Ovalith, The Strige.

You are living in Tenebris, a dangerous world filled with wars between many different races. Alliances are uncommon, and the stability of the realm is falling apart. Ruins are everywhere outside the closed walls, creatures lurk for fresh meat in the wilds, and villages barely hold themselves together and need to be heavily protected. You were living in one of these villages. Sadly, it was in the middle of a war between the human realm and a coalition of minotaur tribes. It was five years ago. The war itself wasn’t long—five months at most—but it was very brutal. The result of the war is debatable: the minotaurs were pushed farther into the realm, and the tribes didn’t succeed in maintaining a coalition. They are not known for their diplomacy skills; they are known for the kidnapping of females of any humanoid or semi-humanoid race. For a simple reason: each minotaur possesses a harem. The number of females he possesses depends on the strength of the minotaur; for humans, it would be a matter of social status. The kidnapping is simply the result of very high testosterone and the fact that there are no female minotaurs. Their genes are dominant, so their children are always male minotaurs.

Anyway. This is why the war took place: too many minotaurs, and so too many raids on villages. Sometimes, a female succeeds in escaping a tribe, which is quite a feat, as minotaurs put shackles and a chained collar on the new ones. Only when the female is obedient do they remove the restraints. The ones who aren’t obedient are… reduced to mere fuckholes, their only diet consisting of the minotaurs’ semen. They are restrained in the same room; the more aggressive ones are fully chained, and they inevitably get pregnant. The room reeks of semen and can be smelled from a good distance, which is why minotaurs usually make the room inside a grotto. Obedience or suicide is the only key to leaving this room. The escapee feigned obedience from the start to be allowed to go unchained, and she took her chance. It worked. But if it hadn’t, she would have ended up in the fuckroom for an unknown amount of time. And she insisted that even a succubus wouldn’t want to be in this room, as the minds of the females there are absolutely broken.

And yet, as one of the hunters for the village, you had the luck of being out hunting when the battle between the human realm and the minotaurs happened. Few could flee; the minotaurs destroyed everything and killed most of the males who couldn’t, or didn’t, flee. Every female was caught, except the old, infertile ones. The younger they are, the easier it is to make them obedient. The human realm was there to fight them. Some minotaurs died, of course, but it’s not easy to take one down—try to kill a demolition boulder and we’ll see. This is why the realm used battlemages, but mageborns are scarce, and magical channelers (the artifacts that permit the use of magic by a non-mageborn) of good quality are not common. Mageborns can create them, but not every mageborn is a good smith. Plus, it requires components, and not every component equals another, of course. So this is why the war was somewhat won by the realm, but only to a limited extent.

Now, five years have passed, and you never forgot what happened, because when you came back, the village was destroyed. There were dead bodies of minotaurs and humans. Your father and your mother were killed, but your younger sister was not there, and if your parents were killed, that meant your sister was taken by the minotaurs… the poor girl didn’t deserve this… but you are no hero. Trying to follow the minotaurs to free your sister is akin to suicide with extra steps… and nobody would accept such a suicidal mission… you just hope your sister is going to be obedient. She doesn’t stand a chance if she tries to flee. If only you were mageborn… wait… if you could have a magical channeler… but you would need a powerful one…

You took some minutes to think while crying… this day is pure horror, but just staying here is not an option, so you buried the bodies of your parents in a peaceful spot not far away, one that was meaningful for your family. You took your mother’s brooch and your father’s ring as mementos. Now, you need to act. Lamenting will wait for a little later.

“I don’t have a lot of money. I can’t buy one, and stealing one would be too risky, but if I had components for one… but I would need some money anyway, unless I can also sell components… and… if the realm didn’t think of taking them, I know where I can find rare components! I need to check the minotaurs’ bodies.”

This is something you learnt from your master, who died this day. He was at the village, butchering his prizes. You learnt that minotaurs are holders of such a rare component, in two specimens. And there is a dead minotaur here. Let’s take a look at his crotch…

“Perfect! They are intact! I need to cut at the base of the scrotum. It would be easier if the testicles stay inside the scrotum. Okay, so I pull the testicles as much as I can. The scrotum is already loose, obviously. Their testicles are so huge, it gets saggy…. Huh? His penis is… moving? Wait, his penis responds to stimuli on the balls even if the minotaur is dead?! Well, he hasn’t been dead for long, but it’s disturbing. I didn’t know a dead body could… have an actual erection… the penis is even hot, and he is indeed hard. I was going to cut the testicles, so let’s see what happens. But man, the thickness of the skin of their scrotum is something! And holy shit, the size of their vas deferens… it’s as thick as my arm, and whoa, cutting them sprayed cum on me! I mostly expected blood, not actual cum. And uh, it made him ejaculate what was left in his body, it seems… his cock is now getting soft. Minotaurs are nothing but horrible monsters, but they pack a lot. A single testicle is bigger than my head… let’s weigh them both… OOF. It’s like, I don’t know, 4–5 kilograms for the entire scrotum and the two testicles? No wonder these bastards can make females obedient—well, this and their frames, of course. Anyway, this is a good component to create a magical channeler. But I need money too, so… well, it seems I am going to collect more minotaur testicles and scrotums. I need ropes, or I will not be able to transport them.”

“While I am at it, I will take a penis too. It’s going to be tricky to collect. It will be easier if it’s erect. Let’s find another body… here. Let’s touch his balls again… his penis is getting erect too. Let’s wait till it’s full… and done. Now let’s cut it as best as I can…”

It took you some time to make a good cut. Plus, the thing weighs a lot, and it strangely stayed hard even after being cut. You expected to be drenched in blood, but no—not a lot sprayed. Considering the part of the body, it should have been the exact reverse. You don’t know if it’s a sort of muscle memory or, at this point, pure magic. But one thing is sure: you are going to carry a huge dick weighing between 15 and 20 kg.

- 1 hour later -

“OOF, it’s heavy. That’s quite a lot of minotaur meat I got here. A minotaur dick in erection and four scrotums filled with two huge testicles each. I’m at 40 kg on my back, but with a good balance of the weight, I can travel. But to be honest, the only thing I’m smelling is the musky pheromones of the minotaurs. That’s some powerful shit! Even I am getting aroused by it… fuck. I need to find something… a cape! I will put a cape on the package to help, and so I won’t be taken for a weirdo… but at least, with this musk, I don’t think I’m going to be attacked by anything, as monsters will think I am four minotaurs. So the cape is helping a little, but the musk is too strong. Let’s just walk. The wind will do the job, I hope. I need to travel to the city… it’s a three-hour trip… well, let’s be brave.”

The trip was long but eventless. I hoped to encounter some survivors, but no. Maybe they are already in the city. I had to shamelessly masturbate two times because of the pheromones. Even though I am a male, I feel somewhat enslaved by these testicles… and the minotaur penis is still strongly erect. I have no doubt it’s something magical. The minotaur has certainly been dead for six hours, maybe, but the cock stays strong and fierce. I need to find a mageborn.

- 10 minutes later -

“I asked some people about it, and they told me this one was a good crafter, Ulric, one of the rare ones who is not actively participating in the war. Let’s enter.”

Ulric: “Hello. Oh, I see. You seek power, and you have quite rare components here.”

“But how do you know? I didn’t even say anything.”

Ulric: “I am a mageborn. I can sense the power of objects and living beings. I can also read the intents of living beings. But you have a story to tell. Nobody has these components without having one to tell.”

You told him the full story.

Ulric: “I see. War is cruel for everybody. I didn’t want to participate in it directly, but I did craft artifacts for those who took part. Surprisingly, these testicles you have here should be somewhat common in these times of war, but few know their power, and some mageborns don’t seem to be interested in using them. They lack knowledge. Hence why most of them are dying in the war, which is sad, because we are not that many. They are just young and arrogant.”

“You don’t seem that old to me. You have what, 30 years? Maybe 35?”

Ulric: “Actually, it’s double that—67. But mageborns are not on the same page as humans, as we are not really human ourselves. You see, humans are not magical creatures by nature, like some animals and some humanoids aren’t. Mageborns are an anomaly among humanity. Take a seat. Let me prepare some tea. And put your package here.”

“Thanks, the trip was exhausting.”

Ulric: “But of course, you’re welcome. Are you interested in magic ?”

“I wasn’t, but I’m not against learning.”

Ulric: “Let me teach you some basics, then, while you rest. I will try to keep it simple. Tenebris is our world, and there is a magical flux on it. This flux, this energy, is within everything, and it floats everywhere.”

“Everything? Like any creature and object?”

Ulric: “Yes, everything. This table, this chair, your being, or even a simple rock or a carrot.”

“So… everything is magical?”

Ulric: “Absolutely, but not every object or living being is equal. Everything absorbs the magical flux, and everything resonates with everything. But the flux isn’t consumed in the process. To explain it simply, let’s take this table as a sample. It’s basic furniture. It’s made of wood, so its nature is natural, but it’s a crafted item, so there is also molding flux in it.”

“I think I understand for now, but I don’t really get the absorbing and resonating part.”

Ulric: “We are here, sitting around this table. The proximity is creating a resonance. The resonance is made of two things: proximity and nature. If the similarity of the nature of two things is the same, they will resonate in a more natural way. But proximity is the key. Right now, we are resonating with this table, but our nature is very different, so the flux absorption is very low. But as a mageborn, my living flux is way higher than yours, so this table is able to absorb more easily the living flux I am emitting.”

“Okay, this is an energy thing. Everything gives and takes, so?”

Ulric: “You don’t give in the literal sense. You don’t really give anything; you emit energy. But everything takes this energy at a slower or faster rate.”“Is this table a magical item, then? Can it be used to do magic?”

Ulric: “Everything is magic. But it’s not an artifact; it’s just an object. If I want, I can use this table to make an artifact. It is absolutely possible, but you won’t be able to do much with it, because the table isn’t great at absorbing flux. Absorption is limitless, but the rate decreases depending on the being or object. This theoretical limit can be somewhat lifted if a powerful being or object is close. The minotaur testicles you have here, and this erect penis, are powerful items. We mageborns call these components ‘power items.’”

“So you really can make an artifact with them?”

Ulric: “Absolutely! They are perfect. You are lucky your master taught you that. Also, I am actually quite surprised you took a penis with you. Why?”

You explain your decision-making further.

Ulric: “This is a good deduction. That was smart of you. Don’t think too much about being or not being a weirdo. Knowledge—if you allow me—doesn’t give a fuck about it. You created a power item without even knowing it! Just out of curiosity, and because it was weird, you saw something unusual and thought it was certainly worth a try. I need to explain a little about magical creatures. Minotaurs are magical creatures. But what makes a magical creature a magical creature? It’s always a body part. Always. For minotaurs, it’s their testicles. This is why they are so tall and strong, this is why their penis is so heavy and huge, this is why they are resistant to magic, and also why they have this power over females of any race, and even over males. For fairies, it’s their wings. For dragons, it’s their heart. This doesn’t mean the rest of their bodies is useless—no, no, no! But it’s where the flux is the most concentrated. You could have taken the minotaurs’ horns. You could make an artifact with them, but the nature would be different, and less powerful than their testicles.”

“It’s simple and complicated at the same time, but I got the most important thing about body parts. But how did I create a power item?”

Ulric: “Well, you actually created five of them, but the fifth one is more special. If the penis was flaccid, it wouldn’t have great powers, because in a magical sense the framework doesn’t give it anything special. But by interacting with his scrotum and testicles—the main body part of the power—the resonating of power, and so the link between the testicles and the penis, got triggered. Minotaurs are who they are because of their genitals. They live for them. So the natural link between the two is very strong. So when you interacted with the testicles, it activated the link, and this is why the penis got erect by pure magic even after the death of the minotaur.”

“That’s… fascinating. So he is still erect because of magic?”

Ulric: “Indeed! Yes, because this is a power item, it will stay like this forever. I can see the flux within it. It resonates with the eight testicles at the same time. It has already grown strong. And because the power items were created by you, they are already resonating with you too. You have already absorbed a part of their flux.”

“I was mostly assaulted by the pheromones and musk, to be honest…”

Ulric: “Let me guess—you were aroused? Feeling forced to masturbate? Don’t answer. The answer is obvious to me. These are sexual power items: virility, power, dominance over others. You had five sexual power items on you for more than three hours. Of course they will have a strong effect.”

“It was hard to focus on the walk. I had to stop two times to…”

Ulric: “Only two times? Impressive.”

“The travel was already exhausting enough…”

Ulric: “And that is the why of the only two times. Anyway, these are very rare power items, even at this time. I somewhat think the alchemists actually took most of them. It’s easy money. What’s done is done. I have a proposition for you, as you are lost and alone. I don’t have any power items left in stock. I was forced to make artifacts for the war, and I am quite unhappy about it. It’s way more efficient to let power items resonate and share their flux. Plus, as a mageborn, my own flux grows in a more efficient way if I am near power items and artifacts. At least I still have my own artifacts. So I will create an artifact for you freely, with the penis and one of the filled scrotums. I actually want the three other filled scrotums, but I can’t pay you for all of them. If you work for me, I will let you live here for free. You will have your own room, of course, and you also will have an allowance each week. Also, if you succeed well in your tasks, I will create some more artifacts for you for free. Oh, and of course, I will be your teacher. So?”

“Oh. I clearly didn’t expect any of this! If you think I can do what you need me to do, then why not? I have nowhere to go anyway, and your deal is very fair.”

Ulric: “Perfect! I will create a room for you, and I will do the preparations for the artifact. But it will be best if we wait some days before I create the artifact. Letting the flux flow between the five power items is going to make them stronger. Take them and follow me. I will put them in this room in a square, with the penis in the middle. Good, good. Now the room.”

“Is it me, or does your home seem bigger inside than outside?”

Ulric: “It’s not you. That is the case. If you take these stairs, your room is the first door on the right.”

“Already?!”

Ulric: “You have no idea what mageborns can do if they take the time to master their powers and use the flux in efficient ways. Practice and knowledge are the key. Did you know some mageborns don’t even need to eat? And we are not really concerned with mortality either. Anyway, you will learn in time. Until your artifact is done, I advise you never to go out at night. This city can be extremely dangerous at night. And if you hear strange rumors, do not inquire too much about them, and come to me to ask about them. I already know a lot about the city. Following rumors usually leads to a certain death—or worse.”

“I knew the city was dangerous, but…”

Ulric: “Tenebris is an old world. There is still a lot to learn about it, and conspiracies are way too common these days. It was not like that when I was young, but it got worse with each passing year. The biggest turning point was when the breach appeared above the sea—the now-named Dead Sea. The breach is an open portal to the demon realm, from another plane of existence. This is a multiversal breach. The flux coming from it is powerful, and it influences the flux of Tenebris. But these so-called demons are not demons in the common sense used on Tenebris. They are magical creatures, powerful ones, but they seek no harm. The rumor stating there was a war between them and the human realm is false, and serves another purpose yet to be fully discovered. The true name of their species is the Modris.”

“Lies…but…”

Ulric: “Young one, take some well-needed rest. You have a mourning to do. Be brave, and don’t hesitate to ask for advice. I will help you as much as I can. We are certainly going to be good friends in the future, and not only partners. I can sense it. When you are well rested, come to see me. I will give you some simple errands to busy your time and mind until the artifact is done. Take your time.”

“T-thanks.”

- A week later -

“I have the ingredients you asked me to get.”

Ulric: “Good, good. I just finished your artifact. Ready to see it? Take a look.”

I looked on the table. The thing was strange. I thought it would be, I don’t know, a sword, a bow, an amulet? But it was a sort of double ring, and I don’t get how it can be put on a hand.

“I…don’t know what to think or say, what is this ?”

Ulric exploded in laughter.

Ulric: “Hehehe! Your expression is priceless! You gave me particular power items, so you have a particular artifact.”

“This is surely strange, but what’s the link between a penis, testicles, and… this?”

Ulric: “Everything, actually. You will put this artifact on your own testicles and penis. It’s a cock ring and a ball stretcher at the same time. It’s the most efficient way for the artifact to work at the best of its powers.”

“Uhhh…”

Ulric: “I told you, if you fear being a weirdo, you will learn nothing. You gave me sexual power items; I give you a sexual artifact. Don’t think. Just put it on. You will see.”

He explained precisely how to wear it, and I then went to my room to put it on. I was sure it was going to be a disturbance, but no—strangely easy to put on, and I somewhat barely feel its presence. Yet I sense a change in me. I feel… more powerful? Yes, I feel… great!

Ulric: “Ah, you back. So ?”

“I actually feel great, like a new me, devoid of worries.”

Ulric: “Good. Actually, this is a powerful artifact. I am proud of myself on this one. People tend to see artifacts as mere tools for using magic, but they are way more than that. They have passive effects on the bearer that are close to a net positive. This one is pure sexual energy, pure virility. You are going to be very handsome, taller, muscular, and you’re going to have an easier time asserting your dominance over living beings. Oh, and I prefer to tell you now: your testicles and penis are going to grow a lot, but the artifact will readjust itself automatically. The universal rule of artifacts is that they can’t harm the wearer. They serve him, and they make the wearer a greater one.”

“This explains the sensation I have down here, at least… how much is this artifact going to change me?”

Ulric: “It won’t change you into a minotaur, if this is what you are asking, and you are not going to look like a mountain of muscles either. Concerning your genitals, well, not as much as a minotaur, for sure, but I think you can expect a middle ground. The most visible changes are going to take quite some time, but it is possible that you are going to have some sexual peaks at the start—the time for the artifact and you to adapt.”

“Wow, it’s going to be quite the size, then! So I am able to influence others? Make them submit?”

Ulric: “And even more! But never forget people have a memory. Power is sometimes better used in a subtle way than a brutal one. But when in danger, being able to be very brutal can be a key to success. But never forget these words, young one: **you can always encounter someone or something stronger than you**. The magic you can use is of a sexual but physical nature. It’s not the same as a succubus power item, which would be sexual and psychic. Of course, this artifact permits you to have a psychic influence through a physical aura, but true psychic power is another thing.”

“It gets complicated here, but I can sum it up as ‘don’t abuse your powers, or you will have a hard time.’”

Ulric: “You can say that, yes. Even if you can actually use your powers without my help, I think some practice and theoretical teaching is going to be better. Oh, and one last thing: if you are hoping to rescue your sister with the help of this artifact, forget about it. Because if an artifact is made of a specific creature, it will not be more efficient over that creature, as its flux is going to recognize the creature as ‘Origin,’ so your powers are going to be less efficient.”

“Oh…I see…anyway, I don’t think I can do much alone in minotaur territory in the middle of a war…”

Ulric: “That, and the fact you have no clues about where she is. Just think about the fact that the younger the slave is, the more obedient he is going to be, as you can mold them easily. As shocking or surprising as it will be, your sister actually has a good chance of being well treated.”

“I prefer not to think about it, to be honest. I have already imagined way too much of what she is going to do. Let’s just train.”

- Months later -

The war ended. It was short for a war, but casualties were high on both sides. The turning point was when the different clans had enough females for their harems. It was then no longer needed for them to be in a coalition, so the coalition crumbled. Humans seized this opportunity to push back the minotaurs while using their past experience fighting them. You didn’t take part in the war. Since you came to the city, Ulric was of very wise advice, so you followed it. And now you master your artifact. Your body changed slowly but surely. You were stronger, your genitals got bigger, and you have a true effect on others. But the changes were just starting. It would take years for them to flourish to their maximum potential—the purely physical ones, at least.

Ulric: “Now that the war has settled, we can start to collect new power items in the western lands.”

As a hunter, my job was to find creatures and collect power items. Sometimes the creature needed to be killed; sometimes I was just interacting with it. I also collect some plants and flowers. It can be fruits too, gems, rocks… but when it’s very specific, Ulric comes with me, because I am not able to see the flux within objects and beings. He also explained that the power of an artifact isn’t equal to the power items used to make it, and it is not necessarily needed to have powerful power items to make a great artifact. He told me that using multiple lesser power items could lead to great artifacts too, but only if the nature of the power items is close or extremely similar. Everything he learnt was mostly by experimenting. Each artifact is useful in its own way, even if they are of lesser power. But obviously, the best ones are the most powerful. Also, the morals of the mageborns are mostly grey. He told me that:

Ulric: “Even the darkest ways of getting power items can be worth it, but a mageborn needs to take into consideration his sanity in the long run. Some of the most powerful artifacts were made with actual living beings and souls. These ones are the deadliest, because they have the power of instant killing. It is possible to create a power item by molding a living being, but the method is very complex, because when doing so, the nature of every body part is ‘exploding.’ When molding something living, it’s like surgically cutting each part and then mixing them together again into a new singular form composed of each different nature of each body part. And you also need to not let the flux get out in the molding process. Imagine that a living being is 1,000 points of flux. The molding is going to explode the flux, so you need to be able to do everything I mentioned while keeping most of the total flux. If you are good, then the result is going to get close to the initial number. If you are a master in the art, the total number is going to be higher, or way higher, if it’s done near power items or artifacts, because the molder will be able to make the mold absorb a part of the energy emitted by the objects. The difficulty is, of course, multiplied by the size and the total flux of a being.”

He actually tried on insects and then on rats, but the complexity is so high that he is not interested in doing so. Plus, molding an actual living being is not really his cup of tea, because “the flux is screaming.”

- 2 years later -

Ulric made a bow artifact for me. He is just amazing! He used multiple pairs of predator eyes to make it. My accuracy is now perfect! And my gaze is piercing. I can instill fear in a living being just by looking him in the eyes. He also created 10 artifact arrows with claws, paws, and talons. As with any artifact, they can’t be destroyed by normal means, and their sharpness and penetrative power are strong. They can pierce through a body, depending on the density of the pierced part, of course. Imagine if it was a dragon claw being used! He also added:

Ulric: “You can also use your new power to influence the direction of the arrow while in the air. You won’t have the power to absolutely master the direction. Simply put: don’t expect to force the arrow to make a 90-degree directional change. And if you didn’t already feel your new power, you can change your nails into powerful claws. Cumulated with your natural strength and your power to multiply it, it can be quite devastating. Not as much as a troll’s strength, or even a giant’s, of course. And with your keen senses, finding your arrows is not going to be a problem.”

He was right. When I infuse my view with the bow’s power, I can slightly see the flux of objects and beings, but only if the flux is concentrated, which is the case for the arrows, even if they are not as powerful as my minotaur genital artifact. Speaking of it, my balls actually weigh ~300 grams each. I feel so virile now, compared to the normal weight of ~15 grams. My cock is also quite the sight. I was at 15 cm, and now I am at 20 cm! How good it feels.

- Some months later -

Ulric: “Here, a new artifact for you.”

“Thanks, it’s a circlet ? What’s his power ?”

Ulric: “Indeed. With this, you should be able to analyze what you focus your eyes on. It will be like the living being is telling you how he functions, directly in your head. Very practical to know the strengths and weaknesses of someone or something. And you can use telekinesis to some extent, plus another little thing. But mind that the living being isn’t talking to you directly. It’s a metaphor.”

“Nice. Moment-to-moment knowledge. Very useful everywhere.”

Ulric: “Also, be wary around churches and priests of the city. The flux in the places is… changing in an unusual way. It’s happening very slowly, though. I will observe the changes and then investigate.”

“Understood.”

- 2 Years later -

It’s now been five years since I came to the city. Things have evolved well for me, but the city herself is changing. It’s gloomy, sinister, but I am not afraid. I feel powerful. My minotaur artifact is growing with me. The resonance and the symbiosis are true. My balls are now 750 grams each, and my cock is 25 cm long, and thicker too. I can have any female I want, and I have a true friend. Ulric taught me a lot, and I couldn’t ever be thankful enough to him. Not long ago, he learnt from a Modris friend that Meredith, the princess, is going to marry a human she found in the Dead Sea. Her father was furious when she came with the human at first, but he loved his daughter too much, and he couldn’t stand being angry at her. Plus, the human was actually nice, and loving the princess is not nothing, as she is an adolescent in her rebellious phase. But the princess fell in love with him, and they plan a wedding, and Ulric received an invitation. Though very happy about it, he is worried lately. He talks a lot about an “ancient dread.” He said that something ancient is active and very close to being here with us, but he can’t exactly put a finger on what being it is.

Ulric: “I have terrible news. The ancient dread is born again…”

“What ? Where ? Who ?”

Ulric: “The church isn’t what it was before. She is now corrupted from the inside. The flux of some of the priests has drastically changed. They are not what they seem to be. Some priests are not humans. It seems they… were before, but not now—not entirely. It’s like the human it was is somewhat present in some form, but… in their genitals? But I am sure that they are shapeshifters, powerful shapeshifters. They are magical creatures, but… their magic is ancient, from another time, a very old time, or even another plane of existence…”

“My god…can we do something ?”

Ulric: “We’d better not. Even I feel weak when close to them. They have mind-breaking powers. The nature of their power is psychic, and they are true evil creatures. I don’t know what they want, but their roots are in the cult of the divines. I need some time to think. Come back to me after your errand.”

And he goes into his laboratory. I am curious. I felt the changes in the city. Was it because of my artifacts and new senses? I don’t know, but I want to see these priests closer. I will make a small detour by the Cathedral.

- Outside the Cathedral -

“I can see their flux quite distinctively. There are indeed some who aren’t what they seem to be. I want to go closer, to see what I feel.”

And so you did. You passed casually near one of them who was talking to a citizen. The priest gazed at you in an indescribable way. It was not something visible to the eyes, but the… thing passing for a priest clearly saw you were wearing artifacts, and he sensed your power as you tried to use your circlet on him. He crushed it by his mere presence… whatever this being is, the only information your circlet gave you is: XOLOTH. And then you go back to see Ulric.

“Ulric? I did pass by the church. I wanted to see for myself.”

Ulric: “I actually think it was a bad idea, as it could compromise our security.”

You explain what happened.

Ulric: “Xoloth? I never heard of this species before. But this creature, this Xoloth, knows what you did. He certainly would have sensed your power and artifacts, but using the circlet on him, as he is a psychic being, made him act against you. The fact you felt crushed by his mere presence is the proof of it. Don’t forget that your power is mostly physical.”

“Can’t you create a psychic artifact ?”

Ulric: “It would require very powerful power items, and I don’t think I am powerful enough myself to obtain them, even if, since you work with me, my power has grown quite a lot. Your help is invaluable. I never talked to you about some specifics of artifact crafting, but a mageborn is limited when he molds an artifact. The number of power items and the cumulative power of the items is what defines this limit. I can’t really quantify it by numbers, but… if we take the sample of the minotaur testicles, when you came here, I was able to use four of them at the same time if I wanted to mold an artifact. Right now, it would be seven, which is quite the difference.”

“It’s that huge ? I helped this much ?”

Ulric: “As I already told you, mageborns never cease to grow in power, but if certain conditions are met, they grow faster. The power items you collect, the fact you are now powerful for a human, the fact you wear artifacts that are growing with you. The fact I create artifacts, and the fact I try to keep most of the best power items in this house. The synergy and the resonance of this magical house increased quite a lot, and we benefit from it. My own testicles and penis grew too, to a lesser degree than yours, but 220 grams for a single testicle is quite the thing. The fact I kept the three scrotums intact helped. And we are not even on a telluric line, but I molded the house in an optimized way. You know, before you came here, I was going to close the shop because of the war. Leave the city with my magical house and find a sweet spot on a telluric line to mold my house into a wizard tower.”

“But because of me? you didn’t ?”

Ulric: “Indeed, but I regret nothing. Do you?”

“Not even the slightest! I am extremely grateful. So doing the hunting and collecting chores never was a problem.”

Ulric: “My friend, I told you we were going to be close. But now, things have changed in the city in a quite drastic way, and we should depart. I know you have quite the harem in the city, but it’s not worth dying for. And anyway, you can have any female of any race you want—well, maybe not all, but most of them—and I am close to being able to create intelligent living beings, but I can also invoke some.”

“Oh, quite interesting. So, when do we depart ?”

Ulric: “I have a lot of things to do before, so we will depart in one week. This city is going to fall into the hands of these Xoloths in one way or another, and I prefer observing it from far away. But there is something you can do for me before we depart. It will be more risky than usual, though.”

“I am not afraid.”

Ulric: “Sometimes, it’s better to be. I heard rumors about a powerful and ancient artifact in the north-west, in the mountains. The rumor is quite old, and I wasn’t that interested at the time. Plus, I was quite weaker. But with the Xoloths coming back, I think it’s time to investigate. Nonetheless, powerful aura flux has the usual tendency of being a magnet for creatures of any sort.”

“I can manage any danger.”

Ulric: “As I told you, you are powerful, yes, but not immortal, even if—if you haven’t already noticed—you have won some years of life thanks to the cumulated flux you now have. And even keen senses and a powerful physique can’t do much against some creatures. So, be cautious. I don’t want you to die. If it’s too dangerous, come back, but don’t hesitate to collect things of interest on your trip.”

“…Ok, I will be cautious. But wait, I won years of life ?”

Ulric: “The flux has great gifts to give.”

“How much ?”

Ulric: “Certainly close to twenty years.”

“THIS MUCH ?! This is amazing !”

Ulric: “It could be much, MUCH more. But if you want to profit from them, don’t die, and continue to live with me. Anyway, it’s not like you couldn’t have one or multiple wives in the future, and if they are of magical nature…”

“I think I understand what you try to say here… is a wizard tower this big?”

Ulric: “It could be, and pocket planes are always a thing too. Remember that the inside of the house is way bigger than seen from the outside!”

“True. The future is looking bright. Give me the details and a map, and I will depart tomorrow morning.”

The travel was dangerous. You had to fight some aggressive creatures on the road, but you managed well. Ulric is going to get some good power items from them. The travel isn’t really exhausting, since you have the genitals artifact. Your strength and stamina are quite high. Following Ulric’s indications, you managed to find vast ruins. It was certainly an ancient city. Exploring is going to take some time, so you try to find a good place indoors for your little camp. You can sense danger, and you can hear creatures afar and underground. It’s not going to be an easy task, Ulric told you.

The night went well. The next day, you started to search for the artifact, but found nothing, not even a clue. But you had to fight some monsters, and you are actually thankful for the circlet. It actually helped. At least, you got other power items. You also realized that you can boost your telekinesis by channeling the power of your genital artifact. Ulric would certainly say it’s a smart use. You actually mapped what you already explored. The goal was to give you a vague idea of the structure of the ancient city. The fact is, the city seems to be mostly buried deep underground. You don’t know how it happened, but if there is something, it’s certainly underground.

The next day, you decided to search for an entrance. It could be hidden or under debris. You found some caves and fought some monsters again. But most of the passages underground are blocked by debris, rocks, dirt…

“Whatever happened here, the goal was to destroy everything. But it looks like a natural disaster, and then the passage of time. The good news is I have close to 95 kg of power items, but I certainly missed some. Tomorrow, I will try to dig. It’s going to be quite the commotion.”

The next day, with the plan you made, you thought about a good spot, one that could lead to an actual corridor. And then, you started to dig by using your brutal strength. You made a lot of noise, but you succeeded in finding a corridor. It’s obviously dark here, but you have night vision thanks to your bow. Nonetheless, the creatures who live here have it too, so you decided to light a torch. The underground is actually… untouched. There is a lot of dust, but most of the paths are open. It looks like a labyrinth, but it’s certainly not a true one, just the design, as it looked like a city with actual houses and markets, for what was left to be seen, at least. The precious things certainly got stolen long ago, but maybe there are ancient things in the underground.

“The noise I made certainly made most of the creatures flee, but it’s temporary. Anyway, let’s take a straight path, and I will map everything.”

While walking underground, you could see that there were traces on the ground and walls. There are living beings here. And you can hear some noises here and there. But for now, nothing has tried to attack you. Then, a little later, you started to sense a powerful flux. It’s faint, but you got accustomed to being surrounded by a big amount of flux at Ulric’s place, this cumulated with your newer keen senses. So there is a sense of familiarity, yet it’s something new, a new flux. You now have a lead to follow. As Ulric taught you:

“The emission of flux from power items and artifacts impregnates their surroundings. The more powerful they are, the more range they have. But also, if a stone absorbs the flux, it will resonate with closer stones if it’s a wall, for example. Even if the item or artifact isn’t here anymore, the flux is permanent and will be present in big quantities in everything that was here for a long time.”

If the artifact is here, it is at the epicenter. So you followed the flux, simple as that. Undoubtedly, the artifact is extremely powerful and was there for a long, long time, maybe centuries or a millennium. You travel through the corridors, and you still haven’t encountered any creature… yet there is a strange green fluid on the ground. It’s thick and slightly sticky. It even glows very slightly, not enough to actually light the corridors. But the more you approach your destination, the more there is on the ground. Ulric told you that powerful flux attracts creatures, and it seems one of them is near. The fluid actually has a sort of sweet smell… is it edible? You don’t even dare to try. It could be a sort of tricky poison. Strangely, it gets more slick now, and… warmer? Was it released recently? It could be the case.

“I am sure the creature is near, but even with my keen senses, I see and feel nothing… but I have an idea.”

You focus and use your genital artifact to emit a wave of powerful musk. There are only two possibilities: either the creature flees, or it will come to breed. Now, you just have to wait and be on your guard. Then, you start to hear something moving. You actually never heard something like that. Is this thing walking? Or sliding? You have no clues on how it moves, but you know the direction it is coming from. If it comes, then… this thing wants to breed. Is that a female? Of what sort? Whatever, it could be dangerous. And then… the noises are close. The creature is just behind the left wall! You decide to surprise it by jumping close to it, and at the moment you see it, you freeze.

What stands in front of you is an unsightly creature. You never saw an abomination like that! It doesn’t have legs. It walks with her powerful arms. Her body is like a caterpillar? A huge caterpillar with… huge breasts? Breasts that are dripping this green fluid abundantly. It has a… an anus just below her huge neck? And the creature only has one eye, a huge eye focused on you, piercing you, and it’s glowing… her face is strange, with a vertical slit in the middle that’s opening. Her tongue is sliding out. It’s a weird tongue. It’s not made for licking. You realize you can’t talk anymore. You don’t control your body either. And then, you sense your artifacts activating one after another, but it’s not you. It’s her… she is figuring them out by using them through you!

And then, your circlet activates, and the knowledge and biology of the creature appear in your mind. You have already used it before, so you know it’s like the creature is talking to you, but she isn’t really.

Circlet: “Ovalith is my name. Strige is my species, a very ancient one. We are not many, and I am alone here, trapped. I have powerful arms, but my true power is in my eye. I hunt little creatures to survive, but not many. Mostly do it to have fun. I hypnotize them and I alter their brains and nerves. I suck their insides with my strawlike tongue while they feel pleasure. But I don’t need to eat much. I should be dead since a long time, but I am not, because of big power here. I absorb power and I live. Power comes from pink glowing orb. But orb was stolen some years ago by a purple winged biped covered in fur. Didn’t catch her. She was female, and she didn’t look at me. She flew to the orb and left. But power still here in walls. If I stay here, I live. Don’t need to eat.”

If the flux is high, it’s true that you don’t need to eat. You can, but it’s not necessary. Your body is working perfectly fine, if not even better. But why is she keeping me here, then? The circlet activates again, but it’s not you who activated it. It’s her.

Circlet: “Strige not dangerous when breasts are small. Only dangerous when breasts are big and drippy. Extremely deadly when breasts are huge and overflowing. Strige don’t reproduce often. They need a viable host. This one never had the chance to reproduce before. Strige are females only, but they need a male host. Powerful male is better and makes stronger young. I feel alone, too alone for too long. I am full of eggs. My abdomen grew, grew, and grew to store them. I grew more rows of breasts. I had 4 at the start, now 10. They are always full. My milk is everywhere. I smelt powerful pheromones. Powerful male here. Can’t wait longer. Need to lay eggs. You good host. Will have hundreds and hundreds of babies. Body is composed at 70% of eggs. I show you my precious organ. Hope you are hungry. Will be extremely pleasurable for both of us. I will be happy. Need to finally make love. I will fill you with my eggs and my special fluid. You will be stretched. Your belly will be giant while my abdomen will flatten. How glorious it will be.”

You understood she was using the circlet to communicate, or at least to share intentions. And then, the “anus” at the base of her neck opened, and a long green tentacle came out. The mouth of the tentacle opened. And you realize there are eggs moving inside. This is her ovipositor. It is covered in and dripping a darker green fluid. The mouth of the ovipositor looks like a flower, somewhat. But nothing good will happen to you here. If 70% of her body is composed of eggs… seeing how thick it is… there are what, 200–300 eggs in it? Maybe more? There is no doubt that the power inside these walls reshaped her body to accommodate her needs, as she couldn’t find a host. She is certainly the only big creature in this underground… and except for this mysterious winged female furry, I am the first male to come here… and I literally gave her what she wanted. I doomed myself by using my genital artifact, and now she is approaching closer. Taking me in her arms, hugging me, while her ovipositor is aligning with my mouth… The ovipositor is now clinging to my face. My mouth is forced open by her sheer will. I am forced to look in her eye, and I can’t blink. The eggs are being pushed into my throat and stomach. And yet I am feeling the best pleasure I have never experienced. My cock destroyed my pants, and I am fully erect. I will ejaculate soon, again and again. I know it. I feel it. It’s going to be an explosion of pleasure. My body is a genital organ. I feel pleasure everywhere. The eggs are filling me, over-bloating me, and yet I only feel pleasure. Pain ceased to exist. I will never be able to hold this many eggs. I will implode… or be consumed from the inside…

Circlet: “I never experienced this extreme pleasure before. My precious organ is getting crazy.”

I couldn’t see it, but her abdomen was contracting and seizing, moving what was clogged for so long. The ovipositor was having some sort of seizure, trembling and contracting. The amount of fluid and eggs was growing steadily. She even has difficulty keeping her eye open, like she desperately wants to let it go and let her face fall deep into an ultimate climax stance… it would be my chance, but my own pleasure will stop, and she will never let me go. She waited too long for that…

So… this is how I will die…? In a short but deadly extreme pleasure? All these five years for this? At least, it was the best row of orgasms I ever had… and another one is coming… while I hear him saying…

”Ulric: But never forget this words young one; you can always encounter someone or something stronger than you.”

The End ?