He suffered a lot. Took a lot of damage. Endured the pain and achieved what he wanted. He became stronger than his previous self. Even though Aezaleon was left utterly frozen, bloodied, and broken physically, he still couldn’t help but smile.

"This was a long day, and to think I even managed to create a sub-effect for my ability in such a short time," he voiced with a weary grin.

"In but a mere day," he repeated, his tone full of tired satisfaction. "Not to mention, my proficiency in Lesser Frost had also reached Minor Level. I evolved one of my inferior concepts into a superior one. Learned two more inferior and one superior concept and had made myself physically stronger too."

Lying on the bloodied ground, Aezaleon recounted his achievements. To no one but himself. He was genuinely satisfied with today’s gains.

Now, since the night would be upon them soon, he decided to call back his girls who had also gone on their own hunting; currently, only Clementine was with him here.

The second Aezaleon contacted them, both Aphryne and Auguszta appeared before him through his sub-ability effect—[Eternal Convergence Corridor]—of his fourth ability effect.

Looking at his sorry, battered figure, they couldn’t help but be struck by immediate surprise.

"Big sister Clementine, what happened here?!" Aphryne questioned, her voice tight with concern. She frowned deeply, surveying their current devastated surroundings where the earth was frozen all over, scarred and broken.

Her constricted pupils focused intently on the dead Calamity: Cryonox Glacioryx Ursidon, lying like a fallen mountain of ice.

"A battle is what occurred here," Clementine responded in a composed manner, her tone as steady as a still lake. She did not seem to mind the demanding, frantic edge in her little sister’s voice.

Auguszta moved swiftly towards Aezaleon, helping him get back onto his feet again with gentle but firm hands. "Was the calamity really that formidable for him to become wounded to this state? I can practically see his ribs. Just what was he doing, big sister?"

Auguszta commented in a displeased tone, her gaze shifting toward the dead bear. "But the creature does not appear that strong..." She spoke, refocusing her attention on Aezaleon once more. "You should have easily been able to slay it just with mine or Aphryne’s natural elements. With our abilities, it would’ve been a piece of cake; just what were you doing to get injured this much?"

Auguszta echoed in an angered tone, her full attention focused on the sorry, bloodied figure of her husband. Aezaleon smiled wryly, the expression appearing pained on his bruised face. His body was like a shattered porcelain vase held together by nothing but stubborn will.

"I didn’t use them on purpose. I don’t want to truly rely on your abilities or elements," he explained in the best words he could muster.

"But why?" Aphryne raised her voice, her confusion evident.

"Because I want to become stronger," Aezaleon responded in an instant, his voice ringing with an obvious, unwavering truth. His gaze remained firm despite his exhaustion. "Genuinely stronger. I don’t want a hollow strength. You are a part of my power, but what about me? That is what I’m working towards."

Both the girls looked at him with stunned eyes, lost for words. Now, even they didn’t have a retort to this resolute response. In the end, they just exhaled, their worry softening into a reluctant respect.

"Now that that’s done, why don’t you tell me, little sisters, for what reason have you brought the carapaces of these many dead calamities here with you?" Clementine said from the side. Her tone was curious as she observed the mountain of dead bodies belonging to many different calamities.

"You’re asking the obvious, big sister," Aphryne replied, rolling her eyes. "In fact, do you even need to ask? They are for me to absorb, so that I can learn more concepts and increase the proficiency of my current ones."

"Ooh, is that so?" Clementine smiled, her lips curling in a predatory arc. "And here I thought you brought them for your husband. Such a selfish little wife."

"Say whatever you want, big sis, but they are for me," she shrugged, seemingly unbothered. "But if he asks me to give them to him, I won’t mind his request." She glanced towards her husband with a lingering hope.

Aezaleon shook his head with an amused smile. "No, I don’t need them. You can have them all; they are your hunts, after all." Subsequently, Aezaleon focused on Auguszta, who became a bit awkward under his stare. He felt her conflicting emotions and couldn’t help but find her adorable.

"So..." he began. Auguszta flinched, focusing on him the next moment. "What!?"

"These calamities..." he pointed to the side. "Are they for me or... are they not?" Auguszta glanced towards where he was pointing and immediately grumbled. It was her own massive pile of calamities. However, when she sensed his playful emotions, she quickly realized what he was doing.

"You..." She glared at him, her cheeks flushing. "Why are you teasing only me? Aphryne also said no to you, and these calamities are for me! I won’t give them to you even if you ask me!" She harrumphed, showing her displeasure clearly, though she did not mean her words truly.

Aezaleon chuckled, the sound light despite his state.

Soon, his face turned ugly as the sharp sting of pain returned. He had gotten used to this agonizing feeling in such a short time, but it was still not a sensation he would ever come to like. It still made him exceedingly uncomfortable.

Clementine exhaled softly. "Guess it cannot be helped..."

Aezaleon turned towards her. She was smiling, making him even more confused by her sudden shift in mood. "Let’s patch you up before anything else," she voiced, coming to a stop before him.

The two little sisters also watched the big sister with intense interest. Clementine moved toward him like a shadow gliding across the moonlight, silent and purposeful. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

She coiled her hands around his back. Aezaleon, though not understanding what she was trying to do, still accepted her embrace, encompassing her within his own arms.

’How is she going to heal me? Normally this shouldn’t even be needed,’ he wondered, observing her expression. It was lost, her eyes thoroughly focused on his exposed neck. She licked her lips hungrily. "How long has it been~?" Clementine licked his neck, such an action immediately causing his eyes to go wide in shock. Her hold strengthened, her hot breath sending shivers down his spine.

He trembled, subconsciously shifting his neck to give her more room.

"Since this morning..." Clementine tilted her head, glancing deep into his crimson eyes. They locked. "I have been craving to have a taste of your blood, husband~!" He gulped, his gaze shaking. Things were becoming too heated, too soon, and his poor heart couldn’t take the sudden tension.

Just what even happened to make her go into heat so suddenly, Aezaleon couldn’t comprehend at all. She was such a confusing, mercurial woman.

Just a few minutes ago she was so normal and appeared as usual, but now, all he could sense from her was her insatiable desire to devour him. Her thirst was like a parched desert finally scenting a hidden spring.