Suddenly, Eros felt someone shoving him. He snapped back to reality and found Undine staring at him with a face full of suspicion. "What?"

  Undine scanned her brother from head to toe, her curiosity burning. "What was that just now? Those two streaks of black light... why did they fly into your body?"

  Clearly, she had witnessed the spectacle of the two deep-black meteors merging with him.

  Eros shot her a sidelong glance and grinned mischievously. "You really want to know?"

  Undine nodded vigorously. "Mhm! Tell me! Quick, quick!"

  Eros cleared his throat, putting on a serious face. "Alright, I'll tell you then..."

  Undine leaned in, her eyes wide with anticipation.

  "I’m not telling you!" Eros made a hilarious face at her and burst into laughter.

  "You!" Undine’s temper flared. Ooh, I'm so mad! My fists are itching! I really want to punch someone!

  Sensing the impending danger, the sensible Eros quietly shuffled to the other side of the airship’s deck. Undine let out a cold huff and turned away, refusing to acknowledge her infuriating brother.

  Night. Within the Soul Space.

  Eros was staring at Barbara with a look of utter disbelief. Specifically, he was staring at her legs. Barbara’s slender, graceful legs were now encased in pristine white silk stockings. Eros rubbed his eyes. After months of nagging, during which Barbara had always claimed she didn't know how to manifest such "strange attire," why the sudden change of heart today?

  He scanned her up and down, making Barbara blush with embarrassment. "What are you looking at?" she snapped, trying to sound fierce.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Eros asked suspiciously, "Didn't you say you couldn't do this before? Why the sudden enlightenment?"

  "Mind your own business!" Barbara grumbled, her face crimson.

  Just then, two smaller projections—one obsidian and one silver—flew toward them. They were the miniature versions of the [Book of Night] and the [Moon of Eternal Slumber]. They circled Eros several times as if inspecting this man. Finally, as if reaching a consensus, the book and the moon ring sped toward him.

  But Barbara wasn't about to stand idly by.

  With a cold snort, she grabbed Eros with one hand and swiped at the air with the other, swatting the two encroaching artifacts away like annoying flies.

  Caught off guard, Eros was pulled straight to the ground. Before he could scramble up, Barbara sat down, curling her legs beneath her. She firmly pressed Eros’s head down onto her slender, silk-clad lap. Her delicate face was flushed with blooming patches of red, and she pointed toward her legs with a hint of bashful defiance:

  "Junior! Didn't you say you liked this? As long as you ignore those two mangy curs, I'll give you... a lap pillow."

  Eros felt the soft, delicate texture against his cheek. He glanced at the [Book of Night] and the [Moon Ring], which were currently buzzing and vibrating with what seemed like pure, unadulterated rage.

  Is this even a choice?

  A mere book and a piece of broken metal trying to compete with his Barbara? A millisecond of hesitation would be an insult to his aesthetic. He didn't answer with words; he proved his loyalty with immediate action.

  Barbara’s face grew even redder. She cast a disdainful, triumphant look at the frantically buzzing artifacts, lifting her chin with the pride of a victor.

  The two artifact projections tried to charge forward again, only to find themselves frozen in place. They could do nothing but emit sharp, rapid hums of frustration.

  This, of course, was Eros’s doing. He was no longer a novice when it came to mysticism; his mastery over his own Soul Space had grown significantly. There was no way he was going to let two inanimate objects ruin this "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity.

  He sat up, swept Barbara into his arms, and settled her onto his lap. With his other hand, he snatched the nearby tentacle and threw it into the far distance. At this moment, he feared nothing.

  The Tentacle: Excuse me? ????

  Fog began to rise from the ground, cutting off all outside vision. Barbara’s body was stiff, her breathing shallow and rapid, her face a deep shade of rose. Seeing that she wasn't pushing him away, Eros grew even bolder...