Tales of the Endless Empire
Chapter 151: The Followers of the Velvet Mistress

Ellen stepped out of her room, her hips swaying gracefully, a satisfied smirk curling her lips after her indulgence with dear Abigal. The remnants of pleasure still lingered in the air, but beneath it lay the delicate art of restraint.

Ellen had once again managed to take just enough without completely draining her lover's soul—a skill she had perfected over time, though it always tested her self-control.

Before the System changed everything, Ellen’s life had been a mix of glamour and calculated strategy as a successful OnlyFans model. Back then, her looks—enhanced through countless surgeries—were her most valuable currency.

Getting breast implants had been a turning point, skyrocketing her income and cementing her status in the industry. But when the System came, it stripped her of all those artificial augmentations, leaving her with her unaltered self. For a while, she had felt lost.

That was until she met Amalia. Amalia had been her savior, guiding her to earn a blessing from their patron. It was a gift that transformed her life, reshaping her body into an unparalleled vision of beauty.

Her allure became otherworldly, irresistible to most, and her mere presence commanded attention. She no longer needed cosmetic enhancements—her beauty was a weapon, a tool of seduction and control that even the System couldn’t take from her.

Walking the streets now, Ellen could feel the weight of their gazes. People turned their heads, unable to resist a second look as she passed. Her beauty alone was enough to sway most minds, but it was her abilities that made her truly dangerous.

With her blessing, she could invade her targets’ souls, leaving a part of herself embedded within them. Once entwined, their resistance crumbled, and they became puppets to her will.

Her skills were as varied as they were potent. A single touch, prolonged eye contact, or the mere presence of her aura could ensnare her prey. Yet the true art lay in restraint—devouring a soul too quickly could kill the target, which wasn’t always the goal.

Abigal, for instance, was too valuable to lose. Ellen cherished her deeply, though their dynamic was far from equal. Abigal’s complete devotion made her an ideal partner, and Ellen took care to preserve her, even as she fed on her essence.

This time, however, Ellen had taken a little more than usual. Abigal’s recovery would take days, during which Ellen would ensure her protection.

Feeding on her had been worth it—Ellen gained an entire level from the exchange—but she knew better than to push her limits with someone so loyal. For Abigal, the experience was euphoric, leaving her soul thrumming with pleasure for days. Ellen almost envied her.

As she left The Crimson Lounge in the care of her other followers—four women blessed by their shared patron—Ellen reflected on how far she’d come. These women, though weaker than her, were still formidable and capable of defending the establishment if needed.

The city had its share of radicals who occasionally caused trouble, attempting to exploit the girls working there. Most of the workers weren’t aware of the true nature of the blessings bestowed on Ellen and her closest confidantes, nor did they need to be. They were content, subtly influenced by Ellen’s abilities, and any potential disruptions were swiftly handled.

Ellen’s steps were deliberate, her long legs moving with an elegance that left nothing to the imagination. Her dress, a masterstroke of temptation, clung to her curves and shimmered with each step. She could feel the weight of eyes on her as she walked, a thrill she never tired of.

It was hard for her to not just devour all those cuties or release her aura and make them shiver with pleasure. Maybe in the future, but they couldn’t conquer the whole city before the fight against the undead.

The undead countered them pretty well since they couldn’t really be seduced or slept with, which was necessary to properly feed on their souls. Their target needed to be completely submissive and under their control.

Of course, they could dominate them without sleeping with them, but it wouldn’t feel as good otherwise. Also it would be much harder and some of the energy would be lost, they would only act like that if they had to. However, in her short life in the tutorial, it had never happened.

As she strolled through the bustling streets, Ellen’s thoughts wandered to Amalia. Her mentor was leagues ahead of her, with beauty and power that outshone even Ellen’s formidable charm.

Amalia had slaves with incredibly strong souls, each one a testament to her dominance and a source of immense experience. Ellen couldn’t help but admire her, though she also felt a spark of ambition. One day, perhaps, she might reach such heights herself.

For now, her priority was keeping her operation running smoothly, protecting her chosen, and playing her part in the larger game.

As she walked, a few men and women approached her, their eyes brimming with interest, but she simply directed them to The Crimson Lounge with a sly smile. She wouldn’t say no to such cuties, but now wasn’t the time.

The thought of those eager admirers waiting for her back at the lounge brought a mischievous grin to her lips. It promised to be a feast, both figuratively and literally, and Ellen firmly believed a girl could never have too many admirers.

As she turned the corner, the imposing sight of a massive black building came into view. Red decorations framed the entrance like a beacon of indulgence.

This was Amalia’s domain, a hub where the young Blessed were trained and housed. Two barely dressed women stood on either side of the door, their gazes sharp despite their alluring attire. They nodded in recognition before opening the grand entrance for her.

Ellen’s smile deepened. Feeding on their own workers without a blessing was commonplace here, a practice that kept the women both happy and perpetually... receptive. It was just good business, she mused as she stepped through the doors.

Inside was a vast chamber filled with decadent energy. A bar lined the right wall, and grand staircases stretched upward at the center, leading to the upper floors. Beautiful women mingled everywhere, their charm intoxicating. It took all of Ellen’s willpower not to snatch one up and lose herself in the hedonistic atmosphere.

Behind the bar, several women worked with effortless grace, each radiating the unmistakable aura of the Blessed. Ellen approached one of them with a warm smile.

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It was Shizuka, a familiar face and one of Amalia’s earliest protégées.

Human Level 76

“Hello, Shizuka. It’s wonderful to see you again—you’ve grown so much since last time” Ellen said sweetly, her tone like honey.

Shizuka returned the smile, her expression tinged with pride. “Ellen, glad to see you too. You should visit us more often.”

“Amalia’s in room thirty-four, teaching one of the young ones,” Shizuka added, a glint of amusement in her eyes.

Ellen’s lips curved into a sly grin. “Then I’ll pay her a visit before the gathering. I’ve got important news—and honestly, it’s always a treat to see Amalia in action.”

“Have fun,” Shizuka said with a wink, joined by the girl beside her, their teasing laughter following Ellen as she ascended the staircase.

Anticipation quickened Ellen’s heartbeat as she made her way upward. Even she couldn’t entirely quell the flutter of excitement at the thought of seeing Amalia.

When she reached the door to room thirty-four, Ellen took a breath before pushing it open—and immediately felt heat rise to her cheeks.

Inside, a scene of decadent beauty unfolded. Three women lay sprawled on an opulent bed, all naked. At the center was a tall, lean woman with short brown hair, her body trembling as moans escaped her lips.

Above her, a red-haired beauty kissed her softly, her movements languid and deliberate. The contrast between the two was striking—where the woman on the bottom had a lithe frame and small breasts, the other had voluptuous curves that seemed designed to captivate.

On the bed’s edge, watching with a calm, predatory air, was the most breathtaking woman Ellen had ever seen. She reclined on her side, her long black hair cascading over one shoulder, her full red lips curved in an indulgent smile. One hand played gently with the short-haired woman’s locks while the other traced idle patterns across her own flawless skin.

“Ellen,” Amalia purred, her voice smooth and commanding. “Why don’t you come over here? I’m guessing you have something important to share... or did you just want an excuse to see me naked again?”

The words were playful, but there was an edge of steel beneath them.

Ellen’s steps were hesitant as she crossed the room, her gaze flickering between the writhing figures on the bed and Amalia’s piercing eyes. She settled opposite her mentor, the air between them charged with unspoken tension.

The short-haired woman on the bed seemed to relax under Amalia’s touch, her cries softening, even as the red-haired one grew more insistent. It was a delicate dance, but Amalia controlled it effortlessly.

When she noticed the balance tipping too far—when the woman beneath her seemed at risk of breaking entirely—she intervened with a touch, soothing the fiery passion of her partner with practiced ease.

“So,” Amalia murmured, trailing her fingers down the other woman’s chest with lazy precision, “what news do you bring that’s so pressing you had to interrupt my lesson? Or...” Her smile widened into something wicked. “Was this just an excuse to bask in my presence?”

Ellen returned the grin, forcing herself to maintain composure. “A little of both, I suppose,” she replied, her voice light with amusement. “My shapeshifter, Abigal, brought me information about Thalion. I thought you’d want to know, since you’ve been so... keen on learning more about him.”

Amalia’s eyes gleamed with interest, though her hands never ceased their languid movements. “Oh, darling,” she whispered, her tone dripping with anticipation. “You’ve certainly piqued my curiosity. Do go on. What new information have you uncovered? It might prove crucial, especially with the skyships on the horizon."

"I’m afraid it’s not much, just some details about his water form," Ellen replied, leaning in as well. She began recounting everything Abigail had shared with her earlier.

With every word, Amalia’s smile widened. The woman was utterly obsessed with Thalion. Ellen couldn’t blame her; having such a powerful individual under one’s control promised countless advantages.

Still, Thalion seemed to be guarding numerous secrets, and they needed to uncover every last one before making their move. Garrick and Michael had been effortlessly defeated by the man, despite the stark difference in their levels. It was clear they were dealing with someone extraordinary.

Rumors hinted at a confrontation when the skyships from the other human bases arrived. The ideal outcome for Amalia and her followers would be a single victor and the unification of all the bases under one banner. Such consolidation would allow them to gather more slaves—and, with them, greater influence in the city.

Their power had already grown considerably since their arrival. They now had informants in key positions, even among the council members, who whispered every detail of what was happening within the base.

Unfortunately, Thalion’s reluctance to change much had stymied their progress. He often delegated tasks to Kaldrek or Maike, making it nearly impossible to sway decisions in their favor.

They had tried to approach Kaldrek countless times, but to no avail. A single misstep with someone that close to Thalion could mean death. None of them wanted to end up like the shapeshifters in the training hall or the rebels outside the base.

Minutes later, Ellen and Amalia left the room, their expressions composed, and headed to the real meeting with the followers of their goddess. There was much to discuss—particularly the coming war with the undead and how to infiltrate the other human camps.

As they pushed open the tall doors, they stepped into a grand chamber where over a dozen of the most stunning women in the tutorial were already seated, their beauty a testament to their patron’s blessing.

Ellen and Amalia took their places at the round table, signaling the start of the meeting. The focus quickly shifted to the incoming skyships and the commander leading them.

According to their intelligence, the commander possessed a legendary blessing and was a formidable warrior, unmatched in skill, speed, and strength throughout the tutorial.

"What do you think Thalion will do? Does he even stand a chance in a fight?" one woman asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Thalion will be helpless against a level 80 with a legendary blessing who has done nothing but fight and train since entering the tutorial," Ellen suggested, and most of the room nodded in agreement.

"But Thalion has the numbers on his side," Amalia interjected, her voice thoughtful. "He’s far too cunning to agree to a duel or engage in direct combat with someone of that caliber."

The door suddenly swung open. One of the serving girls burst into the room, her face pale, her eyes wide with panic.

"I bring urgent news," she stammered. "Thalion has agreed to a duel, and it’s happening now."

"He did what?" Amalia exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief. Shock rippled through the room as the women exchanged startled glances.

"Do we have a communication crystal in the area?" Ellen asked sharply. "We need to see what’s happening."

Moments later, the scene materialized before them: Thalion descended to the battlefield, his movements calm and deliberate, while his opponent radiated an aura so intense it made the very air tremble.

"Why is he hiding his aura? Is… is he weaker?" one of the women murmured, perplexed.

Amalia’s eyes narrowed, a predatory smile curling her lips. "Perhaps we can exploit their exhaustion after the fight," she said, her voice a low purr.

"I doubt Thalion has a chance," Shizuka remarked, her gaze fixed on the image of the two combatants. The challenger, radiating raw power, made the ground beneath him shudder with every step, while Thalion appeared unnervingly composed, his aura entirely suppressed.

The duel began.

"How can he be this skilled with a sword?" Ellen muttered, her voice barely audible over the tension in the room.

Thalion moved with surgical precision, controlling the flow of the battle with ease. His opponent, despite his overwhelming strength, was unable to land a decisive blow. The room fell silent as they watched in awe, their disbelief mounting with every passing second.

The challenger, armed with a massive staff, was slowly but methodically dismantled. The battle ended with Thalion’s blade slicing cleanly through his opponent’s neck, the severed head landing beside the man’s lifeless body. Without so much as a glance back, Thalion vanished from the battlefield.

"I guess we won’t be making any moves today," Ellen muttered, her tone heavy with disbelief. "He didn’t even seem challenged in that fight."

The women turned their attention back to the meeting, shifting their focus to how best to navigate the shifting power dynamics in the aftermath of such a display. Yet, before they could settle on a plan, the tall doors swung open again.

This time, another serving girl rushed in, her face pale with fear.

"Thalion… Thalion has appeared outside the Crimson Lounge," she exclaimed, her voice trembling.

All eyes turned to Amalia, whose smile slowly widened, her mind already racing with possibilities.