"So my soul is literally the home for you guys?!" He questioned, his voice a mix of amusement and speechlessness at the situation. "It feels as if I am carrying a whole world within my own chest!"

"Indeed! Indeed!"

Clementine nodded, her lips curled into a playful smirk. Finding the situation more humorous than anything else.

"Your soul physique is really a fascinating one, for it to create such an odd absolute ability. You can frankly bring us no matter where you go. It’s like you are a necromancer or a beast tamer; they are also capable of storing their undead and tamed beasts inside their soul seas. The application is similar foundationally but also vastly different, I would say! It is the difference between a cage and a sanctuary."

"Well, I don’t plan on giving access to my soul to just anybody, so we’ll see!..."

Aezaleon waved his hands and instantly, two familiar faces appeared before him, making him smile. Obviously, he had absorbed their souls when he killed them, so until now they were simply floating in his soul sea unconsciously! Their spirits drifted like silent embers in a vast, dark cathedral. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

However, since he had already summoned them before him, he allowed them to regain their consciousness too. Which they immediately did, as both Aphryne and Auguszta had their eyes flutter open.

"Ah..!"

They wobbled onto the ground upon suddenly regaining their senses. "How do you two feel? If you two are feeling comfortable, then we can immediately form the oath," he voiced with a gentle tone.

"Ugh.. M-Master Ezodious!?!"

"We-we are alright, master! But where are we even?" Auguszta asked, her voice trembling slightly. Looking around and observing the serene meadows in quite a fascination. She perfectly remembered, prior to when she died and the perpetual darkness had consumed her, she was standing in a destroyed, barren land.

Now, finding herself in such an opposite environment, she was indeed surprised. It was a transition like waking from a nightmare into a dream.

"You’re inside Aezaleon’s soul sea, a place where your souls can maintain their consciousness despite being mortals because of the energy he is providing you. In simpler words, your bodies have already died, and what you are now is nothing but your souls. Good thing you had your soul cores awakened; otherwise, it would’ve been impossible for you to regain your consciousness even here."

"Oh!?" ...

Clementine gave a simple explanation, making the two blink in surprise again. To think they were actually inside Aezaleon’s soul. "It is a miracle that defies the very laws of the grave. In any case, are you two ready, or do you need some time before we can proceed towards forming the oath?"

"Thanks for the information, big sister Clementine~!" Aphryne smiled, her gaze brightening. Coming out of her daze immediately. "And indeed, we are ready to form the oath. We can begin as soon as master wants."

Aezaleon opened his mouth, turning towards Clementine with an inquisitive gaze.

"What!?"

"Big sister, really!? It hasn’t been even an hour!"

"So what! The hierarchy is essential. I don’t care how many women you want, but I’m the first woman and I don’t want to kill my little sisters just because they were too arrogant and crossed the line, so discipline is important from the start. Just like how a ship without a captain is destined to sink in the first storm, it is similar here."

Aezaleon shook his head. He had a feeling that this wasn’t a subject he could argue on, so he simply chose to let Clementine do her thing. It’s not like she was harming Aphryne and Auguszta to speak with, so his intervention was unnecessary to begin with.

Furthermore, if they had already accepted her as their big sister, then that was more reason for him to mind his own business.

He approached Aphryne Norain Lyothoz Ezodious, coming to a stop before her! Observing her intently.

Even though she had gained a humanoid form on inheriting his blood and joining his family, yet she still retained some of her features as the Calamity: Galescourge Bearer. In spite of not being one anymore.

The most prominent one was the pair of antlers on her head. They were black-purple in color with pulsating red vessels visible all over. Her hair was like a silken curtain of violet mixed with crimson-black strands. Honestly, they were amazingly beautiful. Her eyes had completely taken the form of his eyes; they were crimson.

Deep crimson, just like his!

Her height was just a head shorter than him, standing at 1.9 meters tall. Her face was flawless, detailed. Like perfection itself, just like her body. Her humanoid form was well-defined and detailed from every angle. In every aspect. No mistakes; it was faultless. Her presence was like a finely crafted porcelain doll brought to life by forbidden magic.

Her muscles were toned and firm, exuding an allure, a feminine charm: sole. Her skin was smooth and pale like porcelain with a healthy blood tone.

Moreover, on her hands and thick thighs—there were also these visible veins of purple-red color. They glowed in a mesmerizing manner whenever she utilized her energy. Whenever she exhaled and inhaled, every breath made them pulse.

At least that is how he imagined them.

In reality, the blood veins did not give her an ugly or eerie appearance; rather, they only increased the magnitude of the beauty she was by multiple folds.

Granting her an arcane charm, a calamitous allure that only made her even more desirable in Aezaleon’s eyes. To say that Aphryne had easily won him over just by her humble appearance would not be an overstatement at all. She was like a masterpiece painted in the colors of a sunset.

Aezaleon grumbled when he felt the glare from behind him.

’I really should do something to get my desires under control soon. Aphryne doesn’t even have a physical body currently, and yet here I am going into heat on seeing her naked up close. I don’t know how I managed to control myself previously!’

However, then he had a thought; previously, because of circumstances, the oath with Clementine was established forcefully and in desperation. It was a forceful oath, but now there were no such circumstances; therefore, no need to continue with this binding method.

In this mutual oath, Aezaleon obviously couldn’t grab Aphryne’s neck to initiate the start of the connection.

That’s where the thought played its part. With an abrupt movement, Aezaleon performed unforeseen actions—at least to the subject it was so, while Clementine had already come to know of it through their soul connection, but did not think much of it.

Aezaleon took Aphryne in his arms. Lifted her chin and sealed her pink innocent lips with his. Simultaneously, also activating his sub-ability effect—[Eternal Oath Genesis].

This action gave form to a translucent energy with black-white strands that flowed out of his metaphysical body seamlessly and encompassed the whole of Aphryne in its warmth. It was like a tide of power sweeping away everything in its path.

Where she could not even make heads or tails anymore, let alone understand what was happening to her at the moment.

In her gaze, only one man existed currently. The one she admired. The one who had defeated her despite being weaker than her. One who gave a meaningful form to her savage life. The one she had submitted herself to. Only he was in her crimson eyes, while everything else had gone blurry! The world dissolved around them like salt in a turbulent sea.

It was such a shock for her mind to get kissed by him so unexpectedly. Enough that it failed to process the event entirely.

It had gone into a state of stasis along with her body, which remained motionless in Aezaleon’s embrace. Her thoughts were like birds frozen mid-flight.

Seconds passed; Aezaleon opened her mouth and had his very first lip-to-lip experience with Aphryne. Where she did not resist one bit, letting him do whatever he wanted with her, or more like she wasn’t in a state to resist him at all.

But even if she was, she most probably would never even think of doing so. Considering, her heart was literally squirming in an unimaginable happiness and joy right now. Her spirit was soaring through the clouds.