"This is the professional ability you were talking about?"
Lelith's face turned red with frustration. If it weren't for the fact that she really couldn't beat or afford to offend him... She honestly wanted to drag Kei down with her and perish together.
Was her profession now a massage girl or something?
He said he was going to enhance her professional ability, and then gave her a bunch of hidden data on massage, acupressure, back-walking, and soul-soothing techniques?!
And the only special effect it came with... was some weird ability that just made the person being massaged feel comfortable?!
Damn it!
Stay calm, stay calm! No need to stress yourself out~
At least this guy did help her upgrade to an enhanced wraithbone body before, and even built her a high-level Warp–Anti-Warp fusion engine.
She was trying hard to talk herself through the disappointment.
But the more she thought about it, the more stifled she felt!
To borrow a phrase from Terra, this bastard was treating her like a tool for comic relief!
"What? You don't like the ability? Let me tell you, if you develop this to the limit, there's a chance you could master the concept of pleasure."
Kei, enjoying the tingling, soothing sensation of the scalp massage, said it casually.
With his current level of strength and realm...
He could naturally see that the "special effect" was essentially a diluted, branch effect of a certain concept.
It was like a seed.
If developed continuously, it really might allow one to grasp the power of a concept.
The only problem, getting a concept-related ability through a stat roll was already tough; developing it on your own was even harder!
Without external help, trying to evolve such an effect to the level of conceptual mastery was no easier than Lelith developing a brand-new Drukhari enhancement.
"Pleasure... seriously?"
Lelith looked uncertain.
The concept of "pleasure" sounded a little improper, but when had Drukhari ever been proper?
Power at the conceptual level... According to the data from those Craftworld archives, that was the kind of power only chaos-level entities could wield.
Warp and Anti-Warp could break and rewrite rules.
But they couldn't touch or distort concepts!
"As long as the seed is watered with care, it will eventually grow into a towering divine tree. Think about it, since we met, have I ever lied to you?"
Kei closed his eyes, enjoying the enhanced effect of [Massage Technique Mastery].
Lelith recalled their time together, and a sweet, slightly flattering smile appeared on her face.
Her attitude and technique while massaging also grew noticeably more serious.
Kei might have a rotten personality and enjoyed teasing her, but thinking back, he really hadn't lied to her?
He had said he'd boost her to Yvraine's level.
Even if there was a trap in that wording (it was just to Yvraine's former level), the power boost had been real!
And this power... Wasn't it the same overwhelming force she felt when she got wrecked earlier, like being smashed against a wall ten thousand times in two minutes?
Damn!
She had to master this!
Never mind anything else, at the very least, Yvraine had to personally experience it for herself!
Two minutes? She wouldn't let her rest for two years!
Eldar? Bow down before the Drukhari queen who controls all the galaxy's pleasure!
Lelith felt fired up again. Thinking about Kei's earlier comment, a new guess formed in her mind.
If "professional ability" was the seed of the pleasure concept... then this so-called "charming aura" must be the seed of the allure concept, right?
I want that too!
What should she do?
"Could you maybe tell me more about that 'charming aura' you mentioned earlier?"
"It's a kind of body scent, not based on pheromones. Its attraction effect on aquatic and amphibious species is basically a guaranteed kill."
"Not pheromones? Is it another concept seed?"
"Mm. Concepts are unlike anything else. Look at Cegorach, and look at Vect, when they tried to master powers they weren't ready for, they ended up completely lost within them."
"Do you want a back massage? Come, lie down in your master bedroom, I'll give you a good one!"
"That's so obvious what you're after!"
"I'm your loyal subordinate. If I become stronger, doesn't that make you look better too?"
"Tsk~ Let's see how you perform."
---
The next morning, outside the atmosphere of Terra in the Warhammer Universe, Kei was in the middle of opening a world gate between the Primordial Realm and Terra, while cursing internally about how unreasonable Lelith was.
All that rubbing and massaging all night long, acting all flirty and suggestive, but when it came to actually enjoying any benefits? Not a single thing!
It had him tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep.
This was unacceptable!
It was like going fishing without even using real bait. At least throw in some crumbs to attract the fish. But no, she just chucked in a fake lure and tried to bluff her way through.
Sure, the "swimming motion" looked convincing, but there wasn't even a hint of scent!
Just a hook, no bait.
What, did she think he was some herbivore?
After setting up the world gate, Kei slipped back into the Primordial Realm.
After exchanging a few greetings with Teresa and Clare, he used the gate to return directly to Kamar-Taj in the Marvel Universe.
---
Drip drip drip...
In the presidential suite at the top of a hotel, having just showered, Lelith was barefoot and pacing the living room in frustration.
Damn it!
That guy actually ran off?
She'd massaged him all night, stepping on his back, Drukhari style, Commorragh style, her legs were sore, her arms ached, and her body suit was ripped.
Not only did she get groped repeatedly, she didn't even get a single benefit from it.
What kind of being does that?
"Won't even fire the soul-cannon without seeing the target, huh? Just waiting for me to take off my armor and throw myself into your bed? Screw you!"
She cursed under her breath, hands on her waist, getting more annoyed the more she paced.
She'd figured it out now, that sleazeball was definitely a battle-hardened, old manipulator!
First, he'd bait her with a bit of sweetness, enough for her to sniff out something tempting, then throw out a hook and just wait.
Want a bite?
One bite and you'd be caught.
Then it'd be soul-drained, pleasure-tortured, pain-wracked, completely consumed...
She'd be completely devoured and left with nothing!
And that so-called "pleasure" seed... the latest computational data from the Dimensional Aperture had come out.
Yes, it was potentially capable of evolving to the level of a concept.
But even with stellar-level energy supply and the Dimensional Aperture running full-power without pause, it would still take over ten thousand years to calculate and evolve it to completion!
The key issue?
The Dimensional Aperture's connectors weren't exclusive to her, the Eldar, Frateris Templar, and Steel Legion all had access.
There was no way they'd let her monopolize the Dimensional Aperture for ten thousand years of solo use.
Feeling completely played, Lelith grabbed a bottle of amasec.
Gulp gulp gulp... Half the bottle gone in one shot.
The Dimensional Aperture's data was fully public. Eldar, Drukhari, Frateris Templar, and Imperial Forces all got the same enhancements. Trying to surpass the Eldar through that path? Impossible.
What's worse, those damn Eldar were now fully integrating Kamar-Taj's magic into their arsenal.
And with Yvraine sealing and safeguarding the Black Library, Lelith could only skim bits of shallow, trivial knowledge from the Eldar's psychic networks.
The power gap between her and Yvraine?
It was only going to keep widening.
Overtaking from a curve?
Aside from Kei, there was no shortcut she could take!
"If you were even slightly more innocent, would I be here hesitating like this?!"
Lelith slammed the bottle down, fuming in place.
She was scared too!
Once some things started... there was no going back.
If Kei really devoured her and then just played dumb afterward... She might not even have the strength to bite a piece off him in revenge.
So, under these conditions, how could she bite the hook so easily?
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Story completed at Chapter 298!