Taming SSR And UR RANK Superwomen-Chapter 52 — Rank Ascension via Sexual Bond

Thomas rested his forearms on his thighs and asked,

"Why are you so quiet?"

Ashley took a moment to respond.

"I didn’t want to interrupt."

Thomas let out a small nasal exhale.

"The truth is, I know you very well. Tell me what’s worrying you."

Ashley raised her hand and brushed her hair back almost by reflex, combing it with her fingers while organizing her words.

"Was that the reason you were with women the other day?"

Thomas lowered his gaze for a moment.

"Yes."

Ashley fell silent. Thomas continued before she could draw the wrong conclusions.

"I wanted to tell you what was going on. In fact, I wanted you to be the first to know."

Ashley looked at him sideways.

"The first?"

"Yes." He clenched his hands slightly. "But not like this."

"Like what?"

"In a proper conversation, explaining my reasons for using it... and what I wanted to use it for."

Ashley held his gaze in silence.

"Then tell me."

Thomas exhaled deeply. He didn’t look away from her as he answered.

"I need money. I want to get out of poverty and give my little sister a proper life."

Ashley’s expression softened slightly. Thomas continued:

"I need money, Ashley. I really do." He leaned forward a little. "And I wanted to use my power so women could help me get it with their strength."

Ashley felt a bitter sensation when she heard the news. Not because she didn’t understand what he was saying, but because now she could clearly see the magnitude of what Thomas had been carrying inside.

After a brief silence, Ashley said,

"I understand your reasons... and I support you."

Thomas turned his face toward her with visible surprise. Ashley raised an eyebrow.

"Don’t look at me like that." She let out a small breath and spoke more firmly. "You know we’re good friends. I would never be against you."

Thomas watched her in silence for a moment. Then he smiled with a mixture of relief and guilt. He lifted his hand and gently stroked her hair.

"I’m sorry."

Ashley didn’t move her head away.

"Why?"

"For doubting you."

His fingers continued to slide gently through her hair.

"And thank you for supporting me."

Ashley looked at him with a confident smile. It wasn’t the soft smile of a woman in love seeking approval. It was the smile of a woman looking at someone she deeply respected.

They remained like that for a while, in silence, sharing a steady gaze.

The room was filled again with only their breathing, the distant murmur of the Abyss, and the faint vibration of the structure embedded in the cavern.

After a while, Ashley was the one who started the next conversation.

"So..."

Thomas withdrew his hand from her hair and looked at her.

"Yes?"

"What did you want to talk to me about earlier?" Ashley tilted her head slightly. "Now that we’re alone, we can talk about it."

Thomas lowered his gaze for a few seconds.

"That was the reason."

Ashley blinked.

"Your power?"

"I wanted to tell you everything while we were in the Abyss."

Ashley watched him attentively. Thomas felt his chest tighten slightly.

’Now or never,’ he thought.

The idea had been circling in his mind for far too long. There was fear, yes. A genuine fear. Because asking that question would change something between them, even if he didn’t yet know what.

But he also felt he needed to know. He needed to know if Ashley would be willing to accept. He opened his mouth and began:

"Ashley..."

"Hmm?"

’I’m going to ask her.’

But just then the door opened. Both of them turned their heads. Angel walked back in.

Her expression was calm, although her eyes carried a much sharper intensity than before. She walked straight toward them and didn’t even bother sitting down.

"Thomas."

"Yes?"

"Have you used your power on any women?"

Thomas was briefly surprised by the abrupt question.

"Yes..."

"How many?"

"Five."

Angel nodded slowly, as if that number confirmed something she had been thinking about since she left the room. Then she turned back toward the door.

"Follow me."

"Where?" Thomas asked, frowning.

Angel looked at him over her shoulder and replied,

"I’ll take you to an area of the Abyss."

Ashley immediately stood up.

"I’m coming too."

"Of course, darling."

Thomas exchanged one last look with Ashley. The question he had been about to ask her remained suspended.

Still unanswered.

Then he stood up and followed his mother toward the exit, with the feeling that, once again, the Abyss was about to open a door for him that he might not want to cross... but could no longer avoid.

◇◆◇

"Come out," Thomas said.

In front of him appeared pale blue lights sprinkled with golden sparks. Four in total. Selene, Seraphine, Evelyne, and Freja emerged in different positions.

While Selene and Evelyne were sitting — the first hugging her knees and the second meditating with her legs crossed — Seraphine was lying on her side and Freja was balancing upside down on her hands.

A sound escaped from all four of them almost in perfect harmony:

"Hmm?"

All four looked forward. There stood Thomas, Angel, and Ashley. Angel was the one who leaned slightly forward, resting her weight on her thigh while bringing her index finger to her lower lip.

"How curious..."

The women adjusted themselves and stood up. Evelyne was the one who calmly asked,

"What’s going on?"

Angel looked at the blonde with golden eyes. Thomas was the one who answered.

"Don’t worry, nothing bad is happening."

Seraphine frowned in surprise. Although her face was covered by a mask, she couldn’t stop her murmur from being heard.

"T-the fourteenth heroine."

Angel moved her pink eyes toward her and gave her a smile that softened her expression. The other three also recognized her. Then Angel straightened up and spoke to Thomas.

"Can they fight here in the Abyss?"

Upon hearing the word, the four women began looking around, noticing the vast cavern. Thomas answered at that moment.

"I’m not sure. It’s the first time I’ve brought them here."

"Then let’s do a demonstration."

"Huh? Really?"

"Of course. What else would you use the power for? If they end up in danger, I’ll protect them. Don’t worry."

The group began moving through the floors, specifically toward the third floor. There they found demons crawling along the ground. They opened their mouths, revealing fangs and long tongues.

The demons spread their wings and flew straight toward them. Evelyne, Seraphine, and Freja moved immediately and killed them in an instant, twisting their bodies in multiple directions.

When the demons dropped dead, Thomas’s relaxed posture was interrupted by a sudden event. His system panel opened on its own and new letters appeared that he had never seen before.

[Experience Gained]

+25

[Level Up]

6 → 7↑

[New Functions Unlocked]

[Bond Stabilization]

•Seraphine +10

•Evelyne +5

•Freja +5

•Selene +2

Thomas frowned even more.

’This... levels me up? Just by coming here?’

Despite the surprise, he didn’t react outwardly. He didn’t know whether it would be wise to say anything either. It was the first time he had encountered something like this.

His heroines continued killing monsters and demons with ease, since it was only the third floor. Angel watched their performance closely with that characteristic calm smile.

Meanwhile, Thomas kept receiving notifications. One after another. Until finally a very important one appeared.

[Experience Gained]

+30

[Level Up]

9 → 10↑

[New Functions Unlocked]

[Bond Rank Ascension]

•Freja +15

•Evelyne +5

•Seraphine +5

•Selene +5

’Rank ascension...? The levels go up so fast this way!’

The moment was interrupted when Angel applauded them elegantly.

"Good work. You are all wonderful."

Thomas couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer. He moved through the interface quickly to check the new function.

"This demonstration is enough," Angel continued. "We’ve arrived where I wanted..."

Thomas opened the **Rank Ascension** interface and a list of his five bonded heroines began to appear. It wasn’t important to him, but Elvira was also included.

"You can probably get an idea of what’s happening in the Abyss here."

He pressed the first name he wanted; in this case, Selene. Then he opened the section showing the conditions to ascend her.

"Right in that direction... between the crack in the wall. That’s the reason I wanted to bring you here..."

The information unlocked and appeared in the text of his system.

[Conditions to Ascend Rank for: Selene Nocturne.]

[Create a Symbiotic Bond with Her Through Sex]

Thomas slightly opened his mouth, his index finger frozen over the sapphire-blue panel floating in front of him. Angel finally said from behind:

"That’s because you will probably be the ones responsible for destroying humanity’s last resistance: Ark."