Ch51: Blessings & A New Weapon

“Heh~!” Beryl giggles to herself. “My dearest love, yer girls get along so well~! My, ‘ow fortunate~!”

Krvavy isn’t really listening to her teasing Elf, as all of her attention is focused on trying to keep Khalia still. Which is quite the struggle. One that quickly wears away at Krvavy’s patience. “DOWN!” She growls through her carnivorous teeth, snarling at the unruly Greenskin.

While the word itself might not mean anything to Khalia, the tone definitely does. The Greenskin woman immediately freezes in place, her amber eyes going wide with shock.

Breathing in deeply and slowly exhaling, Krvavy tries to try calm herself. And, at the same time, she forces the Orc down and away from her face. No need to waste this opportunity to regain at least a little of her personal space.

Khalia doesn’t resist in the slightest as she is pushed down into the barbarian’s lap. She gazes back up at Krvavy with big, sad eyes and... whimpers pathetically. “Hhnnnhhhh...”

Krvavy sighs and begins softly petting her Orc’s head.

The Greenskin woman looks overjoyed by that bit of contact, her plump lips parting into a wide, open mouth grin that lets her wide tongue loll out a little. Her whole body trembles as her excitement grows and grows, shaking almost violently as she struggles to stay still and –

The threatening rumble in Krvavy’s chest as the barbarian is about to yell at her Orc again is all it takes to keep Khalia in line.

“Oh, look at tha’!” Beryl happily coos. “Ya already know ‘ow ta handle ‘er! My dearest love, ya are ah-maze-in’!”

The tomboyish Elf just smiles innocently as Krvavy glares over at her. “Why is she like this?” The barbarian accusatorily asks.

“Ah don’t know.” Beryl’s plain answer is accompanied by a dismissive shrug. “She just seems broken. But tha’ isn’t too bad! She just needs a bit o’ trainin’, like any pet.”

“Yeah, just a bit of training...” Krvavy sarcastically mutters back, staring down at a pair of big, begging eyes that just won’t look away from her.

“But enough o’ tha’! Did it work?” The tanned Elf curiously questions. She leans forwards, invading Krvavy’s personal space almost exactly like the Orc had as her voice lowers down to a conspiratorial whisper. “Ya get any favour fer tha’?”

Krvavy takes a deep breath, idly rubbing the toned green belly of her excited Orc as she slowly exhales. “Yeah, five full points.”

“Wha’ can ya purchase wit’ tha’?” Beryl eagerly asks, fingers brushing across the barbarian’s arm. She is almost as excited as the Orc... And about as touchy, too. “Anythin’ ya ‘ave yer eyes on?”

“Well,” Krvavy begins telling the Elf about the three fairly affordable options that she had looked at last night, reading directly from their descriptions. Beryl seems most interested in Naturists Blessing II and Superior Stud I, perking up as Krvavy read out what they do. She seems much less interested in Soulbound Weaponry I, though from her expression she doesn’t think it is bad by any means.

“Ya should upgrade yer blessin’!” Beryl forcibly states as soon as Krvavy finishes talking.

“I would like to, but I need a new weapon.”

“True Defence is ah-maze-in’ though!” The tomboyish Elf protests. Her bare breasts squish into the barbarian’s side. When did she get so close...? “Besides, ya already ‘ave some spare weapons lyin’ around! And wit’ yer affinities ya can quickly become skilled wit’ them too!”

“Yeah, but getting that Soulbound weapon has other benefits as well. Like not having to maintain it and being able to store it in my soul.” Krvavy plainly points out. That is kind of like having an Inventory. Just only for her weapon. Still quite convenient though. “Also, I won’t get anything out of upgrading my Naturists Blessing right now because I don’t have anything to wear.”

“Alright...” Beryl sighs in defeat. “But can ya at least get Superior Stud first?”

“Why?” The barbarian honestly questions, not having expected the Elf to request that. “You do know that I won’t have any favour left over if I do that, right? I thought that you would have wanted me to save up to upgrade Naturists Blessing next.”

“Aye, Ah would like tha’,” Beryl admits, “but... Ah am very curious about wha’ this’ll upgrade ta. Besides, it saves me from ‘avin’ ta gather the herbs ta keep all yer girls from becomin’ mothers. And Ah am worried about yer Orc not wanting ta eat them anymore, as they’re quite bitter... Oh! And don’t worry about Thea. She doesn’t know wha’ they taste like, so Ah can just grind up some leaves fer ‘er and she’d be none the wiser!”

Krvavy sighs and shakes her head. She doesn’t really care one way or the other about saving up for Naturists Blessing II or buying Superior Stud I right now, to be honest. Though she is also kind of curious about what Superior Stud I will upgrade to next... It’ll definitely be something sex related, but what? Naturists Blessing, on the other hand, doesn’t really have the same mystery. It will probably give her more True Defence or some other way to make her tankier.

“Alright, I’ll do it.” Krvavy says, succumbing to her curiosity and her Elf’s insistence. It is only one point anyway, so this isn’t much of a waste. With just a thought, she purchases the new trait.

Superior Stud I: Blessed by a divine power, you have the ability to change your fertility at will, between 0% and its base level. Does not affect seed production, simply the chance to cause pregnancies.

The trait doesn’t really say anything new compared to when it was in the points shop. And mentally setting her fertility to 0% doesn’t make her feel any different either. So that is a bit lackluster... But what about the next upgrade?

Superior Stud II: 3 Divine Favour. Can now increase the volume of total ejaculate up to 8L. Sex improves your relationships† with others, provided that they find it pleasurable. Upgradable.†This effect is not mind control and cannot truly change how others feel about you. Rape and other violations, no matter how pleasurable, will still be viewed in a negative light. It simply makes pleasurable sex with you matter more to others when they consciously and unconsciously consider their opinion of you.

That is... interesting. Very, very interesting. Especially since this is the first thing that she has seen a trait – or anything really – with what is essentially fine print... It clearly says that it isn’t mind control, so just how much would it actually affect her relationships? Well, it probably doesn’t do much considering that it only costs three divine favour...

Also, that is a lot of cum. A ridiculous amount, really. Were she in the mood to think about her situation, then Krvavy would definitely have some pointed thoughts about that perverted and beyond pornographic volume...

“Perhaps it is intended ta smoothen out issues amongst yer collection o’ women, my dearest love?” Beryl suggests, after Krvavy had read that trait aloud for her. “But tha’ isn’t important,” she dismisses, “as it is worth gettin’ fer tha’ amount o’ seed alone! Oh, Ah can’t wait fer ya ta buy tha’ upgrade~! Ta be bathed in yer love~!”

Krvavy just shakes her head. She had almost forgotten that Beryl seems to have a rather large... thing... for her cum, so of course the Elf would focus on that...

“Can you go get the poleaxe for me?” The barbarian abruptly asks her Elvish lover.

“Thought ya said ya didn’t want ta use it~?” Beryl teasingly replies.

“I do, just as a base for my Soulbound weapon.” Krvavy answers in a plain and rather dry tone.

“O’ course. Ah’ll be right back, my dearest love.”

With that the Wood Elf quickly scampers off, leaving Krvavy to spend the rest of her divine favour – all five points – on the newest of her traits.

Except it isn’t a trait. It is an active skill.

Soulbound Weaponry: Immerse a weapon into the energies of your soul, permanently binding it to you. The weapon will change to match your highest proficiency at the time of binding. The Soulbound Weapon can be stored within your soul, recalled to your hand at will, and automatically repairs itself over time when submerged in your soul. If the Soulbound Weapon is destroyed, skill reverts to level 0 and all experience gained from the skill is lost. Max level = 10.

That is... new. The first half is basically just what is said in the shop, but the rest... It is interesting, to say the least. Makes sense for the skill to be tied to the weapon, but that does give it more risk than Krvavy thought... And what is up with the max level? Is that tied to upgrading it in the points shop?

Soulbound Weaponry II: 10 Divine Favour. Upgrades your Soulbound weapon to make it capable of consuming up to three materials at a time to increase its power. Durability & repair speed increased. Requires skill level 10 to purchase. Upgradable.

Guess so. Bit annoying that it doesn’t say what the next max level is though...

“My dearest love, ‘ere ya go!” Beryl quickly returns with the poleaxe in her hands.

“Thank you,” Krvavy replies, before looking down at the Orc in her lap, “but do you think you could take Khalia off me? I don’t want her getting in the way or anything.”

“Aye, sure.” Beryl places the poleaxe beside Krvavy before snapping her fingers to catch Khalia’s attention. “Come ‘ere girl! Come on!”

Patting her thighs, Beryl is able to easily coax the Orc over to her, even getting Khalia to settle down beside her.

“Wha’~?” The Elf playfully asks, grinning widely. “Ah’m good wit’ animals~!”

Krvavy just shakes her head and sighs, reaching over and picking up the poleaxe. It really is a beautiful weapon, so a part of her is hesitant to do this. The process will destroy it, that much she is certain, and she doesn’t know how much of it will live on in her Soulbound weapon.

Alytu Poleaxe: This expertly crafted poleaxe is made in the Vantein design, with a symmetrical axehead, a tapered spearhead, and a ridged hammerhead. The haft is composed of treated Ironbark Hickory heartwood reinforced by Ukkin Bronze, while the heads are of polished cold-iron Tolldean Steel. Deals primarily Impact, Puncture, or Slash damage, depending on the head used.

Trailing a hand along the smooth dark wood of the shaft, fingers glancing over the whitish bronze reinforcements, Krvavy wonders how much it will change. Though she would absolutely love for the axe part to become much larger, edging into pure fantasy territory, Krvavy hopes that it won’t lose the spear and hammer heads. Those are more polearm things, and they might not stay when it becomes a two-handed axe. But she would like to be able to crush or stab her enemies, rather than just always hacking and slashing. Even if she’ll almost certainly still end up doing that ninety percent of the time...

Well, no point putting it off any longer. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Krvavy tries binding the poleaxe to her soul. She has absolutely no idea how to do that, but luckily all she has to do is focus her will on it and her newest skill activates.

A rather odd sensation overcomes her, both comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. It is like something is trying to press itself into her chest, sinking into her flesh as if her ribs weren’t there. It is like she is in an idealized garden, sitting on a sturdy rock with a gentle waterfall flowing off to her side and the wind lazily blowing between the leaves of a nearby tree.

“Oh...!” Beryl quietly gasps, prompting Krvavy to open her eyes.

The poleaxe is glowing in her hands. It is shining so brightly that she can just barely make out its shape. But the light doesn’t hurt her eyes. Or Beryl’s eyes, considering how the Elf is staring. In fact, it doesn’t seem to be truly shining at all, because the area around them isn’t getting lit up by it...

The light suddenly disappears along with the poleaxe, just as a sharp sensation surges through Krvavy. It passes by in an instant, not quite feeling painful but reminding her of tearing off a bandage all the same.

Krvavy almost feels a presence within her. It is familiar, comforting, reassuring. She feels safer and more confident just knowing that it is there.

Reaching out with will alone, Krvavy ‘grabs’ onto the presence. A sudden weight appears in her hands, as her Soulbound weapon manifests with a faint flash.

It is beautiful. Almost all of the aspects that she liked about the poleaxe remain, but so much has changed to make it better.

At a glance her new weapon looks vaguely similar to what it was before, but it is more like a distant cousin than a direct relative. Visually, it appears to be made out of the same materials, though Krvavy doesn’t know if that matters for anything beyond its appearance. It has the same dark brown colour for the wooden shaft, the same dark silvery steel for the heads, and the same whitish bronze for the reinforcements, though those reinforcements seem to have been mostly reduced to spiked bolts pierced into a rather short strip of metal that reaches down from where the heads are all joined.

And of course it isn’t just the colours that are similar, as her new Soulbound weapon still has three heads: an axe, a spear, and a hammer. Krvavy could not be happier with that.

But those characteristics are where the similarities end. Gone are the realistically small proportions of the poleaxe, and in their place is a delightfully fantasy-scaled weapon. And it even looks like the whole thing grew larger to better match her size.

The hammerhead has changed the least. It has stretched out further from the shaft and is a fair bit thicker, but is otherwise rather similar. The surface area of the ridged part that looks like a meat tenderizer has only gotten a little bit larger. It isn’t exactly in fantasy hammer territory, but that makes sense in terms of actual functionality: the larger the area the more the force gets spread out. So Krvavy doesn’t mind that too much.

The spearhead is also pretty similar, though a bit more visibly different than the hammer. Before it had been little more than a sharpened triangle clearly meant to direct the force of the entire poleaxe into a single point. But now it looks more like a large dagger attached at the top of her weapon. Rather than having straight edges it curves in ever so slightly, and more importantly it has a prominent ridge down the middle, giving the tip an ever so slight ‘+’ shape. A stab wound from this looks alike it’ll be a pain to stitch up. Perfect.

The shaft is where the differences become much, much more apparent.

Before it was a straight pole of dark wood heavily reinforced with bands of whitish bronze metal reaching down its sides. Most of those reinforcements are gone now, leaving the dark wood bare and on display, though it does have a round steel pommel of sorts down at the bottom. It didn’t have anything like that before...

But the big change is in that shafts shape. No longer is it straight, having gained an ever so slight ‘s’ shaped curve. It isn’t much, and even looks like it ends at a point straight down from the top, but it is still noticeable. Krvavy has no idea if that is a good thing, but it does give the weapon a bit more of a natural feel to it, while also slightly reminding her of the femur shaft of her starting axe. More than a straight pole would, at least.

And then there is the actual axe portion which, beyond the similar looking materials, is completely different and nothing alike to what it was before. Where the poleaxe had a rather small and symmetrical half-disk of a head, her new Soulbound weapon has a massive axehead. It definitely looks like a two-handed axe now, with the spear and hammer heads being extra additions that are clearly not the main focus.

Krvavy just loves how the axe portion looks. It has a really deep beard, extending the head down far further than it goes upwards. The narrowed bit seems to be really quite sharp, but that doesn’t even matter much due to the amount of weight and force that would be behind each swing. The whole thing looks like a large and thick wedge, definitely far too heavy looking for real life. But this is a fantasy world, and Krvavy is strong.

“Wow...!” Beryl breathes out, pulling Krvavy from her admiration of this new weapon. “Tha’ is ah-maze-in’! A mighty and beautiful weapon fer a mighty and beautiful woman~!”

“It really is great.” Krvavy proudly declares. This Soulbound weapon is exactly what she wanted. It isn’t as exaggeratedly ‘barbarian’ as her last axe was, but she is alright with that. This might be her new life now – she still hasn’t fully accepted being unable to exit out of what may or may not be a game – so getting a new aesthetic feels like the right thing to do.

“Wha’ can ya do wit’ it!?” The tomboyish Wood Elf excitedly asks. She almost seems like a kid with a new toy, and Krvavy can’t help but smile seeing the gleeful gleam in her eyes.

Krvavy’s Soulbound weapon becomes translucent for a split second before it disappears, returning to her soul. It is a bit of an odd sensation, having a large weapon reside in her like that. None of the discomfort she felt when creating it is there though. It just feels... natural. Its presence reassures her, almost as if it is within an arms reach and will always be there when she needs it.

A single thought is all she needs to pull it back out, causing its translucent form to appear in her hands before solidifying in an instant. As convenient as moving the weapon in and out of her soul is, Krvavy gets the impression that she won’t be able to do it a whole lot within a short period of time.

She isn’t quite sure what makes her think that, but it is almost an instinctual feeling. Somehow Krvavy just knows that it is much more vulnerable when it goes translucent, and she doesn’t want it to get destroyed. Guess she won’t be popping it in and out of existence mid-combat. Bit of a shame, as that could make her attacks a lot more unpredictable.

“Ooh~! Tha’ is so convenient~!” Beryl coos. Her excitement only seems to grow as she sees more of what this axe can do. “Now wha’ about the recall?! Will it just appear in yer hands?”

That is a good question. Krvavy is half tempted to just throw the thing and see what happens, but she ultimately decides not to. Instead, she reaches over and places it on the ground, giving it a shove to push it further away before trying to recall it.

Krvavy’s Soulbound weapon remains on the ground, not moving in the slightest as she tries willing it back into her hand.

Furrowing her eyebrows, Krvavy turns her hand so that her palm is facing her weapon before trying again.

This time the large axe quivers for a moment before flying straight at Krvavy. It covers the short distance near instantly, the handle slamming directly into her palm as her fingers instinctively wrap around it.

“Wow~!” Is all Beryl has to say.

Krvavy is rather happy with this, though she does feel like the recall might have a few limitations. What happens if someone else is holding her axe? Would it tear free from their grip? What if they are too strong? And can she use the recall to throw her axe like a boomerang? That would be fun.

Well, there is only one way to find out: testing.

And so, with Soulbound axe in hand Krvavy rises to her feet. In doing so she finally gets an impression on just how large her new weapon is. And damn is it big. With the pommel resting on the ground, her Soulbound weapon reaches up over a head above her own. Though that is mostly due to the spearhead attached at the end. But even without the spear, the top of the axe does still reach a bit above the top of her own head.

This is a huge weapon. And she loves that.

Smiling widely, Krvavy walks closer to the edge of the living area platform. She has an experiment to perform.

“What are ya do– Oh!” Beryl cuts herself off as Krvavy casually throws her axe off over the edge.

Krvavy reaches out towards the swiftly falling axe and wills it back into her hand. But nothing happens as the axe rapidly approaches the ground.

Panicking slightly, Krvavy tries again. It shouldn’t be too bad if it hits the dirt and plants below, especially since it can be repaired by simply storing it in her soul, but Krvavy doesn’t want to needlessly damage the thing. Or have to walk all the way down there just to get it.

A sharp pain shoots through her head as her Soulbound weapon suddenly and abruptly reverses its momentum, flying up towards her.

She stumbles back as it slams back into her hand, using the haft as something to lean slightly on as her other hand goes straight to her forehead. Well, at least it worked. Kind of. It seems to be more for emergency situations, like if she drops it off a cliff. Which is... pretty much exactly what she just did.

“Are ya alright?!” Beryl’s voice drips with concern as she rushes to Krvavy’s side. Without anyone to hold her back, Khalia does the same.

“Yeah, just a bit of a headache...” Krvavy replies, being sandwiched between an overly affectionate Orc and a love-struck Elf.

“Come sit down and relax. Ya’ve been through a lot.” Beryl almost orders, supported by a worried whine from Khalia.

Willing her axe away, Krvavy lets herself get led back to the bedding. She isn’t in the mood for more tests anymore. Her two girls cuddle up to her sides and nuzzle against her as she sits down. This is actually rather nice, just sitting there with two loving women held in her arms...

Even if the love that both of them have for her is... not exactly real. Given to them by the same accursed collar...

Beryl gently pulls herself from Krvavy’s embrace, quickly heading towards the campfire and filling a large bowl with stew.

Which reminds the barbarian of just how hungry she is. The sudden rumbling grumble of her stomach slightly spooks Khalia, but not enough to get that Orc to give her even little bit of personal space.

“My dearest love, ‘ere, ya must be famished.” The Elf sidles back up to Krvavy’s side, but rather than handing over the bowl she seems intent on feeding Krvavy herself, bringing a spoon up to the barbarian’s lips.

While it does feel a little odd to be fed like this, it is also a bit romantic. And so, Krvavy just sits back and relaxes, letting her thoughts fade away as the loving Elf dotes on her.