Abyss of Dual Cultivation: Goddess's Lust system

Aurora woke up alone in the underground room. Her surroundings seemed to have reverted to the normal Abyss dungeon in her sleep.

Aurora waited to feel Ava's touch. She vaguely remembered the larger female falling asleep spooning her body.

So, the lack of body heat was concerning. Had Ava decided to leave Aurora alone for the time being?

Though Aurora did feel something heavy draped around her neck. It made her feel sore and tired. She did not remember owning such an accessory.

Aurora could only conclude that Ava must be behind this. Maybe the overlooker had decided to bestow Aurora with a magical artifact?

"Hey! Be careful. Having no limbs makes it difficult for me to balance myself." Aurora tensed as those words reached her ear. They sounded like they were spoken directly in her ear.

There was a wet feeling in the inner side of her ear. Something wet was touching her ear rather intimately.

Aurora's hands moved toward the 'accessory' on her neck carefully. She had a feeling that 'accessory' was not the right word to describe it.

Aurora's hands touched something scaly. Aurora's mind decided to freak out and defend herself.

One second Aurora's hand was empty, the next second she had a snake in her hand.

"Heyyyy. Wait! You can't throw me like that. We have a contractttttttt." Aurora almost swung the snake before the snake decided to coil around her wrist.

The snake's grip tightened at the first hint of the swinging. Aurora quickly stopped her assault once she realized who the snake was.

"Ava? What are you doing as a snake?" Aurora asked.

She was not really surprised to see someone turn into a snake. Even a trained human could do this.

So an overlooker being able to do this was not a surprise to her.

"This is my 'real' form. I was a snake before receiving the abyss's blessing. I don't enjoy being in this form. But it would make it easier for me to leave the abyss with you like this." Ava explained.

"Real form?" Aurora questioned. She let Ava coil on her arm, but fatigue was building fast. The snake was heavier than Aurora had anticipated.

"Abyss can grant power. It can even reverse the time back. It even has the power to revive people. But it can't create life. So the tower shared its power and enlightenment with others it deems worthy." Ava explained.

The snake decided to take advantage of Aurora's shock and climb up her arm.

Ava decided to coil around Aurora's neck and settle her body there. It was uncomfortable for Aurora at first, but she quickly got used to it.

"So, you were a snake before the abyss granted you enlightenment?" Aurora asked. She wanted to make sure she had the right information.

"Yes. I was a snake, just as you were a human. Now we both are more than that. But that is a talk for another day." Ava answered. She had answered Aurora's question but it felt evaded.

"So, what next? How long have we been in this chamber for?" Aurora asked. She was calm at first but quickly panicked.

It had felt like a day inside the chamber but the passage passing time was weird in the abyss.

It mainly followed the over-world day-night cycle. But there were certain parts of the abyss that had their one flow of time. A day in such a camber could mean months outside.

Aurora prayed that she had not found herself in such a chamber.

"How long have we been here? A century." the snake answered. Aurora felt her heart sink and her face paled at the answer.

A century? A CENTURY?

What about the academy? The progress? Her revenge? Clove's soul?

"Hahahahahah. Your face! Did you believe me? Without any evidence? I did not expect you to be so pure despite your circumstances. Don't worry, it's only been one day." Aurora's pale face went red at the tease.

"Stop it. What did I do to deserve this treatment from you?" Aurora questioned. She did not want an answer for real.

And Ava knew that as well. The snake chose not to answer Aurora's question.

"So, you will come and help me out? What about the area you have to overlook? Won't it be a problem for you?" Aurora questioned.

It was not Aurora's problem for now. But it could become one in the future if Ava had to leave at a crucial time.

Aurora needed to be certain that she could trust the over-looker at a clutch time.

"Don't worry. I can still keep an eye on the first 5 floors from the outside. They are close enough to the surface that I won't have any problem." Ava assured.

Aurora did not question the overlooker further.

The chamber door disappeared behind Aurora once she stepped out. The corridor was not the same one she had entered the chamber from.

The first thing Aurora did was switch on her system. Aurora's heightened emotions had caused the system to malfunction on her end.

She just prayed that it had not affected anyone else.

[System powering on.

Alerts: User #04 - Alexander Beck tried to breach forbidden perimeters. 5/5 warning issued.

As per the warning issued, the user's magic will be restricted for a week.

Days left 6/7.

Warning: the user is in a dire condition. Lift restriction?]

It took several eye-blinks for Aurora to remember what her system meant by that message. Aurora decided to throw the guard a bone.

[You got lucky. Make sure to get stronger]

Aurora decided to lift the restriction. She wanted to keep the guard shut, not get him killed. Besides, the system would make sure the guy does not spill her secrets.

<Aurora did not know it yet, but this one action of hers changed Alexander Beck's life. The life and death situation he had faced awakened something inside him.

The sudden influx of his magic caused the ground beneath his feet. He fell into a hidden chamber and found an excellent skill.

And that was when the 'hero' of the abyss was born. The tale will be passed through times as an encouragement for the others.>

"I still have a day before I have to pick up Rita. What should we do until then?" Aurora asked. She had a few things in mind but she wanted to hear Ava's opinion as well.

"A day? I guess it is enough time for us to pick up something." Ava sounded thoughtful. Aurora decided to humous Ava.

"Alright." Aurora agreed.

She followed Ava's verbal command easily enough. The snake had a good head on her shoulder and her instructions were clear to follow.

"It should be inside the domain. All you need to do is to walk to the other side." Ava explained.

"And there is no catch?" Aurora asked. Her instincts told her that Ava had not told her everything.

Just opening the door and retrieving the thing inside sounded too easy to Aurora. The abyss was never that easy with its tasks.

But she decided to trust Ava's words and push open the door anyway.

Aurora waited for something to happen, but nothing did. Everything was quiet and hassle-free.

Aurora quickly made her way toward the center of the room and picked up the scroll. She held her breath but nothing happened.

"See. I told you everything would be alright. I am the overlooker for this place and I can make an exception for you." Ava explained with trump.

But Aurora's instincts did not feel settled.

"I don't know. I'm not used to the abyss being this easy." Aurora confided as she pushed the door open again. As a general rule, the chamber doors closed after someone ventured inside.

They needed to be opened again if someone wanted to head out.

The door opened toward the inside and Aurora felt someone collide with her. The body was heavy and felt familiar under her hand.

"Clove, be careful. This is the abyss, not the training ground." Quince's familiar voice washed over Aurora as her grip tightened on a familiar shoulder.

"I know. But the door finally opened and-" Clove finally looked up.

Aurora did not what kind of expression she had on her face to make Clove back a few steps away.

The spark of recognition in Clove's eyes was painful. It made Aurora hope for a chance.

A chance that Clove somehow remembered her.

"Y-You? You are -" Clove took another unconscious step backward as Quince took one ahead. It looked like a coordinated dance between the pair.

Aurora wanted to reach out and pull Clove from behind Quince and to her side. But she had no right to.

"What are you doing here?" Quince questioned as he took another step toward Aurora.

Aurora felt their confusion and fear. She also felt Ava's frustration at being stopped this bluntly. And her goddess self felt angry at being denied exit.

"No Ava, wait -" Aurora called as she watched the ground break and the pair fall into a trap.

Aurora watched Clove's eyes widen in fear. They looked at her in a familiar way that yelled 'help'. And then Clove disappeared into the earth.