Pain is weakness leaving the body.

One Monster Upgrade Remaining.

Orra relaxed quickly as more of her mind came back to her. She stood, legs wobbly, and put a hand to her head. "Master..." she purred, "thank you." She took a deep breath, looking positively serene. "I feel so... good. Light. Content. Thank you!" She reached for me, wrapping her arms around my body and burying her face in the soft fur of my torso.

I allowed her to remember that she'd asked me to help her with something, but removed the specifics. She wouldn't know that I'd shuffled her entire world, only that I had granted her a request and now she felt better. She lifted her head and looked at my face, thinking deeply about something. "I love you. Have I told you that? I'm so grateful that you've chosen me, of all the women you could have chosen. You've..." She shook her head with a soft laugh.

"It's silly, but you've made a girlhood dream of mine come true. When you claimed me. Elevated me from... I don't even know what. Some mundane existence. I feel like... nothing mattered before you came to me. Made me yours." She touched her fingertips to the Mark I'd burned into the side of her neck with a smile. "Forever."

Lyla stared at her mother with a twisted grin, eyes wide. "This... is very good. She is very happy with this."

Orra smiled back at her daughter, but I knew Lyla didn't mean Orra. She was speaking for Melanoche. Orra had apparently been a faithful worshipper of Sigreddon. My journey into her memories had revealed a huge number of memories tied to the god of devotion. An old god, with precious few followers, but those who kept his faith virtually never strayed from his teachings. They would choose a path in life and serve it well. For Orra, that had been a humble farm wife and mother. Now, with faith-based memories tangled up with her feelings for me, I had become the object of her singular devotion.

Immediately, I felt a surge of experience flow into me. Enough to grow my Monster level. It was a reward from Melanoche for perverting a Sigreddonite so completely. Though small in scale, it was a substantial moral victory for the Dark, and the Black Night was very pleased. Naturally, I directed the growth directly into my Devil bloodline.

-Devil Level 4-
Health 82/82
Mana 150/150

Physical attack and defense bonus +5%
Spell Power Bonus +20%
Dark Spell Power Bonus +60%

Gain access to Tier 2 Devil Magic.
Three Monster Upgrades Remaining

The now-familiar sensation of unbridled potential in my Core was a welcome one, but three unspent Monster Upgrades at once was almost uncomfortable. It was an urgent pressure. Grow. Adapt. Change. I was restless. Anxious, almost. The hunger for power was constant, but usually it was background noise. Now, filled to bursting with what may as well have been food for my Core, it was a struggle to concentrate without simply devouring those points of Darkness to feed my ravenous, Powerful Core.

Orra reached for me, her concern evident as she watched me seethe. "Master?" Her gentle touch on my flank allowed me a moment's focus.

The power of the Dark wasn't meant to be hoarded and carefully allocated as needs arise. That's a parlor trick of the Light. Cautious, fearful. I was Alpha. The first blood-patriarch of a Devil line so powerful even the Black Night, herself, was astounded at my glorious potential. I was the still-young form of a monstrosity without equal anywhere in the cosmos, and I wasn't going to reach my destiny by second-guessing or hesitating.

My three Monster Upgrades burned inside me, straining my being. I needed to consume them or they would consume me.

Three Dark points in my Core, one for each of my great desires: to dominate my enemies, to expand my influence, and to survive.

Monster Trait Upgrade: Core Perk — Alpha+
The natural order bends to your supremacy. Your displays of dominance inspire a desire to submit in any who so much as witness them.
The effect on **** victims is increased, and extends to enemies defeated in physical combat.

New Monster Trait: Natural Dominion
Your presence makes itself known to other Monsters. Remaining in any area for extended periods will assert your dominion over that area. This effect is perceived only by other Monsters.
Weak monsters in your domain may flee or desire to serve or otherwise appease you, while strong monsters might seek you out to challenge you.

New Monster Trait: Adaptive Hide
Taking damage of any type will reduce further damage taken from that type.
This effect ends when damage of any other type is taken and is replaced by resistance to the new damage type.

Three at once. Unprecedented for my Dark side. It proved almost too much for my Core to handle. The shock of it strained my Core painfully, wracking my entire being with a feeling of being pulled apart. It **** a cry from me as I gripped my chest on the floor, wondering if I may actually die.

Orra rushed to my side, worry painted across her features. "Master! What's wrong?"

Lyla put a hand on the older woman's shoulder. Her eyes twinkled with the strange dark flecks and the girl shuddered with pleasure. "Don't worry, Mother. She remains pleased with him, and he will not die here. Look: he grows stronger. We're very fortunate to be allowed to see this."

My body did change slightly. Most notably, my fur took on a metallic sheen, but I felt myself grow slightly, my limbs strengthening.

Relieved, Orra nodded. Her concern was replaced with admiration. "He is incredible..." Turning to her daughter, she offered an amused smile. "And you needn't address me so formally, Sister. We're both First Mothers, after all."

Lyla looked puzzled until a few black flecks crossed her eyes. She nodded slowly. "I see. Sister. Yes. We're Sisters, after all. You really don't remember, do you? Incredible."

Orra smiled. "Oh, well, yes I know I birthed you. You are my daughter. But it's hardly worth mentioning now that we're Sisters, is it? Nothing before Master found us truly matters anymore." She stroked her gently swollen belly.

Lyla smiled. "You are absolutely right. None of that matters anymore." The two naked women embraced as my pain diminished to a manageable level.

Rising to my four feet, my First Mothers watched me with eager anticipation. There was no fear or apprehension left in either of them; only devotion. "I am hungry." I said simply. "Bring me fresh meat and then I will sleep. When I wake, I'm taking you to the village. You will not return to this place, so be ready."

The two shared quick words to one another and then Lyla left towards the kitchen. Orra moved behind me to perform some kind of back-scratch-slash-massage service for me, working her fingertips deeply into my coarse fur in the most delightful way. I wasn't sure where she learned to do it, but it felt heavenly. I relaxed onto the floor with a sigh of appreciation and let her continue until her daughter returned with my meal.

When I slept, it was with both of them curled up against me like kittens. They loved me; it was obvious. Good. The First Mothers would serve as a proper example for all the others. Models of submission and devotion. In turn, they would be favored above all others, and everyone would learn the proper order of things in my empire.

Soon, my first children would arrive. Soon, everything would change.