User blog:Videogamehunter820/Wormhole Ch.6

Enjoy and Comment

—–

"Is this really necessary?" I asked Veina nervously. When you find yourself sitting in a chair while a blank-faced Mantis stands in front of you with blades extended, it kind of makes you question the next sixty seconds of your life. Yes, the same cute Mantis that I rescued from the shitter. She better have taken a bath since that crappy experience.

"No need to fret. You'll always be sexy to me, my love. But I'd like to see you without that facial hair" she said, casually getting a manicure behind me.

"You want to see me as a PEZ dispenser? Accidents will happen"

"You'll be fine. I trust Naidy with my hair"

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that I'd been putting off a trip to the barber since I found out about the Skarliks. Too much on my mind. In that time, I'd gotten to look rather... outback to say the least. So I wasn't against a shave and a haircut for two bits. But having an emotionless "assassin of the forest" chisel my face like a sculptress does a block of stone is not what I had in mind.

"Let's just get this over with" I groaned with a hard gulp. I may have been a shithead, but I hoped that she treated me with more care and attention than she did that outhouse.

Naidy spun my chair around and began trimming the back of my head. I had no idea just how the hell she was actually cutting my hair, nor did I wish to; I would probably panic, then the obscenities would fly, then the flailing around, then the chasing, and when the smoke clears, everyone's asking 'Whose head just flew across the room?' Just keep it together. She hadn't drawn any blood... yet.

The fact that she was quite gentle had helped to calm me down. Not yanking my hair out with pieces of my skull or gripping my head so hard that I'd get an aneurysm, like those stupid-ass automated barber shops back on Earth. Though she was just as unresponsive as those. At least with her, I could actually relax.

That is until she spun my chair around again and proceeded to mount my lap. She pressed her petite yet attractive body up against mine as she continued her work. But of course. A complimentary lap-dance with your shave, sir? Who wouldn't see this coming? Speaking of coming, a blush had formed on her face and her breathing became more of a light panting. My ability to remain calm was rapidly fading. She thankfully had slowed down her snipping and also put a towel over my lap. That way she didn't stain my pants. Good customer service.

"Just hurry up okay? I'm not paying for that kind of service" I said, trying to avoid her cold gaze. Also, I was trying to ignore how lovely she smelled. Kind of a rose-like smell. Sweet.

No reaction from Naidy, just more snipping... and loving it... I think.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she finished trimming my hair, but didn't dismount. She instead reached over to grab a bottle. Opening it, a striking odor overtook my nose. My eyes drowned with water. Dipping her hands into the foul cream, she began rubbing it over her blades which seamlessly absorbed it. Before I could ask what that was, she tilted my head back as her unnecessarily large razor blades began to shave me. Alright, I guess they lather the tool, not the face, but get the same effect. They got all kinds of methods to make things go stiff around here, don't they?

I anxiously sank into the seat like a little kid with her patiently following me wherever I squirmed. It wasn't reasonable to expect it from Naidy, but a little warning would have been welcomed before I stared down her massive cleavers. Even though she delicately and harmlessly ran the blades along my face, it did anything but get me to relax. I kept imagining my face being sliced up like a bulgogi entrée.

I heard Veina laugh mockingly across the room. But who could blame her? With Naidy latching herself on top of me while I fidgeted around, it probably looked like she had put a quarter in a coin-operated machine and then got to ride it, or me in this case.

Before long, she finished with my face and slowly removed herself from my lap. Once my pent-up anxiety launched me to my feet, I glared at Naidy in retaliation. Her blush only reddened even more.

"Stay right there. The condition you left my face in is the same condition I'm going to leave your ass in, Bug Eyes" I scolded her before making my way to a nearby mirror.

What a relief. I didn't look like a double-sided Two Face. In fact I looked pretty damn good. I mean, as good as someone with my looks could be, but Sharpy here actually did a great job. I was clean and smooth as can be. My ears and nose were still attached to my face so no complaints.

"Well... thanks, Klementieff. Here, buy yourself a big grasshopper for lunch" I ribbed as I tipped her one silver coin extra than what I actually owed her.

"Mmmmm. Just as I thought, your raw masculinity has no bounds" admired Veina, slinking up behind me and eyeing my reflection. "And I'm not the only one who thinks so..."

I looked over to Naidy and her beet-red head. She was quivering uncontrollably and panting even more heavily than before. Even without changing her expression, it didn't take much to figure out what was up. Maybe I ought to take back that extra coin. She already got her tip.

"All she needs now is a mate to begin devouring. Well now that she's... finished, let's get out of here" I sneered as I rolled my eyes and made my way out the door.

"I told you" Veina gloated, following as close as possible.

If groans could kill...

—–

We rode along in my cart toward Gamberton. I drove, Veina rode in the back. My back. Her erotic sighs flooded my ears as her claws roamed around my backside. All designed to deprave me of my better judgement. It's super effective.

"Would you knock it off already?" I said as I finally ducked away from Veina's foreplay.

"Oh, don't you enjoy it?" she mewed in a playfully sultry voice. "Then how does this feel?" Suddenly, a warm, soft cushion molded against the back of my freshly trimmed head. It was pretty obvious that it wasn't an electric heating pillow. No, it felt too comfy and too dirty to be that kind of a pillow. "Better?"

"No comment"

"You've been driving for nearly two hours, my love. I just want to make this journey more comfortable for you. And this is certainly more comfortable for me. Do you want to feel more? Because I can give you as much as you want" she chuckled. Forget the playfulness; her voice was now swimming with pent up lust.

"Do you ever stop trying to seduce someone? Oh, right. That's your fucking job, isn't it? Emphasis on the 'fucking'" I said, trying to block out how amazing her sweltering bust felt on my head.

"I could ask you the same thing, my love. You're as good at seduction as any Succubus" she cooed.

Man, I hate playing this game. It was like the game Risk, only... well, you get what I mean.

"Just... shut up and amuse yourself. Whatever it is, do it quietly"

"I already have amused myself alone on this trip. Multiple times. I'm longing for the real thing"

Oh man. She's been doing that in my cart? Fucking hell, I better win a sponge at this carnival or whatever.

"That does it. Sit your ass up here. You're not turning my cart into a Ho train"

She gleefully climbed up front and pushed her plush butt onto my lap. "Not there! Right here!" I patted the open spot next to me, digging deep to stomp out the image of her ass, ripe for exploration, in my short term memory. Toying with me had pleased Veina to no end but she obliged anyway. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her still staring at me once she settled.

As long as I could keep her head from going toward my crotch, I may survive this.

"What do you want from me now, my love?"

"Since silence isn't in the cards, let's give casual chatting a try. You start"

"Very well. Hmmm" Her smile twisted with mischief as she pondered for a second. "What's your favorite position?"

Great plan, Jason.

"Really?"

"Just making pleasant conversation" said the cheeky little devil.

"Nevermind. Guess I'll have to ask the questions!" I groaned. "So, besides planning your next sexual encounter, what other shenanigans do you do with your day?"

I was hoping I could get her mind off those raunchy topics.

"Well, mostly things that are far less pleasing. Maintaining control over towns, countering the Order should they attack, reporting to the Maou. Just boring work. But the most enjoyable part of my job is to spread the Demon Lord's influence as far as possible. But I'm sure that comes as no surprise to you. Indeed it is the ultimate thrill. To create a Demon Realm where both mamono's and human's lust can surge. Then, when their desire for one another is at its greatest, they will join together; forever in eternal ecstasy" she said, voice trailing off. The passion in her voice was growing heavier the more she spoke.

Somebody show this dame the internet. She'll probably find what she's looking for.

"Hmmph. Sounds exhausting. When I wasn't working, I usually bar-hopped with some friends or just stayed home with movies and video games" I scoffed dryly, playing the straight man to Veina's 'lewdicrousness'

Veina slowly turned back toward me and cocked her head curiously. "Surely, Jason, you've thought about all of the wondrous pleasures of the flesh?" Her wing brushed along the back of my shoulders like an arm. Tantalizing, but not as tantalizing as her tail tickling its pointed tip up my waist. My body tensed up from the teasing sensations but I stifled a prudish yelp and staved off her playfulness.

"There's more trails in life than the trails from one bed to another, Morrigan. And frankly, you should probably lay off that kind of stuff. You'll go blind"

"And I suppose a life without eternal bliss is better? What a ridiculous idea. I'm sure life on your Earth must be rather boring, if you don't mind me saying"

Only calling my Earth "boring" was being way too kind.

"Reality sucks, simple as that. But a little bullshit in someone's life can do them good. It'll teach them to not give a rat's ass about trivial matters"

"I assure you, our passions are no trivial matter to us"

"Yeah, well neither is our freedom. And I'd say that you and your crusading, clits-for-brains hippies are primed to stomp that into the mud"

"Are you suggesting that we forcefully enslave men to our will?"

"If the BDSM boot fits. I suppose those charms spells of yours are just to get discounts at JC Penny's, huh? I'm not blind enough to connect the dots. And while we're on the subject of enslaving, how many girls can I expect to see dragging their 'husbands' around by the literal chains of matrimony in the form of a spiked collar? Are they looking to enter their bitches into a dog show or a fuck-buddy exchange? How much were you going to sell me for? A dollar-forty?"

Chipper as always. Why did I agree to go to this festival, again?

"There won't be anything of the kind, my love. There will be throngs of festivities, offering many ways for us to enjoy ourselves. None of this miserable slavery that you strangely worry about. What could go wrong?"

Oh that's right. "Fun" was what I was hoping to get out of this whole thing. And what could be more fun than the Community Orgy Day at the fairgrounds? You know, family fun!

"Did you really just ask that question? That's an instant fucking jinx"

"I know you'll enjoy yourself. Though I should warn you, some mamono and their husbands are into those kinds of wild games you suggested. Perhaps you'll find it fun if you try some bondage" Veina said anxiously rubbing her palms together.

"Let me tell you something, Miss Modesty. I've been wrangled up by mamono militia before. I'm no Dick Tracy but I know they weren't charity workers for the fucking Salvation Army. And if any of your radicals try to re-wrangle my ass today, then I'm going to let loose the fireworks I've brought with me right here, get it?" I threatened as I nudged my firearms; the only two friends that I still trusted. Plus, it never hurt to bold up my front.

I was anxious to hear her try to justify my little kerfuffle with this dimension's welcoming party.

"Look Jason, I promised your safety as my lover and I will never break that promise. You are my chosen mate, so every inch of you is mine and only mine. Especially the most potent part...". She was eyeing my balls.

"You ain't got exclusivity rights over anything South of my Equator. Not yet"

"It works both ways, you know? You're the sole ruler of my heart and my body"

In that case, she's got just the place to store my "royal scepter" come nightfall.

"So the only thing you give two fucks about is how much sex you can get out of me. Do you charge interest?"

"That's not all I'm talking about. It's the duty of a Demon to see all of our husband's needs fulfilled. This of course means that your happiness is my concern. And we agreed that you could use some fun, right? That said, must we argue right now? Today is about mamono and humans celebrating... together. So let's do the same. Just trust me, let me do my part, and enjoy the festivities. Please?" she said as she hugged my arm lovingly and laid her head against my shoulder.

How about that? She's dodging the issue.

I could have pressed the debate harder and actually had many reasons to do so. But for whatever reason, I didn't. In the end, I did hope for a chance to let loose and get a few laughs. I could use it. Veina even insisted on paying all of my expenses. Hey, who am I to turn down a paid vacation? So what the hell, I'll cut her a break... for now. We'll continue this little song and dance later.

"Fair enough. You want me to have fun? Well consider me a regular Ronald McDonald, minus the obnoxious voice" I chuckled through a half smile. "But you'd better be ready to tangle with me later"

"Later? Why wait? I've yearned to tangle with you for far too long already" she slyly grinned, now resting her chin on my shoulder with her sights trained on me. My bicep instantly heated up as it found itself inside the molten valley of her cleavage. I could practically smell the lust radiating off of her.

"Son of a bitch. Enough with the sex innuendos. Just ask me a normal question, for once"

Veina quietly snickered. "Very well, my love. So have you been to any kind of festival before?"

Well what do you know? She actually can stop thinking about whose meat Popsicle she'll suck on next. Good, there was still hope for normal conversations. With all the temptations I'd been getting regular, I was starting to miss listening to the ramblings of Veina's coo-coo alter ego.

"Sure. Plenty of times. Went to a Disney laser dodgeball tournament once. When no one was looking, I helped a friend of mine sneak into a maintenance shaft in the VR control room. He made the voice system of the Mickey Mouse robot start cursing up a shitstorm in front of a live audience. It was fucking hilarious. Especially when all the parents frantically tried covering their kids' ears. But when I wasn't getting my ass into trouble like that, I usually spent my time with the midway games, the arcade, and rides. Old fashion, sure, but still amusing. Providing that my friends didn't find other stupid shit to do which would get our asses ejected from the park with a Disney-trademarked boot print". I found myself laughing as I reminisced about my younger days as a trouble-maker. I checked a lot of things off my bucket list back in those days. If Veina followed anything I said, she's smarter than I thought. "How about you?"

Veina remained silent as her dark eyes drank in every bit of me.

"You're so very lucky that I'm not a rapist" she murmured softly. That depraved smile on her perfect face was depraved of any decency.

And we're right back to the center of the damn shrubbery maze. Maybe I should cut down on my other-worldliness. If I keep seducing her, I'll earn a reputation as a slut.

—–

We arrived at Gamberton later that day. It felt bigger and classier than Vallick. For one thing, there were stone buildings as opposed to the wooden, almost Wild Western-like buildings that made up most of Vallick. Several fortress towers reached high above the rest of the city like industrial smoke stacks. The biggest being in the center sprouting from a full castle. Approaching it, I felt like a cowboy who got sent back into the medieval times through the Twilight Zone. Who am I kidding? I was already in the Twilight Zone.

Instead of the main entrance, which coincidentally was lined with visitors, Veina led me toward a small gateway off to the side. Worrying to say the least, but I still had my guns on me in case I needed an adult.

After parking, we approached. "It's me" said Veina to a small peep hole opening after she knocked. Not feeling the need to introduce herself to whoever happened to be peeping through. Pretty cocky, ain't she? Well with how she looks...

The gate opened and she beckoned me to follow her with a smug head gesture. Inside, stood two large, muscular women. Beautiful and stunning, as always. Orange and black striped fur covered their arms and legs which all ended with menacing feline claws equipped on their hands and feet. Clearly they didn't need traditional weapons with those kind of hang-nails. Not so menacing was their adorable little cat ears or their tails calmly twitching behind their backs. That is until they spotted me in which their tails tensed up. The tuft of white fur covering their necks was bursting with fluff. They only wore decorative tribal armor on their shoulders along with similarly designed armored bikini bottom and top, showing off their finely sculpted muscles. Although, I almost burst out laughing at how little sense an armored bikini was. Looked more like a combat chastity belt.

And buxom. Of course they were buxom. It seems par for the course everywhere I go. Boy, their breasts were pretty squished inside that armored bra. Don't want them flopping about during a fight, I suppose.

I'd heard of these kind of babes before. They were called Jinkos. Think of a Catian with a fetish for bodybuilding, MMA, and scratching posts. They looked alert as their stern intensity leered at me. However, I expected that from them. You wouldn't get many emotions from these tempered bombshells. At least not this time of year.

In the words of Tom Jones, 'What's new pussycat? Whoa oh'.

Veina conjured up a few coins and handed them over to each of the ally-cats before turning around to face me.

"Time for your payment, Jason" she said with that gleam in her eyes.

"You're expecting me to scoop these dirty kitties' litter boxes?" I sneered.

"How do you treat a cat?"

"Have them spayed?" With these two, it probably wasn't a bad idea.

"Stroke them, Jason. Stroke them ten times from their head, down to the end of their tail. Cats quite enjoy that, as will these exquisite ladies. If you don't wish to, then we could just wait in the line at the main entrance. But that will, however, give us less time for fun" Veina said as she leaned against the wall behind Clawdia #1 and Clawdia #2. She must have sensed my decision before I spoke. "I'll wait till your done. Oh and take off those gloves, first"

"I'll get you for this" I pouted. Of course Veina would do this to me. But I saw no point in protesting and besides, people kill to get their hands on an easy-access pass for an amusement park back on Earth. And it wasn't all that bad, considering all I'd have to do was feel up the park security to slide by. So I impertinently agreed to indulge them.

But where's my whip and chair to handle these tigers?

"Down kitties" I commanded to both girls who promptly dropped down onto all fours, arching their sleek backs. Two globes of soft, beige flesh over solid muscle that they called asses were on full display before me. And yes, several pussy jokes ran through my head but I had the decency to hold my tongue.

I placed my hand on their heads. Apparently combat wasn't enough to ruffle their hair. It was like a smooth, satin fabric. They both eagerly pressed their heads into my touch. As I moved down their defined backs, I found that their skin quite tactile to say the least. Personally, I never gave much thought to muscles on girls, but now I can say that there was definitely a hell of a charm to it. Yeah, I could get into this easily. I finished it off by lightly gripping their tails and sliding my hand down to the end. The fur I found there was equally as pleasant as their heads. Thankfully, I reached their tail before I got to their ass. That was one door, I didn't want to open. Oh boy.

"Aren't you glad you took off your gloves, Jason?" Veina chimed over my shoulder.

"I don't need your commentary to tell me that" I returned.

After repeating this nine more times, fucking-A, I stood up.

"There. A little nip for the cats. Now put your puss- eh butts down" I stuttered, almost losing my class.

Both Jinkos stood up and silently stared me down. No change in emotion on there faces except a slow blink in their caramel eyes, plus a delighted purring resonating from them like an engine. Guess I did a good job revving them up. They then returned to their post by the gate.

"Why the hell would yo-" I began as I turned to Veina.

"It was part of the agreement I made to get us into the festival quicker. I paid them in money, you paid them in a simple act of kindness. It wasn't hard, was it?" she questioned suggestively. Yeah, something may have gotten hard all right.

"Some connections you got"

"Well, I could have gotten both of us in without any form of payment, but I'm nothing if not generous". Her lips curled into that bold smile of hers.

"You're a regular Mother Teresa. Can we go enjoy ourselves now?" I mumbled.

"Anything to satisfy you, my love. Whenever you need to straighten yourself out, just come to me. I'll be happy to lend a hand. Or perhaps even more" said Veina like a walking sex hotline.

Damn Demon humor. Good thing I don't make dumbass jokes like that.

Do I?

—–

Veina said it was a festival; more like a full blown amusement park. Even before I parked my cart, I could see quite a lot of monster chicks roaming about. I guessed that they must have been from the surrounding lands that I hadn't visited yet. Now's a good time to scope out some of these girls. If a portal opens up in one of their lands, it'd be best to know what's waiting for me.

I spotted Succubi, Lamias, Raiju's, Dark Elves, Centaurs, Arachnes, and lots of others. There were no Wonderland residents; no surprise on my end. That asylum-turned-circus of a "kingdom" was nothing but one big, neverending party so there was no real reason for them to come here and get their jollies.

Whatever guys were scattered about had their mamono "wives" clinging to their sides. They looked like mothers with their kids; holding on to them to make sure that they don't wander off and start fooling around. Yeah, in more ways then one.

Speaking of kids, there were lots of mini-monsters running amuck. Screaming, crying, laughing, complaining, puking, and all the other cute little things kids do. If this were Earth, all these kids would be on their cellphone headsets, yelling immaturely in their virtual reality chat rooms. At least here, when these kids went outside, they actually went outside.

It was pretty tough to tell how old they younger mamono were. Call me a pedophile but these little girls were already starting to develop into smaller versions of their mommies. Of course all little Earth girls start to develop in their teen years, which the boys definitely notice those developments around the same time. But in this world, a nine year old mamono can look like a sixteen year old human girl. When these mampno actually do turn sixteen, I can only imagine what kind of circus will be going on in the teenage boys' pants. It's actually a pretty brilliant tactic on the Demon Lord's part.

But what about the festivities? Well I'll say this: Even without electricity or the industrial wet dreams of corporate Earth, these young monsters had all kinds of ways to have fun while and get hurt at the same time. Ah, childhood. One of the first things I noticed was an ice rink. Yeah an ice rink, filled with plenty of monsters sliding around and butt planting just as much. How they got a stone cold, home-body like an Ice Queen to do business for them, I don't know. I'm guessing blackmail.

The Hellhounds, Ignis, and any other fire-spitting girl had to be monitored when near the ice. Couldn't have them melting the attraction, could we?

But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Shit joke, I know. I spotted what was either a Ryu water slide, or a wet shirt competition. If the latter, I'm betting on the Holstaur. Other kids nearby were bouncing on a large, blue jello thing-a-ma-jig. I could go for some jello. After all, there's always room for jello. That is until I realized that the blue thing was actually about twenty Slimes all bound together. Thanks but no thanks. I don't need any of them doing the jiggly giggity inside me.

These mamono definitely had variety in their entertainment, that's for damn sure. A Wurm was effortlessly rotating a big wooden wheel with kids sitting in it. Neat. Now all they had to do was pay some Centaurs, Unicorns, and Bicorns to stand on it and you'd have this world's first merry-go-round. Nearby, there were some Griffons giving air rides to the kiddies who weren't fortunate enough to be born with wings. Brought to you by 'Seatbelts For Less'; don't believe the lawsuits. They had to settle for Griffons, huh? Well, I guess it was easier than asking a Dragon to pluck the stick out of her stuck-up ass and taxi some screaming kids around for a day.

But what blew my mind most was how some Dark Mages were working their magic. They were telekinetically spinning and swinging a series of stringed seats with kids sitting in them. It was reminiscent of those old swing rides I rode as a kid. Shit, I hadn't seen one of those back on Earth since the roller coaster takeover that purged all the American amusement parks. That whole bullshit about the "future", which was just a boiler-plate excuse for corporate fuck-wits to kill off all of their "old fashion" rides and make more room for those fucking super coaster adventure rides that cost an arm and both legs to ride. Waste of money. I missed the old school stuff. Hell I may just take a ride myself. That is if I can still fit my dead-weight, anvil ass in the seats.

"So where shall we begin, my love? What attraction has caught your interest" asked Veina slyly.

There she goes again.

Damned if I knew where to begin. My paranoia as an adult was in constant red flag mode. I couldn't get a grip on this place, nor did I want it to get a grip on me, if you know what I mean. This mumbo jumbo was a whole new experience for me. There was no electricity, motors, or any other industrial forms of entertainment, but with this crazy magic shit, they had even more chances for lawsuits. It all looked enjoyable, in a daredevil kind of way.

Oh well. A shot in the dark, thrown in the deep end, crash course, and all those other analogies for 'fuck it'

"Let's check this out" I said as I pointed toward a nearby game stand.

What? I felt like starting off with something small.

In the stand was a Minotaur; tanned skin, ragged hair, and two large cow horns sat on her head. Her body was a beefy muscular one, but in a more brutish way than the Jinkos. Only two strips of belt covered her sizable mounds and her furry legs, which itself barely covered her privates, if at all. Not the traditional hot girl next door, but her large scale assets meant that there was plenty there to taint a guy's thoughts.

Her stand was obviously a test of strength; something about smashing some huge statues with a hammer. For the record, seeing this Minotaur in a clown suit, shooting seltzer down her pants would have been much more entertaining.

She had a Lava Golem and a Yuki-Onna on standby... Okay.

I decided to sit nearby and watch an Ushi-Oni, a Wurm, and a Hellhound compete. The inhuman strength of these girls was always cool to watch. The more rape-crazy the girls were, the stronger they were. And these three gals were heavyweights on the sexual predator scale.

"Unless she plans to melt that statue into clay, that pooch's in trouble" I muttered to Veina.

It was pretty easy to predict the outcome of this match. The Wurm won by easily shattering her statue like a Black Friday Apple computer. Coming in first place, she was awarded with a potion that would keep her husband conscious... no matter how frisky she got. I pity the fool. The Ushi-Oni shattered about three-fourths of her statue, earning her second place; some patches of Raiju fur. I guess to add some spark to her love life. Teehee, whatever. But that poor little Hellhound only managed to bust the head off of her statue, leaving her to walk back toward her husband with her tail between her legs. Hey, at least she still came in third place, right?

"Hey there, Tiny" said the Minotaur looking over to me. "You look young and in prime condition. Care to give it a swing? Don't worry, since you're not an Incubus, you can take a swing at the kid's statue. That seems fair for someone as small and cute as you" she bellowed with a condescending laugh.

Obviously a shot at how puny I was compared to most other dudes here. My mouth has gotten me into lots of trouble in my life, but even a six foot seven, ripped monster broad with a massive, fuck-off ax wasn't enough to get me to hold my acid tongue. I may have risked an ass-kicking, but my machoness was on the line. Hey, besides the banana, I like to think I've got some good grapefruits between my legs.

"Thanks but I'm good. Tell me, does that five o' clock shadow come naturally or do the steroid sundaes alone give you that Jewish Wyatt Earp look?" I said, firing her condescension right back in her face. Smug grin included.

Okay she may not have understood exactly what I said, but I'm still counting that as a ballsy dig on my part.

Her smile turned sour, which hinted that she vaguely understood my insult. Well good for her. She's not a complete muscle-brained hamburger after all.

"We'll pass" interjected Veina into our little scrimmage. The Minotaur scoffed and walked off to prepare for her next customers. And also to have her Lava Golem and Yuki-Onna start prepping three more statues. So that's where the statues came from.

"Bitch" I hissed after she left.

"Now, now Jason. Believe it or not, she liked you. That's how Minotaurs show their affection" said Veina.

"Yeah, reminding me that I don't physically compare to those jacked-up Incubus bastards? Her talk sure is sweet. She practically offered to change my diaper"

"You know, I could fix that for you if you're worried about measuring up to an Incubus..." she said obscenely as her tail curled around my thigh.

Let her fix something for me? I wouldn't trust her with my drawer of underwear.

"I already told you 'no'. I've lost everything else, and I'm not gonna lose my humanity" I asserted as blunt as ever. Looming threats from Skarliks were bad enough, so the last thing I wanted to worry about was growing a bigger penis and horns and red skin and I don't fucking know what else. Depends on what sick designs were swimming around in Veina's lust-flooded mind. She'd turn me into Tim Curry from "Legend"

"Of course. One step at a time" said Veina tracing her claws enthusiastically along my shoulder.

I scowled at her for a moment, complete with pursed lips.

Veina stood up before me and looked over her shoulder at me, making sure I got an eyeful of her lusciously plump ass. "We can talk about that later, my love. For now is the time to enjoy ourselves. However, you seem to be having a little trouble on what to do next. I happen to know where all the most thrilling attractions are. If you would allow me, I'd love to take the lead" she mewed as she held out her hand, stars sparkling in those sexy ruby eyes. That's not the first time she asked to take the lead.

I wouldn't be shocked if she had a nudist-colony-turned-art-gallery to show me. I cringed as I imagined all the debauchery she might have in store for me. But the hell with it. At least I'd get to do some sight-seeing.

"Full steam ahead, Spawn" I said as I gestured her to take point. Her warm, scarlet claws delicately closed around my hand. Upon taking my hand, she smiled beautifully. Even a little bit of my trust meant the world to her.

"Excellent. Let's go. Follow close behind me, Jason. I wouldn't want to lose you and cause a scene looking for you. Though I assure you that our separation would be short-lived. I would be back by your side before anyone could lay a single finger upon you" she said with a sinister laugh.

That was her way of saying that I was her prisoner; her "prisoner of love", that is. This dame was drunk on me, and she hasn't even tasted me yet.

We started off hand in hand. One of us was ecstatic, the other not so much. I'll let you figure out who was what.

Following behind her, my focus got lost in Veina's delicious backside. As she walked, her lovely hips gleefully puppeteered her perfect ass with that infamous strut of hers. Oh, I'm sure the fact that my hand occasionally brushing up against her bubbly butt was just a happy coincidence on her part as she held my hand in hers. Well played, you saucy little devil.

—–

We began our "joy ride" by visiting the game stands. Now I hadn't partaken in these kinds of contests since I entered college. I was more worried about being dumped by a scholarship than winning a plushy the size of a silver-back gorilla. In that time, a guy can build up an awful lot of rust on his precision skills. But to my surprise, I still had a knack for these amusing sports. Either that or Lady Luck gave me a clean streak rather than a black eye, for once.

The games were not too different from Earth's but... had some curveballs thrown in. One stand had us toss lip-shaped rings over dildos, haha. At another stand, we threw darts at some Slime bubbles, yipee. Finally, there was a stand where we squirt water into the mouths of a cut-out Succubus. Back on Earth, we aimed at clown heads in this type of game. Great, now I can never un-see the perversion if I ever play this again on Earth. Even without these phallic-shaped guns.

It turns out that Veina has a bit of a competitive side in her. Whatever the game, she insisted that we compete to see who does better. She was no doubt sizing me up. Seeing how capable and coordinated I was with my hands. Normally, I'd give her the stink eye, but I didn't mind in this case. If we're talking physicality, someone as sinfully arousing as Veina always far outclassed me in more ways than one. Anyone could see how this Demoness had monstrous power over the male condition and her self-awareness of that fact was clear as crystal in her eyes for those daring enough to meet them. Yeah, no surgeon alive could work on her without being Pearl Harbored by adultery lawsuits. So she was rightfully arrogant in her ego. But this was one area that I was going to outperform her in.

"I win again" I boasted as, yet again, my coin had rolled significantly farther than hers in the "coin derby" we were playing. All in the wrist.

"Quite skilled, aren't you?"

"Four out of seven or five out of nine?" I continued goading her.

"No, nevermind" Veina glowered as she found herself unable to mask her frustration. She finally accepted the truth that she was in the presence of a superior gamer.

Hope they had some popcorn here, because she had plenty of salt to go around.

With my skills, I walked away with an armful of victory spoils while she walked away with only one prize. I got a couple of perverted drawings they called "art", three bottles of body oil for those who want to turn their lovers into a slip n' slide, and also a long wooden tool that was either an elaborate war club or a kinky spank paddle; I was afraid to ask. Oh yeah, and a kinky leather necktie that goes all the way down to clamps onto my dick. Aww, I always wanted one. Last but not least, I was now the proud owner of a pillow shaped like a giant penis. Great, now I'll always wake up with morning wood.

Veina beat me in the mamono trivia, but go figure. She got an Arachne scarf and hood out of it. Perfect, now she can to hide her embarrassment at the fact that a mere human had bested her in a physical contest. Was I too much to handle for her? Or was she just jealous that I had two penises and wasn't sharing one with her?

Son of a bitch. I forgot how competitive I could be. I was acting like a dick. But at least now I had another dick to match my cockiness. Haha, somebody stop me.

Being able to tease Veina for a change was more awesome for me than the actual games. I'll try to remember this the next time she decides to play the game of "sexual predator". But maybe I shouldn't rub it in... nah, fuck it. Let's do some heavy massaging.

"You know the best part of winning?" I asked cheekily. Veina smirked with a crooked smile, as if anticipating my next wisecrack. "The loser gets to carry the prizes for the winner"

Veina playfully rolled her eyes at her own expense. I think deep down, she knew I was justified in my vigor.

"No hard feelings, right?" I remarked as I struggled to hold all of my loot. I was completely on Veina's tab, so my goods built up quickly as I had no reservations about spending. I don't know where she kept conjuring so many coins from, but it never seemed to stop. And there was no expense she wouldn't pay on my behalf. My own sexy little ATM.

Since she had "paid for my movie tickets" so to speak, I did feel a little bad for teasing her. A little bit... but mostly it was just plain enjoyable. The giant dick made it hard not to enjoy.

"Not at all, my love. Here, let me get those for you" she said as she grabbed some of my prizes.

With her other hand, Veina had conjured up a glowing purple bag of sorts. One by one, she dropped each of my winnings into it. Strange. Where did that bag come from? Even stranger, the bag was no bigger than a grocery bag but never seemed to fill up; everything just disappeared inside it. Even the giant dildo couldn't fill what became my victory glory hole. She told me it was a spell for storing items. Gives a whole new dimension to the term "cloud storage", doesn't it?

Once everything was packed in, Veina snapped her fingers and the whole bag disappeared in a purple puff.

Man, I was hoping she would have to carry the things herself. Now I wouldn't be able to, non-metaphorically, rub my new dick in her face.

"Alright. What game shall I spank you at- ehh whoop your butt at now?" I corrected my close call before I triggered her masochistic side. But with that club I'd won...

Veina chuckled at my little slip-up. "Well games are lots of fun, but now that you're... warmed up, I think we should move on to the more... extravagant attractions" she pondered, her confidence now fully resurrected and fueling her devious smirk. Man, you can't keep this girl cooled off for long.

"Tired of placing second place against a silly little human? I understand. Who says you need to be an Incubus to be a real man?" I bragged while smugly matching her smile with one of my own. Sure these Incubi were bigger, more muscular, and more handsome ladies' men, but with my gaming skills, I now had the biggest dick in town.

I shouldn't have won that damn pillow. Now it's all I can think about.

Veina wasn't phased by my antics. Instead she playfully climbed her claws across my chest like an impish little spider. "You don't need to prove anything to me, my love. You're all the man I'll ever long for"

"You're plotting something, aren't you?"

"We played your games. Now for something that's more of my taste"

I braced myself for her next move in this little chess game of ours. Wouldn't want to get check-mated, would I?

—–

What followed was what you might call a tourist trap, literally. Veina was the know-it-all tour guide and I was the oblivious, wide-eyed tourist who was stupid enough to get out of bed that morning. She brought me to the more, how do you say, erotic part of the festival. Reminded me of a senior prom, except without the teacher supervision. A lot of the mamono at this festival were single, so there were already tons of rapey eyes watching me closely. But in this area, the amount of gazes that I garnered seemed to increase two-fold. I felt like a topless waitress in a bar full of drunken jack-offs. No fucking way was I going to leave Veina's side. She was my rugged bouncer in case a patron got too touchy-feely with me. But that meant that I was entirely in her hands. And that meant that whatever sick fantasies she cared to partake in, I was chained to her for the duration.

I tried to keep up a 'don't fuck or fuck with me' front and not let my uneasiness make me lose control of my bowels. That wasn't easy considering where we were. Every ride, stand, game, or sideshow were similar to what I had seen before only with the perversion dial cranked up. Back on Earth, any adult section of an amusement park was heavily regulated with a ridiculous amount of privacy and security to keep any young, wandering eyes out. It was faster to just board an airplane with a PG-13 in-flight movie than getting into those sections to see some tits n' ass. Here, it was as simple as going from Adventure World to Fantasy World at Disney Universe. This definitely qualified for a "Fantasy" world. And I saw more than a few kids in here. Well, what the kids see is up to the parents, in the end. You can call Child Protective Services as soon as it gets invented in this world.

Veina paused for a moment, took in a deep breath, and then a sensuously sighed as she took in the X-Rated scene. To me, it smelled sweaty, acidic, moist, and somewhat sour. Can you guess why? I made no attempt to hide my less than enthusiastic reactions to these celebrations of immorality. Sure, like every man, I found it interesting being an onlooker to all the organ grinding going on. However, the extreme stuff looks fun on a porn site, but when you're actually there, you start to notice how STD-ish things feel. I know, this was not the place to exert too much brain matter in. That was my big mistake. Nevertheless, my disapproval actually delighted Veina more than the attractions.

Yeah it still looked fun, but somehow it felt... manipulating.

I hadn't been out in with Veina this big of public before, but now I could see how much other mamono admired her grandeur, as passive as she was about it. Boasting that sublime, natural beauty wherever life took her. However today, she was acting a little more high-spirited as opposed to her usual sly self, though no less sultry. My little windbag Demon was savoring every bit of attention we got while walking at my side. Holding me tighter and tighter at each gasp from the crowd. A trophy wife in full form. But before I let that thought pump up my ego, I started thinking. Which one of us was actually the eye candy? The girls were eyeing me up as much as her, so who was showing off who? Who was at whose side? Veina's pompous expression was definitely at the expense of all the lecherously green eyes surrounding us and... with Veina's arm around my back, gripping my ass now and then, I was presented in the forefront. Oh brother, that definitely made me the trophy wi- uhh, husband in this situation. Veina had the money as well as the power, so that meant all I had to do was stand there, look pretty, and push my breasts out at any passerby. Nevermind emasculating, it was demoralizing. I mean for fuck's sake, I haven't even done her, and already she's hyping me up as a first class lover. I'd rank myself in the ranks of C+ but being ranked as and SSS rank? Do you know what kind of pressure that is? But she didn't care about that. She was having too much of a ball rubbing me in the other girls faces. And I suppose I was too, as demeaning as it may have been.

The first place we stopped at was... well for lack of a better term, the tunnel of love. Oh, shit soup. I guess the local Ryu simply couldn't resist providing the festival with more than just a mere water slide. Sensing my gaze on her, Veina stood directly in front of me and slowly ran her hands down the rollercoaster-like curves that made up her unbelievable figure. The soft moan she let out once she reached her hips was especially enticing for me. Her tail then rose up and mischievously traced its spaded tip from my crouch up to my nose, flicking it as it pulled away. Then she turned to me with a Grinch-like smile spread across her face. She crossed her arms in a way that nonchalantly propped up and flaunted her generous bust. They say an image is worth a thousand words. In Veina's case, an image of her was only worth two words: 'Fuck me'

I think she was dropping me a hint.

"Forget it" I spat, not wanting to even imagine how filthy those boats were. Come to think of it this whole damn city could be filthy as fuck. Yet the fact that I could potentially get an STD just by sitting on a bench didn't worry me much. Now, the fact that there still a lot more for us to visit did have me worried. Tremendously. Veina not being bothered by my rejection did little to reassure me.

"We'll go next year, my love" she moaned again.

Next, we stopped at a game of spin the bottle. Innocent enough, until I realized that this spin the bottle didn't stop with just a little kiss and snickers from the crowd. Fuck no. This game was only a few steps away from a sex competition. You think I'm joking? Bullshit. A few steps away from the spin the bottle game was an actual sex competition with judges and everything. Hell of a job when you rate the technique, sound effects, amount of jizz, and whatever other lewd details go into sex. What the, literal, fuck? You'd have to be some kind of a freak to show off your true colors, if you get my drift. But you have to ask yourself, is there really a loser in a contest like that?

Moving along, we took a seat near a stage. I had managed to convince Veina to pass on the "Sandy the Scylla and her See-Men" show. Don't ask. At our show, some guys came trotting out onto the stage, one by one, dressed in speedos somehow even smaller than a WWE wrestler. But these arrogant bastards weren't Incubi. Back on Earth, only degenerates would have confidence so misplaced to do something like that. However, alcohol and drug abuse could get the same Reefer Madness result. Whatever the case, these guys were putting on quite an enthusiastic performance. The girls were vigorously cheering on each guy as they danced around like jackasses. They also pulled off some dance moves that no child-bearing male should ever do. The fancier the moves, the higher the numbers that got called from the mamono crowd. Oh of course, it was a bachelor auction. Who would've guessed? They obviously wouldn't be bachelors for long.

After the bachelorette party, Veina brought me to a mini stadium. Long story short, it was time for some sports action. 'What kind of ball games were they gonna play here', I wondered. Rhetorical question, folks. The arena was packed with an assortment of obstacles and other structures making up the terrain. Team one: the Cupids; team two: the Manticores. The targets: the sorry sons a bitches sitting in the starting gates like racehorses before the flag is raised. The goal: score more points than the other team. How do you score points... you naive sheep? By shooting those sorry motherfuckers with an arrow or spine, wait for them to turn into the contestant's brand new boner-ready jackhammer of a husband, and then go to town. I'd love to see this world's version of John Madden.

I glared at Veina over this sick Mario Party minigame. She must have anticipated my incoming rant and cut me off. She explained how the guys were not entered against their will, but were willing participants. Further supporting her case was the fact that there were more humans visibly warming up outside the stadium walls like a baseball team. There was certainly no security keeping them in place so... yeah I guess. They must have been the next contestants. Or the next lambs to the slaughter; take your pick.

I thought back to everything I'd seen that day. Any guy that I had seen here today was with his wife, girlfriend, squeeze, or something of a similar nature; that was clear. If they were brainwashed zombies, I figured every couple would look like a "Walking Dead" porno come to life. I mean, if mamono were going to make them into their sex slaves, it would make sense to turn them into a zombie and strip them of their free will, then of course their clothes. Yet bafflingly, the atmosphere really wasn't too different from an amusement park back on Earth, except that this place was somehow even less sanitary. I'd heard men and their mamono lovers chatting, laughing, screaming at their kids, you know, the usual stuff couples do. They seemed happy enough. No chains or leashes to show who's the beauty and who's the bitch. Just two people perfectly content with each other...

But, then again, what guy wouldn't be content if a voluptuous woman with the deadliest combination of boobs, ass, lips, and legs, well sometimes legs, was looking for some hay to roll in? Sure my zombie theory may have been a bit extreme. Too much late night sci fi, but my reservations about mamono's intentions wasn't broken just yet. So far as I was concerned, Veina's assurance that there wouldn't be any sex traffickers was holding up. That's all. But it didn't mean that there were no sex offenders around here.

After the Manticores defeated the Cupids, I convinced Veina to leave. One game was enough for me and I didn't need to see the winners collect their "prizes". Upon exiting the stadium, I noticed a big ass line of mamono. The head of this line lead to a table with a shirtless Incubus stud sitting at it. I hadn't seen a line that long since Star Wars Episode 30: Revenge of the Jedi Clone Menace.

"Hey. What's with Tatum Von Pimp over there?" I asked Veina. From the looks of it, each girl got to kiss the big lug and leave with a small bottle of something.

"Him? That 's one of the Demon Lord's top negotiators. I'd heard he was going to make an appearance here today"

"What's his name? Woody Womb Pecker?"

"His name is Brailo. He's got a bit of a reputation, as you can see. Single mamono eagerly anticipate getting the chance to touch him and receive his sample in a bottle" Veina gushed.

Sample in a bottle? Uhhh, I'll think it was better left unknown as to what kind of "sample" he was giving out. Fucking gross.

"Negotiator, huh?" I muttered contemptuously. I remembered back to my first day in this world when I almost made the tryouts for that role. Even after seeing this meat-head in person and seeing all the girls at his feet, I don't regret turning it down. I'd seen his kind before. Back on Earth, they originated from that magical little land where the dishonest and selfish tap-dance all over the corpses of the weak. It was called Hollywood. And this guy sure fit the bill; good-looking, Schwarzenegger-like body, money, treated like royalty wherever he went, and fucked so many chicks regularly that his bedroom probably had a queue path. An, aptly named, cocky son of a bitch with a really punchable face.

So just another average celebrity.

"You know of the Demon Lord's negotiators?" said Veina as she probably noticed the silent disgust fuming in my slitted eyes.

"Never heard of them!" I snapped back. White lies, white lies.

"Jealous?" prodded Veina, probably not buying my fibbing.

"Hardly" I sneered as I turned away from the bastard.

"I'm surprised, and not just by your disinterest in such an esteemed role. Since you've 'never heard of them', I guess no one has offered to bring you before the Demon Lord herself for consideration. Shocking" Veina joked as she slid her face in front of mine. I think I could see the literal light bulb above her horns. I've got to work on my poker face. "I could arrange to have-"

"No fucking way am I going up to that selfish, shit spackled, boot licking prick and ask for an application as a Demon Lord's Human Resource worker" I blurted out before she could finish, abandoning my feigned ignorance. Though to be fair, Veina would probably be a credible reference for my resume that I didn't have. "Besides, the line is too long"

—–

Next, I found myself following Veina into some kind of stone cathedral next to the city's center fortress. Large and imposing, like a prison but much more fashionably decorated on the inside than any castle I'd been in. Granted, I've only been in one castle in my time, but so what? The point stands.

Inside we reached a hallway lined with five doors on each side. Each door was guarded by a Lich, silently reading her spell book. They paid no attention to us as we passed them. Veina gestured me to enter the last door.

"After you, my love" she said with a spry charm.

With the benefit of hindsight, I suppose I had gotten too damn complacent with Veina's devilish mannerisms that my guard had slipped. Once I had foolishly entered the small room, she followed behind me only for the door to close with a loud slam. By the time I turned around, the shut door had begun radiating with a pulsating yellow haze.

Oh fuck, was this it? Veina's gambit? Was this relationship going to come down to me and Veina brawling over who ends up on 'top'?

"Don't tell me your 'no rape' clause just expired" I questioned Veina, moving my hand to my gun. Always good to be prepared for whatever her next move was gong to be.

"Nothing of the kind, Jason" she assured, her tone charming as ever.

"Then what am I serving time for?" I said, cocking my eyebrow.

Without a care in the world, she walked past me with a complementary chuff. Her wings folded elegantly before she sat herself on the sofa, so not to crumple them. She sensually crossed her legs and presented herself with an empowered demeanor.

I gave a good look at her... Nope, I still don't trust her.

"Well?"

"Remember what I told you about your mana?"

I affirmed with a simple nod. Masking my eagerness.

"Good. Well, some of my friends have been looking forward to taking in some of that erotic aura you so proudly flaunt"

If she volunteered me for a sex-ed class, I'm charging right through that door. And I'm sure as hell not the one flaunting anything around here.

"I told you what would happen if you got your cronies to jump me"

"No one is allowed to jump you but me, Jason. Hehe. These ladies are not here to make love to you. They help find and organize the entertainment"

The entertainment committee?

"So... you're making me into a side show attraction?"

"Mmmhhh, in a way" she hummed, calmly tapping her claws on her knee. "As official judges, they will sample you and determine how... effective your mana is. And if your mana is especially pleasing, then you'll be rewarded"

My Sherlock Holmes skills started to kick in.

"Long story short: you entered me into a 'sexiness' contest, didn't you?"

She answered silently with a devilish grin along while haughtily looking over her claws.

"Forget it! I'm not doing this! Hey bookworm! Rip your nose out of those damn pages and open up! Now!" I hollered, trying my damnest to keep relatively calm. I guess you could say it was an overreaction, but I decided the best place to be was anywhere else.

"There really is no need to panic, Jason. They'll simply-" Veina began. Her voice hardly lost any of it's cheerfulness and hardly quenched my anxiety.

Now in a fever pitch, I childishly plugged my ears and rambled on. "Sorry! Can't hear you over all the cabin fever I'm going through, princess!"

With no response from the Lich on the other side, I began ramming the door like a deranged zoo animal. I stopped when something broke. Yeah I felt something break alright; I think it was my shoulder. So much for plan A.

I drew my gun and began firing onto the lock. My shots simply disappeared into the yellow haze causing a small ripple effect. The high pitched echo the magically sealed door made as it absorbed my shots sounded like it was mocking me. Even though I'm immune, I'm starting to hate magic.

"A concealment spell can't be broken so easily. So what will your next move be, Jason?" I heard Veina slyly ponder behind me.

"Find a weak spot in a wall and put my head through it" I frustratedly replied at her continual teasing.

Exerting so much energy in such a dumbass frenzy helped calm me down at that point. Also the bump to the head when I rammed the door proved effective.

A wild laugh escaped Veina's lips. I couldn't tell if it was out of giddiness or just to mock me.

"What's so fucking funny, huh?"

"(giggles) Oh, I apologize. It's just that you never cease to enthrall me"

"I'm not some goddamn clown here to amuse you, Bayonetta"

"See? With that fiery spirit of yours, this will be a no contest"

"'No contest' is right. Because I ain't going to be there. Nobody's going to shove my boys into some Chippendale loincloth"

"Oooh, I'd love to see you in a loincloth"

"Of course you would. You probably got a little bit of Dark Elf in you. Why would you do something so sadistic like this, you sick freak?" I asked, voice searing with contempt.

"We have to lock the doors. Can't allow anyone to get a sneak peek at the contestants before curtain time, can we? But back to your question. You are quite extraordinary, Jason. With every passing moment, my love for you grows deeper. Now, I wish to stake my claim on the man who I have chosen to share the rest of my life with"

"What in the blue hell do you mean by that?"

"Of course, let me explain. You see, this contest is held every year. Grouping all of the sexiest men into one place, naturally, makes this one of the most popular attractions. And I just so happen to have found the sexiest man that I have ever seen. You'll easily win it"

A little toast with all that buttering up, Veina?

"Yeah, what's the point of having the best boy-toy if you can't make everyone jealous of you?" I said sarcastically.

"Indeed" she affirmed.

"You're kidding!" I exclaimed, shooting her an exasperated glare.

"Oh come now. You know what I mean. It's like if you acquire a special toy penis charged with the energy of a Raiju to the utmost strength. That's not a treat that comes along every day. Wouldn't you wish to show it off to people?"

Of course. Who hasn't wanted to parade around a sex toy from their night stand? Complete with fresh, new batteries. Goddammit, she might be more competitive than me.

"You really should get into something more constructive. Or just spend a couple years in college and grow up"

"The pride and joy of every Demon is our one true lover. Nothing brings us more pleasure than having the most desirable soulmate possible" she said as she answered my glare with a lascivious grin.

"News flash, I'm not a rubber penis to bring in for show and tell" I sneered.

"Certainly not. You are far more valuable than that. My devotion to you is priceless. That is precisely why I wish to claim you in front of my kin tonight"

"And bringing in some other girls for a private fondling show is staking your claim how?"

"It's all part of the game, my love. And it's not just about me tonight. I know a thing or or two about males. Like how much they value their own masculinity. Think of it as showing how appealing of a man you are."

"I don't need to hear what the critics say when I look at myself in the mirror. However big my testicles are is my own goddamn business"

This is why I never got an IQ test. Better to know nothing than to know the truth.

"Don't worry. The judges are doing the same thing with each of the other contestants. They will only examine you and your mana, not violate you. And I've made myself very clear to them what would happen if they did more than is necessary. If they tried to take you from me...". Her wings instinctively sprung to life and arched in agitation.

There goes that spark of insanity in her eyes again.

Before I could throw any more slander around, her leathery tail snaked around my waist and guided me closer to her. She took my hand into her smooth, gloved hand and lovingly rubbed my cheek. Hitting me with some hardcore tenderness. Just like that, the insanity disappeared. Her eyes now framed with a doting smile as warm as her hand.

"I said you were under my protection, my love, and I meant it. No one is going to harm you or rape you without answering to me. I can never let anything happen to you. Every second that I've been by your side has elevated me to new levels passion, and that is no easy feat, I assure you. I can't express to you how fortunate I feel to have found you. My heart is simply overtaken with joy to think about our future plans together and, well, I'm just finding difficult to contain my... impulses. But is it so wrong to proclaim our love to my kin? It's quite amusing to make the other girls stew in jealousy. That said, it would truly delight me to have you participate in this contest. Tonight, every Demon will know that you are off limits. That you are all mine"

"You're gloating, you know that right?"

"Indeed I am. Lavishness is seen as a bit of a status symbol for us Demons. We love to compete with each other. You'll be my ace in my hole... hahaha. However, if you really don't wish to, then we may leave right away. No questions asked. You mean too much to me to force you into this. If you agree, then you'll be in for a treat that is sure to take your mind off of your troubles. But that is going to be your choice. So what do you say, my love?" There was no trace of mischief in her voice now. Well, less mischief than before, anyway.

Really? She's leaving the answer up to me? I could just say 'no' to this overblown talent show?

And so begins the reoccurring tug o' war in my brain.

Damn her again. She really was just as devious and cryptic as she was stunning. Yet, no matter how many times I idiotically ended up playing into her little mind games, she oddly never took the opportunity to strike. She had me trapped, so why not pin me down, then break out the BDSM gear? Just what the hell was she waiting for? I was starting to feel stupid walking around with my back against the wall for these past weeks. Cynically waiting so long for the figurative, or literal for all I knew, knife in the back was driving me nuts. But it never came; neither did I. But it stood to reason to pump the breaks. A flirtatious and beautiful woman, let alone a fucking Demon with a figure more 'stiffening' than a jumbo jet full of Viagras, was not to be trusted. I damn well knew this... so why the hell am I needing to remind myself of it? Why does it feel like I was wrong about her?

"(sigh) Sure, why not?" I said. It took a second to register what I was actually saying. I agreed?

"Splendid, my love! You'll be the toast of the entire festival" she proclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, I'm a real sport. Make it known that I'm doing this under protest. Now what do I have to do to get out of this in one piece?" I asked, slowly pushing her off of me.

"Just be your usual sexy self and you'll do just fine" She opened a portal behind her, the same kind that she used to break in to my apartment.

"By the way what's the prize for winning this 'casting couch' talent show?" I asked.

"That will be a surprise to both of us, my love. Just enjoy yourself" she teased just before she stepped into the portal with a rock of her hips. My God, watching her was hypnotizing.

Enjoy myself? Oh my God, what have I done?

—–

For the next hour, I paced back and forth trying to reason in my mind why I agreed to this. What was going to happen when the next person came through that door? I knew I was going to get aroused, that was for sure, but what else? My survival instincts told me to stay alert, but up to this point, Veina upheld her every word and hadn't let anything happen to me. So I guess I trusted her to a small degree in that sense. Besides, it was a much better alternative than pulling out my little friends and going full Scarface once that door opened. Let's make that plan E.

Finally, someone cut the juice on that magic door crap before it opened. In walked a hot, green-scaled Lamia. She was wearing a revealing lingerie top and a skimpy skirt. Her human upper half was slender but curvaceously alluring. Golden hair reached down well past her nice hips. Speaking of her hips, her lower snake half was long and thick with yellow accents running along it. Must have been around eight meters in length. It definitely looked powerful as she slithered her way into the room. Another busty, smoldering hot monster chick. What else is new?

Before I could give her a snarky greeting, she had snuck in front of me. Swiftly yet gently, she wrapped her arms around my neck and began to coil her lower half around me just as fast. I didn't get a chance to protest before she had me wrapped up like a Christmas present.

"Hey, hey! Wha-what do you think-" I shrieked as her coils snugly compressed from all sides.

"Damn. Veina wasn't kidding when she told me about your mana" she said breathlessly as she pressed her forehead against mine. Her bright golden eyes filled my vision enough to see my reflection in her reptilian pupils. Her coils shifted restrictively while also caressing every inch of my abs down. Just enough of my upper body was exposed for this serpent to rub her large chest against.

"Yeah well she also said no violating the lab rat or didn't you get the threatening memo?" I stammered. Seeing as how I couldn't get my guns or move any other part of my body for that matter, my mouth was my only weapon.

I didn't know I could get claustrophobic. Funny.

"Yeah I know. No sex or touching your genitals. No violating, I got it. I am a professional. Though that may be... harder... than I originally... thought..." she whispered, losing herself to the hormone cloud.

They 'won't violate' me, huh? They'll only 'examine' me, I grumpily thought back to Veina's little assurance. Sex is violating. But groping, smelling, humping, grinding, and all around molesting wasn't considered violating to a mamono? That little smug, deceiving, Satan slut. I'm gonna kill her when I get out of this mess. Shouldn't have expected any less from-

My thoughts were put on hold when the Lamia started to tighten around me. Holy mother of fuck, she was strong.

"Ah yes. You're great to squeeze, you know that hot stuff?" she bawdily sighed, now pressing her cheek against mine.

"Hey urgh... ease... ease up... there... urgh... snake eyes!" I managed to squeak out like a mouse. How fitting.

"Hmmm?" She was completely oblivious to my request.

"Air!"

"Oh! Sorry, stud. Kinda lost control there. Ah-heh" she tittered like bad little kid. "You're quite the specimen, aren't you? I may request to give you a second examination"

"You wouldn't want someone to think that you're violating little ol' me" I growled at her while gasping for air. "You give me too thorough an examination, and you'll be the one who's going to need an examination. Maybe even an undertaker"

"Mm-hm, Veina will likely turn down my request. So let's just keep enjoying our ourselves as best we can with the little time we've got"

"I'll start enjoying this once my bones knit back together"

"C'mon. You know my body feels great. Couldn't you just stay like this forever?"

"As great as the trash compactor from Star Wars" I said as I tried my best to untangle myself from her coils. Came close too.

"Oh please keep it up. You'll definitely get a better rating if you struggle" she gushed with a lovely red blush covering her face.

How do you like that? Now I could be accused of cheating to win the contest.

For the next half hour or so, I could do fuck all as she continued her manhand- I mean "examination" of me. We engaged in small talk, chatting about this and that. She had a way of making even the simple question of where I got my hair cut sound slutty. Turns out, she goes to Naidy too. But regardless of how she took in my mana, at least I could just talk. I didn't need to drop my pants and bend over. My acid tongue only served to entice her arousal, thus causing her to passionately "embrace" me a little too hard occasionally. She was breathtaking in more ways than one.

Truth be told, her snake half actually felt pretty nice. Kinda like being tucked into a big cozy blanket. A blanket that squeezed the shit out of me from time to time, but that also pleasantly massaged my body in full. Granted being fondled by a gorgeous girl who was literally wrapped around me wasn't something easy to blow off. If only I wasn't sour over Veina's little deception, I could have relished it a little more.

Once Scaly's time was up, she released me begrudgingly and slithered her way back to the door.

"You don't have a brother, do you?" she asked turning back to me, still blushing.

"Fat chance, Rattle Head; he's married" I said as I stretched my body out of its cylinder-like shape.

"Really? What kind of girl did he marry?"

"A pain in the ass, that's what. Besides he's much further away than you could ever travel"

"Try me. I'd just love to have him in my grasp"

"I bet you would" I murmured as she left the room.

A few minutes later, I had just gotten myself stretched back into normal shape when the door opened again behind my back. Hopefully the next "judge" won't be as binding as the last one. As I began to turn around, something big, gooey, and heavy suddenly splashed on top of me. Instantly the shit ran down my face, onto my chest, and down to my lower region.

Clearing the goop out of my face and mouth, I saw the same orangish goop form about a foot in front of me. Now it had manifested into a much more "womanly" form. Either the blob took up a career in porn, or I just got jumped by a Red Slime. No clothes... wonderful.

Dripping with sex appeal as usual. A Slime could be whatever form it damn well pleased, yet she chose the common sexy look. Clearly she lacked creativity. But it's a time-tested classic figure for a reason, I suppose.

She slid toward me and hugged her messy self against my torso, resting her head against my chest. She was a little more than half my height. That means the rest of her size was splashed onto me.

The slime on my shoulders began to trickle down my back like it had a mind of its own. Not restrictive like the Lamia, just... messy. It slipped under my armor and traveled up and down my body in slimy, sticky sensation. Yeah, even in my ass crack. It was like someone was rubbing warm Vaseline over my body. Soothing to say the least. It wasn't the first time I've been slimed in this world.

Taking the sticky embrace much better this time, I had to repeatedly spit bits of goop out of the corners of my mouth while the Red Slime continued to cling to me, soaking into my coat and shirt. At first she only moaned tenderly. But eventually, she looked up to me and asked, "What's your name?"

"Jason. Next time ask before you go and shower your jiggly ass onto someone like that"

"Mmmmhhhh. Sexy. Like Veina said"

"Please tell me you wash out with soap, slimeball" I jabbed, now running low on dry spots.

"All of you... nice. Veina. Lucky" she sighed as she began to doze off.

"Eyes open, booger girl" I snapped giving her a shake. I didn't want her to fall asleep and drown me.

Unlike the Lamia, this half hour felt long. The Red Slime's timid personality and short attention span made her a shitty conversationalist. She only talked when she felt like asking a question. Didn't feel the urge to answer my questions half the time. What good are my wisecracks if no one is around to hear? Instead, she simply oozed her way around my body, giving me the closest thing to a Nickelodeon slime shower there was in this world or mine. I always wanted one of those as a kid. And here I was getting the Adult Swim version of it.

After her half hour, she melted off of me, taking all of her slime with her. To my surprise, my body and clothes were really dry, considering; not even moisture in my armpits. Eww, I bet she took that along with the rest of her. She collected all of herself and gave me a simple wave and sweet smile before exiting.

I don't care how dry I felt, I wanted a tomato juice shower after this.

A few more minutes later, the door opened again. This time I was ready for them and stood poised for an ambush. Hopefully, the girl this time I won't be as slimy as the last. In walked, and I use the term "walk" loosely, a large white, pink, and black mass of tentacles with a similarly colored girl attached to it. An extremely alluring figure on this girl, even more so than I expected. On top of her long, draping pink hair sat a large black dome with pink, glistening dots on it. A Kraken, no doubt about it. Fabulous. Now I got a girl both binding and slimy.

How the fuck does a Kraken move on land anyway?

"Shall we begin?" she proposed politely. She extended her arms at me, putting her glorious knockers on full display. Like she wanted me to charge in for some motorboating.

I halfheartedly extended my arms in mocking fashion and put on a contemptuous grin.

"Awww. You're not going to plow me and start your fondling without giving a warning?" I said sarcastically.

"If you insist..." she scoffed lustfully.

"Wait, no! I was just kidd-"

Her two longest tentacles reached out to me like lightning and lurched me toward her awaiting bosom. Instantly, her other gooey tentacles tangled around my body and limbs, robbing me of my freedom.

Me and my big mouth. That's the thing about having an acid tongue; you sometimes burn your own mouth.

My time with Ms. Calamari was what I came to expect. Her caressing and groping me with her human parts and really caressing and groping me with her inhuman parts. As I slipped around in her embrace, I could tell she was strong as hell, yet she seemed to handle me with kid-gloves. Unlike the Lamia and Red Slime, she was actually gentle, aside from her impetuously seizing me. She passionately slid her long, greasy appendages over every inch of my body, firmly gripping my limbs as well as some personal parts. It was like wrestling a big, titillating tongue.

As for her feminine features, well just take a guess as to how they felt. It was impossible to deny how pleasing I found her.

I had always wondered if that black outfit Krakens wore was actually clothing. Aesthetically, it looked somewhat like a dress, which only covered up the bare minimum. Now I was able to get a good look at it. A fantastic "hands-on" look at it. While it must have been some kind of membrane, it seemed more like a sticky stocking that women wore on their legs. Only denser yet just as thin. Also just as effective for displaying her lupine features.

"Fine frame, strong body, smooth face, unique dialogue, and incredible spirit energy. And here I thought Veina and her friends were talking nonsense. But now I see that you are of excellent caliber, fit to be by the side of someone like Veina. You will make an exquisite mate. Maybe we can talk Veina into sharing you. Would you like that?" she flirtatiously lulled as she continued stroking me.

Oh for the love of ass. How many of her friends did she brag about me to? Was she handing out pamphlets on me? Hold on. Don't tell me she really did put a camera in my bathroom... somehow!

"You say that as if Veina was unique. She's not the only horny, big breasted, sex wagon this world has to offer, Octopussy" I rebuked, having had enough of these "examinations" testing my willpower. Yeah they felt good... like really good. And their voluptuous human features being snuggled against me made me feel alive. But being touched in weird places by complete strangers was awkward and embarrassing.

And I'm sure each girl noticed each time my lesser self hardened.

"True but someone of her status deserves a worthy husband"

"Hold up. What do you mean 'someone of her status'?"

"Well, after her considerable contribution to the conquering of Lescatie, she put herself in even higher ranks than most of her fellow Demons. It seemed odd to her peers that someone as accomplished as her was not attached"

Lescatie? That was a major nation that fell under the Demon Lord's control thanks to Druella and her radicals. And Veina was much more pivotal than just a 'soldier' in Lescatie's downfall, eh? I guess Veina had a few more secrets she hadn't disclosed to me yet.

After the usual half hour, the Kraken released me. Wait, that doesn't sound right. Shouldn't it be reversed? Like, release the Krak- Whatever.

"If you should become a negotiator for our Lord, can I be the first girl you visit?" she asked as she held my hands to her... heart. Yeah, let's just say her 'heart'

"Next time I get a hankering for sea-food, I'll shoot you a call" I sneered back, as the Kraken's smile deepened.

"You won't regret it" she purred lusciously.

"You best start your deliberation process. Think of your 'enchantment under the sea' fantasy later" I said as I pointed toward the door.

"Yes of course. Silly me. Farewell, handsome" she said as she let go of my hands and slithered or scooted or whatever she does, out the door.

A few minutes later, Veina entered.

"Have fun? I know the girls sure did" she gushed, displaying that familiar lecherous smile.

"No violations, just 'examinations', huh?" I scoffed while glaring daggers at the duplicitous Demon.

She simply let out a knowing laugh as she approached me, threw her arms around my back, and romantically locked onto my eyes. Her tail felt up my still erect member.

"According to the girls, you rather enjoyed it too" she said so depraved that she could make a priest cry. She then began gently exploring my backside with her clawed hands. Caressing me seductively while lewdly sighing in satisfaction at what she found.

"Sorry, no cake for you, Missy. You have to be a judge to grope me" I scolded Veina, bursting her bubble as my childish payback.

—–

"And the winner of the Sexiest Man of Gamberton Contest is..." the Hakutaku on stage announced, letting the suspense linger for an obnoxiously long time.

I can't speak for the other nine schmucks standing on the stage with me, but I felt like a complete jackass. After I was practically thrown onto the stage, I found myself hailed by an audience of Succubi and Demons. The other guys were showboating to the audience, like Chippendales as I predicted, so they expected me to as well. I could practically hear them shouting "Take it off". Not really my style. I'll stick to my lousy Clint Eastwood impression.

'Stop with the goddamn pause. Just say the winner so I can get out of here', I thought to myself.

"'Veina's Man of Mystery'!" she finished. And the crowd goes wild. Look at that, Veina felt the need to include herself in my stupid stage name. Adorable. My agent was a Demon. Sounds about right.

I could see my three molesters standing in ovation. I grimaced at the trio, which translated to 'This is all your fault'

The Hakutaku laid a heavy medal around my neck; you didn't need to squint to tell that it looked like a guy's best of three legs. Veina flew onto the stage out of nowhere and began to stride around me as she admired her 'property'. She teased her hand along my back and front, which was meant to play more to me than the crowd. Finally, she grabbed my hand, and began celebrating with the horny hoard while maintaining her usual cool-headed manner. Who was the real winner here?

Now, the thrill of being a trophy husband has bled dry for me.

Then, the Hakutaku presented me my first place prize: a large vile of red liquid. Okay... I'll ask have to ask Veina what it was later, and then decide if all this was worth it.

I won, big fat freaking deal. Veina might have pulled some strings in this little victory. I mean, I couldn't even get a date for a high school dance, much less win "The Demon Lord's Next Top Pimp"

Just get me anywhere but here.

After that scene, we managed to escape before the after-party orgy commenced in full. Then I began hunting for a real first place prize: a good stiff drink. Anything, as along as it was strong enough to smash a few brain cells. I would have even drank that Dunkin' Donuts nasty-ass coffee slushy that failed spectacularly back on Earth.

We stopped at an Oni's stand where I got a large glass of wine. I really want a nice cold one but no beer allowed, so this was the next best thing. I also decided to chow down on some ribs. Yeah I was pretty famished.

We sat at a table near a bonfire with an Apsara dancing erotically around it. A little 'entertainment' with that dinner, sir? Veina hadn't ordered anything. She was content with feasting her eyes on the meat sack sitting across from her.

Once my ribs were in my ribs, Veina spoke up.

"Quite the voracious appetite" she commented as watched me scarf down the food like a prison inmate.

"I'd like to see how high-society you act when you're starving" I chided back.

She let out a sensuous chuckle. "I'm always starving, dear Jason"

"Urrhh" I growled and dropped my head onto the table. Stymied yet again. "This wine isn't cutting it. I wish I had a demon drink-" I muttered foolishly. Great time to use that term, you moron.

Was it said low enough that she missed my slip of the tongue.

"Oh-ho. What was that you need, my love?" Veina smiled at her feigned ignorance.

Nope, it wasn't.

"I need to pick my phrases more carefully. But while we're on the subject, what is this stuff? Kool-Aid?" I asked, rolling the vile of mysterious red liquid toward her. She scooped it up with her animated tail.

"I'm glad you asked. It's quite a valuable and expensive potion" she said, grabbing and skillfully rotating the vile in her hand.

"Nice. What flavor is it?"

"It isn't just for drinking. This is a shapeshifting potion; not merely an illusion spell like I have. It can temporarily change someone into the species of their choice"

"Slick. Now you can turn into a Greenworm whenever you want to" I joked.

"That or any other species that would please you..." she sighed with a ravenous gaze.

"Hold it! That's why you entered me into that embarrassing sexscabade? To win a glorified fetish toy!?" I snapped and directed my finger between the her and the vile. If I was taking a drink, I would have done a spit take. But as irritated as I was, it made sense. I mean, it wasn't like I was going to walk out of perverted contest like that with a new car. But at least the potion, unlike the car, was tax-free.

"Well they are quite rare..." she chuckled as she took my accusing hand into hers. Amorously, she groped her way between fingers with her claws and me with her eyes.

I let out another groan of resentment.

"Tell me honestly. Are all mamono born this way, or do you just never get past the puberty stage?"

"It varies for each species but it certainly comes naturally to all mamono, my love"

"Seems pretty selfish and stupid, if you ask me. Don't you think there's more important things in life than 'riding' that jolly train?"

"We don't only think of ourselves. Bringing sexual satisfaction to our man is just as important as our own pleasure is. It just so happens that a man's spirit energy comes from his seed. Their delicious spirit energy supplies us with the power we need to survive. So pleasuring our man is essential for us"

"Ah-ha!" I shouted, cutting her off and pulling my hand back. Her eyes widened in mild shock as she was caught off guard. Fuck if I cared that I drew attention from the other patrons.

I knew she just fucked up.

"What!?" she asked anxiously.

"So that's your game, is it? That's always been your game! That's why you mamono are always trying to get a guy to explore your depths. You really do suck the life out of any stupid motherfucker that falls for you! Glad to hear you finally admit it, you horny little horn head!"

Up until then, I had managed to forgot most of my troubles and just enjoy a day off. Sure I resisted Veina's advances but I guess I had been doing it out of habit. Now, all of my frustration and suspicions came roaring back to me at once. With such an avalanche of rage, Veina was the only one to direct it at.

"I-I don't understand"

"Oh, drop the fucking act. You need us! That's all we are in your eyes. We're just a goddamn food source for you and your kind. Just cattle in need of milking, am I right? Don't bother answering, because I already know I'm right. You drain guys until they're as dry as a nun's gusset and then leave him like nothing more a prostitute with a one-hundred dollar bill tucked into their cleavage after a night's work"

That should just about demolish the whole "true love" argument. And I owe it all to you and the beans you spoiled, Veina.

"No, no, no. Please let me explain" she protested as I scoffed at her. "It's true that for us Demons, a man's spirit energy and sexual activity does give us power, but it is also how we live. It keeps up our health both physically and mentally. And not just us, but all mamono for that matter. You may say it's similar as to how you live off of food and water"

"Exactly. Like I said, we're just a food source to you" I growled back.

"Well, what about you and your parents?"

"I'm sorry, what?" I said, confused by her change of course.

"When you were a child, you had to rely on your parents to provide food for you, right? You wouldn't call them a food source even though you relied on them. You were by no means a leech, but you were dependent upon them to accommodate you. They didn't do it against their will; they did it out of love"

I simply scoffed at her reasonable albeit suspicious logic. My head was so full of steam, that I chose to ignore the former.

"And don't forget, that it works both ways, my love. You provide us with your spirit energy, and you get to immerse yourselves in neverending, unholy rapture" she said as she began rubbing my hand affectionately again. "We can offer you even more than that if you let us..."

I guess that made sense, in a strange way, but it did seem like a convenient excuse. And it still relied on my faith in her. Sorry but that supply is still far below the demand. Try again, Veina.

"We all gotta work for our meals. Big deal"

"It is a big deal to us"

"Well I suppose if I got my taste buds all prepped for dessert from Dairy Queen's Frozen Kingdom, then I'd be pissed if that bitch didn't deliver my ice cream sundae. But the cold fact is that nobody cares but you"

"We do care about our husbands!" She was growing more emotional as her joy had all but vanished.

"That doesn't mean you get to spread around STDs like rice at a wedding. The whole 'Make love, not war' shit went out of fashion in the 1960s, man. Kinda hard to believe you're in love with someone when all they really want from you is a drink. That's all you are. Just a bunch of thirsty THOTs"

"But everything I did today was for you. I wanted to bring some happiness to my lover"

"Veina, I appreciate you paying for my ticket and all, but when I agreed to come, it was just to get a few kicks. I never said I loved you. And I sure as hell didn't come here so you could ride me instead of the attractions. No fucking way are you going to make a simp out of me"

"Let's not talk about this now. Please?"

"No, let's talk about it!" I slammed my fist down on the table, deciding to press the issue further this time. "Everything I've seen here today was to manipulate me, wasn't it? What real plans do you have in store for me? Make me your servant through a slow mindbreak or by strapping on some chains right now?"

"You still believe that I mean you harm?" she said slightly hurt by my words.

"Harm by another name. Ultimately, I, like every other guy around here, am expendable. If we're used up or dead, you could just pick up another piece of beef fresh off the assembly line. Not a concern for you though. Someone of your 'status' could just have me replaced with any of those other nine guys from the contest"

She tightly gripped my hand reflexively at the bluntness of my words.

"Listen to me, Jason. I would never, ever do anything to harm you. Nor would I ever replace you with anyone. You are the most important thing in the world to me. My very soul breaks at the thought of losing you. That is not an option for me, Jason" she lamented.

"Get real. Now that I know you're just in it for the power boost"

"Jason... if I just wanted you for power, I would have acquired it by now. I've had every opportunity to take it from you by force. But I didn't"

"Did you forget about corruption? Because I didn't. If you want to break someone's mind, you do it to them slowly over time, not by shoving a jackhammer up their nose. Drastic changes are easily spotted, but insidious changes occur slowly over time. Besides, I know that's your fetish. Makes the guy into a better sex slave for you to manipulate"

"Have you seen any mamono here enslaving men to their will? Every couple at this festival wants to be here with the one they love" she said as the glow in her eyes diminished even more. "If it was just a trap to harvest men, it would have been sprang a long time ago. But no. We're not savages with no emotions. Spirit energy is at it's purest and strongest when it is provided through a man's heart"

"Beer's at its best when it's cold but a warm beer still gets you drunk. Where I come from, a Succubus isn't exactly the poster-girl for altruism. They literally drain the life out of any poor sap who's stupid enough to put his guard down and his dick up. In other words, they're the nicest killers you'll ever see" I fired back.

Her face disheartened at my revelation.

"How could someone be that cruel? It must be lonely where you come from" she sighed sympathetically.

"It can be. It can also be worse. Lust is quick and cheap but trust is a long process. And love can take even longer"

"That doesn't mean that my devotion to you is any less genuine. Yes, I understand that it takes much more time for humans' love to grow deep. But we mamono have a stronger sense for such intimate feelings, so we can recognize true love much faster than humans can. Do you know how frustrating it is for us to wait? Some mamono find it impossible to wait and desire to express their unrelenting love to their husband right away, even if it seems aggressive at first. But it's only done to bring bliss upon themselves and the one they love". She traced circles on my palm with her index finger. "Humans sometimes need assistance discovering their true feelings and we mamono take pleasure in helping them achieve those true feelings through our affections. Be honest, don't you wish everyone could fall in love instantly?" she asked, a longing flare in her eyes.

As cliched as it was, it wouldn't be too bad if everyone in this world or mine just loved each other so easily. But I learned not to go through life with rose-tinted glasses on. Real world, real problems, real shit.

"Life isn't filled with lollipops and lemonade rivers, Ms. Slee Z. I wish a lot of things were true, but reality doesn't take friend requests. It's full of people that love only themselves; no room for a significant other"

"Yes, it's true. Love isn't always guaranteed in this world. That's exactly what the Demon Lord is trying to change" she muttered in a hopeful tone.

"Yeah, by fucking wiping out the entire human race" I sneered, ready to unload some more emotional baggage.

"You can't really believe that. The Maou loves humanity. She offers mankind her love and protection. Where did you get such an idea?"

"Call it clairvoyance. Turning all women into monsters and all men into Incubi? I'd call that a mass extinction event. More subtle but just as effective as that meteorite sucker-punching the dinosaurs off the Earth. I'm not saying that those closed-minded fuckers in the Order are any better. They're just mad that they can't rule the entire world. So they'll just exterminate whatever they can't control"

"That's just it. Our Lord wants to stop all the killing and end this war once and for all. Bring love and peace to everyone"

"At what fucking cost? An entire race? Just to satisfy the childish fantasies of her and all of the other monsters that spilled from her loins? The ends justify the means? Fuck that"

"I told you, we're not savages. The Demon Lord is not looking to rule anyone through tyranny"

"Like what happened in Lescatie? Why don't you tell me about that? Tell me how those people were simply lining up to be converted. I'm sure you have some inside info"

Your Honor, I present to the court my smoking gun.

"So you know about that?"

"Damn right I do" I boasted, reveling at my upper hand in this argument.

"Lescatie was an important step for the Demon Lord. It was done with the best of intentions"

"Sure it was. An important step in spreading her influence even further. 'Best of intentions' my hairy ass. There's no end to her greed. That's why Druella just went and changed an entire nation to her mama's liking without the consent of anyone living there. Sounds a little like aggressive expansion to me. You say it's love, I say it's bullshit. I don't even think mamono are capable of those kinds of feelings"

Veina gasped. "That's... hurtful, Jason. How could you-"

"No, fuck the Demon Lord! Fuck mamono! Fuck the Order! Fuck this world! Fuck everyone! And fuck you too, you narcissistic bitch!" I yelled in a volcano of animosity boiling through my vocal cords.

We both went silent.

The realization of what I just said hit us at the same time. I was a jerk toward Veina, that much was true. Yet no matter how much of a jerk I was, Veina always had an affectionate albeit lusty smile to go along with her enjoyable company. She put up with a lot of shit from me. But... I had never said something that harsh to her before, even when she first revealed her true self to me.

We locked gazes, neither of us flinching before the other. Veina's trauma was apparent in her dampening eyes. The silent anguish on her face screamed louder than anything my ears could ever detect. I was pretty sure I even saw her lip quivering. Gone was her cool, confident, and sultry attitude. Now she was... wounded. Deeply. My throat tightened; I'd never seen her stricken with so much emotional pain.

Behind my slowly softening expression, I was replaying my words back in my head and got hit with lots of regret at the venom they contained. Never had I imagined that I could hurt Veina like this. That I could catch her in such a vulnerable way. I just assume I fired a shot from my gun straight through her chest. And why did I lash out rather than blow her off in my usual snidey way? Was it because I felt betrayed? I don't know. But don't certain... feelings have to exist for that to happen? Do they?

"Look, Veina. I-" I started speaking far softer before I was cut off by the sound of an explosion in the distance. I could see smoke building up near the front gate. A loud horn went off from a tower not too far from said gate.

"Oh no" Veina shuttered as she stood up, now on full alert.

"What is it?" I asked.

"The Order... Hurry. Follow me"

The next thing I knew, I was obediently trailing behind Veina as we moved opposite of the gate. Lots of other mamono and their loved ones were also going in our direction. Before long, I found myself in a large plaza-like area. I was grouped with several other men and some of the more timid mamono species. In their arms were, what I assume to be, their daughters. They tried their best to keep their litter calm... like a real parent. Not as many mothers around. Guess the more badass mothers were heading out for combat.

"Just stay here, Jason. I need to go now and handle this situation. I'll return to you as soon as I can" Veina said, hand to my cheek in a caring fashion.

"Hey, if there's going to be an Order ass-kicking contest, that's one event I actually want to compete in" I insisted. I wasn't afraid of them. I could take care of myself. Plus it would let me work off my ornery feelings.

"No! You need to stay here" She commanded "You'll be safe, Jason. I have to go now"

Veina wordlessly starred at me for seemingly forever before she spread her wings and took to the sky. Just then, a group of Witches in the center of the plaza all raised their sparkling staffs together. A magic barrier, or fence of some kind, appeared out of thin air, encasing me and the others inside. I guess this was our makeshift bomb shelter during the forthcoming battle, only with no barrier covering the top.

Over an hour had passed. I could see the majority of fighting happening in the distance. Swords, shields, axes, hammers, magic spells, and explosions all colliding in a battle between mamono and members of the Order. There were also a few scattered battles going on in different parts of the festival. Considering the mamono's big strength advantage, the Order soldiers held their own pretty decently against them. I'm surprised.

I didn't take to the idea of being stuck with this batch of defenseless weaklings. The idea of needing others for protection made me feel like a chickenshit jellyfish. I was a fucking soldier and that comes with a certain kind of pride. But on the other hand, my survival instincts told me this was better than running around out there and ending up in a hospital the next day, or even a grave.

Suddenly, I caught something out of the corner my eye. It was off some distance away from the primary battleground. Three heavily armored knights, accompanied by two mages were having a lynching party, at least that was my best guess. One mage was using a spell to pin down a screaming Queen Hornet while the knights were dragging off a snooty-looking fella wearing some kind of fancy, jewel-encrusted robe. A classless way to do away with a classy dude.

Not now Uncle Ben. Now's not the time for a talk about responsibility.

Even if that were true, that didn't change the fact that the tree inside our sanctuary had a branch conveniently reaching over the top of the barrier. Someone could easily climb up that tree and jump over the magical forcefield to the other side.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.