The rest of the day had been one of rest and recuperation, and thankfully, no rogue beasts or corrupted creatures had attacked the dungeon while they were out.

Of course, they now had the Warrior to help them defend, as well as Ximena, who didn't need to rest at all, they were safe…

Well, Ximena didn't need to rest physically, but she had yet to recover from the emotional scar left by the sight of her nemesis and the only man the world allowed her to touch, being ravaged by that foul wench.

For the entire rest of the night into the following morning, Ximena sat at the maw of the dungeon, looking out into the serene landscape. Watching as the sun hid behind the precipice of the canyon, darkening the area and eventually extending that darkness to the sky.

Her past two days had been hectic and completely life-altering… this change of pace was refreshing.

After all, she'd spent the better half of the last decade stuck in a prison of her own making, watching the fiends slowly gnaw at the crystal and get closer and closer to killing her.

To not only be freed of that bondage, but to also find someone whom she could freely embrace…

'It's amazing…'

However, that 'succubitch charmed the poor man.'

She saw the pink glow of control in his eyes.

While Ximena knew she couldn't openly antagonize Salome at the moment, she vowed to do whatever she could to save Master Vale from Salome's control!

Ximena had to be utterly strategic in her endeavors. Especially when facing her natural enemy. The fiend who could use her foul ability to nullify hers, absorbing the Aether in the air surrounding Ximena the moment it touched her skin.

'That damned fiend who killed my—'

***

'Man, I just wanna fuck sumn.'

But there was no time for that right now.

The sun rose again, and the rejuvenated group had many new tasks to accomplish. Vale, not feeling like thinking too hard on it, used the rest of the Aether on reinforcing Ximena and then set his sights on the upcoming expedition.

While it was still too risky for Vale to go out now, with the addition of Salome and Vale having grown stronger, they could explore a little more freely.

And, today was gonna be the day that they were gonna visit the riverbank. Who 'they' were was quickly determined to be Salome, Toy, and a couple of Workers.

As much as Salome hated leaving Ximena alone with Vale, she wasn't going to risk leaving Ximena alone with Toy in an environment where she could stage an accidental kill, not to mention the innate fact that Ximena worked terribly with others.

So, the two, along with Workers, Crow, Dickless, and Aster, set off with the best-designed, carriable bowls they had.

Vale looked up the ramp and called out to the group as they walked away.

"Keep an eye out for alluvium deposits!"

Toy yelled back.

"You never explained what that was!"

Vale internally laughed as he retreated into the cave and began his misadventures.

'Salome should understand…'

First, Vale was going to take a peek at what Level 2 would entail, then he was going to train with the Warrior, whom he named Stacy for no reason. Yup, no reason at all.

As Vale lifted the streamers to walk down the hallway to the Core Room, Ximena called out to him.

"Master Vale…"

Vale awkwardly turned around and faced the impassive owl who'd yet to talk at all since running out the night prior.

"Remember yourself! Who you are! You don't have to be her servant!"

'Her servant? What is she on about?'

"Uhhh…"

Vale listlessly stared at Ximena, watching her green hair dance as the girl paced back and forth.

But as Vale stared at her, her beauty started to enthrall him: her curves, the glimmer of her clothing. The elegant sash was revolving around her.

He wanted to rip it all away and melt the icy heart underneath by subjecting it to his burning passion.

Ximena staggered, and her voice quieted.

"O-oh no. That look in your eyes. It's so bright… Her claws have sunk that far into you…"

Vale shook his head.

'No! No! Not the time!'

After his experience in a real fight, Vale concluded that he needed to be stronger. Salome, Ximena, and Crow had easily taken down seventeen Anuran Warriors, while he struggled against a measly two.

Ximena called out to him, uttering more nonsense while jumping up and down, causing her breasts to almost pop out of her stiff crystal outfit.

"Yes, that's it! Keep fighting!"

'The only thing I'm fighting is the urges you're spurring in me by jumping up and down like that!'

Vale, before he had a chance to succumb, retreated to the Core Room and listened to the now familiar sound of the Workers tearing into the wall, making good progress on the grand hallway.

He passed Larry and Sizzy, who he felt were definitely close to leveling up their artisanry. Their success rate and the quality of their crafts had increased by leaps and bounds. However, those leaps and bounds were relative to the progress they'd made at the start. So, they were still taking baby steps…

As for the rest of the Workers, two more reached Emergent Miner, with another reaching Emergent Builder, causing progress on the dungeon's construction to increase.

Level: [2]

Enemies:

[Nascent Aberrants: 15]

[Nascent Mutant: 5]

[Nascent Monster: 1]

[Would you like to challenge the Level? (Y/N)]

'What the hell?!'

'This is Level 2?!'

Vale clutched his head and screamed.

"No!"

At the same moment, Ximena walked in and marveled at him.

'Why is she looking at me like that. Her eyes are teary yet her expression is completely stiff…'

Ximena drew her hands and covered her mouth as if she were covering shock, when no such emotion was being expressed at all.

"Yes! Fight it, Master Vale! Fight it!"

Vale intently stared at the delicate woman and couldn't help but relate her idiocy and lunacy to his lost love… She even looked a little like Fleur if you changed her hair color and took away the owl ears. Well, and the crystals and floating sash… But still!

Vale couldn't help but be mesmerized by his lust to relive the past.

Ximena watched as passion ignited in Vale's eyes, causing the pink glow to intensify, and she screamed:

"Noooo!"

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