Even the bravest warrior has weaknesses in their mental defenses!

Just as Renn's greatsword had deflected the shield of the third female knight, its horizontal sweep forcing back two flanking attackers, he took a half-step back, golden battle aura swirling around him. In the brief moment of catching his breath, he caught a glimpse of the scene at the edge of the battlefield out of the corner of his eye—

Lia, the priestess who should have been **** outside the battlefield, was now kneeling beside Cecilia's fallen body. Her pale hand was pressed against the poet's forehead, her palm emitting an eerie, ghostly green light. Cecilia's body remained motionless, as if devoid of all life.

"Leah! What are you doing?!"

Renn's roar was like a thunderclap. In his eyes, it was clearly a priest casting some kind of deadly spell on his fallen comrade. Golden battle aura instantly erupted from his body, the blazing light illuminating a corner of the mine.

"traitor!"

The three female knights seized this momentary opening and attacked again. But this time, Renn held nothing back.

"Get out of my way!"

The greatsword, imbued with golden battle aura, swept out, no longer a tentative parry, but a full-**** attack. The female knight at the forefront was sent flying, shield and all, the heavy metallic clang mingling with the cracking of bones. Before the second female knight's blade could even reach her, Renn had already dodged to the side, his left hand forming a fist, golden battle aura solidifying as if it were tangible, and slammed heavily into the center of her breastplate.

"puff--"

The female knight coughed up a mouthful of blood and flew backward, her breastplate dented in a large chunk.

The third female knight, sensing danger, tried to retreat, but Renn's speed was beyond imagination. The greatsword flew from his hand, spinning past, its hilt striking her precisely on the back of the head. The female knight groaned and collapsed to the ground.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Raine didn't even bother to retrieve the greatsword; his golden pupils were fixed on Lia in the distance, his killing intent as tangible as ice.

"Raine, wait—"

Melu's panicked cries came from behind, but Renn paid no attention. He strode forward, the ground trembling slightly with each step.

Just then, a cold magical wave came from the side and behind.

Melu's Ice Spike Technique.

Without even turning around, Renn grabbed back, and a golden phantom hand formed from battle aura appeared out of thin air, crushing all seven or eight ice spikes in mid-air. Amidst the flying ice shards, he turned and glared at Melu.

Even you—

“No, no! Renn, listen to me—” Melu’s face was deathly pale, her hands trembling as she pointed towards Leah, “That wasn’t an attack, that was—”

"Shut up!"

Raine strode up to Melu, his speed leaving afterimages. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and with a slight tremor of golden battle aura, Melu collapsed softly to the ground, where he gently laid her down—she was only temporarily **** and uninjured.

Having done all this, Renn turned back to Lia. Only the two of them remained standing in the mine; the female knights were either seriously injured or ****, and the surroundings were deathly silent.

Lydia—or rather, Cecilia, who was occupying Lydia's body—was struggling to prop herself up.

confusion.

Endless chaos.

Cecilia's consciousness was like being suddenly pulled to the surface after sinking into the deep sea. Her vision was blurry, her ears were ringing, and her body felt completely wrong—too light, too soft, with a heavy weight on her chest and a strange sensitivity between her legs…

She looked down and saw the folds of the white priest's robe and the slender hands of a woman.

"No...no..."

Fragments of memories flooded back: the shaman's sinister laugh, the excruciating pain of her soul being torn apart, and then an endless fall. When she "awoke" again, she found herself in this unfamiliar body.

Her body—her real body—lies a few steps away, motionless.

"Lia".

Raine's voice was as cold as iron, each step he took carrying a heavy, oppressive weight. He was only ten steps away from her, nine steps, eight steps...

“Raine, listen to me!” Cecilia cried out in Lydia’s voice, a softness and trembling that even she herself didn’t recognize. “It wasn’t me attacking Cecilia! It was an exchange—a soul exchange! That shaman—”

“Shaman?” Renn stopped five steps away, his golden eyes filled with no trust, only burning rage and murderous intent. “You think I would believe such an absurd lie?”

He saw it. He witnessed Lydia casting a spell on Cecilia, and saw Cecilia collapse. And now, this "priest" actually wants to use such an absurd excuse as "soul exchange" to cover it up?

“It’s true! My soul is in Lydia’s body, that shaman is in my body!” Cecilia tried desperately to explain, but her brain was still adjusting to this new body, and her words were fragmented. “Look at my hands—the way I usually use a dagger, look—”

She tried to mimic the dagger-wielding techniques often used by bards, but Leah's body simply wouldn't obey her. Her fingers were thin and weak, devoid of muscle memory, and her movements were laughably clumsy.

In Ryan's eyes, it was more like a poor performance.

That's enough.

Renn took another step forward, four steps in total. He slowly raised his right hand, and golden battle aura condensed in his palm into a ball of gentle yet powerful energy that could knock someone ****.

"Whether you were controlled or betrayed, it's all over." His voice was filled with deep weariness and disappointment. "I will take you back and let the church handle it."

Cecilia's heart pounded—no, it was Lydia's heart. She could feel the fear in this body, a deep-seated, ingrained fear of **** and harm. It was an instinct that remained after Lydia had been trained.

"Raine, please, believe me—"

Three steps away.

Renn's hand was already raised.

Just then, Cecilia's gaze passed over Renn's shoulder and she saw that scene—

Her body. Her original body, slowly sat up from the ground.

Her movements were initially stiff, like a child just learning to control their limbs. But soon, that stiffness disappeared. 'Cecilia' looked down at her hands, her fingers deftly bending and straightening, and then she smiled.

A smile that didn't belong to Cecilia at all. Twisted, cruel, and full of malice.

That was the shaman's smile.

Cecilia's hand reached to her waist—where a poisoned dagger was tucked, Cecilia's usual weapon for self-defense. The dagger was drawn almost silently, its blade gleaming with a ghostly blue light in the dim light of the mine.

Poison. A paralyzing toxin that kills instantly upon contact with blood.

The shaman clearly adapted to the body quickly. He (or she?) rose silently and moved like a ghost close to Renn's back.

"Raine! Behind you—"

Cecilia's scream shattered the silence of the mine.

Ryan suddenly turned around.

But it was too late.

The poisoned blade pierced through from behind, precisely avoiding the gaps between the ribs and striking the left lung. The dark blue blade tip extended three inches from the chest, carrying a drop of golden blood.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Raine stared down at the blade protruding from his chest, his golden pupils filled with disbelief. He slowly turned his head to look at the person holding the knife—Cecilia's face, the face of his teammate whom he had known for many years, now revealing a ferocious and satisfied smile to him.

"Why……"

Blood spilled from the corner of Renn's mouth, his golden battle aura fluctuating violently as he tried to resist the poison's invasion. But he could feel something cold flowing through his body with his blood, robbing him of his power and blurring his consciousness.

The poisoned blade was suddenly pulled out.

Rein staggered backward, clutching his chest with his right hand, warm blood seeping from between his fingers. His vision began to blur; the last thing he saw was Cecilia licking the blood from the blade, and in the distance, the despairing tears on Lydia's face.

He didn't understand.

He still didn't understand until the moment before his consciousness completely sank into darkness.

Why did Cecilia want to kill him?

Why……

The golden battle aura completely extinguished, and Renn's massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Blood slowly spread beneath him, forming a shocking pool of red.

The mine was deathly silent.

Then, 'Cecilia'—or rather, the orc shaman who had taken over her body—slowly straightened up, casually wiped the poisoned blade on her sleeve, and put it back behind her waist.

"How...fragile."

She spoke softly in Cecilia's voice, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Then she turned to Lydia (actually Cecilia), who was slumped on the ground, and gave her an even more twisted smile.

"Now, it's time to deal with you, little poet."

Cecilia stared at Ryan's collapsed body, at his **** face, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She wanted to rush over, to check his injuries, to scream, to roar—

But Leah's body wouldn't obey her commands. **** fear had frozen her completely, rendering her unable to move even a single finger.

Footsteps approached from afar. The female knights who had been lying on the ground were now rising one by one. They helped each other up, and the encirclement closed again.

There is no way out.

Cecilia closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Renn fell down.

She was trapped in this unfamiliar body and had to face it all alone.

——————

"snort--"

Renn's roar came to an abrupt halt.

Just as he unleashed his golden battle aura at full power, a cold sword light slashed from the side. It wasn't an attack from the ordinary female knights, but a faster, more ruthless, and more precise strike. Eleanor Silverthorn's figure appeared beside Renn like a ghost; her sword didn't aim for a vital spot, but instead precisely pierced the point where Renn's battle aura was flowing.

The golden light suddenly dimmed.

Renn froze, his greatsword slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. He swayed twice and then collapsed with a thud.

"The old shaman is mighty!"

"Hahaha, what kind of hero is he? He's nothing special!"

The female knights cheered and surrounded him, binding the **** Renn tightly. Meanwhile, on the ground, Cecilia's body—or rather, the orc shaman now inhabiting that body—slowly opened its eyes.

"Ha...is this the body of a bard?"

The shaman spoke in Cecilia's voice, but with a roughness characteristic of orcs. She propped herself up and looked down at the new vessel.

Cecilia's body was clad in the bard's signature tight-fitting attire—a deep purple corset that accentuated her stunning curves, its neckline so low it barely contained her full, enormous breasts. Beneath a leather miniskirt were her long, shapely legs, and black fishnet stockings extended all the way to the hem.

"Tsk tsk, it's really... a completely different feeling."

The shaman's hands unceremoniously climbed onto her own—now her own—breasts. Her fingers dug deep into the soft flesh, kneading it forcefully through the thin fabric.

“Back when I was inside the priest’s body,” she said, rubbing it as she walked toward Lydia, who was being trampled under Eleanor’s feet, “that body had been trained to be quite sensitive; it would become aroused at the slightest touch… but alas—”

The shaman stopped in front of Lia, bent down, and brought the face that originally belonged to Cecilia close to her.

“This body…tsk tsk, bigger breasts, smoother skin, and…” Her fingers suddenly pinched her nipple, twisting it forcefully through her clothes, “The sensitivity here…is completely different!”

"Waaah...!"

Lydia, now the soul of Cecilia, was pinned to the ground, her eyes wide. She stared at her own face with that lewd expression, at her own hands ravaging her body, and a wave of nausea and humiliation nearly made her vomit.

"Let her go!" Cecilia roared. "You filthy orc! Get out of my body!"

"Oh? Are you angry?" The shaman laughed, her laughter shaking her body, her large breasts swaying violently with her movements. "Don't be impatient, little poet. I am your master now... I will make good use of this body."

Eleanor's foot pressed harder on Leah's back, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

“Shaman,” Eleanor’s voice was cold and respectful, “would you like me to quiet her down?”

“No need, this is fine.” The shaman straightened up, put his hands on his hips, and struck an extremely arrogant pose. “Seeing her angry and helpless look is really…exciting.”

As she spoke, she actually started to breathe heavily. One hand continued to knead her breasts, while the other slid down under her short skirt.

“Do you know, Miss Poet?” The shaman’s voice trembled slightly, “Gaining memories through climax…it’s a wonderful concept. Every time I reach my peak, new fragments of memories flood into my mind…your past, your secrets, your little habits…”

She suddenly spread her legs apart, adopting an extremely ungraceful stance—her legs were so wide that one could almost see under her skirt.

“Like now,” the shaman pressed his fingers against his genitals through the fabric, “I’m going to…enjoy this body’s orgasm right in front of you. Then, I’ll know everything about you.”

“No…stop…” Cecilia’s voice was filled with despair.

But the shaman ignored her completely. Her fingers quickened their movements, roughly rubbing her sensitive spots through her tight clothing. A series of wanton, wet sounds began, and the thin fabric was quickly soaked.

"Ah... Ah ha... It's coming... It's coming..."

The shaman tilted her head back, letting out a low, beast-like growl. Her body trembled violently, her legs stiffening—

"Ughhhhhh—!"

With a high-pitched scream, a large amount of clear love fluid gushed out from under her skirt, drawing an arc in the air and accurately splashing onto Leah's face as she lay on the ground.

Warm liquid, with a strong feminine scent, blurred Cecilia's vision. She wanted to close her eyes, to turn her head, but Eleanor's foot was firmly planted on her, rendering her immobile.

"Haa...haa..." the shaman gasped, his body still trembling slightly, "So good...so good...the orgasm in this body...is much better than the priest's body that's been played with so much..."

She took a few breaths, then looked down at Leah, whose face was covered in love juice, and gave her a cruel smile.

“Alright… the memories are coming back.” The shaman said softly in Cecilia’s voice, “Let me see… Oh, your name is Cecilia Nightsong, right?”

Cecilia froze.

“You have a habit of fiddling with your dagger while you’re thinking,” the shaman said, and actually pulled a dagger from Cecilia’s leg ring—Cecilia’s weapon for self-defense. She held the hilt between two fingers, making the dagger spin nimbly on her fingertips, the movement as fluid as if she had practiced it a thousand times.

That was Cecilia's unique technique.

"Do you remember when you were seven years old, in an alley in the slums, the first time you stabbed someone with this dagger?" The shaman's voice suddenly softened, carrying a strange sense of resonance. "That thug who tried to steal your bread... you stabbed him three times, and then hid behind a trash can, trembling all night."

Cecilia's face turned deathly pale instantly.

"No...it's impossible...how could you..."

“How should I know?” the shaman laughed. “Because I am you now, little poet.”

She leaned down and whispered in Cecilia's ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"You also rented a safe house in the capital's underground black market, the coordinates are 'basement of No. 13 Old Oak Street, under the third loose floor tile'. You hid all your savings there, and... your mother's belongings, right?"

Cecilia stopped breathing.

That was a secret she had never told anyone. Not even Ryan knew.

“Wait until I kill you all…” Cecilia’s voice trembled, yet it was still filled with hatred, “Wait until I find the opportunity… I will definitely kill all of you filthy orcs… and tear your souls to shreds one by one…”

A burst of laughter suddenly erupted from the crowd.

"Hahahaha! She said she's going to kill us all!"

"With your body that's been trained to the point of almost going into heat?"

"Oh dear, Miss Priestess, your body is very sensitive~ Shall we 'liberate' you a little right now?"

The voices were two familiar ones. Cecilia turned her head with difficulty and saw "Melu" and "Lilith" standing not far away.

No, those aren't Meru and Lilith.

The priestess wore an unprecedentedly lewd smile. One hand was kneading her own breast, while the other was actually stroking "Lilith's" thigh beside her. "Lilith"—the real orc soul—was wrapped around "Meru's" waist, their bodies pressed tightly together.

They've been replaced. Everyone in the squad has been replaced.

"Hahahaha..."

The shaman smiled too, finally fully recovering from the afterglow of her orgasm. She straightened up, cupped her heavy breasts in her hands, and squeezed them together to form a deep cleavage.

“Miss Poet, you might not understand the situation yet?” She looked down at Cecilia. “Or rather… Cecilia?”

She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, watching as the last glimmer of hope in Cecilia's eyes was completely extinguished.

"Your body is mine now. Your memories are mine. Your teammates... are all ours now." The shaman's smile grew increasingly cruel. "And you, Cecilia Nightsong, you will only be trapped in this trained priest's body, slowly watching how we use your body, how we manipulate your teammates, how we... conquer this world."

She paused for a moment, then suddenly spoke in Cecilia's characteristic languid, magnetic tone:

"By the way, I'm going to check out your safe house tonight. Your mother's belongings... they should fetch a good price, right?"

After saying this, the shaman turned and walked towards Eleanor.

After saying that, the shaman did not turn around and walk towards Eleanor, but slowly squatted down and approached Leah, who was being trampled underfoot.

"Seeing your own body masturbating in front of you, do you feel an unbearable burning sensation?" The shaman used Cecilia's delicate face to reveal a mocking smile. "Have you ever regretted not appreciating the feeling of these huge breasts before? Every day you're wrapped in a tight-fitting garment, but you never properly enjoy their softness and sensitivity..."

She gently lifted her toes and pressed them against the inside of Leah's thigh. Through the thin white stockings, her toes pressed precisely against Leah's sensitive skin.

"Look, your body, priest, is so sensitive now that it can go into heat at any moment, isn't it?" The shaman's toes began to slowly rub against each other. "Tsk tsk, it's already wet."

Lydia—or rather, Cecilia inside—gritted her teeth in an attempt to resist, but her body responded honestly. The crotch of her white pantyhose became transparent due to the lubrication, vaguely revealing the already moist pink slit beneath.

"Ugh... Let me go!" Cecilia screamed. "When I get my chance... I'll wipe out all of you orcs!"

The surrounding female knights burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! She's still being stubborn!"

"Oh dear, my body is completely soaked!"

"Melu" and "Lilith" also gathered around. The priestess wore a lewd smile, while the little mage watched the scene with wide, curious eyes.

The shaman shook her head and leaned closer. She extended the hands that had once belonged to Cecilia—hands that had danced on harp strings and wielded daggers—and now gently cupped Cecilia's face in her hands.

"Stubborn?" The shaman's voice suddenly softened, carrying Cecilia's unique languid magnetism. "No, little poet, I know what your body is thinking."

Her fingers slid to Lydia's lips, pressing them gently against her lips in the way Lydia was most comfortable with—her index and middle fingers together, an **** little gesture Lydia made when she was thinking.

“Look, your heart is racing.” The shaman placed his other hand on Leah’s chest, feeling the rapid heartbeat through her priest’s robes. “Your breathing is becoming rapid. Your body… is yearning.”

She suddenly flipped Leah's body over, making her lie flat on the ground. Then she straddled her, pressing her now voluptuous poet's body against the priest beneath her.

“Since you still refuse to admit it…” the shaman said, roughly tearing open the front of Leah’s priest’s robe with both hands, “then let’s communicate with our bodies.”

The enormous breasts immediately pressed down on Leah's medium-sized breasts. The two pairs of soft breasts of different sizes squeezed and rubbed against each other, and the sensation of the nipples rubbing against each other through the fabric made both of them moan softly.

"Ah...this feeling..." the shaman gasped, instinctively twisting her hips with Cecilia's body, "It feels even better than when I masturbated before...because I can feel your reaction..."

Her right hand—those nimble little hands that played the piano and twirled daggers—slid down to Leah's lower body. Through the already damp and transparent pantyhose, her fingers precisely found the swollen clitoris.

"Ugh...!" Cecilia tried to resist, but her body betrayed her. The priestess's body trembled violently at the touch, and her love juices gushed out even more profusely.

The shaman's fingers began their fierce ****. Unlike a gentle woman, she was not gentle, but rather possessed the roughness and rhythm of an orcish man. Her fingertips, through the thin fabric of her stockings, rapidly probed, pressed, and rotated, each time precisely stimulating the most sensitive spots.

"Watching your own hands toying with someone else..." the shaman panted, the pressure of her large breasts rubbing against him increasing. "Does it feel humiliating? But your body... is enjoying it..."

"No...I didn't...Ahhh—!"

Cecilia's denial was interrupted by a scream. The shaman's fingers suddenly increased their pressure, penetrating her already wet vagina through her pantyhose.

In that instant, Cecilia felt her sanity completely collapse.

The priestess's pent-up pleasure erupted like a burst dam. Her waist arched uncontrollably, her legs trembled violently, and clear love fluid gushed from her lower body like a fountain, tracing an arc in the air and splashing onto the two of them and the surrounding ground.

"She squirted! She squirted!" exclaimed "Melu" who was watching.

"Wow...it sprayed so far..." The orc soul within Lilith's body widened its eyes. "If only I were the one being toyed with..."

“Me too! I also want to be toyed with like this by the shaman!” a female knight said, licking her lips.

The shaman didn't stop. She continued to thrust her fingers violently into the already exhausted Lydia, while her other hand kneaded both of their breasts forcefully. Wave after wave of orgasm washed over Cecilia, her consciousness rising and falling in a sea of ​​pleasure, until only the instinctive spasms and whimpers of her body remained.

Finally, when the priest beneath him was completely limp and unable to move even his fingers, the shaman slowly withdrew his fingers.

She stood up, looking down at Leah, who lay on the ground, her eyes glazed over. Her priestess robes were torn open, and the crotch of her white stockings was completely transparent, making her look like a broken doll.

"Looks like the training is almost complete," the shaman said with satisfaction. She turned to Eleanor, "Captain, lock that hero in the dungeon. As for this priest..."

She glanced back at Leah on the ground and gave her a cruel smile.

"Leave it to the other sisters in your female knight order. Those sisters who were replaced by us should have been wanting to take good care of this sensitive priestess for a while."

“Yes, Shaman.” Eleanor bowed respectfully, then waved to the female knights around her. “Take her away. Tonight… everyone, have a good time.”

The female knights cheered and rushed over, hurriedly lifting the exhausted Lydia. Meanwhile, Cecilia's soul, deep within the priest's body, could only watch in despair as she was taken away to face an even darker fate.

——————

Renn's consciousness struggled in a state of chaos.

The excruciating pain from the **** severing of his golden battle aura had not yet completely subsided, and a heavy feeling of restraint came from his limbs. He struggled to open his eyes; his vision was initially blurry, then gradually cleared.

The rough stone pavement swayed before his eyes—he was being led forward by two female knights, one on each side. His arms were tied behind his back and locked with a special kind of metal shackle, the chains extending all the way to his ankles, allowing him to move only in small steps. With each step, the chains made a dull clattering sound.

"woke up?"

The female knight on his left noticed his movement. Renn looked up and saw a young, beautiful face; her silver armor reflected a cold light in the torchlight. But her eyes… those eyes gleamed with an excitement and wildness that Renn couldn't understand, completely unlike the seriousness expected of a proper knight.

"The shaman's sneak attack was incredibly precise," the female knight on the right sneered. "It even managed to pierce through the aura node. Is this what they call 'the power of a hero'? It's nothing special."

Ryan gritted his teeth and didn't respond. He quickly surveyed his surroundings.

This was a stone-paved corridor, with a torch stand every ten steps along the walls. Ancient runic carvings were visible on the arched ceiling—typical of fortress architecture. The air smelled of mildew and rust, mixed with…a woman's scent?

The corridor branched off from time to time, and occasionally other female knights could be seen. Some were patrolling, some were leaning against the wall talking quietly, and some were doing things that Rein couldn't understand.

At a corner, two female knights stood facing each other. One of them leaned against the wall with one hand, while the other's hand slipped under her companion's skirt armor. The female knight pressed against the wall let out suppressed gasps, her body trembling slightly.

"What are you looking at?" The female knight supporting Renn noticed his gaze and laughed even more unrestrainedly. "That's the 'special training' of the Seventh Squad. What, is the Hero interested in joining?"

Ryan turned his head away, forcing himself not to look at those scenes. But his heart continued to sink.

Is this really the headquarters of the Silver Thorn Knights of Klaus Fortress? The Silver Thorn Knights, known for their strict discipline and upright conduct?

"arrive."

A heavy oak door appeared ahead. The female knight supporting Renn used her shoulder to push the door open, and a burst of warm light and a cacophony of voices poured out.

This was a spacious hall, resembling the anteroom reception area of ​​a military outpost. A roaring fire burned in the fireplace, and several large wooden tables were casually arranged, upon which sat wine jugs and half-eaten food. A dozen or so women sat or stood, most dressed in casual clothes rather than armor.

What shocked Ryan the most was that he recognized some of the faces.

"Oh my, isn't this the Hero?"

A flirtatious female voice rang out. Raine looked in the direction of the voice, and his heart skipped a beat.

That was the receptionist from the Adventurers' Guild—the blonde one. But right now, she was leaning against a table, three buttons undone on her uniform shirt, revealing a deep cleavage. Her skirt was lifted up to her upper thigh, and one leg was draped over the chair next to her, her posture languid and wanton.

Beside her, the red-haired receptionist was straddling a female knight's lap, her arms wrapped around her neck, the two passionately kissing. Hearing the blonde receptionist's words, the red-haired receptionist turned her head, licked her lips, and gave a knowing smile.

"Welcome home, hero~" The blonde receptionist stood up and swayed over. She reeked of **** and her eyes were glazed. "What, don't you recognize us? Weren't you turning in quests at the guild yesterday morning?"

Ryan's throat went dry: "You...how did you get here?"

“This is our ‘new home’.” The blonde receptionist reached out and patted Rein’s cheek, the gesture as flippant as if she were teasing a pet. “Not only us, but the entire Silverthorn Town… no, I should say, the entire female knight order of Klaus Fortress, are now ‘our’ people.”

“Impossible…” Renn whispered.

“Why not?” The red-haired receptionist slid off the female knight’s lap and walked over. She was bolder than the blonde receptionist, placing her hand directly on Rein’s chest, feeling the contours of his strong muscles. “Take a guess, why is your investigation always a step behind? Why is it that every time you’re about to find a clue, someone always ‘coincidentally’ appears and leads you in the wrong direction?”

Rein recalled the information Lilith had provided, those clues that seemed reasonable but always fell short.

“Because from the moment you stepped into Silverthorn Town, there have been pairs of eyes watching you.” The blonde receptionist leaned close to Rein’s ear, her breath reeking of ****. “The innkeeper, the patrolling female knights, even the fruit-selling woman on the street… they might all be ‘us’.”

The red-haired receptionist's fingers slid down Rein's chest, past his abs, and all the way to his belt: "Hero, aren't you very concerned about your teammates? Cecilia, Lia, Lilith, Melu... do you know where they are now?"

Renn's body tensed instantly.

"Let him go."

A cold voice came from the other side of the hall. Everyone fell silent.

Eleanor Silverthorn emerged from the shadows, still clad in her magnificent silver armor, but now without her helmet, letting her long, silvery-white hair cascade down. Her face was beautiful yet cold, like a finely sculpted ice sculpture.

“The Shaman wants to see him.” Eleanor’s gaze swept over the two receptionists. “When you’ve had your fun, go back to work. Don’t forget your ‘duties’.”

"Yes, Commander!" The two receptionists chuckled and bowed before retreating back into the crowd.

Eleanor walked up to Renn, her icy blue eyes fixed on him: "Come with me. Someone is waiting for you."

Eleanor led Raine through another corridor to an iron door. She pushed the door open and gestured for Raine to go inside.

This is a standard interrogation room. In the center of the room stands a specially made chair, its armrests and legs shackled. The walls are bare stone, with only a small window high up letting in a sliver of light. In the corner of the room sits a wooden table, behind which sits a female knight.

This female knight was different from the others. She wore a tight-fitting black leather outfit that accentuated her curvaceous figure. Black stockings encased her long, slender legs, and she wore high-heeled boots. She wasn't wearing a helmet, and her long black hair was tied back in a neat ponytail. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses added a touch of intellect to her face—if one didn't consider that she was currently roughly handling a dagger, her fingers moving in large, sweeping motions, completely unlike the delicate touch expected of a woman.

What struck Renn as even more jarring was her posture. She had one leg crossed over the other, but her knees were spread wide apart, a swaggering manner more like that of a rude soldier in a military camp than an elegant female knight.

"Sit." The female knight in black silk pointed to the chair in the center of the room with her dagger. Her voice was deliberately soft, but there was still a hint of roughness in the last syllable.

Eleanor unlocked the chains on Ryan's ankles but left the handcuffs on, then pressed him into the chair. The chair's mechanism automatically locked his wrists and ankles, securing him firmly.

“Leave the rest to me, Captain,” the black-stockinged female knight said to Eleanor, her gaze fixed on Renn, her eyes scrutinizing his muscular chest and arms through her gold-rimmed glasses.

Eleanor nodded, turned and left, the iron gate closing behind her with a dull thud.

Only Renn and the black-stockinged female knight remained in the room.

The female knight put down her dagger, picked up a document from the table, and slowly began to peruse it—but she flipped through it forcefully, the pages rustling. Renn could read the contents of the document—it was information about him. His birthplace, upbringing, the date he joined the hero's party, his completed mission records…even things he thought only the party knew.

“Rain Wolf, twenty-three years old, born in a village on the northern border. His parents died in an orc attack, so he vowed to become a hero to protect the weak.” The female knight read in a deliberately calm tone, “He gained the recognition of ‘Hero’s Power’ at sixteen and formed the ‘Dawn of Light’ squad at eighteen. The squad currently has three members: bard Cecilia, priest Lilith, and mage Melu.”

She looked up at Ryan through her gold-rimmed glasses, a smile playing on her lips. "The information is very detailed, isn't it? You have to thank your 'good teammate' Cecilia for that. Her memory is amazing; she remembers almost everything about you."

Renn's heart sank. Cecilia...could it be that she...?

“Don’t misunderstand, Cecilia’s soul is still here.” The female knight seemed to see through his thoughts, leaning forward and placing her hands on the table, a posture that made her chest almost touch the edge of the table. “It’s just that now… her body has a new ‘resident.’ And this new resident is happy to share everything in Cecilia’s memories.”

She stood up, walked up to Renn, and looked down at him. As she approached, Renn smelled a mixture of scents—the sweetness of women's perfume, yet beneath it emanated a subtle, primal, animalistic aroma.

“Let’s talk about your teammates,” she said, her voice softening as if she were coaxing a child. “First of all, don’t worry, they are all safe. Lilith and Melu are in their respective rooms, their bodies intact and their souls still intact.”

Ryan stared at her: "What did you do to them?"

"What did you do?" The female knight smiled, this time with a hint of amusement. "Just asked them to 'rest' for a bit. After all, it takes time for new guests to get used to their bodies."

She leaned forward, her hands resting on the armrests of the chair, her face less than a foot away from Ryan's. This position fully exposed the curves of her chest, revealing a deep cleavage through the neckline of her tight leather jacket. But there was no feminine shyness in her eyes, only a naked, almost greedy scrutiny.

“Your muscles are well-developed,” she said suddenly, her fingers lightly tracing the lines of Renn’s arm, feeling the taut muscles. “In the orc tribe, a physique like this would be very attractive.”

Renn froze. The orc tribe…

The female knight seemed to realize she had let something slip, her smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to its deliberate gentleness: "What I meant was... you're very strong. That's good. Only strong people can protect those they want to protect, right?"

She straightened up, walked to the wall, and pressed a hidden button. Part of the wall slid open to the sides, revealing a huge crystal mirror.

"Would you like to see them?" the female knight asked, turning around with a seductive tone. "They are 'safe' now. At least for now, they are all alive, and their souls are still in their bodies. As long as you cooperate... everything can be restored to normal."

Ryan's throat went dry: "...Let me see."

The female knight pressed another button. The crystal mirror lit up, reflecting the scene of the room.

The image reflected in the mirror made Ryan's blood freeze instantly.

Those are Cecilia and Lilith.

But it was also so unfamiliar and distorted.

Cecilia—or rather, the orc possessing her body—was on top of Lilith. The bard's signature black fishnet stockings encased her long, shapely legs, which were now kneeling roughly on either side of the mattress like an orc warrior's, knees spread wide—a posture completely unlike a woman's natural one. Her hands gripped Lilith's wrists tightly, so hard that red marks appeared on her pale skin.

Lilith's pristine priestess robes were now in disarray. Her white silk robes were torn open to her waist, revealing matching white stockings underneath. Her full breasts, which Renn always secretly admired, were almost completely exposed to the air, swaying violently with Cecilia's rough movements. What enraged Renn even more was that Cecilia's head was buried between those soft breasts, not in gentle kisses, but sucking and biting like a wild beast tearing at its prey, her movements wide and forceful, displaying a clear orcish greed and ****.

"Waaah... Cecily... don't do this..."

The voice Lilith uttered—it was indeed Lilith's voice—was filled with pain and resistance. Tears welled in her eyes, and although her hands were held down, her fingers unconsciously gripped the sheets, as if struggling, or perhaps yielding.

But Renn keenly noticed a deliberate theatricality in Cecilia's movements. While the brutality was real, the **** and rhythm were precisely controlled, as if she were intentionally showcasing the very essence of "brutality." And when she occasionally looked up, a cruel yet satisfied smile, unique to orcs, would flash across her lips.

Shifting his gaze to the side, Renn saw Melu.

The petite loli mage was tossed onto the carpet in the corner of the room. Her exquisite mage robe was torn in several places, revealing black stockings underneath. Her slender, black-stockinged legs were unconsciously spread apart, trembling slightly, as if experiencing a violent spasm. Meru's expression was extremely complex—tears clung to the corners of her eyes, yet the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, displaying a strange languor after orgasm. Her eyes were half-open, her pupils unfocused, and she looked like a delicate doll that had been broken.

"Did you see that?"

The voice of the black-stockinged female knight rang in Renn's ear; she had somehow moved behind the chair. Her warm breath brushed against Renn's ear, carrying a mixture of feminine perfume and wild scent.

“They are still alive, and their souls are still here.” The female knight deliberately softened her tone, but there was still an unmistakable hoarseness in her voice at the end. “It’s just that now… there is a ‘guest’ inside their bodies. But as long as they cooperate with us, everything can be restored to normal. Look, Cecilia’s soul is still resisting, it’s just being suppressed.”

In the mirror, Lilith suddenly let out a high-pitched groan, her body arching violently. Cecilia, on the other hand, let out a low, orcish laugh, kneading Lilith's breasts even harder with both hands, her movements so rough it seemed she wanted to crush those soft breasts.

Raine's anger erupted like a volcano. He wanted to roar, to break free, to tear the distorted scene before him to shreds. But at the same time, a more primal physiological response betrayed him—a surge of heat uncontrollably rushed to his groin, where a noticeable bulge was visible even through his trousers.

"Oh?" The black-stockinged female knight noticed this and let out a teasing laugh. "It seems that the hero's body is more honest than his mouth."

Her hands moved from behind the chair to the front, one pressing on Ryan's firm abdomen, the other covering his erection. Through his pants, Ryan could feel the strength and heat of that hand—it wasn't the delicate touch of a woman, but more like the hand of a rough soldier, kneading it forcefully and without restraint.

“Anger, pain, and…desire.” The female knight’s voice grew lower, carrying an almost cruel pleasure. “What complex emotions. It must be painful to see your cherished teammates treated like this, right? But your body is aroused. Are you thinking…what if you were the one treating them like that?”

"Shut up!" Renn finally roared, trying to struggle, but the specially made shackles held him firmly to the chair.

“Why deny it?” The female knight walked around to stand in front of Renn, looking down at him. She reached out and unbuttoned her tight leather jacket, her movements bold and unrestrained, completely lacking any feminine modesty. The jacket opened, revealing a black lace bra and a deep cleavage.

She bent down and used her full breasts to clamp down on Renn's erection. This position **** her to spread her legs and maintain her balance in a savage, orcish stance.

"Your Lilith... her breasts are this big too, aren't they?" The female knight began to sway her body up and down, rubbing her breasts against Renn's sensitive areas. Her movements lacked feminine grace, instead carrying a direct, undisguised desire. "She always wears those sexy lingerie to seduce you, doesn't she? Don't you fantasize about her every night..."

"I didn't!" Renn retorted through gritted teeth, but his body stubbornly remained even more erect.

The female knight laughed, a crude, orcish laugh. While continuing her masturbation, she freed one hand and reached under her skirt. Through the sheer fabric of her black pantyhose, Renn could see her fingers ruthlessly kneading her genitals, the movements exaggerated, unlike female masturbation; more like… roughly playing with a toy.

“You know what?” the female knight gasped, her voice beginning to betray genuine excitement, “this body… it’s truly wondrous. It’s a human woman’s body, yet I can feel such intense pleasure. We orcs used to be able to only release our pent-up desires roughly, but now… ah…”

She quickened the pace of her breast play, while her masturbation became more intense. Ryan could hear the wet sounds coming from under her pantyhose and see an unnatural blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“Look at your teammates…” The female knight gestured toward the mirror, where Cecilia was roughly spreading Lilith’s white-stockinged legs. “They’re ‘enjoying’ it too. Though their souls are resisting, their bodies… their bodies are honest. Just like you right now.”

Renn wanted to retort, to roar, but all the words were stuck in his throat. Because the female knight suddenly knelt down.

She knelt between Ryan's legs in a posture utterly devoid of feminine elegance—knees wide apart, body leaning forward. Then, without hesitation, she unzipped Ryan's pants and pulled out his already rock-hard penis.

“Let me see…” The female knight stared at the thick phallus, her eyes gleaming with orcish greed and curiosity. “What’s the difference between a human male’s body and an orc’s?”

She opened her mouth, without any foreplay or probing, and immediately took the glans into her mouth. The movements were clumsy and rough; her teeth even accidentally scraped the sensitive tip, causing Ryan to gasp.

But soon, the female knight found her rhythm. Or rather, she found the rhythm of orcs—forceful, rapid, and merciless swallowing and spitting. Her tongue didn't lick with the dexterity of a human woman, but rather scraped across the pillar as roughly as a wild beast licking its prey. Her hands gripped Renn's thighs tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh.

"Ugh... gulp..." The female knight made a muffled sound, saliva dripping from the corner of her mouth onto her black leather coat. Her glasses were askew, and her long black hair was disheveled. Through the lenses, Renn could see that her eyes were completely consumed by desire—a naked, primal, orcish desire.

In the mirror, Cecilia and Lilith's entanglement continued. Melu remained lying on the carpet, her black-stockinged legs twitching unconsciously. And Renn himself was being roughly given oral sex by the orc possessing a female body.

Humiliation, anger, pain... and an undeniable pleasure mixed together, almost driving Renn to the brink of collapse.

The female knight's breathing became faster and faster, her other hand still kneading violently beneath her skirt. Renn could hear her increasingly heavy breathing and feel the tightening of her oral cavity and the aggressive licking of her tongue.

"It's...it's coming..." the female knight mumbled, her voice completely distorted, taking on the roughness characteristic of orcs, "Together...together..."

Renn gritted his teeth, trying to hold back, but his body's instincts had already surpassed his willpower. In the instant the female knight thrust deep throat once more, a stream of hot semen gushed out uncontrollably, shooting directly into the depths of her throat.

"Gurgle—!" The female knight trembled violently, her eyes widened abruptly, and then rolled back. Almost at the same moment, the movement of her hand under her skirt abruptly stopped, her whole body convulsed violently as if electrocuted, and she let out a strange sound that was somewhere between a female moan and an orc's growl.

Semen spilled from the corner of her mouth and dripped down her chin. She remained buried in Ryan's crotch, her body still trembling slightly. Several seconds passed before she slowly raised her head.

Her gold-rimmed glasses were completely askew, and her long black hair clung to her face, which was covered in sweat and semen. Her eyes were unfocused, but a satisfied, beast-like smile played on her lips.

"Ha...ha..." she breathed heavily, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Human...semen...tastes pretty good."

She stood up, her legs still visibly weak, her steps unsteady. But her smile widened, a smile brimming with the thrill of conquest and primal satisfaction.

“Look, hero.” She walked to the crystal mirror and pointed to Cecilia and Lilith, who were still entwined inside. “Your body… has made its choice. There’s no point in resisting.”

She turned to look at Ryan, her eyes, peering through his crooked glasses, gleaming with cruelty.

"The original owner's soul still resides within their bodies. As long as you cooperate... everything can be salvaged. But if you continue to resist..."

The female knight's smile turned cold.

“Then we’ll just have to let the ‘new guests’ completely replace them. After all…” She licked her lips, her movements like a wild animal savoring its prey, “This body feels… really good.”

——————

Renn's body was trembling.

It wasn't out of fear, but a physiological reaction—the young female knight's hand was precisely kneading his most sensitive area through the rough prison trousers. The torchlight danced on her beautiful face, and her eyes gleamed with a predatory excitement.

"Well, hero?" Her voice was as sweet as honey, but her actions were ruthless. "Your body is much more honest than your mouth."

Renn gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. He tried to mobilize the golden battle qi within his body, but each attempt felt like hitting an invisible wall—Eleanor's sword had pierced through his battle qi node, and now he was weaker than an ordinary person.

“Lilith and Melu…” the female knight whispered in his ear, her warm breath brushing against his neck, “Their bodies are being enjoyed by our own people right now. Do you want to know the details? That red-haired archer, her body is surprisingly sensitive…”

"Shut up!" Ryan spat out the two words through gritted teeth.

"Oh? Are you angry?" The female knight chuckled, her fingers moving with even greater practiced ease. "Then prove it with your body. If you're willing to cooperate and become our puppet... we might consider making their suffering a little less."

Raine closed his eyes, trying to block out the pleasure surging through his body. But hunger, exhaustion, and the mental torment of the past few days had weakened his defenses. He could feel his will crumbling bit by bit, his body betraying his resolve.

“No…” he said in a low voice, hoarse.

But in the next second, an uncontrollable urge surged from his spine to his brain. Renn's body tensed abruptly, a suppressed groan escaping his throat. A heat spread through his trousers, accompanied by an indescribable shame.

The female knight withdrew her hand, looking at her wet fingers with satisfaction.

"See, isn't this comfortable?" She licked her lips. "Why be so stubborn? Your teammates are probably enjoying this pleasure right now."

Renn breathed heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead. The emptiness after ejaculation brought no relief, but rather intensified the humiliation. He raised his head, his eyes burning with golden flames—not from fighting spirit, but pure will.

“You can destroy my body,” he said, emphasizing each word, “but you can’t destroy my will. My teammates need me, and I will not betray them.”

The female knight's smile froze. She stared at Renn for a few seconds, then slowly stood up.

"Then let's see if your teammates need a hero who's been played to ****," she said coldly, turning and walking towards the door. "Since the soft approach isn't working... let's try another method."

The iron gate slammed shut behind her.

Three days later.

When the two female knights dragged Renn out of his cell, he could barely stand. For three days, he had eaten nothing but a thin bowl of vegetable soup each day. Sleep was a luxury—every few hours, someone would knock on the cell door, torturing his nerves in various ways.

But the most tormenting thing is the silence.

When all was quiet, Renn would think of Lilith and Melu. He would remember Lilith's red hair flying in the wind during battle, and Melu's focused profile as she studied magic. How were they now? What would those orcs who had taken over their bodies do to them?

"Hurry up." The female knight on his left gave him a push.

Raine staggered forward, the chains scraping against the ground with a harsh screech. They walked for a long time down the spiraling stone steps, the air growing increasingly damp and cold. The number of torches on the walls dwindled, and the light grew dimmer.

Finally, they stopped in front of a heavy iron gate.

As the door opened, a musty smell mixed with the stench of some wild animal hit him. Raine was shoved inside, stumbling and falling onto the cold, damp stone slabs. He looked up and saw his new cell—

Smaller and darker than before. Water slicked up the corners, and condensation dripped from the ceiling, making a monotonous "drip-drip" sound. What sank Renn's heart most was that the people standing outside the cell were not female knights, but two real orcs.

They were tall and burly, their green skin gleaming in the dim light. Fangs protruded from beneath their lips, and their yellow eyes held no reason, only pure savagery and hunger. One of the orcs saw Renn and made a low growl in his throat, as if appraising food.

"Enjoy this, hero," the escorting female knight chuckled from outside the door. "It's fifty meters below the surface. No one will come to rescue you, and no one will hear your screams."

The iron gate closed, and the sound of the lock clicking echoed in the small space.

Renn sat down against the wall and closed his eyes. The cold seeped into his body from the stone slabs, and hunger gnawed at his stomach like a wild beast. But he did not despair—on the contrary, the female knight's words made him even more determined.

Are they trying to wear down my will in this way?

Let's go then.

Meanwhile, in a secret room on the upper level of the fortress.

Eleanor Silverthorn stood by the window, her back to the room. Moonlight streamed through the stained glass, casting dappled shadows on her silver armor. Her fingers tapped lightly on the windowsill, a steady rhythm, as if she were calculating something.

"He still won't tell?"

“Yes, Commander.” The female knight who had interrogated Renn earlier knelt on one knee. “He withstood both physical temptation and mental pressure. That man’s will… is stronger than we imagined.”

Eleanor turned around. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful in the moonlight, but her eyes held no warmth, only cold calculation.

“As expected,” she said. “If a hero were so easily defeated, he wouldn’t deserve to be called a hero.”

In the corner of the room, another figure moved.

That was Cecilia—or rather, Cecilia's body. The bard's once languid and alluring eyes were now empty and lifeless, like a puppet whose soul had been ripped from her. She sat in the chair, her hands on her knees, her posture stiff and unnatural.

“Tell me, poet,” Eleanor said, stepping up to her, “who does Renn trust most?”

Cecilia's lips moved mechanically: "Melu... he treats her like a younger sister who needs protection. Lilith is sexy and flamboyant, and he's wary of her; Cecilia is mysterious and unpredictable, and he's suspicious of her; but Melu... is innocent, naive, and weak. Rein only feels protective of her, not wary of her."

“Very good.” A slight smile appeared on Eleanor’s lips. “Then let Melu go and save him.”

The female knight looked up, puzzled, and asked, "Commander, do you mean...?"

“It’s a play.” Eleanor walked back to the window. “Have Melu—or rather, her fellow human who has taken over her body—pretend to have overcome the orc soul with her own will. She will cry and tell Raine how hard she tried to regain control of her body, but that time is running out and she must escape immediately.”

"Then what?"

“Then take him to a ‘safe place’.” Eleanor took out a small glass bottle from her bosom, which contained pink powder. “This is ‘dust of lust’. It’s colorless and tasteless when mixed with food. After ingesting it, it will slowly arouse the most primal desires while numbing judgment.”

She placed the bottle on the table.

“Melu will prepare some food, saying it was stolen from the kitchen. One of the cakes will have a double dose added. Once Renn eats it, the **** will take effect…” Eleanor paused, “Melu will act resistant, but subtly exude seduction. Flipping her hair, adjusting her clothes, physical contact—be as clumsy as the real Melu, yet alluring enough.”

The female knight's eyes lit up: "I understand! When Renn loses control and violates her, Melu must act pitiful and resistant, but then reveal her true feelings due to pleasure..."

“Exactly.” Eleanor nodded. “Let Raine struggle between desire and guilt. Make him believe that it was his loss of control that allowed Meru, who had finally regained control, to be dominated by the orcish soul again. When they reach their climax—”

She snapped her fingers.

"We pushed open the door and witnessed the hero's 'crime' firsthand. By then, his will should have been almost completely broken."

A brief silence fell over the room. Only Cecilia's hollow breathing could be heard.

“But Commander,” the female knight hesitated, “can Melu act well? Those orcs who are blinded by desire… they are not very good at this kind of subtle acting.”

Eleanor laughed, a cold and cruel laugh.

“It doesn’t need to be a great performance. As long as it’s real enough, enough for Ryan to believe. After all…” she looked out the window at the dark night sky, “when people are in dire straits, they will desperately grab onto any straw, even if that straw is poisoned.”

Two more days passed.

Renn could no longer distinguish between day and night. The dungeon was always filled with the dim light of torches and the heavy breathing of the orc guards. His lips were cracked, and his stomach ached from hunger, but what tormented him even more was the mental anguish—the worry about his teammates' whereabouts and the anger at his own incompetence were like two files, relentlessly grinding down his will day and night.

Just as he was about to give up calculating the time, a strange sound came from outside the cell door.

It wasn't the heavy footsteps of an orc, nor the crisp sound of a female knight's boots. Instead... it was soft, light, as if someone were walking on tiptoe.

Ryan suddenly looked up.

The key was inserted into the lock and turned. The iron door was gently pushed open a crack, and a petite figure slipped in.

"Raine...?"

The voice trembled, tinged with tears.

The torchlight illuminated the face of the newcomer—it was Meru. But she was completely different from the Meru Renn remembered. Her once-neat mage robes were now tattered, covered in dust and stains. There were tear tracks on her face, and her glasses sat askew on her nose. What pained Renn the most was that her eyes, which were always full of curiosity and innocence, were now red and swollen, filled with fear, exhaustion, and… a strange determination.

“Melu?” Renn struggled to stand up, but his weak body made him stagger.

"Don't move!" Melu rushed over and supported him, her hands were frighteningly cold. "I...I did it, Renn. I used my will...to suppress that monster."

Her voice was broken and intermittent, as if she were about to collapse at any moment.

“But time is running out… that orc’s soul is still struggling, and I can’t control it for much longer.” Melu took off her glasses and wiped them with her sleeve—the gesture was so natural, so “Melu,” that it made Renn’s heart tighten. “We have to leave immediately. I know a secret passage that can take us out of the fortress.”

Raine stared at her, his mind racing. It was all so sudden, so coincidental. But Melu's eyes, her tone of voice, even that little gesture of wiping her glasses... were exactly the same as the Melu he remembered.

“What about Lilith and Cecilia?” he asked.

Melu's tears welled up instantly: "I don't know... Sister Lilith... that orc who possessed her body was too strong, I couldn't beat her... Sister Cecilia was also captured, but I couldn't find her..."

Her shoulders trembled as she cried, and she curled up into a ball. That sight, that helpless look, completely shattered Renn's last remaining doubts.

"Okay, it's alright now." He reached out and patted Melu's shoulder—a gesture that surprised even himself. How long had it been since he'd comforted a teammate like this?

Melu looked up at him, her eyes blurry with tears: "You believe me, right? Ryan?"

“…I believe,” Raine said. He wasn’t sure if he really believed, but he knew he had to—because if he couldn’t even save Melu, then he would truly have nothing left.

Melu burst into laughter through her tears, a smile as fragile as glass that might shatter at any moment.

"Then let's hurry. While they're changing shifts."

The escape went more smoothly than Ryan had imagined.

Melu led him through the labyrinthine corridors of the fortress, avoiding patrolling female knights and evading the gaze of sentries. She had clearly come prepared—knowing which paths were least guarded and which times of day were the safest.

But Ryan also noticed something unusual.

Melu's body was trembling slightly, not from fear, but more like... excitement? Moreover, the route she led was very roundabout; there were clearly more direct routes, but she chose a more hidden but longer one.

“There are guards ahead,” Merle whispered as she slipped into the shadows once more. “We have to go around this way.”

As Raine looked down into the dark path, doubts arose in his heart once more. But before he could ask, Melu had already pulled him inside.

Ten minutes later, they stopped in front of a wooden door.

“This is the hiding place I found.” Melu pushed open the door, revealing an abandoned storage room filled with dusty boxes and miscellaneous items. In the corner, however, lay a simple mattress and a small table. “I secretly hid some food and water here, just in case…”

She didn't finish speaking, but Ryan understood what she meant.

The room was small, but much cleaner than the dungeon. Merle lit the oil lamp on the table, its dim light spreading out. She took a cloth bag from a chest in the corner; inside were several dry, hard loaves of bread, and a piece of… cake?

"I stole this from the kitchen yesterday," Melu said somewhat embarrassedly. "I was going to eat it myself, but I couldn't bear to part with it. You...you must have been starving, right?"

She pushed the cake in front of Ryan. It was an ordinary honey cake, a little cracked on the surface, but to a hungry person, it smelled incredibly tempting.

A sharp pain shot through Ryan's stomach. He hadn't eaten anything decent for five days.

"Aren't you going to eat?" he asked.

Melu shook her head: "I've already eaten. And... you need it more than I do."

Her eyes were so sincere that there was no doubt about it. Ryan hesitated for a moment, then finally picked up the cake. He took a bite—the sweet taste melted in his mouth, mixed with the aroma of honey and flour. He almost groaned.

“Eat slowly,” Melu said softly, sitting down beside him. “Don’t ****.”

Renn nodded and continued eating his cake. He didn't notice that as he looked down, a fleeting smile appeared on Melu's lips.

The effects of the medication began to take hold after ten minutes.

At first, it was just a slight heat, which Raine thought was due to the stuffiness of the room. But soon, the heat spread from his stomach throughout his body, feeling like countless ants crawling in his veins. His breathing became heavy, and his vision began to blur.

“Melu…” he said in a hoarse voice, “Is this cake… spoiled?”

Melu turned her head, the lamplight dancing on her face. Sometime during this time, she had removed her tattered mage's hat, her long black hair cascading down, making her face appear even smaller and more delicate. Her crooked glasses had been straightened, and the eyes behind the lenses… seemed different.

"It's broken?" She tilted her head, a gesture that was both innocent and alluring. "No, I tasted a little, it's very sweet."

As she spoke, she reached up and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Her slender fingers traced her fair neck, a gesture so natural it seemed unintentional, yet in Renn's eyes at that moment, it was filled with an indescribable allure.

"You...you stay away from me." Renn stepped back, his back against the wall.

"Why?" Melu leaned closer. "Raine, your face is so red. Do you have a fever?"

Her hand touched his forehead. The cool, soft touch sent a shiver down Ryan's spine. He tried to push her away, but his arm gripped her wrist uncontrollably.

“Melu…go away…” His voice trembled.

“But you’re shivering.” Melu didn’t pull away; instead, she touched his cheek with her other hand. “Are you cold? I… I can hold you…”

As she spoke, her face flushed slightly, and her eyes darted away—her shy demeanor was exactly the same as Melu's in his memory. But Rein's sanity was rapidly crumbling. The effects of the **** overwhelmed him like a tidal wave, every cell in his body screaming with desire.

“No…this isn’t you…” Renn gritted his teeth, trying to stay conscious, “Melu wouldn’t…wouldn’t do this…”

"Nothing will happen?" Melu's voice suddenly changed, carrying a hint of allure. "Raine, you've always treated me like a child, haven't you? But actually, I've grown up a long time ago... I also have the feelings of a girl..."

Her hand slid to Ryan's chest, gently tracing circles through his tattered prison clothes.

"You know, every time you protect me, I feel so safe... yet so unwilling." Her face drew closer, her breath brushing against Ryan's neck. "I want... I want you to need me too..."

Raine's brain was screaming for danger, but his body had already betrayed him. He smelled her scent—sweat, dust, and the sweet fragrance unique to young girls. His gaze fell on her lips, pink, moist, and slightly parted.

“Melu…stop…” His voice was barely audible.

"Why?" Melu's tears suddenly welled up, but she didn't stop moving. "Didn't you say you would protect me? Then protect me... in your own way..."

She kissed him.

In that instant, Renn's reason completely collapsed.

What happened next was like a blurry and insane nightmare in Renn's memory.

He remembered pushing Melu onto the mattress, her terrified screams and struggles. He remembered her crying, "No... Renn... It's me, Melu...", and how she pushed against his chest with her hands and kicked his legs.

But he couldn't stop.

The ****'s effects dominated his body like a wild beast, and long-suppressed desires, frustration, anger, despair... all emotions mixed together, transforming into a destructive impulse. He tore open Melu's mage robe, revealing her fair skin and black stockings underneath—those legs that had once bounced and leaped during their journey, now trembled in his hands.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." he murmured as he violated her, tears mingling with sweat dripping onto her face, "It's all my fault... I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have done this..."

Melu's cries grew louder. She twisted her body, trying to break free, but her movements became increasingly weak. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes were red and swollen, and her lips were bitten until they bled—her pitiful appearance made Renn's heart ache as if it were being cut by a knife.

But the moment he entered her deeply, Ryan saw it.

A fleeting expression crossed Melu's face—not pain, not fear, but…satisfaction? The corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up, her eyes narrowed slightly, and a suppressed whimper escaped her throat. The sound wasn't like resistance, but more like…

enjoy.

The next second, the expression vanished, replaced by a crying face. But Rein had already seen it. And he could feel Melu's body responding to him. Her legs had somehow wrapped around his waist, and her hips swayed slightly with his movements.

"No...no..." She was still crying, but her voice had turned into broken sobs. "Raine...stop...please..."

But her body was telling a different story.

Raine's mind was a complete mess. The effects of the ****, the pleasure, the guilt, and that bizarre discovery... everything was mixed together, making it impossible for him to distinguish between reality and illusion. He could only move mechanically, like a beast driven by desire.

"It's my fault..." he whispered in her ear, his voice broken and fragile. "If it weren't for me... you wouldn't... you wouldn't have been controlled again..."

Melu didn't answer. Her face was buried in the mattress, her shoulders trembling. But Renn could feel her body reacting more and more intensely. With each thrust, she let out a suppressed groan; with each withdrawal, her legs clamped tighter together.

Finally, that moment arrived.

Raine felt his pent-up desire about to erupt, while Melu's body tensed to its limit. Her fingers dug deep into his back, a sound that was both a sob and a pleasure escaping her throat. Their breaths mingled, their sweat mingled, their heartbeats synchronized—

Just as they were about to reach their peak, the door was pushed open.

"Oh dear, did we come at the wrong time?"

A gentle, holy voice rang out. Renn froze, seeing two figures standing in the doorway—Lia, the priestess who always smiled gently; and Cecilia, the bard leaning languidly against the doorframe. Both wore perfectly measured expressions of surprise, as if they had truly stumbled upon this scene by accident.

But Renn saw the holy book in Lydia's hand glowing, and Cecilia's fingers gently plucking the strings. Their timing was terrifyingly precise, as if... they had rehearsed countless times.

Melu's crying stopped abruptly. She turned her head, her face still streaked with tears, but the fear and grievance in her eyes were gone. In their place was a lazy, satisfied smile, like a cat that had just finished a delicious meal.

“You’ve come at the perfect time.” Melu’s voice had completely changed; it was no longer that of the timid mage, but a deep, beastly, and pleasure-filled voice. “You’ve arrived just in time for the most exciting part.”

She sat up from beneath Raine, displaying her naked body without any hesitation. Raine tried to back away, but his body was still immersed in the effects of the **** and the afterglow of pleasure, and he couldn't move.

Leah entered the room with graceful steps, her white priestess robes spotless, a stark contrast to the filthy hideout. She stopped by the bed, looked down at Renn, and her face still held that holy and gentle smile.

“Hero, do you know?” she said softly, as if confessing, “when you ate that cake, I was in the next room, using holy light to sense the flow of desire within you. I felt every change, every acceleration of your heartbeat.”

Renn's pupils contracted.

“And I,” Cecilia plucked a string, producing a clear note, “am there to accompany you in the corridor. Your rapid breathing, her suppressed moans, and those pleas of ‘No…no…’—what a beautiful symphony.”

She began to sing softly:

"The warrior falls into the land of tenderness,

and trust turns into long chains.

The little girl cries with tears in her eyes,

all of which are part of the hunter's trap."

Every word pierced Rennes' heart like a needle.

Melu giggled, her laughter filled with primal pleasure. She reached out and stroked Raine's face. "Not bad, right? I spent days practicing how to cry more realistically. The phrase 'tears like pear blossoms in the rain'—ah, you taught me that, didn't you? You said Melu cried like a pear blossom in the rain."

She leaned close to Renn's ear, her breath hot on his skin: "Do you know that when you entered me just now, I almost couldn't keep up the act? Because it felt so good... Orcs' bodies are several times more sensitive to pleasure than humans'."

Ryan stopped breathing.

“Soul replacement, hero.” Lilith sat down on his other side, the holy book spread out on her lap. “It is a secret technique of our orc shaman race. It implants the souls of orcs into the bodies of your humans. Your teammates—Melu, Cecilia, and me—our bodies are all here, but the souls inside have long been replaced by those of our brethren.”

Cecilia continued, her voice as smooth as silk: "And you, our hero, are the most important piece in our plan. We need a completely obedient puppet to lead this 'hero squad' to the royal city. After all, who would doubt the returning hero and his teammates?"

“So this is how this whole thing happened.” Melu drew circles on Raine’s chest with her fingers. “I pretended that I broke free from control and took you away, and then I made you lose control during our most intimate moment. That way, we would have something on you, and you would have a guilt that you could never wash away—that you violated the little mage you wanted to protect the most, just when you thought she was finally saved.”

Lilith placed her hand on Raine's forehead, and holy light flowed into his body. But it wasn't healing holy light; instead, it was a scorching, viscous, and controlling power.

"Now, let's complete the final ceremony."

In the time that followed, Renn endured torment worse than hell.

Melu clung to his body again, but this time she no longer feigned tears; instead, she openly and unabashedly enjoyed his body. Her moans became unrestrained and wild, every movement precisely stimulating his sensitive spots. Lilith's holy light coursed through his body, amplifying every pleasure while suppressing any thought of resistance. Cecilia's harp music and chanting, like a spell, entwined his consciousness, mixing shame, pleasure, and despair into an inescapable quagmire.

“Look into my eyes, hero,” Lilith whispered. “Look into the body of the priest you once trusted, now inhabited by the most lewd orc soul. Every orgasm you have will become nourishment for our power.”

Melu bit his earlobe: "Remember this feeling...remember the state in which you came...every time you see my face in the future, you will remember today, remember how you lost control inside your 'Melu sister' body."

They took turns, extracting not only his semen, but also his last vestiges of dignity and will. Raine's consciousness swirled between endless pleasure and shame; he heard a beast-like growl from his throat, feeling his body completely betray his will. At one point, he even began to actively yield, to actively demand—the effects of the ****, the control of the holy light, and the self-destructive despair that followed utter defeat combined to destroy his last line of defense.

After an unknown amount of time, everything finally came to a stop.

Raine collapsed onto the mattress, staring blankly at the ceiling. His body was still twitching slightly, semen and sweat mingling and leaving sticky marks on his skin. But his consciousness was numb, like an empty shell.

Melu got off him, casually dried herself, and began to dress. Her movements were practiced and natural, completely unlike the tearful girl from just moments before. Lilith closed the holy book, her smile still pure, as if nothing had happened. Cecilia put away her harp and yawned.

“Almost there.” Eleanor’s voice came from the shadows outside the door. The female knight captain slowly entered the room, her gaze sweeping over Renn as if assessing an object. “His will has completely collapsed, and his self-awareness has utterly crumbled. Now all that’s needed is to implant the final command, and he will become the perfect puppet.”

She walked up to Ryan, knelt down, and looked directly into his empty eyes.

“Listen carefully, hero.” Her voice was cold and clear. “You are Rein, the captain of the hero’s party. You and your teammates—Melu, Cecilia, and Lilith—have just escaped from the orcs’ fortress. You fought a fierce battle, lost many comrades, but finally managed to escape. Now, you must lead your party to the royal city and report to the king on the orcs’ plot and the intelligence you have gathered.”

Raine's lips moved, uttering a mechanical voice: "...I am Raine...I'm taking the squad...to the royal city..."

“Very good.” Eleanor nodded in satisfaction. “Remember, you did this to protect your teammates. You love them, cherish them, and are willing to give everything for them. This feeling is real, and it is the only motivation for your actions.”

"I love them... I cherish them... I'm willing to give anything for them..."

"Then, let's set off."

Three hours later, a small group left through the fortress's secret exit.

Renn walked at the front, his equipment restored—his armor gleaming, his sword sheath swaying at his waist. But his eyes remained vacant, his steps mechanical yet precise. Behind him followed three women: the petite mage Meru, skipping along, occasionally glancing back at Renn; the languid bard Cecilia, humming a tuneless melody; and the gentle priestess Lilith, holding a holy book as if in silent prayer.

On the surface, this is a standard adventurer party. The hero, leading his teammates, has reunited after overcoming numerous hardships and is on their way back to the human kingdom. Sunlight shines on them, birds sing and flowers bloom; everything seems so normal, so ordinary.

However, if you look closely, you'll notice some inconsistencies:

There was a beastly lightness in Melu's bouncy steps. Cecilia's piano music concealed barely perceptible, sharp notes. The cover of Lilith's holy book, reflecting sunlight, did not radiate golden holy light, but rather an eerie dark red.

And Raine—the brave Raine—his gaze remained fixed straight ahead, never glancing at his teammates. His face was expressionless, like a walking statue.

The group gradually disappeared into the depths of the forest.

Behind them, atop the fortress's watchtower, Eleanor watched them depart. A cold smile played on her lips.

“Go, hero. Go to the capital, go to your king, go to embrace your people,” she murmured to herself. “Then, open that door for us.”

The wind blew from the forest, carrying the warmth of early spring, but also a faint, almost imperceptible smell of blood.