Martha could only gape at the scene, her brain struggling to catch up. Circe, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief that could have rattled the windows.
"Thank God!" she muttered to herself. "Seems like this broad hasn't fallen for the cock... yet!"
"Let's vacate the premises, shall we?" Circe suggested, her voice laced with a hint of urgency. "The man needs his rest."
The last thing she needed was these women getting any more of that cock...!!
The memory of her own experience of that cock, a taste that sent a blush creeping up her neck, fueled her desire to get them out of there quickly.
Tempest and Penelope, though their eyes lingered on Kiba for a beat too long, nodded in agreement. Circe hustled them out, practically dragging Martha by the arm.
*** ***
The following hour was a blur for Martha.
Inside a secluded chamber built from an unusual combination of dark, volcanic rock and strangely glowing wood, she received a crash course on everything Kiba!
The whole explanation about Kiba "punishing" himself left her incredulous.
Punishing himself for slightly harming women in self-defense?!
Are you fucking with me?!
Kiba and self-punishment are as distant concepts as the earth and the sky!
His "golden hammer" – a terrifying memory flickered across her mind, the taste of metal in her mouth a phantom sensation – had nearly crushed her!
Then there was the Ice Queen's intervention. To give her face, he had spared her life in exchange for a vacation on Eden! That felt like a slap in the face.
And as if that wasn't enough humiliation, Kiba had poured a stream of reality-warping energy into her heart!
Reality-warping!!
The very power that could twist reality as per the whims of the wielder!!!
It had manifested as a miniature gift box, no bigger than a dot, nestled within her own chest. Back then, the Ice Queen's face had undergone a drastic transformation when Kiba performed this feat.
While the Queen offered no explanation, she referred to it as the "Gift of Happiness." But the Ice Queen, ever cryptic, had remained silent after that pronouncement. Martha never dared to pry further.
But one thing was certain – this warped energy disguised as a "gift" couldn't possibly be good. This man wasn't capable of offering happiness, especially not to her! The murderous glint in his eyes during their fight was fresh in her memory – the mark of a vengeful soul who wouldn't hesitate to retaliate even for the slightest transgression.
Now, seeing the Dryad women and Tempest venerate Kiba's supposed self-punishment, a volcano of rage erupted within her. But voicing her doubts would only paint her as a fool.
"No wonder Her Highness said she overestimated the women of Eden!" Martha thought bitterly. "This man is slyer than a serpent! Brainwashing these noble warriors with his dramatics!"
Regret gnawed at her. If only she hadn't stepped out to make him face justice! Now, instead of bringing justice to the women of the outside world, she'd inadvertently unleashed a wolf in sheep's clothing onto their peaceful island!
"AAAHHH!"
Just then, a scream tore through the serene setting. All eyes snapped towards the hidden chamber where Kiba lay recuperating.
"He's awake?!" Circe exclaimed, incredulous.
The wounds on his body, coupled with the lingering destructive energy she sensed, should have kept him unconscious for much longer. That destructive energy… it defied explanation! It was like a malignant force, the very antithesis of life itself! Yet, the man had somehow awakened!
Tempest and Penelope's eyes sparkled, then narrowed at Circe accusingly.
Circe winced.
Hadn't she warned them that draining the "white nectar" from his weapon would weaken him and make it impossible for him to recover?
She stammered, "He might still be unconscious, just… expressing himself vocally... Best I check on him!"
With that, Circe made her way towards the medical chamber. Unfortunately, she wasn't fast enough to stop Tempest, Penelope, and even a fuming Martha from trailing behind her.
In the room, Kiba sat upright on the bed, clutching his head and groaning incoherently. He blinked as he noticed the women staring down at him, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Tempest, fearing he might trigger another golden lightning phenomenon and try to kill himself again, blurted out, "Kiba, please don't punish yourself anymore! It was our fault, not yours!"
Penelope chimed in, "Yes, you are blameless!"
Martha, about to launch into a tirade about his manipulative act, froze as Kiba spoke.
"Kiba?" Kiba's voice, muffled by the bandages, held a tremor of panic. "W-who's Kiba?"
His words, laced with genuine bewilderment, sent Martha crashing to the floor, her jaw agape.
"Oh no!" A collective gasp escaped the other three women.
"No! Who am I?!"
Kiba roared, clutching his head again.
"Who did this to me?!"
On the floor, Martha's jaw threatened to dislocate itself.
"What in the name of the Creator…?" she muttered, her voice barely a whisper.
Circe snapped out of her stupor.
"Could the energy have… messed with his brain?" she ventured, a flicker of horror in her eyes.
Tempest and Penelope exchanged a look, their faces a mix of devastation and confusion.
The prophesied savior, the man destined to break the cycle of male cruelty, had amnesia!?
How could he fulfil his destiny now?!
If Claudia – Kiba's trusted AI, or even Natalie – the one running Wife Pleasuring Service Ltd., were here, they would have rolled their eyes.
"Here we go again," Claudia would have said.
"He has picked a new method!" Natalie would have mused. "Maybe I should add it to our corporate strategies!"
And if Agatha – the mother of his daughter Hope – were here, she would have sighed bitterly.
"Just how shameless could he get?! And yet I still love this man!"
And if Erone – the founder and the pope of the Holy Church – were here, he would have looked at Kiba with eyes full of reverence.
"The Lord is so great!"
Erone would have joined his hands in prayer.
"For providing happiness to maidens, he's sacrificing everything! The world doesn't deserve him!"