That was supposed to be the apex.

  But it wasn’t.

  It was her limit.

  Not the end of the path.

  And so, she was going to break it.

  First, she did something so bold that she would have never expected herself to dare to. Miria grasped at her master’s mixed draconic energies and… provoked them. She issued a challenge. And they responded immediately.

  Even Asterios was surprised at the sudden surge that came out of him in a helix, assaulting the root of Miria’s spiritual lineage. She felt like the very base of her existence was crumbling, threatening to leave her with nothing, but she didn’t relent. Using the ferocious mana, she obliterated the foundation of her animalistic power, going up stage after stage until she reached the apex of full Werepanther peak, but didn’t let the fragments dissipate.

  Extending her will towards Tia, she respectfully requested the Dryad’s source to assist her next. It didn’t hesitate, flooding her with the indomitable power of life and nature. She directed it to recombine the scattered pieces. What previously could be imagined as a fairly thin and long tree with separate crowns at various heights, including the top, now took the form of a short but thick trunk with a ginormous crest of branches and leaves at the very peak.

  Miria led all of the cluster’s energy into that peak, forcing it to grow and expand, not forgetting to reinforce the base of the tree too as it reformed and solidified. Tia’s energy worked to its limits to piece everything together properly, leaving no cracks behind. Whatever mana Miria couldn’t infuse into the crown, the trunk, or the roots without making herself burst, she sent to her core, to her very source, feeling her mana reserves, capacity, and quality increase as it expanded.

  Painfully, of course.

  So much that it was pure torture.

  But that didn’t matter.

  It was nothing compared to her feelings or the prospect of torment Asterios would suffer seeing her crippled.

  So, she battled, brawled, clashed, and struggled, feeling him support her through the entirety of the process, believing in her unconditionally.

  It felt like hours passed with her diverting the cluster between her source and her improved lineage tree. Her mind was starting to get clouded, affectionately caressed and kept on track by Asterios and Tia, who didn’t stop their efforts for even a second. Miria wasn’t sure how long she would be able to keep going. She didn’t want to waste any more energy than she already had through her poor ability to manage such a fleeting thing.

  Thankfully, she noticed the flow slowing down gradually until it fully dissipated. Almost missing that moment completely, she didn’t withdraw Ast’s fierce energies in time, and they rebounded, clashing with Tia’s mana as the sun’s power disappeared and disrupted the harmony they had achieved. With a pained shout, Miria was launched backward, her furry palms slipping from the grasp of her gentle allies.

  “Miria!” Ast’s eyes shot open, and he jumped to his feet, his heart sinking at the thought of injuring her at the very end of her awe-inspiring effort.

  Before he could lunge after his mate’s prone, unmoving form, an arm blocked his way, and he let out a vicious growl at the brave but stupid offender.

  Tia didn’t even flinch under his murderous gaze, showing an expression full of compassion, understanding, but also firmness.

  “Don’t,” she addressed him softly.

  His emotions partially soothed, he turned his attention to Miria, and so did the Dryad lady. The panthergirl’s frame twitched and shivered irregularly, quiet groans and whimpers reaching their ears as she curled into herself. Her body still glowed brightly, but the light gradually faded. It took everything for Asterios not to ignore Tia’s request.

  But then, Miria brought herself up little by little, having a hard time not collapsing back onto the grass. She sat on her thighs and slumped forward, her fingers rolling into fists. Asterios and Tia waited with bated breath for her to meet their eyes and smile victoriously, gracing them with that cheerful grin so iconic for the adorable panther.

  Instead, fur crawled up Miria’s skin in a blink, transforming her fully into the form she had taken outside of the Ancestral Plane, save for the lack of clothes. Yet, there was a difference. It felt like her muscles became more pronounced underneath that silky smooth black fur. They frowned as Miria’s frame, even while on her knees, seemed bigger than before.

  As they examined their friend more, she threw her arms to the side, pushed out her bare chest, and roared into the air. The pressure of the thunderous shockwave drove them both back, but Asterios caught Tia and held them steady, fighting against the outburst. The roar continued for a few seconds before it ceased.

  Miria rose to her feet with an aggressive posture, looking ready to pounce. She glared at them as her feline muzzle scrunched from the threatening growls escaping it. Her fierce irises swirled with a combination of black, red, and a smattering of gold, right behind her more vicious vertical pupils, now even more visible than before. And she truly was taller, at least a head more than Asterios.

  “Go.” Tia nodded at her delicately. “Before your unconscious body finds an outlet for all this vigor on its own.”

  Without a single word, the Werepanther girl blinked out of existence.

  Sighing lightly, Tia turned to Asterios.

  “You should follow her,” she said with a sly smile. “You don’t want to miss the show, do you?”

  Before she could react, her lips were already joined with his, breaking the foxy giggle midway. Ast’s strong arms pulled her close, one palm resting on her tender behind, grabbing a handful of it, and the other securing a fistful of her dreaded hair. He explored her mouth hungrily as she shuddered in his powerful embrace, the initial surprise replaced by thoughts of him.

  Drawing back and making her chase after him briefly, he caressed her cheek firmly. “We will speak later.”

  And he blinked out of the Ancestral Plane too.

  Tia stumbled, her fingers moving to her lips. She sauntered towards her throne absentmindedly, her steps a little unsteady. Falling into the wooden seat, she took a calming breath, her dainty palm moving to the center of her chest.

  “Don’t act like a young maiden now… He even already mated you…” She felt her heart thumping furiously under her hand. “Focus. There’s still much to do. They can grow so much before they finish this journey. Make them stronger. For him.”

  The old and wise Arch Dryad squeezed her thighs together, her teeth delicately sinking into her bottom lip as she grazed it longingly, peering into the outside world through his eyes.

  Chapter 17

  Bigger Doesn’t Always Mean Better

  “How long has it already been?” Tina asked curiously.

  “About half an hour or so,” Selene replied.

  “Forty-seven minutes and thirty-one seconds as of now,” Abyss added nonchalantly.

  “Right…” The Summoner girl giggled quietly. “It’s been longer than the last time, if I’m not mistaken. I thought it would be the other way now that the cluster didn’t attack us.”

  The ladies and Umbra stood together a short distance from the meditating duo and watched as wisps of golden energy coiled around their bodies, coming from the artificial sun a little further into the massive chamber. Thankfully, it hadn’t tried burning them to a crisp with its energy, so things were much easier. Still, Asterios and Miria were taking their sweet time absorbing it, even if the girls didn’t intend to rush them or complain, of course.

  “Look. It’s flickering more and more. I think they are going to finish soon,” Silvia pointed out.

  Her observation was accurate as the floating sphere dimmed considerably in front of their eyes, the tongues of spiritual fumes thinning out. Then, it compressed into itself and disappeared with an echoing pop, breaking the connection with the pair. Everyone got ready for the massive earthquake that was supposed to follow, but nothing happened. The princess called for a few flaming orbs to illuminate the dark hall.

  “How come the framework of this place isn’t crumbling?” she wondered out loud.

  “That might be because the facility is already heavily damaged.” Althea hummed to herself. “With its foundation broken and cut in half, this might already be a defective state. We passed a few tunnels with collapsed ceilings. The big tremor might have already happened when the land was swallowed by the Titan.”

  “It’s a very probable explanation,” Abyss supported the theory. “Most circuits were disabled, including the majority of patterns in this chamber. However, with the disappearance of the energy cluster, this place is going to become even weaker. We shouldn’t remain here for too long. Luckily, your friends are back.”

  Everyone’s gaze moved onto the duo, and a second later, they gasped in surprise as a powerful spiritual wave exploded from the pair. Shielding their eyes, they saw black mist envelop Miria’s figure in a similar way to how it always did when she was about to assume her beast form. That made them confused since the panthergirl already was in her most powerful state, her skin completely covered by fur and her face shaped into that of a cute but deadly feline.

  Their confusion only grew as the spiritual obstruction expanded in volume and size. They watched as it reached the very ceiling, which wasn’t that low, before bursting outwards with another shockwave, this time followed by a deafening roar that forced the ladies to cover their ears. As soon as it passed them and smashed into the walls, they all froze, the resonating battlecry still filling the area.

  What stood before them was Miria, but also not. Their friend had grown not just taller but also bulkier, her muscles more pronounced and well-defined. The greatest change was the general size, though. Miria’s new form rivaled that of another bipedal entity they had fought in the past, a Voidtaur. If not even Asterios himself in his draconic shape.

  Additionally, it looked like her hair had been absorbed into her silky smooth fur, her feline head now no longer sporting long dark strands that cupped her cheeks. Yet, it still bore the distinct features of the ferocious yet adorable panthergirl. The last thing wasn’t exactly a change but more of a disappearance. Miria’s clothes had evaporated during her transformation, making their athletic friend appear completely nude. Naturally, most of her secrets were hidden away by the black fur, but the distinct shape of her perky chest and the dark tips topping the moderate peaks were unmistakable.

  As they all gaped at Miria while completely stunned, the panthergirl gazed back at them with a mix of black, red, and gold swirling behind her vertical pupils, glowing with power. Her ear twitched, a soft grunt tickling it, and she glanced down. Asterios was coming to after her, and looked up briefly, before directing his attention to the front again and swiping down his face.

  He immediately made a double take, and their eyes met, his wide to the brim. Asterios definitely hadn’t expected to wake up between Miria’s legs. And quite literally at that, as she had grown so much he could comfortably stand underneath her without a problem. However, his head would then end up just short of brushing against the apex of her femininity, fully visible from his current angle. Judging by how she stood still while staring at him, clearly blushing heavily under all that fur, she knew exactly what kind of sight greeted him from down there.

  Getting up carefully so as not to accidentally tickle her sensitive parts, Asterios was preparing to tease his huge mate a tiny bit, but a strong quake almost caused him to fall again, interrupting him before he even opened his mouth. The sound of something scraping against stone reached everyone’s ears, and they turned towards the entrance to the room, jumping closer to the duo and hastily assuming a defensive formation.

  In just a moment, the head of one ugly eel popped out of the passage’s opening, barely fitting in it. The rest of the monster followed it as the shadowy beast rushed into the chamber, releasing furious shrieks. Its yellowish eyes locked onto the group, and it hissed like a snake.

  “Seems like this place wasn’t full of only weak monsters.” Selene chuckled wryly. “It looks rather angry. Do you think it enjoyed basking in the glow of the fake sun?”

  “No doubt.” Silvia nodded, floating a little bit higher in her flaming form. “Let’s take it down quickly before we—”

  “I’ll handle it,” Miria cut her off with a ravenous grin. “There’s so much energy coursing through my body, it feels like every bit of me is tingling. And I really want to test my new strength.”

  “Then go and have fun.” Asterios ruffled the fur on her leg, peeking up at his eager mate.

  She, in turn, patted him on the head as if he were a small doll and giggled to herself at making him stumble. Crouching down, she lunged forward and got on all fours. The mist swirled around her again, and in a blink, she turned into a panther, retaining her impressive size, charging straight at the eel.

  Selene raised a brow at Asterios, but he shrugged dismissively. “Wasn’t me. Looks like she can now do this on her own. I’m honestly curious what she’ll show us.”

  And so, everyone’s attention was back on the upcoming fight. The serpentine monster slithered through the air like its relatives earlier and lunged at the feline before it, its jaws splitting wide. Miria avoided the bite and sank her own fangs into its tough black hide. The monstrosity hissed in agony and flailed around.

  The panthergirl tried to jump away before it coiled itself around her, but she bumped into the ceiling, cursing herself internally. Her new size was awesome, but inside a limited space, it was going to be troublesome. Even she knew that much. The tightening grip of the eel’s elongated form starting to squeeze her was proof enough.

  Wasting no time, Miria morphed back into her new humanoid form and growled viciously as she made use of her hands and feet to loosen the bindings holding her down. With a surprising show of strength, she achieved that feat easily and began pounding her fist into the monster’s head while choking it with her other hand. They rolled around as they brawled, growls and hisses coming out of the violent tumble.

  Finally getting the upper hand on the slimy bastard, Miria pinned it down under her knees and clawed at its long body, dodging the small lunges and bites aimed at her muzzle. She paused briefly when something moved at the edge of her vision, and she found two girls, Tina and Silvia, ahead of her. Instantly realizing that she had ended up in the middle of her friends, Miria became painfully aware of the direction in which her butt was pushed out. Taking a peek down her nude front and between her muscular thighs, she found it facing her beloved mate out of everyone else.

  “Master…” An embarrassed whine left her lips. “Don’t... look…”

  Asterios smiled apologetically but couldn’t listen to her request. In the end, he wanted to be ready to take action if she needed his help, and Miria understood it well. As much as she appreciated this, it still didn’t change how shameful of a display she was putting on in front of him and her sister-mates.

  The cause of all that tried to yank itself free, and she snarled at the daring eel. Channeling all her embarrassment into her strength, she rolled to the side and smacked its skull against the pavement, hearing it crack alongside the floor. Roaring fiercely, she threw its body away from them. It smashed into the wall with a powerful thud and tremor, creating a deep indent in the white stone. Yet, the dazed beast struggled back into the air with wobbly movements.

  “Why is its hide so tough? Even my sharpened claws can barely scratch it!” Miria complained while getting on her feet. “I would like to see how you deal with this!”

  She swung her arms to the sides and tensed her posture, growling loudly. Suddenly, her fists went up in flames, pure crimson fire licking the air above them. And it was only her hands, the rest of her arms remaining untouched by the vicious heat that had clearly come from Asterios. Roaring in a challenge, she swiped her claws in front, sending ten merciless blades of inferno at her opponent.

  “Impossible…” Althea whispered, covering her mouth in disbelief. “She didn’t…”

  That caught Ast’s attention, and he frowned at his mentor. “What’s the matter?”

  “The mark…” the Dragon lady pointed at Miria’s back.

  Surely, through the thick hairs trying to hide it, the same patterns that Tia had drawn on Miria’s back while inside his Ancestral Plane were glowing with a golden radiance. The light made itself visible during her erratic movements, the panthergirl currently chasing after the evasive monster while riddling its flesh with deep, instantly cauterized cuts. She juggled between melee strikes and ranged swipes, even throwing in an actual Fireball she tossed at the eel after gathering enough energy between her hands.

  “Is there something wrong with it?” He began feeling a little concerned seeing Althea’s overwhelmed expression.

  “Not with this particular one, but…” She swallowed thickly. “It’s another of the reasons why Dryads are so sought after by True Dragons. Insane regeneration is just one of them. The more experienced and older individuals are often masters of not just life energy but also soul. In the end, they switch between a spiritual and physical state while living inside their Trees.”

  “That much I understand.” Asterios nodded, still focusing on Miria’s fight as much as he could, listening alongside others to the green-haired lady explain things.

  “Not many True Dragons remember this now, but in the ancient past, there were some Arch Dryads in their peerage who were forced to come up with ways to strengthen their masters even further. They designed an inscription applied directly to one’s very core, their source. Such a thing, when used on a member of a True Dragon’s retinue, was said to be capable of turning someone with completely no potential into a real genius. Similar to draconic bonds and contracts, it further linked master with servant, directly synchronizing their sources, allowing the recipient to freely use every bit of draconic energy as if they had a perfect affinity with them and without the need for direct permission,” Althea summed up.