Level Up: Voidwalker-Chapter 350: Sun-Scorched Expanse.

Atlas watched the horrible weather lash the world outside until Amethyst's voice echoed through the cave. ''Come to bed, my love. It's getting cold out here.''

He shivered as the breeze brushed against his body. He jumped up, making his way toward the tent. Once inside, the nine girls converged on him, their warmth keeping the cold at bay. Moments later, Medusa transformed into her snake form, but much smaller, just like Noorah.

The two women curled up inside his shirts as the other seven looked amused. Grishan was the first to speak. ''Looks like they found their spot, it's a shame I don't have a small form.''

Just as those words left the Orcs' lips, Amethyst, Luna, and Nulia all transformed into smaller versions of their normal forms. This shocked everyone else as Artemis complained. ''This is unfair, I forgot those three are shifters.''

Atlas's laugh echoed through the cozy tent, a warm counterpoint to the playful grumbling of his girls. Amethyst was no larger than a cat, nuzzled into the crook of his neck, her feathers glinting. She let out a happy hum that vibrated against his skin as it settled in, eyes half-lidded in blissful comfort.

Nulia wriggled her way into the folds of his loose shirt, her tiny form finding a perfect nook against his side. With a satisfied sigh, she curled up, her gentle snores soon mingling with the crackle of the fire as she drifted into a peaceful slumber. Above him, Luna sprawled languidly across the crown of his head, her paws dangling playfully.

She leaned down, her rough tongue swiping affectionately across his cheek, leaving a warm trail, making Atlas's grin widen. His eyes glowed with fondness as he reached out, gently pulling Grishna and Artemis closer, their bodies nestling into the warmth of his sides. Grishna's short black hair spilled over his shoulder, her quiet strength grounding him, while Artemis's slender body pressed close, her breath soft and steady.

Estelle draped herself across his thigh, her limbs stretched out as she basked in the moment's peace, her blue eyes glinting with quiet amusement. Meanwhile, Lilith, ever unpredictable, turned into her Honey Badger form, her compact, muscular body radiating defiance even in action.

She scrambled onto his broad chest, circling once before settling, letting out a pleased huff, claiming her place atop her boy, sharp claws carefully sheathed. The tent hummed with the gentle rhythm of their breathing, the soft rustle of fur and feathers. His smile widened, a quiet joy settling over him as he lay in a chaotic tangle.

Atlas soon fell asleep just as thunder boomed overhead; the waves finally vanished, allowing them to continue traveling toward the Achaemenid Empire to cause trouble for the ever-growing power as the war in Astoria intensified. By the time he woke up, the weather had calmed down, prompting him to cast Void Step to get out of the tangle of limbs, thanks to Lilith returning to her human form.

He reappeared outside the tent, but the Honey Badger beauty was still clinging to him, her bright yellow eyes glowing with amusement as she teased. ''You think using magic to get away will stop me? You have the one idea, darling.''

''Shut up, you,'' he replied, slapping her toned ass. ''Why would I try to get away from you, Lily? You're my girl.''

Lilith's face glowed at his words, and she surged forward, capturing him in a passionate kiss. When they parted, she leapt down, and the pair stepped outside, only to be met with a scene of utter chaos. House-sized boulders were strewn across the scarred landscape, deep gouges carved through the earth thanks to the wave's power.

''Looks like the end of the world, but at least we won't have trouble traveling toward the dog's homeland,'' the white-haired young woman said, eyes glowing, excitedly. ''I can't wait to kill more of them.''

Atlas chuckled at this before scanning the way west, only to see deep trenches and all kinds of monsters roaming the landscape. Following that, the duo returned to the cave where Noorah and Nulia were sitting by the fire. The Frostbear woman turned to him, a smile stretching across her face.

''Sleeping in my other form always feels good,'' she revealed, sitting back. ''But once I accepted you as a husband, my power exploded, and now I'm the strongest Frostbear alive.

''Well, that's a good thing,'' he said, joining the brown-skinned beauty. '' I want you to be as strong as possible. The empire has powerful warriors and mages lurking all over, so we need to be able to kill when the time comes.''

Following that, the other women joined them as Atlas began cooking breakfast and tea for the group's surprise. They happily watched him work as Estelle commented, never taking her eyes off him. ''I always love your food, it gives me a boost in fights.''

Atlas chuckled, showing the group some of the ingredients he had. ''All top-quality food I harvest from the land as we've traveled here. People from the cities would pay me a pretty penny for all this, but I love making delicious food for you girls.''

When the nine women heard this, they became extremely happy as Amethyst moved toward him and gave him a passionate kiss, followed by the others. Once his face was bright red, he turned back to the fire, smiling. Some time later, he was done with their meal and served it on plates he pulled out of his storage.

He finished it up with some wine, pleasing the ladies. Estelle looked astonished when tasting the food. Her big blue eyes lit up as she exclaimed. ''This is better than the best restaurants in the Argonia Kingdom. You could be a top chef if you ever give up on fighting.''

Atlas smiled at her words, but shook his head. ''Never, fighting brings a joy to my life that comes after you girls, I couldn't live in peace while the empire keeps sending its assassins after me.''

''I understand,'' the blonde agreed, nodding. ''I'm glad we're hitting them where it hurts; it will shock the emperor and his generals.''

'Of course I'm looking forward to it,'' he responded.

Following that, the group continued eating before getting ready to leave the cave. Atlas was examining the nearby desert just as Amethyst transformed into her Phoenix form and took to the sky, letting out a loud screech at the same time. Nulia, Luna, Lilith, and Zena turned into their normal forms, leaping off the cliff.

Noorah sat next to his feet in her fox form, prompting Atlas to scoop her up as Estelle, Grishna, and Artemis appeared beside him. The Orc woman grumbled. ''Damn shifters and their shifty ways, always on the run.''

The group erupted in laughter, their voices echoing through the crisp mountain air, but Atlas, undeterred, flashed a daring grin before leaping off the cliff's edge. His boots scraped against the rocky slope as he skidded down the mountainside, a trail of dust and pebbles cascading in his wake.

The three women followed without hesitation, their mana shimmering around them like a faint, luminescent veil. They channeled their energy, softening their descent to land safely at the base of the rugged terrain. There, towering before them, stood Nulia, the Frostbear woman, her fur gleaming like freshly fallen snow despite the scorching desert sun.

Her massive frame cast a shadow that offered brief respite from the heat. With a low, rumbling grunt, she lowered herself, allowing the group to climb onto her back. Traveling atop Nulia would be far faster than trudging through the endless dunes, where the shifting sands and blistering winds of the desert threatened to slow their journey.

Grateful for her strength and speed, they settled in, the rhythmic sway of her powerful strides carrying them forward across the barren, sun-scorched expanse. Nulia's powerful strides carried them away from the lush grasslands; the landscape gradually surrendered to the endless sea of dunes that stretched before them.

Atlas perched atop her back, his sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon. The desert sprawled in every direction, an unforgiving expanse of golden sand sculpted into rippling waves by the restless wind. The sun blazed overhead, its heat pressing down like a physical weight, shimmering off the dunes in wavering mirages that teased at distant oases.

His gaze flicked across the terrain, noting the subtle shifts in the sand, faint tracks of some desert creature, quickly erased by the wind, and the occasional glint of sun-bleached bones half-buried in the drifts. In the distance, jagged rock formations loomed like ancient sentinels, their weathered shapes hinting at forgotten stories carved by time.

The air carried a dry, earthy scent, tinged with the faint bitterness of desert scrub clinging to life in the arid wastes. Behind him, the three women murmured among themselves, their voices a soft counterpoint to the steady rhythm of the Frostbear's steps.

'Looks like we'll be here for a few days at least,' he mused.