The Iron Bloom buzzed with morning chatter, the air at Quad Storm's table thick with mischief. I shoveled Gromble bacon, N'Nazmuz's curse weighing 30 kg on my bones, creaking the bench. Varkoth, my Peak Scholar Darkness basilisk, coiled around my arm like a Shadowveil bracer, red eyes glinting. Bera, Middle Master Fire, 19 and curvy, smirked over her ale, large nails tapping. Tira, Beginner Grand Master Fire, grinned, her phoenix tattoo glowing on her thigh. Lila, Beginner Master Earth—Tight Back, my masterpiece—sipped tea, her sly glance chilling my spine. "What's with the evil smirks, goddesses?" I asked, pinching Lila's hip. Her earth spike grazed my groin guard, etched "Supreme Sword Sleeps Here." "My supreme sword!" I yelped. Tira chuckled, "Tiny target." Bera's nails gleamed, "Keep dreaming, pervert." Varkoth hissed, Tira catching his "Chaos fleshling" vibe via spiritual sense, smirking. I grinned, clueless to the storm brewing from my Cultivation Tower promise: one wish each if they broke through. Breakfast passed with their giggles and whispers, my gut twitching.Post-bacon, I joined tavern drunks, betting coppers on Stinky, my Beginner Novice Earth beetle, in a makeshift arena. After yesterday's brawls and morning fights, Stinky glowed, smashing a glowbug. A pulse hit—Middle Novice breakthrough! He swelled tenfold, fist-sized, too big for his vial. "Champ's a beast!" I roared, scooping him. The crowd gaped; a barmaid muttered, "A bug?" I hauled Stinky to the Beast Tamer Guild, Varkoth hissing smugly. Guild folks snickered, "Caring for a beetle?" I ignored 'em, finding Elder Korr, a Peak Scholar Wood cultivator. He droned about taming non-sentient beasts: daily contact, specific foods—better quality speeds bonding. Wild taming needs rare, alchemist-crafted bait; safe taming uses a calming collar and food. Rarer creatures are tougher, but if one chooses you—like Stinky trailing me—it's 80% easier. A glowing, rune-locked collar signals a tamed bond.I bought Stinky's favorite: Crystal Worm dung, rare fertilizer costing 50 Level 1 Spirit Stones (consumable). "Worth it for my champ," I muttered. For Varkoth, I skipped risky questions, grabbing smoked rodent-and-bird meat, a Darkness Wyrm treat basilisks love (30 Level 1 Spirit Stones, consumable). Varkoth vibrated at the stall, tail flicking—his pick. "Fancy snek," I grinned, his loyalty trumping Tira's spiritual sense chats. I left Stinky in a guild stall, promising visits.Back at The Iron Bloom, the girls' smirks deepened, plotting my doom. I downed ale, oblivious. Lila slipped sleep powder into my mug, sneaky Tight Back. My head spun, vision blurring. "Goddesses, you…" I slurred, collapsing. They dragged me to a room, cackling. Bera glued a horn—ripped from a Beginner Knight Demon Rabbit, a Gromble-sized Level 2 beast with one jagged, bone-white spike—onto my forehead. Tira slashed my pants, baring my cheeks, painting "Supreme" on one, "PERV" on the other in glowing ink. Lila held back, saving her wish. I woke, head pounding, to their grins. "Your wish?" I groaned. Bera purred, "Imitate Zorath." Tira added, "Prance like that pompous stallion." Lila smirked, "My wish: I ride you through Crestmoore's square, full loop, back here."I loosed my long hair, mimicking Zorath's white-gold mane, and strutted, horn gleaming, cheeks flashing "Supreme PERV." Lila, tiny whip in hand, cracked it on my rear, urging me through the square. My tattered pants, already shredded by Tira, betrayed me mid-prance—my "supreme sword" slipped free, dangling for all to see. Gasps turned to roars as it… rose, defying gravity. "Ladies, beware!" I bellowed, "The Cursed Unicorn's in heat—no dame's safe!" I galloped toward a gaggle of giggling market girls, their squeals mixing with laughter as they scattered from the "horny maniac." Lila, perched on my back, turned tomato-red, hissing, "Killy, you Gromble!" Her whip cracked harder, but I winked, prancing prouder, curse slowing my steps but fueling my masochistic grin. Varkoth hissed, Tira catching his "Foolish fleshling" vibe, giggling. Crowds tossed apples, carrots, and Zorath taunts, chanting "Supreme Perv!" The city howled—merchants, kids, elders—laughing till tears fell. The girls wanted shame; I gave 'em a legend. "Cursed Unicorn!" a drunk yelled. Lila snapped, "Faster, Cursed Pony!" I winked, "Supreme Pony, babe!"Back at The Iron Bloom, the girls sulked—half their revenge flopped. I cackled, ordering ale, Varkoth's tail flicking smugly. "Nice try, goddesses!" I taunted, pinching Bera's hip. Her fireball singed my braid, nails flashing. Tira's fire orb grazed my thigh, "Impossible!" Lila's earth spike bruised my shin, "Pony's too proud." I dragged Zephyr, Peak Master Darkness, to our table, his singed tail a Tira trophy. "Join the fun, kitty!" I grinned. Drunk, he slurred at Tira, "Fiery goddess, light my night!" She singed his ear, "Back off!" Jogen, Beginner Master Wind, stumbled in, blushing at Bera's curves. "Sit, shy boy!" I hollered, shoving him beside her. For the kicker, I waved over Vira, the blonde market girl, her tunic hugging her like a lover. "Vira, drink with us!" The girls' glares could've melted Zenoite. "What's with the sour faces?" I leered. "Vira's our pal, got plenty to chat 'bout—like my supreme sword uniting us!" I roared, dodging Bera's fireball, Tira's flame orb, and Lila's earth spike. Varkoth hissed, Tira catching his "Chaos supreme" vibe, smirking.Ale kept flowing, and I got sloshed, the curse making every sway a floor-gouging effort. I leaned into Vira, stroking her curves, her giggle egging me on. "Blonde beauty, you're a Starveil gem," I purred, hand grazing her hip. The girls' eyes blazed. I turned to Zephyr, slurring, "Kitty, pounce on Tira's fiery canyon—she's begging for it!" Tira's fire orb scorched my shoulder, her tattoo flaring. I nudged Jogen, "Shy boy, grab Bera's melons, they're ripe!" Bera's nails scratched my arm, a fireball singeing my braid. Jogen blushed, stammering, "N-no way!" I spun to Lila, grinning, "And you, Tight Back queen, if you want in, Vira don't mind sharing!" Lila's earth spike cracked the table, her glare pure stone. Vira laughed, "Oh, Killy, you're too much!" The girls lunged—Bera's nails raked my chest, Tira's flames charred my tunic, Lila's tremor shook my bench. I cackled, masochistic thrill surging, "Goddesses, you love the Supreme Elf!" Varkoth hissed, Tira catching his "Mad fleshling" vibe, barely hiding her smirk. The tavern roared, drunks betting on who'd knock me out first.Zephyr, sloshed, groped Tira's hip, earning a fire kick to his shin. "Fiery goddess, one kiss!" he slurred. Jogen spilled ale, mumbling to Bera, "Y-you're… pretty." Bera's nails tapped, "Not you too!" Vira giggled, fueling the girls' rage. "Cursed Unicorn!" Zephyr toasted, raising his mug. Lila muttered, "Cursed Pony." I grinned, "Supreme legend, ladies!" My amulet pulsed faintly, whispering, "The Child stirs the Shadow." I shrugged, "Ruin nonsense." Ale flowed, bets piled on my table—drunks wagering on Stinky's next fight. I raised my mug, "To Quad Storm, Vira, and my champ Stinky!" The girls groaned, pelting me with bread. Curse or not, I was Crestmoore's king, dreaming of pranks, curves, and a beetle empire.
