Chapter 2: Her Blood, My Bond
System Sync In Progress...
Leon sat upright in the cathedral ruins, still catching his breath.
The kiss lingered like fire on his lips. His body hummed with borrowed energy, every heartbeat syncing to the strange rhythm of something deeper.
The System.
> [Lustbound Symbiosis System v1.9 (GLITCHED)]
Core Activation: 67%
[Partner 1: Veyra, Queen of Lust Hollow]
Bond Type: Passionate | Status: Linked
New Trait: Infernal Embrace
➤ Touch converts arousal into fire damage and vitality.
➤ Strength scales with emotional bond.
Leon checked his arm — the cuts were gone. Not even scars.
But that wasn't what scared him.
It was the feeling. The warmth in his chest. Like her essence was still inside him… watching.
He looked at Veyra.
The succubus queen rested beside him lazily, half-draped across the cracked altar, tail flicking like a cat watching prey.
She gave him a side glance.
"You're thinking too loudly," she murmured. "Don't you trust me?"
He forced a smile. "You almost killed me."
"Almost," she purred. "But now? You're mine."
---
The Other Player
They stepped out of the cathedral together.
Or rather — Leon staggered, and Veyra floated beside him like sin with a heartbeat.
The city outside was ash and ruin. The buildings had been warped. Cars overturned. Red cracks split the pavement like veins across a corpse.
They found him in a nearby alley.
A man, maybe early twenties. Face half-torn. His hand still gripped a short sword — one of those generic beginner blades seen in fantasy MMOs.
His eyes were wide open, glazed in terror.
> [PLAYER DECEASED: CALVIN RAINE]
System Type: Combat - Blade Path
Cause of Death: Vital Drain (A-Class Monster)
Loot: System Fragment – Adaptive Reflex (Lv.1)
Leon's breath hitched.
Veyra tilted her head, smiling faintly.
"That one fought," she said. "I gave him a choice. He chose the hard way."
Leon crouched slowly, trying not to gag.
"I can loot his System?"
> [Prompt: Absorb Skill Seed?]
Warning: Looting another player's fragment may attract residual targeting from hidden Boss-class entities linked to that player.
He hesitated.
Then he reached out.
The world dimmed for a moment as data pulsed through his fingers.
> [Skill Seed Absorbed: Adaptive Reflex Lv.1]
Passive: Slightly increases reaction time and spatial awareness during danger.
Warning: Entity Tracking Marker: ACTIVE
A shadow passed overhead.
And the temperature dropped.
---
She Descends
They heard her before they saw her.
The sound of heels clicking across cracked stone. The faint flutter of silk. The scent of blood and rosewater.
She stepped into view like a dream from a haunted royal court — tall, elegant, pale as moonlight. A parasol rested on her shoulder despite the night. Her eyes were red, not just glowing — bleeding color into the air.
> [WARNING: BOSS ENTITY DETECTED – SELIS, DUCHESS OF THE NIGHTBLOOD COURT]
Rank: S-Class (Ancestral Variant)
Status: Approaching with Hostility... and Interest.
Leon took one step back.
Veyra's tail wrapped around his wrist.
"Careful," she whispered. "That one's ancient."
Selis's eyes flicked between them.
Then she spoke.
"You smell… like her."
Her gaze fixed on Leon.
"You stole my prey."
"I didn't kill him," Leon said quickly. "He was already—"
"He was marked," she said, voice calm and cold. "He was mine."
Veyra stepped between them.
"Oh boo hoo. Maybe next time don't leave your snacks unattended."
Selis raised her parasol and drew a curved fang-blade from within.
"You want to fight me, Lust Witch?"
Veyra bared her fangs. "Try me, leech."
Leon coughed. "Okay! Maybe we don't fight the vampire queen today?"
Both women turned to look at him at once.
Selis smiled slowly. "You are… interesting."
---
The Trial of Bonding
> [Event Triggered: Trial of Blood and Seduction]
Objective: Survive and navigate emotional tension with competing Bonded Entities.
Duration: 3 Stages
Reward: Potential Symbiosis with Selis + Shared Skill Unlocked
Warning: Bond with Veyra may destabilize.
Selis walked closer.
"I will not fight you. But I will test you."
Her eyes flared.
"Let me taste your blood."
> Choice Prompt:
A) Allow the bite.
B) Refuse.
C) Counter with seduction.
Leon stared at the system prompt.
Then… he smirked.
He stepped forward.
"Why don't we both get what we want?"
She paused. "What do you mean?"
"Bite me…" Leon said softly, "...while I kiss you."
The world stilled.
Veyra growled.
Selis's pupils dilated.
"…Bold," she whispered.
And then she vanished.
---
Bloodbound Kiss
She reappeared in front of him.
Her breath was cold.
Her lips, soft.
He felt the pain of her fangs piercing his neck the same moment he crushed his lips against hers.
The kiss was blood and hunger and chaos.
He could taste his life draining.
He could feel her soul sliding against his — ancient, lonely, furious.
> [Lustbound Symbiosis Attempt: SUCCESSFUL]
Partner: Selis, Duchess of the Nightblood Court
Affection: 29% – Conflicted
Lust Sync: 38% – Rising
Skill Gained: Blood Pact Kiss – Creates a permanent damage-sharing link
Passive: Shadowstep (Grants movement burst while bonded)
Warning: Jealousy Index Activated – Veyra's instability level increasing...
Selis pulled away.
Her lips were stained red.
"So warm," she whispered. "So reckless."
Behind him, Veyra was trembling.
"Leon…"
He turned.
And saw claws.
---
The First Love Triangle (And It Might Kill Him)
> [System Alert: Emotional Overlap Detected]
Multiple Bonds Active. Stability Threshold: 44%
Status: Volatile
Leon raised both hands.
"Ladies—"
"DON'T." Veyra's eyes glowed with rage. "You gave her what was MINE!"
Selis smiled darkly. "You never claimed exclusivity."
"You kissed her back," Veyra growled. "I felt it."
Leon groaned.
"I'm not surviving the apocalypse…" he muttered, "I'm surviving being the boyfriend of a demon and a vampire."