Mature Content Warning: If you don't like Ero and sensual content... skip this chapter... Maybe a little foul language too.

Author's Note: Alright, with this chapter we had reached critical character mass. I might add one or two more people into the story, but beyond that, there should be no more major characters introduced in this volume.

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Chapter 10: Hardcore Training

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It is the little things that make life worth living. Scott knew that intellectually before, but he could feel it more keenly in recent days. The subtle whimper of a girl who was happy with her life, mixed with the scent of her sweet perfume, these were little things worth experiencing.

Scott kissed the dark elf softly on the ear while his fingers massaged her aching slit. Two of his exploratory digits slipped between her folds to gently remind her of a great new truth. Her premium even pussy had come under new ownership.

Pirouette sighed loudly and bucked her hips a little. She absolutely adored every moment of the last few hours. Now that their new positions in life had been decided, she reveled in the feeling of a masterful hand.

The hunter’s free hand slid upward to cup her left breast. His thumb swirled casually around her areola for a moment, before his hand clenched softly around her beautiful globe.

She cried out a little once more then pressed her supple backside against his groin. It had been so long, so intolerably long, since she had been held in this way. She had not wanted another man in her life, but she had accepted the intellectual need recently. It was her life’s work versus her heart’s desires. Her work was more important, or so she had thought.

Now, the idea that she had to make a choice between the two seemed like hubris or simple idiocy. She could have two things she longed for in this world. One was the continuance of her dream, a dream of true independence for some Crystallim. The other was this man’s cock to be buried inside of her on a frequent and intense basis.

The dark elf moan sweetly when her new master’s searching fingers penetrated her most sacred of place. He kept sliding them deeper into her. Her lonely little pussy squeezed sweetly around his fingers like it desired to wrap them in metaphorical arms and give his fingers a hug.

Scott slipped his hand up and clasped Pirouette by the chin. He turned her head to the side, gently, and then he kissed her warmly on the lips. Their tongues slipped out and began to move in a slow and sensual dance.

His thumb began to work its magic by slowly caressing her clitoral glans; or her love button as his immature side like to call it. Scott stroke and teased her sexy little love button in a slow, deliberate, manner. Pirouette moaned hotly into his mouth.

Crystallim patterned their dream forms on human fantasies, though the reason was not fully known. As such, the anatomy might be strange at time, but certain areas of their bodies tended to be virtually identical to that of a human female.

The clitoris, the so-called g-spot, was no mystery to Scott. Humanity could not afford to have a hunter uneducated in the erogenous zones of a woman’s body. Of course, that education was also expanded to include the sensual needs of a host of inhuman physical forms.

Scott teased her love button in a strong, casual, way and she began to shake. Pirouette clutched at him and her aching pussy began to undulate in powerful waves. It was not long before she gasped out in ecstatic bliss and released yet another beautiful orgasm upon the world.

Her master was about to congratulate her but she gasped again, this time due to a different sort of beautiful sensation. Light and energy began to radiate from her body. Vivid green mixed with a dark crackling force flowed outward from her sensual curvature.

When the lightshow died down she panted against Scott’s face for a moment then caressed him with her nose. That had been an incredibly intense feeling.

“Was that what I think it was?” asked Scott. He could not help but smile at the implication.

Pirouette laughed in a husky, sensual, manner. “Oh yes, I just reached level two again...”

“Mmm, training you will be fun.” said Scott.

She giggled, not unlike a school girl with a crush. “Will it really?”

“Yes, grow into a strong sexy girl for me, alright?” Scott kissed her on her panting lips.

She returned that kiss with great vigor. “If my master desires it...”

Scott and pirouette laughed and played for a little longer, but sadly they did not have the time to try for yet another level increase that day. It took many hours of intense eroticism to gain enough experience to acquire a level, even when a Crystallim was level one.

After the dark elf, Pirouette, had been refined she was returned to her base status. In short, refinement returned a Crystallim to level one. There were many reasons to undergo this process. For the dark elf, the primary reason was to fit into a novice hunter’s harem without people asking too many questions.

The official story was that she was granted to the newly sponsored hunter, Scott Matthews, as a helpmate and powerful starter Crystallim. It was only coincidence that the head researcher at the institute took a one month vacation afterward. No one who did not know of her special circumstances would suspect anything. Those who did were largely in support of her actions.

“I think I might be a little depressed a month from now.” said Scott. He had become quite addicted.

Pirouette pressed her ass against his groin then gasped out, “Poor baby... Will he miss having me at his beck and call?”

Scott intensified the pressure and the speed at which his thumb worked. “Yes, I think I will.”

The dark elf cried out and bucked against his hand once more. “A... A girl has to earn a living...”

“True... a pussy of this quality does deserve the finer things in life.” said Scott before nibbling on her ear.

It was not long before she reached the point of no return once more. Her entire body had become an erogenous zone at this point and even the slightest touch made her cry out with a strong, erotic, voice.

Pirouette panted hotly against his face once more. Her eyes narrowed, but gleamed softly with arousal. They had work to do, but this felt so good...

***

Scott looked over at the sight of Pirouette sleeping on her comfortable bed. Most Crystallim simply chose to let their dream form de-manifest when they rested. However, she had grown accustomed to sleeping in this manner. He had to admit, it was adorable.

While she took a well-earned nap, he decided to check on a few things. He called up her status window.

<<< Status >>>

Breed Name: Dark Elf Blade Dancer | Grade: **** | Rank: A

Age: 26 | Level: 2

EXP: 5 | EXP to Next Level: 10

Owner: Scott Matthews

V.Force: 146

Attack: 19 | Defense: 21

Strength: 22 | Agility: 26 | Vitality: 25

Intellect: 27 | Resonance: 19

<<< Special >>>

4-Star Bonus:

+1 Vitality Per Level

+1 Strength Per Level

+2 Agility Per Level

+2 Intellect Per Level

+4 V.Force Per Level

Mind Block: [Type 3]

She is immune to psychically induced confusion, fear, and depression. She is resistant to all other negative psychic effects.

Shadow Manipulation: [Type 2]

She is capable of manipulating the shadow element. She can influence the mind of others in specific and terrifying ways. She can directly reshape shadows and merge with the darkness.

Blade Mastery: [Expert]

She has an expert’s sense for the proper utilization for lightweight one-handed swords. She is capable of dual-wielding weapons with ease.

<<< Abilities >>>

Shadow Bolt [VF 80] Level 20

Dark Sphere: [VF 120 ] Level 10

Soul Cutter: [VF 125] Level 25

Shadow Teleport: [VF 350] Level 35

Dark Wave: [VF 120] Level 10

Shadow Dance:[VF 240] Level 40

<<< Synchronization Gifts >>>

Passive:

+ 1 Intellect Per Level

+ 1 V.Force Per Level

Mind Block[Type 1]

Shadow Manipulation[Type 1]

Sword Skills [Basic]

Active:

Shadow Bolt: [VF 8] Level 1

Soul Cutter: [VF 10] Level 1

>>

Scott stared at the status screen for a moment then released a low, slow, whistle. The power of a high-class dark elf was truly something to behold. Even at level two, she made him look like a pathetic gnat.

He was a little disappointed that he would not gain shadow teleport directly from her, but that was fine. That just meant that he would have to learn it through time and practice. He did acquire shadow manipulation after all.

“Intellect and V.Force will increase whenever I gain a level... That’s just fantastic.” Since she was a tier-two Crystallim, her synchronization gifts were higher quality than Flora or Shaia would provide. That would change when the girls evolved, however.

Scott considered the situation for a moment. If he had shadow manipulation and an increased intellect, then he would be able to develop dark psionic abilities like confusion and terror. Flora increased his raw vitality, and would do so even more when she evolved to tier two. Between Flora and Pirouette, he would develop a lot of vital force for a human. Maybe he should follow his secret dream after all?

It was rare for a human, but it was possible to make a go at being a true mage. The main issue was the lack of vital force development. Whenever a Crystallim gained a level all of their stats would increase by several points. They could easily utilize high-end special abilities or magic despite the constantly increasing cost of higher level abilities.

Pirouette, for instance, was only tier-two but due to her rank and star level she would gain between fifty-one to ninety-nine vital force every single time she gained a level. She was not even a dedicated mage, but a hybrid class that focused slightly more on physical combat through agile movements. She could theoretically have over a thousand points of vital force by level ten. What human could compete with that?

Scott smiled at the sleeping elf for a moment then shook his head. It would be good to get to know her better. She seemed like an interesting person.

He glanced at the synchronization gifts she provided and sighed. He would have loved to have access to those abilities that she granted, but is access would be limited. Though she would remain actively slotted and with him most of the time, she would also remain manifested. When a Crystallim was manifested, the active abilities that were granted to their master were unavailable. Scott would maintain access to the passive capacities, and synergystic effects still worked, but he would not be badass shadow mage any time soon.

He could not even practice the attack abilities she granted, since Pirouette required complete capacity to remain manifested as often as she liked. The alternative would be to return her core and lose even the passive abilities between times when they undertook their morale sessions.

The hunter did not regret his decision, however. He would gain free stats and had gained a sexy new friend. There was also the fact that he could just study shadow powers on his own and develop abilities that belonged to him. Those sorts of abilities were things that he would always be able to use in the future, provided that he manages to learn at least one ability. The ability to access a specific elemental wave-length was granted by bonding with a Crystallim.

Unless he managed to develop his affinity to that element, he would not be able to use powers in that area when his Crystallim were not slotted into his equipment. Even if he did develop his affinities, the effectiveness would greatly decrease and the vital force cost would increase without a proper Crystallim in active status.

Pirouette murmured softly in her sleep then scissored her legs underneath her sheets. Scott suspected that she was having an interesting dream. Of course, that was odd in and of itself. The body he saw before him was supposed to be a physical dream manifestation of the Crystallim. So, Pirouette’s dream was dreaming. It was odd, but more than a little adorable.

He looked at his bracer and noted that the three Crystallim cores on his arm were emitting light at randomized intervals. The black Crystallim lit-up briefly. The greet core flashed twice, followed by a slow, almost shy seeming flash from the blue core.

Scott winced. The girls were certainly aware of each other now that Pirouette was asleep. The core’s flashed at each other repeatedly. The hunter could not help but wonder about what they were discussing; if anything. Flora and Shaia were currently manifested in their dream forms, but they were awake. Their ability to communicate or sense Pirouette should be limited. Still, on some level they knew of each other’s existence.

***

Shaia panted heavily while she lifted the heavy weight off her chest once more. The Caesg had been training hard for hours on end. Her master had been gone since early morning and it was already late afternoon. In the mean-time she had reached a state of heavy exhaustion. However, her overall strength and vitality had improved. Her improvement was much slower than Flora, however. She did not have a healing ability after all.

Flora’s training was nowhere near as physically demanding as Shaia’s. All she had to do was stand in the sun and train her solar absorption skill. As the future primary healer in the group, she needed to develop the capacity to heal herself as efficiently as possible. Further, she would need a lot of vitality and vital force.

Constant training of her solar absorption skill would allow her to develop both, as well as her resonance. When her resonance was high enough, she would be able to use her affinity to life and growth related energies to develop external healing powers based on her solar absorption ability. In short, the next stage of solar absorption would allow her to creating a radiant healing aura that bolstered the regeneration of others near her while she used solar absorption.

Flora smiled softly when the effect ended. She had increased her skill level several times already. Jack had promised her that sometime around the time she managed to reach skill level twenty with that ability, she would be able to learn Solar renewal, the advanced form of the ability that would be able to heal others. She took a deep breath then began to focus once more. The Alraune spread her arms and faced the sun. She only had fourteen more skill levels to go.

Jack smiled at the girls. They were coming along nicely. The heavy training would pay off soon. “At the rate they are going... They should gain at least one level today.”

Battles were not the only way to increase the level of a Crystallim. In fact, battling only worked because of the intensity of the emotions involved in open combat. The stronger the core and more intensely the Crystallim feels emotion, the stronger their dream form can become. Heavy physical exertion could increase their physical toughness because the Crystallim became stronger mentally and psychologically attributed that to their dream form’s physical state.

Basically, work them hard until they realize what they can accomplish, and then watch them improve a little. If they believed they were physically stronger on a deep level, they would be stronger. Of course, a lot of other factors such as their rank and star level could influence that. The quality of their core and the bonds that they formed were what really determined their power.

The day had worn on for the girls. Their master had been gone far longer than he had originally claimed that he would be gone. Jack assured them that Scott was fine, but they still worried. When would he return for them? On a deeper level, the girls felt as though something was very wrong with their master. There was a sense of dread within their beautiful hearts. Something had happened, something that made their world seem to be not quite right.

Shaia grunted and strained heavily as she lifted the weight upward once more. Her breasts pressed together slightly as she bench-pressed the weighted bar once more. If her master did not return soon, she would be allowed for rest for a few brief moments before she would be returned to the water tank. She would have to swim small laps around the tank several hundred times.

Thankfully, she felt a familiar presence not long after her break period began. The girl’s hair and tail turned hot pink. She sat up and looked toward the door.

Flora sensed the closeness of her master just as easily as Shaia had. She had also stopped training and looked hopefully toward the door. Her vines began to undulate with great excitement.

The girl’s offered Scott a bright smile. Flora even went so far as to open her arms and extend them forward. Her vines rose up into the air and started to curl in anticipation. However, they suddenly froze in the air when she sighted the creature who walked in behind the man. They began to droop when the Alraune noticed that the beautiful girl was holding her master’s hand. What kind of paperwork had he been doing again?

“Hi, girls.” said Scott cheerfully. He walked into the training room hand-in-hand with the beautiful Pirouette.

The dark elf glanced at each of the girl’s in turn then made an attempt at gifting them with a warm smile. However, her expression had greater similarity with a predatory grin.

Shaia’s tail immediately shifted into a rainbow hue of colors and her hair became stark white. She was not certain what to think about this development.

Flora on the other hand, sighed loudly. Was it already starting? Would he toss her aside like the others? At least she knew what the horrible feeling she’d had for the last few hours had been. Her master had formed a strong bond with a far more powerful Crystallim.

“What’s wrong Flora?” asked Scott. He had a good idea of why she would seem so depressed, but he did not want to make an assumption. He knew the girls would not take this well at first. They were not there to meet the new girl after all.

She shook her head gently then retracted her vines. She lowered her arms and made an attempt to smile. “It is nothing. I am alright, master.”

Pirouette glanced at the girl and then back to Scott. She leaned in and then whispered something into his ear. Flora reacted as though she had been slapped when she saw that casual intimacy.

However, to her surprise, the new girl strolled over to her. Flora looked away instinctively. She closed her eyes and started to tremble a little. Her eyes widened in surprise when she felt a slender set of arms wrap around her body.

She felt the strength in those arms, but it was a gentle strength. The dark elf kissed her softly on the cheek and said, “It’s good to meet you sister.”

Flora’s heart fluttered gently. Such a powerful Crystallim had called her sister so casually? The girl embracing her could easily crush her, and yet she was being kind to her?

“It... is nice to meet you, too.” said Flora softly.

Pirouette kissed her softly on the ear and then whispered. “Scott tells me that you are a sweet and loving person. I’m sure it’s true. You have a warm spirit.”

Flora’s eyes began to shimmer softly and then tears began to flow. She sniffled a little. “He, spoke of me to you?”

The dark elf kissed her gently beneath her left eye, drawing away a few of her tears. “He wouldn’t shut up about you. He’s quite smitten I think.”

“R-really?” Flora’s eyes widened further and a small, but warm, smile spread across her lips.

“Yes, he mentioned something about sweet nectar... Perhaps you will allow me to learn of it personally, later?” asked Pirouette.

Flora’s face turned bright red. She nodded slightly, “Of course, sister... I would like that very much.”

Pirouette kissed the Alraune on the side of her neck and then lifted her lips back to her ear. “Yes, you will.”

Flora gasped softly then giggled in a shy manner. A strange and exciting thought involving her master and her new sister had arisen inside her mind.

Shaia watched them curiously for a moment, and then sighed. Her sigh changed to a startled cry when a set of muscular arms slipped around her waist.

Scott leaned in and said, “Has my favorite mermaid been training hard today?”

She gasped a little, sudden panic flared through her body. She was like a fish out of water who had seen a surprising event. Her master kissed her on the shoulder and her tail turned bright red.

Finally, she stammered out, “Y-yes... I wanted to be stronger for you, Scott.”

He kissed her on the side of the neck and she gasped again. She fanned her tail erratically and shuddered.

“Will you show me your strength later?” asked Scott in a tone of voice that clearly bespoke his true meaning.

She made a strangled outcry and started to hyperventilate a little. Shaia panted heavily at the implication of what her master had said.

His hand slid down to lightly caress the area just above her soft, pink, slit. She gasped and whimpered for a moment. Her tail curled back much like someone might curl their toes when excited.

“Shaia, won’t you show me your true power?” asked Scott in a suggestive tone of voice. Perhaps he was being a bit manipulative, but she was no longer filled with angst. She knew that he remained interested in her, and wanted to spend time with her. That was what was important.

Surprisingly she nodded her head. Her hair, eyes, face, and tail were a bright vivid red. She looked a little like a boiled lobster to be honest. However, she managed to whisper out a definite, “Yes...”

Scott kissed her softly on the ear and whispered, “If you show me yours... I’ll show you mine.”

She cried out ecstatically and her overly stimulated body unleashed a powerful orgasm just from the very idea of what that sort of experience would be like. Shaia had almost no pleasure threshold, and it showed.

He was lost in the moment, however. He would not let it go. His hand slipped down further. His fingers slid along her sensual folds and the penetrated her most sacred of places. He whispered into her ear, “Mmm, who knew you sweet little mermaid could become so very wet.”

Shaia gasped and bucked a little. She had never been touched in such a way, but she immediately knew that she liked it.

The mermaid girl had lost all sense of her strength. She could not even life her hands to hide her face. All she could do was gasp and shudder.

“Damn. I’ll have what she’s having.” said a new arrival. The black haired Harpy leaned her head to the side then fluffed her wings.

“Maybe if you ask me nice, Kidda.” said Jack to his long term partner.

Kidda, the Harpy, grinned at her master-husband. “Maybe I want him to do it.”

“Maybe you want a spanking.” replied the massively muscled man.

The Harpy laughed at him warmly then strolled over to him. “You’re so old, though.”

“I’m still young enough to wreck you.” he said with a smile. He wasn’t that old; since when was he old?

“I hope so!” she teased.

She kissed her husband on the lips then slipped one of her raven black wings around him. “It’s OK, grandpa.”

“I’m not a day over two hundred thirty, Kidda. Calm your tits, as the youngin's say.”

She laughed at him again then kissed his nose. “You’re so fun to tease you goofy old bear.”

“I’m a goofy, still-young, bear thank you. You know I stopped aging years ago.” said Jack.

She patted him on the head. “Of course, dear.”

Jack rolled his eyes. There was a lot of love in the room today.

However, in the heart of one young Amazon there was only turmoil. She peeked out at him from a nearby doorway. Her ice blue eyes shimmered with unspent emotion as she watched the man who she vaguely tolerated on occasion, if she felt like it; hold a slutty mermaid in his arms.

Eina whispered. “Look at that bitch... acting so cute and innocent...Why are you falling for that you weak bastard...”

The Amazonian Battle Mistress bit her lower lip and breathed heavily in and out. How dare they be so brazen...? This was a gym! This was no brothel.

Eina began to pant heavily. She would have to discuss this with that bastard later. She gasped softly and thought of all the horrible things she would have to do in order to remind him of his place. Meanwhile, her fingers slipped rapidly against her skin-tight bodysuit. They worked feverishly to subconsciously appease her angry and righteous vagina.

“How dare you do this...Scott...? Oh, Scott...” Eina glared at the man and stroked her slit through the ever-so-thin material. He mouth gaped open and she shamed herself in the doorway.

She drew her fingers away and could not resist sniffing at the wetness she found there. How had that happened? Somehow she suspected that it was that weak bastard’s fault. It was always his fault when weird and unexplainable things like that happened.

“Bastard... I’ll.... I’ll....” She cried out softly once again then blinked. She raised her other hand up and noticed that it too was now inexplicably covered in that strangely scented fluid.

She stared at her hands in confusion for a moment then frowned. Why did that keep happening of late?