We make plans and think about the problem
— And what do you make of what we have just heard?
— This world will not see any good until we discover this creature! Alfonso responded to me gravely, his demeanor far from the jovial and humorous uncle I was accustomed to seeing. In that moment, he embodied every aspect of the stereotypical demonologist and dark sorcerer that the townsfolk expected. His aura radiated bursts of energy, emanating the quintessential essence of hunting fervor, wrathful anger, and the promise of infernal torment for their quarry, leaving him utterly serious. I would not speak of the darkness that enveloped him, the gleaming red and gold of his eyes, or the oppressive aura of yaki that surrounded him.
As for what transpires, and what it all means, I shall commence with the beginning.
After I paid a visit to Patriarch Tikhon of Russia at the wedding, I apprised him of my choice of a candidate for the throne of Russia. Then, as I shared my plans with him and contemplated the magnitude of the future repercussions that would undoubtedly arise from my aspirations to envision the church in my vision, my mood began to sour.
Naturally, following my impressive appearance at the wedding, there were neither disputes nor objections from the leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church.. Thus, I left them in a state of mild disquietude, leaving the two prelates of the respective churches to resolve and forestall at an early juncture the issues and impediments that would inevitably arise in the future. They were also tasked with contemplating their joint course of action in the face of a looming rupture in Christian moral standards, heralded by the permissibility and legalization of polygamy. This development would undoubtedly generate significant repercussions across the globe, and for some reason, it seems to me that it will constitute the least of their concerns.
The task before these two leaders will be to reunite the scattered flock of Christ-believers. My journey on this eventful day took me to my sister's residence in Vienna, where I sought to employ Alfonso's expertise in locating the source of this chaos, which, without my intervention, could escalate into a catastrophic event.
The moment I mentioned the purpose of my visit, my thoughts immediately turned to summoning the Scorpio Man. I sought to pose a question: who was this individual who had entered the game, perplexing me with their mastery of magic and mentalism? I, who considered myself a proficient expert in these fields, felt as if I were a novice. This individual, I believed, was a true master.
We, along with a companion, engaged in this endeavor. The response from the summoned entity left us deeply disturbed and perplexed. The implications were severe, compelling us to focus even more intently on this mysterious player and dedicate all our efforts to discovering their identity.
What we heard from this demon was alarming: "He is an ancient evil, yet he is currently weak. To regain his lost power, he requires numerous sacrifices, summoning his brethren into our realm. His demonic horde will not allow the inhabitants of Earth a moment's respite."
He could offer us no further response, for the identity, provenance, and whereabouts of the object of our inquiry appeared to be shrouded in an impenetrable veil of secrecy, even to what we had presumed to be an all-knowing daemon. It seemed that the Scorpion Man feared the being we sought even more than he feared his own mate, and this realization served only to heighten Alphonse's and my own apprehension.
As my brother-in-law once confided in me, the existence and presence of the ritual for summoning the Scorpion Man in his library contributed to shaping who he became and what he achieved by the time I met him.
The opportunity to summon this demonic entity once a year enabled Alfonso to avert numerous errors that could have cost him his life, and with it, his very soul. It also allowed him to obtain the information necessary for his professional development and ascend to the pinnacle of demonology in Europe.
Thus, as he delved into the Jewish demonic tradition and studied Solomon's treatises on rulers, princes, and other noble figures of Hell, Alfonso summoned the Scorpion Man annually. Without any trepidation or fear, he conversed with this entity, gaining intimate knowledge of these demons without any sense of reverence.
Think Bael? Or Lucifer? Ha! Here's a female for you. That's right, she's in the flesh.! And so, today, the unfortunate individual was quivering like a leaf in the breeze, anticipating the moment when he would have to flee from his own mate, fearful of his own inquisitive nature, which might attract the attention of the entity we sought. This is a truly revealing moment, suggesting a grave threat emanating from a demon, one that has managed to intimidate even the Scorpio Man more than his intended partner!
How, then, can we locate it if even a Scorpio, a being literally woven into the fabric of the multiverse's information field, proves powerless against the potential of this hidden demon?
I murmured despondently, seeking avenues, methods, and other possibilities for finding the creature. "It is regrettable that you did not retain or preserve even a minuscule sample of this demon's essence. Then we could have employed it to conduct a search ritual."
Alfonso uttered a dismayed murmur and sank into contemplation, seeking a means to structure the search and mitigate the challenge posed by the pursuit of a demon of an unidentified species. A notion occurred to me regarding how to expedite the quest for traces of this enigmatic sorcerer of the mind.
Despite my inability to maintain even a sliver of energy within the mental-energy construct that served as the Emperor Meiji's control mechanism, it appeared to be striving to elude my grasp and return to its origin, rejected by the very essence of the realm in which it had found itself. Nonetheless, I retained a distinct recollection of its composition and essence.
The idea that I conceived was to replicate, as accurately as possible using my own abilities, the spectral range emitted by the demonic energy, and to create artifacts that would respond to similar emanations. Having crafted a few hundred thousand of these artifacts, I distributed them to all of my knights, as well as to the Order of the Creator, the Inquisition, and Orthodox law enforcement agencies, ensuring that they were always equipped with them.
Through their activities, these individuals are the first to respond to incidents, particularly those associated with paranormal occurrences. If a demon of interest becomes involved and utilizes its powers, the artifact will immediately react, alerting me and my clones within the domain. Upon receiving this alert, a group of thousands of archmages, in the form of my clones, will swiftly converge on the scene.
Did I propose a remarkable idea? I shared it with Alfonso, seeking his perspective.
«Excellent, an excellent idea indeed; do not forget to include me in the list of recipients of the signal when a trace is located. I apologise, but I am certain that my expertise and knowledge of demonic magic will surpass yours, Svyatozar. My arrival at the site of events will undoubtedly be among the first, allowing us to expedite the search should the creature be elusive and we require fresh leads.»
There was a kernel of truth in his statement. However, my study of demonology was primarily focused on combat aspects, rather than rituals, artefacts, or, as may soon become necessary, methods of detection and tracking.
— Yes, it is simple. Well, of course, it would be far less complicated if you were part of the Order of the Dragon. After all, the sudden appearance of a demonologist of such power, one who has emerged from nowhere and is not affiliated with any of the ecclesiastical branches, can cause significant concern among most of the higher ecclesiastical ranks. My word alone is sufficient to ensure that you are not harassed and there are no assaults on you, but your reception will not be cordial. And if the investigation drags on, and you are required to visit locations related to the entity we are investigating more than once, you will frequently encounter members of the clergy.
— What is the issue? Are you not still the leader of this order? Take me in and do it! Or have things changed in the interim, and I am unaware of something?
«Are you not concerned about the need to swear a feudal oath to me?» Moreover, all knights of my order swear oaths not just for themselves but for their entire lineage.
"And so, what of it? We are brethren. You cannot harm me in any manner, and the fact that my offspring and I will be subjected to servitude to the gods and the lore of the magical realm, they will only be grateful for it!"
Indeed, in essence, this is true. I would not be capable of harming my friend and his progeny in any way; the vows of brotherhood will serve as a far more dependable safeguard not only against any encroachment upon their liberty and honour, but also against their descendants, given the reciprocal obligations we shall assume towards one another once he pays homage and places himself under my protection on behalf of himself and his family.
"Splendid! Then, today, we shall conduct the necessary rites."
Thus, Alfonso has now become my vassal, having been appointed by me to lead the branch of demonologists within the Order of the Dragon, becoming the second non-sorcerer to hold this position within the order.
********
I observed that everyone was present. Let us commence, then, I said, casting my gaze across the table that housed the entirety of the order's leadership, including Alfonso.
"Jaromir," I began, "I am pleased to inform you that you now have the opportunity to exact vengeance upon your enemies without compromising the order's standing. In response to your unvoiced question, I can assure you that we shall not engage in military conflict with magical Russia. To achieve your retribution, you merely need to ascend to the grand-ducal throne and assume the role of true ruler over the Russian lands."
"If this occurs and I assume the grand ducal position, there is no guarantee that I will succeed in my vengeance."
Jaromir exhaled with a nervous tremor, his fists clenched, his jaw muscles twitching, and his eyes narrowing in a menacing manner. The look in his eyes betrayed a profound sense of nervous excitement and deep anger, which arose within him as he recalled his unfulfilled duty to his clan. However, this momentary lapse was swiftly overcome, and he regained his composure, promptly articulating his thoughts and stance.
"As soon as I assume the role of head of state in Russia, I shall no longer be primarily a leader of my own kind, but rather the Grand Duke of Rus. My primary focus will shift from the interests of my clan to those of the nation. And if they — the Rhoda —" he appeared to be about to say something else, perhaps adding his own personal sentiment, but ultimately refrained — "offer me a 'worthy' compensation for my transgression, I, as Grand Duke, must consider the value of their reparations to the nation, and if it is deemed beneficial, I must accept it and 'forgive' them."
"Hmm… it is certainly commendable that you are already thinking about the head of state, in contrast to a youngster with an ardent gaze who has feelings ahead of everything else. However, do not worry that they will be able to get away with it. Since this is my command, and a command, as I perceive, does not bring you much joy, I shall personally ensure that all the perpetrators and accomplices of the slaughter of your family are apprehended and presented before your court.
Furthermore, there is another matter: you must take three wives, so that your ascent to the "imperial" throne will be as smooth as possible."
It was fascinating to observe how the mask of a composed and ruthless warrior crumbled on Yarik's face, revealing embarrassment, astonishment, indignation, and anticipation. "What is he doing?! No, this cannot be true! Can it be?" I peered into his mind, only briefly dipping into its depths, then verified my suspicion, utterly dismayed to find that I had been correct.
The man in question is a centenarian, having reached the age of one hundred and two. He remains a virgin, having spent all this time in pursuit of sublimation. Unlike me, who developed an unwavering mental discipline and fortitude from the age of fourteen onwards, suppressing all urges to release tension through rigorous training, he has not achieved such a level of control. It is only today that I have learned that, within the Citadel, Witold remains his sole and unconquerable rival on the battlefield.
It is clear that, as archmages employ their spiritual and supernatural abilities to augment their physical prowess, they become virtually impervious to the might of a master like Jaromir, whose strength remains formidable. Nonetheless, when it comes to swordsmanship, Jaromir is second only to Wold in skill. However, compared to most other witchers, Jaromir still retains a youthful vigor.
As soon as this information was assimilated by me, a portion of my cognitive processes began to orchestrate a diagnostic procedure designed to monitor the inner turmoil of the prospective bride and groom as they embarked on the final phase of their wedding ceremony. They were about to commence their joint cultivation. It was imperative that I transform Yarik's daughter-in-laws into witchers, revealing their latent magical abilities, for Meiji's daughters were mere squibs.
Nikolai, on the other hand, was a remarkably feeble sorceress, akin to a Hogwarts first-year, incapable of performing anything beyond basic household charms and elementary potions.
Indeed, innate talent and a penchant for research are diagnostic traits!
To alleviate the tension, I decided to engage in a bit of trolling, temporarily abandoning my role as a vivisectionist and scientific observer.
The three young ladies are most respectable, each a princess in her own right. The elder twin girls, Hiroko and Fusako, were the daughters of the recently departed Emperor Meiji, who reigned over Japan two days past. Their age is sixteen. And Maria Nikolaevna is the sole surviving daughter of the late monarch of the Russian Empire.
These three young women are not only highly esteemed, but also possess a gentle disposition. What is particularly noteworthy is that they remain untouched and chaste.
And I would like to state that, regardless of one's opinion on the past, in terms of licentiousness, I cannot say that much has altered. Well, at the very least, high society and the aristocracy can also provide a head start in various aspects of intimate life for modern society, from which I have emerged reborn into this world. I make this declaration with the knowledge that there is not a crowned house in Europe that does not have my spies present, and I have witnessed enough of how young princesses conduct themselves. And not just them, for all monarchical houses and the upper echelons of aristocracy are not ones to deny themselves anything, particularly in matters of passion.
"Do not be so agitated, Yarik. The term 'maiden' did not appear on our order's second sword as soon as we touched upon the subject of marriage.
Witold seized the opportunity to provoke his apprentice's emotions. He shared with me once that Yarik is so focused on his goal of seeking revenge for the murder of his family that he fails to notice the vibrant life that surrounds him. When he is not on a quest, he engages in training or spends time in classrooms, attending lectures given by my clones and practicing new magical techniques with them in the training grounds. This is a rare occasion when he can express his emotions.
"Well, Yarik is finally getting married. The girls have been buzzing in my ears about it, which is my fault. I should have introduced them to him. What's the point of introducing them if he's not interested in anything beyond the sword and magic?"
And this is Lubava, daughter of Witold and Agnieszka, now also a member of the Order's council and head of the weaving workshops. She has decided to speak about the impending wedding of Yarik.
This young woman has an extraordinary talent for creating intricate patterns from any available material, which, even without any magical content, serves as the foundation for spells. The fabric or other crafts created under Lubava's guidance can be used to imbue mana into a spell, transforming an otherwise unsuitable material and imprinting the desired image.
Her work and skills have been greatly appreciated by our experts in covert operations, intelligence gathering, and espionage.. And, in essence, to possess an utterly non-magical trifle in the guise of a scarf, an embellishment on clothing, or a piece of jewellery, which might suddenly, at an opportune moment, unexpectedly transform into an artefact capable of instantaneously generating a magical manifestation inherent in its very fabric, is of great value.
Well, I have brought you the news. The wedding will take place in a month's time, during which the head of the Russian Orthodox Church will need to prepare the ground for your public appearance. However, the descendant of the Rurik dynasty, who has emerged from nowhere and claims a lineage superior to that of the Romanovs, will raise many questions. Where did you find this beautiful young man? This magical land will not raise any questions, but it will certainly object.
Therefore, three hundred members of the Order are being sent with you as your guard, of which one hundred should attain the rank of Master, and a dozen should reach the level of Archmage within the next fifty years.. As far as my knowledge extends, there are currently only three Archmages within the borders of magical Russia, and they have all long since retired from active participation in business and public affairs, having fully devoted themselves to the pursuit of magic and secluded themselves in their sanctuaries, where they have remained hidden for over a century. The last time any of them appeared was during the time of Flamel, when they merely observed the inquisition's actions against him before returning to their solitude.
Nonetheless, until you, Yarik, attain this level of power and become an Archmage yourself, it is imperative that you always have two brothers in arms from our order by your side. Your importance as a figure will undoubtedly grow, and while I may be indulging in paranoia, I feel more secure knowing that the most powerful magicians of our order remain in your vicinity.
Wold, I turn to you, my deputy in the order, to ensure that the schedule of duties is structured in such a way that two of our esteemed Archmages remain with Yarik at all times, providing additional protection beyond the guard.. I am well aware that there are few of us. Each of us is occupied with important affairs and holds a significant position. Nevertheless, until Yarik gains the necessary strength, I cannot be certain that he can defend himself against any threat, even a divine one. He must be protected like the apple of one's eye!
I see, my lord. We understand the potential this presents for our brotherhood, the prestige that would come with Yarik ascending the Russian throne. Let us do our best. It would be advantageous for him to have a few archmages nearby, as he will undoubtedly seize the opportunity. The poor souls will not be able to escape training sparring with him.
With these words, he glanced at Jaromir with a chuckle and attempted to give him a playful nudge.
"Adair, I have a personal task for you as well. I am entrusting you with materials of celestial origin, and your task is to craft three hundred sets of armor from them for the future protectors of Jaromir's person. It is evident that you will not have sufficient time to complete all of the armor sets before the coronation in the coming month, but at the very least, you must produce fifty."
It was clear that he had some objections to my proposal, even for such a modest number of armor sets, fifty copies each. However, I let him know through my eyes that we would discuss the details later, and I had a plan to help him despite the lack of time.
I still needed to provide Adair with a forge in my realm, and although none of the Witchers could betray me, and I did not know how to bypass the oaths they had sworn to me, paranoia would not let me rest. In my domain, I could accelerate time relative to Earth by a dozen times. Therefore, I intended to take this step with utmost caution.
During the period when reasonable beings were present in my world, I would ensure that my domain was protected and concealed with as many protective charms as possible, and rituals would be performed to maintain maximum security.. And while such measures may significantly diminish the supply of energy destined for the expansion of my realm, secrecy remains of the utmost importance and priority at this juncture.
«Very well, my lord», was the sole response from my chief blacksmith.
Oh, yes, there is one more thing, Olaf. As Witold's deputy and the voice of our public relations, you happen to act as our parliamentary representative when we conclude agreements with guilds, royal houses, and states, as well as with the church, the Order of the Creator, and other organizations that are aware of our existence or rather of the nature of our activities.
In this capacity, we are listed in all the appropriate registers of the Vatican as an active Christian knightly order, and we are publicly available. Our order is no secret; only a small number of people are aware of its true nature. You will be required to come to Moscow next week as part of a delegation of esteemed knights of the order. Venenzo and I have agreed with Patriarch Tikhon that we should be recognized as legitimate within the Russian Empire.
"Very well, my lord. In that case, we must commence the process of establishing headquarters and bases within the territories of the Russian Empire. This entails establishing infrastructure and establishing connections. Additionally, it will be necessary to form groups of Witchers who will be permanently stationed in these areas.
He spoke more to himself than to me, voicing his thoughts aloud and assuming that I would not object to them. He accepted them as approved tasks without any further discussion.
I would not say that the situation with paranormal phenomena and malevolent spirits is either worse or better in this region compared to Europe. It is simply different. This fact may not come as a surprise to many of you. However, there, fairy folk and supernatural beings coexist peacefully alongside ordinary people. They do not cause harm or trouble if they are treated with courtesy. Therefore, a special approach is required, and it is essential to send our most reasonable and tolerant members to serve there.
I have full confidence in the competence of our organization and its members. However, we have primarily been engaged in the destruction of magical creatures over the past few centuries. Why might many knights have developed a conditioned response to a preemptive attack against anything that does not conform to their understanding of normality? Take this into consideration, Olaf, as you form the future cells of our organization in Russia.
"And what of the mystical enclave that is Russia? Might I inquire as to your thoughts on their sorcerers, my lord?"
Thus spake Agnieszka, as head of the Order's procurement and supply division, having decided to pique my curiosity with a query. Indeed, Russia represents a vast and intriguing market for our Order, both in terms of selling our wares and procuring items of interest to us. Thus far, our interactions with them have been limited to merchants and trade guilds, precluding direct contact and access to this market.
Once Jaromir takes up the mantle of Grand Duke, the doors of opportunity for our fraternity in Russia will swing wide, both in the mundane realm and the enchanted one. The rest is up to your skills and abilities. So ponder carefully and decide what precisely we will offer at the Russian fairs, and what we aspire to acquire for ourselves or to resell in Europe. Your eyes will be opened to astonishing prices, revealing the exorbitant margins of the trading guilds. Even the most obscure commodities and ingredients from across the sea come to us at a premium.
Incidentally, Iolanthe, I would also recommend that you attend the annual Novgorod Fair prior to Yule. During this time, goods from the Urals and Koshchey's realm are showcased. The herbs found on the other side of the Kalinov Bridge will prove particularly beneficial to you. However, prior to this, delve deeply into the reference texts and compilations of recipes written by your forebears on the creation of elixirs and concoctions. Within these texts, you will discover recipes that can significantly enhance your spiritual evolution.
Upon assuming the role of a feudal lord over the Peverell lineage and compelling Iolanta to transcribe her ancestral repository into my artifact, I promptly embarked on a meticulous analysis of the contents as soon as I gained access. This allowed me to gain a comprehensive understanding of the formulas that would prove invaluable to her.
Given her lack of talent in the realm of elixirs and potions, Iolanta had largely disregarded the unique concoctions within her library during her studies of her lineage. As the heir to Slytherin — a lineage I share — I felt compelled to delve into this realm of knowledge, having been born with a natural curiosity. It was my duty, as suzerain, to impart this knowledge to my vassal, empowering both her and her descendants.
"Very well, then. We shall plan a family holiday with Marcus, and take our children to the festive events in Novgorod."
Indeed… And after such words, could it be that we might find ourselves transported to Hogwarts, with its departure from the magical traditions? For even my vassal — who hails from the most obscure deity of the Slavic pantheon — still employs Christian vocabulary and terminology in her daily speech, rather than the familiar names of Salazar and Rowena that I recall from memory. Yet she is over two centuries old, having lived during a time when magicians still walked the earth, and some of them may have personally known the founders of Hogwarts — though only a handful remained throughout Europe at the time.
"It would be an interesting experience to visit the Novgorod market. If they have goods from Ural, there might be ringing steel, perhaps even azure iron, which would be most useful in our forge."
Speaking of azure iron, I have discovered the nature of this extraordinary metal and the process of its creation through experimentation with my crucible. The key ingredient is the addition of ash derived from the incinerated remains of a divine serpent, which must be incorporated into the molten red-hot iron.
The process required a significant amount of time and effort, as my crucible proved resistant to ignition. Only through the combined efforts of my personal fire and the collective power of the egregor could I achieve the desired result. The process took more than a day to complete.
In essence, the secret lies in the addition of the ash from the burnt skins of Valisa to the molten iron, resulting in the creation of azure iron.
Now, if need be, then by all means! It would be fitting for a grand company to make an appearance this year, as it were, to showcase themselves in all their splendor and to observe the local magi. Thus, my command to you is as follows: during the Yuletide, the entire leadership of the Order shall proclaim holidays, during which you are to attend fairs and celebrations held in Russia, particularly in Novgorod but also in other cities. And certainly, some of you shall defend the Christmas service at the Moscow Church of Saint George the Victorious, the Old Archer. Is everyone clear?
Everyone was clear, and no one appeared to be dismayed by my command. With that, I concluded our meeting, though before doing so, I wished to address the main topic for which I had convened everyone today.
Now, let us turn to the crux of the matter, which is why I have gathered you here today. The near-imminent conflict between the Russian Empire and Japan was orchestrated by a powerful demon. Our belief, shared with Alfonso, is that his goal was to engage not only the armies of the two nations but also the church in a conflict against the magical conclave of Japan. This would have resulted in astronomical casualties on both sides, for Japan, as I have discovered, is a vast cauldron of evil that has accumulated demonic offspring throughout the history of civilisation on these islands.
There are approximately one hundred magical clans in Japan, which, individually, may not appear dangerous in terms of the sheer strength of their members. However, they possess millions of enslaved or sealed ayakashi demons at their disposal. If they were to unite against a common foe, their demonic horde could pose a significant threat to humanity.. Thus, one of the primary objectives of our chivalric fraternity is to locate the enigmatic demon that has instigated this chaos.
Following a brief discussion on this matter, we departed. Alfonso proceeded to Vienna, as he remained the permanent leader of the numerological guild, with pressing matters at hand, such as evaluating a promising young individual for the position of master. The witchers, on the other hand, remained in the citadel where the meeting had taken place, while I proceeded to my own domain.
Soon, my beloved ones returned home, having departed for their abbey a sennight ago, where Maria was to bestow the title upon the abbess of the monastery. With this task, managing the enchanted spring upon which it stood required some effort on the part of my betrothed.
She and I had both believed that once she had lost her purity and become my lawful spouse, the source of the monastic magic would naturally relinquish its power, for the altar erected upon it and serving as a sort of familial stone carried with it the stipulation that only an untainted one of at least the fifth degree of giftedness could serve as its head.
These were the terms meticulously crafted into the altar by the initial Roman Catholic sorcerers who subdued the local spring following their annihilation of the magical lineage that had previously inhabited these regions in the Swiss Alps.. Indeed, we had not anticipated that the altar might deem the virgin's association with me acceptable, as it is understood that in the realm of the magical source, she remains untainted, for her love for her deity is not viewed as a sinful union. Such are the contradictions inherent in this system!
Thus, Maria was compelled to engage in fasting and meditation in order to transfer the control of the source while preserving her own integrity, entrusting the administrative responsibilities to her deputy.
During this time when my daughters were not present at home, I chose to dedicate myself to the creation of artifacts designed to aid me in my pursuit of the entity responsible for the destruction of countless Russian souls.
To craft such an extraordinary artifact for my quest, it was essential to select the appropriate materials and components, as almost everything within this world and beyond is now accessible to me thanks to Alfonso's connections with the shadowy realms.
And so, I have chosen to use as my foundation and primary material the chitin of Lolth's offspring that I myself have slain. I extracted it from the region of its vast abdomen, where the glands that govern the production of its webbing were situated.
The material I obtained was ideal for my purposes. Firstly, it embodies the essence of a web, with which they entrap their prey and transmit a signal that perfectly suits my needs. Secondly, Lolth's nature as a demonic entity lends itself perfectly to serving as a repository for a mock signature of the specific demon I seek, laying the groundwork for the future artifact to replicate the desired demonic aura. This will facilitate my attempt to mimic the demon, allowing my creation to emulate the energy I require. Thirdly, working with this material makes the manipulation of the spider's chitin surprisingly straightforward, eliminating the need to contend with any divine resistance. This is due to my personal involvement in killing the spider, which allowed me to partially absorb its powers. The essence of the dark god I consumed, imbued with demonic energy, has become an integral part of my being, granting me the abilities necessary to achieve my goals.
The work was ongoing, and I, in a state akin to a trance, summoned a thousand of my duplicates to assist me, merging our mental faculties into a unified network. I distributed a personal, individual flow of my consciousness to each of my clones. Having assumed the available mental abilities of my consciousness replicas, like robots on an as-yet-uninvented conveyor belt, they commenced the production of artifacts.
I fully immersed myself in this process. As the number of artifacts neared a million, I became aware of a peculiar reaction from my primary body and diverted a small percentage of my focus. I began investigating what had disrupted me, and my curiosity was rewarded. It turned out to be my wives' hands, with Koneka massaging my neck and shoulders and Maria's delicate fingers already reaching under my shirt, heading towards my groin.
When I became aware of the beauty of my predicament, I reflected that I had surpassed my initial objective in the production of artistic artifacts and, having regained full control of my mental faculties in the form of my consciousness streams, I shifted my focus to the ladies.
"How I have missed you," I said, emerging from my trance and addressing my beauties. My words were instantly silenced by the passionate and tender lips of Koneka, as Maria, already kneeling before me, joyfully and eagerly accepted my still-recovering penis into her eager throat, swallowing it whole, down to the root! Uhh...
Breaking our kiss, I found myself in this position, with my member in Maria's mouth and my fingers in Koneka's anus, which I had managed to slip into during our embrace. Guiding my hand beneath the horse's tail, I led us both towards our bed, ready to embark on a night of debauchery.