The first light of a plan.

“We used to be a small tribe of incubi and succubi. Despite what you see outside these windows, the land wasn’t always a wasteland,” Azazel started. “Our world has been changing. The soil in these lands has become infertile, animals are dying, and we who inhabit these territories fight over what little scraps we can find. Our tribe had settled on a miraculous spot next to a small lake. It allowed us to farm and survive. We built walls, kept ourselves strong with sex and food and we were able to defend ourselves from any threats in the wasteland. The wasteland we knew, at least. On a festival night, we were attacked by a group of oni, ogres from the eastern lands. They were fewer than us, but each one was a match for three of ours. They caught us off guard, in the middle of an orgy. They slaughtered so many…” Azazel grit his teeth. “Before we even knew what was happening, heads were rolling on the ground. Our little oasis was stained with the blood of our own people.”

‘They interrupted an orgy? Now I’m even more pissed.’

‘Focus.’

‘Oh, I’m focused.’

“These oni,” Will began. “Did they attack to steal your food and territory?”

“Our food and our women, rather,” Azazel explained. His body shaking from suppressed anger seemed to make his wounds hurt more. “They’re warmongers who don’t know the first thing about agriculture. They stole our food and took the succubi.”

“How did your group survive?” Will asked. He was surprised at how calm he was about this all. It didn’t feel real. It was like hearing a folklore tale or the like.

Azazel bit his lip with enough strength to draw blood. “…I gave the order to retreat. Our best warriors were dead or captured, the momentum was entirely in the enemy’s favor and I saw no chance to recover from it save from escaping and attempting an attack later. With my blood brother, our chief, dead, authority fell on me. As I gave the order to retreat, more of us died. The six of us are all that’s left, plus as many succubi remain alive with the oni.”

Will groaned. “Can I assume the reason they took the succubi is…”

“I would see no other reason,” Azazel nodded. “In fact, taking the succubi with them is a bigger risk than it is a boon. They are gorgeous and the best sex partners any male could ask for, but like us, they also grow stronger with sex. I’m pretty sure a couple of the ones taken even get off to ****-play, and one of our strongest warriors is among the ones kidnapped. If the oni were using them for sex, the succubi would eventually grow strong enough to attempt an escape. I’m sure they would try, regardless of the end result.”

Will took in a deep breath. It was time to get into the nitty-gritty. “You judged Ishtar and me stronger than your group. Why is that?”

“The intensity of your sexual energy,” Azazel explained. “Like you did yesterday, we are also able to turn energy from sex into energy for combat, but ours pales in comparison to yours.”

‘Of course it does.’

“What do you think are my chances against an oni?”

“Speaking strictly about power, I believe your chances in a one on one encounter to be 9:1. However… Are you or Lady Ishtar trained in any sort of combat arts?”

“…”

‘Shit. He got us there.’

‘It’s fine.'

‘Is it?’

“We aren’t,” Will answered. “But our job isn’t to fight the oni, but to get your women back. Anything you can tell me about the oni’s way of life?”

“We followed them for a few days while we still had the strength. Warmongers, like I said. They’re smart in the arts of warfare and little else. They have a chain of command based on strength. We confirmed there are no more than ten of them. They usually send two people out to scout and hunt.”

“Will! I found a first aid kit in the janitor’s room,” said Nanami, coming back with a red bag. “Did you ask them about my aunt?”

“Not yet. I was waiting for you to be here,” Will said. “Have you noticed another woman around here, Azazel?”

“No woman has tried to come through here. My brothers tell me they felt something in the distance while out scouting, but can’t be sure without going to check.”

“She’s probably still here, then,” Will muttered. “But why?”

“I’m asking myself the same,” Nanami sighed. “Now, Mr. Azazel, show me your wound.”

Azazel removed his hand from the side of his stomach along with the rag he was holding. The would looked nasty, with the blood only just beginning to turn into scabs but the opened flesh still tender and red. Nanami winced at it, but pushed through the initial shock.

“We don’t have running water in the building,” she said. “I’ll have to clean this with ****. It’s gonna hurt, okay?”

“…I’m prepared.”

That made Will blink. ****? “Azazel, is **** something common in this world? You know, liquor, booze... Do people here drink it?”

“Not common by any means, but it exists,” Azazel nodded and tilted his head in curiosity. “Whyaaaaahhnngg!?” his question turned into a restrained grunt as Nanami began to clean his wound.

‘Ishtar, check Azazel’s reactions for me, okay? See how he acts when being treated by Nanami. If he’s going to try something on her, tell me.’

‘Sure, but what do you have in mind?’

Will didn’t answer yet. He looked around the apartment. Every piece of furniture was here, and Nanami had actually found a complete first aid kit. Will didn’t bother to check yesterday if these items were still back in the real world or if they’d been transported along with the people. However, the fact remained that they were here. He stood up and started checking the cabinets in the kitchen. The incubi had apparently been rummaging through them already, gathering whatever could be eaten as it was. One of the things they hadn’t touched, however, was the booze.

Will grinned. He could see the first light of a plan in his mind.

Chapters 95 to 98 available at my Patreon.