Slavery is an injustice, But I Own Two Beauties
Life is a whimsical dance of chance.
Every heartbeat reminds me that I possess but a singular coin in this game of existence.
When Maa emerges from the shadows, my blade arcs towards her in a desperate strike. She sidesteps with an eerie grace, retaliating with a deadly blow meant for me.
Darkness takes over.
Yet again, the scene unfolds. This time, as Maa approaches, I feign vulnerability, letting her believe I'm still ensnared by my chains. But with a swift motion, the iron links transform into the gleaming blade of a katana, which I swing in her direction.
She effortlessly dodges, and her fingers, aimed with lethal precision, pierce towards my heart. Once more, I'm engulfed in the void.
After several attempts, I implore my ally, "Dea, isn't there a genuine chance to defeat Maa? Considering her power, we need a strategy with the highest probability of success; every failure only brings demise."
"We will try another simulation again, Master."
***
The weight of the chains presses into my wrists, binding them firmly against the cold stone wall. Stripped of dignity and defenses, the soft sound of footsteps grows ever louder. Through a unique bond with Dea, my perception expands beyond the confines of my physical self. Even with closed eyes, visions of the unfolding reality are transmitted directly to my mind.
I discern Maa's silhouette drawing nearer, her lips curling into a sinister smirk.
As a knot of apprehension forms in my chest, Dea steps in, "Master, I'll adjust your bodily functions to simulate deep sleep."
A wave of serenity washes over me as my heartbeat and respiration slow in tandem.
Maa's cold fingers brush against me. "It's unfortunate I have to wait for your consciousness to fully savor this," she purrs, anticipation evident in her voice. "In just a few hours, pleasure awaits us both. You won't be left wanting, I assure you. But for the moment, I shall relish your essence."
Her mouth gaped open, revealing more than just teeth; two elongated, razor-sharp fangs gleamed under the dim light, promising an imminent and merciless bite. As she loomed closer, a pungent stench wafted from her - a scent reminiscent of decaying flesh. It was a cold, damp aroma, like the underbelly of a tombstone. The combination of those deadly fangs and the unsettling odor wrapped around me, choking my senses, filling me with an uncanny mix of dread and revulsion.
As her teeth entered my neck, for a fleeting moment, a heady rush of euphoria cascaded through me, akin to the crescendo of an intimate climax.
"Master, Maa's venom courses through her fangs, targeting your neural pathways. I'll intervene, shielding your nerves from its effects," Dea's voice echoed within me.
Regaining control felt like the first rush of a potent drug, invigorating yet destabilizing. I felt the twin punctures on my neck, evidence of Maa's thirst being satiated. Once sated, she disengaged her fangs, spinning away with a satisfied sigh.
Dea's information rang true: post-feeding, most creatures tend to drop their guard, a universal vulnerability.
"Master, my nanobots have infiltrated Maa's cerebral circuitry. We'll send an electrical pulse, rendering her momentarily paralyzed. Strike now!"
On cue, my chains disintegrated into a cloud of nanodust, materializing into a gleaming katana. With the speed and precision of a striking snake, I swung from above. But as the blade neared Maa's skull, she twitched as if to dodge, only to freeze mid-motion. My sword sliced seamlessly from her shoulder to her legs.
With my heart pounding in my chest, each beat echoing the desperation and urgency of the situation, I drew a deep breath, mustering all the strength and resolve I could. "Ashes to ashes, purged from darkness to light, Purify!" I bellowed, voice strained with effort and emotion, every fiber of my being channeled into the incantation.
As the words left my lips, I saw Maa's bisected form grotesquely twitch, her cells writhing and stretching in a frantic attempt to piece themselves back together. It was a gruesome dance of survival.
Activating the purify ritual, an intense, smoldering heat burst forth from each dissected cell. Smoke rose like vengeful spirits, curling into the air, each tendril a testament to the battle I was waging. My movements became a dance of desperation and determination, my blade slashing rhythmically, each cut further reducing her once mighty form into increasingly smaller, quivering segments.
Sweat dripped from my brow, my breathing heavy and ragged. With every ounce of strength left, I continued until all that lay before me was a fine, ashen residue - the last remnants of the once formidable and terrifying Maa.
* [You've leveled up]
* [You've leveled up]
* [Having purified the dark energy, 40% of its potency is now yours]
* [You've leveled up]
* [You've leveled up]
Your passage is mostly clear, but I've made a few edits for clarity and flow:
The room showed no signs of the recent chaos, save for the dark, smoky remnants. Holding Maa's severed head in one hand and my dark blade in the other, I moved towards the entrance where Lamar and Lisa stood, likely awaiting Maa's command. The grisly trophy I held, combined with my determined demeanor, drained the color from their faces, making them bow in respect.
Lamar, always the quicker thinker between them, implored, "Master, I am at your mercy. Grant me the privilege to serve you."
A digital prompt appeared before me:
[Lamar, once bound to Vampire Queen Maa: As per the laws of this realm, he who defeats another inherits their servants. Will you accept Lamar as your subject, or bestow freedom upon him? This bond ensures control over life and death, guaranteeing no harmful intent can arise, for they would be met with fatal consequences.]
🕊️ [Slavery is an injustice.] 🕊️
A sense of practicality took hold. "I require their loyalty, especially during my moments of vulnerability."
Deciding, I claimed both Lamar and Lisa as my own slave. "I shall rest now. Ensure all remains in order until my next command."
"Yes, Master!" they chorused in unison.
"Master, may I infuse my nanobots into Lamar and Lisa?" Dea inquired.
"What's the purpose?"
"I intend to gather knowledge about this unfamiliar realm. Upon your awakening, I can relay the accumulated data to you."
"Very well. We also need a secure sanctuary," I replied, moving towards Lamar. As I laid a hand on her temple, Dea's nanobots seamlessly transferred from my touch into her mind, and I did the same to Lisa. "Answer any questions Dea poses. Do not attempt to disobey; the consequences will be... explosive."
Their synchronized response echoed, "Yes, Master."
"And for heaven's sake, where can I find clothing? Why am I perpetually unclothed?"
"I can assist," Lamar offered, guiding me to a room on the third floor brimming with attire. After selecting a suitable outfit, I ascended to the fifth floor, indulging in a refreshing shower before succumbing to slumber. The physical vigor from the recent level-up was evident, but mentally, I craved respite.
***
Awakening to the aromatic scent of coffee was a pleasant surprise. A steaming cup, paired with freshly baked bread, awaited on a table adjacent to the balcony.
"Master, while I'm unsure of your exact preferences, Earthlings commonly savor coffee. I've replicated something similar from local ingredients," Dea informed.
Sampling the brew, I commented, "Not bad at all." Relishing the bread, I took a moment to lounge on the balcony, observing the chaotic scene below: zombies meandering aimlessly. "Quite the morning view," I mused, taking in the sun or whatever luminous entity hung in their sky.
"Master, there's a temporal disparity here. While Earth days span 24 hours, here it's roughly 32 hours. I've adjusted our internal clock to mimic Earth's, ensuring no undue strain on you."
"Understood."
Continuing, Dea reported, "This quaint establishment is currently home to five of Maa's former servants: three women and two men. I've tapped into their memories to gain insights into this world."
🕊️ [Slavery is an injustice.] 🕊️
"In time, once we've established a sanctuary, I intend to grant them their freedom," I mentally noted.
"Master, I'm still surveying potential locations for our base. My computational prowess has diminished by 90% since our recent resurrection," Dea admitted.
"No worries. How might I assist?"
"According to Lamar, essential supplies and foodstuffs are stockpiled on the first floor. Perhaps you could ensure its security?" said Dea.
"I'm on it."
"In the meantime, I'll interface with local networks to provide an aerial reconnaissance. And, before you venture forth, I'll upload tutorials on proficient katana usage."
"Excellent," I nodded. "Proceed."
"I've been mulling it over," I began, letting out a contemplative sigh, "Why shouldn't I relish a tranquil life here? Do I truly care about ascension or reaching Shangri-La? Who care about that bullshit."
"MASTER! INCOMING!" Dea screamed
Before I could react, a blur shot towards me at breakneck speed. A powerful entity, sleek and nimble, struck with twin legs extended like javelins. The force was overwhelming, expelling the air from my lungs as it flung me backward. It felt as if an unseen force had scooped me up from the fifth-floor balcony and cast me downward, with gravity hungrily awaiting its prize.
My fall was swift and disorienting. The world spun, the sky and earth trading places in a dizzying dance. Rational thoughts were swallowed by the deafening realization of the imminent collision. A foreboding dread settled deep within, knowing that the relentless earth below would not yield.
Then, with a jarring thud, I collided with the ground. The unforgiving grounda didn't merely receive me; it consumed me. Pain coursed through me, as if my bones had splintered like delicate glass. The tang of metal filled my mouth, and a fit of coughing painted the road red. I lay broken and bewildered, trying to piece together the abrupt assault.
'Is this the end for me?'