Two fingers were buried in her pussy, all the way to the second knuckle. She was in the process of adding a third and Keaton was sure he stopped breathing for a moment. He watched her, mesmerized, timing his thrusts to her own. As she fucked herself, three fingers spreading her wide, he pounded into Cassia.
His thighs burned, his balls ached, but he held out. His gaze was locked on Adriana as she pumped into her cunt mercilessly, her body suddenly tensing as her expression went slack. Then she let out a moan that was undercut by a growl, the sound of it vibrating to the base of his cock despite the fact that he wasn’t even touching her.
It must have affected Cassia, too. She took him as deep as she could, grinding against him with a fury that had the bed shaking like crazy. He felt her climax break before she ever made a sound, her pussy squeezing tight around him. The Emvola’s moans joined Adriana’s in a chorus, the combination too much for Keaton to handle.
His hips jerked off the bed, one last thrust before he unloaded into her, hot cum painting her cunt in jet after jet, running back down over his shaft and seeping out as her pussy continued to spasm around him.
Keaton should have felt exhausted. Euphoric, yes, but exhausted considering the state he’d been in before they started. Instead, as he looked from Adriana to Cassia, he felt a surge of power tingle through his body, reaching every limb.
Something had happened — he could practically taste the presence of Anima on the back of his tongue. As he struggled to catch his breath, Keaton finally understood.
A bond has been deepened.
Cassia is now eligible for advancement.
Adriana is now eligible for the rank of lieutenant.
New advancements are available.
28
Keaton still felt the high of that power surge as the three of them headed to the Crystal Chamber. He should have been exhausted after everything, but he’d never been more ready to work and plan and do everything in his power to take down the bitch who’d almost cost him everything. It was like the most potent ale he’d ever had, chased with some of the leaf he’d chewed once just to see what it felt like. That had been great — amazing, even. So much so he’d stayed away from it for the sake of not ending up near comatose under a bridge like the others.
But this was a feeling he could live with, produced by something he would absolutely do again. Cassia and Adriana both felt it, if their presence beside him was anything to go off of. Adriana even seemed more confident than usual, though that could have been a pleasant side effect from the fact that she’d unabashedly bared herself to him and had let him watch while she plunged three fingers into her pussy over and over.
Maybe the surge of power was fortunate for another reason. Without it, Keaton would have been tempted to just stay in bed. He might have made Adriana an offer she wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to turn down, and he didn’t want things to unfold that way. He had no doubt she’d end up in his bed eventually. She wanted to be there; he’d seen that with his own two eyes, had heard it with every whimper of his name. But it would be on her time. And after they’d dealt with the dungeon lady of The Slithering Crypt.
Walking up the small set of stairs his drones had built to better access the crystal, Keaton looked to his left and then his right, finding Cassia and Adriana respectively.
“Do we want anyone else here for this?”
“I do not believe they are needed for this part,” Adriana said. “We will each interface with the crystal and expend our affinity with Anima to better ourselves. Then we can bring the others in to discuss what is to be done about The Slithering Crypt.”
He looked to Cassia, who nodded.
“Agreed.”
“Alright. On three, then?” he asked, lifting his hands to the crystal.
Adriana and Cassia joined him, and Keaton counted down. Once he reached “one,” he focused on the crystal, channeling his own Anima into it so that he could interface.
Several sentences were scrawled across his consciousness, one right after the other.
Adriana is now a lieutenant of The Labyrinth.
Adriana has gained a rank due to continued service to The Labyrinth.
Cassia has gained a rank due to continued service to The Labyrinth.
There are new advancement opportunities available.
His two lieutenants were addressing their own ranks and the bonuses those conferred. Keaton had no idea what they were, but he could ask after. For now, there was something he needed to take care of.
Silently he nudged the crystal into displaying his skill and power options. The newest ones were highlighted, and he took a look at those first: Minotaur Bash, Viper Strike, Envenom Blade, Poison Cloud, Disease Cloud, Last Chance, Beacon, Rally.
Interesting choices, and some of them seemed very powerful. He needed to compare them against the old options, and so Keaton did a quick pass to see what all he still had available. There were plenty of talents to improve his survivability, a few martial skills, some spells, and a variety of leadership abilities that were far more enticing now.
Before that trip to The Slithering Crypt, he would have been inclined to take something that would increase his damage or make sure he stayed alive no matter what.
But Keaton was beginning to realize that wasn’t his role here. He’d much rather help his lieutenants and minions and keep them safe. The moment they interfaced with the crystal, they became his responsibility. Keaton had given them all a choice, and he owed it to them to act in their best interests.
Besides, he wasn’t ever going to be some all-powerful battle mage. It might be nice, and sure he’d maybe dreamed about it when he was younger, but it wasn’t his style. He worked best from the shadows, relying on other people to act so he could take advantage.
Once upon a time, he’d done it to rip people off. For a brief stint, it’d been to kill people, using their own actions against them. Learning the patterns of their lives and exploiting them to help facilitate their deaths.
Now he’d have to put his trust in his allies; use their abilities as a means to catch a shared enemy unawares. That was his place here, and the skills he took needed to reflect it.
As such, Rally, Lord’s Sight, and Command were of the most interest. He was only going to be able to afford two right now, as this just seemed to be a bonus from the “bonding” session he’d just engaged in with his lieutenants.
In the end, Keaton decided to go with Rally and Lord’s Sight.
Rally – The dungeon lord uses Anima to create a magical rally point. Nearby allies will feel their spirits bolstered and will gain a temporary bonus to their strength, speed, and fortitude.
Lord’s Sight – Allows the dungeon lord to see the status of minions in his dungeon and the dungeon of other lords. Can be counteracted by more powerful dungeon lords.
Concentrating on the crystal, he invested his Anima into the skill and felt power surge outward from the vessel. It filled him with a warmth that was almost uncomfortable before the unseen flames receded, returning to the crystal and adding back to its glow. He’d taken what he needed and no more.
Shortly after he made his decision, the crystal alerted him of his lieutenants’ choices, too.
Lieutenant Cassia has gained an ability: War Leader. This ability allows her to shout different commands to boost morale and decrease fear within her ranks.