Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2012: Same source? (1)

Previously on Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure...

As the orc lunged toward the newly hatched qilin, a barrier of strange energy halted it, eliciting a gleeful smile from the beast as its body began to evolve toward greater power. Sensing the impending danger, Shota raised his hand to strike, but the qilin's telepathic voice urged him to stand aside, stirring an inexplicable connection between them that compelled his trust. The qilin intensified its energy, first delighting the trapped orcs before twisting their mutations into grotesque swells, forcing screams of agony as they ballooned uncontrollably and finally burst apart, contained by Shota's protective ice. In the aftermath, the qilin sought approval, leaving Shota unsettled by its ruthless efficiency and the uncanny resemblance of its power to his own divine energy.

Even though we'd handled the orcs that ambushed us, the battle was far from finished.

After all, plenty of other monsters still lurked in the area.

The orcs were the ones who'd pushed through and gotten nearest to us, yet that didn't imply no other beasts were around. Our backup had simply arrived to aid us.

While fleeing and buying time, we'd summoned help from the racial alliance, and now they were finally here.

At the moment, they were battling the remaining monsters on site.

Still, they couldn't keep the foes at bay for much longer.

A good number of monsters had pursued us already, and even more had shown up as enemy support.

The racial alliance's arrivals couldn't match the sheer volume of monsters present. They managed to stall them briefly by catching them unaware, but holding out indefinitely was impossible.

"Are there more reinforcements coming?" I questioned the figure who appeared to lead this batch from the racial alliance.

"We got here quickest, so we came first. Additional forces are en route, but it'll be a while before they join us."

I'd suspected as much upon spotting these reinforcements.

The alliance had employed their speediest transport options, but such vehicles were limited in number anyway. Thus, only so many troops could arrive via them.

This approach stemmed from uncertainty about our endurance, so they aimed to ease the strain at least.

Yet no one foresaw the monsters sending their own reinforcements.

"How many stragglers slipped away and rallied here?" I blurted out loudly enough for several to hear.

The racial alliance fighters who caught my words showed bitter expressions, yet they pressed on against the monsters.

They understood the need to endure until further aid arrived, or survival would be off the table. That's why they stayed vigilant every instant against the threats before them.

I realized too that tackling these monsters was essential, or we'd have no hope here.

However, amid the chaos of so many combatants, lending effective aid proved tricky.

Facing the forces of Destruction was one matter; clashing with monsters was another.

My divine energy only damaged corruption-fueled monsters and spared allies when used against Destruction's troops. Actually, it could even enhance our side if applied to them.

Physical strikes powered by magic or divine energy were a different story.

Those would injure our comrades, so I couldn't unleash them freely, though they formed most of my abilities.

Unbeknownst to me, I'd built myself as an area-of-effect mage type.

While pondering my options versus these beasts, the qilin spoke up again.

"Let's team up, master. I lack sufficient divine energy alone to handle them, so I require your assistance."

I shot the qilin an odd glance, having caught something peculiar in its words.

The qilin's form of address had unmistakably labeled me 'master'.

I just didn't recall forging any pact with the qilin to claim that role.

Still, this wasn't the moment to dwell on it, surrounded as we were by monsters. If I meant to clarify, it would wait until we'd cleared the threats encircling us.

"How should I proceed?" I inquired of the qilin after a brief pause.

"Simply lift me up. With our bodies touching, we can exchange our energies."

Skeptical as I was, I hoisted the qilin once it explained.

The instant I did, I grasped the qilin's intent.

Upon contact, a bond seemed to link us instantly.

I felt the qilin's strength and noticed my own power channeling into it.

Yet I sensed plainly that control remained mine.

Should I choose to halt it, the qilin couldn't draw on my energy at all.

"Let's go for it, master." The qilin declared in a lively tone, despite the terror of what lay ahead.

I stayed silent but nodded in agreement.

Right after my nod, power surged outward from the qilin.

The monsters detected it immediately, flying into a mad rage that alarmed the racial alliance's reinforcements. But they settled when I called out, "Let them through."

Dubious though they were, they obeyed me and allowed the monsters to meet the oncoming energy surge.

Yet upon impact, the monsters' faces twisted. What had been gleeful anticipation shifted to sheer terror.

They recognized the peril and felt dread, but escape proved impossible.