We were moving through the corridors of the dungeon’s third level. They looked just like the ones on the previous two - dull bck walls surrounding us on all sides, and a grey mist hanging above our heads. The mood was dreadful.

  We kept a steady pace, since, according to Cassia, reaching the checkpoint before Level 4 would take a while, even if it was still doable within a day. From what she had said, on higher levels, going from checkpoint to checkpoint required staying overnight in the dungeon. Either exploring the whole time or sleeping inside.

  It was hard to imagine that someone could fall asleep in a pce like that, with monsters lurking just behind the corner, but if the exploration would st a few days spent on fighting, then they wouldn’t have a choice.

  With a few hours of exploring ahead of us, and an unknown number of monsters we would battle, Mari was supposed to save her mana for the hardest battles, which forced the rest of us to take most of the fighting, as she supported by saving her skills.

  It wasn't long before we stumbled upon our first enemy - a lone skeleton that wasn't really a challenge against our whole group.

  “Tobias and Zoe, you should fight against it,” Cassia suggested, as the monster was approaching us slowly, wobbling on its bony legs. “You should practice fighting against monsters together,” she added, as I looked at her questioningly. “We’ll cover you in case something goes wrong, and you have the healing potions,” she said, like she was trying to reassure me that everything would be okay.

  Looking at the monster, which seemed to have trouble walking, I didn't exactly feel the need for her to do this.

  “I’ll draw its attention. Go around and hit it from behind,” I said to Zoe, as we moved toward the skeleton.

  “Yes, Master,” she replied, wielding the dagger that she was borrowing from Tori.

  As I moved in front of Zoe, the skeleton focused on me, swinging its longsword through the air.

  I took position, gripping my spear, keeping my distance and waiting. As the monster closed in, I suddenly leapt forward and struck with my spear. The tip smmed into its chest pte, pushing the skeleton back and slightly denting the armor, but it didn’t really hurt it. At least I stopped its advance, giving Zoe a chance to get behind it.

  My enemy rushed at me, faster now, its sword raised and empty gaze locked on me. I tried to aim my spear at its head, hoping to kill it using its own impact.

  But the skeleton twisted its head aside, and the tip of my spear sliced through empty air. It shoved my weapon to the side, swinging its sword, trying to hit me.

  I was suspecting that I might miss, so I was ready to back off, getting out of its reach. But before the monster could strike, Zoe jumped in. Her tail swept the skeleton’s legs out from under it, sending it crashing to the ground.

  Its sword flew from its hand, whistling past my legs, as I immediately leapt forward. The monster y sprawled on the ground, and before it could rise, I drove my spear into its spine just below the skull.

  The bone cracked as the skeleton’s head toppled from its body. Zoe was standing in front of me with her dagger raised, ready to attack, but the monster was already dead.

  “Good job,” I said, looking at her.

  “Thanks, Master,” she replied cheerfully.

  “That attack was risky,” Cassia said. “You’d have been in trouble if Zoe wasn’t with you.”

  “Then I would’ve been more careful,” I replied.

  Cassia nodded. “As I thought,” she murmured. “So, you wanted to miss that?” she asked.

  “No,” I replied, frowning.

  “It looked like that,” Cassia said. “Like you were ready to jump back even before you finished your attack. And yet you finished it, so it wasn't a proper feint, and it wasn't a proper attack either. You exposed yourself with it, and if the skeleton was faster, you would’ve gotten hit.”

  I realized that, while I was making a strike, I focused too much on the fact that I would most likely miss it, and how to back off afterward, and did the attack so badly that the skeleton dodged it without trouble, having an easy way to strike me.

  But as I backed off immediately, the monster couldn't really reach me, so there wasn’t as much of a problem with that. The problem was that I wasn’t exactly sure what I was doing, being somewhere in between, wanting to hit it while also assuming I would miss. Then the attack didn't make sense, and it was better to just feint and be even safer.

  “Okay, I get it,” I said, after thinking it over.

  We didn't get anything from the skeleton, and we headed through the dungeon, led by Tori toward the next checkpoint. The next monsters were two demons that we stumbled upon. We divided, with Tori taking care of one with a little help from Mari, while Cassia, Zoe, and I took care of the other enemy.

  It tried to stab us with its trident, but my spear was longer, and I kept it at a distance. Zoe was swiftly dodging its attacks, while Cassia blocked them with her shield or sword. And as the monster was able to attack only one of us at a time, the other two had a chance to strike it from behind. It didn't take long for us to finish the monster together, but it was still slower than how Tori and Mari took care of theirs.

  We dropped a demon’s trident, which I inspected - it wasn’t anything special, but I still attached it to my bag to sell ter on.

  [Demons’ Trident][Css: 1][Condition: Worn]

  We continued moving through the dungeon, beating monsters all the time with the same tactic, mostly without Mari taking part in it.

  Unfortunately, Tori was really useful, getting rid of monsters quickly and efficiently. That only further confirmed that I shouldn’t get rid of her and should keep her by my side to be able to level up quicker and grow in power.

  Without her, we would have been in bigger danger, even on Level 3 already, and it seemed I would need to accept her being around for a bit longer.

  It took two or three hours, and a few more fights before the first message appeared in front of my eyes.

  [Level up!][Css: Sex Mage (Level 8)][Stat Points Gained: 1][Skill Level Increased: Enchanted Fvor: Level 2]

  [Enchanted Fvor Level 2 (Passive) - Sex Mage’s sperm tastes exceptionally good - a rich fvor of his masculinity. Anyone who swallows it experiences a slight increase in arousal.]

  Before, that skill had been making my cum taste better. After the level up, it seemed it would taste even better, and additionally arouse whoever gets to swallow my load. It seemed like our nighttime fun that day would start with the blowjob.

  I regretted that I didn't have that skill the previous night to tease Amber even more, but there would be time for that soon anyway. However, it could be best for Zoe to have a taste, so she could judge if the difference was noticeable. But I would leave it as a surprise and not warn her, to see if she would realize on her own that something was different.

  As we were moving through the corridors of the dungeon, I added a free Stat point to strength.

  For the next few hours, we were killing monsters, picking up the items, but nothing special really dropped - only a few Css 1 items, mostly of poor quality. And no one got any new levels either.

  Then we stumbled upon a ghoul. Not the first one of the day, and just as before, Cassia and Tori were the ones fighting against it together. But as the monster rushed at them, Azura let out a low growl at one of the walls, and I realized that there were more opponents around.

  “Wraith,” Mari warned.

  “Tori and I will take care of the ghoul,” Cassia said. “Tobias, Zoe, take care of the wraith. Mari, help everyone.”

  As Tori and Cassia focused on the ghoul, I watched the wall, waiting for the attack.

  The wraith flew out of it at full speed straight at me, but I was ready and shifted my spear to point at it. I didn't even need to strike, as just the force the monster was coming at me with would be enough, but the wraith stopped and floated in the air.

  Its slightly transparent body drifted around me, but I was following it with the tip of my weapon, blocking its path to me while preparing myself to attack it.

  But Azura growled again, toward another wall, and as I turned my head there, the wraith in front of me dashed forward. It tried to ssh me with its long cws, but I pierced its body with my spear. It still tried to get to me, pushing even through my weapon, but as I swept it, I pushed the wraith away.

  It flew into the wall, passing through it and vanishing from sight. At the same time, another wraith appeared on the other side, flying at me. An ice spike pierced its head, and as it slowed it down, Zoe leapt at it, avoiding its cws, and cut the monster in half with her dagger, making it vanish.

  But we didn't have time to celebrate this kill, as two more wraiths flew out of the walls at me. I swept my spear at one, pushing it back, while turning and moving out of the way of the other. Its long, curved cws missed me, but the monster was quick to turn and follow, attacking repeatedly.

  I was dodging or blocking it with my spear, backing off, and keeping both wraiths in my sight. One of them moved to the side, trying to go around me, but was met with an ice spike, and then another, and another, and a moment ter it was dead.

  I focused on the st wraith in front of me and leapt forward, aiming my weapon at its chest, which was uncovered. As the tip of my weapon pierced it, the monster shrieked terribly, cwing at the spear’s shaft, trying to get closer to me by impaling itself further on my weapon.

  Then, a terrible cold washed over my back, as I realized that I was standing close to the wall. I didn't manage to move away in time before pain pierced through my shoulder.

  “Master!” Zoe shouted, leaping toward me.

  I moved forward a few quick steps before I turned around and swept my spear, on which one of the wraiths was still impaled. The other one, that had managed to wound me, followed me, but I hit it with the one on my spear, pushing both of them away.

  One of them picked itself up quickly and flew at me. My spear pierced through its body, but it didn't seem to care, as it sshed me. Its long cws shrieked, scratching on top of my chest armor, but fortunately it endured, and it only pushed me back without any new wounds.

  Then an ice spike pierced the wraith that was still trying to chase after me, but then Zoe joined in, and the wraith backed off, dodging her tail that swept through the air.

  “Master, are you okay?” Zoe asked, in a battle stance, low on her legs, with her eyes locked on the monster.

  “I’m fine,” I replied, correcting my grip on the spear. My shoulder hurt, but it wasn't really bad, only worrying was the feeling of something hot and wet trailing down my back.

  The wraith dashed forward again, trying to go at us from the side, but Zoe turned and swept her tail at the monster. It hit its cws, pushing them away, as Zoe leapt in and cut with her dagger through the monster’s head, killing it.

  Then, immediately after she dropped to the ground, she turned toward me, with her red eyes focused on me. “Master!” she gasped.

  “I’m okay,” I replied, more worried about the color of her eyes, which normally were pink, than about my wound. As she approached me, I wondered if turning into dark red was caused by the blood she was sensing, and her vampire nature was kicking in, and she wanted to drain me.

  “Show me,” Zoe demanded, closing the distance.

  Realizing that it was my sweet Zoe and she wouldn’t harm me, I turned with my back to her and took off my armor with her help quickly. At least as much as it was possible to take it off quickly with a wounded shoulder.

  At the same time, I watched as Mari and Cassia were taking care of the ghoul, managing well against it.

  I lowered to my knees so Zoe could have a better look at my shoulder, as I paid close attention to Azura, who would warn us if something new was getting close.

  “Master, you must drink potion, it’s deep and bleeding a lot,” she said, touching my back below where the wound was. It didn't really hurt as much, but I wondered if that was caused by my css or adrenaline.

  “He’ll be fine,” Mari said, who stood just behind Zoe.

  I reached into my bag and pulled out one of the potions that Amber had given me, while still gncing between Azura and the ghoul, which seemed close to being dead. Or rather, dead a second time, as it was already dead when it attacked us.

  I inspected one of the bottles that I remembered was a healing potion, just to be sure.

  [Stronger Decoction of Duskmire Daisy][Item Type: Potion][Effect: Heals fresh wounds and injuries.]

  After confirming that it was what I needed, I opened the bottle and poured it all in one go into my mouth. Then I gagged, as the taste was terrible, and I barely managed to swallow it, surprised at how awful it tasted.

  After I managed to swallow it, I started to cough, dropping the bottle.

  “Master, are you okay?” Zoe asked, moving to my side and putting her hand around my arm.

  “Yeah. We must tell Amber that her potion tastes like shit,” I said, spitting, trying to get rid of that taste still lingering in my mouth.

  “We can punish her for that,” Zoe said, with a grin and a glint in her red eyes.

  “Your eyes are red,” I said, wondering at the same time if I really should punish Amber for the taste of this potion. Or ck of a warning.

  “Oh…” Zoe replied, averting them and lowering her head.

  “Why?” I asked, cupping her chin and turning her gaze back to me. “Is it because of blood?” I asked, when she didn't respond.

  At the same time, the ghoul dropped down to the ground after Tori struck, and additionally, she cut again, cutting its head off, making sure it was dead.

  “Yeah,” Zoe murmured, still trying to avoid looking at me.

  “Do you need to drink it?” I asked.

  “No!” Zoe gasped. “It's just the smell, and… it smells really, really… tasty. I want to, but I won’t! I don't need to!”

  I watched her worried expression for a moment, wondering if I should really do it, but the decision came quite quickly. “Well, I’m bleeding, and your saliva helps heal wounds, so you should help me recover faster,” I said.

  “M-Master,” Zoe breathed out, looking at me with her red eyes.

  “Are you okay?” Cassia asked, approaching.

  “Yeah, I already drank a healing potion,” I replied. “So, do you want to help me?” I asked, turning back toward Zoe.

  “Can I really?” she asked quietly.

  “Don’t bite me. Or suck more out of me, just… you know, lick to apply the healing saliva, and if in the meantime you drink some of it, it's okay.”

  “Are you gonna let her…” Cassia trailed off, not finishing her question.

  “Yeah,” I replied.

  Zoe looked at me a moment longer, but then leapt to my back. As I was kneeling, she pressed her chest against my back, put her hands on my shoulders, and licked my back, tickling me.

  I slightly pulled back, but it seemed Zoe didn't care anymore, as she licked my back, reaching higher and higher toward the wound on my shoulder. She was pressed against me, licking all over my back, as I waited for her to heal me. And eat from me. As weird as it was, I just went with it, letting her drink the blood that was already out of my body, waiting patiently.

  Tori and Cassia moved away, with the second one gncing toward me from time to time worriedly. I wondered if she was worried about my health, or if the view of a vampire drinking from a human was stressing her, as she was one too.

  Mari, on the other hand, just stood and watched, seeming not really bothered. As our eyes met, she just shifted them back to Zoe.

  After some time, Zoe finally pressed her face against my back, wrapping her hands around my chest. “I love you, Master,” she murmured, sounding completely content and happy.

  [Level up!][Demon: Zoe Drazantis][Css: Night Hunter! (Level 10)][Stat Points Gained: 1][Unlocked new skill: Bde of Darkness (Level 1)]

  “Level up!” Zoe gasped, pulling away from my back.

  As I turned toward her, I moved my arm and shoulder, testing it out. I didn't feel any pain anymore, and after checking my status, I was back at full health.

  “A new skill?” I asked, while at the same time focusing to see its description.

  [Bde of Darkness (Level 1) - Summons a dagger formed from pure shadow. The bde slices through the air without resistance and becomes nearly invisible in low light, allowing the user to strike unsuspecting prey without warning.]

  It was Zoe’s tenth level, and as Mari and Gemma had said before, it was possible to unlock a weapon css, and apparently Zoe got one.

  “I have a new dagger,” Zoe excimed, focusing her eyes on her hand, where a bck mist swirled out of her palm, forming a dagger. Its handle was made of solid, bck, matte material, but the bde looked like it was made of dark mist. In the grey and dark surroundings of the dungeon, it was barely visible, and it wasn't that dark in there. I had no doubts that during the night the bde would be invisible.

  Zoe swept the dagger through the air, and I realized that I wouldn't need to worry about a weapon for her now.

  “So, sword lessons with you are completely out,” Cassia said, looking at the new weapon with longing in her eyes.

  “Yeah,” Zoe replied, jumping, stabbing, and cutting at imaginary opponents.

  “Zoe, you need to clean yourself,” I said, hesitantly interrupting her happy moment.

  But as she stopped and looked at me, her chin was still covered with my blood, and as she grinned, she showed me her fangs in a really cute expression. As cute as it could be from a vampire that just drank my blood.

  She pulled out a piece of material from her bag and quickly wiped her face. After I confirmed she was clean, she jumped at me, kissing me deeply, repeating in between that she loves me and I’m the best.

  But after a moment I put her back on the ground. “We need to go,” I said. “Is it far to the checkpoint?” I asked.

  “An hour,” Cassia replied. “Maybe a little bit longer.”

  When we moved through the dungeon, we stumbled upon a few small groups of skeletons and demons, against which Zoe demanded a chance to test her new dagger.

  As I watched her fight, I wondered if the dagger had some special effects, because Zoe seemed to move more confidently with it, more precisely. Despite the fact that the new dagger was a bit longer, and she was using it for the first time, it seemed like she had swapped a dagger that was bad for her for one that she had trained hundreds of hours with, despite having received it less than an hour before.

  The rest of our time in the dungeon passed without any hard fights or new level-ups, before we reached the checkpoint between Level 3 and 4. I wasn't really sure how long it took us to get there, as without the sun it was really hard to tell how much time had passed, but Cassia assured me that we were almost eight hours there, and we should get back and rest.

  I was feeling slightly tired, and I wondered if it was because of my wound, or because of all the fighting and moving while being careful through the dungeon.

  After we left the dungeon, appearing on the bck stone back in the guild’s building, we headed toward the exit. Moving through the rge entry room, Tori suddenly stopped.

  “I need to take care of something,” she said, looking at me. “We’ll meet ter at the inn,” she said.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked.

  “I saw a friend that I hadn’t seen for a long time, and I want to talk with her,” she replied, already moving toward one of the doors.

  “Sure,” I replied slowly. I assumed she was going to tell someone information about me, but first of all, I hadn't let her know anything new, and she was going to do it in the guild’s building, so I assumed whoever it was, it was the person that was working for Gemma, so there wasn’t anything she could tell them that would be new anyway.

  After we left the building around the dungeon’s entrance, we headed back toward Ortas. Cassia, being much more open and friendly than always, was giving me more advice and tips about fighting.

  However, it wasn’t long before Azura, who trotted in her wolf form along with us, suddenly raised her head, looked into the forest, and bolted between the trees.

  “Azura, stop!” I shouted, running after her off the road.

  She dipped her cws in the ground and stopped, turning toward me. She was panting with her maw wide open and her tongue hanging, and her tail wagging quickly.

  “Shift into human,” I ordered, wanting to know what was going on.

  Her body immediately started to change, and even before she was fully in her human form, she gasped, “There are other wolves there!”