Leon stared at the obsidian cube like it was going to bite him. It pulsed once with faint red light warm to the touch when he finally picked it up.
"Alright, let's see what kind of hell I'm in."
He pressed it.
The room shimmered. Lines of golden code danced across the walls, forming shapes, symbols, and finally words.
[Eros System Interface – Beta Host Access]
Core Stats:
- [Bond Points: 0]
- [Arousal Sync: 14%]
- [Mental Resistance: Moderate]
- [Physical Compatibility: Enhanced]
- [Active Paths: Undefined]
[Available Commands: Status | Paths | Syncs | History | System Guide]
Leon blinked. "This feels like a cursed dating sim."
He said, "System Guide."
A holographic screen hovered in front of him, filled with text and diagrams.
Welcome, Host. The Eros System thrives on emotional and physical bonds. Strengthen connections to earn Bond Points (BP). These points unlock powers tied to your partners skills, enhancements, and passive bonuses. Submission and Domination are both viable paths. Your choices will define you.
There was a chart showing types of pleasure, linked to magical disciplines. Apparently, passion could enhance fire spells. Submission boosted illusion magic. Control? That tied to raw force and energy manipulation.
Leon exhaled. "Okay... this is either genius or insane."
He was still processing it when the door opened again this time without a knock.
Selene entered wearing something entirely inappropriate for a conversation. A black corset, thigh-high boots, and a silk robe she didn't bother tying shut.
"Figured you'd be snooping through the system," she said, closing the door behind her. "That's good. But the interface only tells you how. I'm here to show you why."
Leon stood up, unsure whether to run or kneel. His body reacted before his brain could catch up—heart pounding, pupils dilating.
"Look, I appreciate the uh hospitality, but I'm not really-"
"You're not ready?" she cut in, stepping close, hand gliding down his chest to the glowing mark. "Sweetheart, the system won't wait for you to feel ready. It responds to instinct."
The tattoo flared.
[Arousal Sync: 36%]
[Target Identified: Selene – Dom/Primary Path Available]
[Do you wish to engage Bond Initiation?]
He swallowed hard. "...What happens if I say yes?"
She smiled. "You start learning what power feels like."
Her fingers snapped, and suddenly the bed behind him wasn't velvet—it was chains and silk, a throne of submission and temptation.
"Don't worry," she whispered, pushing him down gently, straddling his lap. "I'll go slow."
Leon wasn't sure whether he was more confused or horrified. But as the system continued to unfold, there was an undeniable part of him that was curious an itch in the back of his mind that urged him to understand it all.
"Alright," he muttered, "let's see what else this thing has to offer."
He tapped the Paths option. The screen flickered, revealing two distinct options.
Domination Path
Increased power through control, strength, and mental fortitude. Each partner grants raw abilities tied to influence and force.
Submission Path
Gain power through emotional bonds, trust, and connection. Partners offer enhancements tied to vulnerability and shared intimacy.
The choices were stark, and Leon could feel the weight of them pressing on his chest. Each path seemed to promise its own set of powers, each more tempting than the last.
[Initiating Path Selection Prompt]
Would you like to commit to either path? You can switch later, but doing so may cause temporary penalties to compatibility.
Leon hesitated. He didn't know who or what he was in this new world. But the idea of controlling others of dominating them sent a thrill through him. At the same time, the idea of forging a deeper, more vulnerable bond was… appealing, in a strange way.
His hand hovered over the screen. But before he could make a decision, a new message appeared:
[Warning: Dominance or Submission can be pushed past safe boundaries. Warning: Proceeding on either path without balance may result in instability.]
"Stability?" Leon scoffed. "What, like my sanity matters?"
The system was right, though. There was no way out now. He had to learn, had to play the game. His instincts screamed that this was only the beginning.
The door creaked open again, interrupting his internal turmoil. Leon turned to see Selene standing in the frame, her silhouette framed by the soft glow of the hallway lights behind her.
Her eyes locked on his, and Leon's body tensed. Without a word, she strode in and placed a hand on the system interface, shutting it down with a simple swipe of her fingers.
"You've seen enough," she said, her voice low and seductive. She moved closer to him, the air around her heavy with an intoxicating blend of power and allure.
Leon swallowed, his heart racing. "I didn't even-"
"You're not supposed to know everything yet," she interrupted, lowering her voice to a whisper. "That's the first lesson."
She stood in front of him now, so close that Leon could feel the heat radiating off her. The faintest scent of jasmine lingered in the air, a heady, almost hypnotic fragrance that made his pulse throb in his throat.
"Lesson one: Power comes in many forms," Selene said, her fingers lightly tracing the outline of the tattoo on his chest. It sparked under her touch, as if alive.
Leon shivered, instinctively pressing his back into the bed, but Selene's hand followed. She was a force, moving with grace, but with a predatory edge. Her fingertips burned where they touched him.
"Lesson two," she continued, her lips curling into a predatory smile. "Pleasure is a gateway. Through it, you'll grow stronger."
She pushed him back onto the bed with a soft, yet firm, press. He fell onto the silk sheets with a soft exhale. The bed beneath him seemed to mold around his body, soft and supportive, but the chains that appeared at the edges of his vision were a subtle reminder: nothing here was quite as free as it appeared.
"What do you mean, pleasure is a gateway?" Leon asked, his voice betraying the rising heat in his chest.
Selene's eyes sparkled with something dangerous. She bent over him, her lips grazing the side of his ear. "You'll see soon enough."
The tattoo on his chest flared again.
[Arousal Sync: 45%]
[Do you wish to activate Bond Initiation with Selene?]
Yes | No
Leon stared at the prompt. His pulse was racing. His mind was at war, part of him wanting to fight this, wanting to shut the system down, but the other part, the one buried deep beneath layers of hesitation and fear, was almost eager.
Selene's breath was warm against his ear, her body pressing closer to his, the heat between them almost unbearable.
"Activate it," she said, her voice a low command. "Let go of your control, Leon. Let the system teach you what it really means to submit… or dominate."
He swallowed. Every cell in his body was screaming at him to resist to keep his distance, but something inside him cracked, the weight of it all lifting just enough to make space for a different feeling.
He touched the screen.
[Bond Initiation: Selene]
[Arousal Sync: 50%]
[Initiating Synchronization…]
The room seemed to fade as the world around him shifted. There was no longer a bed beneath him, no soft sheets. Instead, there was just Selene, her warmth, her scent, her body.
[Syncing Complete]
[New Bond Activated: Selene]
[Bond Level: 1]
[New Skill Unlocked: Enhanced Charisma]
Leon gasped as a wave of intense energy coursed through him, starting in his chest and radiating outward. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he felt dizzy. The warmth inside him grew stronger. This wasn't just about power, it was about connection.
Selene pulled back, her eyes darker now, predatory.
"You feel it now, don't you?" she purred. "That's the taste of true power. It doesn't just come from strength, Leon. It comes from giving yourself over. From trusting... or manipulating."
She ran her fingers down his jaw, to his throat. "You'll learn the balance soon enough, but until then, you'll need to practice control. Let me show you how."
Leon was lost in her gaze as she leaned in, capturing his lips with hers in a kiss that was both tender and commanding. The world seemed to shift and fade as the system, the bond, and the overwhelming heat of her presence consumed him.