The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

When they were done, Aeric dusted his hands off. They gathered the beast scores and packed them into the bag of supplies that Misty was carrying.

Aeric heard his sister moan a little due to the added weight of the cores. "Wait," he said to the girls and then walked towards her.

He held the back and made rough cuts to fashion a smaller bag from Misty's oversized supply sack. He then placed the newly downsized bag in his hand and filled them with the beast cores they'd collected.

Then he tied the back and hooked it on his waist belt, the cores snuggled insides.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"There," he said, straightening up. "Smaller bag means less weight. In case something happens, you'll be able to move quicker."

Misty clutched the bag, her cheeks reddening. "T- thanks, Aeric," she stammered, her voice soft.

Aeric didn't say anything at first, slinging his own sword over his shoulder. He gave her a brief glance, remembering memories of his childhood that had been programmed into his thoughts.

"Yeah, whatever," he finally said and turned toward the rest of the team. He motioned ahead. "Come on. Let's move on to the next Lobby."

The group started forward, the tension of the first battle giving way to a quieter sense of accomplishment. But as Aeric walked, Nyx quickly fell into step beside him, her hands clasped loosely behind her back.

She was smiling again.

Aeric noticed it out of the corner of his eye but tried his best to ignore her, focusing on the tunnel ahead. Yet, after several moments of silence, she continued to smile and continued to stare at him. And it began to gnaw.

Finally, he sighed and turned his head slightly. "What?"

"Nothing," Nyx said, her smile widening mischievously. "You just keep impressing me."

Aeric exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Wasn't my intention. But now that I see it's earned me unwanted attention from you, I regret it completely."

The words came out sharp and straightforward, and Aeric didn't linger to even soften them. Instead, he lengthened his stride, moving past her to the front of the group.

Nyx blinked, her smile faltering for a moment. She wasn't used to being dismissed, especially not so bluntly. For reasons she didn't fully understand, the jab stung more than she expected.

Celestia walked beside Aeric. She didn't say a word but shot Nyx a withering glare over her shoulder, her protective instincts flaring.

Seeing that, Nyx quickly masked her hurt, forcing her grin to return as she adjusted her pace to keep up with the group.

Not long after, they arrived at the Second Quest Lobby.

This Lobby was cavernous, the air heavy with the stench of damp earth and decay. The chamber stretched high above them, toothed stalactites looming like the fangs of some kind of creature.

There was a faint, eerie glow emanating from the walls, cast by veins of bioluminescent minerals, painting the room in hues of sickly green and pale blue. Shadows danced erratically, giving the illusion that the walls themselves were shifting.

"Those almost look like liquidised Divinity," Nyx pointed out, studying the mineral veins as she looked around.

"This Mock Dungeon is really impressive," Aeric spoke his thoughts out loud. "I wonder what other Divine Quests can be mocked."

"Oh, we have training centers for Egg Hunting in our Region!" Phoebe said excitedly.

Aeric looked at her. "That sounds interesting, Phoebe." His eyes noticed a moving shadow behind a cracked wall. "But... let's try to concentrate. This Lobby feels dangerous."

In the center of the room, there was a low mist clung to the ground, swirling unnaturally as though disturbed by an invisible force.

[Second Quest Lobby]

[Objective: Defeat all beasts to progress]

[Difficulty 30%]

"Alright, prepare for an attack," Aeric said, and the girls slowly began to stand in formation.

The mist began to ripple, and from its depths emerged four beasts, each monstrous in its own right.

The first was a Cave Lurker, a hulking creature with rock-like skin that bristled with spikes. Its glowing yellow eyes scanned the team, its movements slow but deliberate.

Beside it, a pair of Hollow Wolves prowled forward, their translucent, spectral bodies shimmering faintly in the dim light. Their glowing fangs and claws promised excruciating pain to anyone caught in their path.

The fourth beast was the most terrifying—a Venom Serpent, its massive coiled body covered in slick, dark scales. Its hood flared as it hissed, revealing twin rows of serrated teeth that dripped with a green, corrosive substance.

Aeric's eyes narrowed. "Three different beast types? That's new..."

His grip on his sword tightened as he immediately barked out, "Formation! Now!"

The team moved faster, hurrying into their diamond shape, the movements almost instinctive after the first Lobby. Celestia raised her Light Shield, its golden glow spreading outward to protect the group as she took her place at the front.

"Phoebe, move to central!" Aeric instructed sharply. "Misty, cover the rear! Nyx, keep pressure on their right flank. Watch their movements, and don't give them room to breathe!"

"We know what to do." Nyx's shadows unfurled like ribbons of black smoke, coiling in anticipation as she took her position. Misty's hands ignited, flickering flames casting uneasy shadows around her trembling figure.

The beasts, however, were not as easy as the manbats.

A loud roar came first, and then the Cave Lurker slammed its massive fists into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling through the cavern. The force struck Celestia's shield which had barely been fully erected, causing her to stumble as cracks spidered across the golden barrier. Your adventure continues at empire

"Celestia!" Aeric shouted, rushing to her side. He knelt beside her, picking her up from the ground. "Are you oka—"

The Cave Lurker repeated its attack and the shockwave shattered the entire shield, sending splitters everywhere and a wave of furious wind.

Aeric covered his face and at the same time, protected Celestia with his cape.

But when he raised his head to see what was happening, one of the Hollow Wolves darted forward, its spectral form nearly invisible as it sped high through the air, speeding just above Aeric.

And lunging straight for Phoebe!

She gasped.