my dick. The pleasure of it was incredible.

“Undine?” I asked, grinning at her.

She impaled her pussy down my cunt and moaned, “You are such a dick, Leo.”

“You love my dick!”

“I do!”

She rose up my shaft, her pussy sucking hard before she slammed back down me. She took me to the hilt and gasped. Her pussy rippled and spasmed with intensity. Waves of sucking passion ran through her cunt.

“Fuck!” I grunted, bubbles bursting for my mouth. “Maya!”

“Leo! I’m your slutty undine! Give me your cum! Please, please!”

Her pussy sucked at my cock. She massaged me. The ache at the tip grew. My balls tightened. I groaned, the pressure swelling and swelling. Her pussy sucked at me. Massaged me. My body shuddered.

I erupted.

“Oh, yes!” Maya gasped and bucked. Her boobs heaved in the water, her hair fanning about her. her pussy convulsed with such passion. “Your seed, Leo! I love your seed. Love you!”

I growled, a cloud of bubbles rising from my mouth. I pumped load after load of my spunk into her pussy. I basted her cunt. She rippled and writhed around me. Her twat sucked at me with such wild hunger. It was a delight to experience.

I growled out in pleasure. I loved every moment of her pussy rippling about me. It was an amazing delight. She gave me this amazing rapture. Her cunt worked at my dick with passion. My toes curled as I trembled through the ecstasy.

I hit that peak, spilling the last of my seed into her pussy.

Then I growled, my body buzzing with euphoria. She bent over and hugged me. She held me tight as we spun through the water, my magic sustaining the two spells, drawing on the power from my Void Crystal. I could stay like this forever and—

“Lord Leo!” the excited voice of Hela my wildhound, barked in my mind. “Lord Fuegin is at the entrance to the dungeon asking for an audience!”

So much for cuddling with my undine.

 

My hair was still damp when Fuegin’s dot marched down the final hallway to my throne room. Like last time, he had sworn on his Void Crystal not to be my enemy, and I had done the same thing. I had met him when I’d first arrived. He had been a dungeon builder who had just wanted to stop in and say hi. He had some interesting questions, wondering where we came from.

He didn’t seem to be as maniacal as the two other dungeon builders I had dealt with. Fuegin also felt powerful. I wondered how far he had come to reach me. Did he have a magical means of travel or did he just travel?

Like last time, he had a guest with him, the two green dots almost on the doors with an escort of Baaghi, Paanee, and Usiku around them. They reached the doors to the throne room. I sat up straight on my chair, my gray robes about me. My women were sitting on their thrones, even Halia had one.

The double doors at the end of my throne room, carved and ornate, creaked open, pushed outward by Usiku. My fomorian stepped to the side to let my two guests sweep in. I couldn’t help but grin. If Fuegin truly wished for friendship, he might just be the ally I needed.

He was a tall and bronze-skinned man, his eyes coal bright. He had on a cloak of fire that burned down his back. He held the Fire Glyph and, I imagined, others. He had clearly modified his body with his Void Crystal. He had a muscular and handsome appearance.

Halia’s jaw dropped.

Beside him was his companion, Amante. She was a busty monster girl made of cooling magma, her skin that black but there were cracks of glowing red that ran over her curvaceous form, making her appear even more striking. A mane of fire, much like his cloak, spilled down from her head.

“Ah, Leo,” Fuegin said, “I have been most impressed with your methods. Wanting to make peace with the people of this world. It’s an admirable path.” He spoke with sincerity as he approached. “It takes a brave man to make peace with those who want to kill him.”

“Change can only come when we get to know our enemies and learn that they are not much different than we are,” I said. “Besides, if we spend all our time fighting them and each other, we’ll never learn why we were brought here. And that—”

“MONSTER!”

Halia burst from her throne and whipped out her blessed sword. Her golden armor flashed in the light as she charged at Fuegin. Her black hair streamed behind her. I gaped in shock as she raised her sword to attack him.

“Halia!” I gasped in shock.

Fuegin held out his hand, “Howl and rage, let the winds of Lord Anu gust!”

His spell sent a blast of air from him that slammed into Halia and threw her back on the ground. She hit with a clattering impact. She coughed for a moment, her limbs spasming. She began to stand, rage screaming from her lips.

“Halia!” I bellowed, gaining my feet, shocked by my paladin’s actions.

“Your vassal seems to be angry,” Fuegin said with a flippant attitude. “Out of respect, I chose not to incinerate her, but… She came perilously close to violating your word.”

“Bastard!” Halia spat as she gained her feet, her hand gripping her sword. She raised it, her legs tensing.

“Halia, what the fuck are you doing?” I roared, marching off my throne and seizing her arm as she lunged forward again. I almost lost my grip on her.

She whirled about to face me, a strand of her black hair spilling down her fiery cheeks. Her blue eyes smoldered with rage. This close, the hum from her blessed blade vibrated the bone in my ear and made my cheek twitch.

“He’s a monster! That’s Fuegin the Inferno! The Black Flame of Nyias. The Razer of Kelias. He’s a foul and loathsome dungeon builder. One of the worst!”

I flicked my eyes to Fuegin. He stood there impassively. He had power. That spell felt strong like it was a level of magic over mine. I glanced around the room. I had him outnumbered with all my monster girls and he didn’t seem perturbed. And if he was as powerful as Halia feared…

“That’s not it,” I said, gripping her arm. “There’s fury in you. Real rage. What is it?”

“He murdered my father!” She threw a look over her shoulder and leveled her blade. “Do you remember this sword! Huh? Villain! You slew the last owner of it. You roasted him in his armor, orphaned his daughter, and widowed his wife!”

Fuegin’s eyes glanced down then up at her. “Ah, Anguin.” Fuegin nodded. “A worthy opponent. He nearly gutted me. Killed Amante. His party pillaged my domain. Only one escaped. The rogue. Too much bother to kill since I was fighting to stay alive. Pity that the sword is blessed. I would have loved to have that blade on my wall.”

Halia roared and pulled at my grip. It took all my strength to hold her back.

I jerked her around. “Halia. He’s a guest. I promised him safe passage. That my monster girls and you wouldn’t attack him.”

“He deserves to die for his crimes! The western lands suffer under his rule.”

“Suffer.” Fuegin arched an eyebrow. “They prosper. No more wars. Nor more bandits or roving bands of monsters. I have brought my lands peace!”

“You have enslaved its people and made them your chattel!” spat Halia.

“I did what I had to do to survive,” Fuegin said. “The moment I came to this world, lost, confused, I was attacked. Adventurers sought to kill me and loot my domain. I had to protect myself. My darling Amante. I fought and fought. I showed the world what I would do if they kept attacking me. It took them two object lessons, but now they do not harm me. They do not put those I swore to protect in danger. I’m not different than Leo.”

“He would never burn cities to the ground!” Halia snarled, her arm shaking. “He would never condemn thousands to death.”

“I made… mistakes.” Fuegin looked down. “But they have wrought more peace. No different than what the Americans did to Japan. I slaughtered to stop worse bloodshed. I shoved peace down this world’s throat. I’m sorry you choked on it.”

Halia shrieked and nearly jerked out of my grip.

“And my father?” demanded Halia. “His sword demands your blood!”

“I have killed a lot of adventurers,” Fuegin said, weariness falling over his bronze face. “What choice did I have? They came to kill me. Your father slaughtered the monster girls I loved, hacked through my home, and sought to murder me. I defended myself. I will not apologize for wanting to live. For my only crime being my existence.”

I swallowed. I knew what he meant. I only wanted peace, too, but despite what I did for Astovin, they feared me. Thought me a tyrant. Adventurers were still hunting me down. Lord Shorvin had put out a bounty on me.

“Halia,” I whispered. I turned her face to mine with a free hand. “He’s a version of me that didn’t have your support. That was thrown into this world and was forced into darkness. But he has come offering friendship. I can’t reject that. Not when we’re so precariously positioned.”

“You can’t possibly want to be friends with him,” she snarled. “He admitted it. He burned those cities.”

I glanced at Fuegin. He could have burned Halia to cinder for what she had done. Instead, he used a spell to knock her back. He could raze my entire dungeon. I could feel the power bleeding off of him. I needed allies.

“How long ago did he burn those cities?”

“Fifty years,” she said. “People don’t attack him much. My father was the last.”

“I am sorry,” I said. “I truly am, but where will it stop? This violence. You want to kill him for defending himself against your father. Fine, you kill him. But what if there’s someone who loves him. What if he has a son or daughter that hunts you down to avenge him. And on and on and on. This has to stop. Dungeon builders and the people of this world need to find a way to coexist or this suffering is never-ending. That’s what I want more than anything. I thought that’s what you wanted.

“But if it’s vengeance…” I shook my head. “What good will that do the world?”

“It will rid it of one monster,” she hissed.

“And? Another one will just rise in his place. One who doesn’t care about making alliances and figuring out why we’re brought here. What force is yanking us from our world? How long have dungeon builders been a problem?”

She squirmed. “It’s hard to say. Thousands of years since Meskalamdug the Flaming Devil first arose. So much has been lost.” She trembled. “Our world is constantly being assaulted.”

“I know.” I stared into her blue eyes. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“For now, Fuegin is more valuable as my friend. If he is repentant of his crimes, if he truly has made it peaceful in his lands, then I need his help. I’m sorry. I understand if that is too much for you to swallow. If you would rather seek out vengeance than make this world better. I’ll release you from my service.”

“Lord Leo,” she whimpered, tears springing in her eyes.

“But you have to choose.”

“You can’t ask me to work with my father’s murderer!” Her liquid depths pleaded with me.

“You don’t have to work with him. You don’t have to be around him. You just have to let me deal with him. Okay? You have to give up on vengeance to make this world better. Are you strong enough to do that?”

“I’m strong,” she hissed.

“Then what do you truly want?”

She squeezed her eyes shut. Her arm lowered. She shuddered and then opened her eyes. “I want peace. You showed me that, Lord Leo. I’m your paladin. That has not changed. It’s just… He…”

“I know.”

Then I noticed that my mother was by us. She watched, pain on her woody face. I gently pressed Halia towards her. “Take care of her, Mom.”

“I will,” she said gently, her arm going around Halia’s shoulder. My mother led the trembling paladin away, the tip of her humming sword nearly dragging across the ground. I watched them pass by the thrones and then through the doors that led to our quarters. They boomed shut.

I turned to Fuegin. “I—”

He held up a forestalling hand. “No apologies needed. I had heard you had recruited a paladin to your side, but I had no idea it was Anguin’s daughter. I would have taken more care. I truly had no choice. Her father nearly killed me. He was a legend. He had taken down some of the vilest dungeon builders.”

“And how many of them had burned two cities to the ground?” I asked, my voice cold.

Fuegin closed his eyes. “I was younger. Angry at the situation. How everyone hated me. I gave an ultimatum, and then thought I had no choice but to carry it out when they ignored me. When you make a threat and don’t act on it, your enemies are only emboldened. Remember that, Leo. Never threaten to do something that will leave you haunted by nightmares. It took two cities, after that, they surrendered. I took an area of petty kingdoms always warring with each other when not dealing with builders, and unified it. I crammed peace down their throats. They all hate me for what I did, deservedly so, but at least their lives are as comfortable as such a primitive world will allow.”

I considered his words. Fifty years… That would make him older than my mother though he didn’t look it. He looked to be in his twenties instead of his sixties or seventies. A lot of time to reflect. To change.

“Why are you here?” I asked, sinking on the throne. I needed allies. I couldn’t be picky. If he wasn’t actively hurting people now, I would just have to overlook his past acts.

Two cities burned, though…

“Have you had any insights into why we’re here?” Fuegin asked.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” I said, my thoughts still spinning from the revelations. It was hard not to see the man standing before me as a monster. But he was just a human, like me, torn from our world and thrust into this insanity. “Souleen, the Soul of my Void Crystal, asked if I could protect her before I was summoned. Only… she seemed a little different from my Souleen. Almost more majestic. I don’t know. Did you have that dream?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Before the fire came and burned me. I dreamed of her and then she asked me again. We made love and then I appeared here. A contract formed.”

“There’s something there,” I said, leaning back in my throne. “Something important that I feel like we’re missing. Why was she different?”

“She hadn’t imprinted on us yet,” said Fuegin with a shrug. “The Soul then bonded with us and that has to affect her. Every one dungeon builder I’ve talked to has one. They’re the same and yet subtlety different. They react to us and adapt to us, becoming, maybe, what we need when we first arrive.”

“Okay,” I said. That felt almost right, but I just couldn’t quite accept it. “There are the elemental gods. Any others? Like an over god or something.”

“Not that I know of,” Fuegin said. “Religion isn’t my strong suit. I was an atheist. I never imagined anything like this world was possible. I don’t even know if their gods are real or if they just believe in the superstition. Why, you think some chief god summoned us?”

“How about demons or evil gods?” I asked.

“That’s us.” He chuckled. “We’re the evil gods, basically. To them, we’re the source of all evil. The corruption that festers in the world.”

“Why are we brought here to protect the Void Crystal? To protect our Souls. That’s what we agreed to, right.”

Fuegin frowned at that. His brow furrowed. “I hadn’t really given that much thought. We have to protect our Crystals to keep ourselves alive.”

“Something is planting Void Crystals in the world. Something that wants them to survive. They need guardians. Us. Why?”

“I really do not know,” Fuegin said. “Fresh blood.” He grinned. “I knew you were one to seek out as an ally. You are not bent on the pleasure or the freedom. Some of the builders are sociopaths. They revel in the power they have. In the ability to inflict harm. They have lost their humanity. Others just become bitter over being forced to defend themselves. They don’t care about the why, only the present. But you’re not jaded. Not tainted. You’re seeing clearly. I think we can figure this out.”

“Are there any libraries in this world?” I asked. “Any places that information of Void Crystals might be stored? The scientist—”

“Scholars is probably a better word,” said Fuegin.

I shrugged. “So the scholars of this world must have studied Void Crystals. Obviously, dungeon builders die to adventurers. They must have some theories about us. Some ideas on why we’re here. Have you ever gone to one?”

Fuegin rubbed at the back of his neck. “I hadn’t even thought of it. Huh. That’s not bad. The Great Library of Lyrialiasa is maintained by the elves in the Greenleaf Woods. It’s far closer to your domain than mine. It lies beyond Myrecilla, the capital of these lands. They are said to have preserved knowledge lost to others. Damn, it’s simple. I feel like an idiot for not seeing it.”

I shrugged. “It happens. I’ve seen that in video games. You get so used to playing a game one way and then your friend shows you something you didn’t even think about and it changes everything.”

“Video… game?” he asked.

“Right, right. You just must be from the 1950s or something. Damn, you missed out on a lot of crazy shit.”

He shrugged.

“Okay, this library is a start,” I said, smiling. I was glad to have some direction now. A path to walk. That was good. I wanted to know why I was here. This was important to me. Maybe the most important thing in the world. “I’ll send word to the elves. See if they’ll help us.”

“Just going to ask, huh?” Fuegin smiled.

“What’s the worse they do? Say no? They might say yes.”

“You’re optimistic.”

“So optimistic,” Garnet said. “My big brother thought he could make it with a movie star, and look, he’s got Lana Fulmine here. If you were alive when she started playing Jane Dangerous in her booty shorts, well, you would have been a fan, Fuegin. But positive thinking can get you far.”

“Yes, it can,” Lana said, a big smile on her silvery lips. Lightning crackled amid the strands of her hairs.

“Well, I wouldn’t get your hopes up,” said Fuegin. He gave a bow. “But it’s a worthy way to try. You know how to get word to me.”

He had given me a scroll with a seal on it. I nodded.

He whirled and marched out. I leaned back in my throne room. I hoped I made the right decision to be friends with him. Was he telling the truth about his lands? Had he truly changed from the monster who had burned down two cities?

I sighed, not sure I made the right decision at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bitterness stewed in Halia as she marched into Astovin a few hours after the bastard Fuegin had left. She ached for that vengeance, but her lord and lover would deny her that opportunity. He was right, which was what galled her the most.

She wanted to make the world better, and killing Fuegin, while satisfying, would only spill more blood. She’d made a choice and turned her back on being an adventurer. She had sworn her blade to Lord Leo. Lady Sherida, Goddess of Light, had agreed. She had blessed Halia.

Still… To have been so close to her father’s murderer and not able to gut him infuriated her.

She stamped down the road before the others. Leo had come with Maya, Lana, Mrs. Baldwin, and Garnet. He brought all his companions and favorites to keep him safe while leaving the dungeon in the care of his monster girls.

It was always a risk to come here, but he had a purpose. Another dungeon builder would have simply attacked the library and seized what he wanted. Or, at least, threatened the elves with destruction and devastation if they did not hand over what he desired.

Lord Leo had written a beseeching letter.

As the party approached the edges of Astovin, Halia noticed a group of girls gathering. Young women with big smiles on their lips. Halia frowned as they watched their party. They had looks on their faces of interest.

They are attracted to Lord Leo, she thought.

A group of young men was gathering, too. They looked angry. Muttering. They didn’t like their sweethearts casting dewy eyes on Lord Leo. Halia shivered. They would use this to feed their anger at a “dungeon builder.” They would pretend it was okay to hate Lord Leo because of what he was. They would feel emboldened. After all, it was okay to despise dungeon builders. To attack them and murder them.

Murder… Halia thought. When did I start thinking it was murder to slay a dungeon builder?

Lord Leo had changed everything. He’d broken her world. Dungeon builders were evil. Monsters. They weren’t supposed to have feelings. Weren’t supposed to be people. They were the cause of all that was wrong in this world.

But was that truly right? Other crimes afflicted this world. People stole and beat and killed each other. Women were assaulted, children murdered, and wars fought. They were always blamed on the dungeon builders’ disruption. How they had made the world worse, bringing out the darkness in the various races.

Are they just scapegoats for our own failings? Halia wondered. Despite saving Astovin’s women, they assumed the worst of her lord. They did not believe he merely wanted to protect him. They saw themselves as his vassals. How long before they would start collecting taxes and sending it to him instead of Lord Shorvin. Then he would summon an army to hold onto Astovin and its resources.

How long before war tore through this area all because they didn’t understand that Lord Leo wanted to be a good neighbor.

“Ah, back so soon,” said Mayor Bevlin. He rushed up. “Do you need more food, Lord Leo?”

Her lord sighed. “Leo’s fine, Mayor Bevlin.”

“Of course, of course,” the man said, bobbing. “What can we do for you, Lord Leo?”

“I need a messenger sent to the Great Library of Lyrialiasa.” He glanced over at the dryad. “Mom.”

She produced the envelope, sealed with wax and wrapped in twine, then handed it to the mayor along with a pouch of coin. “For the messenger to see him to the library.”

“I see,” the mayor said. “That’s a far trip. Are you…” He swallowed.

“It’s just asking for some information,” Lord Leo said with a flippant wave of his hand. “It’s not a threat or anything. I don’t like doing that.”

“Of course not, Lord Leo,” the mayor said, bobbing his head. “I’ll make sure it goes out.” He looked around. “Gelin!”

A young man walking by jumped. “M-mayor?”

“Lord Leo needs this letter delivered to the Great Library in the Greenleaf Woods. Go, now. Get this there as fast as possible or you’ll face Lord Leo’s displeasure.”

The color melted from Gelin’s face. Halia’s heart pained for her lord as he winced at the fear. He hated being seen as a monster. He had a large and bountiful heart that wanted to protect all these lands. Gelin snatched up the letter and bolted towards the village stables.

“He’s a good choice,” Halia said. “He will get it there with no problem. You have nothing to fear from him.”

“Is there anything else you need?” the mayor asked, sweat now gleaming on his brow. He rubbed his hands together. “Perhaps you’d like to take your ease in the common room. Enjoy a refreshing ale and have a meal. Or…” He glanced at the young women watching. “Enjoy other refreshments.”

“I didn’t save them to make them into my personal… refreshments,” Lord Leo said, his cheeks going red. “I have all the refreshing women around me.”

“Mmm, we’re very refreshing,” said Mrs. Baldwin. She hugged her son from behind, rubbing her naked breasts into his back. “We keep him well satiated.”

“Kweh, heh, heh,” the succubus chortled, throwing back her head, her black pigtails dancing around her face. “That we do. Why, look at Maya. She’s living water. She refreshed Lord Leo just this morning.”

“Ah, yes,” said the mayor. “So, uh…?”

He wants Lord Leo to leave but is too scared to say it.

“Just came to send the message,” said Lord Leo. “And to make sure you’re doing okay. There have been no problems? Any new dungeon builders popping up in the area?”

“Not that I know of,” said the mayor. “Lord Shorvin’s diviners have not sent word, but the call for adventurers is growing. A party set off just this morning.”

We didn’t pass them. Halia smiled. The precise location of his dungeon was still not common knowledge. Good.

“Well, I better get back to my dungeon,” Lord Leo said and chuckled. “I don’t want them to get hurt. My monster girls can be very protective.”

“Ah, yes, very good.” The mayor mopped at his forehead.

Lord Leo turned away when the first scream pierced the air.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My head whipped around at the scream. More shouts rose from the other end of the village. The mayor groaned. I gripped my lightning spear and burst into a run in that direction, my legs pumping beneath my gray robes.

Halia paced me. Her braid of black hair flowed out behind her as she ran, her feet pounding on the ground. She whipped out her humming blade and held her shield ready. From around the blacksmith’s hut, a woman ran with a baby in her arm and a child screaming behind her. She saw us and screamed then turned and fled in the opposite direction. Others were running from that direction. An old man hobbled out, tears dripping from his eyes.

“Stone,” he mumbled. “Just became stone… Right in my hand.”

Then I ran past him and rounded the corner to see a statue of a man in flight. He looked behind his shoulder. He was impossibly balanced on one foot, his other lifted. The detail was so precise, every hair in place.

Other statues dotted the street. A woman in a dress throwing up an arm in warding, a pair of children holding hands. A living woman sobbed on her knees before the two little ones, her face pressed into her hands. I swallowed at the sight.

Down the street were several monster girls with bodies covered in blue scales and bands of pink running up their bellies and large breasts. They had pink, feathery hair and walked on bird-like talons. Curling smoke spilled from their lips. One breathed and swept over the sobbing mother. Her cries cut off as she became a statute like her children.

Leading the blue-scaled monster girls was another. She had a sinuous body covered in light-green scales. Instead of hair, she had a writhing mass of green snakes that all hissed and snapped at the air. Halia screamed and raised her shield in front of her face as the monster girl turned to face us.

“Gorgon!” Halia gasped. “Don’t look her in the eyes!”

Too late. Those golden, serpent eyes landed on me.

To be continued…

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