The Harem of Juicy MILFs

Chapter 35: New Lead [3]

He headed towards a block of black stone, massive and polished by centuries of wear, located near the center of the room. He settled there with calculated slowness, folding his legs into a perfect meditation posture, his hands resting peacefully on his knees. Hae-neul watched him. She had seen high-level awakened ones chain fights without showing the slightest sign of exhaustion, but what Gerhman had just accomplished was beyond comprehension for an awakened one of his rank. Since entering the tower, he had not stopped striking, breaking and devouring the essence of monsters via his skill named Plunder, accumulating a quantity of mana that should have overwhelmed any ordinary hunter.

Does he really not feel fatigue? thought Hae-neul with a hint of dread mixed with admiration.

Gerhman closed his eyes, voluntarily cutting himself off from the outside world. The reason he had agreed to take a break was mainly due to a message the system had sent him a few minutes earlier, a warning he could not ignore.

[Warning: The current mana flow exceeds the capacity of your circuits. Stabilization phase recommended. Prolonged excess could lead to irreversible damage to your energy channels.]

This vessel is decidedly too narrow, murmured Gerhman internally, a touch of frustration crossing his mind.

He then began to manipulate the mana he had stolen during the ascent, not by storing it passively, but by using it as a tool to force the dilation of his energy channels. Every fiber of his body vibrated under the effort, and sweat beaded on his forehead, but he maintained absolute concentration.

Hae-neul, for her part, had sat down against a stone pillar, watching the surroundings while keeping a watchful eye on Gerhman. She could not help but be fascinated by the calm that emanated from him. Despite his usual coldness, there was something magnificent in his presence. Suddenly, she remembered the sensation of his hands on her body the previous night, and her face instantly turned crimson red. She shook her head, chasing away these unwelcome thoughts.

"Why..." she began, her voice trembling slightly despite her efforts to appear confident. "Why are you so eager to climb this tower with such haste? It’s not as if the floors are going to disappear overnight."

Gerhman did not move an inch. His features remained marble-like, impassive, but he responded after a few seconds of silence.

"Time is a resource that is precious to me," he declared without opening his eyes. "Electhra informed me that members of the Cult of the Void have been spotted in this sector. She wanted me to take a look at their activities, and since their sect intrigues me, I therefore accepted."

Hae-neul blinked, surprised by the brevity of his response, but also by the revelation it contained. "The Cult of the Void? What would they be doing here, in a tower like this? I thought they operated rather in the border zones, far from prying eyes."

Gerhman half-opened one eye, an amused glint crossing his gaze before he closed it again. "Who knows? From what Electhra had told me, the Cult of the Void is an obscure organization, known for its forbidden experiments on dimensional rifts and its human sacrifices. If their members are really in this tower, it is because they are necessarily there for something specific."

Hae-neul nodded, her expression suddenly becoming more serious. The name of the Cult of the Void could not be taken lightly.

"I understand..." she murmured, her voice deeper. "If they are here, it is probably because they are looking for something valuable, like last time. But in that case, why not send a whole team to dislodge them?"

"Because I prefer to act alone," cut in Gerhman, his tone leaving no room for discussion. "More people means more risks of being detected, and more unnecessary complications."

Hae-neul paused, weighing her words. "Do you think they are responsible for the tower’s instability?"

Gerhman simply shrugged a shoulder, a casual gesture that contrasted with the gravity of the situation. "Maybe. Maybe not. Phenomena of this kind can have a thousand different origins, and I do not have enough information yet to make a pronouncement." He closed his eyes again, resuming his meditation. "In any case, I prefer to check for myself rather than rely on assumptions."

Hae-neul remained silent, reflecting on his words while observing the flickering glow of the blue mana flames dancing on the walls.

"Anyway," he finally said with a sigh. "Let’s just do what we have to do, and hope we do not fall into an ambush." replied Gerhman, his voice softer, as if he perceived her concern.

The hour passed in absolute silence, disturbed only by the distant crackling of the blue mana flames that illuminated the room with a cold and supernatural light. Hae-neul concentrated on her own regeneration, closing her eyes to draw from the ambient mana. She felt the fresh and revitalizing energy penetrate her numb limbs, repairing the tears caused by the previous fights. Her body gradually relaxed, and when she reopened her eyelids, she felt that her reserves had returned to normal.

Suddenly, Gerhman stood up, without the slightest sign of stiffness. The aura he emitted had radically changed: it had become overwhelming, an invisible pressure that weighed down the air around him. The superficial wounds on his body seemed to have disappeared. He made a few gestures, cracking his joints with a sharp sound that echoed in the room, and stretched his arms above his head, visibly satisfied.

"It is done," said Gerhman as he turned towards Hae-neul, his eyes now open.

The young woman straightened up immediately, feeling her muscles tense under the effect of adrenaline. She felt invigorated, her thoughts clearer and her body lighter. She planted her gaze in his, a smile on her lips.

"Are you ready?" asked Gerhman, his tone regaining its usual firmness.

Sketching a smile, seeing that she was in a good mood, he added:

"You really look like you are in a good mood," observed Hae-neul tilting her head. "It is rare to see you smile before a fight, usually you are more the type to growl."

"I am simply impatient to see what this Cult has to offer me," replied Gerhman, a glint of challenge in his eyes. "Besides, do not stay behind," he added over his shoulder as he was already moving away towards the opening leading to the upper floor, his silhouette standing out against the bluish glow.

Hae-neul clenched her fist and followed him. She felt the excitement rising within her.