[Chapter 261. The Masks He Wore]

The two of them were soundly asleep against him; their hands and paws had stopped moving over him for quite some time now. Searanox lay between them, their soft breathing a gentle backdrop to his thoughts. The rhythmic rise and fall of their chests against his own created a comforting warmth in the chill darkness of the room. Iris's dark fur tickled his side with each subtle movement she made in her sleep, while Sarah's platinum blonde hair spilled across his other shoulder, her fingers still loosely curled near his abdomen. The lingering scents of their bodies filled the air around him.

`I have to sort their gear—see what I can use for myself and what I can sell. Then I have to get to the east again and clear the remaining dungeons. This will be much faster now that I have that compass pointing me toward them.`

His thoughts drifted to the nine corpses he had left at the riverbank, their stripped equipment waiting to be put to good use. He mentally calculated the potential value of their weapons and armor, considering what might enhance his growing collection versus what would fetch a good price in Zibnak's shop. His mind wandered to the dungeon-clearing strategy that had proven so effective: systematically conquering them with little effort, maximizing his gains in both experience and resources.

His thoughts were interrupted by Iris, who nuzzled closer into his neck, licking his skin softly in her sleep. Her warm tongue traced a slow path along his throat, sending shivers down his spine. His fingers scratched her gently behind the ear, eliciting a soft, contented sigh. The texture of her fur beneath his fingertips was a familiar comfort in the unfamiliar world they inhabited.

`You're adorable, Iris. Soon we will enter these dungeons together.`

A rare tenderness softened his mental voice as he pictured the two of them fighting side by side, her eldritch powers complementing his drone swarm with devastating efficiency. He could almost hear the clash of her Zweihänder against the sound of his overcharged shots—a symphony of destruction that would surely clear the dungeons with terrifying speed.

He opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling of his chamber. The stone surface was barely visible in the gloom save for the faint violet glow of energy conduits pulsing through the walls. In the corner of his vision, he saw the timer, bringing him back to a time where it was the only thing he cared about. The cold blue numbers seemed to float in the darkness, relentlessly counting down.

─ Stage 3 starts in 25d 22h 47m 12s

`I have a few weeks to grow not just myself, but this entire city to a point where it can withstand a siege from other worlds.`

His mind raced through the possibilities, each second on the timer feeling more urgent than the last. He considered the city's defenses, the need to strengthen its walls, train its populace, and accumulate resources. The thought of the massive fortress standing alone against an incursion sent a chill through him that had nothing to do with the temperature of the room.

He thought about the tall, red-skinned, demon-like people that had set up camp near the mountain range. Their numbers, their apparent organization, the way they seemed to be preparing for something—it all pointed to a potential threat that needed to be addressed before Stage 3 began. The memory of their crimson skin, their formidable builds, and the disciplined way they moved lingered in his mind like an unscratchable itch. As he lay there between his sleeping companions, the weight of responsibility settled heavily upon him—a burden he had never asked for, but was now forced to bear.

`I also have to find out more about this Empire. By the looks of it, they will not simply leave me be. They are operating like some medieval society that knows only conquest and war. That could be very dangerous depending on how slowly my city grows. What would be a good level to end this stage of Infusion on? Should I try to double my level? What about the citizens? They won't grow much by clearing the dungeon alone. And the Labyrinth will only give them so much experience over time.`

His mind raced through calculations, weighing the advantages of rapid personal advancement against the needs of his growing city. The Labyrinth's rewards were limited—a trickle compared to the flood of experience he needed to ensure Androxis could withstand whatever came from beyond their world. He considered the prisoners in his tower. Their knowledge was potentially as valuable as any weapon or armor they might possess. Their upbringing meant they would know the Empire's tactics, weaknesses, and typical progression rates—information he desperately needed to turn Androxis from a fledgling settlement into a fortress capable of defiance.

His fingers gently curled into Sarah's warm skin. She shifted closer, her body unconsciously seeking the comfort of his presence even in sleep. The soft curve of her hip fit perfectly against his palm, her skin warm and yielding beneath his fingertips.

Four weeks is nothing compared to the decades the other worlds have on us. They grew up with all this. We have to level up to their level in a fraction of that time. I have to figure out how long it normally takes someone to reach certain levels. I will squeeze every bit of information out of them that I can.

The pressure in his chest tightened as he considered the vast gap between his people and whatever forces might arrive. His thoughts strayed to the captives in his tower. Each of them held pieces of a puzzle he needed to assemble before time ran out. His fingers traced idle patterns on Sarah's side as he mentally listed the questions he would ask, the methods he would use to extract every scrap of knowledge about the Empire's military structure, power levels, progression speeds, and most importantly, their vulnerabilities.

Hours passed before he felt he had spent enough time in bed thinking about what to ask them. The first hints of early afternoon were beginning to filter through the heavy curtains, painting the room in shades of gray and gold. He slowly shifted Iris off him, her furry body protesting with a soft whimper before settling back into sleep. He was about to do the same to Sarah when her fingers gripped the hem of his shorts, followed by a soft, sleepy whisper.

"Don't go. Not now. Just a bit longer."

Her eyes fluttered open, gazing up at him through heavy lashes. The morning light caught in their depths to create a vulnerability, making her appear even younger than her eighteen years. Her delicate features were softened by sleep, her cheeks flushed with the warmth of their shared bed.

He caressed her cheek, his calloused thumb tracing the gentle curve of her jawline, feeling the slight tremor that ran through her at his touch. He rolled gently on top of her, his weight settling against her like a familiar blanket, pushing her down into the mattress in a way that was both possessive and comforting.

He kissed her, his lips pressing against hers with a hunger that belied the tenderness of his movements. She reciprocated eagerly, though still half-asleep, her arms wrapping around his neck and fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer. A soft moan escaped her lips, vibrating against his mouth as he squeezed her breast firmly, the warmth of her flesh filling his palm. Her back arched into his touch, pressing more of herself against him as she responded instinctively to his ministrations.

"You sleep a bit more. You have dungeons to clear today. And don't forget that you and the rest will enter the Labyrinth today too," he whispered, slowly pulling away. His voice was a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through her entire being.

The words were a gentle reminder of the tasks ahead, a subtle assertion of his authority even in this intimate moment. He pulled the blanket over her exposed body, tucking the fabric around her shoulders before kissing her on the temple. His lips lingered for a moment longer than necessary.

"Be careful. I won't be there to protect you this time."

The warning was delivered with a tenderness that belied its gravity—a soft caress against her skin that left her shivering with a mix of fear and anticipation.

`I have played people before, but not to this extent. The old me would have been overwhelmed by all the different personalities I currently play for them.`

The thought passed through his mind like a cold wind, a reminder of the intricate web of deception he was weaving around these women. It wasn't easy to switch his behavior to suit their personal needs, pretending to feel something he didn't. He had to play them perfectly, but the more he did it, the easier it became.

Each night, he would don a different mask, tailoring his words and actions to fit their desires, fears, and deepest needs. In the past, he had only played the part of a friendly colleague at work or a loving family member—roles that were simple compared to the complex personas he now inhabited. Each interaction was a performance; each word a carefully chosen note in the manipulation he conducted.

While he donned his armor, his fingers moving with practiced precision over the metal plates, checking for any imperfections that might compromise his safety, a thought flashed through his mind—cold and emotionless.

`There will be a time when I can stop pretending.`

The words echoed in the silence of his mind—a promise to himself that one day, the masks would come off, and he would no longer need to wear these different faces to achieve his goals.