[Spirit of Lust] Chapter 152: Ambush. (Patreon)

Aoi waited with her head lowered in deference. her heart remained calm even when she heard the steps coming down to the basement. Soon enough, he was standing in front of her.

Jack evans, with his short brown hair combed backwards. The man didn’t look his age at all. He should look like a 55 year old man, yet had the look of someone around his 30s. That, along with his broad shoulders and overall fitness, was a product of the Spirit of Sloth, much like how William looked like he did thanks to Ishtar. Jack walked with heavy steps and slumped shoulders, not from any sort of bad mood, but as if his body weighed too much for him.

“So you found what I asked for,” Jack said with a small grin. “What’s this issue you mentioned? What could possibly stop the great Aoi? Why did you think it was okay to ask ME to come here?”

If he noticed anything wrong with her, he showed no sign. The weakened potion seemed to be working, and Jack did not have the mind-reading abilities William did. This was working.

“I have spent the past days following a tribe of incubi and succubi which I have confirmed possess an aether crystal.” Aoi grimaced, biting her lip. “However, taking it from them has proven a problem too difficult to overcome. It is not their combat abilities that trouble me, but…”

Jack clicked his tongue. “So you feared being turn into a common cum-dumpter and called me to deal with them?”

Aoi swallowed. “I believe your involvement would raise the chances of success to a complete 100% with very little effort on your part, Master.” It was a struggle not to spit the word out and instead say it with the respect and deference she knew he enjoyed.

“I suppose it would be troublesome to find another tool as good as you. And with Jeremy caught by the police, I have no choice but to do things myself.”

The Spirit of Lust grew stronger by having sex. The Spirit of Sloth grew stronger by accomplishing its goals with little effort. Abstract concepts that were difficult for Aoi to wrap her head around, still. She grew stronger with practice and effort, not by indulging in capital sins. But it was the way it worked for these higher spirits. But just because that was their preferred MO, it didn’t mean they were helpless in other areas. It would just take more work for them, even if the idea was disgusting to these indulgent creatures.

“Aoi, open the portal,” Jack ordered.

Aoi let aether flow through her, conjured the familiar blueprint in her mind, and the single edged sword formed in her hand. She never even entertained the notion that Jack would lift a single finger more than necessary, and she needed to obey his every command without hesitation. For now.

Now in control of her own power, Aoi made a vertical cut along the small dimensional rift, widening the portal into something easily traversable. No more screw ups like last time.

The only sign that a portal was there was a faint white glow like a gash in space. It would be invisible to anyone who could not use aether, but if they carelessly walked into it, they’d still find themselves in that other world. It was her uncontrolled use of force to open this portal that dragged all the inhabitants of the building with her there. Now, it was enough for any adult to walk in.

“You go first. Kill anything and anyone who sees us.”

Aoi walked in without hesitation. Her vision filled with white, her senses dulled and for half a second she could’ve sworn she’d been turned upside down.

When she came to, she was in the basement again. The other basement. The feeling of aether permeating the air was almost palpable. She could feel her body resisting a small pressure and wondered if William felt it even less.

There was no one here, as was the plan. The building was empty of people.

Aoi grew nervous for a moment. If, for some reason, Jack decided not to follow, things would grow complicated. Thankfully, her reading of the man was correct. His desire for the crystal and his belief that she was still under his control made him step into this weird world.

Once there, Jack looked around with curiosity, yet he turned to Aoi with focus. “So? Where is the crystal? I don’t want to spend any more time here than I need to.”

“The tribe I mentioned make their camp inside a cave close to here.”

“Lead me there, then. I want to be home early. If things go smoothly, I might even treat myself to a particularly fancy diner.”

Without a shift in her expression, Aoi walked in front of Jack, leading him out of the building. Her katana was sheathed, yet close at hand. The desire to turn around and slice the man’s head was hard to resist. It would only take one motion. She would reach his neck before he could lift a finger. But Aoi had to hold herself back. For all her skill, her strength didn’t match Jack. Her sword would reach his neck, but he would put up his defenses the moment she made a sudden motion. Even her aether-wrought blade would not be able to cut through his enhancement. He would need to be weakened, first.

“I’ve seen this twice, but it never fails to disgust me, this place,” Jack said as they walked. “A barren wasteland with nothing for worth, nothing to see. I’m surprised you even found what I asked for. I was ready to wait a month or two, if necessary.”

“I was lucky,” Aoi said.

The dry land around them extended as far as the eye could see. Barren hills, rock formations and leafless trees were the most remarkable landmarks, along with the mountains in the distance, their supposed destination.

And it was as they walked past one of those rock formations that they came.

NO, not ‘came.’ Showed up. Showed up sounded better.

Five men rose from behind the rocks, holding spears in their hands. Their skin was purple in color, their bodies sculpted muscle, some lean, some bulky. Bat-like wings spread at their back, black horns protruded from their foreheads to the sides, leathery tails swung with excitement. The only clothes they wore were tight-fitting briefs.

“So that’s how an incubus looks like,” Jack said, looking at them with amusement. “Aoi, deal with them.”

Aoi flinched. “B-But master, I can’t…”

“I know.” Jack grinned. “Do your best. You’re allowed to fail. It’ll be fitting enough punishment for thinking you could have me do the work. After they’re done with you, I’ll do something about them.” He turned to the incubi on top of the rocks. “Did you hear me? You can do as you like with the woman. I won’t lift a finger for her!”

“I hope none of you humored the thought of taking his offer.”

William came up from behind one of the rocks, standing closer to her and Jack. He glared daggers at the older man, and Aoi could see the purple aura already oozing off of him.

“If you did for a second, I’ll grind your faces along these rocks.”