Shining Shadow

The Shadowpine Forest's darkness clung like a jealous lover, pines towering over our camp, their needles swallowing the dawn's light. My curse's 30 kg weight dragged at me, but the Starforged Tunic hummed, keeping my bones from creaking like a rusty forge. I was sprawled on the grass, Tira curled against me, her red hair fanned across my chest, her breath warm and steady from our night under the waterfall. Her skin still smelled of mist and fire, and I'd have stayed there forever if Bera's boot hadn't jabbed my ribs.

"Get up, pervert," Bera snapped, her Middle Master Fire aura flaring, corset straining as she loomed over me. Her bare legs—smooth, fiery—were close enough to kiss, her skirt hiked just enough to tease. I grinned, voice rough. "Hmm, still letting your pussy roam free, Bera?"

Varkoth, my Beginner Master Darkness Basilisk Emperor, slithered nearby, hissing fluently, "Father, where does she keep this cat? I have seen no such beast." His scales glinted, eyes wide with naive curiosity. I choked back a laugh as Bera's face went crimson, her fireball singeing my braid's gold tips.

Lila, Middle Master Earth, stood beside her, earth-rune skirt hugging thighs that could crush Geodrite. Her glare could've melted Cryonsteel. "Why're you and Tira tangled up like that, Killy?" she demanded, pointing at Tira's arm draped over me. Tira stirred, blinking, her phoenix tattoo glowing faintly as she sat up, tunic rumpled.

"Uh, she was wet from the falls," I said, scrambling for bullshit. "I warmed her up, and we crashed. Right, Tira?"

Tira nodded, too quick. "Yeah, cold night. Needed the heat." Her voice was steady, but her eyes darted away. Bera and Lila weren't buying it. They circled us like Silver Wolves, and then Lila's gasp cut through. "Killy, your ass!"

I stood, forgetting my torn trousers—my bare buttocks flashed, marked with bloody nail lines from Tira's grip last night. Bera's eyes narrowed, spotting purple hickeys on Tira's neck. "Warming her up, huh?" Bera hissed, fire Qi sparking. Lila's earth spike cracked the ground. "What the fuck, Tira?"

Tira stood, chin high. "It was cold, alright? Drop it."

"Cold my ass!" Bera shouted, flames flaring. "You two fucked!"

I raised my hands. "Ladies, calm down—plenty of me to go around." Varkoth hissed, "Father's warmth unites you, females." That earned him a fireball and a spike, both missing. The argument burned hotter than a Lava Dragon's breath—Bera and Lila hurling accusations, Tira dodging with half-assed excuses. Finally, I yelled, "Enough! We've got a road to Forgehold. Saddle up!"

They glared but mounted their Zoraths, Bera and Lila's eyes promising murder. I tucked Stinky, my Middle Knight Earth Emerald Beetle, into his beast ring—his green shell had gleamed in last night's fight, but he'd earned a rest. I climbed my Zorath, the curse making it a slog, and promptly passed out, lulled by the beast's sway. Behind me, Bera and Lila tore into Tira, their voices a fiery storm of jealousy. Varkoth crawled beside me, hissing softly, "Father, their rage fuels progress." I snorted, half-asleep. "Let 'em burn, son."

The Ironspike Mountains loomed like jagged fangs, their peaks veined with Geodrite and pulsing with Fire and Earth Qi. The air was heavy, my curse a constant drag, but I stayed quiet—Bera and Lila hadn't spoken to me since the forest, their glares sharp as mithril. Tira rode ahead, her focus on Forgehold unshaken, her secret goal a wall between us. Varkoth kept pace, hissing, "Father, silence does not suit you." I shrugged. "They'll cool off, son. Or they won't."

Trouble didn't wait. A dozen Peak Expert Earth bandits, led by a Middle Scholar Magnetism brute named Vren, ambushed us in a narrow pass. Vren's aura crackled, his Magnetism Qi yanking Ember's Fang and Blaze's Claw from my hands. My Pyroclast swords hovered, tips aimed at my chest. "Surrender, pretty boy," Vren sneered, his scarred face twisting.

I grinned, pulling my Razorvine Wire—spiked with tiny blades—from my spatial ring. "Eat this, asshole." I spun into Vortex, a whirlwind of curse-fueled momentum, the wire slicing air and catching Vren off-guard. His control faltered, my swords dropping. Tira's fire blasts scorched three bandits, Lila's earth walls crushed two, and Bera's fireballs scattered the rest, her glare still burning me more than them. Varkoth's Dread Glare (1s stun) froze Vren, and my wire wrapped his throat, ending him. We looted five Level 3 Spirit Stones and a Magnetism-infused dagger, stored in my ring. "Nice try," I muttered, ignoring Bera's scoff.

We pushed on, the girls' silence louder than the wind. Near the mountains' exit, Varkoth hissed, "Father, I sense prey." A small bandit camp—ten cultivators, mostly Beginner Expert Fire and Middle Knight Earth, nestled in a ravine below a cliff. A massive boulder teetered above, begging to be used. I grinned, whispering, "Ladies, time for a plan." Bera and Lila glared but listened—Tira's nod was all business.

"Here's the play," I said. "Lila, you and Bera shake that boulder loose with earth and fire. Tira, hit 'em with a fire wave to scatter 'em. Varkoth, stun the stragglers. I'll mop up with Razorvine." Tira smirked, finally speaking. "Not bad, pervert." Bera muttered, "Don't fuck it up," and Lila just nodded, her earth Qi humming.

We crept to the cliff's edge, the camp's fires flickering below. Lila's earth spikes loosened the boulder's base, Bera's fireballs heated it until it cracked, and with a shove of their combined Qi, it roared down, crushing five bandits in a cloud of dust. Screams echoed as Tira's fire wave swept the camp, burning tents and scattering the rest. Varkoth's Dread Glare froze three, and I leapt in, Razorvine Wire slashing throats and limbs, my curse's weight making each swing a hammer. Tira's flames and Lila's walls finished the job, Bera's fireballs a grudging assist. We stood over the wreckage, panting, Varkoth hissing, "Father's plan was flawless." I grinned. "Damn right, son."

One survivor remained—a Beginner Expert Fire female bandit, a curvy redhead with wild curls and eyes like embers. Tied to a tree, she spat, "I ain't telling you shit about our stash." Her tunic was torn, curves spilling out, and I saw my chance. "Oh, you will, gorgeous," I purred, stepping close. Her glare faltered as I bound her tighter, stripping her bare, her skin glowing in the firelight. I leaned in, tongue tracing her nipple, slow and teasing, her gasp sharp. My fingers slid lower, teasing her folds, wet and eager, bringing her to the edge—then stopping. She moaned, frustrated, as I waited, then started again, licking, teasing, never letting her peak. "Tell me," I whispered, breath hot against her skin.

She broke, panting, "Cave… behind the camp… please, let me finish!" I grinned, nodding. "Deal." As the girls searched, I slid into her, hips thrusting hard, her cries echoing as she clenched around me, climaxing in seconds. I followed, groaning, then untied her, letting her flee naked into the dark. "Run fast, red," I called, smirking.

The girls returned, faces thunderous, clutching three spatial rings packed with spirit stones Level 2 and 3,Geodrite, Bloodthorn roots, beast cores, a Fire-infused spear, and a pair of sturdy trousers. "You're disgusting," Bera hissed, fireball grazing my shoulder. Lila's earth spike pinned my old, torn pants to the ground. "Put those on, asshole," she snapped. I swapped trousers, the new ones snug and Cryonsteel-lined, tossing the rags. "Worth it for the loot," I said, ignoring their glares. Tira shook her head, but her lips twitched. Varkoth hissed, "Father's methods yield riches." I laughed. "Keep preaching, son."

The rings held 120 Level 2 Spirit Stones, 50 Level 3 Spirit Stones, and rare crafting materials—enough to make Tradewind's merchants drool. Bera and Lila's anger burned hotter, their silence a blade, but I didn't care. The Ironspike Mountains were behind us, Tradewind ahead, and Forgehold's secrets closer. Varkoth crawled fast, hissing, "Father, your chaos carves our path." I nodded, my mind on the blue relic whispers and the hole in my past. The girls could hate me all they wanted—my quest was coming, and I'd face it alone.