"You... turn around first! No peeking!" She bit her silver teeth, squeezing out the words.
"Roger that!" Cloud obediently turned around, but the triumphant smile at his lips couldn't be hidden no matter what.
Soon, rustling sounds of changing clothes filled the room.
Those sounds, to any man, were like the most beautiful, infinitely tempting music from heaven.
After what seemed like forever, Athena's shy voice finally came again.
"O-okay..."
Cloud slowly turned around, and in that moment, his breathing completely stopped.
In the moonlight, the girl stood there gracefully.
The golden "Holy Garments" perfectly wrapped her exquisite form. Her jade-white skin, under the moon's illumination, radiated a holy glow.
That waist so slender it could be grasped in one hand, those perky, rounded curves...
Everything together formed a breathtaking masterpiece that could make any god's heart waver.
At this moment, she was no longer the pure idol singer—she was a goddess of love and beauty descended to the mortal realm!
"Does it look good?" The girl's voice carried a hint of nervousness and shyness.
Cloud unconsciously nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing as he forced out two words: "Looks... good..."
The next second, he could no longer restrain the beast within. Like a hungry tiger pouncing on prey, he pulled the goddess before him into a tight embrace, then kissed her deeply.
"Mm..."
This time, the girl didn't resist.
Clumsily, awkwardly, she responded.
The moon quietly hid behind the clouds.
The room's temperature kept rising.
...
Early the next morning.
When the first rays of dawn streamed through the window onto Cloud's face—wearing a satisfied smile—he was awakened by gentle pushing.
"Hey... get up... hurry and leave..."
Athena—this goddess who had just officially upgraded from "beautiful girl" to "Cloud's woman"—was red-faced, pushing at the certain scoundrel lounging in her bed like a thief.
After a night of "deep exchange" and "negative-distance guidance," her aura had undergone subtle changes.
Between her brows, there was less of a girl's innocence, more of a woman's allure and charm.
Those purple eyes, when looking at Cloud, were filled with undisguisable tenderness and shyness.
"Leave? The sun isn't even up yet." Cloud pulled her back into his embrace, kissing her smooth forehead, shamelessly saying, "Sleep a bit more, my goddess."
His hands also started wandering again.
"Ah! Stop fooling around!" Athena squirmed, ticklish, half-annoyed and half-amused as she swatted his chest. "Get up! Leave now! If my master and the others find out... I'll... I won't be able to face anyone!"
Looking at the adorable way she was both shy and worried, Cloud couldn't help but laugh heartily.
He rolled on top of her, speaking in a domineering CEO tone by her ear: "What's there to fear? From today on, you're mine. Anyone who has a problem, I'll beat them until they don't."
With that, ignoring the girl's exclamations and pounding fists, he once again sealed all her words with a passionate, deep kiss.
Of course, while Cloud said that, after eating his fill of tofu and copping all the feels he wanted—nearly igniting a morning round—he saw Athena's expression that looked ready to cry and obediently slipped out in complete silence.
Over the following days in Mount Wutai's serene temple, Cloud and Athena spent time that could only be described as "heavenly couple" sweetness.
During the day, Cloud would seriously guide Athena on how to use her newly awakened massive divine power.
"Athena, your spiritual force ball's energy compression ratio isn't high enough. Here, give me your hand—let me help you feel it." Saying this, his large hand naturally covered the girl's soft, boneless fingers.
"Also, your Phoenix Arrow's advance speed is too slow. You need to learn to use spatial law for short-distance flash advances. Watch closely, like this..." Cloud would suddenly vanish, appearing behind Athena the next instant.
Then he'd embrace her from behind, whispering in her ear: "Feel that? That sensation of piercing through space."
Every "guidance session" came with various "accidental" intimate contact, leaving Athena red-faced with racing heart. Training efficiency was secondary—her love experience points were skyrocketing.
And at night, the two transformed into "honeymooning lovers."
Moonlight like water, stars brilliant overhead. They'd sit side by side on the temple roof, gazing at the vast galaxy, chatting about everything under the sun.
Cloud would tell her novel, interesting stories from another world—what "involution" meant, what "GOAT" meant, what "eat-ers gonna eat" meant.
Athena would lean against his shoulder, softly humming her newest song. That sweet voice, accompanied by the mountain's evening breeze, could wash away all fatigue and worry.
Of course, when night deepened, they'd also engage in more in-depth "great harmony of life" activities beneficial for body, mind, and power advancement.
...
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