Chapter 41:
– Runeas –
Runeas sat at the end of the long, polished dining table, propping her chin on the palm of her hand as she pouted openly, her vivid pink eyes fixed across the room at her daughter, Chysis. Runeas couldn't help but let out a petulant sigh, exaggerating it loudly enough that Chysis paused her slow sipping of wine to glance toward her mother.
"Honestly, Mother," Chysis began with gentle reproach, placing the delicate crystal wine glass back down with careful, precise movements. "You're behaving like an impatient child. You know full well that we need to talk about important matters first and foremost."
Runeas crossed her arms firmly beneath her ample, soft breasts, accentuating their generous curves beneath her revealing crimson dress. The smooth fabric hugged every line of her body enticingly, but her daughter seemed utterly immune to such obvious charms.
Runeas found it quite disappointing—her own flesh and blood, so serious and rigid about everything.
"Oh come now, Chysis!" Runeas protested dramatically, tilting her head to the side and fluttering her thick eyelashes with exaggerated innocence. "Our human guests are obviously having a wonderful time together in the baths—without us! It's unfair and outright cruel to deny me the chance to join them, you know! I can turn that bath time into sexy time!"
"Mother, we are devils," Chysis reminded patiently, folding her hands atop the table. "We have no shortage of opportunities for indulgence. What we don't have is a surplus of information. Now please, let's return to our discussion about the current state of affairs. Specifically, I want to know everything that has transpired at the frontlines so we can determine how best to ensure our family's survival once this dreadful war concludes."
Runeas let out another melodramatic sigh, slouching lower into her chair, the plush velvet cushioning supporting her comfortably even in her exaggerated sulk. Still, she finally gave Chysis's question some genuine consideration.
Peace. It was a strange, foreign concept to Runeas, nearly impossible to imagine clearly. She had been created and raised for battle from the moment Lucifer himself had fathered her. She had fought relentlessly against the armies of angels and fallen alike, decade after decade, century after century. War was all she'd ever truly known—yet truthfully, she had long ago grown tired of endless bloodshed.
Even if the thrill of battle occasionally excited her, Runeas knew her heart longed desperately for something different.
She frowned thoughtfully, drumming her fingers along the polished tabletop. Her nails, painted a rich, dark red shade, clicked softly against the smooth, reflective surface as she considered Chysis's concerns more carefully.
"Fine," Runeas conceded, pouting only slightly less now. "As you already heard, thanks to our new human friends, Beelzebub is completely dead. Honestly, good riddance. That bug-obsessed creep always disgusted me anyway." Runeas shivered slightly, wrinkling her nose with genuine distaste. "But with one of Lucifer's greatest generals gone, it seems likely that the tides of war will soon shift dramatically."
Chysis nodded quietly, her face solemn as she absorbed this information. "I had suspected as much. The loss of a Satan-class devil is not something Lucifer can easily compensate for. Our forces have already suffered grievous losses. The territories lost to the angels and fallen are growing larger by the day. At this rate, Mother, the Underworld may look very different when the fighting finally ends."
Runeas sighed softly in reluctant agreement, running one delicate hand through her silky red hair. She glanced upward toward the ceiling thoughtfully. "I suppose you have a point, my dear daughter," Runeas admitted. "If the war truly ends soon, ensuring the survival of our family must take priority. Peace may be entirely foreign to me, but I confess, I am intrigued by what it might feel like, to experience a world without constant battle and chaos."
Chysis smiled softly, her expression gentling. "I'm glad to hear you finally acknowledging that, Mother. Perhaps now we can—"
Before Chysis could finish her sentence, the dining room doors swung open smoothly, revealing their three guests entering. Silas, Rebecca, and Taylor stood there, freshly bathed and changed into clean, comfortable clothing borrowed from Runeas's extensive collection. All three looked relaxed.
She deliberately allowed her vivid pink eyes to trail slowly and appreciatively over their freshly cleaned appearances—particularly lingering on Silas and Taylor. Silas's freshly washed blond hair looked soft and slightly damp, strands falling carelessly across his handsome forehead, while Taylor's cheeks appeared faintly rosy from the warmth of the luxurious baths.
"My, my," Runeas purred sweetly, raising one eyebrow suggestively. Her voice carried a distinctly teasing tone that she knew would immediately provoke an adorable response from her shyest guest. "Did you three have any fun while you were relaxing in the baths?"
Taylor froze in her tracks, wide-eyed, her mouth dropping open slightly in startled embarrassment. A sudden flush rose from beneath the collar of the borrowed, comfortably loose-fitting blouse she now wore, rapidly spreading upwards until her entire face was vividly pink, almost as bright as Runeas's own eyes.
"O-of course not!" Taylor stammered defensively, nervously glancing toward Silas and immediately ducking her head when she saw his own embarrassed expression. "That would be totally rude—doing… stuff… in someone else's home!"
Runeas laughed openly at the younger girl's flustered reaction, thoroughly enjoying the show. Leaning forward just enough to subtly draw attention to the ample curves beneath her crimson gown, Runeas smiled wickedly, watching how Silas's gaze inevitably drifted downward for a fraction of a second before he quickly forced himself to meet her eyes again.
"Oh please, Taylor, sweetheart," Runeas said lightly, her voice dripping with innocent charm, though her words were anything but innocent. She tossed a lock of her luxurious red hair back over one slender shoulder, emphasizing the creamy white curve of her neck and shoulder alluringly. "You keep forgetting I'm a devil. A very, very naughty one at that. Trust me, I definitely wouldn't mind. In fact, if you'd just invited me, I would have gladly joined you. Bath time is always far better when it turns into sexy time!"
Runeas finished her sentence with an exaggerated wink, thoroughly delighted when Silas visibly swallowed hard, his cheeks coloring slightly. Taylor made an adorable squeaking noise of embarrassment, covering her mouth quickly with one slim hand.
However, Runeas's amusement was momentarily interrupted by the sudden chill of a penetrating, fierce glare!
Turning her gaze slightly to the side, Runeas saw Rebecca standing stiffly near Taylor, her caramel-skinned arms folded tightly beneath her chest, clearly annoyed by Runeas's teasing antics. Rebecca's piercing stare was clearly intended to intimidate or at least chastise Runeas for her behavior—but Runeas simply shrugged it off, pointedly ignoring the angry look the woman directed her way. If anything, Rebecca's irritation only encouraged Runeas further, making the teasing even more fun.
Who cares if she gets put through another wall…
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately, depending on perspective—before Runeas could escalate things further, Chysis cleared her throat politely, redirecting everyone's attention toward her.
Chysis's beautiful face was calm and serene, framed by flowing crimson hair similar to Runeas's own, though slightly darker. Her daughter's elegant white dress accentuated her mature, hourglass figure gracefully, a stark contrast to Runeas's own deliberately provocative attire.
"Please, everyone," Chysis spoke gently, her voice smooth and soothing, the perfect hostess. "Feel free to take a seat wherever you wish at the table. Dinner is being served shortly." She gestured elegantly toward the long, extravagant dining table that stretched down the center of the room, surrounded by plush, comfortable chairs. The table had already been set with delicate porcelain plates rimmed in gleaming gold, polished silverware arranged meticulously beside each place setting, and crystal goblets filled with rich, dark wine.
At Chysis's prompting, the guests moved carefully to sit.
Runeas watched Silas carefully choose a chair opposite her, Taylor shyly seating herself right next to him while Rebecca positioned herself protectively at his other side. Runeas herself remained comfortably seated at the far end of the table, smiling broadly as she watched several pretty young maids begin filing into the room, expertly balancing large silver platters heaped high with tantalizing food. Rich aromas filled the air, making Runeas's stomach rumble loudly in anticipation.
After weeks on the miserable frontline with terrible rations, she was ecstatic to finally experience real food again.
Her mouth watered slightly at the savory scent of roasted meat and fresh-baked bread, along with sweeter fragrances from fresh fruit and honeyed desserts. It was a sharp, delicious contrast to the disgusting memories she carried from the war—particularly those involving Beelzebub. Runeas involuntarily shivered with disgust at the vivid memory of the vile Maou actually choosing to eat his own insects for his meals…
"As my mother has no doubt already informed you, my name is Chysis Gremory," her daughter began. "Allow me to extend my personal gratitude to each of you for your bravery in rescuing my foolish, immature mother from her captivity with the angels. You've done my family an immeasurable service."
Runeas immediately jerked upright in her seat, puffing up indignantly at the blatant insult embedded in her daughter's polite greeting!
"Chysis! How dare you speak about your own mother that way!" Runeas protested with exaggerated outrage, placing her hand dramatically against her ample chest. She leaned forward slightly, deliberately emphasizing her enticing figure, as she raised her chin haughtily. "I am not foolish or immature! Look at me! Clearly, I'm the most mature woman here! I mean, just look at my breasts! They're absolutely massive and perfectly shaped! You'd be hard-pressed to find another woman this sexy in all the Seventy-Two Pillars, let alone one as stunningly gorgeous as me."
Silence descended briefly upon the table.
Taylor coughed awkwardly, blushing harder and glancing down at her plate in shy embarrassment, while Rebecca just stared blankly in disbelief. Even Silas had momentarily lost his composure, blinking rapidly as he tried unsuccessfully to avoid staring at Runeas's proudly displayed assets.
Chysis merely sighed softly, shaking her head slowly with gentle exasperation as she gave her mother a patient look that clearly said she was accustomed to such absurd behavior. She carefully lifted her wine glass once again, calmly taking a sip while Runeas continued to proudly display herself.
Runeas, pleased by the stunned silence her proud proclamation had produced, finally leaned back comfortably in her seat, her smug smirk firmly in place.
– Silas –
As I sat at the lavish dining table in Runeas Gremory's extravagant mansion, it wasn't hard to sense how nervous both Rebecca and Taylor were. They sat on either side of me, and though they kept up polite conversation with Chysis, I could feel the tension radiating off their bodies in subtle tremors and shifting gazes.
They were even more uncomfortable now than when we first arrived in the Underworld—which made perfect sense, given our recent daring escape.
After all, it wasn't every day you were imprisoned by the literal Biblical God himself—or at least, some twisted version of the God I'd always believed in. Thinking back on it, I was certain the being we'd faced earlier wasn't my God, the God from my previous life who I'd prayed to, who had possibly granted me my incredible System. No, the deity here in this strange DxD reality was clearly something else entirely.
Perhaps an avatar that had spiraled out of control? It would explain his weird fixation on perpetual war with his rebellious son Lucifer, and his obsession with carving up his enemies and turning them into Sacred Gears.
I shook my head slightly, dismissing those distracting thoughts. The important thing right now was making sure the women I cared about were feeling safe. And maybe more than safe, if their flushed cheeks were anything to go by.
A smirk tugged at my lips as I slid my hands beneath the polished wooden surface of the table, gently touching Rebecca's warm, toned thigh on my left and Taylor's softer, pale thigh on my right.
I glanced sideways, first towards Rebecca. Her silky black hair cascaded loosely down her caramel shoulders, the rich red dress the Gremory maids had provided her hugged every enticing curve of her athletic figure. It perfectly accentuated her full breasts and slim waist before ending midway down her toned thighs. My fingers gently squeezed, caressing her smooth, flawless skin beneath the hemline, and I felt her muscles subtly flex under my touch.
Her dark eyes widened momentarily, darting towards me in surprise, but she quickly regained her composure. A confident smirk spread slowly over her full lips, and she arched one perfect eyebrow, silently challenging me to keep going.
I then glanced to my right, turning my attention to Taylor. She was flushed prettily, her cheeks blooming with that familiar adorable shade of pink. Her heart was pounding—I could practically hear it from here—but when I rubbed her pale thigh comfortingly, she didn't push me away. Instead, her breathing picked up slightly, and she nervously tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear with a shaky hand.
The dress the maids had selected for Taylor was short and black, elegant but tastefully simple. It contrasted dramatically with her porcelain-pale skin, making her soft beauty shine even more vividly. The thin straps barely covered the gentle slope of her slender shoulders, while the delicate neckline exposed just enough of her modest cleavage to tease without becoming too overt.
God, these two women were driving me insane.
I slowly rubbed soothing circles on Taylor's thigh, reassuring her without words. I felt her muscles relax fractionally, even though her blush deepened adorably. I took that as a good sign, continuing my affectionate touches to both women as casually as I could while keeping my own composure intact.
"Silas, are you okay?" Taylor asked softly, finally working up the courage to speak. She looked up at me shyly, a faint sparkle of mischief in her eyes despite her nervousness. "You seem a bit distracted."
I chuckled quietly, squeezing her thigh gently again as I responded. "I was just thinking about the weirdness of our current situation," I admitted honestly. "You know—devils, angels, and now here we are having a fancy dinner in the literal Underworld. It's kind of surreal, right?"
Taylor's lips twitched into a shy smile as my casual tone eased her tension. "Yeah, surreal is putting it lightly…"
Rebecca leaned forward slightly from my other side, picking up a bite of the perfectly seasoned roasted meat on her fork. Her dark eyes flashed with amusement and confidence as she inserted herself smoothly into our conversation. "Honestly, this isn't even the weirdest thing I've experienced, but it is very close."
I wondered briefly what kind of bizarre alternate versions of Earth Bet Rebecca must've encountered during all those secretive years she'd spent working with Cauldron.
But I chose not to pry into it just yet. Rebecca hadn't actually revealed that part of her history—to me, or even to Taylor. Trust was still building between us, and she'd tell us about that part of her life when she felt ready.
I glanced up across the grand dining table, meeting the attentive gaze of our hostess, Chysis Gremory. She was carefully swirling the dark crimson wine within her crystal goblet.
"Lord Silas," Chysis spoke clearly. "Forgive my curiosity, but I can't help but wonder… Have you and your companions given any thought to your plans from here onward? The Underworld, especially during this war, is not a place to linger without clear goals. What exactly are your group's plans while you're here?"
Before I had the chance to reply, Runeas let out an amused laugh from her spot at the table.
"Oh, my sweet Chysis," Runeas purred confidently. "Gabriel might've had these wonderfully powerful humans to herself at first, but that's over now! They belong to me! They will obviously join our household!" She let out a delighted laugh that echoed softly through the large dining chamber. "Muahahaha!" Runeas cheered gleefully, finishing with a dramatic sip of her wine.
Was she already drunk? Who would have thought she was a lightweight.
"We don't belong to anyone," Rebecca stated bluntly, enunciating each word with clear, precise emphasis.
Runeas immediately sputtered, choking dramatically on her mouthful of wine.
Chysis sighed softly. She placed a gentle, reassuring hand on Runeas's shoulder and gave a delicate shake of her head, clearly accustomed to her mother's antics.
"Mother, please," Chysis scolded playfully, her voice fond but mildly exasperated. "Behave yourself, just this once. You know our family doesn't force people into our service."
"I didn't mean like that!" Runeas shot her voluptuous daughter a faux-wounded glare but said nothing further.
After a moment, both Rebecca and Taylor turned their full attention toward me, expressions growing serious again. Their earlier blushes—caused by my affectionate teasing—had faded entirely, replaced by genuine curiosity. Clearly, they too wanted to know what we were going to do next. Even Runeas had quieted, now leaning forward slightly with interest as she watched me closely.
It was all up to me.
What really frustrated me right now was the utter silence from my System. It had gone annoyingly quiet again, refusing to provide me with another quest or prompt.
Then again, perhaps that was intentional. Maybe killing Beelzebub had truly been my final tutorial quest. Maybe it was time I started making my own choices, without relying on prompts and instructions.
With the power I had gained, it made sense that the System would finally want me to forge my own path.
I took a slow, calming breath before finally responding, looking around the table and carefully meeting each person's eyes in turn.
"I'd like to help bring this Great War to a definitive end," I said clearly, my voice steady and firm. "This world has suffered enough constant bloodshed. We should aim to get everything back on track—to restore peace and ensure it lasts." I paused for a second, taking another breath to steady myself. Everyone was still silent, paying close attention to every word I said. My eyes hardened, my voice turning stronger as conviction filled me. "Most importantly, I refuse to watch supernatural beings continue preying on humans or seeing them as lesser beings, or livestock. Humans aren't playthings, pawns, or food. They're intelligent, compassionate, brave beings who deserve respect."
Rebecca placed her warm hand gently atop mine, squeezing reassuringly. Taylor offered me a gentle smile.
We needed to get stronger fast. If we wanted even a chance at ending this war decisively, we couldn't just sit around and wait. We needed to train. The standards of strength in this insane anime-esque universe were too damn ridiculous. And It wasn't as if I was Issei Hyoudou, whose main strategy for powering up seemed to revolve around shamelessly poking some boobs—though honestly, I wouldn't have minded if my own path was that easy.
It was early morning—or, at least, what passed for morning in the Underworld. There was no real sunlight, just the eternal gloom of the rocky ceiling far above us. At least our night-vision blessings from Gabriel were still fully active.
Taylor stood at my side on the wide, empty field provided generously by Chysis and Runeas. The Gremory territory had plenty of spare land for practice—expansive stretches of empty, rocky plains with no civilians or buildings nearby to get caught in the destructive wake of our powers.
Taylor smiled enthusiastically, eyes gleaming with an eagerness I rarely saw from the shy girl. She was decked out fully in her sleek, black angelic armor, the enchanted metal hugging her slim figure comfortably. Her dark hair was tied back into a practical ponytail, stray strands framing her delicate face.
"It's time for our epic training montage!" Taylor declared enthusiastically, bouncing slightly in place and pumping her armored fist into the air in a cute display of excitement. Her voice was high and cheerful, echoing softly across the empty plains.
Runeas stood next to her, arms crossed beneath her abundant chest. The devil wore an amused smirk, clearly entertained by Taylor's eagerness. She had chosen to watch us train—because she had nothing better to do and it's not like she could go back to Lucifer's army without getting severely punished for letting Beelzebub die.
So, she was with us to the end of this war.
Standing opposite me, Rebecca smirked confidently. The former parahuman—and now newly upgraded Viltrumite—stood tall, the sheer black bodysuit she wore hugging her perfectly toned athletic form.
"Alright then," Rebecca called out confidently, placing her hands on her hips and leaning forward slightly with challenging energy. "Let's see how big you can get, Silas!"
My pulse quickened slightly with anticipation. Yesterday, since gaining the power to transform fully into a dragon, I'd been eager—and admittedly somewhat nervous—to test exactly how it worked.
Now it was time to fully embrace my new nature.
Taking a slow, steadying breath, I focused deep within myself, mentally commanding my transformation to begin. Instantly, raw energy surged powerfully through my veins, tingling down every nerve ending, suffusing each muscle and bone.
I gasped involuntarily as my entire body started shifting dramatically!
It was weird, feeling my human form melt away as I rapidly expanded. My perspective rose dizzyingly, shooting upward several feet within seconds. Everything around me—the ground, the spectators, Rebecca herself—quickly shrunk smaller and smaller beneath my swiftly increasing size. My muscles expanded and hardened rapidly, shifting seamlessly into powerful, scaled limbs.
In mere seconds, I'd transformed completely into an enormous, fully-realized dragon.
I stretched experimentally, spreading massive, leathery wings wide, flexing strong, scaled legs and deadly clawed feet. My body was covered entirely in thick, gleaming jet-black scales.
Unlike Skyrim's dragons—which were basically wyverns—I thankfully still had four proper limbs in addition to my wings. My broad, powerful chest heaved as I took my first deep breath in this colossal new form. Even simply inhaling felt like I was taking in a hurricane!
Rebecca, Taylor and Runeas were now dwarfed by my towering form. My body easily spanned a greater length than a full-sized bus, and I was multiple stories high.
"Fuck..." I heard Rebecca whistle, genuine admiration clear in her voice. She craned her head upwards to stare appreciatively at me, hands still on her hips as she took in the sheer enormity of my draconic body. "That's seriously impressive, Silas."
I carefully shifted one colossal clawed forelimb, inspecting it thoughtfully. The razor-sharp talons glittered wickedly, each one easily long enough to effortlessly rip a grown human in half. An eager grin stretched my maw, showing off rows of lethal, dagger-like teeth as I admired my new destructive capabilities.
"My teeth are swords and my claws are spears," I rumbled dramatically, my voice booming loudly enough to echo clearly across the entire plain, deep and intimidating. I'd intentionally lowered my voice, making it a bit more gravely and fierce for added effect!
Rebecca narrowed her eyes playfully, placing one hand mockingly on her chin as she rolled her eyes dramatically. "Quit quoting The Hobbit and fight me already," she chuckled, more than ready for an actual challenge.
That must be her new Viltrumite blood kicking in!
I tilted my huge head, fixating my new dragon eyes on Rebecca as I carefully lowered myself slightly, muscles tensing as I prepared to fight. My tail lashed behind me, shaking the ground slightly and causing a burst of wind that rustled the women's hair and clothing. It was strange being in this form, experiencing raw strength on a scale I'd only imagined before.
I had absolutely no illusions about how powerful Rebecca had become. Her new abilities likely meant she could trade punches with Endbringers without breaking a sweat. But now, standing opposite her in the formidable shape of a massive black dragon, I finally felt like maybe—just maybe—I might genuinely be able to match her.
"Alright," I growled playfully, crouching slightly lower as my huge wings spread wider, casting deep shadows over my team below. "Get ready, Rebecca. Because here I come!"
I lunged forward—eagerly launching myself at the strongest, sexiest Viltrumite alive in this universe!
– Tiamat –
Tiamat's enormous form lay curled comfortably atop a bed of glittering gems, polished gold coins, and ancient treasures collected meticulously over countless centuries of existence. Her large, muscular, sapphire-scaled body was wrapped elegantly around the piles of glittering loot, her majestic, horned head resting gracefully atop her folded forelimbs. Each slow exhale from her massive lungs caused a gentle, rhythmic rise and fall that slightly disturbed the scattered coins and gems beneath her, creating a soft chiming melody of gold against jewels.
The air within the cavern was comfortably warm, thick with the scent of precious metals, sparkling gemstones, and exotic magical artifacts—familiar, comforting scents that always lulled her into a restful sleep.
Her hidden lair—a large, beautifully carved cavern situated deep within the heart of the only lush forest that existed in the entirety of the Underworld—provided her with a soothing refuge from the endless conflicts of the so-called 'Great War' raging violently outside her precious territory.
Despite her fierce reputation as the fearsome Chaos Karma Dragon, Tiamat took pride in this sanctuary she'd cultivated—an oasis of serenity and vibrant green amidst the bleak, scorched wastelands that otherwise comprised the dreary, devastated Underworld.
Outside her cave, vibrant, thriving greenery sprawled in every direction, punctuated by trees taller and thicker than any forests of Earth's surface. The lush canopy was teeming with magical wildlife—creatures unique to this protected haven, each one carefully sheltered beneath her vigilant watch.
These creatures thrived solely because of her guardianship, for none of the three warring factions—the arrogant angels, the twisted fallen angels, or the prideful devils—dared to breach her carefully maintained borders.
Any trespassers would face merciless annihilation by dragonfire.
Yet despite the beauty and peace she'd so carefully preserved, Tiamat found herself feeling lonely—something she despised acknowledging, even to herself.
Lately, she had begun spending increasing amounts of time sleeping, curled atop her glittering riches, brooding silently.
She hated admitting the reason behind her constant lethargy. Her damned ex-lover—the prideful, stubborn fool known as Ddraig—had gone and gotten himself annihilated and sealed away along with his idiotic rival-turned-friend, Albion. Both male Heavenly Dragons—her only suitable mates—had recklessly involved themselves in the insane conflict between the Three Factions and were subsequently defeated, sealed within those infernal "Sacred Gears" by the so-called Biblical God himself.
Ddraig, her arrogant, insufferable, yet admittedly strong former lover had once driven her mad with frustration. He had constantly stolen treasures from her hoard, openly challenging her dominance at every turn, their passionate battles inevitably devolving into equally passionate mating sessions afterward. Despite his flaws—mainly, his irritating compulsion to swipe her most precious artifacts—he had been powerful, fierce, and brave enough to earn at least her grudging respect, if not outright affection. Albion, the White Dragon Emperor, had also been worthy in his own infuriating way—though she would never have admitted it aloud, she had occasionally wondered what it might've been like had she chosen him instead.
And now both were gone, sealed within pathetic human trinkets—doomed to eternal servitude to weak mortal hosts. Tiamat hated them for their stupidity, their recklessness, and their abandonment.
But more than anything, she hated the resulting loneliness she now faced. With them lost, the number of potential mates—dragons powerful enough, fierce enough, and dominant enough to earn her attention—had dropped practically to zero. She'd briefly considered Blaze Meteor Dragon Tannin, whose strength and reputation rivaled even her own, but he had already bonded permanently to a mate of his own—a powerful and fiercely protective Earth Dragoness.
No matter her own arrogance, Tiamat respected the sanctity of their chosen bond and would never interfere.
Thus, Tiamat was faced with the crushing realization that she might be destined to spend centuries—perhaps millennia—alone. Bitterly resigned to her fate, she had begun retreating increasingly into solitude, isolating herself within her treasure-filled sanctuary, choosing to sleep away centuries if necessary rather than face the bleak, lonely reality of her immortal life.
But then, on this particular day, while she lay sulking atop her glittering hoard, something unexpected suddenly caught her attention!
Her large slitted eyes snapped open instantly, narrowing as she lifted her head higher, with her senses extending outward. She had clearly felt something—a distant, reverberating sensation shuddering softly through the earth and air, unmistakably signaling the unmistakable presence of combat occurring somewhere near the fringes of her forest.
A low, irritated growl rumbled deep within her broad chest, the sound reverberating powerfully throughout her cavernous lair.
Her first assumption was that the Three Factions were once again spilling their senseless battles dangerously close to her territory. They'd tried before, foolishly daring to engage near her borders until she'd unleashed a furious wave of dragonfire, sending all survivors fleeing in terror and ensuring no further incursions had occurred since.
However, after a second, more attentive sweep of her senses, Tiamat's narrowed eyes suddenly widened in stunned surprise. The power she was sensing—the magical signature resonating through the air and vibrating through her body—was neither angelic, fallen, nor demonic.
It wasn't a member of any of the three idiotic factions she despised. No, this was distinctly the unmistakable aura of a dragon.
More importantly—this was the aura of a male dragon.
Her large, powerful tail thumped audibly behind her in unexpected excitement, the heavy appendage causing some nearby coins and jewels to scatter across the cavern floor in a gleaming cascade. Her scaled lips curled back slightly, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth in a fierce, hopeful expression.
Even more interesting, the dragon she sensed felt astonishingly young, practically newborn compared to her ancient existence, yet already his power radiated impressively strong. Certainly nowhere near her own unimaginable strength—yet.
But the potential was clearly there, burning bright and undeniable within his aura!
For the first time in decades, true excitement ignited within Tiamat's heart, spurring her into immediate action.
"I need to see this for myself," she growled aloud in a deep, husky voice full of excitement and anticipation.
She needed to see this dragon. Perhaps, for the first time in countless years, fate had presented her with a possible mate—one that she would do anything to keep ALIVE at all costs! This might be the second to last single male dragon close to her level of power in existence. Excluding Great Red of course, but she wasn't going anywhere near that monster…
Her large blue wings flapped hard, she launched herself across the underworld leaving multiple sonic booms in her wake.
– Taylor –
Taylor had always been familiar with envy.
Throughout most of her high school life, she'd struggled against the constant gnawing feeling that everyone else was prettier, smarter, more popular—just better than her in every conceivable way. She remembered vividly standing in front of the mirror at home, criticizing every inch of herself: too skinny, too awkwardly tall, with hair too dull and glasses that made her look like an absolute nerd. All her life she'd been certain she'd never be able to compete with other girls.
They had style, confidence, curves—everything she didn't have.
And even after receiving her powers—the frankly terrifying ability to command bugs—she hadn't exactly been thrilled. She'd killed Victor, sure, but she never fully believed she'd ever make a real difference. What could insect manipulation really accomplish against something monstrous like Leviathan, the Simurgh, or Behemoth?
Her insecurities had lingered, hidden just beneath the surface.
But right now, standing quietly in the open plains of the Underworld beneath an eternal canopy of gray stone and swirling darkness, Taylor felt a strange sensation welling within her chest—pure, overwhelming happiness.
She gazed upward with wide eyes, lips parted in awe and admiration as she watched the two people she cared about most in the entire universe—Silas and Rebecca—locked in an intense, incredible battle far above her.
Taylor watched with her heart racing. They were both impossibly strong now, strong enough that she knew deep down she would never catch up—no matter how many massive insect kaiju she summoned, no matter how creatively she used her powers. Yet, astonishingly, she didn't feel envy at all. All Taylor felt was happiness and gratitude, knowing the two people she cherished most would now be safe. That they would never die and abandon her like her mother did!
Yes, Taylor knew she had issues…
"You're seriously not going to tell me?" came Runeas' playful, sulky voice next to her. The gorgeous devil girl pouted dramatically, poking Taylor's side insistently. "Come onnnn, Taylor! How in the nine circles of hell did your delicious friends suddenly become so ridiculously strong in a single day? Especially Rebecca! She wasn't anywhere near this tough yesterday!"
Taylor giggled softly, shaking her head stubbornly as she crossed her arms tightly across her chest. "Sorry, Runeas. That's classified information."
Runeas groaned dramatically, rolling her vibrant pink eyes and stamping her delicate foot. "Oh, you're cruel, Taylor! Cruel and unfair! AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE SHARED TOGETHER!?"
"...We all had exactly one meal together and then went to bed early because we were tired," Taylor said flatly.
"It was a nice meal though! My beautiful daughter Chysis organized the whole thing super quick!" Runeas whined…
Taylor just shook her head and instead turned her attention fully back upward to the battle raging above them.
And what a battle it was.
Silas was currently transformed into a titanic dragon—absolutely massive in size. His scales were sleek and dark. His wings stretched wide, easily covering an expanse larger than a commercial airplane's wingspan, casting deep shadows across the rocky plains below. Each beat of those enormous leathery wings sent powerful gusts of wind rippling across the open ground, whipping her long hair into her eyes.
Rebecca, meanwhile, had somehow evolved into something else. She was now apparently a Viltrumite—whatever the hell that meant—but it was clear enough she was utterly unstoppable. Taylor watched in awe as Rebecca moved effortlessly through the air, accelerating so fast she seemed to vanish entirely, before slamming into Silas' giant draconic form with a force powerful enough to make the air itself tremble!
Silas reared back his massive head, opening his powerful jaws wide. Taylor stared in anticipation as brilliant arcs of electricity crackled to life between his jaws.
"Holy shit," she murmured softly.
Runeas perked up immediately beside her, following Taylor's gaze and whistling appreciatively. "Oh, he's about to do something cool again!"
And Silas certainly delivered.
With an earth-shaking roar that vibrated through the ground beneath her feet, Silas unleashed a massive beam of pure electric energy—an enormous, blindingly bright death-laser—that surged upward, crackling fiercely and illuminating the dim landscape. The dazzling lightning beam collided directly into Rebecca's body, hitting her with a massive concussive force. It blasted her upward, higher and higher, propelling her hundreds of feet, then thousands, then hundreds of miles straight up until she slammed violently into the Underworld's stone ceiling above them with an enormous explosion of stone debris!
"Whoa!" Taylor gasped, eyes wide behind strands of her wind-swept hair. "He—he actually hit her!"
"Not bad!" Runeas called up in delight, cupping her mouth with her hands and bouncing excitedly in place. "You're both amazing! Bravo!"
Taylor grinned broadly, shaking her head with astonished disbelief. Rebecca, of course, was already pulling herself free from the crumbling rock, shattering massive chunks of the Underworld ceiling effortlessly as she dropped back down through the air like the attack had been nothing at all. Within seconds she was charging straight back toward Silas! It was hard to see from so far away, but Runeas had cast a spell on Taylor to enhance her vision even further.
"C'mon, tell me your secrets!" Runeas insisted playfully, giving Taylor another exaggerated shake. "Did you all make a pact with some ancient eldritch entity to get so much stronger!"
Taylor couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking her head slowly. Did Silas' system count as an eldritch entity? Runeas' guess might be closer than she thinks…
But had no intention of revealing Silas's hidden System to Runeas.
"Nope," Taylor said firmly, lips curling into a faint smile. "Sorry, Runeas. But my lips are sealed."
Runeas pouted dramatically, crossing her slender arms tightly beneath her generous chest. "You humans are no fun at all!" she huffed melodramatically.
Before Runeas could attempt further interrogation, a voice spoke directly behind them—completely unexpected, utterly calm, and startlingly close.
"Can I ask what's going on here?"
Runeas shrieked in undignified surprise, spinning around wildly as Taylor herself jumped nearly a foot into the air, her heart immediately racing. How the hell had someone snuck up on them so silently!?
When she finally turned around fully and laid eyes on their unexpected visitor, Taylor froze completely, her mouth dropping open in a dumbfounded gape.
Standing right there, mere feet away, was one of the most beautiful women she'd ever seen—and she was completely, totally, and shamelessly naked.
Taylor could barely process the woman's appearance, her mind rapidly cataloging every detail in disbelief. For starters, her flawless, sensual skin was literally, actually blue—not some subtle hint or makeup—but entirely sky-blue, soft-looking, and flawless from head to toe. Her eyes were a deep, mesmerizing sapphire color, with vertical pupils like a dragon or a snake, staring back at Taylor with curious intensity.
The stranger had horns sprouting naturally from atop her head, curling backward through her waist-length, vibrant blue hair. Her full lips were also a darker, enticing shade of blue, parting slightly into a playful, curious smirk.
And yes—Taylor's eyes widened further—the gorgeous woman standing casually before her was completely, utterly nude, making no attempt whatsoever to hide any part of herself. Taylor's blush immediately deepened to epic proportions, spreading swiftly across her entire face and down her neck, as she took in the frankly incredible figure standing brazenly in front of her.
The blue woman's breasts were utterly massive, firm and rounded with nipples a deeper navy blue, stiffened slightly from the cool air. Her waist dipped gracefully inward before flaring out into perfectly shapely hips, and beneath that…
Taylor gulped nervously, unable to stop her eyes from darting downward. Between those shapely thighs, even her pussy lips were blue.
"Oh… oh my god," Taylor whispered faintly, her voice shaking. Her brain had briefly stopped functioning.
"Ow!" Runeas complained at the "G" word.
"After you're done admiring me, would you mind explaining exactly what you're all doing out here?" the woman asked Taylor.
Taylor blinked rapidly, finally snapping out of her daze enough to speak—though her voice trembled noticeably.
"Um," she stammered nervously, desperately fighting to keep her eyes from dropping downward again. "We're just training—Silas and Rebecca… fighting each other… to, uh… to get stronger…"
"Wanting to get stronger is an admirable trait." The naked blue beauty tilted her head curiously, eyes glancing upward towards the titanic dragon form of Silas above. "Hmm. Interesting…" she murmured softly, a confident smile curving her tempting lips. "I was right after all! It is a male dragon… how wonderful!"
Runeas immediately stepped forward beside her, drawing herself up to her full height—which wasn't very tall—and pointed a delicate, accusing finger straight at the blue woman. "Tiamat!" Runeas shouted indignantly. "How did you sneak up on me like that!? What are you doing here in my territory? Don't you dare get any strange ideas! Silas is already taken—he belongs to me!"
Taylor blinked rapidly, utterly baffled by Runeas's sudden declaration. Her brow furrowed deeply as she slowly turned her head toward the shorter devil. Was she serious?
"No, he absolutely does not," Taylor snapped firmly. "Silas isn't yours at all. He's mine and Rebecca's—and definitely not yours."
"Taylor! How can you betray me like this? After everything we've been through—after our beautiful dinner together!?"
Taylor groaned audibly, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "Runeas, we literally just went over this—we had one dinner together. That doesn't magically make Silas your boyfriend too!"
Runeas huffed dramatically, flipping her long crimson hair indignantly over her shoulder, but Taylor ignored her, turning her full attention back toward the mysterious woman called Tiamat. Huh, that sounded familiar from the books her mother used to read to her.
Some kind of ancient Goddess?
Tiamat finally tilted her head slightly to the side and gave Taylor a small, amused smile. "So, this black dragon's name is Silas?" Her voice was low, smooth, and richly feminine. "I approve. Silas is a very strong, attractive name—perfectly fitting for my future mate."
Taylor's brain promptly ground to a complete halt. For several endless moments she simply stared blankly, mouth open slightly, eyes wide with stunned disbelief. All coherent thought evaporated entirely as those words—"my future mate"—echoed over and over within her skull. Tiamat's sheer audacity completely overwhelmed her.
"What!?" Runeas exclaimed indignantly, stomping her delicate foot sharply against the rocky ground. Her expression twisted into a petulant glare of irritation. "You can't just swoop in here out of nowhere and claim someone else's mate! You—you shameless dragon homewrecker!"
"Oh?" Tiamat tilted her head, arching one dark-blue eyebrow slowly at Runeas. Her smirk widened slightly, flashing just a hint of sharp, white teeth. "Strange. Moments ago, this adorable young human girl seemed quite certain that this dragon belonged to her and another woman—not you. I wonder, did you imagine him yours simply by shouting it loud enough?"
Runeas spluttered indignantly, her cheeks reddening faintly beneath the gorgeous porcelain-white of her skin. "That's—that's different! I'm at least his friend, and soon-to-be lover!"
Taylor could hardly process Runeas's words. She shook her head, still dumbfounded, and tried to gather herself enough to speak. "Look, um, Miss...Tiamat," she began hesitantly, voice shaking slightly but still determined, "you can't just—just claim Silas like he's some kind of object! We don't even know you! And he definitely doesn't know you!"
Tiamat simply smiled indulgently, completely unfazed by Taylor's nervous objection. "And that's precisely why I'm here, sweet little mortal. I intend to fix that little problem right now." Her blue eyes glimmered with playful anticipation. "It's been centuries since a male dragon with such potential has appeared. I'd be a fool not to claim him for myself."
"You—!" Runeas began angrily.
But Tiamat ignored her entirely. With a step backward, she raised her bare arms skyward, closing her eyes and inhaling slowly. Her naked form suddenly began radiating a vibrant, brilliant sapphire-blue glow. Taylor stared, shielding her eyes slightly from the growing brightness.
Then, in an incredible burst of azure energy, Tiamat rose smoothly off the ground—floating higher and higher, her hair streaming behind her. The bright glow enveloped her completely, expanding outward dramatically until her silhouette grew impossibly massive.
In a rush of wind that nearly knocked Taylor off her feet, the glowing energy transformed rapidly and completely into the colossal shape of a dragon!
"Oh my god," Taylor whispered faintly, stumbling slightly back and gazing up in awe. She instinctively shielded her eyes again as the energy finally faded, revealing Tiamat's true draconic form—a gigantic, majestic blue dragon easily twice as massive as Silas's current black-scaled form.
"Rrroooooaaaaaarrrrrr!" Tiamat's deep-throated roar thundered deafeningly through the entire Underworld sky above them, echoing through the very ground beneath their feet. The powerful sonic vibrations caused Taylor's teeth to rattle slightly, and she quickly steadied herself to remain standing.
Silas and Rebecca immediately stopped sparring and turned to look at the source of the roar.
Runeas sighed loudly in resigned annoyance beside Taylor. "Ugh. Of course she had to show up now, just when things were getting interesting." The red-haired devil pouted irritably, pink eyes glaring upward at the enormous blue dragon now circling overhead. "But as troublesome as she is, her strength might actually help us achieve our goals. Who knew we'd get such a useful surprise today?"
Taylor shot Runeas a bewildered glance. "You... know her?"
Runeas huffed irritably, tossing her vibrant crimson hair back with an exaggerated flick. "Who doesn't? That blue-skinned seductress is Tiamat, the Chaos Karma Dragon herself. Infamous throughout all three factions. Her strength is legendary, and she's beyond ancient. Basically, she's one of the most powerful dragons alive today, and definitely the most difficult."
Taylor felt her stomach tighten anxiously at Runeas's explanation. "And she wants Silas for herself? How are we even supposed to deal with someone like her?"
Runeas shook her head slowly, clearly resigned. "Honestly, Taylor? I'm not sure we even can. Once Tiamat sets her sights on something, she tends to get it."
Taylor swallowed hard, dread and irritation bubbling inside her. Above, Tiamat roared again—a fierce, proud, deafening cry that echoed for miles.
"Well," Runeas muttered grumpily, tugging a finger thoughtfully against her plump lower lip, "I suppose I should at least tell Chysis we'll have yet another guest for dinner tonight…"
"This was not how I thought the training montage would go…" Taylor grumbled.
XXX