'Wait, what woman?'
[The system will have to mention the lore, do you want it?]
Kai paused for a moment before responding, 'What else is mentioned about this horus gate in the text?'
[Nothing else is mentioned besides this line: 'I finally know the way to the horus gate. It's actually nearby!']
Kai glanced at the sleeping man, curiosity gnawing at him. 'Alright, summarize the lore for me.'
[Decades ago, Horus was the largest and most powerful tribe in the celestial expanse. But then, the leader's daughter went missing. She was later found trapped in ice—similar to your situation, but much more magical. The ice could preserve a person's life for decades.]
'So she's the beautiful woman you mentioned? Also, there's a tribe system in this world..? Interesting.'
[Yes. The tribe leader spared no resources to free her but failed. He then issued a decree: whoever could release the princess would be rewarded with uncountable treasures and a wish. But as decades passed, no one succeeded, and both the location and the Horus tribe itself faded into legend.]
Kai's eyes lit up at the thought. 'This place is a goldmine', he mused.
Even if the treasures had lost their shine, they might still hold mana or even cores. He knew he had to find this gate no matter what.
His focus shifted back to the sleeping blue man. 'How do I get the info from him?'
He decided quickly. 'Obviously, using force.'
He scanned the room again for anything useful, then deactivated his ash devil form, preparing to act.
The ash body shifted, vibrated intensely, expanding in size, and soon a young man with a decent looking face appeared.
He looked down at his body—thin and slightly gaunt, a result of being trapped in ice for who knows how long. His skin was a deep crimson, and an X-shaped scar, faded but still visible, marred his chest.
It was a reminder of something he was glad he couldn't fully remember. Whatever that dead, middle-aged man had done, it was best left forgotten.
Kai's black hair was messy, sticking up in random directions, and his blue eyes were sharp, almost glowing in contrast with his red skin. His black tail flicked behind him, though it felt strangely natural, like it had always been a part of him.
His gaze dropped lower, noting the size of his large, thick member. 'That... would definitely hurt,' he thought, the girth alone enough to make him consider the pain his future partners might endure.
'Pain... then pleasure, I guess.' But the thought flickered and faded. There were more pressing matters to deal with now.
Kai made some confirmations from the system, then tested his tail. It felt strange but not too different from moving his limbs. Satisfied, he nodded and grabbed the bed sheet from the nearby bed, letting his tail hold it.
As for his hands, he activated a skill after closing and locking the door.
[Fire Claw]
[-5 Mana]
[Time Remaining: 00:04:59]
Instead of flames engulfing his entire hands, fire surrounded his sharp nails, making them longer and hotter.
'Still works,' he thought, taking deep breaths. He approached the blue man, who was still unaware of what was happening. Without hesitation, Kai raked his fiery nails across the man's arm.
The blue man jolted awake in pain, his mouth opening to scream, but Kai quickly stuffed the sheet in his mouth with his tail.
As the man tried to struggle, Kai grabbed his arms, his Fire Claw just barely touching his skin. The real damage hadn't started yet.
Kai's face twisted as he growled, "Tell me! Where is it?!"
"Mmf. Mmmfh," the man mumbled in shock.
"My head aches so much, fuck my species... ahhhh, tell me, where is it?" Kai's voice grew more frustrated, his breathing labored.
A naked miro growling and panting over him made Jim terrified beyond reason.
"Mfh, wha… hfd???"
Kai exerted more force, restraining the man's arms. The blue man remained still, terrified of the miro exploding on him. The lava-like liquid would burn him to death if Kai lost control.
"I… I saw it. I read it in your thing. Horus. Yes, Horus, tell me where it is. Maybe the treasure there can save me? Now, tell me!"
Jim nodded frantically, trying to speak.
"Why aren't you telling me?!" Kai growled in a low voice, baring his teeth.
"Mmf. Mmmfh," the man whimpered.
The blue man couldn't believe the miro they'd found in a cave was not only alive but in his room, on the verge of exploding. He quickly realized this miro was different—he could control himself. But who knew how long that would last?
Desperate to avoid an explosion, the blue man decided to tell Kai the location of the Horus Gate. He didn't dare think about what might happen afterward.
But he felt like crying. How would he speak with his mouth blocked?
As if sensing the issue now, Kai removed the sheet from his mouth, stepping back as the fire on his claws vanished. He still looked agitated. "Quickly. Speak."
Jim opened his mouth, "It's in—"
"No, wait. What if you lie?" Kai's arms trembled, fully in his crazed persona. "Take me to the place. Now."
The man froze. He hadn't expected the miro to be this clever, even though he never planned to tell a lie. But there was no way he was going anywhere with this creature. His mind raced for a solution.
Suddenly, flame appeared on the tip of Kai's tail as he let out a pained snarl, startling him.
'I'm about to explode, man. Just give me what you've got,' Kai thought.
And sure enough, the blue man gritted his teeth and took out a small green jade from his bosom pocket. With trembling hands, he extended it ahead and said. "Here's it. It will lead you to the location. Now can you please leave? I swear I won't tell anyone that you were here. So please, leave me alone."
Kai snatched it fast as if the poor guy would take it back.
The servant saw the miro observe the jade closely and then…
The miro ate it.
He froze, his soul seemed to have gotten out of his body as he fell back, unconscious.
Kai didn't know if it was for fear that he'd explode or if he considered the jade to be extremely important to himself.
'Well, doesn't matter.' He gazed at the screen hovering in front of him, satisfied with what he got.
[Horus gate location saved.]
[You have devoured the Aural Stone.]
[+15 Skill Points]
[+45 Minutes Extension]
[Which skill time limit do you want to increase?]