Book 2. Chapter 24: Snake Girls Forever and Training

Book 2. Chapter 24: Snake Girls Forever and Training

It was a wonderful night, but Jake had some spots of memory missing, or some of it was a dream. Didnt he remember Fhesiah showing up and saying

[Good morning, Master. Did you have a good time, finally having two girls at the same time? Why, Im a little upset that I wasnt there for your first threesome.]

Jake wryly smiled at that, he supposed that it was in fact technically a threesome. Still, he knew she was just jesting based on her feelings through the bond. Jake certainly didnt know what to do if she had used those mental gymnastics to actually be upset with him, as she had previously made it very clear she wanted to be involved in any threesome activities.

He said back through their bond, It was a special day and night. Still, there were some strange

[Some interesting things have happened. Did you check your notifications?]

Jake hadnt, so he brought up his menu.

[Summoners Bond Lv. 5: Love reached]

This surprised Jake, as he wasnt sure he was in love with Blood, and her with him. Perhaps his and her desire were enough, or Berri and his love were enough? Jake didnt know, as even being in love with two other girls and feeling their love constantly, he still couldnt piece together all the feelings.

Fhesiah snorted, [Oh please, even if Blood is new, you love too easily having been starved for love as you were. Its a good thing we never actually met Alisara, or wed now have a mostly useless elf tagging along with us, if you ask me. She was pretty, but I do not think she would have been good enough to be a Hart.]

Jake was somewhat glad to hear that she had standards and wasnt just going to go pushing every girl they run into his way, but thought she might just be a little elitist. Still, it was certainly true that they had never truly met Alisara, just her body. He had no attachment to this girl and thought Fhesiah was fundamentally right. While he might be able to help her create a mana core, he doubted that she herself was really special enough to go out of his way to meet.

[Well, I didnt say a concubine or two was out of the question. I suppose she would have qualified for that? We need someone to watch our children while we are adventuring sometimes, after all. Also, Im currently the only one who can give you a son at the moment. Well, Bloodberri can give one, but both of them would prefer strong daughters.]

Jake sighed and rolled his eyes. The parenthood thing as an adventurer seemed like it was going to be a challenge, but he knew it was not a unique thing in the multiverse. Jake would see about some books on the market, and

[There you go again, Jake. Focus. Even though I know I was the one who brought that up, you dont need to go so far into the deep end. We need to improve our skills, and prepare for our arrival, for now. The goddess made it sound like well be coming in hot. Also, check out our new hearth.]

Divine Hearth of the Refuge

5x T1 Energy Density in Refuge

Added - Divine Energy regeneration. When not docked to a Contested World, Regenerate God Energy at 10x the speed. 3x Speed while Docked. Takes 3 days of being undocked to reach the higher god energy regeneration.

Jake was quite impressed with the change. While originally the refuges energy density after being upgraded was ten times the energy density, it was only ten times that of a simple T0 world. When they reached Tier 1, it was only double what a normal T1 world would expect. Now, the energy inside their Refuge was approaching what would be experienced on a T2 world instead.

In addition, he could now practice with his new god energy, which was quite welcome. It was clear to Jake that the champions they fought could use the energy in several ways, from shielding to attacking with simple brute force, to summoning their god in a way that matched their class or the god themselves, and even healing damage done to them.

But when Jake had tried to use the god energy in that way, Jake had a tough time even using it as a brute force, or a shield, mostly wasting the energy. He knew the only way he could currently use it was to use a prayer to Hestia similar to the way the original Apophis champion used it, which would have the goddess taking the wheel.

All the champions they fought were higher tiered champions brought down to their level to face Jakes party, so their skill in using the energy would be much higher. But perhaps Jake could get enough practice that he could do well enough, now that he knew he could safely recover it.

Just playing with his Hearth mana in this way, his Hearth Control finally leveled up to three. It had been stuck at level two for a long time now, him spending time learning the ways he could use this special mana. Still, Jake certainly had a lot on his plate

Ophelia interrupted with a commanding tone, [Oh yes, thats right, Jake. You get your butt up here so we can get some proper training before breakfast. Youve been slacking on your melee training as of late.]

Jake sighed, and gave Bloodberri a wonderful hug slash motorboat and a kiss, which was met with a delightful giggle from her. He got out of bed and got changed, heading to the training grounds as he thought of just what type of training lay ahead. They had been light on the training after they returned, though its not like they wasted more than half a day, anyway. There was the celebration in the evening after they returned and met with the goddess, and Bloodberris date in the afternoon, the morning having been spent crafting.

Jake arrived and started getting geared up, only finishing getting his greaves on before Bloodberri arrived in her usual clothes she wore under her armor. He looked on with interest as she took out her new armor. It was one large piece and absolutely massive, and as she held part of it up, it looked both dull and like it was a little too elastic. He could see small blades and plates, but he couldnt see how coverage would be very good. Jake wondered exactly how it worked. She slid her snake tail inside, almost like it was a giant sock for her entire body. As her body finished filling it out, the top was almost put on like a large coat.

Just as she finished putting it on at the top, the armor sprung to life. First, her helmet, that seemed more like a hood at first, wrapped around and latched on and clamped shut. This protected even her face, chin and neck areas, leaving only her eyes visible. The shoulders tightened and the center of the coat met and clamped shut the middle, closing where there had been a gap previously. Over where her waist was, a girdle or wide belt covered her important organs both above and below it. Jake thought it almost looked like one of those wrestling or boxing champion belts.

The different sections wrapped and tightened around her tail, locking into place starting from the top to the bottom, a sort of chain reaction. While the armor had almost looked dull and lifeless when she held it up, the colors were more vibrant now. There were hexagonal plates for Jake to enchant that almost looked like mounds or large studs on top of the plate mail instead, making it sort of like a lamellar plate mail, but still with the sharp blades and spikes all over it. Jake noticed Bloodberri was so armored that most onlookers wouldnt really be able to tell that she was a woman at all. The sort of girdled belt really hid her almost waspish midsection, and he kind of wondered about the goddess choice. It was like there was a shield protecting her lower belly and womanly parts.

Jake couldnt help but feel that the whole reaction was quite cool, and he looked down at his own armor, not being able to help but feel envious of Bloodberris new piece of equipment.

Bloodberri beamed with pride as she observed the whole process, absolutely loving the equipment. She had equipped the previous armor hundreds upon hundreds of times, and it was a lot of work every single time just to put on the many straps and buckles. She was very thankful that this chore was now so trivial. She looked at Jake, and she blurred towards him.

Jake almost felt worried, but he knew her intentions. Her chest piece opened up easily, and she hugged him right away. Her armor would no longer get in the way of her wonderful hugs. Instead, it would usually be Jakes. Still, Jake could take his helmet off, he supposed.

Jake heard the familiar sound of a spear butt slamming against the ground. Having fun, Jake? Wasnt someone supposed to be getting ready?

Jake began to sweat, but sped up, trying to get his armor equipped and ready to go. Bloodberri helped him along with Ophelia, and he was ready in just a few moments. He did think that his armor was quite cool too, but he would need to get it enchanted soon. It was the same as Bloodberris for the most part, just minus the blades and spikes, and instead of the instant equipping option, it had the energy orb in the center of the chest, providing a means for storing manabut he would play with it later, he thought, as he could sense impatience over his bond spike.

Jake activated his Unbound technique and charged the impatient valkyrie that was waiting across the training grounds. She was currently using just her spear, to fight Jake using his spear and shield. He tried to put some pressure on her having superior defense as he did, but her ability to raise or lower herself, along with the spears ability to feint high and attack low, he had found himself quickly on the back foot after only a few prodding attacks.

Jake did what he could to push Unbound to its limits, increasing his speed to try to keep up with hers. He finally was no longer on the back foot, able to keep her at bay while being able to try to land some attacks of his own. Her body contorted to dodge one of his thrusts and she spun, her being able to add attacks from odd angles, forcing Jake to abort his attacks, before she blurred towards him. He pushed his strength to the max and tried to slam his shield into her charge, but she somersaulted over the shield, having stopped her momentum easily.

Her boot slammed into his chest, sending Jake flying several meters. Ophelias smile was wide as he got up.

Youll have to thank that champion I faced for that one. Speed and strength are good, but to use the least amount of motion to deflect an attack is the best, as Ive taught you. Theres just so many ways to accomplish that, itll do us a lot of good to practice some other methods than deflecting with our weapons or shield so much. So put that shield and spear away. Well practice avoiding the attacks, without them.

Despite wearing his new armor, Jake took his beating, her practice spear thudding with enough force on him to cause bruises, which wouldnt be healed until the training was done. Still, he started to learn that there were definitely times he could avoid the attack in different ways, and if he at least had his spear, hed be better positioned to counter. Often, he would deflect attacks that might not even need to be deflected. Pain was once again a powerful teacher.

Bloodberri had been busy practicing with her new armor. While her supernatural grace likely helped, it still took some practice to know the limits of her range of movement, keeping in mind her spikes and blades on her tail. It didnt matter much when moving in one direction, but changing direction and weaving her body around and crushing enemies with her tail, grinding her own blades and spikes on her own armor wouldnt do. Shredded training dummies lay demolished on the ground, and her face had the look of glee on it.

These blades are much sharper. I barely have to put any effort into shredding them now.

Both Jake and Ophelia shuddered imagining her getting that tail around them. Bloodberri really felt like an unstoppable weapon. Ophelia took out her new shield, and the three of them got practice facing one another or as a group. Fhesiah cultivated and practiced her new skills, not being at the level where she was ready to use them in combat just yet.

They had little less than two weeks remaining, their [Refuge] traveling to [Highlands]. They would do their best to push all their skills, teamwork, and equipment to the limit prior to their arrival.