What Bad Intentions Could a Pet Possibly Have?

The gray mist of death churned violently as a swiftly moving figure darted through it like a bolt of lightning.

Red-black blood qi swirled around him, his form constantly shifting. At times, he became a raging lion climbing mountains and crossing ridges; at others, he shrank into an ancient serpent, slipping through tunnels and cracks.

Even in the Underworld's exceedingly complex terrain, Lin Xian did not slow down in the slightest. Instead, he grew faster and faster.

Running, leaping, slithering, launching himself forward—the plan in his heart was beginning to take shape. Carried away by impulsive joy, the primal beastly nature long suppressed by human reason was thoroughly unleashed.

Gradually, every activated cell in his body greedily breathed in the Death Qi and Aether Factor permeating the surroundings, while his bones and muscles throbbed with excited delight.

The tingling pain and itch were insignificant compared to the silver magical energy flowing through his body like a surging river.

Moreover, while the Underworld's Death Qi corroded his body, part of it was also absorbed by his reshaped bones and muscles.

His reddish-brown claws, wreathed in gray mist, sliced into a boulder as easily as a knife through tofu. With the slightest exertion, the rock rotted into a heap of shattered crumbs.

His attacks seemed to contain the Underworld's Death Qi, capable of stripping all things of their vitality and destroying their internal structure.

Beyond that, Lin Xian vaguely felt that he had gained a certain degree of instant-death resistance and high magical resistance against ghost-type creatures.

Praise Tiamat!

Praise Ereshkigal!

Having transformed into an ancient serpent and shot through a narrow gap, Lin Xian could not help but curl his lips into a grin and make the sign of the cross in his heart.

Tiamat's Authority of the Beast was truly useful. With its many traits of ecological adaptation, Self-Modification, and self-evolution, it could theoretically grant him limitless potential for growth.

Furthermore, due to the connection of the anchor line and the division and transfer of Tiamat's authority, he had, in a sense, already become a follower of this Mother of Creation.

In other words, like Gilgamesh, he possessed the qualifications to become a god!

Of course, that was assuming he lived long enough to see that day.

At that moment, the surrounding mist of death grew increasingly thin, and the Temple of Heat, Meslamthea Temple, had begun to take shape in the distance.

On the mountain path leading to its gates, his owner, holding her Spear Cage, was walking forward at an unhurried pace.

Lin Xian transformed into a raging lion, leaped down from the cliff, and sprinted wildly toward her.

Roar!

The energetic big cat excitedly pounced the goddess to the ground, then affectionately rubbed its fluffy head against her.

The ticklish sensation of fur brushing against her skin made Ereshkigal giggle as she lay on the ground. She quickly hugged the big cat's head and begged for mercy.

Yet the goddess failed to notice that the fellow she had pressed against her chest was narrowing his eyes and rubbing one side of his face against her, unconsciously revealing an intoxicating look of enjoyment.

At the same time, the huge, fang-filled mouth hidden from view curled into a smug grin.

Ever since a certain little beast had mastered its second-stage transformation, it had often exploited Ereshkigal's sensitivity and fear of tickling, rubbing against her to fish for opportunities.

His owner had also grown accustomed to hugging the frolicking big cat close and soothing it.

The only regret was that this goddess's chest was a little hard to rest on, as barren as the land of the Underworld.

That left a certain bad thing feeling regretful for quite some time.

As for being found out?

Heh heh, what bad intentions could a little pet possibly have?

After fooling around for a while, Lin Xian reluctantly rose from his owner's embrace and obediently stood at her side.

Ereshkigal got up and brushed the dirt from her red-black dress, casually asking as she walked toward Meslamthea Temple.

"Have you finished all the Spear Cages I gave you?"

Roar!

Lin Xian let out a roar and nodded, pointing his claw at the three hundred little metal Black Rooms standing along the riverbank.

Of course, he had long been capable of speaking, but it was better to play dumb about certain things.

Otherwise, if he acted too human, he would only be allowed to sleep on the floor at night from now on.

"Good boy, good boy..."

Ereshkigal stroked her pet's fluffy head, looking quite pleased.

It had to be said that the workload Samael had taken on had eased her burden to some extent. It allowed this excavation maniac to spend more time wandering beneath Uruk in between rests.

Heh heh heh, the massive project connecting the Underworld to the depths beneath Uruk had originally required two years to complete, but with her unrelenting efforts, another dozen or so days of rushing the work would be enough.

The deeply accomplished goddess wore a satisfied, joyful expression, and even her steps into the temple were exceptionally light.

With completion close at hand, Ereshkigal seemed to be indulging herself a little.

As she walked, she kicked off her golden battle boots, bent down, and casually peeled the Sumerian-patterned thigh-high stocking off her right leg.

Then, one after another, she removed the red cape from her shoulders and the hidden great crown binding her hair, casually tossing them behind her.

The big cat following close behind expertly raised its paws to catch them, then diligently placed each discarded article of clothing and accessory into the cabinet compartments its owner often used.

At that moment, Ereshkigal, dressed in a fitted black bustier, rolled her sore shoulders and eagerly jumped through a stone door. She pulled away the final seal and leaped into the pool.

Mist billowed and white waves rolled. Through the gap in the stone door that had not fully closed, Lin Xian vaguely saw his owner moving through the warm water like a fish, weaving and rising beneath the surface.

Come to think of it, he had been the one to suggest building this spacious, luxurious bath through drawings on clay tablets.

After all, Meslamthea Temple, the divine celestial body of the Underworld, lacked neither thermal energy nor groundwater.

Besides, Lady Ereshkigal dug pits every day, getting covered in mud and dust, and still had to work hard making Spear Cages. What was wrong with enjoying herself a little?

Wasn't it perfectly normal to come back, soak in a hot bath, and ease her fatigue?

With a solemn and dignified expression, the big cat pricked up its ears and paced guard outside the stone door, filled with devoted sincerity.

"Samael, bring me one of those towels I wrapped around myself last time."

"And, and! Prepare a pot of the recently collected Fountain of Life too!"

Awoo!

The big cat by the door responded with a howl. Its four paws sprang as if fitted with springs, sending it shooting away as it skillfully packed a towel and the Fountain of Life into a basket.

Then, the loyal pet squeezed through the gap in the door and trotted all the way to deliver the basket beside the bath.

Within the hazy steam, the sharp-eyed big cat took in the entire view before pausing for a moment and turning to leave.

Unexpectedly, a jade-white hand emerged from the water and grabbed its flame-shaped golden tail.

"Don't run! You got covered in dust during the day, and you're full of Death Qi too. If you don't get properly washed, you're not allowed on the bed tonight!"

"Whimper!"

Terror flashed in the big cat's eyes as it hurriedly shook its head, seeming terribly afraid of water.

But the weak little pet was simply no match for its owner's forceful tugging.

In the end, the claws embedded in the floor scraped out four pale marks as the big cat wailed and was dragged into the pool, splashing up a sheet of water.

"Don't move! Raise your hand!"

"No, raise your front paw! Why are there still clots of blood stuck in your fur? I'm going to give you a thorough wash!"

"You're getting wilder and wilder. You sneak out all day long, and I don't even know what you're doing. You even secretly carve clay tablets and won't let me see them!"

The earnest and diligent goddess complained as she held down her pet in the pool, picked up a brush, and meticulously scrubbed away its filth.

This experience, one she had never had before Samael appeared, delighted Ereshkigal immensely.

As for what the big cat being tormented to the brink of bliss and death in the bath thought about it, no one could say.

After all, it had been forced from beginning to end.