"Yet," she said, smirking as she stood.
"Just tell me what you want," Asher asked, his voice calm but direct, eyes steady on her. Valeris stepped up beside him, arms folded, expression unreadable—but her mind whispered with amusement.
Hmm. She’s hot, Valeris mused, casually glancing over Marina’s soaked figure and finely sculpted face. But we’re far hotter... and she still failed to get into his bed. Poor thing.
Marina tilted her head, strands of wet hair trailing down her cheek, as if gauging how much she could push. And then, without even blinking, she said it:
Asher didn’t even flinch. "Aside from that," he replied dryly. "You clearly want something more. I see it in your eyes—it’s not just lust. It’s desperation."
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That hit something. For the briefest moment, Marina’s confident poise cracked.
She looked away, then slowly straightened and exhaled. "...You’re right."
Then, stepping closer—just enough to be heard over the murmuring waves—she added, "Meet me in the Moon Spring. Room Two. Come alone, or bring your girls if you prefer. But be ready... I’ll take you to a secret dungeon. One I’ve never shown anyone else."
Her voice was low and sure, and her expression had changed—no longer teasing, but serious. "I’ll be waiting."
Asher gave a slight nod. Nothing more.
She turned and walked away, hips swaying, her aura trailing behind her like steam rising off heated water. Several gazes followed her. None more sharply than Valeris’.
After a pause, Valeris spoke up, brushing a droplet of water off her shoulder. "So... secret dungeon? Tempting."
"She’s not lying," Asher said. "There’s something real behind all the flirtation."
Valeris smiled faintly. "Then I suppose we’ll need to dress for a little more than just bed games."
Asher’s gaze lingered on the path Marina had taken, his thoughts already shifting—not just to traps or hidden treasures, but to something deeper. Something powerful enough to make a proud woman like her offer herself so freely.
Whatever it is, he murmured to himself, I don’t think there’s anything left in this galaxy that can actually harm me now.
He turned to go, but then paused. Something stirred—an instinct, a signal. A ripple across the vast field of his soul stage.
"...I guess the Little Serpent has awakened," he said softly, reaching behind him.
A shimmer curled into existence—a long, serpentine mass of glowing red and deep crimson, coiling lazily through the soulscape like a galaxy born of dragon blood. It was the Myriad Galaxy Serpent, the pet he had bought from the auction and infused with his Dragon God Blood Essence.
The serpent’s twin crimson, galaxy-like eyes opened and focused on him. A low hiss echoed—not threatening, but more like the curious cooing of a child. It slithered around his arm, brushing against his aura as if scenting something. Something familiar.
Valeris stepped forward, one eyebrow arched. "That’s not the calamity beast you told me about before, is it?"
"No," Asher said, shaking his head with a slight grin. "That one’s still asleep. This one... came from the auction. I fed him the Dragon Blood Essence, and while refining it, he fell into a special slumber. Looks like he’s just awakened."
Valeris let out a breath and reached out to stroke the glowing serpent. It didn’t flinch. It only watched her with slow, blinking eyes.
"You haven’t named it yet?"
"I was going to ask you girls," he said with a smile. "Thought you might want to help pick something fitting."
Valeris tilted her head, studying the serpent’s flowing red form and the faint constellations glowing beneath its semi-transparent scales. "Hmm... alright. But first—what gender is it?"
Asher shrugged. "It’s a boy. Even the celestial beasts agree—definitely male."
Valeris chuckled. "Figures. Dramatic entrance, born of blood, and already thinks he owns the sky."
The serpent let out a low rumble—almost like a purr. Its head rested against Asher’s shoulder, eyes closing again in brief satisfaction.
"Then let’s give him a name worthy of his ego," Valeris said playfully.
Valeris tapped her chin thoughtfully, eyes still on the serpent, whose body curled around Asher like a ribbon of stardust and fire. "How about... Vaelion?" she suggested. "Sounds regal. Mysterious. Like a name that belongs to something ancient and proud."
"Hmm... Vaelion," Asher repeated, letting the name roll off his tongue. The serpent’s eyes slowly opened again. At the sound of the name, a flicker of crimson light sparked through its scales—as if in approval.
"I think he likes it," Valeris said with a grin.
Asher nodded. "Then Vaelion it is."
"Welcome to the family, Vaelion," Asher said softly.
The serpent coiled into a crescent moon shape, nestling closer with a quiet, contented rumble. Its eyes slowly closed, and its long, star-speckled body draped loosely around Asher’s shoulders like a living sash of twilight.
It wasn’t submission. It was trust.
Vaelion’s breath flowed in slow waves, syncing with Asher’s aura, as if the creature found peace simply by being near him—by recognizing the one who had given it blood, form, and purpose.
Valeris smiled faintly at the sight. "He’s already acting like a spoiled prince."
Asher chuckled, reaching up to gently scratch under the serpent’s jaw. "Let him. He earned it."
Then he straightened, his gaze shifting toward the distant seal. "Alright, let’s go. I’m curious about this secret dungeon Marina mentioned."
He stood up from the beach, water dripping from his boots as he turned and raised a hand, signaling to the others.
A moment later, the surface of the lake rippled again as the rest of the girls emerged—curious eyes already locked onto the glowing, coiled figure resting on Asher’s shoulders. Vaelion, now fully awake but calm, blinked slowly as he sensed their presence.
"What is that?" Catherine asked first, stepping onto the shore with her hair still slicked back, water trailing down her swimsuit.
"The serpent from the auction," Valeris answered before Asher could. "He finally woke up... and evolved too."
Vaelion shifted slightly, crimson scales shimmering as if reflecting distant stars. He didn’t hiss or flinch. Instead, he tilted his head and looked at each of them in turn—curious, silent, almost regal.
The girls gathered closer, forming a loose half-circle. There were soft murmurs of awe and amusement.
"He’s beautiful," one of them said.
"Feels like we’re looking at something born out of beautiful gems," another added.