As they approached a huge gate looking like an armour drenched into blood many years ago, Brunos was expecting one thing. A large hall with thousands and thousands of succubi as Lania had told him. However, when the two succubi who stood near the gate pushed it aside, his jaw dropped.
It was not a hall or a big room. It was a dreamland. Too bright and colourful to be a cave, and too breathtaking to be real. Simply, it was a fantastical world, which made sense and no sense at all.
Wasn't an incubus a fantastical creature? Now he was an incubus. That's why the scene in front of him made some sense. But, seeing a dazzling city inside a cave didn't make sense at all.
Actually, no sane person would believe that in a belly of what seemed like a mountain, lay a dazzling city.
It sprawled far and far away until Brunos could not see it. If not for the clock counting toward his death that kept reminding him how real his misery was, he would not have believed what he was seeing.
Here and there, pointy houses rose in the air to greet a lake size opening that brought light inside the cave. It was as if he was inside a volcano with a crater on its top, or...
Or what?
Looking above, it was more like being stuck in a wide and deep well.
'Just... just how did these guys manage to make a cave this size?'
'Where did the soil go?'
'Was it taken out of the cave through that opening?
'Obviously!'
His eyes continued wandering.
Succubi were passing by each other as people in big cities do every morning when going to work. He could see some entering some of those pointy houses, others leaving them, some clad in beautiful dresses like that of Meggie, and others in armors like that of the archers.
Truth be said, it was more lively than the Crimson Castle, maybe because of how highly it was populated.
There was another thing that made that place more awe-inspiring. Bright and pure colours. As expected, many succubi were dressed to kill. He was not surprised. But their colours and... and features. Even Eleanor could not compare.
With her east-west boobies and bounce behind, she would stand a chance to go in a beauty competition with the succubi in that cave. However, with their pure and bright hair colours and striking features, she would not last for seconds on the podium.
At that moment, a crazy idea slipped into his mind. He had finally got an escape plan.
Like a person reminded of something, he stopped walking and glanced at the archers before turning to look at Peony.
Deceiving her was the first step of his escape plan.
He silently sighed.
'I hope it works!'
Upon turning around, his gaze fell on her boobies first.
'This is not what you're looking for.'
He quickly shifted his gaze upwards to meet hers. As always, she gave him a seductive smile and bite her lower lip like a professional temptress.
Brunos smiled back and asked, "Would you mind walking beside me?"
As if asking what to do, she turned to Lania with pleading eyes. Lania gave her a long look before sighing and saying. "Just be careful."
This time, the voice came from one Lania. Her illusions just moved their mouths.
Brunos didn't miss that detail.
'So, you are the real one? You've let your guard down. Wait for me!'
Back to Peony, the sight of her, jumping with joy and excitement tortured coldness out of Brunos's groin. In the end, his mind went spinning for a moment. She was a sight to behold.
'Focus, you fool! You'll have more time for that if you escape this beautiful hell.'
While still scolding himself, Peony tugged on his sleeve and asked, "What is it you want from me?" She was pressing herself on him, the warmth from her otherworldly melons sending shivers running down his spine.
As if that wasn't enough, his nostrils took in her sweet scent that was so strong and intoxicating like that of Peony flowers.
"Are you trying to make me weak?" he asked.
"Of course not. I'm trying to make you feel good especially..."
She stole a glance at his treasure bird. "Especially that little companion of yours."
She was not lying. His treasure bird reacted with much effort, making Brunos wonder if he was going to be able to execute his plans while in such a state.
...Not to mention that his plan was insane of course.
'Do it! It's simple!'
That insane plan was none other than knocking the archers down and flying toward the opening as fast as he could.
If the light he was seeing was from the sun, it meant one thing. He could fly and get out of the cave.
...If he managed to make it at opening arrive of course.
However, something was amiss. Why would Fellene order Lania to take him there? Didn't he know about the opening?
'Of course he knows. This is his territory.'
Perhaps, Fellene thought they would have tied Brunos. Which they hadn't done yet. Or... or maybe there was a spell that would restrict him from reaching there if he tried to. Whatever the reason, he still had a chance to try and see for himself.
To shake off Peony's temptation, he kept repeating one word. 'Focus! Focus!'
"Oh darling, why are you silent? Is my invisible massage that strong? I thought it would take long.'
Again, she was not lying. He could feel hands over his skin. Just... just like the way Lilyard did to him back on earth on their first encounter.
Starting a conversation was his only way to distract himself from having dirty thoughts.
'Let's go!'
"Your massage is awesome," he told Peony.
"Really?"
He nodded his head.
Peony giggled.
"...But it's not that good to capture me. I mean, I'm used to these succubus little games."
Hearing her capabilities being called something normal, Peony scowled and increased the intensity of her invisible massage.
If she continued, Brunos would be doomed. That's why he hurried to go on with his escape plan.
"I was just wondering," he said to her, trying to hide the effects of her actions on him. "When it rains, does it reach the ground?"
He wanted to know if there was no invisible barrier to restrict him if he dared to execute his escape plan.
"Of course the rain reaches the ground."
She pointed in the air.
"Why would we have dug that hole?"
Internally, Brunos let out a sigh of relief. He had got an answer to his first question. There was no invisible barrier.
Looking at Peony with a smile on his face, he asked another question.
"Why another entrance then?"
Peony gave him a questioning look.
"Why do you use that cliff near the lake to enter the cave when you can easily enter through that hole?"
His question seemed to sparkle some understanding in Peony.
"Oh! That?" The pressure of her invisible massage on his treasure bird had reduced. Now he could breath.
"That is only used by Fellene and the chosen ones."
Brunos raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it obvious? Fellene can't satisfy all of these succubi girls here," she explained. "Every month, 28 succubi chosen from all of us meet him at the bathtub to have their share. Only Lania, Amellia and I are constant. That's why the bathtub is located on the other side of the cave. It's a means for privacy."
Brunos nodded in understanding though his question was not fully answered.
"Does it mean others use that hole out of here then?"
"Of course. It's the largest entrance we have. When we're setting out in large numbers, we use that one."
Trying to hide a grin on his face, he brainstormed ideas on how to continue his interrogation. First, he wanted to know the direction to the Crimson Castle from that opening. Second, he wanted to know if everyone could just enter or leave through that opening as he wished.
"Wasn't it risky to leave such an opening? I mean, can't enemies use it to attack you?"
After asking that, he internally said, 'Please tell me there's no spells or what.'
Luckily, Peony's answer was comforting.
"What would we be looking at?" she asked. "Do you think whoever it can be can come and reach at our grand entrance unnoticed?"
If Brunos heard her correct, it meant there was no spells or what. They just relied on the fact that they could spot an enemy and stop him before reaching them.
He clenched his fists to calm himself down. This was his one and only last chance to escape. If it went wrong, he was doomed. But before trying, he was not the doomed one.
He stole a glance at the archers, calculated the distance between him and the real Lania and got ready to make his first move.
'You're doomed!' he thought as he activated Super Speed ability.
*Ding!
[Super Speed ability activated. 10 Lust Leaves used. Remaining Lust...]
Not wasting any other second, he sent his fist toward one of the archers, his other fist doing the same at another archer.
Before the real Lania could mingle with her illusions, Brunos was right in front of her.
'You're doomed!'