Lewd Dungeon, Book 41 Epilogue

Epilogue – Elsewhere

“Mmm, those mortals are clever,” Athena said, as she lay back against my chest. We were watching the team I had commissioned to test the Shatterchain side of the underground caverns in my dungeon. Despite the fact that we could have done that in either of our divine realms, since our domains had… not merged, but connected, to the point where each of us could freely enter the other’s realm, there was something a bit more satisfying about making an avatar and walking about the mortal world. Probably why the old stories had gods walking about in mortal shells so much in different mythologies.

“Indeed,” I said, one hand trailing down Athena’s naked body, tracing the curve of her hips. “That is part of the reason why I spend so much time observing my dungeon, despite how far my reach has grown, in the wider galaxy. Mortal creativity always leaves room for surprises. Even when I can watch everything they do in my domain, they still manage to surprise me at times.”

Athena looked up at me, smiling. “So, did you know that they would find out about you being the one to give them their quest?”

“Know? No. But I suspected they would. There is a reason why I chose veteran adventurers, after all. People who know enough to know that they don’t know everything, who are strong enough to handle most challenges thrown their way, and who are experienced enough to understand that seeking information from the locals is not a sign of weakness.”

I chuckled, looking back at the screen, where the team was taking the boat across the lake. “A team that went in thinking they knew everything would never have made it past the desert floors. A team that wasn’t strong enough or adaptable enough would have failed before they completed the Black Temple. A team that did not bother asking questions would not have made it through the Water Temple floor, perhaps not even making it past Goblin Town.”

“So why not tell them from the beginning?”

I smiled at her, as my hand trailed lower, between her thighs, teasing her. “Because, like the local leader of the Guild said, if I started telling them to do things, that changes the nature of the test. Knowing they are on a divine mission makes it very different from suspecting a god gave them the job. If I was careless in phrasing it, the job might even have turned into a Divine Trial, forcing me to up the challenges and rewards to match.”

Athena smiled, opening her legs enough to invite the touch. “Wise of you. Just as I expected. There’s a reason why I agreed to this ‘Bonding of Equals’ of yours. Though, I must admit that when you revealed the full extent of the ceremony, I was a bit conflicted.”

I laughed softly as I slipped a finger into her. “Surely the great Athena was not worried about putting on a show? Perhaps we should have rehearsed a few times, before the ceremony, so that you were more comfortable when we showed the audience our commitment to each other, and our shared goals?”

Athena giggled, while her hips moved in time with my finger. “Oh, you. It is perfectly natural for a woman to be nervous on her wedding day! And, well, baring all for a crowd is not something that most people do!”

I smiled at her, before brushing her clit with my thumb. A divine avatar was so wonderfully sensitive in the right places, as evidenced by how Athena’s spine arched at the contact. “So, what I’m hearing is that we need to practice your exhibitionism?”

Athena’s moan wasn’t a denial, but it wasn’t acceptance, either. Of course, I would never force her into putting on a display for the public. As I’d told others, I knew all too well what happens when you tried to push Greek goddesses to do things they didn’t want to do. Whether you were a man or god, that scenario always came and bit you in the end, even for the ones that ended up somewhat happy, like Hades and Persephone.

However, she definitely does not resist as I turn her around, and slide into her, making her ride me on the sofa while the mortals continue the task I’d given them. My hands on her hip, my teeth teasing her nipples every time she leaned forward. She had been inexperienced, when I first wed her, but she had been a very eager and willing student, learning everything I had to teach her, thanks to the [Carnal Arts] skill.

Now, she rode me like she was born for it. She knew the right way to tilt her hips, the angle to bounce at so that we both got the most out of every movement. Because, unlike what the less intelligent followers of mine thought, the [Carnal Arts] skill was about more than getting pleasure, it was about giving it, as well, and causing the give and take to feed back on itself, causing more pleasure by far. If it were just about pushing harder, then the skill would be satisfied by using any random sex doll or fleshlight. Instead, the skill was only really ‘satisfied’, giving the best experience when you worked with it to bring everyone involved to a pleasurable end.

And we do meet a very pleasurable ending together. Her climax crashing against mine, as we both cry out in shared enjoyment. Athena slumped against me, her breasts pressed against my chest. And when her lips met mine, neither of us were in a hurry to speak again.

But, eventually, all good things must come to a pause, if not an end. “So, what are your little mortals going to find when they visit Shatterchain? The story for that floor has been fairly well established, has it not?”

“Yes, but the ones who have gone to Khav-Szarol have never seen the fights that I have in store. There will be a trapper, who sets snares for escaped slaves and other prey, where they will have to think carefully as reckless pursuit will invite disaster. A patrol of fighters through the caves, looking for ‘rebels’ to slaughter. And an assault upon a caravan of slavers, with their guards, in an attempt to break the captives free and bring them to Shatterchain. And the boss of the floor is a giant spider with powers to befuddle and control minds, adding to the minions at their beck and call.

“And, as icing on the cake, when they are finished with that, they will have to enter Khav-Srokzas, and find the enforcer who has the blade they seek. It will be a good challenge for them, especially since, depending on how they deal with the enforcer, they may have an entire city’s forces descending upon them as they try to fight their way free. Which should be interesting, in and of itself.”

“Ooh,” Athena grinned. “I can’t wait to see how they handle it.”