Abigail stood naked in the changing room.
This was Fort 88, the private shower room assigned to her.
It had taken her half a month to reach Fort 88 after confirming she was a former Earthpint. The treatment she received had changed dramatically.
Along the way, she had passed through Jévodan's hideout, where she was fortunate enough to gather supplies. Even after parting ways, she felt a strange connection and reassurance, as if she were still under Jévodan's protection.
Soon, she would be asked to report on her past experiences.
A survivor of the alien stronghold.
Humanity would not let this go unnoticed.
"Haa…"
Abigail had not intended to return to the Fort after her escape.
She planned to flee somewhere far away and live quietly.
The dream she shared with Jévodan was genuine.
But what changed her mind was, once again, Jévodan's presence.
Jévodan was—
Human. There was no doubt.
In the end, she couldn't ask directly.
The thought of having to accept that answer made it impossible to ask. She was too afraid.
So, she continued to probe for clues about Jévodan's identity in their conversations.
She already had enough pieces to form a theory:
Jévodan could use Morse code, suggesting a military background or a similar profession.
They knew how to survive in nature, indicating a frontline soldier rather than a defender. They might also be from a colony, but Jévodan seemed familiar with the Fort's military structure, suggesting a significant career in the Fort's army.
From the efficiency of the Echo Team facility raid, it was clear Jévodan was once a renowned skilled fighter. They had single-handedly destroyed three Ripley heavy mechanized infantry units—an incredible feat, even for a Butcher. Only a master scout or special forces operative could achieve such a thing.
Based on their conversations, Jévodan likely belonged to a Fort. The alien city they encountered was originally Fort 89, so Fort 88 was undoubtedly connected.
Jévodan claimed to have lost their memory, but the way their memories were fragmented suggested the memory loss occurred around the time of the Fort 89 defense battle. This aligned with Jévodan's claim of waking up two or three years ago.
Whether Jévodan truly had no memories was uncertain.
It seemed more likely that most memories remained, with only a few missing. Abigail believed this was closer to the truth.
Her suspicion was reinforced when Jévodan unnaturally corrected a statement after she asked why they could speak.
At that moment, Jévodan lied to Abigail, hiding their true identity. Her sharp observation didn't miss it.
Jévodan wasn't memory-loss at all.
They remembered themselves.
But they hid it. Why?
Despite becoming the Butcher, Jévodan had maintained their humanity for years in a hostile environment, alone and without conversation. That unyielding spirit was extraordinary.
What sustained them? A thirst for freedom?
What did Jévodan want to do once free?
The excessive weapons and devices in their secret base—what were they for?
Jévodan was likely a renowned scout or special forces operative from Fort 89 or Fort 88, who participated in the Fort 89 defense battle and was declared KIA.
If she could narrow it down this far, she could find them.
But—
Most records of the Fort 89 defense battle, including the soldiers involved, had been erased. Abigail's investigation yielded nothing.
Her intelligence efforts to uncover Jévodan's identity had hit a dead end.
"I'll have to ask around…"
Instead of searching records, she would question those involved at the time.
It was a suicidal act, as she would be exposing her quest for hidden, inconvenient truths.
She looked at her naked reflection in the mirror.
Her body was perfectly proportioned, with smooth curves.
Long golden hair cascaded down her back.
All of it had been conquered by that beast.
Her mouth, vagina, and anus—though spared, her tongue had been inserted several times. Her palms, fingers, toes, thighs, abdomen, navel, breasts, neck, face, and every strand of hair.
Her soul was pierced, and her deepest femininity was defiled.
Again and again, her mind was overwritten.
Recalling those intense, decadent days in that prison made the lingering embers in her core smolder.
"Haa…"
Abigail scratched her head and pulled a larger-than-usual makeup pouch from the drawer.
She unzipped it, revealing a small spider.
It was a Tarantula, slightly smaller than usual, with a distinctive stripe down its back.
His name was Niblo.
She hadn't heard it from anyone; the spider had introduced himself.
Niblo tapped the sink.
*"Big sis, food, please."*
Abigail offered a piece of meat, and Niblo raised his front legs in gratitude, devouring it eagerly.
Niblo was an extraordinary spider, proficient in Morse code.
According to Niblo, he was originally a familiar of Titania and had been named by Jévodan, making him connected to Jévodan as well.
At that moment, a memory flashed in her mind.
She had seen Niblo peering at her from inside Jévodan's mouth while being impaled.
That moment made her realize she had a rival for survival and that she must fully devote herself to Jévodan to secure her future.
In a way, she owed her life to Niblo. Without that realization, she wouldn't have gained Jévodan's protection.
Niblo—a special spider gifted by Titania.
Jévodan's familiar.
He seemed to have inherited some of Jévodan's skills, which allowed him to use Morse code. However, he didn't share memories or communicate with Jévodan from a distance.
But if she got close, she could pinpoint Jévodan's location, and if they were in physical contact, she could sense their thoughts. That was the nature of familiars.
Niblo had clung to her back during their escape from the cell.
She only noticed him when they reached Jévodan's hideout.
In the dimly lit cave, a spider suddenly appeared in a spotlight, doing a cheerful dance and tapping the floor.
Abigail immediately understood the spider wanted to communicate.
The residual energy of her and Jévodan's twisted, lustful life in that hideout had heightened their sensitivity to Morse code.
*"Why did you follow me, Niblo?"*
Even Niblo didn't seem to know.
He had intended to jump onto Jévodan but ended up on Abigail's back.
Abigail instinctively felt it was Jévodan's will.
Jévodan needed her help, somewhere deep inside.
It might have been wishful thinking.
But she believed it.
Jévodan didn't belong in the cruel human world.
They would be better off in nature, living peacefully like a wild animal, part of the natural flow.
Her brief time living with Jévodan had taught her that.
Jévodan's back in the hideout was that of a peaceful person living in the mountains.
The more she learned, the clearer it became that Jévodan's moral compass was deeply rooted.
Her sympathy for Jévodan gradually turned into trust as she saw glimpses of humanity in their actions.
But it was fragile.
She had witnessed fragments of Jévodan's shattered thoughts.
She needed to meet Jévodan again—
And uncover their true identity.
Perhaps it was the key to restoring Jévodan's humanity.
She didn't believe true love could break Jévodan's curse, like in *Beauty and the Beast*. But she was certain only she could support their humanity.
Jévodan's humanity must not be destroyed.
Abigail leaned on the sink, staring intently at her reflection. She sighed and whispered a name.
"Titania…"
The Dominion, rulers of the giant insects.
Her eyes held a chilling glint, typical of a woman using a man, yet also a feverish passion of a woman in love.
Abigail knew little about Titania. Rumors among Earthpints spoke of a Fort fallen to dominant aliens, but that was all.
However, during her journey back to the Fort, Niblo's (somewhat boastful) tale of his adventurous mission provided her with valuable insights and entertainment.
Niblo's story began with the tragic death of a respected senior spider, crushed in an accident.
After the terrifying incident in Jévodan's mouth and the "fun time" event, Niblo crossed the interdimensional gate alone, traveled through Mifosis, and sought an audience with the great spider *Inceptura Ventricosus*, leader of the giant insect remnants. He reported Titania's survival and location, requesting military reorganization for the impending battle. Mission accomplished. Promotion assured.
During his long journey home, Niblo, weak from hunger, smelled an intense blood scent in the forest. Desperate, he followed it and stumbled upon Jévodan in a blood-soaked frenzy.
Starving, Niblo begged for meat, but his plea was misinterpreted as a request to leave skin for *Skin Disguise*. Though not what he meant, his advice was later praised as brilliant.
For this, Niblo was honored with the name Niblo.
He neglected his report to Titania, transferred to the "meat department," and became Jévodan's favorite. With each plea, he received ample meat. Under his new boss, Niblo's career soared.
But then, silver butterfly juniors arrived at the meat department. Niblo, arrogant, refused to share meat with the larvae. However, their message from the Big Boss shook him.
Additional orders: work or face execution. Had the Big Boss seen through his defection to Jévodan for meat? Terrified, Niblo steeled himself.
Thus, Niblo joined forces with the silver butterflies to gather intelligence on Jévodan's self-destruct device.
But the silver butterfly, nearly an adult, was killed by the elf Turyal.
As Niblo watched his subordinate's body disintegrate, he felt a deep rage. Later, when Turyal was killed by Jévodan, Niblo felt satisfaction and even ate some of the flesh.
Grieving, Niblo drank heavily. Meanwhile, the remaining three silver butterflies discovered the location of the control device's data.
Hearing this, Niblo threw down his bottle and resolved to act.
He couldn't let his subordinate's death be in vain.
Niblo raced through the night, surviving a battle with feral cats and narrowly escaping a swarm of bat-like beasts, thanks to the silver butterflies' support.
In the dim alley, silver scales glittered as the bats fell. Niblo, caught in the chaos, fled desperately.
But he was cunning. He infiltrated the facility by exploiting an employee's curiosity.
Inside, he faced a gang of crickets, the *Fire Gryllodea*.
After a tense standoff, Niblo's passionate plea moved the crickets, who valued revenge stories. They agreed to help.
With their aid, Niblo uncovered Jévodan's self-destruct device secrets.
The crucial incantation was entrusted to the crickets, who vowed to avenge the silver butterfly.
Niblo, the unsung hero, returned to Jévodan's shop at dawn, his mission complete.
Abigail found herself admiring Niblo.
*"Should you be telling me this? Won't Titania be angry?"*
*"Dangerous, dangerous, secret, hush-hush, dangerous, execution."*
Though Niblo's position was precarious, Abigail learned much.
Titania had undoubtedly helped Jévodan.
But why?
Regardless, leaving Jévodan solely to Titania was risky.
Her woman's intuition warned of a dark future—only destruction.
She needed to meet Jévodan again.
To confirm something—
Her heart raced as she clutched her chest.
Abigail sent Niblo to gather information and entered the shower.
She turned on the faucet.
Cold water hit her face, then warmed into a soothing stream. The heat enveloped her, bringing comfort.
As she focused on the sensations, a phantom scent filled her nostrils—an intoxicating aroma.
"Haa…"
These nightly memories were her only solace.
Recollections of being brutally violated by a beast, yet experiencing ecstasy.
"Jévodan…"
As a child, she was warned: "If you're bad, Jévodan will come."
During the annual festival, children competed to portray the most terrifying Jévodan, a status symbol.
"Haa…"
Her lost sister excelled at imitating Jévodan.
In her sealed childhood memories, a small girl vividly reenacted Jévodan's roar.
A treasure she couldn't protect.
Jévodan's lonely, fierce roar in the night sky triggered these painful memories.
Jévodan's voice—
Through Lydia, it sounded like a young soldier's, yet also a husky woman's. She attributed it to Lydia's mediation.
But now, she wondered—
Abigail shook her head, dismissing the unsettling thought.
She needed to meet Jévodan again.
To confirm something—
"Jévodan…"
A woman's voice, longing for the beast.
Her slender fingers traced her wet body, disappearing into the thicket.
"…Mmm, ahh…"
The shower's sound mixed with indecent noises.
(End of Vol 1)