45 Chapter 5: First Death… A Gentle Embrace!

I was standing in the Ratmen Village again, wearing a basic leather armour bought from the item shop for 150 gold. Thanks to the cute item cat, I didn’t get depressed from losing $15,000!

The 9th Floor was, as I thought, reaching the current village. Ah, but there was no boss. Just a few groups of the warrior Ratmen, the huge one brought with him during the final wave.

Spending money made me feel sick; I disliked wasting it.

However, my life and safety started to matter as my left hand wore the special ring, and the black gauntlets were snugly on my hands.

This time there were no strange people or nice sexy halflings to party with.

After this, I could reach the Guild via new transportation that opened once you cleared the 10th Floor properly.

For some reason, Eternia didn’t come—only Lupera was sleeping on my shoulder like always.

{Oh my~ am I not good enough?}

Shaking my head, I sat on the village’s western side, waiting for the rest of the groups to arrive.

Do you have a humanoid form? Eternia is so cute in that pixie form, but you are a little wolf, so it feels strange for me to speak with you… As you like to flirt or say lewd things.

{I see… Well, I do, but what does Mommy get in return if I show you?}

Lewd stuff?

I didn’t know what she meant, but Lupera seemed to be talking about that.

I can buy you a cute collar, food, or treats, but almost anything that doesn’t go too far…

After a moment, Lupera transformed, with a flicker of light, into a sexy woman; her face looked more mature than Eternia, with tanned skin and emerald eyes—she looked down at me, and her soft ass was huge, bigger than Elizabeth or Mother. I couldn’t deny the feeling of her squishy cheeks against my shoulder was not amazing!

{Fufu~ Rai, I want you to kiss here before you go back and meet Elizabeth—make me cum with your tongue}

“W-What? But I need to focus on the quest…”

{Silly boy, I mean after… Once you are done~ Mommy isn’t impatient; what do you think? Is my huge butt to your taste? Here, see my fluffy tail and little asshole.}

Honestly, how she began showing off her body was extremely hot! She didn’t have the innocence that Eternia had; it was raw sex appeal as her long supple fingers pulled her tanned ass apart, showing her glistening almond slit.

The time to enjoy this wonderful woman was cut short like a cruel blade cutting down the final warrior in agony.

-> Wave 1 – Commencing in 1 minute! Prepare for combat!

{Fufu~ don’t look so sad—I’ll let you savour my body as much as you want before you go and bang that human girl. I bet she will love being gouged by your newly improved cock!}

Somehow the people in this time’s challenge were rude, not speaking or joking around. It was just down to business as two others were standing beside me.

I didn’t feel like talking…

{Because you only think of horny things, Fufu~ good boy. If you do well, I will use my power to return to a more human size and give you a nice reward.}

Her little reward did boost my desire to try harder, tapping my gauntlets together as they sparked with a slight flame. The wave would begin soon; I needed to concentrate.

-> Wave 1 – Commencing in 3 seconds! Prepare for combat!

Lupera returned to her wolf form, jumping off my shoulder and fading into the shadows as the warrior Ratmen sprinted forward, their leader looking at me with his blade raised.

“Shit—!”

It was time for battle!

**4 minutes later-**

My breath was a little faster; blood, guts and dead rats lay at my feet.

I no longer needed to retreat this time and beat the rats into submission, but the Ratmen were gone; Lupera came out of the shadows and licked my bloody face as the other groups were waiting for the second wave. I climbed over the wall and moved to the main gate, ready for the final wave.

“You were pretty amazing there…” A male behind me stuttered. He was the archer in my group, nothing compared to Flora and Lumia, but he did kill a few that snuck through my guard.

“Thanks for the help; your arrows were amazing.” In the background, the human group easily killed the Ratmen, while a few minutes later, the northern group struggled…

“Ah, my arrows weren’t a big deal; you are like a berserker!”

Like this, we began to chat; I even added him to my friend’s list; the guy was called Bodak and was a strange sub-race of Halfling but was a human and mouse hybrid.

“It looks like someone died…” Bodak said, his face looking sad, my eyes followed his look, and it was true. The first real death in this world I saw. A small female dwarf, her neck torn apart as blood and flesh dangled from the wound.

I burned the sight into my eyes as Bodak grabbed my hand, his body rushing towards the wall as the last wave was about to start.

{Are you alright? Do you need Mommy’s comfort?}

No… maybe, can you hug my neck tightly and don’t move… even in combat. You and Eternia help soothe my fears and worries.

It sounds so pathetic…

{Not at all~ I am happy to help you in any way, my little Rai~ come, let Mommy soothe your worried head.}

-> Boss Wave – Commencing in 32 seconds, please prepare!

It seemed the northern party was done, the dead member was their tank, but the soft fur of Lupera’s belly and her slightly rough tongue licking my cheek pushed those thoughts away.

I cannot afford to die; I must do my best and surpass everyone else!

Thirty seconds later, Lupera nibbled my neck before wrapping around me tightly as the huge Ratman and his horde sprinted forward, his blade cutting deep into the weakest player’s stomach.

I didn’t rush this time and was shocked at how fragile these people were… Four died in two minutes, and the Ratmen were just fine.

Am I cruel for not going sooner? I don’t want to make Aki or Elizabeth cry…

{Are you scared to die?}

Isn’t anyone… But more than my death, I don’t want you to become saddened should I die.

“H-He’s mine…” Bodak yelled, his arrow piercing the ratman’s chest as his group slowly began to move, but I knew they had no chance.

Because I didn’t move, maybe he thought I was a coward… the friend request was also deleted. Is everyone this fickle?

I felt hurt, you know… It was hard for me to make friends, but I realised that Flora and Lumia were just better people from what happened. However, my heart felt cold… and lonely.

Only the soft belly of Lupera supports my feelings.

-> Boss Wave – Commenced successfully; please leave the village.

Lupera was licking my cheek; for some reason, when I watched them all being wiped out, my eyes leaked tears even though I didn’t know them. The thought these people were gone, forever, like a shooting star… What if that was Aki or Elizabeth?

I was a little excited about the tenth Floor and the Guild meeting earlier, but now my heart was flat as I climbed over the walls and dropped with a bang.

“Haa… I could have saved them, but I chose not to.”

I wasn’t a hero, nor was I a saint… I wanted to protect and care for those close to me; it would be an issue if I died, but if I didn’t try, would Aki and Elizabeth forgive me?

{Forgive me, Rai… I have done something horrible to you.}

Her words caused my feet to stop as the remaining 6 Ratmen Warriors and Huge Ratman started to rush towards me, yet I didn’t feel any threat.

“Oh… what’s that?” I asked as my body shot forward like a comet, smashing the nearest Ratman with a sword and shield in his throat and cheek, with a sharp left jab into a right uppercut, his skull and jaw shattering, before the [Hasted Blows] triggered, and my body moved faster, time slowing as I slammed into another Ratman’s face with a jumping knee.

Lupera’s voice echoed in my head as my fists smashed and broke ribs, my body spinning as my left gauntlet shattered the Ratman’s spine, his scream like a squeaky toy.

“WHAT DID YOU DO!?” My body screamed Lupera was giggling as my rage rose, and my punches shattered the Ratman’s pelvis, his screams turning to whimpers, but I didn’t stop, my gauntlet shoving his teeth and gums into his throat, blood and spit bursting from his mouth like a fountain. 𝐎𝓋𝐿xt.𝗇𝓔t

It was a massacre; my rage fuelled by Lupera’s manipulation as the huge Ratman looked at me with fear.

“AH!” I screamed, my gauntlets burning with flame as my body shot forward. Still, the huge Ratman was agile, his blade slicing my shoulder deeply, causing me to stumble, but Lupera whispered, ‘Kill him…’ As the Ratman swung his sword, my body dodged, grabbing his arm and yanking it violently; the pop and cracking sound was delightful as the blade fell. My right gauntlet smashed his elbow, breaking bones and ruining the joint.

{Rai, your body is covered in their blood, haa… you look delicious!} Lupera laughed as my body smashed the huge Ratman’s stomach, my left gauntlet smashing his throat, and my right gauntlet breaking his jaw, shoving his tongue out before my left foot stamped on his knee, breaking the joint and causing his knee to bend backwards.

“DIE—DIE—DIE—DIE, BASTARD!” My body screamed as I punched his throat and faced him until his skull and flesh began to mix into the grass, blood and guts splashing my face as Lupera began to lick me.

“Haah~ Lupera, you bitch! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ELIZABETH!?” My voice was hoarse as the flames began to pulse from my entire body; I must have looked gruesome right now, the battle anger and her words caused me to lose control, and Lupera returned to a humanoid form, her emerald eyes looking at me with a wicked smile.

{My silly boy, Mommy did this for your good…}

I punched towards her, but the moment my fist came close, a golden light flashed before she gently grasped my hand, rubbing her face against it, the gauntlets gone, back in my inventory.

{Rai, hit me, shout, beat me, I will accept all your anger… But think of the other side; I have given her my divine protection until she reaches level 25. Nothing can hurt her or kill her.}

“Lupera… You bitch!” Tears flowed down my bloody face, but Lupera’s emerald eyes didn’t change; I felt like a fool. Knowing she did it for my good, I bet it wasn’t even her! This was likely Eternia’s doing… Yet Lupera was taking the blade, accepting my anger as she gently stroked my hair.

{The dungeon brings danger to your world… Soon Mana will be born, and your planet will fill with monsters… What if Aki or Elizabeth were just normal girls and became prey to monsters… or worse, Orcs and Goblins?}

Ah… Lupera was so mature, explaining it while gently comforting me, making me aware when fighting to use that rage to kill the enemy faster. “If that will happen…” {You will protect them? How can you simultaneously protect them, earn money, level up and protect yourself? Don’t be naive, Rai!}

Her words were so true; if I was attacked or clearing a high level, monsters suddenly attacked a normal Elizabeth. Was Elizabeth safe?

Rapidly my head calmed down, hugging Lupera’s human form as she gently stroked my head.

{Keep it a secret, you know, for now, okay? I promise to stay beside Elizabeth at all times; unlike Eternia, I can fight… although not with my goddess powers, I can become a wolf of equal level to anyone that makes a pact with me.}

“A pact?”

{Mmmm… though I’ve never done it before…} For some reason, she lifted her chin and closed her eyes; her soft red lips were extremely sexy, and she felt like they had a magnetic power to draw me in.

“With me? Are you willing to form one with me?”

Her green eyes looked at me like a fool before she showed the first childish smile I’d ever seen her make.

{Fool… take the hint and just kiss me!}