Chapter 219 38: Preparation
Raven climbed out of bed, trying not to disturb Nu'bella, the sky still dark, as he checked his phone, the cold marble floor causing his body to shudder.
"God, it's cold..."
"5 a.m., I guess I should go see Juniper." He stretched before heading to the bathroom.
After showering, Raven dressed and left Nu'bella a note, leaving for Juniper's burrow in the throne room. As he walked through the hall, the sun was slowly rising on the horizon, its light casting shadows across the palace, giving him an ominous feeling.
Reaching Juniper's burrow, Raven knocked gently on the webbing before leaping into the air and landing on the soft, springy floor, waiting patiently for an answer.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Raven,"
Juniper opened the door, looking exhausted as a thick scent of her night of pleasure flooded the room along with his scent, causing Raven to smirk.
'This girl is so perverted.'
"So, what brings you here so early? You look so drained." Raven frowned before Juniper laughed, closing the door behind them.
"I'm just kidding, come sit down,"
He sat on the sofa, looking at the books scattered with titles like 'How to seduce your handsome lord.' or 'Help! I love my orc CEO!' around the burrow, "Lord, it's a bit early. Are you still hungry for more? Shouldn't you rest?"
Juniper blushed brightly as she held onto cups in her black exoskeleton arms, sitting beside him in her humanoid form, something she rarely did unless she wanted to feel his warmth more directly.
"Not really; I just wanted to spend time with my cute arachne lover." Raven smiled warmly as Juniper blushed brighter.
"Hmph, stop joking around. Here, some tea," She handed him the cup, which was filled with hot green tea, and took a sip before sighing in relief.
"Thank you, Juniper,"
His face shone with delight, kissing her forehead close to her beautiful ruby eyes as she froze, turning into a tomato.
"S-stop that, Raven..." He smirked as Juniper drank her tea, clearly embarrassed. "I might lose control and jump you..."
"Haha, if you want, there's time yet."
She gazed at him with ruby eyes filled with lust and desire before drinking her tea again, as the lust seemed to become diluted and faded.
"You're so mean... Even though you know, I have to leave soon for your task, teasing a maiden's heart like that," Raven chuckled, stroking Juniper's exoskeleton arm, which was surprisingly smooth.
"Sorry, Juniper, but I can't help myself around you,"
She sighed, finishing her tea, standing up before changing into her arachne form, pouring another cup from a pot nearby, and handing it to Raven as he finished his drink.
"I would like to enjoy a date... next time, like Zeon. Although following you, enjoying the scents and licking you clean when you sleep..."
'A little creepy, but she's cute, so I'll let it slide!'
Raven placed the cup down before embracing Juniper's spider half, kissing her head while stroking her hair, making her stiffen as she tried to hide her embarrassment.
"Next time, once you complete this task, we'll go on a date, just you and me, for an entire day and night so that you can have a lovely time, okay? Then you can become my girlfriend officially, not just my secret lover."
"Eh, but... will they accept me and my strange body?"
"I don't care about anyone else's opinions. Whether they accept it or not, you are already my woman, so don't worry, and I'll protect you no matter what."
Raven smiled warmly, making Juniper fall deeper in love.
"O-okay, but please don't forget your promise..."
'Even though you're such a pervert, why are you one of the most adorable girls I know when being shy? I would never dare to forget it.' Raven thought before nodding, kissing her cheek as Juniper beamed, happy at his words.
"Of course, now then, I will head off."
Juniper changed back into her arachne form, hugging Raven tightly as he stroked her back, enjoying the embrace; Raven didn't want to leave her to embrace and kissed her neck, holding her tightly, worried she might get hurt or injured.
"Remember, Juniper, no matter how much we need you to scout, your life is more important, so be careful and return the moment it becomes dangerous. Promise me."
Juniper nodded before nuzzling her face into Raven's chest.
"Okay, Lord Raven..."
She kissed him passionately before biting his lip gently, tugging playfully.
"Although I'm excited, I better be off," Raven nodded as Juniper leapt out of the burrow, waving goodbye as Raven waved back, watching her disappear into the distance, his face full of worry.
'Please, Juniper, be safe...'
He wanted to rush into those dungeons, but Raven knew he lacked the finesse without causing an all-out war before his people were ready.
*Thud*
His body crashed into the ground, almost crushing the stone floor with a resounding bang. The two males, Gale and Adam, were stood in their combat gear, looking nervously at the solemn Raven.
"Lord, are you going to fight with us both all day? Non-stop?" Gale's eyes were filled with stars and delight, while Adam seemed reluctant.
"Lord Raven, please have mercy. I said I'd try harder, but you're pushing me too hard. Please spare my poor body." Adam cried out, bowing repeatedly as Raven chuckled.
"Hahaha, no way! Your body is too weak; we need to beat you into... Train you into shape!"
"Oi! Oi! You just said beat me!"
Adam's crying voice sounded as Gale dragged him towards the Arena, with Shirone and Nu'bella already waiting in their light training gear, doing some warm-ups.
"Nu'bella, you're awake? Are you alright to join us?" Raven's voice sounded worried, and his eyes looked at her waist with concern as she seemed a little stiff.
"Of course, an entire day of fighting against you, my blood is boiling!" Nu'bella smirked, stretching before Raven shook his head, laughing wryly.
"Okay, Shirone, you will train with Gale and Adam today. Do your best to keep them under control. If you need to use force, do not hold back."
Shirone nodded seriously as Gale trembled excitedly, but Adam whimpered like a dog.
'Poor souls... Hah, well, I need to toughen these guys up quickly.'
Shirone was different in combat; she was deadly and sneaky and loved to use her daggers and sharp claws to kill her enemies instantly. Although she had never used them against Raven, he promised her something if she managed to beat him with the people here.
He would satisfy her desire, but that goes for all the people; Adam wanted some books from the surface, and Gale wanted to fight with Raven for a week every morning.
'I feel so fulfilled with these guys and the women who await me at home...'
Raven felt overjoyed at having such loyal subordinates and lovers, smiling widely before rushing towards Shirone.
'Let's begin!'
***
Juniper rushed through the forest, heading towards the dungeon area for the Lord of Beasts, passing by many beasts, trees, and rivers as she stopped to admire the scenery.
"It has been so long since I came out of the castle without following, darling; it's so beautiful." Juniper sighed before continuing onwards, reaching the dungeon area in 30 minutes.
'Now then, let's check for any movement.'
Juniper changed into her humanoid form, checking for any mana fluctuations, sniffing the air carefully as she found traces of demonic aura, rushing towards it cautiously.
'This smell... It's strange?' Juniper frowned, moving closer, hiding amongst the bushes and trees, checking the surrounding areas carefully before stopping, finding traces of beast corpses and burning monsters roaming around the dungeon area.
'Why is this happening? They shouldn't be able to leave the dungeon area!'
Juniper narrowed her eyes as her entire body was covered with a black exoskeleton, the black tattoo covering her human ass before it was hidden, with four arms ready to fight as she checked her surroundings before leaping into the trees, observing the situation.
The demons wandered the area aimlessly, killing any beast or creature they saw before eating it; Juniper watched in disgust, seeing a flaming monster devour a deer, bones crunching in its mouth as it roared before walking away.
'Disgusting creatures... What's more, they reek of demonic aura! Why aren't the other dungeon Lords dealing with it?' Juniper clicked her tongue, watching more demons arrive, wandering around as she moved higher into the tree, becoming undetectable before hearing footsteps approaching.
It was a tall figure wearing a crimson mask with golden flame patterns, carrying a large sword made from flames, walking through the trees with several other demons behind him.
Juniper glared at the male as she felt his strength was close to hers.
'What are they doing?'
'Damn it, the lord of flames is targeting the beast domain too!'
Juniper followed silently, ensuring to remain out of sight and distant from being discovered as the masked male arrived at the dungeon area of the Beast Lord.
'Oh no, it's not good. I must report to Raven immediately!' Juniper turned to leave as a burning demon looked up and spotted her, roaring before rushing towards her.
Juniper clicked her tongue before leaping away, changing into her Arachne form, using her threads to climb high into the trees, and rushing away as the demons chased her.
'Damned demons! How dare they target his prey!' Juniper snarled before rushing faster, heading towards Raven as the demons chased relentlessly, not letting Juniper escape.
'Damn it! I want to crush them, but I must hurry and inform darling!' Juniper clicked her tongue before rushing towards the border, seeing the castle in the distance, the sun shining brightly above her, illuminating her path.
'Almost there! Almost there-' *Bang* Juniper was tackled into the ground, crashing through trees, destroying them as she spat out blood, glaring at the demons surrounding her.
*Crack*
Then, as she turned around, slicing apart three blazing monsters, the knight with a flaming sword stepped on a branch, approaching with his blade drawn and ready to fight.
"A disgusting arachne dares to sneak around." His voice was deep and vicious as Juniper glared at the male.
"Disgusting? A mere lizard is calling others disgusting!"
Juniper charged forward, using her thread to bind the flaming monsters, slamming them into the ground before her webbing sliced through their limbs and burned to ash, rushing towards the Knight of Flames, her eight legs moving rapidly as Juniper lunged at the male.
*Clank*
Their blades clashed as sparks flew into the air, with the knight smirking beneath his mask as Juniper felt her body tremble.
'Damn, this bastard is annoying!'
Her arms were covered in a solid black exoskeleton, with sharp spikes protruding from her fingers and forearms, but the reach of his flaming sword was larger, and the fire burned her webbing in seconds.
The male pointed his sword towards her as his body exploded into flames, revealing him to be a demi-human with salamander blood.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m