This Ascent to Divinity is Lewder Than Expected

7.54 – Protections

While the possibility of Rosalie becoming possessed and wreaking havoc was realistic, it probably wasn't a doomsday scenario. And they didn't know how possession worked in the first place. So while there was cause for concern, after the initial spike of worry, Zoey calmed. Rosalie was an incredible fighter, but not unbeatable.

Then again, possession seemed to empower the user, seeing how in the murals the possessed had fought one-versus-four and won.

An empowered Rosalie? That would be … a serious problem.

The room beyond the instructional hallway was as large as the one they'd first appeared in, but brighter, lit by those same pedestal-and-bowl braziers burning with blue flames. Inside stood a single long shelf with three items spaced atop it. Beneath each was a bronze plaque set into the sandstone, bearing text. Under the plaques were symbols of black flames—two beneath the leftmost item, four beneath the middle one, and five beneath the rightmost.

Of the shards she had been in, she had always been dropped straight into the fray. This was the only one to come with preliminary events. Not just the murals, but now this.

The leftmost item was a pair of red silk panties, which, after everything she'd been through, didn't make her so much as blink. It would take a lot more than an undergarment to shock her, these days.

The plaque beneath read:

Panties of Chastity. Prevents penetrative acts but leaves the user vulnerable to all else. Cost: 2 Curse.

Zoey tilted her head for two reasons. First, the item's description itself, and second, the 'cost'. Two Curse. The same number as the small black flames beneath the plaque.

The item seemed pointless. It provided defense at the cost of Curse, but the defense didn't seem helpful? Presumably the Possessed would still be able to defeat her opponent and bring them to orgasm, thus empowering the final boss—if her theory was correct. So what was the point in purposefully taking on Curse to block 'penetrative acts'?

Zoey glanced sideways and saw Astrid staring at the panties, and everything clicked into place.

Despite the nature of shards, the lewd constructs paid some attention toward the idea of consent—no doubt since they were formed by Zoey's own influence. And while Astrid had come to terms with what this shard might mean for her, and accepted all possibilities, that didn't mean she wanted her first time to involve a possessed teammate pinning her down and ravaging her.

Zoey didn't know Astrid as well as her girlfriends, but it didn't take a social savant to understand what her stiff posture meant, the way she had frozen to bite her lower lip, eyes locked to the bronze plaque.

She almost stepped forward and claimed the panties right there; she would happily take 'two Curse', whatever that meant, if she could secure Astrid's comfort. But she clamped down on the impulse. Not because she valued efficiency more, but because she didn't know what the rest of the items did. She should have all of the information before she acted.

So instead, Zoey bumped Astrid on the shoulder, and the red-haired girl startled and looked over.

"The other two," Zoey said, prompting her. "Scoot."

Astrid briefly seemed like she was going to say something—maybe broach the topic of buying the panties—but then her teeth clicked shut. She all but crumpled inward, slouching slightly and shoulders pulling forward, and Zoey knew then and there that this woman would never compromise the team's efforts by asking for such a pointless item, even if she did want the protection.

Zoey had already intended to buy the panties, but she became doubly certain; she would buy them even if Astrid insisted otherwise. Nobody on the team would have an issue with it, but in the hypothetical where they did, she would happily argue the point.

"Right," Astrid mumbled, shuffling sideways so they could see what the other two items were.

Pendant of Imperception. When worn, renders the user invisible to the Possessed's carnal impulses. Defeat still increases Curse. Cost: 4 Curse.

It was a good thing Zoey had repressed her first instinct. This was why: there was an item similar to the panties, but more comprehensive. Where the panties would prevent penetrative acts—though she didn't know if they would protect the mouth—the pendant would stop all sexual acts.

A glance sideways showed that Astrid hadn't reacted much. She wondered whether that meant the additional protections didn't mean much to her, or whether she'd crossed the possibility of buying something out of her mind already.

The third and final was different from the first two.

Crown of Non-Possession. When worn, user is immune to Possession. Cost: 5 Curse.

It was, of course, interesting because it had practical uses beyond preserving chastity. Astrid recognized that instantly, and the distraction made the red-haired girl relax now that she could talk business. "Wouldn't be bad to get for Rosalie," she pointed out.

"No joke." While five Curse was likely a heavy price, preventing their team's prodigious fighter from rampaging through their ranks might be worth it. It was a good way to hedge their bets.

There was also a chastity aspect, like the other two items. If Astrid wasn't comfortable being Possessed, with losing control of herself and pinning down her opponents, then the shard was providing a way to opt out—though with a penalty. Which was how shards generally worked. Engaging with the lewd aspects wasn't strictly necessary, but did make their lives easier.

"I wonder," Zoey said, chewing the idea over. "It's probably not worth it. We might not even run into her to give it to her." Or she might already be possessed. "But the first two. Which do you want?"

It took a second for Astrid to react—she stiffened. "Which do I want?" she repeated, confused.

This was a tricky situation. She had to figure out where Astrid's comfort level was. And since she wasn't likely to be upfront about it, Zoey had to deduce it by her reactions.

She went on the offensive. "We're obviously getting the panties, but do you want the pendant instead? The crown, even?"

Astrid was caught off guard, and thus easy to read. "No. No. Of course not. I thought—that some protection would be nice, but—we shouldn't get any of them," she finished firmly. "It's a waste."

But she'd already given her thoughts away. As expected, Astrid was mentally prepared and willing to engage in some acts; it was a given coming down into this shard. But protection against the most 'engaged' of sex acts was something she wanted.

Zoey nodded, stepped up to the panties, and claimed the item before Astrid could stop her.

The moment the silk fabric separated from the sandstone countertop, black-and-purple flames engulfed the floor, making both of them flinch. But she felt no heat on her ankles; the flames rushed through the hallway and outward, fleeing to some unknown location. Probably the final boss room, empowering whatever boss lay entombed there.

"What did you do?" Astrid demanded, taking a step forward—seeming equal parts confused and angry.

"Sorry," Zoey said, meaning the apology earnestly. "I knew you'd stop me if we tried to talk about it."

She wasn't fully in the right, here. It wasn't that she wanted to make decisions for Astrid without her input—she was just certain that, in this context, she wouldn't give her true thoughts or act on her desires. But maybe there was a problem in going against her wishes, or making assumptions. Astrid should be the one who decided what happened to her, not Zoey. But she was also the 'new member' on the team and definitely felt pressured to act in the team's best interest.

It was a dicey situation, and Zoey had made her best judgment.

"I don't like the idea of your first time being with one of us while we're Possessed," Zoey said. "Doesn't sit right with me. I'll make it clear to everyone else that I was the one who bought it. Sorry."

Astrid studied her, brow furrowed, mentally sorting through the situation. Before finally, she relaxed and sighed. Her cheeks colored. "Who says it would be my first time?" she challenged.

Zoey bit down on her retort of, 'your face, for one.' If Astrid wasn't a virgin, Zoey would be more than a little surprised.

Astrid held out her hand, and Zoey put the panties in it. The berserker pulled the fabric up her legs, and Zoey mentally lamented over how her brief stint naked was already over. At least she'd snuck a few looks.

"Thanks," Astrid mumbled, turning on her heel and striding forward.

And, Zoey thought, an ass with only panties wasn't that much worse than nakedness.

Apparently, they weren't going to have a discussion on whether the other two items—especially the crown of non-possession—were worth buying. She supposed it was obvious. The only use-case was to prevent Rosalie from being possessed, and that was too situational. Perhaps Rosalie had been given the same offer anyway; how silly would Zoey look if she showed up with an extra crown to see Rosalie already wearing one? Not that she expected Rosalie would buy one. She would have faith in her teammates being able to deal with her.

With the introductory events over—at least, Zoey expected they were—they strode out through the next hallway, likely into shard proper.

Now, then. What would a fifth-advancement shard have in store?