Headed by a Snake

"Ahahaha! Not gettin' away now, are ya, you slippery eel?!!" The pirate ground his foot into the side of Lone's face, nearly making him lose his grip.

Lone held fast and clenched the wolf-hammer in his hand. Reaching up, he smashed his weapon into the pirate's side then again onto the man's thigh.

The ghost growled loudly in pain. He grabbed yet another red potion and chucked it into his mouth, grinding it noisily with pointed teeth, "Yar har harr that be NOTHING TA ME!!"

Lone gnashed his teeth, "Oh yeah, then take this! FLAME ON!!"

Flames burst from his wolf-hammer, burning bright enough to draw the pirate's attention. Lone smashed the burning weapon against the pirate's knee, finally knocking him down. Lone somersaulted backward into a kneel, rubbing his numb, bruising face.

"Lone! Now's your chance!" Pale yelled.

"Oh, you think you'rre tough, huh?" The ghost pirate stood up slowly and warily, "YOU'RRRRE in for it noowwwww, boyyyy!!."

The Lone Shadowdark stood up and opened his arms as an invitation to attack, "I will show you the Shadowdark Sect's Movement Technique."

"Fancy tricks are nothing before the MAJESTY of me SUPREME STRENGTH!!! YEEARRGH!!"

The pirate charged forward, flailing his cutlass wildly in the air.

Lone grinned. This was his chance to show off the versatility of his movement technique.

The rushing pirate soon closed into the perfect distance so Lone... immediately threw himself onto his back, barely dodging the swing of the blade.

Reaching up, Lone smashed his wolf-hammer into the pirate's groin. Lone spun his body, getting to his knees, and he brought his hammer down again on the Pirate's abdomen.

The ghost immediately began grasping at the various potions on his belt and bandolier, tossing reds into his mouth and crunching away as if they were dried nuts, "Yrarhrhrhrarggh!!"

After nearly a minute of frantic smashing, Lone stood up.

With the pirate's flailing, he was bloodied and bruised. From the pirate's weapon, he suffered several stabs and nicks. But even still, Barza Keith, the Lone Shadowdark was victorious.

He raised his wolf-hammer in confident victory.

Pale was first to begin applauding. Ran applauded hesitantly while Eleven stared on with his expressionless helmet.

"You did really good, Lone!" Pale cheered. "You just beat an Iron-Rank by yourself!!"

Lone's eyes widened as he lost control of his bladder, "I beat a what?"

...

*Content Warning: Sexual Activity*

Tycon was granted an empty officer's shanty to sleep in, allowing him to sleep separately from his subordinates. Though he appreciated it, he was plagued by a too familiar dream that troubled his sleep.

Over the past several nights, Tycon had dreamt of Princess Aurala.

He dreamt of her body and of her insatiable lust for mana.

Her seductive moans dripped with greed. Each gag from the back of her throat was with a sense of urgency and nigh desperation. Her eyes remained in a hazy state of longing. Her luscious lips and sultry voice sweetly begged to feel him deeper, to inflict pain upon her.

The evening's dream remained the same. Sweat dripped down Tycon's brow as he held onto Aurala's waist. Her blonde hair stuck to her face and mouth as she tirelessly ground her hips against his loins, heedless of the disgusting noises their bodies made. Neither of them cared for decorum or courtesy. There was naught remaining in the room save a carnal desire for pleasure.

"Prince... please..." The princess pleaded between ragged breaths, "Give it to me... Inside of me."

Aurala pleaded with a hoarse voice, as if she was near tears. Tycon groaned and embraced the woman tightly as he released his mana-essence. The princess greedily received it, gyrating her hips to take all she could.

Each night's dreams felt more and more real. However, his cognizance also increased with each passing night.

Finally somewhat satiated, Princess Aurala laid beside Tycon and nuzzled against his shoulder. She drew a slender finger along his defined abdominal muscles, "I love your body, Prince... I wish I could make it mine."

That was rather aggressive. If Tycon didn't know better, he'd believe Aurala was trying to kill him of mana exhaustion. The only reason he felt safe dealing with a woman of Aurala's position was that she was far weaker than he was. Otherwise, he would have far more safety precautions in place.

He moved to atop Aurala, staring down at her. Moving his head close, he kissed her softly, staring into her blue eyes until she closed them. When she pulled back, Tycon smirked, "You act as if the other princes don't have bodies like mine. In this world, a strong body is more respected than a weak one."

Aurala giggled, "I don't look at my brothers in that way, Prince."

Tycon paused. Something was wrong... "How is your brother? The one that fought in the war."

The blonde princess giggled, "Why are you worried about him, are you gay?"

Tycon narrowed his eyes, "Beauty is beauty. Answer the question."

Aurala embraced him, locking her legs tightly around Tycon's waist, "He's fiiiiine. Let's focus on us."

Tycon sighed. The answer was wrong.

« System, inquiry: This is a dream, yes? »

[Negative.]

Tycon frowned inwardly. That was not good news.

« System, inquiry: An illusion then? What is the source? »

[System response: The host is experiencing a harmless illusion. The source is an Bronze-Rank Lust Phantom.]

« System... inquiry: ...Why is this illusion harmless? A "Lust Phantom" sounds quite hazardous. »

[System response: The host's soul has an inscribed protective seal that prevents sexual energy drain and domination by Fourth-Circle spells and lower.]

He had... a... what? Tycon pursed his lips. That was a strange fact he had learned about himself. He didn't know any conventional magics that inscribed onto souls... and the domain of Fourth-Circle spells was beyond that of the human realm.

He doubted that his family would have done him such a favor, especially considering the protective seal specifically protected against sexual attacks.

"What's wrong, Prince?" Aurala scooted herself back to sit up, looking concerned. Her naked body remained as delicious in appearance as Tycon remembered.

He would discover the reasonings later... Tycon shook the thoughts from his head as moved to the edge of the bed, "Get out."

"P-prince?" Aurala defensively covered her chest with a blanket.

"I haven't moved to kill you because you're wearing her face," Tycon replied solemnly, vigilant for any sudden movements.

The girl hesitated before standing up from the bed. No longer covering herself, she frowned, her form growing transparent, "I see..."

In a blink, the woman disappeared, leaving Tycon sitting on the bed-- wearing more clothes than in the illusion moments prior.

"Hold on."

The phantom reappeared, still nude, her face hazy.

"Go find Barza Keith. Rough looking fellow, dark hair, a scar on the bridge of his nose and on his cheek." Tycon pointed, "The next shanty over, in that direction."

"The one that looks like a pushover, Prince?"

Tycon nodded, "That's the one."

A faint smile appeared on the phantom's lips before she dissipated into nothingness.

Tycon sighed. He had set the System's settings to warn him if he was ever in danger of such effects. He hadn't bothered to guard against a harmless effect-- being fooled damaged his pride. However, he had the benefit of adding surprise training to Lone.

...Oh. And he had learned something new about himself.

Tycon yawned before hissing aloud in Parseltongue, "(Beautiful child, are you awake?)"

"(She is awake, Master.)" Sasarame was nestled on Tycon's pillow, enjoying his residual body heat. She slithered close to climb his arm, "(Master's heart? It beats so quickly.)"

Tycon lifted a finger to boop his adopted daughter on the nose, "Nevermind that. Use your abilities to help me remember something."

"(Sasarame is a good child. Is the dream a splendid dream, Master)?"

Tycon shook his head, "Doubtful. Someone has protected me... and I've forgotten who."