Rise of The Anti God (Web Novel)
chapter-68

Damien knew she would take a liking to it since she probably must have never seen such an exquisite dress that truly matches her. He after all had bought the most expensive dress from a top notch brand.

"Why don't you try putting it on?" He asked with a smile.

But Valentina had a confused expression when she thought of how to wear this dress. Damien softly chuckled seeing how she was having a hard time, "Here let me teach you how to put it on."

Valentina nodded and immediately removed the cloak and handed it to Damien. He was surprised seeing her become naked suddenly. But he then sighed and quickly helped her put on the dress. He couldn't help but imagine how some deranged ones would feel their lower regions getting hot seeing her porcelain doll like body.

However, he was awed how well the dress suited her after he had put it on her. Damien gave a gentle smile as he said, "You look so beautiful in it."

Valentina gave a radiant smile as she felt happy seeing the awe in Damien's eyes and how she also felt pleased with her dress.

"Thank you, Big Brother Damien." Valentina had learned from Damien that she should thank someone whenever they give something to her.

"Between us, there is no need for thanks. I am your big brother after all." Damien said as he hugged and stroked her head. Damien's height was towering over hers as her head only reached till his chest.

Valentina didn't flinch but instead cutely snuggled in Damien's embrace as she felt a sense of comfortableness she had never experienced before.

Damien felt as if he was hugging a puppy and felt nice, but then he suddenly remembered something and held Valentina's shoulders as he said in a serious voice,

"Remember, whenever you change your dress, you should do it alone and make sure no one can see you. You are after all a young lady too and not just an ethereal beast."

Valentina lifted her head and nodded. She didn't fully understand why girls should change their clothes in private but still chose to listen to Damien hearing his serious tone, "But I can change in front of Big Brother Damien right?" She asked earnestly.

Damien chuckled, "Well, it's safe to change in front of me but still you should not expose your body to me without reason."

Valentina also now knew that she was not just a simple ethereal beast since she can take human form. Damien had told her how it's impossible for normal ethereal beasts to take human form and how their ethereal core is different from hers. In fact, no one will suspect she is an ethereal beast unless she transforms in front of them.

Which is why Damien had also instructed her to transform without anyone's knowledge. If anyone saw how an ethereal beast was taking the form of a little girl, she would be hunted and experimented upon since it is beyond any common sense.

Even if they didn't know that, despite her scarred face, seeing her rosy pink hair and sparkling ruby red eyes, it would surely catch people's attention and they would sell her off as some valuable possession to some affluent family.

Despite her special abilities, her cultivation is too low to protect herself from even a lowly guard from a prestigious family. Which is why Damien had warned her to never reveal herself in front of another human being no matter what or trust anyone else. That not every human being would be like him.

He already knew she tries to avoid humans as best as she can. But he didn't want her to expose herself just because of a flower or something like that again.

"So, do you want to play hide and seek? You can hide and even use your illusions and I will win if I manage to catch the real you." Damien not only wanted to enjoy playing with her but also hone his spiritual perception and improve her usage of her abilities at the same time.

"Um. This time I will make sure to not get caught hehehe." Valentina giggled as she found the game interesting and was determined to get one over Damien.

——

After a few hours of playing, the two had finished eating a delicious meal of wolf meat. It was time to sleep and Damien had already lied down beneath a tree.

But he was surprised seeing Valentina walk over to him, "Hmm, what happened?"

Valentina asked in a low voice while fidgeting her fingers, "Can you hug me while I sleep?"

She was nervous thinking whether Damien would find it bothersome just as she thought that ethereal beasts would like to sleep alone. But she had no idea whether humans would sleep with someone else.

She just found Damien's hug from before warm and comforting and simply wanted to experience more of that feeling.

Damien wasn't surprised for long as he understood that she enjoyed being in his embrace. So he chuckled and beckoned her to sleep near him.

Valentina had a gleeful expression seeing how Damien didn't mind and instantly lied down next to him snuggling her face near his chest. Damien used the extra cloak as a blanket and covered Valentina and saw how she was cutely clutching his shirt with her head close to his chest.

He had a warm smile on his face and circled his hand over her body as he also felt it relaxing to hug someone and sleep in a long while.

"Purrr..." He heard Valentina letting out a relaxed whimper as she dozed off.

Damien closed his eyes as various thoughts passed through his mind. For the past few years he had been all alone after losing everyone and everything. But now he was slowly having people who cared for him and whom he also cared for.

He knew by trying to help Lily, he might be distracting himself from his original goals but his heart was dead set on helping Lily. After all, he didn't want to have any more regrets like he had in his previous life.

He cherished those who truly cared for him and he knew how hard it is to have someone who sincerely cares about him, especially after going through all the betrayals in his previous life. Most of all, he didn't want to be alone or lose himself in pursuit of power.

He was sure if it were anyone else having his abilities, they would ignore everything else and only focus on increasing their power. But he wondered what's the use of having all the power in the world if one cannot gain happiness from it.

Power might bring oneself a sense of satisfaction and feel that they can look down on others, but it would never give them what they truly need.

But that doesn't mean Damien didn't have any desire for power. But the desire that fueled his hunger for power was different than most of the power hungry people.

His desire to see Sofie again and keep her safe was one of the most important reasons that fueled his determination to gain more power, and even if he finds Sofie that determination would burn as bright if not brighter than before!

After all, the last thing he wanted was to be manipulated again by a god.