I Reincarnated into a Single-celled Organism! - Chapter 205

I continued to run at full sprint as I carried Fate up the mountain. I was finally starting to gain some ground on the mercenaries following behind, but I didn’t know if that was because of the change in terrain or because they were getting exhausted. The higher we climbed, the thinner the air became. The atmosphere also seemed to shift, as if there was some unseen pressure pushing down on us, exhibiting an oppressive force. I was able to shake off this pressure with ease, but I couldn’t help but wonder if this was coming from the sage beast at the top.

“Fine! Kill yourselves!” A voice shouted from much lower down the mountain, nearly a distant echo.

It was the commander who had finally ordered his men to stop climbing. The threat of the sage beast must have overwhelmed his determination, or maybe he thought that if we climbed any higher, it would be possible to return down. I didn’t know or care. I was merely taking advantage of the sage beast. I suspected that one mortal and one evolved were little more than insects buzzing around a prestige sage beast. As long as I could avoid irritating it and being swatted, there would be no issue. The commander, who had much more mana, was another story.

Thus, our pursuit ended, but I continued to climb for a bit just to make sure that when we double back, we wouldn’t be ambushed. As I ascended, the terrain became more treacherous and harder to traverse. Sharp rocks jutted out of the ground, and the wind howled. My breath came out in cold bursts of mist. I kept Fate close to me to keep her warm, but she was growing increasingly pale, her skin clammy, and her breathing labored.

I was able to detect her life signs, thoughts, and they were starting to decline. We were exactly prepared for this journey, and she was still wearing the light travel clothing she had planned to go to sleep in the previous night. I looked around the mountain, spreading out my non-mana senses so I didn’t disturb the sage beast. I was naturally looking for shelter.

I discovered a cave shortly and immediately began heading for it. It was only a few minutes before we were in front of a dark opening on the rocky face of the mountain. As soon as I entered, the howling of the wind was cut down to a whimper. I could hear my footsteps echoing off the damp walls. I walked far enough into the cave that the pressure pushing down on us seemed to lighten, and then I removed my cloak and placed Fate on top of it.

Kneeling next to her, I lowered my head toward hers, listening for her breathing. Her eyes snapped open, and then closed again. She pursed her lips and raised her head toward me. It took me a moment to realize she was trying to kiss me. I pulled back, just a bit startled by her sudden action. When her lips didn’t touch mine, she opened them again, and they grew a bit more lucid before her cheeks turned pink.

“Spirit.” She whispered, her voice hoarse and breathy. “I… can’t hold back anymore. Please, touch me.”

I grimaced slightly. “I’m working on a cure at the moment. You need to be patient.”

She shook her head and panted. “This is agony. I feel my mind breaking. Please, just give me release.”

“Just an hour at most.”

“I won’t make it.” Fate’s eyes filled with tears. “You don’t understand what it feels like. The aphrodisiac… I’m freezing. I need you. I need your warmth.”

My jaw clenched as I looked away. “I’m under the effects of the aphrodisiac, too.”

Her eyes widened for a moment. “Really?”

To speed up the isolation of the chemical, I had to allow the aphrodisiac to infect my body. Only by understanding the effects fully would I be able to create a cure. It was a lot more potent than I had anticipated. Thankfully, my high stats also allowed me to resist its effects, although I could feel unpleasant that was. Fate was lying there, her cheeks pink, sweaty, not attempting to cover up her modesty, and she even pulled together all of her courage to ask. It wouldn’t be long before I lost control if I stayed any longer.

“Fate…” I spoke slowly. “I want to take advantage of you, but I won’t.”

Fate’s body trembled. “Why? I’m offering myself to you. How can you resist?”

“Good question.” I grimaced again. “Discipline?”

The truth was that I had spent my last time treating women like toys. The result was that my sister killed me. Although part of me said the two weren’t related, I still worried that if I acted the same way in this world, karma would cause me to suffer a similar fate. I was quite proud that I had managed to spend several months since evolving into a human and still hadn’t had sex. A lot of that was because I was still getting used to this body’s sensations, and worried that I couldn’t control my body enough, but at this point, those excuses were no longer valid.

Fate’s brow furrowed, and she shook her head. “Is it because of Abigail? Is it because you’re engaged?”

I let out a laugh that echoed through the cave. “Abigail and I aren’t romantically involved in the slightest. You should know more than most that our engagement is a farce.”

Fate only looked at me harder. “Is it Mara then? You have feelings for her, right?”

My expression darkened, and I glanced away. “Mara is like a little sister to me.”

Fate leaned closer, her hand reaching out and touching mine. “Then why? Please, just take me. You’ve already made me shame myself to this point. It’s fine if it’s you…”

Her eyes widened as she realized what she had said, immediately turning her head. However, Spirit’s eyebrow raised, and he reached out and turned her chin back.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Fate bit her lip and looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I… I have to admit something. I’ve been interested in you from the beginning.”

“Really?” I asked, wondering just how many of her words were her own and how much was the aphrodisiac speaking for her.

“You were kind to my little sister, Destiny. You protected her in the mountains, and she always spoke so fondly of you.”

“That…” I mostly just liked teasing her, and pissing off that boyfriend of hers.

You’re not like other warriors, always hiding your true strength. I don’t understand why you do that, but I know you don’t care about power or status. You don’t wield your strength to suppress others like many other paragons do.”

“At least you admit that’s a common trait of paragons.”

“You treat everyone fairly. You don’t even look down on the broken prince. You’re smart enough to know alchemy and strong enough to wield a sword. You’re… you’re- Mmm!”

“Something in me snapped, and I finally leaned forward and kissed her.

Our kiss was tentative at first, a soft brush of lips, but it quickly deepened as our passion ignited. Fate’s arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer, and my hands found their way to her waist, holding her tight against me. Our breaths mingled, and the world around us faded away, leaving only the two of us in this intimate moment.

I could feel my willpower crumbling under the onslaught of my desires. The aphrodisiac had taken control, and all I could think about was satisfying the burning need within me. Fate’s body trembled against mine, her skin hot and flushed, and I knew I should stop, that this was a dangerous path to tread, but I was powerless to resist.

Our kiss grew more aggressive, teeth clashing, tongues dancing, and our hands began to explore each other’s bodies. I could feel Fate’s heart racing, her breath coming in short gasps, and I knew she was feeling the same overwhelming desire that I was. The cave walls echoed with our ragged breaths and soft moans, the sound of our passion echoing off the stone.

I could feel the edge of control slipping away, my body demanding more, demanding everything. Fate’s body responded in kind, arching against me, her hips pressing against mine in a silent plea. Our lips never parted, our kiss growing more urgent as our clothing fell away, piece by piece, until there was nothing between us but skin and desire.

Our kiss broke, and Fate’s head fell back, exposing the delicate column of her throat. Spirit’s lips found their way there, trailing kisses and nibbles down to the swell of her breasts. Fate gasped, her hands gripping his shoulders, her body trembling with need.

“Please, take me…”

The last of my resistance melted away. As the cold wind wailed outside the cave, a deep passion built between us, echoing in rhythmic moans.