Chapter 534 533: Break

Chapter 534 533: Break

"What's got you smiling so much, Kat~?"

Cali appeared beside me, her pink skin glittering in the suns light as she leaned down beside me, her chest resting atop my outstretched arm as she whispered sensually into my ear, making me shudder as I pulled away.

Pouting, she stared at me before letting out a huff and plopping into the sand beside me, acting like a child as I rolled my eyes at her.

"Nothing; just had a few ideas regarding some spells and how to get stronger. For instance, my Domain type spell could certainly be improved by adding some different structures, like-"

"Ngh... Stop! No no no... I don't wanna hear it! That's sooooo boring..."

Her pout deepened as she brought her knees up to her large chest, resting her head against them and staring at me with her sparkling pink eyes.

"Why can't we talk about how heated~ this beach got last night, or how utterly delectable~ that role-play was back in that stuffy Palace? Hmm~?"

I gave her a dry look before waving her off, saying "Go talk to the Marquess then; I'm busy cooking..."

"Cooking... sand? There isn't any food yet Katherine~?"

"Cali..."

"Fine, fine~! I'm going..."

Brushing herself off, she stretched before adding "The Divine Grace around you is thicker today. Noticeable. Be careful, dear Masque..." and walking away, back towards the Marquess and Nirinia, who had returned from the ocean.

Jahi approached me with two large, fat fish in her arms, which she continued to hold as she waited for me to create a table for her to place the fish on.

"You seem happy."

I glanced at her and frowned, only to sigh as she pointed towards my rear, where my tail was idly swishing side to side, the extra appendage something that I had grown so accustomed to having that I... didn't notice that it was wagging.

"Yeah... Remember how I said I get stronger when I absorb souls or energy from the enemies that I kill? Well... that encounter was a veritable feast for me. I can FEEL that I've gotten stronger from it..."

The Demoness smirked as she accepted the stool of ice I made for her, sitting down beside me as I began to descale and filet the fish.

"That's good. It's a little enviable that you can have this sort of... short cut... ah, that feels like a terrible way to describe it... You know what I mean. Where Anput, Leone and I need to train and train before putting it to practice, you have the ability to leap ahead if given enough time and enemies to kill. Not to say you don't put in the same effort or anything, but... damnit..."

Scratching her ear, Jahi looked away and sighed before turning back to me as I chuckled, her amethyst eyes curious as she stared at me.

"I know you don't mean anything by it, love. And yes, I can understand completely how frustrating it might be to see me get a bonus on top of everything that I'm already doing, making my growth larger than yours. I understand that, and I wouldn't blame you for feeling envious or jealous at some points, but..."

I gave her a small smile as I lifted the dagger in my hands, making the Demoness smile wryly as she looked down towards the bloody steel that shone in the light.

"Do keep those emotions in a healthy check, Jahi, or else..."

The dagger waved through the air before stabbing into the ice slab, making her flinch slightly as I gave her a chilly smile, and she waved her hands at me as she spoke quickly.

"I know, I know! Besides, no matter how~ strong you might get, even if you get stronger then me, well... I know exactly what makes you tick, and I KNOW no one can make you whimper like I can..."

"Hey! I can make her whimper too y'know?! So can Leone with that fucking monster dangling between he- oof!"

Anput stumbled forwards and held her shoulder, glaring at the blushing Vampire who glared back at her, the two both holding a large bundle of berries and herbs in their arms.

The Jackalkin rushed to the other side of the table and stared at the Vampire, who was trying to reach her and hit her again, only for the two to flinch as I snapped "What're you, children?! Give me the herbs and berries already!"

Anput smiled wryly as she dropped her haul into the bowl, which Leone mirrored before slapping the Jackalkin's shoulder again, making her growl as she tried to grab the Vampire, only to stop as I growled her name again.

Before Leone could grow smug from that, I growled her name as well, making the two shrink as they stood quietly beside me, while Jahi held in her chuckles as she looked between the two, her eyes alight with mirth.

My eyes flickered over them both before I turned back to the fish, which I cut into nice steaks that I prepared to sauté in the pan alongside the herbs.

"Now, let's change this topic, alright? What did you all think about the reinforcements that came in after we cleared everything out? I'd say we lowered the numbers on both sides evenly, so perhaps..?"

Leone timidly glanced at me before speaking, her tone respectful as she said "Perhaps the two factions have a home base or spawning grounds that they came from? Otherwise they would have been filtering in consistently instead of altogether?"

I nodded, which made Anput frown as she asked "So you want to hit the bases before we actually go for the heart? That could certainly work, but who knows if those bases are guarded by a group of even stronger enemies or not..."

That made Jahi grin, and she glanced over her shoulder at Nirinia as she said "Well then we could make use of our stronger reinforcements, no? I want to take her with us anyways when we go back later just as a precaution regarding the adapted monsters and undead; who knows how many changes they made to themselves considering our diverse methods of killing them..."

We all glanced at the green skinned Djinn before turning back towards the fish, which I laid onto the pan and held over the fire, which Leone began to adjust to my needs as I started cooking.

"Sounds like a plan to me. I wouldn't mind a more structured approach to the battlefield again, before we take some time to scout where the enemies are coming from. For now though... get the table ready, the food'll be done in a few minutes."