God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

Laying down covered in sweat and bodily fluids, Cain felt more alive than he had ever felt his entire life.

With his most recent physical liberation, the sensations were raised to a hundred, making it feel even better than the first and second time he had had sex.

"You were too rough." A voice whispered lazily from his side.

A small smile crept onto his lips.

"Are you sure? You seemed into it a moment ago."

Susan rolled her eyes,

"I did not."

"Should we try again?" Cain said, hand already reaching down.

Susan clasped her thighs around the mischievous hand and shook her head,

"We've been at it all morning."

Cain's eyes widened as he sat up,

"It's been that long already?"

Susan sat up as well. Without thinking much about it, she leaned in and gave him a pack on the cheek.

Cain was taken aback.

Her cheeks flushed, she gave him a smile.

A genuine smile.

Cain swallowed hard. Then he shook his head.

He suddenly remembered something,

"Have you received a message from Hunter yet?"

Susan nodded,

"Yes, I have. He said to gather at the headquarters for something important."

Cain nodded, "We'll go together."

He quickly stood up from the bed and swooped her up in his hands. Susan yelped in surprise.

His hair draping over his face, Cain smiled down at her and activated {Spatial Jump—

His expression immediately darkened as his face scrunched up into a frown.

"Damn it!"

***

Although his plans were ruined, there was luckily a bathroom with running water in the building.

Together with Susan, he had a wash and tidied himself up. Although there was a brief hiccup in the shower, they managed to finish in time.

Strapping on his leather armor, Cain let out a sigh and slowly rose to his feet.

Susan was also dressed in her embroidered dress.

"Let's go."

They stepped out into the streets and began heading towards the main headquarters of the Golden Asura.

Although their current lodgings wasn't far from the headquarters, they still decided to take their time.

Occasionally running into a few familiar faces, they continued their walk in relative silence.

"By the way, what is this all about?" Susan turned to face him and asked all of a sudden.

Cain pursed his lips. He saw no reason why not to tell her.

"We plan on attacking the Blood Moon Sect soon. "

Susan went silent for a moment.

"I see."

Cain shrugged,

"The fact remains that keeping them in our backyard is too dangerous. We run the risk of being gutted from the back. Plus, Hunter told me last night; they plan on launching an attack in the near future. We aren't going to give them the luxury of time. We'll strike first."

Susan sighed and rubbed her hands together.

Due to the eminent lack of sunlight, the days were cold, and the nights were even colder.

As someone with low defensive stats and resistances, she could feel the chill tk an extent.

Suddenly, a warmth enveloped her small frame.

Draping his cloak over her, Cain nodded in satisfaction.

The dark coat was not anything really special. It was a magic item that gave bare Elemental resistance and a minor defensive boost when in the dark, but that was it.

Even then, it did have rather good insulation and could keep the cold away fairly easily.

A flush of red swam through her cheeks. Looking at her in such a state, Cain couldn't help but feel something stir within him.

Soon after, they arrived in front of a building.

It was the only multistory building in the immediate area, with fifteen floors and architecture that was much different from the norm in Valestorm.

Indeed, it was a vestige of the old world...

"Oh? What is this, a family reunion?"

Cain heard a voice ring right beside him.

Before he could turn around, he felt a chubby arm wrap around his neck and pull him down.

"Boss Cain! You deserve all my respect! Way to go!"

Feeling Vincent's hot breath against his skin with every whisper made him uncomfortable,

"Get away from me, Vince." He muttered as he pushed the Fatty away.

Cain ran a glance over Vincent as the two seperated.

He raised a brow, "Is it just me, or have you grown a bit taller?"

Vincent chuckled and raised his shoulders,

"No. You are just now witnessing my magnificence. I believe more surprises are in store for you, Boss."

"He's been infected by a {Giant Fungus Spore} from a creature that temporarily increases the height and body fat reserves of its captured prey. He'll be back to normal soon. He luckily only ingested a little bit of it before we killed the damned thing."

Vincent's smug gurn crumbled in an instant.

Fury written all over his face, he snapped around,

"Leah, you damned snake!"

Leah guffawed as she slapped him across the back,

"Get a hold of yourself, you damned fatty. Learn to be humble and stop making a scene."

Ignoring Vincent's glare, she turned her gaze to Cain.

Her eyes narrowed,

"Well, well, well... If it isn't the ever elusive leader of the Golden Asura. I thought I'd never get to see you again in this lifetime."

Cain cleared his throat and grimaced,

"That... Aren't you exaggerating a bit?"

Leah shrugged and chuckled,

"It's good to see you again, Cain."

Then she leaned in and whispered,

"There's something who's even more excited to see you than I am."

Cain's expression changed and his body stiffened.

"Cain..."

He looked up.

He locked eyes with the one who had called his name so tenderly.

The guilt that had ebbed away in the morning came rushing back like a tidal wave.

"Roselle."

Standing beside him, Susan's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.

Dressing in light battle gear, her twin swords strapped to her waist, Roselle looked like the definition of a battle maiden.

However at this moment, the look in her eyes was surprisingly soft and warm. Cain couldn't help but notice she looked even better that she had a few months ago.

She briefly sped up then came to a stop right before him.

Yet, before she could say anything, she noticed Susan standing right beside him, her gaze fixed on her.

She froze.

'Crap...'

The tension in the air felt viscous, almost alive.

Vincent sighed and shook his head as he lightly patted Cain on the shoulder,

"Well played, Boss. Well played..."