Harem Reborn

Stones and dirt lined the corridor we walked down. Tilly was wearing a pair of Katar-like claws, and I had the black sword, but we had yet to encounter anything after an hour of walking.

"Where are all the snakes or monsters? I thought for sure we would be fighting snakes the whole way, but there aren't even moltings left anywhere."

"You're right, but this is nice too," Tilly said with a smile beside me.

"I agree, but it feels like something is off, you know? We haven't hit a single split in the path. For a labyrinth, it doesn't make much sense."

"I guess you're right. I hadn't really thought about it. What do you think it means?"

"Honestly, I have no idea. Not a lot we can do at this point but to keep walking. This path has to lead somewhere, but maybe we could try picking up the pace?"

"Do you really think that's a good idea, Dave? If we move too fast, we could step on a trap or in a pit."

I stopped, a bit taken back by Tilly's forethought and cautiousness. I had never really seen her in that light, and It made me look at her differently. The way we level and mature was hard to get ahold of sometimes.

Tilly had noticed I had stopped to look at her and was frowning at me. The look was so cute! I had to walk up to her and ruffle the hair between her ears. Her tail began to twitch with excitement.

"You really are adorable, but smart and kind as well. I'm really glad you join our party," I spoke, and Tilly moved closer, burying her face into my chest.

I wrapped my arms around Tilly and hugged her close. The white tips of her ears brushed my face, and I couldn't stop myself from rubbing into them. I felt and heard the purring start as Tilly looked up into my eyes, filling me with warmth.

The rose color in her cheeks wasn't the same deep red blush of embarrassment. Our faces moved closer, and I felt her warm breath on my face, and it sent shivers down my spine as our lips drew closer. As my hand slid up her back to her neck and I could feel her purring vibrations, a voice cut through the darkness with a hissing resonance.

"Aren't you two getting comfortable? Come closer, you have come so far, and my pet can smell your warming bodies."

Tilly and I separated before our lips could make the connection. The voice had been in my mind, and by her reaction, Tilly heard it as well. Both of us turned to the way we had been going, sure that was the direction the soundless voice had come.

"Well, I guess that was our cue," I said, giving Tilly a look.

Tilly slipped over and kissed me quickly, then turned to keep going. That left me with a smile, and I caught up with her. We didn't have far to walk until we reached a large cavern.

"They really aren't that original with the demon hideout layout's," I joked as we walked into the giant cavern.

As I said that, I noticed that the walls were filled with massive holes and gave the cave a honeycomb look. A low and menacing hiss came from in front of us, Then another above us and to the left. Both of us began backing to the entrance, but when I glanced back, I noticed It was closed off.

"I think you better get you sword out, Kitty," I told Tilly as I summoned my LIGHT BLADE.

As the piercing white blade grew, the pet name I just gave Tilly made me smile, and I couldn't wait to see what she thought after this fight. We could see the snakes now, black scales with yellow eyes. In the presence of the black miasma forming around them, revealed by PIERCE EVIL, DEMON BRINGER broke forth in my hands, and I screamed.

"DEMON HUNTER!"

The black marks on my arm and the one on my face erupted with black flames while DEMON BRINGER burned with golden ones. Tilly and I charged. She carried her greatsword in one hand with the other behind her back. I dash to the first snake with Tilly close behind.

"NOW KITTY!"

When the first snake was within less than a meter from making my lunch, Tilly activated taunt. The snake was forced to turn towards her at the last second and I sliced through the two-meter thick neck, taking the first snakes head off. The other snake backed off and slid back into the wall.

"Are you all right?" I asked as I rushed over to Tilly's side.

"Kitty?" She tilted her head at me while also squinting her eyes.

I was slightly worried by her expression, but then we both heard that voice again.

"You killed my child, but you are so young! I will," but the voice was cut off by my scream.

Loneliness, pain, darkness...

The demon's exile and confinement all became visceral pain that blocked the world out as I hit my knees.

Then it stopped.

I opened my eye to feel another mark close to the last one. I felt it sear into my flesh, but compared to the demon's pain, it was nothing. Tilly was at my side, rubbing my back. Then, it was gone, and I felt different, the pain was a distant memory, and I stood up.

"Are you ok?" Tilly cautiously asked me as she stood up with me.

"I don't think I can ever get used to that."

"To what?"

"Every time I kill one, I take on its pain and feelings, but I think that's what helps keep my SANITY stat low. I have to take in the pain, and not let myself become absorbed by it."

"Look at all the sealed demons you hold, and yet you know nothing of their potential. I have had enough waiting, you killed my child, and I shall take my revenge," the voice cut into my mind again, and then I remembered something.

"Let me see your ring," I asked Tilly.

"Sure, I took the Earth Ring with brown jade," Tilly let me know as she gave me her hand.

I kissed her hand, and she smiled at me. I turned it over and got her to put her pinky out so I could quickly look at the AVATAR card. Bingo! I glanced at Tilly's status, and it was as I thought.

"Kitty, I'm gonna turn up the power on your ring. The other girls should be fine for a short fight, so we have to be quick."

"Yes, Darling. I mean, since I have a pet name now, I should get to give you my own, right?"

"Yeah, but maybe let's not use them around the other girls. Speaking of them, I actually meant to ask why you all are so keen on sharing me?"

"Well," But Tilly was cut off by a massive eighteen meters long hooded black cobra that came rushing towards us.

Both of us dived in the same direction, but the other smaller snake came at us from another direction. I quickly slid my finger on the Master Ring on earth and cranked Tilly's power to 60% and the ring to 30%. Hopefully, this act wouldn't put the other team at risk.

Tilly started to give off a brown glow, and she turned to me with a wicked smile. She turned to the oncoming snake and used the flat of her greatsword to bat it away like a fly. The massive snake flew through the air, connecting awkwardly with the multiple holes in the wall and falling in a heap.

"WHAT ARE YOU DO..." But the words cut off in my mind, as Tilly made a standing leap, rocketing towards the gigantic demon cobra.

The demon tried to dodge below, but I was there, running on the ground behind Tilly's explosive advance. The cobra opened it's mouth to get me, but Tilly connected with the roof, making a smooth turn and rebound. She slammed down into the snakes back with her greatsword, and earthen spikes shot up, pinning it.

With its body spiked down, the demon head was sent rearing up. I didn't waste the chance and leaped to drive DEMON BRINGER through the bottom of the demon's mouth. Golden flames boiled the yellow eyes, and the body exploded, along with the other snake, into black particles.

"Is it over?" Tilly questioned while panting and looking around.

"Almost," I said as I prepared myself.

The particles were already swirling around me, and I knew this was going to be the worst to date. Suddenly, Tilly was at my side, walking me to one of the snake holes in the wall. She sat me down as I started to feel the emotions, and pain the same as before, but way more intense.

"I'm not excited about this, nor am I ready," I smiled weakly to Tilly, but she just pushed my head into her lap.

"Take a deep breath, and we will get through this."

"Wait, I need...to...turn," the pain was starting to seize me now, but I was able to get the ring up to set back to normal.

Tilly helped me as my body shook, and I cried out in agony and pain. She held my hand and wiped the sweat off my face with a cloth she had gotten out. After fifteen minutes, the pain left as though it had never been, and I was left with two marks the appeared on my shoulder.

"Thank you, Tilly," I smiled up at her as she wiped the last bits of sweat from me.

"But Darling, What about my pet name?"

"Oh? You do like it then?"

"Well, only because you gave it to me. I was a little put off at first, but then you made that cute smile you get when something makes you happy. It kinda melts me on the inside when you do," Tilly stroked my hair as she spoke to me.

"Kitty, do you think we need to rush back just yet?" I asked, looking up into Tilly's beautiful eyes.

I didn't wait for her to respond or another snake to interrupt us. Our lips met, and my hand reached up to pull her in close to me. I broke off the kiss to sit up and take her in my arms. Her tail surrounded us, and we became lost in each other's embrace.