CHAPTER 65: LILLITHS DEN (7)

Once more we entered through the portal and found ourselves back on the central platform that seemed to be our ’base of opperations’. "Its official the person who made this trial is evil. Pure unadulterated evil I say!" Kana’s bedraggled voice rang out as she staggered free from the portal. We had mostly grown used to its stomach lurching effects but it still threw us off ballence each time we went through one.

As for the reason she was saying so? "Oh it wasn’t that bad." Zara said with a slight grin as she too regained her footing. Unlike Kana who was covered in a think gloopy mess from the boss monster we had defeated, Zara was looking sparkly clean as she had managed to avoid the rain of gloop that was the result of Kana’s wind infused arrow that managed to defeat the giant slime monster.

"You are only clean because you were thrown to the other side of the room when you ran straight into that trap so you didn’t even participate in the fight!" The half succubus responded indignantly. It was quite the sight. The cloud island that we had just returned from had been everything I could have dreamed for, assuming that dream was a horrific nightmare.

We had saved that island for last as somehow I kept getting out voted to explore that island. Regardless the clouds had been quite delightful and I even managed to find a magical item there which I have to admit may be my favourite item that I currently own.

[Flask of Clouds - able to summon basic cloud furniture.]

It was truly the greatest item we could possibly have found and I challenged any of my friends to deny it. Of course they still did as over the last 7 days we had stumbled upon quite a few items of note. From a quiver infused with light night that allowed the wielder to draw arrows of lightning. To an enchanted belt that had the bizarre ability to enhance someone’s ability to sing.

Whilst we would likely sell most of the items we had gathered we were all still quite happy with our winnings.

"Yeah well... at least I’m not sticky so meh." Was Zara’s decidedly lackluster reply. After all it was not the first time she had ran straight into a trap during the past few days. And the traps on that cloud island were quite infuriating. Whilst they rarely caused damage directly the instead either prevented someone from moving or drastically repositioned them to open up a hole in our defences.

When zara had charged at the slime boss she had stepped on one such trap that flung her well over 100 meteres away to land in a deep cloud pond. Whilst harmless they were similar to quicksand in that the harder you struggled to escape the fiercer the resistance you would encounter. That had effectively knocked her out of the fight as it took her a few minutes to escape and by that time we had defeated the boss.

"Okay enough now ladies we won so let’s all calm down alright. Besides since we have finished the last island we should have time to rest and recuperate till the next part of the trial begins." I tried to mediate, at the same time o headed over to the sodden and sulking succubus and began to use my cleaning skill to get rid of the majority of the gunk that covered her.

I then took out my new favourite item and summoned a large cloud sofa and pulled the still sulking succubus down to sit with me. ’Oh the comfort of this cloud is just Devine!’ I swear if this was the only thing we got out of the trial then I would walk away a very happy woman! It is the simple things in life that often mean the most I have discovered.

"Fine. But I want extra meat tonight!" My buxom lover relented to which I just chuckled and hugged her tighter to me.

"Oh I can definitely give you some ’extra’ meat tonight if you want darling" I whispered into her ear causing her to squeek in surprise before she hurried her head into my chest in embarrassment. But I didn’t miss the slight nod she gave obviously quite eager to enjoy that particular offering that I provided her.

As we relaxed for a while longer I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly we would be facing in the next section, we would apparently be faced with a number of trials equal to the number of keys we recived. However, I was cautious about this fact, whilst yes the challenges were by no means easy, they were not to the level that I thought anyone should have died and I was beginning to wonder how exactly so many people had died in the previous challenges. Or alternatively how they had been ’broken’.

And it would seem that we would have to wait too much longer as at that moment a screen appeared before us all.

[Congratulations to all who have gathered 5 keys. You are eligible for the next stage. All trial takers will be transported to the next stage or returned to Azue.

Time remaining- 5 minutes]

"Wait we only have 5 minutes!" Zara exclaimed.

"That does seem quite sudden no?" I agreed. But glancing over at Amanda she had a thoughtful look on her face before speaking up.

"So only groups that cleared out all islands will be proceeding to the next stage. We might be expected to compete more directly with them going forward." He words caused some frowns to grow around our group but before more could be said on that yet another announcement arrived to us.

[All challengers who passed will be separated from their group and will undertake a challenge. Prepair yourselves.]

Oh I didn’t like the sound of that. My eyes quickly flashed to Dawn who was still wrapped around my neck and a feeling of deep worry began to grow. Whilst she is definitely strong she is still yet to reach Iron Rank and as a baby dragon I was deeply worried that if she is grouped up with anyone else she may be taken advantage of.

Gently pulling her from my neck I brought her face in front of mine and spoke softly to her whilst also pushing through my sincere feeling through our bond. "Hey little Dawn, looks like we will be getting separated for a little while. I know you don’t want to be apart from me and I feel much the same way." At that she let out a small whimper and nuzzled into my hand that held her up. "But you have to be strong for mummy okay. Make sure to be safe. I don’t care if you have to run away just promise that you will come back to me okay baby?" The though of my baby being in danger or getting hurt when I’m not around to protect her hurt more than words could describe.

But it seemed that whilst she may not fully understand the situation she knew enough to understand my meaning. And from that understanding a fierce feeling of determination grew within her that radiated down our bond. I felt a smile curl my lips up when I felt this from her and I pulled her in to plant a kiss to her forehead and embraced her in a tight hug.

"Just know that mummy loves you okay. And if anyone hurts you I will personally deal with them, so just stay alive alright baby." She sent over a feeling of acceptance as she licked my cheek causing me to giggle slightly.

"She will be fine Lilly, she is a tough girl and is able to look after herself." Kana spoke up and joins me in reassuring both myself and little Dawn. "Besides if anyone does upset her they will have to deal with all of us for it." A wicked grin split her face at that and for the first time I saw a truly demonic side of my gentle lover. I felt a slight shiver travel down my spine when I looked at her cold visage, but just as quickly as it came it was washed away as she returned to comforting my baby dragon.

Amanda and Zara both shared their well wishes although it seems I wasn’t the only one to notice that flash of malice from Kana as they both gave her side glances. But it didn’t bother me, after all she only showed that face at the thought of someone harming my baby, how could I ever fault someone for being willing to do anything for her. After all I would be willing to fight anything to keep little Dawn safe. No one would be allowed to hurt my child and get away with it.

We did soon pull back and I looked over the rest of my group worry for all of them present in my mind. I knew that they were all capable women who would be able to look after themselves but I could help but feel worried for them all. "Please be safe everyone, I don’t know what I would do if any of you were hurt when we are apart." I paused to look each of them in the eyes and saw that whilst they were all slightly apprehensive about what might await us, a burning determination to succeed at whatever trial awaited us.

And so like that our time soon ran out.

[You will now be transported to your next trial. Good luck challengers.]