novelnext Chapter 499 - 496 – Hot Spring Bath
Chapter 499 - 496 – Hot Spring Bath
After the intense and exhausting battle in the middle of the mud storm, the area in front of the dimensional rift gradually began to calm. The corpses of wind and water monsters lay scattered across the murky puddles, slowly being washed away by the rain that was still falling heavily but had started to weaken. The fishy smell of monster blood mixed with the scent of wet earth filled the air, while the evening breeze that began to blow brought a slight sense of relief after the long storm. All six women were still breathing heavily, their chests rising and falling rapidly. Their bodies were completely soaked from head to toe, cold seeping deep into their bones, but their eyes were filled with satisfaction and pride for successfully clearing the area outside the rift.Sylvia stood firm in the middle of the mud, her athletic body glistening wet. Her abyss chains slowly returned to the shadows of the ground, their tips still dripping with water mixed with thick black monster blood. Her black tunic clung perfectly to her skin, revealing smooth muscle lines and strong body curves. Her wet hair stuck to her face and back, water dripping from her chin as she spoke.
"We can’t give the monsters another chance to come out," Sylvia said firmly, even though her lips were slightly blue from the piercing cold. She turned to Stacia, her dark red eyes still glowing with vigilance. "Stacia, can you temporarily seal this rift? By yourself. We need rest, and leaving this rift wide open like this is too dangerous."
Stacia nodded without hesitation, even though her body looked exhausted. Her heavy, soaked gray robe clung to her curvaceous slender figure, accentuating the beautiful curves of her chest and hips. "I can do it. My grimoire is still strong enough for a temporary seal. Lira and the others can rest first. I’ll handle it."
The Eternal Party members, including Lira and Sylvana, nodded in agreement. They retreated to a relatively safe area under the large trees, giving space to Stacia. The Fallen Angel stepped forward alone, her steps steady despite the mud pulling at her feet. The grimoire in her hands opened wide, its pages creaking softly even though they were wet from the rain. She began chanting a long and complex spell, her voice firm and loud amid the remaining sound of rain.
Dark gray light emerged from the grimoire, forming ancient rune webs that wrapped around the dimensional rift like a giant spider web. Stacia raised her hand, her mana flowing strongly even as the rain continued to pour over her body. The runes grew brighter, forming a thick seal that closed the black-purple gap. The rift shook violently, as if resisting fiercely, releasing dark energy that tried to break through the seal. The ground around the rift cracked, and the mud churned, but Stacia’s power which had evolved alongside Sylvia made the seal increasingly strong and stable.
Sweat mixed with rainwater streamed down Stacia’s face. Her breathing was labored, but she did not give up. With one final shout full of determination, she slammed her grimoire shut. "Spatial Lockdown: Barrier of Seal!!"
The dark gray seal completely locked the rift. The dark energy flowing out from within was abruptly cut off. And almost instantly, the weather changed drastically. The thick black clouds hanging low began to move quickly, as if pulled by an invisible force. The heavy rain that had been like a storm suddenly stopped. The afternoon sunlight pierced through the thinning clouds, illuminating the previously pitch-black area with warm, refreshing golden light.
Everyone let out a long sigh of relief. The air, which had been cold and humid, began to feel warmer. Muddy puddles were still everywhere, but the rain had completely stopped, leaving a peaceful atmosphere after the chaos.
"Excellent work, Stacia," Sylvia praised with a tired smile as she approached her friend and gently touched her shoulder. "You were amazing. Now let’s rest. It’s already evening, and all of our bodies need immediate recovery before we enter the rift tomorrow."
They quickly searched for a relatively dry spot under the large trees that still stood firmly. With the help of Stacia and Sylvana’s magic, they set up one large, comfortable, and spacious tent. Since the entire team consisted of women, there was no awkwardness at all in sharing one tent. The tent was quickly erected using waterproof fabric reinforced with runes, lined with soft sacred leaf mats and warm blankets taken from Sylvia’s storage space. Inside the tent, they lit a small crystal lamp that gave off a soft golden light.
Sylvia sat at the edge of the tent, her body still wet and feeling strange. The storm rain earlier seemed to have left a strange energy residue in her undead body, making her joints slightly stiff. "Stacia... can you create a simple bathing pool? Using earth and water magic. I feel a bit off after being hit by that storm rain. Warm water might help."
Stacia’s eyes immediately sparkled with enthusiasm despite her exhaustion. "Of course! This is a great chance to try a new magic combination I’ve been thinking about for a while." She opened her grimoire again. Even though she was tired, her fingers moved quickly to form runes. The ground in front of the tent trembled gently, forming a neat and smooth deep basin like a natural pool. Clean water flowed from the ground through small gaps, quickly filling the pool clearly.
Sylvia smiled faintly. She summoned a small black Death Flame from her palm and carefully tossed it into the pool. The black flame blazed briefly on the surface, quickly heating the water without making it boil excessively. Warm steam began to rise gently in the cooling evening air, carrying a calming scent of earth and faint herbs.
Elara, who was sitting not far from them, watched quietly, her eyes full of curiosity especially when she saw Sylvia’s black fire. She remembered that during the fight against Mušmaḫḫū, Sylvia had used holy white fire. Now it was a dark fire of darkness. But Elara said nothing. Everyone had their secrets, and she respected that. Only a faint smile appeared on her lips when she exchanged glances with Alicia.
Once the pool was ready, Alicia cast a strong protective spell. "Barrier Veil!" An invisible wall surrounded the tent and pool area, creating a safe, private space. From the outside, nothing could be seen, but from inside they could clearly see out and enjoy the view of the forest beginning to be illuminated by the afternoon sun.
They all stepped lightly into the pool area. Quickly and without any shyness since they were all women they removed their wet clothes that clung tightly to their bodies. The soaked garments fell to the ground with soft, damp sounds, revealing each of their beautiful figures. Sylvia’s perfect athletic body with pale, smooth skin, Alicia’s graceful figure with beautiful large breasts, Stacia’s slender yet curvaceous body in all the right places, Elara’s classic elegant and proportional elf figure, and Lira and Sylvana’s agile, vital bodies of an archer and nature mage.
They changed into thin towels provided by Sylvia from her storage, then one by one entered the hot spring pool. The warm steam enveloped their bodies, driving away the cold that had clung to their bones after the heavy rain. The warm water gently embraced their skin, soothing aching muscles, washing away the mud stuck in every crevice, and slowly restoring their stamina.
"Ahh... this feels so good," Alicia sighed as she closed her eyes, her body submerged up to her chest. Her silver hair floated beautifully on the surface of the warm water, steam enveloping her lovely face.
Stacia sat beside her, smiling contentedly while leaning her back against the edge of the pool. "Finally, I can relax. That storm was truly exhausting. My mana was almost gone, but that seal was worth it."
Sylvia sat at the edge of the pool, the warm water reaching her shoulders. She slowly moved her shoulders, feeling the heat seep into her undead muscles. Sol and Qilin sat at the side of the pool, faithfully guarding the area. Elara, sitting across from her, glanced with restrained curiosity. "You all... are truly an amazing team. I’m glad I could fight alongside you. Your coordination in that mud earlier was really impressive."
Light conversation flowed amid the gently rising warm steam. They discussed the earlier battle, how Sylvia’s chains had saved Alicia, the accuracy of Elara and Lira’s arrows, and the crucial power of Alicia’s debuffs. Some personal stories also emerged: Elara shared about elf archer traditions, while Sylvana shared knowledge about nature magic she had learned since childhood. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and trust, even though the secret of Sylvia and her sisters’ true identities remained closely guarded in their hearts.
The afternoon sun tilted further west, its light shining on the pool through gaps in the tree leaves, creating golden reflections on the water’s surface. Their tired bodies began to recover, muscles relaxed, and their spirit to face the dimensional rift tomorrow grew stronger. Occasional soft laughter rang out as they teased each other about the mud splashes on their faces earlier.
After soaking for a long time until their skin was slightly wrinkled, they got out of the pool and dried their bodies with towels. That night, after changing into comfortable dry clothes, they had a simple dinner in the tent: leaf bread, fruits, smoked meat, and warm herbal tea. A small campfire burned in front of the tent, illuminating their determined faces.
Tomorrow would be a decisive day. The dimensional rift waited behind the temporary seal, but tonight, they enjoyed peace and a strengthening bond of friendship amid the warm steam and the slowly fading light of the afternoon sun.