WARNING: This story includes mature elements. This chapter in particular includes short paragraphs depicting mild-to-moderate gore, mentions of torture and blood. Proceed at your own discretion.

Once upon a time, three foolish children entered the cave in the distant north in search of treasure to bring home—though calling it 'treasure' was a vast overestimation of the matter.

In truth, all they'd intended to do was find some ice and bring it back home to prolong their food, since food would last a little longer with cooler temperatures. Sure, the usage of cooling «Sacred Arts» would have been a fine alternative, but at the time, they didn't even consider it. And using ice from the caves would have lasted them much longer.

How had such a simple outing splintered three childhood friends?

One punished for the crime of breaking the «Taboo Index», taken away the next day to the cathedral to be executed. One to suffer for the loss of his friends, living his next few years without aim and reason. And one erased from existence, a forgotten moment with no memory of the world despite his return years later.

And how unexpected it was that three children, now much older, had ended up here once more.

Granted, it was the two of them with the younger sister of their third friend. But the situation shouldn't have been even worse, save for the fact that now, one of them was bleeding out on the ground and the other boy was trying his damnedest best to keep awake despite his entire body feeling like lead.

"You..!" The voice was rich with malice and hatred, blood trailing down his ruined eye while his only good one glared at him with unbridled heat. Kirito's gaze lifted off the rocky ground—and towards the massive creature in green skin, white tattoos lining his body and a massive talwar gripped in his right. "Killing you now would not be enough..! I'll tear you apart, limb from limb, and kill your friends! Nothing less will be enough!"

'Shit…' He rasped, that single action causing an ache to spread across his abdomen. His arm, slashed and bleeding profusely, felt just as terrible, and his consciousness swayed. 'It can't end like this..!'

His eyes moved back—towards Eugeo, who was still bleeding terribly, clutching a cheap sword he'd tried to use to protect him. And Selka was still unconscious, laid upon a wagon and unknowing of the fate befallen them.

Kirito grunted, attention shifting back towards Ugachi, whose bloodshot eye refused to look away from him. Fanning around them, the lesser goblins kept their focus solely on him, ready for any movement. There really was no other way out of this situation but to fight his way out of it, although taking on this single bastard and the rest of his lackeys would be no easy feat…

He shook his head, anger fuelling his veins and numbing the pain. What the hell was he hesitating for? If anything, it was okay for him. Sure, the pain was real, but dying here was not the end of the road for him. His body was safe and sound out there, hopefully undergoing medication that would preserve his life?

But for Eugeo and Selka? This is their world. They wouldn't get any second chances.

He couldn't let them die here. Not like this.

With a flourish of his sword and a surging battle cry, Kirito charged forwards, spurring the lesser goblins into action. Eight, ten, perhaps even twelve. Their attempt to surround him was not enough, however, as he was simply faster; sword moving like a blur as it slashed through their bodies like shredding paper.

An attempted overhead gets punished with a swift thrust straight through the ribcage. A double gang-up is broken with a kick to the side of one and a diagonal to the other. A simple backhand is parried and ends with his jugular severed by a horizontal cut.

Adrenaline surged within his veins, and unlike all those other times in the games, this was a moment when his body felt actually on fire. His muscles tensed and coiled, his breathing stilled, his heart drumming in his chest as he tore through their ranks without mercy, spilling blood left and right.

A massive pressure overwhelms him all of a sudden, and it was all that Kirito could do to raise his sword to block the incoming attack. But witnessing the source of the attack has his eyes widening in fear.

It was too late. By then, the massive blade had impacted straight into the middle of his own weapon, metal reverberating all the way across his arms and sending him flying off to the side. His body crashed into stone, making all the air rush out of him, and he dropped down painfully like a ragdoll.

'F-Fuck…' He felt like choking, and with a single gasp, his own blood splattered onto the ground. Thick crimson swam freely, the stench nauseating, and his vision wavered. 'You've got to be joking me…'

Has he ever felt this much pain in a lifetime? Likely not. This was the kind of pain that burnt across his entire being—and this world intending to simulate realistic sensations, he could feel everything to an acutely minor way. Like how his body, previously warm and spiking, now felt cold and limp.

Was this really how things were supposed to end? Was he really going to fail another person in his life, just like Sachi and all their friends in the Moonlit Black Cats?

Grimacing, he used one hand to force himself to roll onto his back, body tensing in pain when he felt the jagged ground poke into his back through his tunic. Not much strength left in his body, he could tell. Within seconds, he was actually going to die, and maybe even Eugeo too.

'That's what I get… for not being strong enough…' A pained wheeze escapes his throat, and even that makes his lungs seize in a painful sear. 'Can I not try anything anymore..?'

He couldn't. His legs refused to move, as did his arms. His head felt incredibly light from all the blood loss, and his body felt incredibly cold—both from the frost and him going dry.

This wasn't like all the other virtual worlds where defeat was only achieved when the health point hit zero. Underworld sought to replicate the characteristics of the real world, making survival and safety all the more vital. And now that he was on the verge of death, there was no turning back.

This really was the end.

'Then, I guess… all I can do now… is pray.'

It felt like such an unfamiliar notion; to pray to a deity when his whole life, he'd lacked any true devotion to his god and whatnot. Sure, he went to the shrine for New Year's like any other person, but he couldn't remember a time when he went on his own and truly prayed for an answer or salvation.

But right here in this moment, all he could remember was all the times Selka had brought him to the church, teaching him of the goddesses and the way of this world. Of the people's faith and the love between this realm and its residents.

…Maybe it wouldn't hurt to pray to a goddess of this realm then, right?

Thinking such, he balled his good hand and placed it slowly upon his chest, steadying his breathing to keep the pain to a minimum. His raven eyes stared up into the frosted ceiling before finally shutting, darkness embracing him.

Let's see… There were plenty of goddesses that Selka taught him. The one who governs this world's sun and light, the one who oversees the people's dreams, the one that provides blessing to the earth… ah yeah, and that one douche god that supposedly 'cursed' him and took away his memories.

And finally, the goddess of life and creation, Stacia.

'Dear Stacia… I know I don't deserve anything for all my wrongdoings—'

For hiding away from his sister and parents, despite their love. For failing to rescue Sachi and her friends, a broken Keita throwing himself over the edge. For allowing Asuna to suffer under Sugou's clutches. For allowing Shino to almost die at the hands of her old friend. For failing to protect Eugeo and Selka now.

'But please, just this once… Protect my friends. Make sure they make it out of this alright…'

"…Kirito-kun..!"

Huh. The goddess personally knew his name? That was really flattering. He didn't know if he did anything to deserve being noteworthy in this world's deity's mind. In fact, he could kind of see her right now, descending towards him from the ceiling in a veil of light…

Wait a minute, is he hallucinating, or is that an actual person coming down—

His mind comes to an abrupt stop when the person lands, and a cacophony of angels circulate across the cavern. Light filled his vision, followed by a warmth not unlike the embrace of a loved one after a rainy day. All the pain in his body was slowly diffusing out of him, replaced now with a comforting numbness.

Two soft hands grasp his cheeks, and the girl with the most beautiful hazel eyes stares into his with sincere love and naked concern.

"Kirito-kun! A-Are you okay? You're bleeding so much..!"

"T-The goddess actually came for me…" He could feel the corner of his lips curl into a smile. "Talk about… lucky…"

"I-It's okay! You'll be fine, I promise! I'll get you out of here soon!"

Hah. To hear a goddess sound so panicky over his safety was so funny. Did he really mean that much to her? He liked to think that he didn't, seeing that he'd only been here for a week or so, but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

And somehow, he trusted her with all his being. And that was enough.

"I'll… hold you to that."

Within seconds, the realm of unconsciousness embraced him.

Kirito awoke in his bed with a startled cry, shooting upwards and hand clasping his chest tightly. His breathing came fast and heaving, and he could almost keel over from how his vision swam. Eventually, however, he released his hold and extended his hand.

It came back shaky, sweaty—but unbloodied.

"I… I'm okay…" He panted, hand claiming his forehead as he let out a tired sigh. "Bloody hell… Talk about the shittiest dream to have…"

To be fair, that incident had just occurred yesterday. There was no way he could been able to put it behind him quickly enough, his body and mind perhaps still reeling from the aftermath and nearly dying.

And it seemed like there was a stark difference between a boss battle and a skirmish that actually put his life on the line. Not to undermine the severity of 'SAO', of course, but in a world with actual sensation added, pain was a really good way to scare you and keep you on your toes. He'll definitely make sure never to underestimate this world from here on out.

And that pain… From just having his shoulder slashed wide open, and then almost having his back break from the impact—everything had hurt so much, and he genuinely thought dying would be better, if only to end it.

Which is why they'd been utterly fortunate to have made it out of that cave alive. Selka was completely unscathed, whereas he and Eugeo required a little more care. Asuna used «Sacred Arts» to see to their recovery, making it unnecessary to visit the local pharmacist. And what a wonder that there weren't any lasting complications to worry about. They went back home utterly fine.

So why was his mind still stuck on yesterday?

He exhaled breathily. Of course he still remembered it. It was the first time he felt like he was actually going to die—and painfully, no less, unlike the boss battles in 'SAO'. This one felt real, what with the exhaustion and the actual pain, so he felt like he had some excuse for being more than a little shaken after the experience.

Still, there was no point letting himself be bogged down by the memory. Kirito the Black Swordsman was a fighter who always pressed onwards despite all the challenges he's ever faced, all for the sake of protecting the people he cared about. And nothing was… going to…

A strange wave of heat surged through his body, the boy gasping in confusion—and arousal, he realized, when the heat seemed to be focused solely around his nether regions.

'W-Warm..!' And he wasn't mistaking the sensation he was feeling. Wet, slick and warm, moving back and forth and trapping his hard member in a familiar yet unexpected sensation. 'N-No way..!'

In disbelief, able to tell that his legs were spread apart and something was on the bed with him, judging by the large lump underneath his blanket and near his legs, Kirito grasped his blanket and threw it upwards—

And was treated with the image of his girlfriend, wearing nothing but her lingerie, giving him a blowjob.

"A-Asuna?!"

"Phwa… Kirito-kun, good morning!"

The first thing that went in his head was whether or not this was a dream. Like a very lucid one. And that would definitely be embarrassing, since that might make him seem like a desperate lecher who only ever thought about sex with the girl he loved.

The next thing was the realization that, no, this wasn't a dream. All of this was actually happening; him in his bedroom in the church he was staying at, Asuna between his legs, his dick grasped in her hands and the head sitting close to her glistening lips, her spit connecting the two points.

And three, holy shit she looked so sexy.

"…What," he began, taking a deep breath to will away the shock—and maybe convince his dick to go back to sleep. "Are you doing?"

"Well, I remember how much you liked this that one time I stayed over at your house, so I thought you would like it here too."

"I do," he admitted through gritted teeth and a flushed face, cursing himself when she visibly beamed. "But Asuna, why?"

"Underworld is incredibly realistic, right? So I was certain you'd have enjoyed it just as much!"

That was also true. It sucked that pain felt real in this world without any dampening, but every great thing felt realistic—and, as it turned out, so too did stuff like this.

"But this is just..! You don't have to! Really!"

"Nonsense. It's the least I can do for you."

Kirito groaned. Honestly, when they'd returned from the cave, he didn't expect Asuna to request shelter here. She'd used the excuse of coming from Wesdarath to look for him, something that all the church girls cooed at and called romantic. Sister Azalia didn't mind either, simply happy that they were reunited after years of separation.

But he didn't expect her to have somehow snuck into his room in the very, very early morning (hell, he couldn't hear the roosters or see the sun yet) just to suck him off in his bedroom!

Even though it was really good. Seriously, where did she learn to do them? That had been really… A-Ahem!

"I'm just really worried that someone might just accidentally stumble upon us doing this thing," he groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "This is really reckless, you know? I don't want us to get into trouble…"

In stark contrast to his worry, the girl simply smiled easily. "Don't worry about it! I used an advanced «Sacred Art» spell to soundproof this room," she huffed with pride. "With the goddess Stacia account, I have such a high authority, I can basically do anything!"

That got his brow to twitch. Yep, there was also that.

Apparently, when he'd prayed to the goddess to save his friends, the goddess herself had actually responded to his pleas. And it was no one else but Asuna.

There'd been a lot of interrogation done while both Eugeo and Selka were recuperating, trying to determine just how she'd arrived in this world. She'd tried to keep her lips sealed, but after some prodding (and some kissing, because he was her boyfriend and knew all her weak spots), she eventually admitted the truth.

Apparently, after the incident where he got injected with poison by Johnny Black, he was taken to some secret facility in the middle of the ocean, where Kikuoka worked on Underworld; a simulated universe that's incredibly realistic with the goal of creating a soul capable of breaking rules. Apparently, that was the hallmark of a soul being 'human', and by then they would extract the soul for use of… stuff. What those were, she didn't know.

And Kikuoka saw fit to put his consciousness into that world for the time being, preserving his mind while they treated his body and purged the poison from his system. He appreciated that, sure, but it sure sucked that he almost died again in the virtual world.

Oh, and Asuna used a similar machine as him to log into the world—and she got to use the goddess account? Bruh. Talk about cheating.

Regardless, this was the reality of the situation; Asuna, his girlfriend and future wife-to-be, was the goddess Stacia. And she'd come to this world to save him.

"Seriously… What am I gonna' do with you..?" Sighing, he shook his head. "Oh well. So long as you don't expose yourself to everyone else. Can you do that?"

"Of course, Kirito-kun."

"Great. Now then, let's—" He attempted to move, only to find his hand caught by Asuna's. "Asuna?"

"I… Well, you see, it's just… I mean, I know you want to get up and all! But, like, I really do think… it's…"

Seeing her devolve into mumbles, the teenage boy let out a patient hum. "Asuna, dear, just tell me what's bothering you—"

"I'm horny!"

Hearing the typically sophisticated and well-mannered young lady, heiress of the Yuuki household, scream such an obscene phrase was both a source of shock and amusement for the boy. Bright red flushed into her cheeks, eyes dropping down and unable to meet him.

Kirito stared at her, and chuckled after a while. Honestly, this girl… It was impressive how she could still be so bashful about these kinds of things, despite them having done this quite the number of times. And no, they never actually had sex in the real world (besides the one and only blowjob when she stayed over). Just in VR.

And here, with the added benefit of everything feeling realistic…

"It's alright. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't too," she did stop her administrations half-way, and he doubted he would have been able to get through the day without getting some relief. Might as well. "So let's—"

"Ah, Kirito-kun… Just lie back. Let me do everything."

"Huh?" His brows furrowed. "What are you talking about? I can…"

"No!" She insisted, pouting. "Please, let me do this for you! I… I really want you to enjoy this."

Urgh. Such a demanding girlfriend. Still, he wouldn't have wanted it any other way. "Alright," he nodded, smiling softly. "I'm all yours, baby."

She returned that warmth with a smile of her own, only to lean in close to capture his lips with a kiss. It was slow, and he couldn't help but love how soft these lips were. He could even tell from the liplock that she was smiling, and that made the warmth in his chest bloom.

Slowly, he lowered himself until his head was on his pillow, and only then could he take in his girlfriend's immaculate form; with white lace covering her modest breasts and her privates, she looked almost like an angel. Her long hair ran down her back like a waterfall of chestnut, and her taut chest and slim arms and legs only made the package complete.

But this was no angel. If the slight dampness upon her underwear was any indication, she was feeling anything but innocent.

And she made certain of that, lowering herself between her legs and resuming her earlier servicing. It started with a kiss upon his crown, making him twitch, followed by a few upon his shaft, some upon his balls, and one directly on the slit. And each one made him grip the bed even harder.

'Shit, she's good…' He thought to himself. 'And she hadn't even started doing anything drastic yet..!'

As if she read his mind, however, Asuna grasped his shaft with her left before taking his entire head into her mouth. Warmth and wetness engulfed him, and Kirito almost recoiled from the moment. A haze began to build in his head, hands coming down to grip her head gently on either side. A pleased hum was the only response she gave before continuing her work.

First, she bobbed his head around in her mouth, teasing it around with her tongue and letting it rest gently upon her lips. Then, she sucked lightly upon the tip, making him gasp sharply. And finally, she pulled back a little until the head was almost completely out of her mouth.

Before diving back in and swallowing his entire cock.

"A-Asuna..!"

It was so sudden that his hands automatically clenched tightly. Rather than be alarmed by it, she pushed on with confidence, beginning a slow rhythm of bobbing her head up and down upon his penis. She expertly squeezed down on his penis between the roof of her mouth and her tongue to apply just the right amount of pressure. That, added with the lubrication and the warmth, threw him into a prison of pleasure.

It was also made better by the fact that she was deepthroating him with no apparent difficulty. If anything, he could argue as if her throat had been shaped to accept him, showing no resistance whatsoever and giving only the most wonderful pleasures.

Asuna's head moved up and down. Slick with her saliva, there was no difficulty in motion, her throat muscles squeezing down on his shaft in timely fashion. Kirito could almost time it, but couldn't do so on account of being on the receiving end of such pleasure.

He gasped, legs on either side shaking. Asuna gripped them to keep herself steady, head still moving on automatic to continue assaulting him. "Goddess..! You're so good, baby, keep it up..!"

His words clearly lit a fire beneath her, for she was spurred into greater action. With her hands, she gripped what remained of his shaft left unattended and began stroking him for what its worth, all while her throat pleasured him in a way self-masturbation could never hope to accomplish. It was driving him mad!

A hum of delight from her lips reverberated across his penis, and he tried to blink away the stars appearing in his vision. She kept going at it—faster and faster, until he could barely hold on and subjected himself to her whims, his member slick beyond anything else.

He definitely felt hotter than ever, his member growing and growing within her mouth. Electricity danced across his body, with every time that her lips were pressed against his skin leaving him shivering and gasping for air.

Eventually, he had to reach his end, however, pleasure reaching the peak so quickly. "I-I'm getting close…"

Asuna nodded, slowing herself just a smidge to play with his penis in her mouth, tongue stroking across his glans and shaft in a circular fashion. The boy felt all of that, and his body unconsciously jerked forwards to get the relief he so desperately needed.

She bobbed, and stroked, and squeezed.

And finally, the gates were broken.

"I-I'm..! Argh, Asuna..! Just like that, just like—Ahh! Auurgh..! Gyhaaa!"

"Mmmh!"

Pleasure crashed upon him like an anvil, balls clenching tight and his release on the verge. There was a split second where his entire body was wracked with pleasure before jet after jet of hot, thick semen shot straight down Asuna's throat and into her stomach.

Stacia, the goddess of life and creation within this world, was no goddess in that moment. Here and now, she was just his lover, taking all of his essence with eagerness, feeling the warmth seep through her chest and settle in her gut. And, as if sharing a connection with him that transcended the mortal boundaries of love, she found herself orgasming in unison with him.

When both of them finally rode out their climaxes, the girl was the first to pull away from him, her lips removed from his head with a pop. Kirito watched the entire motion with disbelief and awe, finding himself especially touched when she gave one little kiss on the crown of his dick.

"T-That…" He groaned softly. "That was amazing…"

"I'm glad. I just wanted you to feel good…" And it sounded so genuine, too. He felt bad for trying to reject her earlier, though he wasn't sure if he was prepared to continue. "Now then, what say we continue with the main course..?"

Their eyes met, and a silent moment of communication was shared between them. Asuna slowly rose above him, a finger tugging at the edge of her underwear and undoing the ties. She slipped it down her toned thigh, wetness connecting the fabric to her lower lips. He watched it until it finally dangled from her ankles, and his eyes moved back towards her body. Her bare pussy was there for his eyes alone, and he felt his throat seize.

Without wasting a beat, she slowly lowered herself until her lips rested against the tip of his cock, both groaning lightly at the contact. He hadn't even entered her, but the sudden jolt of thunder that struck them was too powerful. It didn't help that they'd just came moments ago, but there was nothing stopping them from this.

"A-Ahn…" Gasping, she lowered herself even more, allowing his cockhead to spread her lips apart. "Ohhh, that's so g-good…"

Further deeper was he able to reach her, the lubrication from her arousal allowing easy entry into her reaches and almost sucking his penis inside. The muscles constricting him made him almost lose control once more, but he promised he'd let her take control, so he relinquished everything and himself to her.

A guttural voice slipped out of his throat. "Asuna, take off your bra…"

"O-Of course—Aoough…"

Her hands reached up and undid the clasp of her bra, allowing it to fall down and expose her breasts to the air. Her bright pink nipples stood out at attention, clearly stimulated by their session and so tantalizing.

And she took complete advantage of that, pushing herself down even more as her hands grasped her breasts and rolled that around. A pinch of her nipple here, a massage of her breast there, a sensual moan that made his member stiffen almost painfully within her wet chamber. And down and down she went, until they reached a barrier.

A part of him found amusement in the situation. Even in a virtual world, the extent that they'd go to replicate realism was impressive on their part; and for that to even include hymens within women was unexpected, but he supposed that was what made this moment even more authentic.

His eyes met Asuna's, asking permission. But he didn't need to. If anything, she was the one begging for it, wanting him to be her first.

His hands grasped hers, and he gave a little nod. Asuna took that opportunity, lightly raising her hips above his—then falling down upon him like an anvil!

"Aauuunh..!"

"A-Asuna..! Goddesses, you're so hot!"

He couldn't believe it. The both of them had sex before, albeit in the virtual worlds. While pleasure in those worlds were palpable and he'd enjoyed those moments with his girlfriend, those still felt muted and… well, it didn't feel authentic.

Here, however, there was no such limitations. Finally taking her virginity, he could feel the way she constricted his member, warmth and wetness engulfing him and leaving him gasping as she was hilted to the brim. It made for an unbelievable sensation that he'd almost lost himself to pleasure.

"Aurrgh..!"

"K-Kirito-kun..!"

And Asuna was completely lost to it. Her body was possessed, her hips rolling back and forth as she allowed his dick to slip in and out of her, her pain turned to pleasure far quicker than he'd expected. Kirito had to restrain himself so hard, watching as Asuna used him to pleasure herself as she played with her breasts, moaning like a whore in heat.

And fuck, was it hot. She was such a beautiful creature, so unlike any other girl or woman he'd ever met in his life. The fact that she'd decided to be his, as he would be hers, was mindboggling—as was the sex she was providing.

Eventually, forgoing any attempts to be slow, Asuna bobbed up and down upon his member, making full use of the soundproofed room to cry out in sexual pleasure as she continued playing with herself, hair flying left and right with every time that she threw her head in every direction. Drool slipped down her cherry lips and dripped upon him, no concern for the sake of modesty whatsoever.

At the fresh age of seventeen years, he was verily young and healthy. And the sight of her breasts swinging up and down, hair tossing about each time she forced herself up and down upon him was setting his libido off without mercy. And he loved every second of it.

"A-Asu…Asuna..!" He panted, feeling his hips reflexively jerk to match her motions. His body was aflame with pleasure, his penis stimulated beyond what he was used to and mind thinking only of the sexy woman dancing on his lap. "Fuck, you're so perfect..!"

"D-Don't say that…" She breathed out, crying out with every time that she bounced upon him. Her cavern walls squeezed tightly around him each time he speared her, making her pitch grow higher and higher.

"You are… You look s-so beautiful like this, even with my dick inside of you…"

"A-And I only ever want yours… and only yours!"

"Of course…" His gaze met hers in what was a moment of nothing less than the truth. "Only I get to fuck you… and no one else!"

Such a bold proclamation felt like something he had no right to say, especially to a perfect girl such as this. Who was he, in the grand scheme of things, when compared to her? Just a lowly boy from a simple family who had done nothing worthwhile.

And yet, he was the one she had fallen for. And he'd be damned if he allowed anyone else to take her away from him.

"K-Kirito-kuuun..!"

Arching her back and yelling out loud, the goddess Stacia crashed hard, her entire frame quivering from the pleasure being driven to every corner of her body.

But he was nowhere close to his own release, forcing him to grab her waists and forcefully drive her into him.

"IIiyaaah..!"

"Sorry, baby, but I'll have to be a little forceful..!"

Hugging her frame now, her breasts squished into his chest, Kirito bounced his lover upon her lap with vigour, feeling her tremble with every motion. Her cries had developed into slushy moans that were timed with every fall, her hands wrapped tightly around him and her face buried into his shoulder.

He was on a sensation overdrive. From the feeling of her walls clenching hard around his dick, to the scent of her hair, to the feeling of her perky nipples rubbing back and forth against his bare skin, to the ensuing kiss—where he was free to play with her tongue, drawing out moans from his woman—everything was too much.

Kirito continued regardless. With strength belying his slim frame, he continued spearing her with all his might, making her clench even tighter and her hands finding purchase in his hair. Her breaths came in as laboured gasps, tears pricking at the corner of her eyes and spit bridging their lips.

"S-So close..!"

"I-I am too… Together..?"

The girl didn't respond, nodding rapidly. That was his cue to quicken his pace once more, grunting loudly with every time that he punched against her uterus. Her moans came unbidden, her embrace even tighter and his balls clenching tight—

Until he was finally sent over the edge. "GHhaaaah!" His vision whitened, cock spasming wildly as it now directed cum into her core, painting her insides in his colours.

"Hyhaaaaan..!" The girl was no less spared from one final climax, body trembling once more as he brain was almost shattered by their shared release, carnal pleasure overwhelming her until her voice turned into a wordless scream.

Eventually, the two lovers succeeded in overcoming their release, falling backwards onto the mattress and bouncing lightly. He kept his hold over her, panting in both exhaustion and delight.

"T-That was… amazing…" He whispered, stopping to kiss her softly on her forehead. "I love you so much, Asuna…"

"Me… Me too…" She mumbled. "And I'm glad… that you're feeling better."

"Hmm? Why's that?"

"Well… you were having a bad dream earlier, weren't you?" Her head lifted off his chest, concerned hazels staring at him. "You were tossing and turning in your sleep when I came in to check on you. I was so worried…"

Shit… She actually noticed that? Shame filled his gut as he breathed through his nose. "Asuna, that's… I haven't gotten over yesterday," he admitted. "And I know it's silly of me to still keep thinking about it, but…"

"It's not," her words, though gentle, were also firm. It was enough to make him halt. "You were afraid that day, not just for yourself, but for Eugeo and Selka too, right? I could tell… You were thinking about saving them."

"I…" She probably knew he was trying to make up an excuse, judging by the way she raised a brow. "That's… Gah, there's nothing getting by you, is there?"

"Of course there isn't," she giggled back, a melodious jingle that had, so many times, set his heart at ease simply by listening to her. "I'm your girlfriend, after all. And someday, your wife."

"I look forward to that," and how deeply he yearned for that. For a day when he could step onto the stage with her hand in his, a ring nestled around their ring fingers to signify their union. To call her Asuna Kirigaya.

"Me too… I love you, you know that?"

"I do. I love you too. God, I don't deserve you, but I love you so, so much…"

The two lovebirds shared a kiss at that, this time much softer than before, but just as long. It was a moment of vulnerability and complete adoration, and his heart simply basked in the delight of her presence.

This. This was the kind of moment he sought to protect. This feeling of love that he had with his beloved. And if only Yui were here (minus the sex and all that, of course), then things would truly be perfect…

"And tell you what, I feel so much better after today," he whispered. "Thank you."

"Oh, sweetie. You don't need to thank me," she giggled. "Your happiness is all that matters. I'd do anything for you," and he would too— "Which is why, if you'll allow me, I promise to decimate all the goblins on the other side for you. You know that, don't you?"

…Oh no.

"I mean, they willingly decided to hurt you. I'm sure it wasn't even the first idea you had in mind to fight them—if anything, you were just trying to protect yourself!" Her hand grasping his tightened, and Kirito felt a bead of sweat build upon his brow. "And that… that treachery. It should be punished."

"Uhh. Dear, I don't think that's necessary. Or possible."

"What do you mean?" She blinked back, smiling. "I'm a goddess, Kirito-kun. It would be so, so easy to wipe them all off the face of the planet."

Her face leaned close to him, her lips on his. But all the earlier feeling of comfort wasn't the dominant feeling he had now. No, it was now replaced with one thing, and only one thing.

Terror.

"It's not what I expected. Becoming a goddess, I mean. I'd expected to enter the world as a normal human like you and everyone else. But I know it has to mean something, and I bet it's this! After all, I only exist for your sake, Kirito-kun; your happiness, your pleasure. If you need someone to fuck, to kill your enemies, I'm all yours! Every part of me is yours!"

There was something bone-chilling in watching her transformation. It was so sudden, like a switch in her head had been flicked, and her expression took on an erratic note. And Kirito watched it all with the horror of a man who had witnessed it too many times.

"In fact, those goblins who hurt you—I should kill them! It would be a good idea!" She exclaimed, giddy like a schoolgirl. It was like staring at a completely new person now; he watched as her eyes glowed, her divine powers slipping forth. Her lips curled into a wide, manic smile, her giggles erratic. His heart clenched. "No one would mind, would they? I mean, they hurt you, Kirito-kun. I can't accept that! You're just so kind, and handsome, and nice to everyone, and so forgiving, and so perfect. But they tried to hurt you despite that. What right do they have to even think of such a thing?! That's why, if I destroy all of them, then they'll never be able to hurt you ever again, so—"

Without thinking, he grabbed her shoulders and flipped them around so that he was now above her. It was enough to shatter the spell, the suddenness of the motion catching her off-guard and surprise colouring her previously terrifying expression.

"No, Asuna!" He yelled. "You don't have to do that! Y-You… You saved me," that last bit came out as a whisper, honesty injected into his voice to mask the stutter. "And that's more than enough. You don't need to bloody your hands with something as unnecessary as that."

"K-Kirito-kun?"

"I didn't even think about killing them. I just wanted to protect Eugeo and Selka, and I prayed to a goddess and you came. You saved me. Saved us, and that's all I could ask for," he shook his head. "Forget them. Just… promise to stay by my side, my love?"

"K-Kirito-kun..!" The familiar look of bashfulness emerged, face burning bright red. Though she averted her gaze at first, there was no mistaking the smile on her face. "I… of course I would," her eyes met his once more, shy but overjoyed. "I'll always be with you, Kirito-kun. I'm yours."

"And I'm all yours too."

His lips fell upon hers once more, and without even asking for her consent, he took to burying his member deep inside her once more. Her voice was torn out of her in a high-pitched cry, and judging by the building moans and pleas for more, she definitely wasn't complaining. The two continued mating like rabid hares for a very long time afterwards, the mattress creaking underneath their weight.

But really, the only reason he was busy loving her at the moment wasn't because he had been overtaken by a fresh need to have some hot, steamy sex. No, no. It was something far more serious, far more important and necessary.

Namely, it was all a means of a distraction. To make her forget the crazy idea of wiping out an entire population of people living in the Dark Territory. Because, as she said, she would do anything—Anything—for him, whether it was right or not.

And seeing that she was now a goddess, things have definitely gotten a lot more out of hand now…

"…ito-kun… Kirito-kun..!"

"Ah-ba-whuh..?"

"Kirito-kun!" A gasp of relief. "Oh, you're alright..!"

That voice was… familiar. He couldn't exactly place a finger on it, but trying his best to look at the person, he was forced to squint his eyes to look her in her face. Was it just him, or was it bright in here..?

Something soft landed on his cheek. His hand touched it, and realized that it was a hand cupping his face. It felt soft, and so familiar. It reminded him of a comforting presence, loving all the same and inviting.

"A…Asuna..?"

"Yes," she whispered. "I'm right here."

What..? How is she… Was he dreaming?

Groaning, he slowly pushed himself up, the girl hastening to help him up properly. Kirito's vision slowly adjusted to the cave's interior, able to discern the outlines of ice formations and the rocky walls. It was somewhat dim, though his vision was able to acclimatize to it with time.

And the beautiful face of an angel stared back at him, eyes watery and lips wobbling with utter relief. His own chest warmed.

"Asuna… Y-You…" He looked her up and down, in disbelief. "You're actually here..?"

"Mmhm… I promised that I wouldn't leave your side no matter what, so of course I'm here."

That… didn't exactly explain anything, as romantic as it sounded. "Were you the one that saved me?"

"Yes. And just in time, too," she sniffed. "I fear for what would have happened if I'd been even a minute later… You were terribly wounded, and there were just so many of them. Yet you persisted…" Her head fell upon his shoulder, and he found himself pulling her close to him in a one-armed hug. "I'm so glad you're alive…"

"Hah… Me too. You saved me just like back then with Kuradeel. Then again, I technically wouldn't die here," he chuckled weakly. "Eugeo and Selka, on the other hand, would totally… Wait, Eugeo and Selka!" His eyes snapped wide open, panic overtaking him. "Are they okay?! A-Asuna, where are they?! Eugeo was hurt really badly earlier, took a hit to his arm, and Selka's—"

"Shh, shh. They're okay. Look."

He followed the direction of her pointing, spotting a completely treated Eugeo and Selka lying side-by-side on the wagon. The complete absence of blood and wounds was an utter relief, and he found himself sagging.

"Oh, thank you… Thank you so much, Asuna…"

"Of course. You were trying to protect them, weren't you?" She kissed him on the cheek. "You did so well."

Her gentle tone had him tearing up, teeth gritted. "…It was so hard…"

"I know."

"I'm so glad you're here…" He breathed out. "When Johnny showed up, I was afraid what would have happened to you… Are you okay?"

"I am," he met her gaze, smiling warmly at him. It rids him of all his prior worries, and he could just forget all the terrible things that've happened. "And you never need to worry about him ever again. He's gone now, and he'll never hurt us."

"He's gone now?"

"Mmhm! I got rid of him."

…Fuck.

"Wait, wait, wait. Are you telling me that you…"

"Oh, well, I couldn't exactly kill him. That would have been a very poor idea," he sighed in relief… only for the terror to return with her next words: "However, I woke him up and proceeded to break his fingers as payment."

"A-Asuna! I thought we agreed, no torturing!"

"B-But he almost killed you!" She cried back, looking genuinely hurt. He wanted to comfort her, but pressed down on that urge to focus on the important fact. "And he wasn't even remorseful about it! S-So I tore out his fingernails, broke each finger, then snapped off his teeth—"

"Okay, okay, okay! I don't need any details! Is he in prison, at least?"

"Yes! I contacted the police and had him taken away after your body was collected for treatment."

He had a feeling the poor bastard would prefer that than another second having to deal with her. Seriously, doing something like that would be real concerning. Wonder if she'd have to deal with the police being—

Actually, no. If this was anything similar to the Sugou incident, then it's likely that she offered to pay for his entire medication (and knowing how rich she is, it likely doesn't even matter to her). And the police would probably be too happy to turn a blind eye on her horrific crimes, on account of dealing with an actual murderer. Kirito sighed, wishing him well and looking off to the side…

A field of bodies lay scattered across the cavern ground. Blood dyed the ground a deep, murky crimson, seeping from wounds inflicted upon their bodies—but these were no mere stabs nor cuts. He could tell that they were mutilated; picked apart like a toy figurine in the hands of a child. And there was no mercy offered.

An arm dislodged, a head squeezed like a grape, a body filled with so many holes that it resembled a sponge. There was one severed in the abdomen, the upper half hanging from the tip of an erected icicle, his gut and blood trailing down the jagged surface.

The worst was Ugachi, whose head lay a distance away from them. An expression of sheer horror ruined his face, tears and blood dripping from eyes that rolled upwards and down into a gaping mouth. His body, lying a distance away, was absolutely severed of all limbs, and had all the internal organs ripped straight out and pooling around it like garbage.

It was a horrific scene. An act of bloody carnage that fuelled the mind with all kinds of possible horrors that one would think only a monster could be the one behind these acts. But the truth was so much further from that, for he knew the true identity of such a 'monster'.

And the culprit was currently hugging him, humming happily.

"It's okay… None of them will ever hurt you again."

"Y-Yeah," he chuckled nervously, brushing her back, doing his best to ignore the brutality before him. "Good work, darling."

"Heehee..! Anything for you, Kirito-kun~!"

Life in Underworld just got so much more complicated.

Author's Notes:

Man. And here you are, probably thinking that I'm officially done and gone from the site, but as it turns out, far from it. Also, if you want more info on what's been going on in the background, you can read past the 'Okay, more story time'.

So, to provide some context, I never intended to write this story in the first place. But a spark of an idea urged my hands to type, and the next thing I knew, I had this written in two days. The impulse really got to me and I couldn't help myself.

I know I promised to write a reboot of The Administrator's Descent, but I couldn't help but want to write this first. And yes, I have indeed fallen into the trap of yandere manga's, like the isekai where the guy becomes a streamer, and even given plenty of horror manga's a read every now and then. I don't know why, but it just is.

But like… it's a very fascinating idea. Yandere goddesses. Totally nothing wrong there! Consider this story to have a Romance / Comedy / Horror tag, even though I don't think there'll be much horror to really contend with. Just dark comedy and the like.

And sure, this chapter had a pretty uncomfortable portion, but I promise you this will be the last time that you'll read such depictions of gore and the like. From here on out, the mature rating will be purely for the smut elements, without any particularly excessive kink or nasty stuff. The occasional violence will come out, but nothing too bad, I promise.

Okay, more story time.

Maybe I mentioned this or I didn't, but I'm now in a med school. And being in my third year, literally next week, I will be posted at the local hospital to pick up the what-have-you's. And for the past month or so, things had been relatively busy with a lot of practical work and training, so definitely not much time to do anything beyond some mobile games. Also only watched Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Urusei Yatsura after two years of an anime break. Yeah.

So of course, I'm sure some of you are worried that I'll go about posting this story and leave it in the barren desert wasteland alongside some of my other current stories. And truth be told, I would hate for that to happen.

As of writing, I have gotten nine chapters of this story (including the prologue) written and complete, but I might not upload them right away. If anything, that would be messed up because next month is the memeable month of resilience, so good luck to my fellow brothers and sisters out there.

And also, I just want to keep myself motivated to write more by not handing out all the chapters right away, because I do think it has some effect on whether I want to write more or not.

I've made this promise countless times and I do apologize if I seem like I'm not following through on it, but I assure you, I am not dropping fanfiction. I get busy a whole lot, but I do try to make time to write from time to time and enjoy it in the process. So if it ends up being later than usual, well, you have my sincere apologies on that, but know that I'll always be writing, and will always be excited to bring you the next chapter of every story to come out of my head.

So I hope you guys will be willing to accept this story of mine in the meantime, and be patient for more to come. Trust me, I've got many more things cooking, and I'm excited to share 'em with you.