When Leonhardt and Asuka finished their moment of passion, he noticed the familiar voice buzzing in his mind. He then noticed that his partner acted a little strange, before she grabbed his arms and looked up at him confused.

"Leo, I heard a strange woman's voice in my head! She called me a thieving slut!"

"…"

His lips twitched because he knew that they both must have heard Ifrit's voice, causing him to cover his face with his palm and sigh.

"Don't worry about it, she's just cranky."

[Who is 'just' cranky, you bastard! How could you get horny and pound that damn lizard?!]

'Oh boy.'

Leonhardt's lips curled into a bitter smile, realising that Ifrit wasn't happy, though he didn't mind. He could act the way he wanted, just like she could. The reason he slept with her was because he wanted to do so after all.

'Can you go easy on her, Ifrit?'

[Haa… why did it turn out like this?]

'Who knows, but this woman is someone I have chosen, can't you accept her?'

He noticed that despite her sharp tone, Ifrit's voice wasn't negative; rather, it gave him a delighted or positive feeling.

[Then, you won't push me away because you slept with her?]

Leonhardt's lips curled into a deep smile.

He valued Asuka, but that was a relationship of the flesh and a carnal one. His bond with Ifrit might not be physical yet. However, she guided him, saved him and was the biggest psychological and mental support in his life.

'Without you, I cannot live.'

Neither a lie nor an exaggeration. This was Leonhardt's true thought. He was still able to keep himself together after everything that happened because of Ifrit's presence. And even if he wanted to push her away, it wouldn't work.

He felt a warm embrace from within his soul, as a soothing voice spoke in his mind whenever Ifrit spoke to him, even when they argued, or he bullied her.

If Asuka was akin to food, to keep him going.

Then, Ifrit was the air they needed to survive, while he believed Zafira was the water that quenched his thirst.

[Well, if you don't tease or bully me I can let you go!]

'Then I promise to be nice, even if I tease you. My little flame.'

[Who is little?]

'You!'

Leonhardt suddenly realised that he had forgotten to respond to Asuka and turned to face her. He found the beautiful dragonoid hugging his waist while snoring gently, her tail wrapped around his waist.

"You must have been exhausted…"

Leonhardt smiled warmly before he kissed her on the forehead. Though their meeting was short, the strange sense of companionship he felt towards her couldn't be denied.

"Though I don't hate Sylvie and Erina… Asuka was always special."

[Leon, rest. It's time for you to choose your evolution. The barrier won't last forever.]

'So you were the one who made this strange barrier?'

Leonhardt noticed the strange space much sooner, but he couldn't be sure and instead remained quiet. Though thanks to Ifrit, he could spend all the time winning over a dragon to his side, even if he used seduction and lust.

It didn't matter to him as long as he could make Asuka his. Then the other two would join his mercenary group. That would be better for him because other humans made his skin crawl.

They seemed dirty.

'Though a few are acceptable… like the shopkeeper and elf at the tavern.'

'I wonder what I will turn into.'

His body already underwent many changes since being born into this world, but the serious tone of Ifrit excited him. With the last evolution awakening his Arachne bloodline, he wondered what might happen after copulating with a Dragonoid.

Leon closed his eyes.

The comfort of Asuka's warm body, like a soft, squishy quilt, and the sound of her constant breathing, a calming lullaby, helped him fall asleep.

A low rumble echoed, and in the darkness something shifted with a crackling sound. A pair of red eyes opened and blinked. They looked down at the ground below and then at its form. Another blink and it stretched out its legs.

The eyes were Leonhardt's.

Leonhardt found himself in a strange world.

Darkness enveloped the distant horizon, but a beautiful golden flame danced around him, as if to keep the darkness and cold away.

He saw himself as a large black spider, though there was no fear or panic. Instead, it felt strangely natural, as if he belonged in this place.

Then a moment later, his stomach tickled and twisted, before he stood tall, with feathered black wings, and twisted horns, with a sinister magic coursing through his body. This wasn't something he knew. It felt different, like an evil and more sinister force than his usual Djinn's mana.

'It feels comfortable…'

He thought before he took a step forward, only for his form to twist and distort before he turned into a large black dragon with red highlights across his body.

"This feels good too."

Leonhardt looked down at his new draconic body and chuckled.

His scales were sleek and sharp, almost like razors. He had a long serpentine neck and a maw filled with razor-sharp teeth. Behind his head were large curved horns that looked dangerous.

This wasn't the end, however, as a moment later, his body turned back into a human.

Only for Leonhardt to look down and find his hands covered in pale white skin and fleshy palms and an ethereal beauty that surpassed his current self.

He did not feel strange or like this person was someone else, but a part of himself.

"You've finally arrived?"

Woosh!

A flicker of flames filled the darkness, his form melting into the golden light before returning to the usual Leonhardt.

"It's our first time meeting in person, right?"

From the embers of fire, a mesmerising woman formed, her hair orange, as if made of flames, pitch-black sclera with a golden amber iris, and then her body… although short, she was different.

Her body was wreathed in flames but shaped like the goddess of lust and desire, with wide hips that curved around a plump and deadly rump and a pair of ripe watermelons swaying with small nubs.

The voice carried a distinct charm.

Fiery and filled with passion and desire, her every movement, even the way she walked, controlled the movement of flames and heat.

"I am Ifrit, pleased to meet you. Leonhardt."