Chapter 324: Consolidating
One month later
Demon Capital, Avalon – Inside Asher's Bedchamber
Lucy sat on the edge of the massive bed, absently running her fingers along the silk sheets when Asher appeared.
She stood up and greeted him with a kiss.
When they pulled apart, her hands lingered around his neck, fingers tracing slow circles against his skin.
"Lucy, I need to isolate myself,"
"Why?" she asked, confused by the sudden announcement.
"I hit a bottleneck. I've been growing stronger lately thanks to all the training, so now I need to consolidate my bloodline."
Lucy only furrowed her brows but didn't ask any more questions. She didn't really understand how a dragon's bloodline worked.
"I might be gone for a month, so take this. These are additional notes you need to read so I can help you build a better magic body. Don't worry, I revised the whole thing."
"Thank you," she accepted the book with both hands.
She was determined to grow stronger because she didn't want the gap between them to grow any wider, especially now that Hailey was around, who, according to Asher, was even stronger than Zagan.
Then, he also told her about his women in Eryx, both of whom were at the Demon King level with all their powerful magic items.
Lastly, there was Index, the mysterious figure from the void.
Lucy felt like she was becoming more and more useless. If she remained weak, she feared she would lose him in the future.
Asher could somewhat read her mind through her actions, so he decided to comfort her.
He leaned in and hugged her tightly.
"Just focus on improving your magic, and I'm sure that one month will pass by quickly."
Lucy held onto him for a moment, feeling the warmth of his embrace.
"Don't worry, I'll do my best. My body might not be that strong, but when it comes to magic, I'm a quick learner," she said, offering him a soft but determined smile.
He let out a chuckle and kissed her one last time, his lips lingering for a good 15 seconds before he pulled away.
"I'm going," he turned around before vanishing into thin air.
When his vision returned, he found himself in Hailey's bedroom. She was still asleep, looking tired after their passionate time just a few hours ago.
However, as soon as she sensed his presence, she sat up and greeted him with a smile.
"Do you want to do it more? I've rested enough and I'm ready."
Asher was tempted but he shook his head and sat on her bedside.
"I'm going to isolate myself to consolidate my bloodline, so I won't be joining you for maybe a month," he explained.
"I'll come with you! I'm far from consolidating my own bloodline, but I can protect you while you do it," she insisted.
Asher shook his head. "Pantheon is more than enough. You stay here and guard this place. No matter what happens, make sure Lucy is safe."
"I will!" Hailey replied without any hint of hesitation or jealousy.
For her, Lucy was an important figure in maintaining Asher's happiness, so she would protect her even if he did not ask.
Her nodded in satisfaction. This was why he liked Hailey—she might be crazy, but at least her heart was pure and innocent when it came to loving him.
She would rather die than make him sad or angry.
"Thank you," he leaned in again and kissed her lips.
What was meant to be a brief ten seconds turned into something more as she played with his tongue. The sensation only made him want it longer.
'An hour isn't a big deal,' he said, pinning her to the bed as he began kissing her neck.
Her moans grew louder as he moved down her body, each kiss leaving a trail of heat that made her skin tingle.
His hands found her huge tits, which were already standing, and he cupped them, feeling their flexibility.
He couldn't get enough of it. If a real creator existed, then her melons must have been crafted with extra care.
Asher began to massage her sensitive nipples, rolling them gently between his thumbs and forefingers.
"Ahhh... that's it. Keep going... I love it."
She arched her back, pushing her chest upwards, begging for more. Her hands found their way into his hair, pulling him closer to her.
He took the cue, taking one of her nipples into his mouth and sucking it hard, his teeth grazing against it gently.
She let out a cute gasp, "hmmmmm"
Her skin was flushed pink, and her breathing was shallow and fast as he moved down her body, his mouth leaving kisses along her collarbone, down to her chest, and finally reaching her stomach.
Asher looked up at her with a mischievous smile, and she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin. She was already naked, and the anticipation was driving her wild.
He placed one hand on each of her inner thighs, pushing them apart slightly, exposing her to his view.
"Time to eat,"
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"That was amazing." Hailey stretched her legs. It was supposed to be just an hour, but they ended up going for two.
"I really gotta go. If I keep delaying it—" His words were cut off by another kiss, but this time, he exercised more self-control and gently pushed her away.
"Hailey." He looked at her firmly, and she backed away, looking a bit guilty.
She bit her lip and glanced down, avoiding his gaze.
"Sorry... I just don't want you to leave yet," she admitted softly.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I know," he said, his voice gentle. "But I promise, I'll be back soon."
Hailey sighed but nodded, leaning into his touch. "You better," she murmured.
He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before standing up. "Of course. I could never stay away for long."
She watched as he turned around, her expression softening. "I'll be waiting."
He chuckled "Then that gives me all the more reason to hurry back."
BLINK!
He disappeared into thin air and reappeared on an island 3,000 kilometers away from Avalon.
The land was shaped by constant volcanic activity.
Beasts that had adapted to the extreme heat roamed the area, making it a dangerous but perfect training ground.
Lucian searched for a place like this within the demon world at his request. He needed an environment with intense heat to temper his body, pushing himself beyond his current limits.
"So, what's next?" he asked Pantheon.
(Easy, just transform into your dragon form and submerge in the volcano. The longer you can withstand the heat, the more it will strengthen your durability. And don't use any barriers—let your body adjust to the magma.)
Asher nodded. It was straightforward enough.
SWOOOOSH!
He flew toward the volcano's mouth, transforming mid-air before diving straight in.
For most, the thought of submerging in molten rock would be terrifying, but his dragon scales held up—for now.
Breathing wasn't a concern. At his level, it was more of a choice than a necessity.
As the magma engulfed him, he focused on the sensation spreading across his body.
At first, his dragon scales held firm, resisting the searing heat without issue.
But as he sank deeper, the pressure and temperature increased, pushing past his natural resistance.
Tiny cracks formed along the surface of his scales, but instead of alarm, he felt satisfaction.
This was exactly what he needed—an environment that forced his body to adapt and evolved.
The intense heat seeped into the gaps, melting away the weaker layers and forging something stronger beneath.
Next, his body responded instinctively, breaking down damaged tissue and rebuilding it at an accelerated rate.
This was exactly why he needed to cultivate with Hailey first.
Strengthening his dragon bloodline ensured faster regeneration and provided the purity needed to reinforce his evolution.
Without that preparation, his body wouldn't have been able to keep up with the stress and ultimately fail.
As the magma continued to wear down his body, his dragon essence fought back, fusing with the intense energy around him.
BOOOOM!
Suddenly, cracks formed along his chest, and a powerful force surged from within, struggling to break free.
(Don't worry. Just let it cover your whole body.)
Pantheon's voice echoed in his mind as it broke free from his wrist, shifting into the form of a small dragon.
He trusted his partner's words, letting the transformation unfold.
Slowly, a black substance seeped from his body, spreading like ink, yet the magma didn't dissolve it.
Instead, the molten rock continued to swirl around him, merging with the dark energy.
Then, the liquid heat thickened, solidifying into a dense, black shell. It hardened around him, forming a smooth, marble-like egg.
Inside the shell, his body continued to change.
The power surging within wasn't just strengthening him—it was reshaping him into something far stronger.