Lewd Ascent - A Futa LitRPG Ch. 096-105

4.26 - Visit

For a short while longer, Zoey explored the sparkling expanse of the dreamworld.

She was disappointed how her lustful indulgences with Kali had been abruptly cut off, but even interrupted, it had been fun. She wondered if she could find a way to meet up with the woman in real life. That park they'd gone to—was it real? She didn't know the name, but there were only so many in Treyhull; she could probably track it down. Would Kali do the same?

Though maybe it would be for the best if she didn't. While fun, Zoey was supposed to be minimizing her presence. Plus, she wouldn't be at Treyhull much longer.

So she wouldn't seek out Kali, exciting as that event had been.

For now, she sated herself with drifting through the inky expanse dotted with dream orbs, exploring. She thought she had a grasp on how the liminal space worked, but more could reveal itself on closer inspection.

Mostly, Zoey was curious about the 'links'. The dream orbs had shown themselves to be what she expected—ways to slip into dreams of the sleeping—but she'd yet to fully identify the strands that entangled the structure. Relationships, she felt fairly confident in saying, but hadn't confirmed it. The most concrete proof she could dig up was that, with some frequency, links from one orb to another included people who looked similar. Family, maybe.

Obviously, that was far from hard proof. But something that edged her suspicion away from 'unsubstantiated theory' to 'slightly substantiated'. Because what other ideas could she come up with for what the links were?

Ten or fifteen minutes into Zoey's explorations, a suspicion hit her. Something obvious in retrospect. If each of the dream orbs—which represented individuals—had relationship links, did she?

She explored her incorporeal self. On initial inspection, there didn't seem to be any of the strands that represented 'links', and certainly none that were obvious, floating in her peripheral. But on closer inspection, with a deliberate effort to seek them out, she found some. Strands of light trailing into the distance.

Faded, though. Dark gray and barely noticeable, she only caught them after a scrutinizing inspection. And only a few. Since Zoey only had four meaningful relationships in this world—Rosalie, Delta, Sabina, and Maddy—and they were all solidly awake, with Zoey taking a midday nap to play with the dream potion, she assumed the links were inactive, the reason they were gray and faded. The same dulled state that Kali's dream orb had shifted into upon her waking.

Curious, Zoey followed one of the strands. The endeavor didn't yield much. She found herself in front of a foggy orb, identical to Kali's. She didn't know who it belonged to. The target being awake, there was nothing to experiment with; she could neither invade the orb nor get a hint of what lay inside.

Idly, Zoey sorted through the other strands radiating from her chest, disappointed there weren't any active ones. There were four prominent, but other smaller strings, too. At a guess, they represented inconsequential relationships. Likely, Fe, the artificer, was one of the larger 'smaller' strands, bordering between a real relationship and not. Other thinner ones were truly brief interactions: the dressing room girl she'd enjoyed, Delta's two dates, the guides that had led them through realms to Treyhull, if Zoey had to make some guesses.

Then, Zoey found a stranger link.

Spidersilk thin, it had been easy to miss. And beyond that, it was ... different. Not gray and faded like the others. She'd missed it because of its size. And because it pointed upwards, not sideways.

Even odder, with Zoey's attention falling on it, the string grew. From hair-thin, it expanded in Zoey's awareness, from near invisible to pulsating and thicker than the rest. It vibrated in her vision, flaking off tiny crystalline shards. The space around it twisted with chromatic aberrations, flickering from one color to the next, disappearing when she looked at them.

Otherworldly. That was the immediate word that came to mind, watching the bizarre effects.

Otherworldly.

As if what lay on the other end wasn't quite human.

Zoey had a suspicion what she'd stumbled onto. For a second, she hesitated. Then, latching to the strand, she followed the path it provided. Rather than horizontal, it led her upward into the sky, away from the sea of dream orbs.

Away from the mortals.

Venturing far above the floating mass of dream orbs, Zoey traced the strand into the heavens. Arriving, the glass ball that met her was larger, thicker, and sparkling in hundreds of colors, the same otherworldly material the linking-strand was made of. Zoey studied the object.

She didn't intend to fall in. Rather, she was pulled. Before she could even realize what was happening, she sank, against her will, into the consciousness of a goddess.

***

Cool wind buffeted Zoey, blowing through her hair and across her skin, carrying the invigorating scent of salt water. Above, the sun beat down, washing grassy plains in bright light.

A short distance away, a goddess stood on the edge of a cliff.

Ephy's hands were clasped behind her back as she leaned forward, peering across the sea churning hundreds of feet below. Her see-through white dress fluttered in the wind, hugging divine curves, and even a sight of the goddess almost stopped Zoey's heart. Her memories hadn't done the woman justice. The goddess of beauty, fertility, and lust.

"I wondered when you'd get in contact," Ephythithys said, not turning to face her. "It's been almost a week. You'll make a girl feel neglected, you know?"

Zoey floundered for a response—or even to form coherent thoughts. She had intended to find a way to speak with Ephy, but not today, through the dream potion. It was an awfully convenient result, but at the same time, not. She hadn't organized what she wanted to say. And when it came to speaking with divine beings, she would rather have been prepared.

"I mean, not even trying?" Ephy continued. "A few prayers? I'm not worth that?" She faced Zoey, and, again, Zoey's heart almost stopped beating. Ephy pouted at her, exaggerating her disappointment. "Gallivanting across the Fractures, stuffing nubile young bodies full with seed, is what I told you to do. But the world's ending, you know? You should probably worry about that more than you are."

Zoey continued to struggle to find words. It was hard to put into words how disarming Ephy's presence was. Much more so than the first time. Was she doing something?

Ephy smirked, then advanced on Zoey. "Cat got your tongue?" The paper-thin fabric of her dress blew in the wind as she approached. Thin as it was, it hid nothing. Ephy's body was on full display, accented by the sunlight piercing the material and the way it hugged her curves. The false effort of concealment only made it more tantalizing. It was unfair how gorgeous this woman was. This being was. A goddess. In the literal sense.

"I suppose I'm being mean, not dampening my presence," Ephy said. "But the admiration. I do appreciate it. I'm a vain goddess, and I won't pretend otherwise."

She sighed despondently, then, with great reluctance, the overwhelming distraction disappeared. Or ... lessened. Zoey's thoughts cleared, and she could suddenly think. Her mind wasn't consumed by the perfect being in front of her.

"Teasing mortals is too easy," Ephy said. "It's beneath me." She stepped forward and whispered, close enough hot breath brushed Zoey's face, "But at the same time, I do like being on top."

Zoey swallowed. Not overwhelming and mind-erasing anymore, but Ephy, even holding back her divine presence, was hard to deal with.

"Ephy," Zoey finally said. "It's, um, nice to see you."

She wasn't sure she meant the words, but being impolite to a goddess seemed unwise.

"Aw. It's nice to see you, too." She traced a finger down Zoey's jaw. "Though, I know you're mad. You're not good at hiding what you think, dearest disciple of mine." She took another step forward, pressing her breasts into Zoey's, and she looked up with pleading blue eyes. "Maybe there's something I can do to say sorry?"

"Play fair," Zoey said, turning her face away. Her heart had already been racing, but having Ephy's curves pressed into her was producing other unfortunate reactions.

Ones which Ephy seemed delighted by. A hand seized Zoey's stiffening cock, and Zoey realized for the first time she'd been brought into this ... dream world? ... naked.

"No, really," Ephy breathed, pressing her body closer to Zoey's. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

Zoey retreated several steps, Ephy's grip slipping from her cock. Ephy pouted.

"We need to talk," Zoey said firmly. The words came out with more conviction than she admittedly felt.

"We do," Ephy said. "But it can wait a few moments, can't it?" She advanced on Zoey, and unfortunately, she couldn't force herself to retreat a second time. Her grip returned to Zoey's cock, and a noise escaped the back of Zoey's throat at the touch. Even just holding her, the pleasure of Ephy's grip was indescribable. "And it will only be a few moments. I don't think you'd last very long against me."

Probably true. If there were anyone who could take Zoey apart in a few short moments, it would be the goddess of lust.

"Plus, I gave you this, didn't I?" Ephy asked, squeezing. "I'm entitled to enjoy it, aren't I?"

Zoey's head spun. She didn't trust this woman. She wouldn't say she hated Ephy, but at the same time, she remembered their first interaction. The things she had said. A specific exchange stuck out. 'Sensuality cares little for consent. Don't mistake me for something I'm not.'

Possibly this woman was Zoey's ally, but more likely, Zoey was her pawn. Zoey doubted her well-being was Ephy's highest priority. And Ephy's methodology—what she stood for—Zoey didn't condone, either.

But with Ephy's hand stroking up and down her cock, it was hard keep those thoughts in mind.

"We need to talk," Zoey gasped.

"Then tell me to stop," Ephy said, smirking. Her hand traveled Zoey's length. Their nipples brushed together, sending electricity up and down Zoey's spine. The urge to grab Ephy's ass and tug her in—or more, pin her down and indulge entirely—was almost overwhelming. How did it feel so good? Just her hand, her body pressed into Zoey's? She knew why. It was the white-hot aspect of a goddess.

Still, knowing didn't make it easier to resist.

For a moment, Zoey basked in Ephy's hand taking care of her, unable to help herself.

She wasn't sure how she worked up the nerve, but she somehow did. "Stop. We need to talk."

Ephy's movements stilled, her skilled digits ceasing their stroking.

Zoey agonized that she'd listened. She'd said the words, but she didn't know if she'd meant them. She wanted nothing more than for Ephy to continue. To be pleasured by the literal paragon of lust and fertility. If her hand felt that amazing, what would her pussy feel like? And all Zoey had to do to find out was nothing. Allow Ephy to continue.

"You are learning," Ephy said, amused. "That's a surprising amount of restraint, for a gigantic pervert." She sighed, "I knew I made a good choice, but how disappointing. I thought we were going to have some fun."

She pulled away from Zoey, hand separating from her cock, and leaving her swaying in place.

Her thoughts returned, bit by bit.

"I want answers," Zoey said.

"I can give some," Ephy said, with a hint of dismissiveness. She'd expected it. Maybe she'd expected all of this. Zoey's arrival in the first place, despite her implications of surprise. She was a goddess. Not that Zoey knew, really, what that meant. "But some, I cant. Ask away, dear disciple, and I'll tell you what I can."

4.27 - Divine Meeting

So, Zoey had finally managed an audience with her patron goddess. Unfortunately, she wasn't prepared for it. Could she ever be? Even holding eye contact with the divine being turned her thoughts sluggish. If she'd had an airtight battle plan for this meeting, even then she might have struggled through it.

Had she really turned down an opportunity to be pleasured by a goddess of sex?

Some of Zoey's questions were obvious, so she led with those. Hopefully as she talked, she'd organize herself.

"When we first met, you told me I couldn't tell anyone about this. You and me, and ... everything." She didn't remember the exact wording, to be honest. "But what if I wanted to? Tell someone?"

Ephy gave her a flat look. "You're supposed to be saving the world," she said, "and you finally luck into a meeting with me. But the first thing you ask is if you can tell your girlfriend the truth. You are gross, you know that?"

Embarrassingly, Zoey blushed. She hadn't expected to be chided by Ephy.

The goddess continued, "Romantics. You all are the worst." She waved her hand. "You took that warning too literally. It was a friendly suggestion. You haven't had many problems down in the Fractures, but it's a brutal labyrinth filled with brutal people, let me assure you. Babbling on about being chosen by a goddess, coming from another world, and shouting out your incredible, so easy to exploit abilities ... I didn't think you were an idiot, but it was a necessary warning." She rolled her eyes. "You can tell your girlfriend, if you want, even if I don't condone it, necessarily. I certainly wouldn't punish you. I wouldn't break the Compact for something so pointless. For that matter, there's little I can do, to either help or hurt."

That announcement came as a surprise. "You can't? Does that mean it wasn't you who ...?"

Ephy quirked an eyebrow.

"Well," Zoey said. "I figured you'd been meddling. It feels like things have lined up too perfectly, too often."

"Such as?"

"Well," Zoey said. "My skill, to name the biggest. Growth? Where we get bonus experience for waiting between shards." It'd been given shortly after the dilemma with Rosalie wanting to push harder for advancement, giving them an excuse to slow down. It had smoothed over a rather unsolvable problem with almost divine timing. Zoey had been highly suspicious of it.

"That sounds useful," Ephy said. "No. My actions in Ezariel's world are limited. I picked your runes, and organized your first meeting with that delightful little pervert, but that was it."

"Delightful little pervert?" That was an interesting way to describe Rosalie, and Ephy smirked. Zoey supposed it was somewhat of an accurate description.

The reminder of their 'first meeting' also had Zoey's heart rate picking up. When she'd been introduced to Rosalie, it had been crammed together, naked, in the coffin of the first shard.

The forceful arrangement of that didn't sit perfectly with Zoey, but she had bigger things to concern herself with. "Ezariel?" Zoey asked. "Who's that? And you mentioned something about a Compact?"

"Heavenly politics," Ephy said. "I could speak of it, but it's mostly irrelevant. Ezariel in specific, with me having sent you to his world, is off limits. As I said, there's much I can't answer."

"Can't," Zoey said.

"Can't."

Huh. Not wouldn't.

"But I can tell them, then?" Zoey asked. "Whoever I want? About you? Earth, the danger they're in, whatever?"

"Do as you please," Ephy said. "Though I suggest discretion."

Zoey considered that. One of the larger motivations behind her secrecy had been Ephy's command not to tell others her origin and task. But it hadn't been an order, apparently. With those restrictions lifted, who would she tell? Rosalie, certainly. Delta? Zoey trusted her, but telling her that the world was ending? And that she'd been chosen by a goddess? It would be a hard sell. And Zoey still knew too little about all of it, anyway.

"Why Rosalie?" Zoey asked.

"Did I arrange your meeting?"

"Yeah."

"For convenience's sake. A head start."

"How so?"

Ephy quirked an eyebrow.

"Just because of her skill in wayfaring?" Zoey clarified. "Or other reasons?"

"Are you sure you want me to tell you?" Ephy asked.

Zoey hesitated. No, actually. She didn't. To answer that, Ephy would have to explain who Rosalie was. Zoey had some suspicions—as did Delta, just by Rosalie's behaviors—but she'd rather get confirmations from Rosalie herself.

"No," Zoey said. "I'll ask myself. It wouldn't be right."

Ephy rolled her eyes, though, oddly, she didn't seem disapproving. Just exasperated.

"So. The threat to the world. What is it?"

Ephy smiled. "Finally, we get to the relevant material." She took a deep breath, as if about to go on a monologue, then said: "I can't tell you." Another smile. "Obviously."

Zoey had suspected as much. She couldn't imagine a reason for Ephy having kept her in the dark from the start except because she either had to, or because it furthered her goals, somehow. It seemed it was the former.

"Why do you care, anyway?" Zoey asked.

"About the peril of a world?" Ephy seemed amused. "My, you do have a low opinion of me."

"This one isn't yours, though," Zoey said. "It's Ezariel's world, you said." Whoever that was. "So why do you care?"

Simple altruism? Or some other reason? Zoey didn't actually think Ephy was ... what, genocidal, or something ... but she suspected ulterior motivations. This woman seemed conniving, to say the least.

"You're mostly correct," Ephy said, but didn't expand on what she meant.

Zoey could intuit they'd bumped up on the edges of what Ephy was willing, or could, tell her about. "So I have to figure it out myself."

"You're an enterprising young woman," Ephy said. "And with some enormous advantages in place. So I have the utmost faith in you."

"I've learned pretty much nothing," Zoey said, embarrassed at admitting it. "Barely further than where I started." At least when it came to discovering ... whatever. The threat.

"I would suggest a more diligent pace, when it comes to your primary mission," Ephy agreed. She tapped Zoey on the nose, then said, "You've been a bit lackadaisical on the whole 'end of the world' business, I do admit. While I highly approve of your determination to cum inside every friend you make, remember this is only half a vacation. You have a purpose, here."

Zoey blushed at the crude phrasing, which Ephy of course delighted in. Then, a mortifying thought hit her. "You haven't been watching, have you?"

Ephy's lips curled, an amused glint appearing in her eye. "Are you sure you want to know?"

Did she? Ephy was a goddess. Maybe by her aspect alone, she was aware of any lewd interactions, between anyone, anywhere. Zoey didn't fully comprehend what divinity meant.

Either way, she figured she'd rather not know. "You said you wanted me to ascend," Zoey said. "To join you, after all this."

"A secondary goal," Ephy said. "You caught my eye as a candidate. Such things aren't so simple, though. Even this initial task will be difficult, much less ascension into lesser divinity—as my true disciple."

Zoey eyed the woman, digesting the words. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to be a subordinate to Ephy. Beyond her obvious maneuvering, Zoey was still hung up on the whole, 'sensuality cares little for consent' part of Ephy's divine aspect.

Ephy watched her, quirking a knowing eyebrow. Could she read her thoughts? Zoey didn't think so, but again, the details behind godhood were not so much hazy as entirely opaque.

"Wondering if I'd make a good boss, come the day you rise up to meet me?" Ephy asked. She stepped forward, pressing her chest back into Zoey's. "I promise, working under me would come with such wonderful benefits. I don't think you'd complain. There'd be some days with long, sweaty hours, though. I'd really, really put you to work, underneath me."