Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

!~Ding~!

[Skill: Null-Return]

[Effect: This skill allows the user to designate a single "Save Point" in their personal timeline. Upon death—or by Wish (Currently Unavailable)—the user's existence rewinds to that Save Point, known as the Null-Return. All memories, experiences, and knowledge gained up to the moment of death are retained.]

[Additional Benefits: The Null-Return can be re-designated after a certain period of time, enabling the user to update it to a moment that feels safer, more advantageous, or more strategic, depending on the situation they find themselves in.]

[Limitations: Only one Null-Return can exist at a time. Once the user revives from a Save Point, that specific point is consumed and can never be used again. The user may only activate a Null-Return point again after a minimum of 24 hours.

If the user dies immediately upon revival at the Save Point, the skill automatically rewinds them even further—24 hours prior to the original Save Point—forcing a deeper reset in the timeline.]

[Cooldown Period: Altering the Null-Return requires a cooldown period of 48 hours before another one can be made and consumes Affection points, which may vary depending on how many consecutive times the skill has been used.]

!~Ding~!

[Notice📢: The skill Null-Return can only be used as long as the user maintains the Eternal Contract with Nyx Shadowfall.]

Aether's eyes widened in surprise as he realised something.

'So that means… if I die again and again… doesn't matter how many times… the time will keep reversing, pulling me back before the point when Nyx made the contract with me. Then… what happens after that?'

!~Ding~!

[The skill will be deleted, and you will be returned to the point of the Completed Seduction List.]

Aether hummed with a thoughtful expression, his brows furrowing as his voice lowered to a mutter, almost as if he was speaking to himself. 'What makes Nyx so different from the others? Is that the reason why… when I died in the twin realm, or whatever that place was called, I returned to Nyx instead of going back to the last seduction point? Could it be that she changed the rules entirely?'

!~Ding~!

[Affirmative! The moment the contract between the user and an incomplete soul was established, you became unable to return to the seduction point.

Due to Nyx Shadowfall's unique soul constraint, even if you die now, you will most likely return to a point 24 hours prior to your death. As long as the contract between you two is maintained, you will no longer be required to return to the seduction point!]

Aether raised his eyebrows, 'Then… there's no longer a need to keep reducing the seduction list, right? I don't have to worry about the order anymore?'

!~Ding~!

[Affirmative!]

Aether sighed again, this time with a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Now, even if he were to die, he no longer needed to carry the burden of worrying about the seduction list growing longer and longer with each attempt.

"A-Aether?"

Aether flinched as he turned to Nyx, who stood before him, looking at him with a slightly worried yet still indifferent expression.

Aether sighed. As soon as she returned to her body, her face went back to its usual stoic mask… not that he cared anymore.

He had seen her life, felt her pain, and touched her memories. He understood her now, and that understanding burned into his chest. She was just a—

"Stupid," Aether muttered, making Nyx flinch. For a second, her lips pressed into a faint frown, but before she could respond, Aether pulled her straight into his embrace.

"Hmm!"

Nyx fell against his chest in sudden surprise... But then, as her ear pressed close enough to catch the steady rhythm of his heartbeat—soft, fast, alive—her lips curved into the smallest of smiles.

"I am not... stupid," she whispered stubbornly, her voice trembling even as her fingers clenched tightly into his shirt, refusing to let go.

Aether chuckled and hugged her back, his warmth pressing into her until, for a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence lingered, fragile and comforting, until—

"Hmm… Okay, I think it's enough of a show."

Nightfire's voice echoed, sharp and teasing. Both Aether and Nyx flinched as they looked up and saw… everyone. Literally every single one of the ghosts around them was grinning like mischievous spectators at a play.

[+5000 AP]

Nyx flinched again, her pale cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink before she quickly stood up. She dusted her clothes in a hasty attempt to regain her composure and turned her head away, awkwardly avoiding their eyes.

Starla grinned even more, her smirk wide and knowing.

Aether chuckled softly, shaking his head with a sigh as he rose to his feet. He reached out and rubbed Nightfire's hair gently, his voice warm as he said, "Thank you… for holding on this long."

Nightfire's eyes trembled, the heat in them flickering between relief and frustration before she suddenly lunged forward. Her thin, soft arms wrapped around him tightly, clinging as if she had nearly lost him for good.

"I-I thought… I-I lost you, P-Pervert," she stammered, her voice breaking halfway.

Aether smiled gently, patting her back with slow, reassuring strokes. "There, there," he soothed,

"I'm not going anywhere… not when I've got this cute little succubus of mine, am I?" He pressed a tender kiss against her forehead.

Nightfire snorted at the gesture, but despite herself, she smiled quietly and softly, the corners of her lips betraying her.

Aether then turned his gaze toward Nyx. Her eyes burned with an obvious jealousy.

He chuckled, reached for her as well, and pulled her against him, holding both women tightly in his arms.

"I love both of my wives…" he whispered, his voice low but steady, before leaning in and brushing his lips against Nightfire's mouth and then Nyx's in turn.

Nightfire let out a cheeky, mischievous grin, her eyes glinting with heat. "Hehe… fuck me~"

Nyx, meanwhile, flushed with a faint blush and turned her head to the side, trying to hide the small smile that tugged at her lips. But for those few seconds, the curve of her mouth was undeniable, and it left her entire ghostly family staring at her in open horror.

Then, one by one, they broke into grins and whispers.

Whistle~

"Look at our Queen smiling… so shy~"

"Haha… get a room, you three!!"

The ghosts whispered softly yet loudly, their voices overlapping in teasing echoes that made Nyx lower her head even further, her cheeks faintly red with embarrassment. However—

"Husband, fuck her!!"

Someone suddenly shouted from among the ghosts.

Veins bulged on Nightfire's forehead, her eyes twitching as she snapped, "Which bitch has been calling him husband for so long?! BITCH, HE IS MINE!! Just because you call him husband doesn't mean he will be yours!!

He ain't going to fuck a ghost, you know!!" She then turned her sharp glare toward Aether, her fiery tone softening into desperate puppy eyes. "You wouldn't, right?"

"…No."

"Oi! What's with that pause!!" Nightfire trembled, her tail flicking in agitation.

Aether chuckled with an amused expression, watching her flare up while, at the same time, catching Nyx's face shift between a smile and a flicker of worry.

"What is it, dear?" he asked gently, tilting his head toward her.

Nyx blinked, hesitating. She didn't want to say it, didn't want to bring the thought into words.

"No hiding, right?" Aether leaned closer, nudging her nose with his, coaxing her to speak.

Nyx smiled weakly and gave a small nod. "I came back… for now. But… what about the next Blooddawn?"

Aether took a deep breath. He knew the truth. He had only pulled her back into existence… but he hadn't cured her unstable soul.

Just then—

[⚠️ Alert: You are entering the Seal of Aethernal Bond. This means you cannot break it even if you die… Your soul will always remain bonded with Aether, forever, to eternity.]

[Are you willing to proceed?]

Nyx blinked in surprise as glowing words formed before her eyes. She turned her gaze toward Aether, who simply nodded his head without hesitation.

Nyx sighed softly, the sound laced with both surrender and trust, before nodding her own head. However—

!~Ding~!

[Notice📢: Due to the incomplete soul, the Seal of Aethernal Bond could not be formed.]

Of course, Aether had expected this outcome. He had only been testing, seeing if his Seal might work on her fragile essence.

"Aether?" Nyx tilted her head, her lips parting in confusion, wondering why nothing had happened.

Aether shook his head calmly. "We will find another way… Until then."

He took out the Pasa Rope, its surface glowing faintly, and carefully wrapped it around her hand like a shield. His fingers tightened, pulling the knot firm so it wouldn't loosen.

Nyx tilted her head again, her curious eyes fixed on him.

"This thing holds the soul," he explained softly. "So as long as this rope is attached to your body, your soul won't leave it…" He spoke the words with confidence, but inwardly his thoughts shifted. 'Right? Log?'

!~Ding~!

[Well… Possible.]

Aether smiled as he looked at Nyx, who now stared at her entire hand wrapped tightly in the purplish rope… it shimmered faintly, its glow coiling around her like a protective brand.

To anyone else, it might have looked strange or ominous, but on her—it kind of looked like…

"Cool," Nightfire commented casually, her sharp eyes glinting with a teasing spark.

Nyx hummed, a small smile curving her lips as she looked back at Aether once again and softly whispered,

"Thank you."

Aether smiled gently. He wanted to say, they could have done this without all of this drama...

But... sigh... warmth flickering in his expression. Just then, Nyx's eyes finally drifted past him. Her breath hitched—

"Oh… my… goodness…" Nyx's shocked voice echoed as she stared wide-eyed at the towering Grenthollow Mountain, standing before her. "Why is this here?"

"Well…" Aether hesitated, scratching the back of his head, clearly unsure how to explain.

Nightfire snorted, folding her arms with a sharp glare. She remembered all too well what this woman had once tried to do to her sister.

"Tell her the truth, bastard! You wrecked this entire Empire for her!" She turned toward Nyx,

"You bitch, I want to say a lot to you right now, but for now… you better not pull anything weird again! He did a lot of shit for you, and if you don't want to be his shit, then just fuck off! I can have him!" Her hand slid down possessively, her fingers brazenly brushing against his crotch with a look that burned of ownership.

"…"

Aether, though taken aback by her words... Almost touching was one thing… but actually grabbing him in front of everyone like this?

That was kind of rude, you know!

He knocked her lightly on the head with his knuckles.

"Ouch! Why?" Nightfire yelped, glaring up at him with puffed cheeks.

Aether only shook his head and turned his attention back to Nyx. "Don't worry. Everything is fine… I'll just return this where it belongs."

"Really?" Nightfire's surprised tone made Aether frown slightly, "What, you thought I wouldn't?"

Nightfire chuckled, leaning closer with her usual sly grin.

"Haha… honestly, I thought you'd spout some bullshit words like… 'Oh, since this is here, I could save my wives even if something happens to them…' you know, that kind of cheesy crap. I really thought you'd do that, man. Ahaha… guess I was wrong. Seems you still have some common sense after all—"

Her words abruptly halted when she noticed Aether staring at her blankly… before a huge grin slowly plastered across his face.

"OH SHIT!! NO, NOOO!!!" Nightfire shouted in horror, her tail stiffening like a spear behind her.

Aether smiled, "Thank you~."

"NNNNOOOOO!! JUST THROW THIS SHIT AWAY FROM US, PERVERT!!" Nightfire shrieked, her panic clear.

Aether, of course, ignored her frantic words.

Honestly, he had intended to put the mountain back where it belonged. After all, dragging this thing out had already angered the laws themselves, those unforgiving bitches that governed balance.

But then again… considering what this mountain represented… considering that its presence meant he could save his wives even if they tried some reckless stunt and died, similar to now… he could bring them back the same way he saved Nyx.

Not a bad trade-off, right?

His grin widened, stretching even further across his face.

"JUST STOP THAT GRIN, IDIOT!!" Nightfire screamed, her voice breaking in horror.

Just then—

"By order of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Bloody Mary… Aether, Husband of Nyx Shadowfall, shall be arrested for his sin of stealing the Grenthollow, the Empire's God's Treasure!!!"

A voice boomed, loud enough to echo all around Nyx's house. But to this realm, almost like a whisper brushing against the edges.... Aether and the others heard it as clear as thunder.

Thud!

"Fuu~"

Nightfire fainted on the spot!