A Flesh Golem's Ascension

by John Domus Cruo

  I got behind the tree, bringing my wing around. I tried to pull out the arrow. It hurt. It hurt! I couldn't do it. The barbed head was impossible to pull out with the coordination I had in one arm, at least not without destroying my wing. Blood was dripping down my feathers. I felt tears running down my face. Just when I got everything I wanted, this had to happen. I have to make it back to Boss. I can't let myself die here. I thought about detecting prey, and my vision went yellow again. I saw a large red blob in the bushes to the right of the cave entrance.

  I needed cover. I tried to make that smoke come out like I did earlier. I was surprised that I was able to breathe out continuously now. The area around me quickly filled with the strange mist. I saw the blob start to move. It was a familiar shape. A goblin! This one looked smaller than the bodies I had seen. It was around my height.

  It was running towards me while using the bushes and trees as cover, but I could still see it as a red blob.

  It was moving closer at a fast pace. I had to dart around the tree, placing it between me and the goblin's line of fire.

  It was at the bush right in front of me, then it was on the other side of the tree. I was ready to extend my spike into it when it came closer. It tensed up like it would charge, but instead it just fell forward, landing face down on the ground.

  I waited a few minutes to see if it would get back up before I carefully crept up closer. I shot out a spike from my good arm and stabbed it in the shoulder, injecting everything I had into it.

  I scanned the area for anything I might have missed. This was my first time being the prey instead of the hunter, and I didn't want to let it happen again. Other than a few small blobs in the trees and the gopher from earlier, there didn't seem to be anything else.

  I rolled the goblin over. Its eyes were frantic and kept darting around as if looking for an escape. I popped out my spike and placed the tip right in front of its nose. The goblin stared at it cross-eyed. I debated killing it, but I hadn’t seen Bob anywhere. What if they captured him, what if they ate him? What if I've already lost my brother? No, I had to take this guy to the boss. I already knew he could talk to you even if you're dead, but pain could be a great motivator. This goblin had taught me that.

  I grabbed onto one of its oversized ears and began to slowly drag it toward the cave. It seemed to be flinching in pain as I pulled. I kept scanning the area as I entered the clearing in front of the cave opening. My wing hurt so much that it was almost unbearable. My arm was the only thing distracting me from it as I felt the bones grinding in it with each step.

  I could hear moans of pleasure coming from the cave as I entered. I noticed a truly monstrous creature laying by the door. What the hell is this thing? I released the goblin.

  I cradled my arm with my hand as my wing dragged on the floor. I saw the boss sitting up against the left wall. Leera was on top of him. I called out to them.

  They stopped their motions and looked over to me. Boss had a shocked expression that quickly turned to fury when he saw the arrow. He tried to get up, but Leera held him down. He looked up at her with a confused expression, rage briefly flashing across his face before he calmed a bit.

  Leera gestured for me to come over. I walked slowly towards them, wincing with each step. But Boss was there. I made it back to him. I was here now. I could feel the tears flowing freely as I walked a little faster.

  As I got close, Boss's expression turned into a gentle look of concern. He picked me up softly, being careful not to touch my wing.

  "I'll start fixing you immediately. Just relax, you're safe now." His voice was softer than I remember it being.

  Leera stopped him. "I think it's better if I do it. She needs a gentle touch."

  Boss turned me to face her. Leera held the arrow steady on one side, and Boss broke off the barbed end. Leera pulled it out in one swift motion without me even feeling it slide through. She gently held my arm in place and tilted my head towards hers.

  She looked me in the eyes as boss lifted me towards her. She put her lips over my face in one of those... kisses, I think they're called. I gasped in surprise, fog was coming from her mouth. As I inhaled it I could feel the pain disappear. Boss gently placed his finger on my arm and I could feel it shifting back into place. He ran his hand along my wing and it returned to normal.

  They both held me between them for a while. Leera was looking at me with compassion and Boss was looking at me with pride.

  "You've done well, Lina, my little amazon," he said as he ran his fingers over my hair.

  He turned me around in his arms so that I was facing him. He held me by the shoulders, while Leera supported my bottom in her hands. It was his turn to kiss me now. I could feel my whole body heating up. Wasn’t this what he does before he mates? I could smell a heavy musk coming from where they were still joined. I began to get turned on. I felt myself get aroused from the thought.

  I shot a worried glance at Leera, but she was just smiling down at me. She ran a finger down my spine and I shivered.

  Boss had a truly lusty look in his eyes as he let his gaze wash over my unclothed body. Oh god, he must have known what I did earlier while he was watching me.

  Leera spoke from behind me as if reading my mind. "While you were out we talked, among other things. He was worried about traumatizing you by awakening you the way he did. He was worried that you would hate him. I gave him a different version of events, and now, looking at you blushing and feeling how soaked my hand is getting, I have no doubt mine is the real version."

  She moved her finger just slightly, causing me to let out a small whimper.

  "That was very bold of you, you know. Doing something like that right in front of him while sitting in his seed. You can bear him children now after all. You may already be with child." She said this in a mocking tone as I felt one of her fingertips starting to rub me.

  I couldn't believe it. Did he really make it so I could bear his children? I started to moan and tried to move my arms to embrace him, but he held them firmly and didn't let go.

  I moved one of my legs up, grabbing his harness with my talon as I felt one of Leera's fingers enter me.

  Leera leaned closer, breathing heavily into my ear from behind.

  She whispered. "Don't think I don't know about last night, as well. You might have thought you were sneaky, but it didn't take me long to guess what was happening between our legs."

  We all mated together as he restrained me and Leera humiliated me. I finally got to be one with him as he filled me.

  I looked into his gentle eyes, and I could tell he cared for me.

  I didn't want to let go. I always wanted him inside of me. Now that I had it, I didn't want to lose this feeling. I was now his mate. He would use me to make his babies. He would love me and cherish me as we raised our children together.

  I imagined the life I would have as he started to gently stroke my hair. I could feel my exhaustion taking me. I relaxed and finally allowed myself to rest as a warm feeling spread from my chest throughout my body.

  Chapter 20: The Hunt — John

  Lina just lay against me, leaning on my abdomen as she caught her breath.

  I looked at Leera she gave me a happy, knowing look. I scooped Lina up in my arms. She tiredly opened her eyes for a second before closing them once more. I could feel her pulse still racing as she continued to breath heavily.

  I had told Leera everything — even about what had happened when I was creating Lina's new body. She wasn't surprised or judgmental. She seemed to understand me on an instinctual level. I had barely known her, but I already knew I had feelings for her.

  She revealed what had happened when we had passed out last night, and I was shocked. I remember Bob telling me that Lina probably wasn't going to be his girl, but I didn't know it went this deep.

  When she'd told me her theory about what had happened during Lina's reawakening, everything made sense all at once. Lina was an exhibitionist and a masochist, probably because she couldn'
t be honest with me. So I had to force her to do what she already wanted to do.

  Leera on the other hand was honest, understanding, and had a maturity to her that is hard to find. She was level-headed and smart. You couldn't ask for a better partner.

  Right now it's fairly likely that they are both going to be giving birth within the next year or so. Actually, Lina might lay an egg in a month, and it could hatch anywhere between one and three months if I remembered bird facts correctly. My child with her would most likely have her traits, but that could be a moot point as I could always change them with Fleshcrafting.

  Holy shit! Just how many children am I going to have? Seven to fourteen kids a year? That's horrifying. I might be unleashing a plague upon the land. Whether or not it's fertilized, I'm guessing Lina will still lay at least one egg a month, which she will feel obligated to incubate.

  I thought about it for a few seconds before I chuckled lightly. That means she will likely spend most of her life roosting. Basically just sitting on an egg, likely while blushing at me any time I look her way. I will have to figure out a way to make her a flesh construct that exists mainly to generate body heat so she's not stuck sitting in one place forever.

  But wow, this was amazing. I had never had a threesome before, let alone the fantasy version I got today. As much as I knew I had feelings for Leera, I knew I also felt for Lina just the same. She had always charmed me. Her combination of adorable and stoic was irresistible. I remembered the way it felt to be inside her, and I felt my brain melt a little. I found my pants and put them on.

  I remembered she came in dragging something. I looked around. I was still cradling Lina in my arms. She was definitely larger now. She seems to have fallen asleep with a grin on her face. I walked over to Leera and handed Lina off to her. I walked toward the cave entrance. Damn! She bagged a goblin. I had already been pretty sure that was what she had, given that the arrow resembled the ones I had pulled out from myself earlier.

  Its ear was partially ripped off, and it was bleeding from its shoulder. I saw its chest rising and falling. Was it still breathing? I sat it up and pulled its arms behind its back. I used Fleshcrafting to seal the wrist skin together. I did the same with its ankles. She must have kept it alive for a reason. I would ask her about that once she’d had an opportunity to rest.

  I peeked outside to see if there were any other threats. I used Life Sense. I saw a fair-sized blob not too far away. I crept quietly, trying to stick to the tree line after I got out of the clearing.

  Yay! This marks a historical event — the first time I've made it more than three steps outside of that cave. I felt that pulling sensation calling to me again and looked at my map. It seemed to be telling me to head northeast of the goblin camp. I decided to ignore it for now. I had to make sure the area was safe.

  I moved towards the blob. Now that I was closer I could see it wasn't that large. I picked it up. Ah, this was one of those large gophers. It looked at me as I held it, which freaked me out a little. I promptly skewered it in the head with my spike.

  I brought it back to the cave and started using Fleshcrafting to skin it. I melded together all the rodent skin that was present and formed a new, slightly skimpy outfit for Lina. Something like a fur swimsuit again, though it was still a bit gooey on the back. It needed to sit awhile before I could finish it.

  That gopher was fresher than the ones earlier were, and to be honest I kind of wanted her to be naked for a little while longer anyway. After what had just happened, it wasn’t like we were going to be uncomfortable with each other.

  I took the meat over to Leera and handed it to her. I knew she had to be hungry. Damn my lack of survivalism, though — I didn't know how exactly to build a fire to cook it. I wasn't sure she would want to eat it raw, as she had been excited about being able to roast meat like a human now.

  Due to my Feast skill, I didn't have to cook things for myself, and Bob and Lina had always just eaten everything raw anyway. Leera didn't look pleased. She gently sat Lina down and took the meat. I laid Lina's new outfit beside her.

  Leera looked up at me and said, "Oh, really, you'll give her clothes, but you expect me to walk around naked all the time."

  I didn't even know she knew about the concept of clothing.

  I winked at her and replied, "Oh, you know you like it."

  She raised one eyebrow at me, alternating her glances from me to the rodent. "I really think we should cook this. Isn't that what people normally do? I've seen humans do that regularly in my flights."

  I also raised one eyebrow and replied, "We're not exactly human."

  Which was true — I had imparted all the benefits of the ghoul stomach to everyone, as well as the wendigo stomach. Technically we didn't need to produce waste.

  Not finding a reply for that, she shrugged and raised the gopher to her mouth and took a small bite. She covered her mouth with her other hand and made a satisfied face while she was chewing. After swallowing, she said, "You’re right, this is good. But still, I would like to try cooked meat some day. I think it might be even tastier." She licked her lips at me.

  I wondered just what parts of my memory Mors accessed to teach everybody English.

  I responded, "I've had it several times before, but the first thing I ate in this world was a lot of unidentifiable decaying meat, which, when I look back on it, tasted okay. So, yeah, I think we may need to upgrade our diet, but for right now this will do."

  I walked over and picked up the sleeping Lina then made my way once more towards the cave exit.

  I peered back at Leera and said, "Leera, I'm going hunting so we can bring Bob back. Keep an eye on that goblin, and don't let it do anything weird."

  Leera looked back between bites. "Okay, I'll try to hold everything together here while you're out."

  She laid down her food and walked over to me, hugging me with Lina between us. She looked up at me expectantly. I leaned down, and she kissed me while gently placing a hand on my cheek. She looked deeply into my eyes.

  "John, please come back safely,” she said as she let her hand slip from my face.

  "I will." I awkwardly replied as I left.

  Wow, this is the first time a girl this hot had ever treated me like that. This has escalated quickly! Not that I minded. If marriage was a thing here, I would definitely propose to her and Lina both. Once we were staying some place nicer than this cave and I had all the materials, I would make them both wedding dresses.

  I had to be careful out here, as I had found out several times already, and doubly so because I was carrying Lina. Now that I thought about it, this might not have been the best decision. Lina is our little huntress, though, and if things got bad I had full faith she could defend herself or escape.

  As I walked I felt that nagging pulling sensation again. I felt like I was being called somewhere. I turned to face it. Though at this point I knew it was something I would have to investigate, it would have to wait for now. Bob had priority. I wanted to get my friend back as soon as I could.

  I had heard people talk about hunting before, and what I gathered was that it was basically just finding a hiding place and waiting. If that was all I was doing, then there was no reason to wake Lina yet.

  I kept my vigilance as I walked deeper into the forest. I checked my mini-map to ensure I wasn't heading toward the goblin camp, which was apparently not too far, as they keep showing up here.

  I worried about Leera, but the cave is dark to normal eyes, and she could freeze them with a poke of her spike. After I had told her about her updated abilities, she had immediately shot out her spike and started pumping out mist, just to see it in action. Then, to my surprise, instead of just normally using self-heal, she used fog to heal herself once she had retracted her spike.

  I had asked her why she had chosen to do it that way, and she answered that it actually felt less draining. So now I guessed she’d made herself a new skill, which I dubbed Healing Mist. In that form, it doesn't damage me, as it never r
eaches my core. As long as I don't inhale too much of it and don't enter undead mode, I assumed I would be safe.

  Now that I had decent mana regen, I was looking forward to using my spells a little. I still hadn't really had the chance to test them.

  Looking at my map, I headed toward a stream. Living things have to drink, after all, at least if they don't have ghoul stomachs, but ghouls themselves weren't living. So I guess our group was the only exception.

  I found an area with a large tree that had toppled over. I walked over to its stump and crouched behind it.

  I could hear water in the distance. I looked down at Lina, who was still wrapped in her wings and cradled to my chest. I held her in one arm and reached down to gently rub her little nose. She scrunched up her face and brought her hand up from behind her wing to wipe at her nose. She tucked her arm back in and cuddled up close again, shifting around to get more comfortable. I tickled her nose again.

  Ow! I pulled my finger back quickly. She bit me, and it really hurt! I had forgotten that I had given her all those sharp teeth. Looking back at our fun time earlier, Leera may be the bravest person I know. I wonder if she had to heal herself after that.

  She smacked her lips a few times and seemed to relax again. All right, so you want to play hardball, huh? I reached my hand up under her wings until I found what I was looking for. I gave her a poke in a very sensitive place. Her eyes went wide and she shot me a look of confusion that gradually became one of arousal as she figured out what had happened. I withdrew my finger. I wasn't ready for round two just yet.

  She made a pouty face, then noticed that she wasn't in the cave. "Where are we, Boss?"

  I smiled down at her and replied, "No, you call me John now. We're beyond this whole Boss thing. We're in the forest; we need to hunt big game in order to make Bob a new body."

  She nodded for a second, then seemed confused. "Did something happen to Bob? Now that I think about it, I haven't seen him."