Underworld - The Succubi - Book 7 - Chapter 1

“Elorion,” my little wind sprite mumbled from where she slept curled up on my lap. She’d always been fairly short and petite, even by average human standards. That hadn’t changed with her advancements. She was far tougher in this form, but still felt delicate in my arms. At will, she could weigh practically nothing simply because her existence didn’t respect gravity’s domain as it once had.

In contrast, during my many advancements my body had been compressed like steel under a blacksmith’s hammer, but I was still taller and thicker than I’d been when I’d first entered the Underworld. I was amused at how much we’d changed in just over a year’s time.

She’d never been unattractive. The silver tone to her skin, a metabolism that left other dexterity builds unable to keep up, and her pixie or fairy-like qualities emphasized parts of her that had always been there. She was worried that if she went back to the surface that people would reject the way she looked. Perhaps some might, but she’d also likely win the highest paid modeling contract in the history of the world because of her unique look.

I couldn’t say the same thing about myself. I’d been handsome enough, I suppose. Enough not to be super self-conscious about it. Either that, or I’d never cared to the point of worrying about it. It was probably a mixture of both. Even now, I really didn’t care as long as Aeris was happy with how I looked. She was the only person I cared to impress.

Which led me to wonder, why would she marry me?

There were some things that were undeniable. I’d once been a top-tier amateur gamer which automatically placed me on the level of some of the most attractive men alive. I stifled my laughter at my own joke so as not to wake Aeris and the sleeping dark elf vampire, Jasmine, who was resting her back against mine.

That was nonsense, though there’s no denying that my gaming experience had been helpful in understanding the Underworld. There were also many strategic approaches my experience had helped me develop.

What she was really attracted to were my tastes. She’d said it herself that the reason she’d agreed to go with me that first day was my mention of food. I’d eventually used magic bacon to win her heart, and practically bathed the world in ranch dressing to delight her.

The smile slowly fell from my face. We did have fun together, despite the reality of our circumstances.

Lilith had chosen well. We’d been naïve when we were first taken. All of us had. And we’d been so sheltered in our lives on the surface that the danger didn’t seem real. What’s more, we were all talented which made the transition easier. Most importantly, she knew we fantasized about the magic the Underworld offered before we even knew it was real. Instead of rejecting what she did to us, we’d accepted it—many within days if not hours.

I’d done what I normally did. My own thing. But as naïve and sheltered as I was, I at least recognized the danger. So I set a goal and ignored everything else.

If I was honest, it wasn’t just the danger that drove me. My stamina restoring Light Magic gave me an ability that every gamer could only dream of. It was like I had an unlimited supply of energy drinks without the accompanying crash that came hours later. I suddenly had the ability to pull an all-nighter while throwing myself into the most lifelike game I’d ever played. It was an environment I thrived in. I felt as much enjoyment as fear.

It was this enjoyment that helped bring Aeris and I together, but it only started there. In those early days, I often threw myself into danger, surviving things I had no right to survive. Dealing with dangers as they came was something she no doubt appreciated, but it would only take one failure and it would all be over.

In a sense, she’d simply wanted to keep the measure of security I could provide around as long as possible. To say that she just saw me as a means to an end would be to deny who she was. That didn’t mean she was without flaws. She had a temper and could hold a grudge, though she never seemed to hold it for long. She was also more thoughtful of others than most while I was single-minded, which left us bumping heads at times. Eventually, we’d come to an unspoken agreement that her tendencies and mine made us better together than apart.

There was one thing that worried me though. I’d heard that relationships that began under violent or tragic circumstances didn’t last. I didn’t know how much weight to give such advice. There was also our age to worry about. We were both 18. Even though our circumstances caused me to question, they were also what offered the most encouragement. The violence we faced wasn’t going anywhere. Our shared goal of fighting for survival and to advance in strength was a perpetual thing likely never to end.

I saw the age of marriage as more of a cultural phenomenon, even if it was one I mostly agreed with. Historically, how often did people wait until 18 or later to marry? It was because of the advancement of medicine that it was even an option. Approximately 150 years ago in the US the average lifespan was something like 40 years old. Life was also much harder so both boys and girls matured far faster.

Looking down at Aeris, I knew there was a desperation we both felt because of our circumstances. Even though we were promised the Succubi’s protection now that we’d joined them, there was no guarantee we’d live to 20, let alone 25 or 30 when most people were getting married on the surface. Waiting was a privilege. One we no longer had.

All this time that I’d been lost in my own head, I’d been creating Master Orbs of the different elements minus Light Orbs, fracturing them, then repairing their flaws. Then I’d absorb their mana and move on to the next element. It did draw some of my attention, but the process had also become second nature.

I could honestly say I had no intention of casting Scorching Sun when I was fleeing the city of Persepolis. I hadn’t even known such spells were possible. But despite my feelings on its destruction and the lives I had taken, I was seeking to grandmaster Light Magic as quickly as possible so that I could cast the same spell at will.

Base Stats

Elorion

Level: 29,641

Health Points: 5,560,316

Current Mana: 57,021,016

Base Mana: 10,495,200

Maximum Mana: 57,442,580

Mana Per Minute: 6,000,000(100,000 Per Second)

Attributes

Strength: 10,332

Dexterity: 10,430

Constitution: 11,062

Intelligence: 17,492

Wisdom: 100,000

Unspent Points: 44,396

There was much I hadn’t yet considered since gaining so much experience. The feeling of wrongdoing for benefiting from such a tragedy was not something I could shake. Nor did I want to. Despite my feelings, there was a decision I needed to make.

Shamash had been clear that there were two options before me regarding my stats now that I’d reached 100,000 Wisdom. I could put my Unspent Points into Intelligence and aim for getting my second stat to 100,000 as quickly as possible for the bonus, or I could wait. The reason for waiting was an intriguing one. The lich had said this would be one of the most important decisions I’d ever make with my character build. At level 100,000, which I should consider close to the highest level, I could either take every stat to 100,000 or maximize one. If I could ever reach 1,000,000 in a single stat, I would’ve accomplished something that many other peak level existences sought to do. It was theorized that it would grant the entity that did so a level of power that didn’t currently exist.

There were many ways to gain stats outside of leveling like Succubi’s Caress and Vampire’s Might, but it was only legend that some ancient beings had reached such a level. So should I seek what was commonly considered myth, or take conventional wisdom and get my Intelligence and Wisdom to 100,000? I could even do a hybrid of the two and seek 1,000,000 Wisdom after getting my Intelligence to 100,000. That would leave my physical stats at a lower level, but it was likely they would eventually get close to 100,00 through stat stealing magic and I could buff them the rest of the way.

What I needed to calculate was how far I could take Mind Buff, and if it would be worth it. Right now, it was impossible. Even if I used every point of mana I had while at my max I couldn’t push it past a bonus of 12,000 Intelligence. It wasn’t even close to enough. However, that thought pattern gave me an idea.

My base mana was only 5,560,316. I was able to refine five times that with my cores and hold an additional 29,641,000 through draining, leaving me my 57 million maximum. So the question was, how much was each point worth when I put it in Intelligence? Even if I decided to spend my points, it didn’t mean I had to reach 100,000 to actually reach it. Eventually my Mind Buff would be enough to get the bonus. I’d need to have it in the high 80,000s to make it happen. Mind Buff doubled in cost for every addition 600 Intelligence it would give me. By the time I was pushing into the 20x realm, it simply cost more mana than I could muster.

There was another way. Once I reached Grandmaster Light Magic, Mind Buff would go through another transformation, and it would become even more powerful. I could get there with far less stat point expenditure once it did. So I’d wait.

My Light Magic was only the beginning. As a Trueblood in my Vampire Form, I’d gained a new bonus I had yet to really consider.

Dark Magic Proficiency: +50%

Such a proficiency would likely speed my Dark Magic advancement, while increasing my chances of understanding Calamity. I had selected Dark Magic as my first school because I was determined to figure out a way to make use of it. Even if Calamity wasn’t a school of magic itself, then I’d invent my own. I turned my focus to Dark Magic Cores for that reason.

I had to admit that I’d grown comfortable in this Vampire Form. There’d been a time that I would’ve considered biting Aeris’s neck, not because of any innate thirst, but because it would be hilarious and knew she’d get a kick out of it after her initial reaction. Despite what we’d gone through, that hadn’t changed. The temptation was too great, however. Sitting there in the same position all night would’ve once wrecked my body. Now I wasn’t even uncomfortable, but my future wife was right there, and I was trying to be on my best behavior. One more night.

I imagined that somewhere through the earth’s crust and many miles overhead, the sun was peeking over the horizon for the start of a new day. There were no apparent signs in the Underworld, but Aeris awoke as if there were. A warm air fluttered off of her as she stretched.

She lazily smirked as she saw me. “I can’t believe you didn’t bite me in my sleep.”

“I thought about it once or twice,” I admitted.

“Then I guess you’re a keeper.”

“A hungry one.”

Closing her eyes once again, she pursed her lips. “I guess you can bite me then. Would I taste different in your Vampire Form?”

“I don’t know. Shall we test it?”

She snorted out a chuckle then stretched again.

Jasmine shifted in bed, and we both froze.

“Awkward,” I said to Aeris through mind-speak.

Her eyes flickered open and she gave me a pointed look. She replied while also using mind-speak. “You know, most girls don’t appreciate when their guy brings home a dark elf vampire. Even if it’s because you want to help her, it’s totally inappropriate. I’ll forgive you this time, but no more additions to your harem without speaking to me first.”

I gave her a look of horror.

She let out an airy giggle before her expression turned sober. “Any male or female that stays at our palace in the succubi city will either be considered our slave or part of our harem. If we are given two separate palaces and I stay in yours, it would be considered an act of submission on my part. The opposite is also true.

“There’s a very specific protocol for guests and allies. And marriage? It’s a political thing that few races would even consider with the succubi because of their nature. Most of the Ladies and Mistresses won’t really grasp what a monogamous relationship is.”

“Then I’ll just join your harem,” I teased.

She smiled but it quickly slipped from her face. “That might not be wise. Succubi won’t sleep under the roof of anyone of equal or lesser rank even if they visit each other often. Status is almost as important to them as is combat strength.”

“So we can’t sleep in the same bed? Even the same building?”

She shook her head. “It’s just something we need to consider. With enough status comes favor. With favor comes powerful friends.”

A small flare of anger rose inside of me. “I told you we’d never be separated again. I meant it Aeris.”

Her eyes darted from side to side as if she wouldn’t dare meet mine. When they finally did, her entire body quivered excitedly. “How’s your stealth?”

I croaked as I held in a laugh.

It was too much, and Jasmine began to stir.

I glared at her as if it were her fault.

She glared back.

“Isn’t the groom not supposed to the see the bride on the wedding day until the ceremony?” I said quickly through mind-speak.

“So you’re going to hide in your room while I have breakfast?” She asked.

“Not a chance. How about one last date? I know this really good restaurant run by an incubus that serves incredible bacon.”

She playfully grimaced. “Oh really? I guess if we’re going to break all the rules, we should go all out.”

“Then it’s a date?”

“Pick me up already. Jasmine is already awake and just laying there quietly waiting for us to leave because she doesn’t want to be rude.”