The invitation wasn't written in ink.
It was carved into flame.
A messenger—a spirit in crimson robes with no eyes and no voice—had appeared in Lucien's chamber before dawn. It didn't speak. It simply opened its palm, revealing a floating glyph made of molten gold.
The glyph burned itself into Lucien's wall, forming a single phrase:
"The Crimson Crown Summons You. Noon. Alone."
Kaelara had gone silent. Lira had drawn her blade the moment the message was received. Solenne, for once, looked… concerned.
"It's not a meeting," she said. "It's a test. A seduction trial."
Lucien smirked. "Then they've invited the wrong man if they want to resist."
Kaelara stepped in front of him. "This isn't like before, Lucien. The Crimson Crown isn't one person. It's a living will—formed by generations of cultivators who twisted law and lust into something deeper. Something dangerous."
"I'll be fine."
"No," she said, "you'll either be chosen… or destroyed."
The Crimson Temple Entrance
Lucien stood before the gates at precisely noon. Alone. Dressed in ceremonial robes tailored to his aura—deep black with crimson trim, open at the chest, bound with golden chains that pulsed with charm energy.
The doors opened without sound.
Inside: velvet staircases that spiraled endlessly, and at the center—a platform where seven women sat on thrones made of flesh and crystal.
Each represented one sect of desire: Pain, Pleasure, Purity, Power, Punishment, Possession… and the Forbidden.
Lucien stepped onto the circular platform.
A voice spoke—not from any single woman, but from the air around him.
"Lucien Blackthorn. Incubus System Host. Unclaimed. Untamed. Unjudged."
"Do you offer yourself to the Crown?"
Lucien tilted his head. "Depends. Does the Crown offer anything worth kneeling for?"
Murmurs.
One of the seven leaned forward—her body wrapped in silks that barely covered her. Her voice was like warm wine.
"You're brave. Or foolish."
Lucien stepped closer. "I'm neither. I'm hungry."
System Alert: Crown Energy Detected. Each figure may trigger seduction trials. Failure results in public denial and caste demotion.]
Side Quest: Dominate three Crown Mistresses. Reward: Key to the Royal Harem Vault.]
Lucien grinned.
"So it's one of those tests."
And then the first Mistress rose.
The Mistress of Pleasure.
She walked barefoot down the steps. Her hair flowed like liquid honey. Her body moved like she'd never walked—only danced.
She spoke one word:
"Strip."
Lucien laughed. Loud. Low.
And began undoing his chains.
Lucien stood at the center of the circular platform, chest exposed, ceremonial chains clinking softly as they fell to the floor.
The Mistress of Pleasure walked around him like a lioness studying prey. Her robes were sheer, revealing everything yet hiding intent. Her hands glowed with layered runes—marks of centuries spent mastering the art of desire.
She pressed her palm to his chest.
System Sync Request Incoming: Pleasure Core Override] [Warning: Seduction Duel Initiated. Control is at stake.]
Lucien didn't flinch.
He leaned forward, whispered near her ear, "Try harder."
Her fingers slid lower.
She wasn't trying to arouse him. She was trying to break him.
Illusions formed.
Dozens of women from Lucien's memories appeared—naked, moaning, pulling him toward them. Scents filled the air. Touches brushed his skin. Sensations spiked.
But Lucien… smiled.
He didn't resist the pleasure. He embraced it.
Because to dominate desire, one must first drown in it.
He stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and twisted it just enough to assert control.
Her eyes widened.
He pushed her against one of the flesh-crystal thrones. Lifted her robe. Entered her in one smooth, deep thrust.
She gasped—not from shock. From being seen.
Domination Field Engaged] [Yin Sync Achieved: Mistress of Pleasure – Aura Reversal Triggered]
Lucien moved slowly at first. Hands on her hips. Mouth at her throat.
Her aura cracked. Her eyes rolled back. She tried to regain control. Failed.
He whispered between thrusts:
"You thought I came to prove something."
Thrust.
"I came to own something."
Thrust.
Her climax came like thunder—twice, thrice—her legs shaking, her body melting into his.
The six other Mistresses watched, silent.
The Mistress of Pleasure collapsed, breathless, flushed.
Lucien stepped back.
Mistress Claimed. First Key Fragment Acquired.]
"I hope the rest are harder," he said.
The Mistress of Power stood next.
She didn't speak.
She just raised her hand—and the ground began to tremble.
The platform trembled as she descended.
The Mistress of Power didn't walk — she commanded. Each step of her heeled boots echoed like a declaration. Her black and gold robe split at the thigh, revealing sculpted muscle and layered spiritual tattoos, each one pulsing with violent energy.
Her presence made the others flinch. Even the air resisted her.
Lucien smirked. "No illusion tricks with you, I guess."
She didn't reply. She simply pointed.
Lucien's knees buckled.
Alert: High-Grade Cultivation Suppression Field Detected] [Host Aura Compression: 62%]
She walked up to him and grabbed his throat. Lifted him like he weighed nothing.
Her lips brushed his ear.
"I don't want you to seduce me," she whispered. "I want to crush you."
Lucien chuckled despite the pressure. "Baby, you can try."
His hands rose. Not to attack. But to worship.
One on her waist, the other over her heart.
He poured his aura into her — not forcefully, but like warm breath on cold glass.
Passive Skill Activated: Emotional Undress] [Effect: Suppression becomes connection if target holds buried desire.]
Her grip faltered. Just slightly.
Lucien took the opening.
He grabbed her by the hips, spun her into the throne, and straddled her lap like a predator turned gift.
She tried to push him back.
He kissed her.
And it was war.
Their mouths clashed. Her nails drew blood. His tongue claimed every protest.
Her aura flared with lightning. His with heat.
Then, in one sudden motion, she pulled open her robe.
"You want to prove something?" she growled.
Lucien slid down, kissed the curve of her breast, traced her runes with his tongue.
"No," he said. "I want to take back what power stole from you."
She gasped. For the first time.
And when he entered her — not fast, but firm — the entire temple cracked.
System Note: Rare Core Resonance Achieved. Power Mistress converting.]
She climaxed once. Then twice.
Screaming. Begging.
And when he finished, she didn't collapse.
She kneeled.
Not in defeat. In respect.
Second Key Fragment Acquired. Crown Approval: 2/3 Achieved.]
Lucien turned to the final Mistress — the one no one spoke to. The one who had said nothing.
The Mistress of the Forbidden.
Her eyes opened. And every light in the temple dimmed.
The temple fell silent.
Not from reverence. From instinct.
When the Mistress of the Forbidden stood, even the other Crown Mistresses looked away. She wore no robe, no ornament. Only chains—thin, elegant, wrapped like serpents around her body, covering almost nothing.
Her eyes were pitch black. No iris. No soul.
Lucien felt his system pulse—not in warning… but in awe.
System Alert: Class S Threat. Forbidden Core Detected.] [Engaging Protocol: Submission Immunity Boost – Active.]
She approached without sound. No footsteps. Just presence.
Lucien didn't speak. He didn't flirt.
He dropped to one knee.
Not to surrender. But to gauge her.
She placed a single finger under his chin. Lifted his face.
Then… smiled.
Not warmth. Not challenge. Just… hunger.
She straddled him on the floor, her chains falling away. Her skin was flawless. Her energy was suffocating.
Lucien tried to release his aura. Denied.
System Lockout: Host Aura Blocked by Forbidden Class Core.]
She leaned in. Licked his lips.
Then… she entered him.
No buildup. No request.
She took control.
Lucien gasped—not from weakness, but from shock. Her body pulled his energy, drained it, reshaped it. Every thrust was a rewrite. Every grind bent his sense of reality.
But Lucien wasn't broken. He listened. He felt.
And then, in a moment of clarity—he pushed back.
Not with strength. With understanding.
His hands rose. Held her face. And he whispered, "You don't want power. You want release."
She froze.
And came.
Hard. Loud. Violent.
The ground beneath them cracked. The entire temple's walls flashed.
She fell onto his chest, trembling, shaking… free.
And for the first time, the Mistress of the Forbidden… wept.
Lucien wrapped his arms around her. Kissed her forehead. Held her until her body stilled.
Final Key Fragment Acquired. Crimson Crown Trial Passed.] [Reward: Access to Royal Harem Vault. Title Unlocked: Prince of Passion.]
The other Mistresses stood.
The temple's walls pulled back. And a second throne rose from the center platform.
Empty.
Waiting.
Kaelara, Lira, and Solenne stepped in silently, watching from the edge.
The voice returned:
"Lucien Blackthorn. You have not only passed… you have rewritten the Crown's test."
"Take your place. Prince of Passion. And prepare."
"For tomorrow, the Ceremony begins."
Lucien sat on the throne. Smiling.
Ready.
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Next Chapter: The Royal Seed — Lucien's First Cultivation Ceremony [18+]
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