Mantle of the Gods [LitRPG / Slow Burn / FTB Harem]

We needed to divide and conquer.

I cleared my throat to get their attention before they got out. "We should split up."

"Bad idea." Miel turned around to look at me. "We don't know if they were specifically targeted. Someone might be after you, and if we split up, that leaves only one of us to get around."

"You're what level?"

Miel glared at me as an answer to my question.

I turned to Gesai. "And how high did Klix power-level you while you were closing the Dungeon Breaks in Mive?"

The silver woman was more forthcoming with her stats. "Fifty-three."

Considering that she had been forty-eight when we arrived, five levels meant that Klix had taken the redhead down for some farming on the lower floors. Though she had gained two when she killed the Six. Still, that put her near the top end of levels as far as Adventurers were concerned. And she was only twenty-five. Even by normal Adventurer standards, it wouldn't be strange if she was able to make it to the sixty-fourth floor by the time she was one hundred years old.

"Gesai is Speed-based, and I'm guessing you are too." I turned to Ether's mother. "If something can get past one of you, I doubt two would be any more difficult."

"That's not how that works." Miel shook her head.

"If they don't care which of us they grab?" I countered.

"Fine, we split up, but I'm with you." The tone in the ivory woman's voice told me there was no room to argue.

I'd planned on taking Gesai with me, but if Miel insisted that I stay with her, it didn't change who I was going to pair with. It just meant I was going to shoulder more of the responsibility for caging the monster.

"Aelin can go with us." I saw Oz about to object. "Do you really think that Jenne will get any work done if she's running around with Aelin?"

"Hey!" The blonde driver glared at me.

I noticed how Jenne was being unusually quiet. I tapped the golden woman on the shoulder. "How well will you be able to do your thing if Aelin is there trying to copy you?"

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I was leaning forward enough that I could see Jenne mouth the word sorry.

"Fine! But you're buying me something pretty as an apology." Aelin tried to pout.

"Why do I need to apologize for splitting us up in the best teams?"

"Because you said something mean and you try to be a nice guy." The brown woman grinned. "Which means you should buy Jenne something too!"

"Wait…" I shook my head. This was one of those times where if I fought back, I'd wind up buying a whole new gear set for the whole team, which was not something that I could afford. "Fine."

"Yes!" The blonde pumped her arm, then opened her door. "Let's go!"

Her antics made me smile. For someone to enjoy life as much as she was while the rest of us were worried was comforting. Even though this was probably her way of coping, it was helping calm my nerves. I just needed to remember that in an hour once she derailed us into shopping for a new outfit.

"Are the three of you going to be okay?" I looked at the women around me.

"We'll be fine." Gesai glared at Miel. "You better keep him safe."

"My mother and daughter are both invested in his future." Miel flashed me a smile. "I think that means I'm almost as vested as they are."

"Just be safe." Oz leaned over and kissed me.

I thought it was going to be just a quick peck, but she leaned into it, so I slid both of my hands up the back of her neck and ran my fingers up into her shoulder-length black hair.

"Okay! That's enough of that!" Aelin slapped the top of the vehicle. "Seriously! If you keep going, I'm going to start filming and sell it as a how-to guide."

That got Oz to pull back. "Don't." Her green eyes bored into the blonde.

"It's your fault for engaging in PDA." Aelin grinned. "So am I shopping or filming?"

"Yes…" Jenne purred. She was in full seduction mode, and I felt sorry for whoever she tried to charm, because the way she batted her eyes at me almost made me forget that there was a beautiful woman already in my arms. "Can I watch too?"

"Alright. That's enough." Gesai pushed the golden woman towards the door. "Everybody out!"

Oz slid out of my hands and got out after Jenne.

I touched Gesai's hand when she put it on the back of the seat to help her slide out.

"What?" The older woman snapped.

I leaned in and gave her a quick kiss.

When I pulled back, her silver skin had lightened considerably. Her blood was white, so instead of darkening her skin like blushing did for most people, it lightened her skin, giving her an almost moonstone-like sheen.

I smiled. "For luck."