Cherreads

Chapter 41 - Chapter 34: Cracks in the Earth

The morning after our latest rooftop rendezvous—Elena's body still flushed from the passionate sex we'd had under the stars—I woke to her stirring beside me. Her naked form was a vision: full breasts rising and falling with each breath, her curves draped over the sheets like a masterpiece sculpted for my eyes alone. She rolled toward me, her hand sliding down my chest to grip my morning hardness. "Mmm... already ready for round... what is it, five?" she whispered, her voice husky with sleep and desire.

I groaned, pulling her on top—kissing her deeply, hands squeezing her ass. "Can't get enough of you, future wife." We made love slowly at first—her riding with gentle rolls, breasts bouncing softly as she moaned, "I love you... so much... fuck me like this forever." I thrust up—deep, controlled—her super muscles clenching in waves. "Yes... right there... harder... make your fiancée cum." Orgasms built—hers hitting first, pussy fluttering as purple sparks danced, milking me until I exploded inside her. "Fuck... Elena... take it all."

We lay tangled afterward—laughing, planning the wedding. "The public's going crazy," she said, tracing my jaw. "They want a spectacle."

"Let them," I replied. "But it's our day."

Missions called—minor ones, the kind that kept us sharp without the world-ending drama. That afternoon, we flew over the city's financial district—violet and purple auras syncing like always—when alerts pinged: a massive split in the ground downtown, 2km long and 400 meters wide, like the Earth had been clawed open by a giant's hand. "What the hell is that?" I said, diving closer.

The fissure was unnatural—edges jagged, steam rising from depths that glowed faintly red. People panicked below—evacuating buildings, cars swerving around cracks spiderwebbing the streets. We landed at the edge—Elena's boot crunching gravel. "Do you think this has anything to do with Magnolia?" she asked, peering into the abyss, her voice laced with worry. The tree entity's defeat was fresh—her tragic story still echoing in our minds.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I think this is something else. Magnolia was... organic. This feels different. Volcanic? Or... engineered."

She nodded—super senses scanning. "No heat signatures from magma. But there's... movement down there. Deep."

Suddenly, our comms buzzed—another report: a similar split in the ground in Tokyo, not as big—1km long, 200 meters wide—but growing. "We need to investigate that one too," Elena said, launching skyward. I followed—our flight a streak across the ocean, auras merging in a violet-purple trail.

Tokyo's split was chaos—smaller but in a densely populated area, buildings tilting as metallic tendrils emerged from the edges. We landed—crowds cheering despite the fear. "Thick Chick! Loverman! Save us!"

We scanned—Elena's x-ray vision piercing the depths. "It's not natural. There's... structures down there. Old, buried."

After a while, as we hovered, analyzing, a voice cut through the din: "Hello, Nee."

Elena froze—body rigid, eyes wide. Nobody had called her that name since her old life—before the lab accident, before Thick Chick. A nickname from her childhood, short for Elena, used by family long gone. She looked around—scanning the crowd—and there he was: a man standing at the fissure's edge, in a sleek costume of black and silver, cape billowing, mask concealing his eyes but not his smirk.

"Who are you?" Elena demanded, floating closer, aura flaring purple. "How do you know that name?"

The man laughed—deep, resonant. "Oh, Nee... you don't remember me? After all these years? I'm hurt." His voice carried a familiar lilt, but twisted, darker. It was clear he was our next target—a new villain, emerging from the split like a demon from hell. But how did he know Elena? And why "Nee"?

I landed beside her—violet energy crackling. "Answer her. Who are you?"

He bowed mockingly. "Call me Riftmaster. And Nee... let's just say we have history. From before you became... this." He gestured at her suit, her power. "The lab accident? The artifact? I was there. Watching. Waiting."

Elena's face paled. "That's impossible. No one survived but me."

Riftmaster's smirk widened. "Oh, I survived. Changed, like you. We were together for years, Nee. You and me—before everything. Before the explosion. Before you forgot me."

The revelation hit her like a root whip—she hesitated, aura flickering. Riftmaster capitalized—dark energy lashing her side, ripping her suit, drawing blood. She screamed—pain and confusion mingling.

I surged—violet nova exploding around him, forcing him back. "Elena! Focus!"

The battle erupted—fissure growing, buildings trembling. Riftmaster teleported through rifts, reappearing to strike. "Nee, you were always so strong... but naive," he taunted, a rift opening under me, sucking me in.

I blasted out—speed blurring—tackling him mid-air. "Stay away from her!" Fists connected—strength sending him crashing into a billboard.

Elena flanked—super speed circling him, punches raining. "How do you know me? Tell me!"

He laughed—opening a rift to dodge, emerging behind her. "We were lovers, Nee. Engaged, even. Before the lab. Before you forgot everything."

The fight raged—Riftmaster's rifts opening and closing, dark energy lashing like whips. Elena and I coordinated—auras syncing, pushing him toward the edge. But he was slippery—teleporting behind Elena, a rift blade grazing her side.

She spun—nova burst shredding the rift. "You're lying!"

"Am I?" Riftmaster sneered. "You were mine first. Before him."

I roared—violet nova slamming him back. "She's mine now!"

The fissure widened—tendrils lashing. Riftmaster laughed—disappearing into a rift mid-strike. "This isn't over, Nee. You'll remember me soon enough."

He vanished—rift sealing behind him.

Panting, we landed—crowds cheering. "You did it!"

But Elena's face was pale. "Nee... how did he know? And why does it feel... familiar?"

I held her—kissing her forehead. "We'll find out. Together."

The public celebrated—our heroics trending. But the minor missions continued—keeping us sharp.

And at the end, as we flew home, the ground rumbled again. Something came out of the Earth that had been resting—a new crack, darker energy bubbling.

The threat wasn't over.

More Chapters