I wake slowly, the world around me coming into focus in pieces. The first thing I feel is warmth—soft, undeniable, and pressed entirely against me.

Ayu's body is curled close, her head resting on my chest, her legs tangled with mine on the makeshift bed of leaves beneath us.

Her soft breasts press against my bare skin, her breathing steady and gentle, brushing faintly against my neck.

I let out a slow breath, careful not to disturb her. My arm is draped around her waist, holding her close, and her arm rests lightly across my ribs.

The faint sound of water trickling from the nearby stream mixes with the quiet rhythm of her breaths. Her skin is smooth under my hand, and I find myself unable to resist brushing my fingers lightly down her back.

She stirs slightly at the touch, her body pressing even closer, and I freeze, not wanting to wake her just yet.

But then, her head shifts. Her hair tickles my chest as she nuzzles into me, a small sigh escaping her lips. Her eyes flutter open slowly, still heavy with sleep, and she blinks up at me, her gaze hazy.

Her cheeks flush a soft pink as she becomes aware of our position, the way her body is completely melded to mine. But she doesn't pull away. Instead, a shy, almost mischievous smile spreads across her face, and her fingers tighten just slightly against my side.

"Morning," I murmur, my voice husky with sleep, my hand moving to brush a stray strand of hair from her face.

Her smile softens as her eyes lock onto mine. "Good morning," she whispers back, her voice light and warm.

I tilt her chin up gently, leaning down to press a slow, lingering kiss to her lips. Her body relaxes further against mine, her hand trailing up to rest on my chest, right over my heart. As I pull back, her smile widens, and the blush on her cheeks deepens.

"Did you sleep well?" I ask, my thumb tracing small circles on her hip.

"What do you think?"

Her teasing tone lingers in the air as her fingers trace idle patterns along my side. I raise an eyebrow at her, a small smirk tugging at my lips. "I think you're enjoying this too much," I say, my voice low.

She tilts her head, pretending to ponder for a moment before sending a wave—an exaggerated image of me snoring like a lumbering beast while she's trapped under my arm, rolling her eyes dramatically.

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Oh, really? That's how it is?"

Her mischievous grin widens, her fingers now brushing deliberately across my chest. She sends another wave—this time, a tiny cartoon version of herself stomping on my chest to wake me up.

"Careful," I warn playfully, shifting slightly so I'm propped on one elbow, my hand still resting on her hip. "I might start charging for all these custom insults."

Her laughter is light and genuine, her body moving against mine in a way that sends heat coursing through me. "And how exactly would you charge me?"

I raise an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh, I could think of a few ways," I say, my fingers tracing slow, deliberate circles on her lower back. Her skin is warm under my touch, and I can feel the slight shift of her muscles as she adjusts herself, pressing just a bit closer.

Her laughter softens, and she gazes at me with that familiar mix of shyness and mischief in her eyes. Her cheeks flush a deeper pink, and for a moment, I think she's going to pull away. But… she doesn't.

She lifts her head just enough to meet my gaze, her lips curving into a small, almost innocent smile. Then, without a word, she sends a wave.

It's me, sprawled flat on my back, my chest heaving, drenched in sweat, my body visibly drained. Above me, Ayu sits astride my hips, her back straight, her hands resting on her thighs, a triumphant smirk on her face. Her hair falls messily over her shoulders, her flushed skin glistening faintly.

Damn, this girl.

The image sends a jolt through me, and I can't help the reaction—I'm instantly hard.

"I don't recall that happening last night," I say, my voice low, teasing, as I let my fingers trail down her spine.

Her grin turns wicked, her cheeks tinged pink. "How could you?" she fires back, her tone sweet but sharp. "I think you passed out."

Her words hit like a playful jab, but the challenge in her eyes only pulls me in further.

Before I can fire back, I move instinctively, my hands gripping her waist as I shift. In a fluid motion, I turn her around, and in the next moment, I'm on top of her, her body sprawled beneath mine.

Her eyes widen slightly in surprise, her lips parting as though to say something, but the teasing smile that follows sends a rush of heat through me.

Her hair fans out beneath her, her flushed face framed perfectly as she looks up at me with a mix of amusement and anticipation.

I can't resist her any longer. I lean down, capturing her lips in a slow, lingering kiss. My tongue traces the seam of her lips, coaxing them open. She sighs, her body melting beneath me as she opens for me, her tongue meeting mine.

My hands roam her body, exploring every curve, every dip, every soft plane. I cup her breasts, my thumbs brushing over her hardened nipples, and she gasps, her back arching off the makeshift bed. I take one nipple into my mouth, sucking gently, and she moans, her fingers tangling in my hair.

I continue, my lips and tongue tracing a path across her body. I nibble on her earlobe, suck on the delicate skin of her neck, and then return to her breasts, lavishing attention on them. I move lower, my hands skimming down her waist, her hips, and then to her thighs.

I part her legs, my fingers brushing through her soft curls to find her slick, heated core. I tease her, my fingers dancing around her clit, and she gasps, her hips bucking. I take one of her hands, guiding it to my mouth, and then slowly suck her fingers, wetting them with my saliva.

Her eyes widen as I guide her hand back between her legs, pressing her fingers against her clit. I watch as she takes over, her fingers moving in a rhythm that's uniquely her own. Her breaths grow ragged.

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I continue to kiss and caress her, my lips and tongue moving in time with her fingers. I can feel her body tensing, her breaths quickening.

I pause, savoring the moment, the scent of her desire filling the air. She's ready.

My lips trail up her body, lingering at her belly, planting gentle kisses that make her tremble. My tongue moves softly over her skin, circling her nipples before returning to her neck, where I kiss her deeply, feeling her body quiver against mine.

Her hand moves, hesitant but deliberate, wrapping around my shaft. A shiver runs through me at her touch. She starts to stroke, her grip firm yet teasing. I feel her desire in every motion.

She wants more.

I lift my head and meet her gaze. Her eyes are heavy with longing, her cheeks flushed, her lips slightly parted. She is irresistible.

I place my hand over hers, guiding her movements as she strokes me, then bring her hand lower, brushing the tip of my shaft against the wetness of her entrance. She gasps softly as I tease her, sliding just the tip inside before pulling back, repeating the motion as her body writhes beneath me.

I grin, feeling the tension build, her need for me clear in her every reaction. Her hands clutch at my back, pulling me closer, urging me on.

I don't hold back. I push forward, filling her completely. Her body arches against mine, and a moan escapes her lips, raw and unrestrained. The sound ignites something primal in me, and I push harder, faster.

Time blurs as we lose ourselves entirely in each other, the world outside fading into nothing.

I stretch outside, feeling the warmth of the sun hitting my skin. The way it's already high in the sky tells me it's well into the day. Well… it wasn't exactly easy getting out of bed this morning.

I glance toward the horizon where Ayu disappeared earlier, heading off to hunt and train with some octopus. As for me… well, Houston is probably waiting.

The thought of him brings the notes back to mind—especially the parts about Ayu. My eyes narrow for a moment, but I take a deep breath. Judging Houston as I would a real human isn't fair. And if there's one thing I know with absolute confidence, it's that he wants the best for me. I'd trust him with my life without a second of doubt.

Sure, he's weird as hell, and I'll never touch his notes again, but… he's been with me from the start. We've gone through too much together, and his sacrifice for me and Ayu says it all.

A soft smile spreads across my face.

"How does it feel to be back to life?"

"So, someone finally managed to get out of bed, huh?" Houston's familiar voice echoes in my head, laced with his usual sarcasm.

"It wasn't easy," I reply, stretching my arms. "So, how are things going over there?"

"Well, a lot of work as always, but good progress has been made. And… it's good to be back, really. Death was as empty as it sounds. But… it was worth it."

My smile softens. "Thanks."

"Oh, come on, don't get sentimental on me now. It was the logical thing to do. It was either that or we all die, so—"

"Houston," I interrupt, my tone firm but warm. "Thanks. That's it. Accept my gratitude and don't overanalyze it."

Houston sighs, a rare moment of quiet. "Well… alright. So, uh, I talked with Darius. He told me everything."

My expression sobers slightly, but I manage a small grin. "And you're mad we went in without a permit?" I joke, attempting to keep things light.

Houston's silence lingers longer than expected. "Alonso, I owe you an explanation. The way I—"

"Houston," I cut him off, my voice steady. "I won't pretend it didn't happen, but… it's okay. I won't judge you for it. That's a part of you—how you do things. And me digging into things you didn't want others knowing wasn't right, even if I had good intentions. So… let's keep that under the carpet, alright? It won't change how important you are to me, or how much I trust you."

I pause, letting the words sink in, then continue, "Remember, we gave each other an oath back in the Oasis—the moment we accepted each other as separate entities, yet forever united in one purpose. And that's it. You are and always will be my companion, Houston. You can be weird, you can be creepy, but that's okay. You're you. I know you, and I accept you as you are. So don't fret about it anymore. Don't overthink it, alright?"

There's a long pause, and then Houston sighs again, this time lighter. "Well… thanks."

"Alright, enough thanks and apologies. I'm in a good mood, so let's not dwell on trivial matters. What's the plan? Same training schedule as before? I checked the status screen, but it doesn't look like you've updated it yet," I say, keeping my tone light.

Houston seems to take a deliberate pause, as though taking a deep breath. "Status screen first. I haven't seen you fight since I came back, so any updates will have to wait until I can analyze your current state. As for training, well, I've come up with some ideas. But ultimately, it's up to you to decide how you want to proceed."

"Hmm, you're awfully considerate today," I say with a chuckle. "What happened to the Houston that made me do hundreds of squats with a tree on my back?"

"Oh, don't worry, that's still on the agenda," he replies with a dry humor that makes me laugh despite myself. But then, his tone shifts, more serious, almost measured. "There's another part of the plan, though, and this one is your choice. I think I've found a way to pull you into our virtual space. Do you want to come?"

Arjun lay sprawled by the lake, his body battered and bloodied as the giant octopus sank slowly into the murky depths.

His armor was cracked in several places, its once-polished surface smeared with grime and blood. Bruises covered his arms, legs, and chest, and a shallow cut near his temple leaked a faint trail of crimson. His breath came in sharp gasps, his heart hammering against his ribcage.

But he had done it. The first octopus was down. Alone.

Yet… it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.

His teeth clenched tightly as he pushed himself upright, his legs trembling under the strain. He surveyed the fading ripples on the lake's surface, his expression hard.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, forcing his heart to steady. Not yet. Not now. His body needed time, even if only a little. He would let it recover—just enough to fight again. And then… and then he would find another.

Chiara had ordered them to hunt Kelpies first, to max on them before coming to the Isles. He had ignored her command. The Kelpies were nothing to him now, not enough of a challenge. He needed more. A fight that would push him to his limits, beyond them.

He needed to grow. Faster. Stronger.

Settling himself into a seated position, he adjusted his posture despite the pain stabbing through his side. He folded his legs and rested his hands on his knees, palms facing upward, a faint tremor still present in his fingers. He straightened his back and closed his eyes, letting the world fade into the background.

The sound of the waterfalls cascading into the lake blended with the faint whistle of the wind through the trees, fading into the background. His breathing slowed, his thoughts cleared, and for a brief moment, there was only stillness.

He visualized the octopus, every movement, every strike. Where he had faltered. Where he could have been faster, smarter. The mistakes he had made played in his mind like a silent film, and he let them settle within him—not as regrets, but as lessons.

When the meditation ended, his eyes opened, sharp and resolute. His body ached, his wounds stung, but he didn't care.

The fight was only beginning.

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