Chapter 14 – Part 1: Slow is Smooth
Kai – POV
The battle with the horny elf was behind us, but I couldn't shake the feeling it wouldn't be the last time we crossed paths. He made it clear—he wanted Yuki.
And honestly? Who could blame him. The girl was a knockout.
But what's mine is mine. I don't care how strong Santa's twisted helper is. Yuki stays with me.
It had been two days since the fight. She was still recovering, locked in cryosleep. Healing.
But her last words echoed in my skull like a spell that refused to fade.
"Take me too."
No mistaking those words.
I exhaled slowly and leaned back on my cot, the stiff fabric creaking under me. The cool air of the den kissed my skin, tinged with the scent of mineral stone and Nyla's lingering musk. For once, I was alone. Shyara wasn't in the shadows with her usual smirk and cryptic giggles. Maybe she'd found a new cave to haunt.
And Nyla… she was close. I could feel her. Not see her. But she was there. Her presence clung to the edge of my awareness like heat behind a closed door.
She was trying. I knew that. We hadn't had a real moment together since everything went down. She'd been at her limit. And honestly… so had I.
I let myself get swept up in it. In her. Her need feeding mine. Her heat fanning flames I hadn't realized were already burning out of control. That tension? Still there. It hadn't gone anywhere. It curled in my gut, low and heavy. Coiled like a spring.
I'd always had… urges. But this? This was something else. More intense. Deeper.
Twisting under my skin like it wanted out.
I couldn't let it win. I wouldn't be like that elf. Warped by his own desire. A slave to the CHOSEN skill.
I had to stay grounded. Stay me.
I let out a slow breath. "I really need some chill time."
I didn't raise my voice. Didn't have to. "Nyla, you can come."
She appeared in a heartbeat—like she'd been waiting for the words. She slid to my side, curled against me, her soft warmth pressing into my ribs. Her tails brushed lightly over my thigh, then my chest, teasing sparks across my skin. I felt my pulse jump. I bit it down.
Not now.
I reached for her middle tail and stroked it gently. It trembled in my hand like it remembered every time I'd touched it before.
"Master…" she breathed. "If—"
"Nah." I cut her off softly. "Not right now. Just… let me hold you. Like before."
She tilted her head, a little pout on her lips, but didn't argue. She shifted closer, pressing her face into my neck. I kept my hand moving in slow circles over that soft tail.
It soothed me. Like petting her back when she was still in wolf form. Like grounding myself in something real.
"Mmm, but that spot—" she whispered, voice hitching.
"Yeah, I know. Just deal with it."
"Mmm…"
"Good girl."
I opened her status menu with a thought. May as well multitask.
⸻
Notice:
Tame Nyla conception successful. Activation of [Perfect Lover] achieved. Conditions for accelerated birth met.
Offspring will be the first hybrid species born in this world. Unique skill acquired: [Mother of the Progenitor].
My brain stuttered. For a second, I just stared.
I'd forgotten.
Or maybe I'd tried to.
The system had pinged like crazy that night, but we were so wrapped up in each other, it barely registered.
But this? This was real. It was happening.
I was going to be a dad.
A monster dad.
"Fuck…" I whispered.
I felt my chest tighten. Like all the air had been vacuumed out of the room.
I can barely keep myself alive. Now I had a kid? Fuck.
I took a few deep breaths. I could panic later. Right now, I needed to keep reading.
The mention of "accelerated birth" made my stomach twist. What did that mean?
As if in response, a new window popped up.
Countdown to Birth: 28 Days
"What!?" I nearly sat up, startling Nyla.
Twenty-eight days? That was insane. One month? That's not a pregnancy—it's a goddamn bootloader.
I tried to calm myself. This world had already made it clear it didn't care about my expectations. Of course monster biology would be on speedrun mode.
Nyla looked up at me with soft confusion. I gave her a wobbly smile and tried not to look like I was internally spiraling.
I scrolled down.
⸻
Skill: Mother of the Progenitor
Effect: Unlocks additional evolution paths.
Condition: Maintain 100% affection or higher until successful birth. Failure results in miscarriage.
"Damn…" I muttered.
Her affection was holding steady at 150%—but Nyla was volatile. I'd seen it. Felt it. I'd need to be careful. Not just emotionally. Consistently. She needed reassurance. Attention. Stability.
I closed the window and buried my face into her tail, inhaling her scent like it could slow my racing heart. It smelled like wildflowers and cold night air—soothing in a way I couldn't explain.
She giggled softly. I peeked up. Her smile was so damn pure sometimes.
"Lala," I murmured into her fur.
She blinked. "Huh? Do you mean me, Master?"
"Obviously. You're the only one here."
"But… you never called me that before."
"Not into it?"
"No! I like it! I was just surprised."
"Good. I'll keep using it." I smiled, brushing my thumb under her eye. "Tell me… how do you feel about being a mom?"
She tilted her head. Then her tails started wagging. "I don't know how I feel about being a mommy…" Her voice dipped low, warm and breathy, "But I do know I'll give you as many pups as this body can handle."
She leaned close, lips at my ear, voice like silk laced with fire.
"I told you before… break me."
⸻
I don't remember much after that.
Only heat. Breath. Teeth. Her body tangled with mine. Pleasure so intense it blurred the edges of reality.
⸻
When I woke, we were still tangled together. Her face was serene. Satisfied. Glowing.
I peeled myself free with a quiet chuckle.
"Who's taming who again?"
I stretched, shook off the fog in my brain, and reached for my tunic.
I'd had my moment.
Now it was time to check on Yuki.
⸻
Yuki's room was more like an ice locker—but I guess that made her feel at home.
We'd talked about her people and where she came from before, but yeah… she'd definitely left some details out. Can't fault her for that. I had a few secrets of my own.
More than a few.
We shared this psychic link, but that wasn't always a good thing. It mostly worked one way. They could influence how I felt a little, sure—but if I pushed, even a little, they were open books to me.
Mostly.
Yuki just wasn't used to feeling. Or so I figured. The only emotion I'd ever really seen her show was anger. Cold rage, mostly. But lately… she'd been more expressive. Still guarded. Still icy.
But I could tell.
She was starting to thaw.
That guy who came for her—he must've brought something back. Not trauma. Nah, I don't think she had the emotional depth for that before. More like… duty. Obligation.
Yeah. That seemed more like her.
I gazed at her, encased in crystal-clear ice. Physically, she looked fully recovered. But not all wounds leave scars.
I opened her status screen.
⸻
Name: Yuki
Species: Cryoborn
Level: 6
HP: 1000 / 1000
Strength: 45
Defense: 55
Agility: 65
MP: 2000 / 2000
Intellect: 250
Status: Cryosleep, Longing, Confused, Anxious (Major)
⸻
No major changes to her skill list.
But she was anxious.
That was probably on me.
We needed to talk. Soon.
I placed a hand gently against the ice. Cold pulsed through my skin like static. I spoke softly, just loud enough for the bond to carry the message.
"I'm here."
I let the words sit in the silence a moment longer before moving to her evolution tab.
Same as always. Only one option available. But no details. Locked again.
Figures.
Knowing the system, it was probably tied to the Chosen skill somehow. I hated these damn hidden requirements. Like I was supposed to just guess how to unlock things. I get it—it wants me to experiment. But these monsters…
They don't feel like monsters.
Not yet.
Maybe I'm being naïve.
I closed her status window.
This world was coming for me, whether I liked it or not. I had to be ready.
For them.
Yuki was recovering. Nyla's state made her just as vulnerable. That left it on me.
As it should be.
"Time for a bit of solo leveling," I muttered, turning from the ice. "Well—solo plus one. Time to put the princess to work."
I cracked my neck and headed out in search of Shyara.
If threats were coming from all sides, then we just needed to be strong enough to annihilate them before they landed a hit.
There ain't no manual for this shit.
I'm no genius. No brilliant tactician.
Just a guy too stubborn to take the L.
And honestly?
That's always been enough.
It's all I've ever needed.