Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas woke up the next morning and let out a yawn before realizing Lilith was sleeping on his chest. He leaned forward and kissed the young woman, which caused her to open her eyes as a big smile appeared. ''Morning, handsome,'' she said in a tired voice. ''Do you want to go fight more of those monsters?'' ''Not just yet beautiful,'' he replied before climbing out of the sheets and stretching. ''I need to check on the Otherworld monsters. It's been a while since I've seen them.'' The Honey Badger woman nodded. ''Okay. I'm going back to bed.'' Atlas chuckled and teleported to the ground below while taking off the jumper he was wearing because it was hot. ''Let's check on Medusa and the little fox.'' He scanned the Otherworld and found the two before appearing in front of a massive hole in the ground. Atlas looked in, only to jump back as the massive snake burst out and lunged for him. ''Medusa! I'm sorry!'' he exclaimed while dodging the angry monster's attacks. ''I didn't mean to ignore you.'' She was moving so fast he couldn't keep up and it showed as her tail slammed into his body and sent him flying through the forest like a missile. Atlas hit the ground with a sickening thud as a rage-filled roar echoed out. While lying there, Estelle's voice rang in his mind. 'Do you need help, my love? We can sense that you're fighting.' 'No, I'm just dealing with an angry woman who is pissed at me,' he replied with a nervous chuckle. Atlas could feel the overwhelming surge of Medusa's power, a shift that now marked her as a Monarch-level monster. It shocked him, but the searing pain in his body left no doubt of her newfound strength. Just moments later, the Death Serpent shot from the tree, her voice laced with hurt. ''Why ignore me, master?'' she cried, her words slicing through him like a blade. Guilt washed over him as he sensed the pain in her voice, and he knew he couldn't dodge it any longer. Seconds later, Medusa's head hit Atlas with terrifying force, sending him hurtling through the air. He crashed into the side of a mountain, his body crumpling to the ground. Blood spilled from his mouth as he gasped for breath, but the weight of her sorrow lingered, far more painful than the physical damage. ''I'm sorry, Medusa. It was never my intention to ignore you,'' he mumbled, struggling to pull himself up as the massive serpent coiled around him, her presence both overwhelming and protective. Her green eyes met his, wide with terror, and before Atlas could comprehend what was happening, a searing light burst from her body. Stunned, he barely had time to react before soft, steady hands gently cupped his face. That's when an exotic voice, trembling with regret, reached his ears. ''I'm sorry, master! I didn't mean to hurt you!'' His mind froze. The words echoed in his head, but they made no sense. 'What?' Atlas shook his head before replying. ''Estelle?'' A soft giggle rang out as the hands gently wiped the blood from his face, and Atlas froze, eyes widening as he finally saw the woman. She appeared to be in her late twenties, with flowing white hair and striking green serpent eyes that locked onto his. The stranger's beauty was undeniable. Her features were flawless, her body curvaceous in all the right places, with a generous chest that only added to her allure. Dark scales scattered across the exposed skin revealed by her tight dress. ''It's me Medusa, master,'' she said with a frown. ''Thanks to your powerful mana, I unlocked a human form that I've wanted to show you, but you never summoned me.'' Atlas's guilt surged, but he quickly hugged the snake woman while apologizing. ''I'm sorry Medusa, if there is anything I can do to cheer you up, tell me and I'll do it if it's in my power.'' When she heard this, a thoughtful expression appeared before a cheeky smile appeared as she requested something. ''I want you to kiss me.'' ''What?'' he muttered. The white-haired woman nodded. ''If you kiss me, I will be happy and forgive you for ignoring me,'' she said. Atlas chuckled before grabbing her thick waist and stole her plump lips in a passionate kiss which made Medusa stiffen in shock, but she soon returned it and reciprocated it while her hands rested against his chest. Minutes passed before they finally parted, the snake woman stepping back with a hesitant expression. Her voice was soft, yet laced with frustration as she spoke. ''Sorry for hitting you, Master. Ever since I received this form, everything has been... chaotic. I don't like it.'' Atlas frowned, confusion flickering across his face. ''What do you mean?'' he asked, his body already beginning to heal. Bones snapped back into place, the deep lacerations knitting themselves closed as if his wounds had never existed, yet the pain still lingered. Medusa brushed off the dirt on her dress. ''I heard a voice in my mind saying you'd need help in the future,'' she revealed with a giggle. ''Then I woke up in my burrow… naked.'' She laughed softly, shaking her head. ''At first, I was completely shocked. But then it hit me, I could finally stand beside you, just like the others.'' ''Others? You mean the girls?'' he replied. Medusa nodded, her emerald eyes filled with a mix of longing and vulnerability. ''Yes. I used to watch you train with them from the shadows, wishing I could be by your side. But I couldn't, not like they could.'' Her voice softened, laced with quiet pain. ''And then… I saw you kiss the phoenix girl. It hurt more than I expected. I wanted to be part of your world, too.'' Atlas's heart clenched at her words. Without hesitation, he reached for her, his hands settling firmly around her waist before pulling her close. He captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. Following that, the two of them continued to kiss until Atlas stepped back and kissed her nose. ''Would you like to come on a walk around? I'm checking on the monsters in the Otherworld.'' Medusa got excited and quickly accepted with a big smile before holding onto his arm as the two teleported outside. They started walking through the primal forest as the snake woman commented while scanning their surroundings. ''Where are we going first?'' ''There was an adorable fox I met a while back and haven't seen her in a while,'' he replied as they crossed over a wooden bridge. Half an hour later, the couple arrived at the northern part of the Otherworld, which was covered in snow. Atlas grew curious, but Medusa transformed into her snake form, but she was tiny. She slithered into his shirt and wrapped it around his body while speaking. ''I want to be warm. It's too cold here, master.'' Atlas gently stroked her head as it peeked out from beneath his shirt, offering a moment of comfort before stepping forward, undeterred, into the heart of the ice storm. Nestled in a burrow beneath a tree, he found the little fox curled into a tight ball, her fur dusted with frost. At the sound of his approach, she lifted her head, and the moment her blue eyes met his, they widened with pure joy. With a delighted chirp, she launched herself at him. Atlas caught her effortlessly, cradling her close as he showered her with affection. The little fox squirmed excitedly in his arms, overwhelmed with happiness, her fluffy tail wagging wildly as she soaked in every bit of his warmth and care. He smiled before speaking. ''I'm sorry I neglected you, girl. I've been busy since healing from my injuries, but from now on I'll pay more attention to you,'' he said in a warm voice. Atlas chuckled as the little fox eagerly climbed onto his chest, her soft paws pressing against him as she nuzzled his neck. Before he could react, she began covering his face in rapid, affectionate licks, her tiny tongue warm against his skin. He laughed, the sound filled with warmth as he held her close. ''Alright, alright! I missed you too,'' he said, running his fingers through her thick, fluffy fur. ''I promise I won't neglect you anymore. Never again.'' For a moment, everything was peaceful, the storm outside, the cold, none of it mattered. But then, just as the last of the fox's excited licks slowed, a soft, teasing voice echoed in his mind. 'Bite my ear, if you truly mean that.' Atlas froze, his heart skipping a beat. His eyes widened as the little fox tilted her head up at him and her blue eyes gleamed with something deeper, something knowing. Swallowing, he hesitated only for a moment before gently taking her ear between his teeth. [Drop some powerstones, comments, and gifts to help the novel grow; I appreciate all the support you can give]