Realistically, if he were aiming to become the strongest and save the world, he would take her into the world of damnation. The only thing that made Julian hesitate would be losing an entire day just to change the game mode.
It also meant he couldn't keep fighting with his shade inside the dream world.
'Though technically, Sena would replace Umbra.'
"Take us to the world of dreams, Goddess Solaria."
[◊ The path you walk is selfish, but I wish you happiness ◊]
He understood Solaria could understand his intentions. Though to some who were reborn or transmigrated, the idea of becoming a hero was exciting and amazing.
The thing that mattered most to Julian was survival and the woman currently holding his hand.
'If Sena can survive, I will gladly be selfish.'
[◊ Do your best, Julian ◊]
She spoke in a gentle and kind voice, different from her usual style. It was almost like a mother talking to a child, gently guiding them even though they had taken a destructive path.
"Thanks."
Bzzzt~
The world returned to its regular motion as the button clicked, locking him into the world of dreams.
[Punishment Activated]
• Cannot summon shadows
• Cannot party with anyone but Sena
• Rare Item drop rate lowered by 20%
• Julian Pendragon's Death Penalty Increased to 24 Hours
The moment Julian returned, a horrible feeling ran through his body. It was like his arm suddenly vanished, and he lost connection. His sense of connection to Umbra faded, like a faint dream when you wake up too fast.
"I see, this is the feeling."
"What feeling, Julian?" Sena's soft voice sounded as the world began to transform, their bodies placed in the same spot he was before. The dark forest that burned, filled with darkness now beautiful and illuminated by the sunlight.
A barn that housed horses was no longer crumbling to pieces from the devastation, and the beautiful stone tower stood in the distance.
Julian turned back to see Sena wearing basic leather armour. Her breasts pushed the material to the limit, but underneath seemed to be a white cloth shirt to stop chafing. Then for pants, she wore a black pair with a mixture of cloth and leather padding.
"The soft and warm feeling of your hand."
"A-Ah, well, we should go and kill some monsters, or find a quest together. Hmmm?"
Suddenly, Sena's eyes looked up to the left, usually where the interface would post messages.
At least that was what Julian saw when he matched her gaze, the penalties he faced because of choosing this world of dreams.
"What's wrong, Sena?"
"Julian, it seems because we used the couple pod, I can't party with Maria or others."
'That's likely because of my penalty, but I would have to check later tonight.'
"So I get you all to myself?"
Julian didn't mind the limit. Instead, he tried to manage his time to allow Sena to play alone occasionally, which helped strengthen Maria and her friends.
Sena stared at him blankly, her cheeks slowly turning red. Then she stuttered and turned away.
"W-Why do you always have such strange and obscene thoughts."
"Hm?"
He didn't really understand where she came from, so he opened the world map and motioned ahead to see where they were and what would be best for today.
'Though I would rather not grind like we have no time or lives. I cannot be completely lazy.'
"Oh~ I can see your map, how interesting. I couldn't see Maria's, is this because we shared the pod together?"
"I think so, but how does it work, a strange thing."
Julian turned away from the map and looked at Sena, tall and with more muscles than her normal self. She seemed to have focused on her abdomen, arms, and thighs. When customising, you could choose certain aspects to improve within the limits of the percentage you chose.
"W-What are you looking at me so intently, Julian?"
"Oh, nothing. Tell me how this feels to you compared to normal VR." The next moment, after Julian muttered, his fingertips brushed against her abdomen; he could feel the warmth and slightly solid and springy texture of her muscles.
'It's an identical sensation compared to the real Sena.'
'Hnnng ♡♡ B-be careful, that's my stomach… it feels strange… ah ♡'
Kang Sena's voice seemed to be filtered.
Her speaking voice sounded a little different from her normal one.
It sounded modular and edited, maybe to hide her identity. Instead, it became more nasal and resounded directly into Julian's mind.
'Is this the privacy mentioned on the lover's capsule?'
Julian couldn't believe how strange it was.
He never expected an all-ages game made for teenagers would have this level of feature, such a lewd and naughty thing.
He couldn't help but feel something was wrong, whether with himself and Sena's VR pod or because of his unique situation.
Goddess Solaria, what are you thinking?
"Ahem, forgive me, your muscles were so comfortable I couldn't help but caress them."
"Hah? Then, if I said I want to caress yours, it will make things fair?"
"No way."
He noticed the strange look she gave his body after he rejected her request.
"Just a little?" A cute voice filled with deception.
Her face then transformed into a sinister expression, grinning at him as she rushed towards him with hungry eyes like a wolf.
To save himself, Julian heroically fled towards the forest.
"Stop, let's kill some monsters!"
"Julian Pendragon, you get back here right now!"
Sena shouted while rushing after him, her speed faster than his and forced Julian to use his crafty nature and dash behind the stable.
"Oi!"
He escaped, using the small boxes and breakable items as shields, reaching the forest before stopping and turning back to see Sena rushing towards him with the face of a huntress.
"Hmm? You really want to caress my chest, is it so attractive?" He made an expressive gesture as if mocking her.
Then he unequipped his shirt because he remembered about the Shadow Woven robe. But the delay in equipping a new set of armour caused the hunting cat to stop in her tracks. Her gaze now focused on his exposed body.
The bright sunshine filtered through the trees and highlighted his body.
A smooth chest, tight abdominals, strong deltoids, a perfect image of a young male. The most amazing thing in Julian's mind was the lack of scars and wounds.
'Wow! ♡♡'
It seemed Sena could not hold herself back.
Slowly raising her hand, she caressed the side of Julian's abdomen. His muscles twitched and contracted slightly from her cold touch, but that didn't stop her.
"So sex…." She muttered in a tone and voice that Julian had never heard before.
A vague memory surfaced in his mind. He sometimes heard Sena speaking this way when they practised or after he showered before going home.
'So she was always like this?'
The next moment, an elegant black robe with silver highlights wrapped around his body, loose, with a deep v-neck showing his pectorals and the top of his abdominal muscles peeked through.
"Is this still enough, princess?" Julian gave a slight bow, trying to be melodramatic.
"Tsk, stop being stupid. Let's go hunt some monsters."
Sena turned away, drawing her two-handed sword. It was a long, light, silver-shined western claymore.
She then stepped towards the forest, avoiding Julian's face with red cheeks.
A pair of eyes flickered, watching them silently.