This Ascent to Divinity is Lewder than Expected (A Futa LitRPG)

5.14 - Persistent

The realization was stunning, mostly because Zoey thought her shards were, well, her own. She hadn't known that other wayfarers could enter them—or rather, she had thought the shard would reshape itself to become normal again. But maybe it didn't work like that. Maybe Zoey's presence permanently altered them. Maybe once Mel had gotten a taste of the 'more fun' way to fight, she would start integrating those challenges as a permanent feature. Zoey really needed to talk to that slimegirl as soon as possible.

"So you have been to one," Helena asked, leaning forward, somehow even more interested in this topic than the corrupted ones. For that matter, Helena probably thought the two shards were related—corrupted in different ways, but from the same root cause. The so-called 'punishment from the gods'. Zoey obviously knew better. "What was yours like? Did it include a clone?"

For the second time, Zoey was sent reeling. A clone? Not-Zoey? That was the shard Helena was talking about?

"It did!" Helena said, reading Zoey's reaction. To be fair, Zoey was so caught off guard she'd had no hope of masking it. She was still stumbling to orient to the swerve in conversation. She'd come here hoping to find someone who knew more about the corrupted shards, and while that goal seemed to have failed, she'd found someone who'd been to a lewd shard—which was its own stunning piece of information. "And did it take your own shape?"

"I—I can't believe you've also been. Sorry. Give me a second." Zoey took a moment to organize her thoughts. Should she talk with Helena about this? There didn't seem to be any major reason not to. Maybe Helena could shed some light on something—though Zoey couldn't imagine what. But even if Zoey couldn't get any practical information, she was curious what Helena's trip through a lewd shard had been like. "Yes, it did," Zoey finally settled on. "It mirrored my own body. The reflection."

"Yes! A reflection. That's what she called herself. You really were there. And did she—"

Helena paused, then blushed.

"Well, you know." She gestured down at her crotch. "Have that for you, too?"

Zoey stared at her. She could pick up the implication. In Zoey's situation, Not-Zoey had actually lost her bonus equipment. It seemed when she'd formed an encounter with Helena, she'd gained it instead.

"Yes," Zoey answered—skipping the technical correction. "This is crazy. I can't believe you've been there." It also provided some good news—it meant Helena was either second or third advancement, but probably not higher, since Not-Zoey's shard had been second. It seemed unlikely a fourth-advancement would be delving something so low. Though, could shards reshape their difficulty? The exact mechanisms of shards were hardly a well-understood topic, much less to Zoey, a foreigner.

"I can't believe you have," Helena said. She was the most excited she'd been since the start of this conversation—she had mostly seemed to be tolerating Zoey's talk of the corrupted shard. Helena glanced at Jacquelyn—Delta—as if remembering they had company, then paused. "Give us privacy, please, Jacquelyn."

Delta hesitated, sharing a look with Zoey. Delta had obviously also been shocked at the development, though standing behind Helena, hadn't been seen. Zoey had needed to stalwartly avoid looking at her to avoid giving anything away. At Delta's concerned look, Zoey imperceptibly nodded at her partner, and Delta said, "Of course. I'll be right outside."

When the door closed, an animated Helena turned back to Zoey. "So. Did you?"

"Did I ...?"

"Well, you know. Take up her offer."

"Her offer?"

"Surely it was the same. An easier boss fight in return for—you know?"

Zoey's eyes widened. "Did you?"