CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER : 38 : TAIL LOCKDOWN - THE BONDING!

"MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII~!!!"

Fluffnugget’s shriek tore through the dungeon like a unicorn-powered siren.

It lunged again—its glittery puff body spinning like a lethal marshmallow drill. Its tiny ears flapped in the wind. Sparkle engines engaged.

Aiden cursed under his breath. "Oh crap. Incoming fluff torpedo!"

"IT IS FLYING TOWARDS HER!?" Lysandra screamed in horror, her legs still wrapped around him.

But Luna didn’t move.

"Luna! What are you—"

Too late.

She spun to glance over her shoulder.

Her tail flicked.

And Fluffnugget, midair, slammed directly into it.

POMF.

Everyone stopped.

Time paused.

Even the air seemed to hold its breath.

Luna blinked.

Fluffnugget blinked.

And then...

"Prrrrrrrrrrrrr..."

The murderous sparkle demon—now gently snuggled into the base of Luna’s tail—began vibrating.

Luna’s ears shot straight up.

Ivy gasped.

Aiden, still cradling a wide-eyed Lysandra, slowly raised an eyebrow.

"...It’s purring," he said.

"It’s what now?" Lysandra asked, disbelieving.

"Purring. Like a cat. On her tail."

Luna didn’t move. She looked down, dumbfounded, as the glitter-rabbit thing rubbed its face into her fur.

"...It likes my tail," she whispered. "Master... it’s nuzzling my soul."

Aiden’s system pinged.

---

SYSTEM PROMPT

Emotional Imprint: Successful

Proceed with Petification Protocol?

[YES] / [NO]

---

Aiden stared at it.

"...We’re actually doing this," he muttered, and tapped [YES].

BOOOOOOOOOOOF!!!

A flash of pastel light exploded around Fluffnugget. Ribbons of magic coiled like cotton candy, wrapping its form. Sparkles rained. Ivy screamed in joy. Luna looked like she’d ascended to a higher plane.

And then—poof.

Floating gently down into Luna’s waiting arms... was a chibi version of Fluffnugget. Tiny. Round. Adorably useless.

"Mii~?" it squeaked, snuggling its face into her chest.

Luna’s eyes filled with shimmering stars. "He’s PERFECT."

Ivy was already pulling paper and crayons out of nowhere. "I’m making him a crown!!"

---

Aiden let out a long breath, arms finally relaxing as the last glittery sparkles drifted down like confetti from the apocalypse. He gently lowered Lysandra back to the ground.

She didn’t budge.

Still latched onto him like a clingy, blushing koala.

Her face was buried in his chest, glowing red from ears to neck. He could feel the heat radiating off her cheeks.

"You can let go now," he murmured, voice soft.

"I need a moment," she mumbled into his shirt, clutching the fabric like it might save her life. "My pride took critical damage. Dignity system rebooting..."

Aiden chuckled, warm and quiet.

After a few seconds, Lysandra very reluctantly released him. She stumbled back a single step, swaying slightly before stiffening her posture like a soldier forcing herself into parade rest. Hands on hips. Chin high. Eyebrows wobbling.

"Well. That... was horrifying," she said, trying to sound regal.

"Definitely unforgettable," Aiden replied, casually brushing a streak of glitter off his shoulder.

"I nearly died five times."

"You nearly deafened me twelve."

"You got way too familiar with my body!"

"I was trying not to die!"

"You grabbed my everything!"

"You squashed your everything into my everything!"

Lysandra opened her mouth to retort—paused—then let out a defeated groan and muttered, "...Fine. Valid."

They both looked up as Luna lifted the now-chibi Fluffnugget above her head like a tiny fluffy deity.

"Fluffnugget," Luna declared solemnly, "you are now my son."

Ivy gasped, throwing both hands to her cheeks. "Does that make me his aunt?!"

The puffball blinked up at them, snuggled into Luna’s chest. "Mii~!"

Aiden gave up trying to understand and sat down on a cracked piece of rubble. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing.

Lysandra stood frozen for a second... then, with a slightly flustered grunt, sat beside him.

Not next to him.

Beside him.

Knee brushing his. Shoulder nearly touching.

She didn’t speak right away.

He waited.

Then, after a breath—

"...Thanks," she whispered.

Aiden turned to glance at her. "Hm?"

"For... all of it," she said, staring straight ahead, face still flushed. "For not dropping me. For keeping me close. For shielding me. With your body. And your... everything."

Aiden smiled. "Hey. That’s what future husbands are for, right?"

Her eyes snapped toward him, wide. "Wh-Wh-What—!?"

"I said future. Calm down."

"I am very calm!"

"Sure you are."

"I’m not agreeing to anything just because you carried me like a bride and stared into my soul for ten minutes straight!"

"Yet."

"Stop saying ’yet!’"

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "You’re still blushing."

"I’m blushing from trauma!"

"Pretty adorable trauma."

"Shut. Up."

Silence again.

Then, even softer—

"...You smell kinda good," she mumbled. "For someone who was running and yelling and being a moron."

He tilted his head, grinning. "That sounds dangerously close to a compliment."

"It’s not. It’s a statement."

"Uh-huh."

Lysandra glanced at him for half a second... then looked away, nose scrunched.

"...Stupid charming idiot," she muttered under her breath.

He heard it. Smiled wider.

She caught the smile and swatted at his arm. "Stop grinning like that!"

"Can’t help it. I’m sitting next to a very cute, very royal, very flustered goblin."

"Do you want to get slapped again?"

"I’d risk it."

Lysandra crossed her arms with a pout, turning her face away... but not moving an inch farther.

Her knee stayed pressed lightly against his.

Aiden leaned back and looked up at the cracked, glitter-dusted wall with a dramatic groan.

"Gods. I tamed a glitter-powered bomb-rabbit with a tail touch. What even is my life?"

Beside him, Lysandra snorted—then let out a very undignified giggle she immediately tried to hide.

"You’re going to end up with a whole army of sparkle demons and overly affectionate murder pets," she muttered.

"Don’t tempt me," he sighed.

"...And maybe a very emotionally unstable goblin princess," she added, so softly he almost missed it.

Aiden turned his head toward her.

She didn’t meet his gaze.

But she didn’t take it back either.

He smiled again—smaller this time. Warmer.

"...I think I already have one."

Her cheeks flushed again—brighter than before.

"...Shut up," she whispered.

But her lips curved into the gentlest of smiles.

---

Meanwhile...

Luna held baby Fluffnugget to her chest, eyes gleaming with maternal joy.

"I shall raise him to be a mighty killer of adorableness," she whispered.

Ivy gasped. "Can I teach him to do little dances?"

"Yes. But only evil ones."

"Agreed!"

The chibi creature squeaked, yawned, and curled into a ball of fluff.

Luna pressed him between her breasts like a warm little marshmallow and rubbed his ears gently.

"He is mine now," she whispered with terrifying serenity. "Anyone who says otherwise... dies."

Ivy clapped.

Aiden didn’t even look anymore. "I’m not saving anyone if that puffball goes rogue again."

"I’ll write a royal decree," Lysandra said beside him. "No more sparkle-beasts unless I approve them."

"...You’re gonna approve the next one, aren’t you?"

"Only if it doesn’t try to murder me."

"I’ll take that as a maybe."

---

WAVE TWO CLEARED.

Kill Count: 14 / 100 (One Petified)

SYSTEM NOTICE:

XP Gained:

Aiden: +500 EXP

Luna: +150 EXP

Ivy: +50 EXP

Bond Points (Luna): +6

Bond Points (Ivy): +4

New Companion : Flyffynugget

---

Aiden’s system blinked quietly in the corner of his vision—still glowing faintly with victory prompts, heart meters, and sparkly pop-up notifications that he couldn’t bring himself to care about right now.

He exhaled and let himself flop back onto the glitter-smeared marble floor with a low groan, arms spread, head tilted toward the ceiling.

Lysandra blinked down at him, standing just to his side.

"...Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft but teasing.

"No," Aiden said flatly. "I’ve lost control of my harem, my pride, and now I’ve officially bonded with a glitter-rocket through a tail fetish. I think I hit rock bottom."

"You never had control to begin with."

"Ouch."

She gave him a smug little smile. "Want me to kiss it better?"

He blinked up at her.

She immediately panicked. "I-I meant metaphorically! Obviously!"

"Mhm."

"Stop smirking at me like that!"

"I didn’t say anything."

"You didn’t have to!"

He chuckled and flung one arm over his eyes dramatically.

Lysandra hesitated for a moment—then slowly stepped closer. She sat down beside him with exaggerated poise... only to immediately lean sideways and rest her head on his shoulder with a tiny, bashful sigh.

Their arms touched. Her cheek brushed his sleeve. Neither of them moved away.

"...Thanks," she murmured. "For everything."

Aiden tilted his head, lifting his arm slightly so he could see her face.

"Even the accidental boob grabbing?"

She squeaked. "Especially not that!"

He laughed. "So just the carrying and shielding, huh?"

"...And the holding," she admitted quietly.

Aiden blinked.

Her voice was softer now—like it might vanish if she said too much. "I’ve never been held like that before. Like I was something to protect. Not just... something political."

"Lysandra..."

She sat up slightly. Just enough to look at him.

Their eyes met.

Her cheeks flushed—but this time, she didn’t look away.

"I’m still a princess," she said gently, "and my father still has plans for us... but..."

She leaned closer. Her lips brushed his cheek—soft, warm, and so quick it was like the world paused just long enough for him to feel it.

Then she gasped, realized what she’d done, and immediately ducked her head against his chest with a flustered whimper.

"I-I didn’t mean to—! I mean, I meant to, but—! Oh goddess, kill me now—!"

Aiden blinked.

Then, slowly, he wrapped his arms around her—one arm cradling her shoulders, the other resting over her hands as they clutched at his shirt.

"Ly."

She froze.

"You’re allowed to want this."

Her fingers curled into his chest.

"I..." she whispered. "If you asked... I think I’d go with you. Without permission. Without a crown. Just... with you."

Aiden’s eyes widened slightly.

Then softened.

He pulled her closer, resting his chin lightly on her head as she curled up into him.

"You really mean that?"

"I hate how much I mean it," she mumbled into his chest. "But yes."

He smiled into her hair.

"I wouldn’t take you away," he murmured. "I’d just... make it impossible for you to want to stay."

Her breath hitched—and then she laughed. Quietly. Shakily.

"That’s dangerously romantic, Beast Tamer."

"I’m a dangerous man."

"You’re a soft pillow with too many muscles."

"I’m taking that as a compliment."

"You should."

They stayed like that for a while. Warm. Close. Safe. The glitter had finally settled, and the air smelled faintly like strawberries and heat.

It was the first moment of peace in what felt like hours.

A distant voice shattered it:

"MIIIIIIIIIIII~!!"

"HE LOOKED AT ME!!" Ivy Cried.

Lysandra winced. "That was Ivy."

"I think he’s proposing again."

Another voice followed.

"HE’S ASLEEP, IVY!!"

"THEN I’LL DRAW HIS DREAMS!!"

Aiden groaned and peeked out from under his arm. "Gods. We are so screwed when the next wave starts."

Lysandra just giggled—and didn’t let go.

---

END OF Chapter : 38 : TAIL LOCKDOWN - THE BONDING!

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