Walking Disasters and Me-The Other Side of Triumph (Vol 2 Start) – Ch 66
I'm surrounded by darkness, images and memories of my battles alongside Sandra playing out in my head on a loop countless times while I spectate from afar, like some disembodied observer instead of one of the main participants. I see the desperation in my eyes soak through me before Sandra appears and we fight the most disturbing depiction of a hydra I've ever experienced. Sure, haven't met very many hydras at all outside of literature, but damn if it wasn't unsettling as shit.
The fight goes on just like how it happened in the trial, I suppose I'll call it, and soon the then six headed beast is finally brought low between both the effort of myself and my sister. We barely get a break before the next contender emerges, one that still sends an unpleasant shiver of mixed emotions through me. Hate, being the most prominent. The avatar of Panic launches its devastating attacks, eventually wounding Sandra while she takes a hit for me squarely across her golden form. I always cringe and try to rush forward when we get to this part, but no matter what I try, I find that I'm always rooted to this spectator viewing angle.
Regardless, the next moments of battle are nearly enough to make up for that chest clenching sight. Nearly. I'm bathed in power, my soul spinning up and pushing back the monster for its multitude of crimes against us, before it is finally brought low for good by a mixture of Sandra's retelling of a core memory and my soul's power fully unfurling against it. I didn't notice at the time, but the more in tune and committed I was to using that power, the more and more my body become inky black, surrounded by a thin line of pure white energy, my eyes shooting out jets of white with a beautiful crown sat upon my head by the end of it. By this point, however, the images loop back to the start, and I have to sit through and watch, again and again as they filter through my mind.
That is, until the last one. This last time, I stick around after the Empress uses
[Reap]
, watching the aftermath once more before my now mountain-esq size begins to shrink and lower slowly. Regal words recommitting themselves to memory in this odd liminal space as my past life gives me advice and eases my fears, somewhat, about all of this. However, just when she is about to finish, instead of telling me to rest, her crowned head looks directly at me as I'm watching on in curiosity and this time says in a calm, but righteous authority, "Its time, Amelia. Wake up."
I gasp as my eyes fling open, my breaths coming in rapid and sharp inhales that nearly bring a pain to my chest as I look about frantically. Cold sweat lines the crimson hair to my face, a hand coming up subconsciously to move it away so that I can see clearer, the other one coming up to rest against my thundering heart. My room at Akiko's estate comes into vision, my slightly anxious mind calming down a tad as the familiar sights, smells, and peaceful quiet greet my return to the land of the living.
The first thing I do after I regain awareness is dive straight into my soul space, desperately seeking out Sandra which only takes a moment now, and the sight fills me with relief. All of the wounds from the battle seem to be healed, and I'm still feeding
monstrous
amounts of Qi into her recovering form. Huh, aren't I supposed to
actively
do that? I don't get to ponder long, as the momentary quiet of the space is broken by Ios, her form springing into existence next to me nearly as soon as I make the connection to Sandy.
"Aims!! Oh my
god
, you're okay! You've been asleep for nearly a
week!!"
Her enchanting and beautiful face - one that I can see much clearer even in my soul space now - are etched through with lines of worry, small droplets of tears forming in her soul avatar's depiction as her four hands are crinkled together in her own version of panic and concern. Something tickles my core at seeing her once again, and the obvious state of care and love she shows so freely to me opening my eyes to some... internal thoughts regarding that.
I try to speak, only managing to cough and hack violently as my dry as a desert throat complains in anguish which throws the both of us back out into the waking world. I quickly swallow as much saliva as I can to try and ease the painful scratching, before I turn my azure eyes to meet watery emerald ones, now in her projected form standing next to my bed, and try again, "A-a week?? What... How did I even get here?" Despite my best efforts, my voice still comes out slightly gravely and lower than even its usual timbre, making me sound like I'm recovering from some nasty flu or something.
"About 5 days now, yeah." Ios says, her form floating directly up to me as she looks over my body with worry. It's heart warming, knowing that she probably already knows I'm fine physically. Or, at least, I hope I am... She would have led with that if I wasn't, right? I smile despite my inner monologue, and gaze down at her kneeling form as she looks up to me. I nod softly for her to continue as I move a hand to massage my aching throat.
"Well, after we sat you down on the glyph for you to face your weakest heart demons, Akiko freaked out and said that somehow you were skipping past anything which would be considered 'easy' to deal with going by the energy output of the symbol. We kind of concluded that you... well, you likely
don't
have any kind of easy demons to squash between your skills and titles, our boosting you and reassurance, and how
miserable
your life was back on Earth."
She pauses once more, looking to see if I'm still following along with her. I give a soft smile as I lay back down, my body still weary somehow even after laying down for this long, apparently. "Right. So Akiko wanted to pull the plug and rip you out as soon as we came to that conclusion, but by then you were already actively engaged with whatever you were facing, and I could tell Sandra -
somehow
- was in there helping you too so I told her to wait and give you time." She bites her lip and looks away, a few of the tears that were threatening to fall finally commit their act of treason, streaking down her soft, round cheeks before she continues, "I'm... I'm
sorry
, Aims. I should have let her take you out then. I shouldn't have let you go through that when you weren't prepared for it."
I reach out and place a hand next to her illusory face, miming turning it toward me which she picks up on and follows through with. The bubbling liquid leaking from her downcast eye's tickles something again inside of me, but I rally and whisper out softly, so I don't aggravate my voice again, "It's okay, Ios. I'm here, I'm fine. Unless you're waiting till the end to tell me some tragic news, of course~." I wink playfully at her, a small laugh mixed with a wet cough escaping her lips, slightly breaking the melancholy she has adorned herself in.
"No," She says between another choked laugh, "No, you're okay. Probably a bit sore from all of it I imagine, your soul and mind went through the wringer, after all. But bodily you're right as rain." I nod, turning over to my side so that I face her head on as she takes a breath and adds on, "Well, it was obvious when you defeated whatever you were fighting first. A sense of peace washed through the area, and you looked calm and placid again, even going so far as to have a small smile on your face. But again, the glyph flared to life, the strength of it making
both
Akiko and I even more concerned than the last time. I knew you had the talisman, and despite desperate looks from Akiko, I once again told her to wait.
Wasn't long after that that your soul flared up, and we saw you... transform." She looks at me with worry, waiting for any kind of negative reaction to cross my face. Honestly, if I hadn't been stuck in memory ground hog day, I may have still been a
bit
scared by that little fact. But after seeing it so many times, and the cooperation we had that time, I find that it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I just smile back at her, egging her on.
With a slightly confused look, she shakes her head and continues, softly murmuring, "Was expecting you to have a
different
reaction than that... Anyhow, you became like, the embodiment of the void or something. All pitch black but outlined with soul energy, that crown that Akiko and I saw last time floated above your head before it finally synched up and you wore it properly. When you did, we both nearly dropped to the floor from the pressure you were putting out, as well as everyone in the estate. Which shouldn't really be
possible
for me, but here we are." She raises all of her arms in a shrug as my mind wheels from that information.
"What??" I say out, coughing once more before I smack my head and respond to her mentally. Should have remembered that from the start, silly Aims~!
How did that even happen?? I used
[Soul Empress' Domination]
and that technique states it shouldn't work on people stronger than me. Well, it still has an effect but not like what you're describing... Shit, wait, is everyone okay?!
I feel a brief surge of concern and worry of my own, the thought of accidentally hurting any of the girls making my eyes widen as I gasp out loud.
She shakes her head softly as she responds, "I don't know, hun. I think that technique was merely the tool used to complete the joining of you with your soul, this time, and that we got a glimpse of its true power. But yes, everyone is
fine
, if a bit worried for you. You'll have quite a lot of explaining to do later~. Hehe!" I frown slightly, but not at her. More so at the thought of how
embarrassing
it's going to be trying to explain all of this to the group.
Ugh.
Ios giggles a couple times before she keeps going, "So! After that happened, we both saw your new form surge in strength and then the glyph died out shortly after, your body going back to normal as you fell backwards, unconscious. All in all, you were sat down on the thing for maybe three minutes, and then Akiko rushed you back here once she and I made sure you weren't possessed or hurt. Physically, I mean."
I sigh as I lean back, an arm coming up to cover my eyes. I didn't realize
that
was on the table of options if I failed... Well, isn't that why Akiko gave me the talisman, too? I shrug mentally, adding the questions to the ever present and growing list of things to ask about before Ios' still subdued voice sings out next to me. "What happened inside the trial, honey? If you want to talk about it, I mean."
I peek an eye out to see the concern and worry once more plaguing her pretty face, which makes a little blue spark of sadness flit through me before I mentally say back,
The first monster... demon... whatever, was a hydra of all three of my exes. I had to relive and watch all the ways they hurt me, broke me down, and then abandoned me while they taunted me and tried to get me to give up. I... I was nearly there at first, before Sandy came to help and burst through into the arena. We fought them normally, at first, before I figured out I needed to come to a realization about myself.
I turn towards her again, a huge smile on my face which makes her eyes widen a bit as I say,
Your words
really
helped me there. Thank you, Ios. I remembered what you said; that I deserve to be loved and to love myself, even with all the baggage I'm carrying. That was the turning point, once I truly accepted that in my core, the hydra grew weak and feeble and I was able to kill it with Sandra following up and burning the body behind me.
I see a heavy mark of crimson dash across her holographic face as she tries to look away again, but I shoot out a hand to 'stop' her, making her hold my gaze.
I couldn't have done that without you, Ios. For all your teasing and trolling, I'm always blown away by how amazing and kind you are to me. Thank you.
She squirms a bit at the sudden attention, the pinkness on her cheeks turning more and more red as I let her sweat~. Mercifully, I giggle out softly and continue retelling the story.
After that, we had to fight the spirit or demon of Panic, and Sandra got hurt when I... when I was too scared to move out of the way of an attack. She took the hit square on, and after I stabilized her with Qi, the being taunted me again. Thats when my soul and I joined hands for a good old fashion beat down on the piece of shit, turning the tables on it after my soul showed me the truth. That panic, fear, and all those negative reactions are just that. Reactions, and no matter how many times I have them, the important part is to keep myself whole and pick myself back up, never letting them win and hold me down.
Ios breaks out in a dazzling smile of her own, the pride and relief evident on her face before I continue on.
Sandra replayed a memory from Earth, after she healed up a bit more, and the demon tried to rush her, realizing that its options were limited now. That's probably when you two nearly got pancaked, because my soul... The Empress, I guess we should call her now...
really
let loose and did actually flatten the demon, before she killed it. She told me afterwards that I shouldn't be afraid of using her power, when I'm stronger, that I shouldn't be scared of losing myself and to focus on healing Sandra and listening to you and Akiko.
Also... Ios...
I choke up this time, tears beginning to fall down my face even though the radiant smile never leaves my lips,
Ios I think its
gone
. The panic attacks, the anxiety... when she killed the demon, it felt like something cancerous was ripped out of my mind, finally. I think I'm... I think I'm
free
.
I sob and shudder as wet, thick droplets pour down my face, my anguished cries of relief, release, and hope filling the room as my hands go up to cover my face in a futile attempt to keep grounded. I hear Ios' soft voice whisper and give me gentle coos of affirmation and care, which only further makes the water works spring to life. I almost miss the sound of the door flying open before I'm impacted in my bed by multiple bodies, and several layers of fluff.
I can't open my eyes yet, too lost in the release of emotions still, but I feel long weighted blankets of fur drape over, wrap around, and warm against me as hands and arms do the same around my torso. I even feel a heavy weight lay across the entirety of my body, as two soft, pillowy sensations line up and squish against my breasts.
I eventually start to break out of my exaltation as I feel one of those hands wander and squeeze my ass, which makes the odd sound of a squeak and chocked cough erupt from my lips, "H-Hey!! Watch those hands, I'm
crying
over here!"
The southern draw of Gerra fills the room, my eyes blinking away their watery filter as I see her raise up her pink haired head from my chest as she is wearing a purple tank top and matching shorts, her apparent resting place for the dog pile. Er... Beast human pile? Cuddle pile. "
Sorry darlin~
," She winks as she says, "Was running out of room since Jun Li and the Madam took all the
easy
spots~." She squeezes me once more, a playful sparkle in her eyes as I try and stifle a soft shudder and moan from the firm grip. I glare up to her raised face, mostly in jest, as she giggles and then rests her head across my collar bone, arms flowing up to and behind my neck.
It's then that the scene truly takes shape for me, as I look to my left and notice Jun Li's round and pretty face staring at me with a small smirk, her ruby red eyes framed by a curtain of raven black hair as they still hold a firm level of worry despite the tilting of her lips as she wears a charming teal kimono. I give her a sheepish smile back, before turning and seeing Akiko's gorgeous visage wrapped up in a simple white robe, one that I barely have time to notice as she instantly dives forward and locks me in a mind shattering kiss of passion. Our tongues wrestle for a time inside the battlefield of our conjoined mouths, before she breaks it off with a wet
*plop*
, my brain being suffused in all of the pink and amorous feelings as my cheeks light on fire.
Once more, the three of them squish against me, my arms being trapped between the ample and amazing cleavage of both Jun Li and Akiko as they nuzzle their faces into me, Gerra's weight making my breaths come out pleasantly obstructed. Their tails snake and wind around my limbs, coiling me in their fluffy goodness, even Gerra gets in on the action as her pink and more muscular tail wraps solidly around my waist~! I'm nearly in tears again, but this time from the overloaded sensations of arousal and lust, my mind blanking and failing to form words that may -
or may not
- get me out of this slowly and lewdly developing cuddle pile as my eyes become spirals from the sensations tightening the spring above my navel. I'm saved from my wonderous - and surely
amazing
- fate by an amused huff from the side of the bed, as I turn loopily with half lidded eyes to take in Samantha adorned in her work clothes.
"Alright, everyone. She is about to turn into a puddle, in more ways than one~, if you keep this up. Why don't we let her recover and then she can inform us on what transpired down in the Heart Demon Challenging room?" Her chiding smirk makes all the new occupants of my bed startle slightly, before they begrudgingly rise up, not before Jun Li and Gerra give me soft pecks on my burning cheeks and Akiko gives me yet another impassioned kiss however~.
As Akiko rights herself, I turn to Samantha and word out, "Thank you." voicelessly, receiving a knowing wink of her own before she motions for me to stand. I try, and either because I've been in bed for so long or the most recent, near perfect and delightful bondage attempts, my legs turn to jelly as soon as my feet hit the ground. If my face could get any redder, it would likely do so now, as the flame of embarrassment weaves its way down to my neck as I ask out softly, "Uhm... Can someone pick me up if we're going to the table or something? I
*Cough*
I can't walk right now~..."
Akiko is by my side in a flash, making both Jun Li and Gerra puff their cheeks in slight annoyance as she hoists me up in her arms. "Of course, my dear~. Let us discuss things in the garden, the fresh air will surely do you some good. Do you wish to come, spirit Ios?"
I turn my head toward where Akiko asks the question, noticing that Ios' drone is fluttering in the air and projecting her form with the biggest, smarmiest grin she can materialize as she looks at me. I needle my eyes down at her, which only serves to deepen the smirk before she says, "Of course, I would be
delighted
to. Samantha may need backup in case you guys get frisky again~. Hehe!"
This cheeky spirit!! The girls all laugh, some with various hints of their
own
embarrassment, before we all congeal into a group and Akiko leads us through the estate and out to the flowery space that she and Jun Li worked hard on.
.
!
The Other Side of Triumph (Vol 2 Start) – Ch 66
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