Collector: Blade Dance c3

Raynor looked at the gathered girls. None of them even looked around middle age. The youngest looked around 12. The oldest was no older than 25+.

On top of that, they all looked beautiful with long hair. Or shorter hair with some ornaments. All these girls were shrine maidens, and the older girls were knights who protected them.

“So does this mean these girls are mine too, like you are, Rubia?” Raynor asked his Fire Queen.

“...Umm— Umm… yes? They are Shrine maidens of Fire Temple.” The crimson-haired beauty fiddled with her robes as she answered the question.

“Hmm, I see. Well, for now, I am keeping my Queen closer to my chest.” As he said that, his hand wrapped around her waist.

His simple action made the girls start rapidly whispering while Rubia’s eyes were nearly spinning as she realised she was in close contact with a guy!

“However, I do wish to ask all of you.” He ignored Rubia’s nearly boiling looks and asked the girls who had gathered.

Since there are close to 30+ of them, he needed to ask.

“What is you wish to ask, my Lord?” The girls already accepted the absurdity that this male contracted Volcanicus. From what they understand, not even the Dark Lord could do something like this.

Dark Lord Solomon was the only male in history who could control spirits, but they all were darkness-type—nothing like this male.

“Since I contracted Volcanicus. Will you continue to serve me no matter what?” He asked them with a raised eyebrow.

His question somewhat confused them. That was when Rubia snapped out of her delirious state.

“Nothing has changed—my Lord. You wield his power now. All of it, isn't it right? Our job is to make sure you are pleased and continue to allow people to use your fire.” Rubia said that with a heavy tone. The girl saw in person how overbearing the fire of Volcanicus can be! He wasted forests, villages and fields!

‘Let me get this straight… for less than 1% of my power, I get a harem of hot chicks and a temple?’

‘Temples.’

‘Right, as in many temples.’

‘And thousands of people. Empire of Ordesia the most loyal subjects.’

Volcanicus said directly to his mind.

‘However, my power is not infinite. I don't have whatever you have. The drain on my reserves is constant. That is why we have rites, rituals, and blade dances. All of them.’

The Elemental Lord turned spirit explained to him.

Raynor chuckled as he stroked Rubia’s waist for a bit.

“Do you girls feel the same way?” He asked the gathered girls. They swiftly bowed to him in a worshipping manner.

“Y-Yes!”

“We are!”

“Please let us serve!”

They nearly begged him. It was quite an awakening call for him.

“I see. In that case, I need to reward the loyal subjects of mine.” As he said that, he smiled a bit. But the girls were confused.

They have already been awarded! They get fire and heat, and crops grow!

“B-But Lord—”

“Relax. This time, it's an award from me.” As he said that, his flaming aura surged. Volcanicus, by this point, is his primary spirit, so his aura is Raynor’s aura.

With hand motion, his energy spread out to all the gathered girls. They all looked at themselves when the energy passed. They could feel this dense energy settle into them. They quickly realised what he had just done!

He somehow made their aura denser.

“...Many thanks, my lord!” The girls gushed with excited tones. They realised that they could use their powers for longer if their Divine Energy were denser! Maybe they could last to their forties!

“Good, then we should tell the royals and other people I exist. I don't want some misunderstanding.”

“That would be for the best.” A voice said as a girl walked forward. She had purple hair and purple eyes with orange irises.

“My Lord, I am Fianna Ray Ordesia—the Second Princess of the Ordesian Empire.” She respectfully bowed to him with a slight smile on her lips. Her eyes are glittering with awe and worship towards him.

“I can approach my Royal Father in person and tell him your message,” Fianna explained what she could do for him.

“I see. Then do so. Tell him that the Fire Elemental Lord wishes to see him.” He, on purpose, didn't want to name himself in the message, and the girl understood that.

“Yes!” The purple-haired Princess happily agreed to him.

“Other Empires can approach after we sort the initial meeting with your father,” Raynor said after pondering leisurely. His plan, which he just cooked, is simply to use Ordesia as a fence. Not to make the empires just stumble upon his doorstep all of a sudden.

“Of course, as you wish.”

“Good, then, for now, you ladies can return to your duties.”

With a hand motion, the girls proceeded to leave while Fianna proceeded to prepare for her trip.

Once again, only Rubia and Raynor were left.

“...My Lo—”

He turned to the side and saw the beauty trying hard to retain her indifferent look as she was barely holding herself and not overloaded from the contact.

“Raynor~.” The Elemental Lord said while putting his finger on her lips.

This intimate action caused her eyes to spin. As she almost passed out.

Raynor saw that and pulled back his finger. He was afraid she would knock herself out.

“...R-Raynor. Is it wise to use waste energy like this? Aren't your overall reserves lower with extra use?” She was worried about his performance levels.

“It's a one-time thing, and besides, are you worried that I won't have energy afterwards?” He asked the latter part with a slightly amused tone.

“...N-No! It's just that you could use the energy for something better! Lord Volcanicus would never give such random boons like that!” Rubia swiftly explained herself.

“Hmm, I see. Why don't we talk somewhere more private?”

He asked her as he realised he wanted to talk somewhere less spacey and have this beauty all to himself!

Rubia misunderstood him here. Her blush returned with force. The girl slowly nodded; seeing her want to stand up, he released his hold and let her stand up. The beauty wordlessly motioned for him to follow her.

The teen was confused, as he could sense some strange emotions from her as they continued walking through the temple corridors.

He could sense longing, reluctance, and a barrage of emotions.

‘What is with her?’

Raynor was confused, but eventually, they arrived at a place.

Rubia opened the door and let him enter. Once he was inside, she closed the door behind her and proceeded to undress!

“...Umm… I wanted to speak with you, but if you want to do something naughty, I am all up for that.” He said with a tease, and at that moment, Rubia— passed out.

“...”

‘...’

‘Don’t get offended by her passing out. She is just too professional and takes her responsibility very seriously. All of them do. This place is the Great Fire Temple. Only the best are selected to be here.’

Volcanicus covering for Rubia only made the teen understand the Queen's value.

“I don't, and besides, she is tired of doing all those dances for you.”

‘I know. And I was not myself. Remember?’

The Fallen Elemental Lord said with a bitter voice.

After thinking about this briefly, he walked over and picked her up. He fixed her clothes in the process before placing her on the bed.  He looked at her sleeping form for a few minutes before checking the time on his wristwatch.

‘Well, time is up. I need to retreat.’

He realised that it was close to eight in the evening. He can't stick for longer.

With a mental trigger, the doors manifested, and Raynor walked through.

~~~

Raynor was lying in his bed as he was inspecting his new tattoo. He could not believe his luck! He got a literal legendary Pokemon and an army of hot chicks who used to worship the spirit! Now they worship him!

“It wouldn't be bad to take other Elemental Lords as contracted spirits.” He casually commented.

‘You can’t because I don't know where they are. When you blew up the thrones, their connection to the plane’s elements was shattered.

Even then, I didn't know where they were either way. The Darkness in the throne room was far too corruptive. We stayed away from it. But we are linked to it either way.

The corruption of madness was slow. But we succumbed to it either way because of our thrones.’

Volcanicus explained to him before commenting on his location.

‘I am more interested in your location. This plane is strange. However, I still sense our link to the throne via those peculiar doors.’

“That's how I managed to beat you. This plane is my place of origin. I picked up ideas from this place, which I utilised in the Astral Zero realm.”

Astral Zero is the realm where the spirit’s proper form resides. To summon a Spirit to the real world. Not Raynor one, but where Rubia lived, one needs a contract and Divine Energy.

The more divine energy one has, the more power of a spirit he can summon. The elemental weapon form is the apex form of manipulation of the spirit. It's making the spirit solid and morph into a weapon.

It is quite an art, but the weapons come in many shapes and sizes. It even depends on the wielder's desires.

However, his nerd size tells him he could cook something even better!

For now, Raynor decided to do something about his tattoos. The best solution for now is a hoodie or a shirt with long sleeves!

~~~~~~Next Day~~~~~~

As Raynor was in school, Rubia woke up in her bed. Her eyes were hollow; she was dead inside. The beauty has no idea what her lord will think about her unsightly behaviour! She was supposed to follow him by example! On top of all that, she was supposed to be his wife!

The crimson-haired Fire Queen looked around. He was nowhere to be seen, and on top of that, she couldn't feel his presence. The only indication that is around is that the fires are burning.

“Should I just kill myself? No, he didn't say anything.” Rubia legitimately was thinking of just ending herself right here!

She thinks that his disappearance and not being in the room is her fault. The beauty has no idea that he is on a different plane and busy with school.

The only thing she can do is to return to her dancing!

The art to appease her lord!

…

…

…

After returning from school and changing his clothes, Raynor went to the Spirit realm.

He reappeared in Rubia's room. He didn't need to look far for her, thanks to the connection. The beauty was in the main hall, where he found her originality.

“You do know that I am not mad. There is no need for you to try so hard.” He said that as he noticed she was dancing with a small group of Shrine maidens.

Instead of saying anything, they all bowed to him very respectfully.

“I-I apologise for my previous behaviour. I misunderstood the situation!” Rubia was doing dogeza, which made others follow her.

“It's fine. You ladies can leave.” He motioned for the rest to leave. The girl’s left only him and his ‘wife’.

“Lift your head and look at me.”

She followed his command without questions.

“I am not mad.” He said plainly.

“Now, take me to your room so that we can talk this time around.”

As he said that, her looks had brightened up. But she still had that embarrassed blush.

“Yes. Please follow me.” She motioned for him to follow.

This time around, her emotions were stable, and all he was feeling from her was endless relief.

After walking for a bit, they went back to her room.

“Do you wish for some tea?” She asked him hopefully.

“If it's you preparing it, then I accept.”

“Yes. Of course. I will be the one who will prepare it.” She said with a serious tone.