"Here he comes," the Nightlord muttered, sitting on her throne at the top of the castle. Her eyes narrowed as a portal appeared right below her.
A young man stumbled out of it, disoriented, his hand instinctively reaching inside his pocket for a talisman, just in case. His eyes, though filled with confusion, immediately darted around the room, taking in the towering black walls, the swirling shadows, and the cold, suffocating air filled with the scent of incense.
"Luka Morgen," the Nightlord said, her voice reverberating across the stone chamber as she stood slowly from her seat. "I've been expecting you."
Luka's eyes flickered up, his breath catching in his throat as his gaze landed on the figure before him.
"Holy shit, Saki?" Luka asked, his voice incredulous, his gaze drifting over her figure. "Where did you get those upgrades?" he chuckled, eyes lingering for just a moment too long on her voluptuous form, before a smirk broke across his face.
The Nightlord blinked at him, stunned for a second.
"Also," he pointed at her, a defiant grin on his face. "I am here to take you back with me! So drop the act already Miss Nightlord!"
The Nightlord's lips curled into a soft, almost amused smile. "How amusing," she mused, her eyes gleaming in the dim light. "I knew you'd be interesting, but to think it would be this easy to break you…" she sighed theatrically before snapping her fingers.
The sharp sound reverberated through the hall. In an instant, the walls dissolved, the chamber morphing into an endless void. Luka caught a fleeting glimpse of a small room—where he'd last seen Succubus-chan—before it shrank into the distance. His body drifted upward, weightless, like flotsam in a cosmic sea while she hovered in place in a sitting position, her legs crossed.
His attempts to speak or move were futile. It was as though time had frozen his body, but his mind was still painfully aware. His muscles tensed in frustration, but no matter how hard he struggled, he could not break free from the paralysis that gripped him.
"Witness the end of mankind," she murmured, the void stretching and warping to show a city. His city. "I shall plunge the world into an endless dream and release you of your suffering."
The ground beneath the buildings turned as black as midnight, pulsating with a dark energy, and the very air grew thick and heavy. Luka's heart raced as the city's sky bled into shades of violet and crimson, as if reality itself was bleeding out. The planet itself, shrinking in his vision, began to shift colors, moving through a grotesque kaleidoscope—flashing from blue to black, to an unnatural, sickly green.
Luka's thoughts raced, his chest tightening in dread. Wait—wait, wait, wait—WHAT?! What the hell is happening?
The city continued to distort, and suddenly succubi appeared, all bearing the same appearance as the Nightlord, suddenly beginning to copulate with the people below.
The Nightlord was everywhere, composing the space of the city itself, no, the whole planet and plunging the people in endless lust whether it was men or women, the only one spared were the children, transported somewhere else—perhaps the Dreamworld.
Luka's eyes moved frantically, and he could see the void he was in shift, dozens, no, hundreds—no…
It kept growing. With each passing second, the whole space was filled with more and more Saki's each with different expressions, looking at him.
Is this for real? Did she just drown the whole world in a dream in a few seconds?
"It is real," the Nightlord spoke with a smirk, as if listening to his thoughts. "Each human shall now have his desires fulfilled for eternity. I am everywhere."
The Nigthlord's closed in the distance with him, embracing him from every angle.
"Isn't it bliss? Isn't it what you wanted? No more wars, no more hatred, only love for eternity."
Luka felt a shiver run down his spine as one of the Nightlords leaned in, their lips brushing close to his. Her red eyes glowed with an almost unbearable intensity, her breath warm against his skin. For a moment, it seemed like everything would fall away, and he'd be consumed by this twisted dream of endless desire.
But then, the red mark on Luka's arm pulsed, sending a wave of energy through his body. Suddenly, the Nightlord clones froze, their eyes widening in unison. The space around them stilled, as if the world itself had taken a collective breath.
"Love?" Luka chuckled, his lips finally able to move. "I don't think this is love at all," he sighed, suddenly pushing away the clones and finding hard ground despite the endless void around him.
"How are you—?" the Nightlord's eyes narrowed on his left arm and she raised her chin. "I see. My previous self is protecting you."
Luka glared at her, his expression hardening. "Yeah, and unlike you, she wasn't busy trying to end the world. You're much more proactive in your 'humanity's final boss' act." His voice grew bitter, his fists clenching at his sides. "Stop this right now! What you're doing is insane!"
The Nightlord's smile faltered for a moment, her eyes flashing with something dark, something ancient. "Insane? You think I am insane?" She hovered closer. "I am bringing to completion the wish of my predecessor. To erase all pain."
"Well duh! A world without anything happening in it can't have pain for sure!" Luka growled, his finger pointed at her. "It's not salvation, it's just nothingness! No purpose. No growth. Just an endless loop of hollow existence." His finger pointed at her accusingly. "You're not saving anyone, you're enslaving them to your own version of peace. Stop acting like a bitch for two seconds and actually listen to me!"
The Nightlord sighed, her eyes flickering with an emotion that could have been disappointment—though it was hard to tell. "And here I thought you would make a good slave," she mused, the words slipping from her lips with an almost mournful air. "I would have given you special treatment, too. You, of all people, could have joined me."
"Do you even listen to me you stupid succubus?" a vein popped on his forehead. "I said—!"
"Reflect on your choice, Luka Morgen," she sighed, suddenly disappearing without sending him back as well.
He found himself all alone inside this endless void, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.
"That girl… I swear," he clicked his tongue and ruffled his hair. "She's completely out of her mind."
Still… That guy was right. She clearly wasn't Saki at all, was she?
Was Saki truly dead? Or…
"Why do you keep hesitating, Niño?" A voice pierced the silence, making Luka's heart race in his chest. His body stiffened as the familiar, unsettling sound echoed through the endless void.
He spun around, his eyes wide with disbelief, and there stood the Hatman. His form flickered like a broken transmission, a shadowy presence in the otherwise empty space. Luka instinctively raised his finger, a flicker of light pulsing at its tip, ready for whatever the Hatman might throw his way.
"Relax," the Hatman chuckled. "I am inside you, remember?"
"Yeah, doesn't explain why you're here."
The Hatman grinned, that same unsettling smile spreading across his face. "I'm not alone," he mused, his form momentarily warping before stabilizing again. "But I guess the others aren't angry enough to appear here. This place is a dream, after all. I can still appear."
"So, what? You're just here to keep me company while I'm stuck here?"
"Nah, I'm here to propose a deal. To put our differences aside for now," the Hatman sighed. "In short, I am willing to help you."
Luka blinked, disbelief flashing across his face. He turned his back to the Hatman, not wanting to waste time on this. "No, end of the negotiations," Luka grumbled, plopping down onto the void like it was just another chair.
"Hey!" The Hatman's growl sharpened. "Hear me out, you stubborn ass!"
Luka lazily picked at his ear, not bothering to look at him. "Nah," he muttered dismissively. "I'll figure a way out myself. I have all your memories anyway."
The Hatman's eyes narrowed in irritation, though his grin remained ever-present. "You think you can escape all this on your own?" His voice became more sardonic. "Good luck, Niño. You'll need it."
"Thanks," Luka sighed while sinking further into the void and staring at the darkened planet below.
"Listen. If we don't stop the Nightlord, this world will fall apart," the Hatman sighed, approaching him.
"I thought you hated Saki. Why would you help me?"
The Hatman chuckled darkly. "I hate that dumb succubus, yeah. But I also hate the Nightlord. This… other version of her? She's dangerous. She's not the same, Niño. You should know that by now."
Luka squinted, trying to follow the Hatman's cryptic words. "So…?"
The Hatman shrugged, an exaggerated, dramatic motion. "If you can kill her once she becomes Saki again, why not? But that's not what I'm asking, not really."
Luka let out a frustrated sigh, turning around to face the Hatman again. "What is it then?"
"I want you to achieve our dream, and release my soul somewhere."
"...Are you serious?" Luka narrowed his eyes.
The Hatman tipped his hat. "Dead serious."
"...What do you propose?"
"Alright!" the Hatman clapped his hand before sitting next to him. "I know you won't have any trouble getting out of here, but you're thinking on how to turn her back into Saki, right?"
Luka nodded slowly, his mind already turning the problem over. "Yeah… But—"
The Hatman raised a finger. "Simple, you have to get rid of her Lust factor again."
Luka's brows furrowed in confusion. "Won't that kill her sooner or later?"
The Hatman's grin turned into a sly smirk. "That's the fun part. You're not trying to kill her—you're trying to save her. You've got to strip away that part of her. If you do that, maybe—just maybe—you'll find a way to return her to who she really is."
Luka paused, mulling over the implications of the Hatman's words. "And if I can't? What then?"
"Seriously? You're still hesitating? Do you even believe you can do it?" the Hatman sighed.
"...I can do it. She's still the same person, just… She doesn't remember me."
The Hatman chuckled, a dark amusement in his eyes. "The truth is a bit more complex than that, but..." He shrugged, his grin widening. "It's not something you should worry about. Now, how about we get this party started, hm?"
"How do I get rid of her Lust factor?" Luka blinked.
The Hatman's tone grew more serious. "Defeat her. Beat her to a pulp. Kill her if you must. That is the only way. But," he added, his grin never leaving, "to do that in her domain, it's almost impossible. Hell, Relius did it on Earth and almost lost."
"But…" he raised one finger. "Someone with absolute control over her domain might have a chance, right?"
Ah… I get it. That's what he meant by achieving our dream.
"You know I still hate you, right?" Luka sighed as he stood up.
"Feeling's not mutual anymore," the Hatman replied, bowing mockingly.
They stood back to back, their left hands raised to their faces, a gesture that felt almost ceremonial. Luka's mind spun with everything at stake, but there was no going back now.
"If we do it…" Luka sighed, feeling his insides twist with unease. "And I say, if we really manage to do it… does that mean you'll go away for good?"
The Hatman chuckled darkly. "I'll leave this world, yes. Disappointed that I may have a chance at living again?"
Luka grinned, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Go find a world that will allow your soul to reincarnate. I can't wait."
The Hatman snickered as they both stood in silence for a moment.
"That Relius guy was capable of seeing timelines and sending me elsewhere," Luka muttered.
"But he is limited to this universe. How shortsighted" the Hatman continued with a smirk.
Luka's contract with the succubi flared to life, red lines suddenly appearing all over his body.
"If one masters his inner world," Luka began.
"And the other the outer," the Hatman finished.
"Then we rule it all," Luka declared, resolve igniting.
The Hatman nodded, his grin stretching wider as the reality of their shared ambition settled into the air. The game was changing, and the rules were theirs to rewrite.
Together, in perfect unison, they chanted, their voices melding into the void:
"Conceptual magic: Absolute Control."
The words echoed through the endless emptiness.
A petty vow to never let anything else control their lives. One searching to control the outside factor, the other searching to better himself.
With both combined, so many doors leading to so many possibilities opened.
The world of dreams, above and beyond opened.
A path to many worlds.
A bright flash surrounded them for a brief moment, and Luka found himself in the grand hall again, where the Nightlord stood. He looked around for a brief moment, the Hatman was nowhere to be seen.
He must be gone already, huh… Luka sighed internally. The hold on his soul had been released, gone somewhere else. But now, thanks to him, I got an idea to get out of this.
"How did you come back…?" the Nightlord muttered, her eyes narrowing in confusion.
The contracts Luka had were still alight, his grin returning. "Simple," Luka said, rolling his shoulders as the power surged through him. "I stopped playing by your rules."
The Nightlord's gaze darkened. "You… altered the dream?"
Luka chuckled, shaking his head. "More like I made it my own." He lifted his hand, watching the red lines glow along his skin. "I'm your husband, and thus the Lord of Dreams too!"
The moment the words left Luka's lips, the grand hall trembled. The walls—once unyielding monuments to the Nightlord's dominion—rippled like liquid, twisting and bending to his will. The very foundations of this dreamscape rebelled against their creator, answering instead to him.
The Nightlord's expression hardened. "You dare claim dominion over my realm?" Her voice carried no anger, no fury—just a cold, cutting disbelief.
"Hell yeah, I am!" Luka took a confident step forward, the glow of his contracts burning even brighter. "My name is Luka! Master of succubi and the Dreamworld. I am your predecessor, and thus—"
Multiple magic circles suddenly appeared at multiple positions, and cracks in space appeared.
"—I shall take your place as Lust!"
From the portals, a sudden figure shot out, her fist colliding with a barrier protecting the Nightlord in a ground-shaking blow.
Luka didn't even need to look to see who it was. He was feeling her presence, a bond that couldn't be broken no matter where he was.
The Nightlord's lips pressed into a thin line. "...Alma Elma."
The Queen of Succubi grinned, stretching her knuckles. "Hey there, Saki-chan. Been a while."
"You can…" the Nightlord frowned, gritting her teeth. "Impossible. You can call them from other worlds?"
"Of course!" Luka shot back with a cheeky grin. "I shall become Lust myself. It's only natural I can do the same things as you!"
The Nightlord's crimson eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and irritation as Alma Elma landed gracefully beside Luka. The Queen of Succubi smirked, her tail swishing playfully as she cracked her knuckles.
"You…" the Nightlord's expression darkened, a flicker of unease flashing through her eyes. Unknown memories flooded her brain again, and she felt a throbbing pain inside her chest. "He truly is taking hold over my authority…?" she muttered under her breath.
The idea was absurd. The Dreamworld was the domain of Lust, a realm ruled by desire and indulgence. For a human—a mere mortal—to wield such power was unthinkable. And yet, here he stood, Luka Morgen, his body glowing with the red lines of his contracts, his presence radiating a power that rivaled her own.
"Truly a foolish idea," the Nightlord sneered, forcing herself to stand tall despite the turmoil within. "It seems I was misguided. You are nothing but an arrogant human. There is nothing beautiful in that."
But even as she spoke, something deep within her stirred. A strange, unfamiliar sensation—a flicker of joy, of hope—pulsed in her chest, contradicting her words. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there. And it terrified her.
Luka, meanwhile, stood his ground, his cheeky grin never wavering. "Call me arrogant all you want," he said, his voice steady and confident. "But I'm not the one who's running away from the truth. You can try to bury Saki under all this darkness, but she's still in there. And I'm not leaving until I bring her back."
He took a deep breath, summoning all the other succubi he made a contract with beside him.
"I am not leaving without a good ol' happy ending!" Luka declared, his voice ringing with determination. He clenched his fist, magical energy swirling around it like a miniature storm. "And I'm going to show you—"
He leapt forward, his body moving with a speed and precision that belied his human form. His fist, glowing with raw magical energy, shot toward the Nightlord's barrier. At his side, Minagi and Alma Elma moved in perfect sync, their own attacks joining his in a devastating combination.
"—Why you chose me to save you!"
The impact was thunderous. Luka's fist collided with the barrier, the force of his strike amplified by the combined power of the succubi. The barrier cracked, fissures spreading across its surface like a spiderweb. For a moment, it held, resisting the onslaught. But then, with a sound like shattering glass, it gave way, the fragments dissolving into nothingness.
The Nightlord staggered back, her eyes wide with shock. For the first time, her composure wavered, her expression betraying a flicker of fear. With a flick of her wrist, an opened door appeared right in front of Luka. Before he could react, he was pulled inside, the world around him twisting and warping as he was transported to another dreamscape entirely.
The ground beneath him vanished, and Luka found himself falling through a blood-red sky. Below him, a nightmarish landscape stretched out—volcanoes spewing rivers of molten lava, the ground cracked and scorched, the air thick with ash and the acrid stench of sulfur. The heat was oppressive, searing his skin even from a distance.
"Oh, come on!" Luka shouted, flailing as he plummeted toward the lava below. "That's not fair!"
From a distance, the Nightlord hovered, her form silhouetted against the fiery sky. She watched him fall, her expression unreadable, her crimson eyes glowing like embers in the dark sky.
"Come to me, Alma Elma!" he called out. Almost instantly, a portal appeared in front of him, and Alma Elma shot through it, her wings spread wide. She grabbed him just in time, her arms wrapping around him as she pulled him out of his freefall.
"You really need to stop falling into trouble, Luka," Alma Elma teased, her voice light but her grip firm. She hovered in the air, her wings beating steadily as she held him close. "Honestly, it's like you're trying to give me a heart attack."
Luka grinned despite the situation, his heart still racing from the near-death experience. "Hey, I knew you'd come through for me," he said, his tone playful.
Alma Elma rolled her eyes, but there was a fondness in her expression. "You're lucky I'm so reliable," she said, her tail swishing behind her. "Now, let's get out of here before—"
"Nuh-huh," Luka chuckled, pointing his finger at the Nightlord. "Dawnstar!"
"H-Hey, wait!" Alma Elma held him tight as a blast akin to a miniature sun streaked through the sky. The beam of pure, radiant energy shot toward the Nightlord, illuminating the fiery dreamscape with its brilliance. The heat was intense, even from a distance, and the air crackled with power as the attack closed in on its target.
The Nightlord's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly raised her hand, summoning a shield of dark energy to block the attack. The two forces collided with a deafening roar, the shockwave sending ripples through the dreamscape. For a moment, it seemed like the Dawnstar would break through, but the Nightlord's shield held, the dark energy absorbing the radiant blast.
"Impressive," the Nightlord said, her voice calm but laced with a hint of admiration. "But not enough, Luka!" she grinned as well. With a flick of her wrist, multiple giant doors materialized above the duo, their ominous frames creaking open. From within, massive rocks—each the size of a car—tumbled out, raining down like meteors.
"Luka! Can't you just send us somewhere else?" Alma Elma gritted her teeth as she weaved through the rain of rocks, her wings beating furiously to avoid the deadly barrage. One boulder grazed her wing, sending a shudder through her body, but she held firm, her grip on Luka never wavering.
"I'm trying!" he growled, shifting his focus to his Control spell.
Dammit. She's still better than me at controlling this place.
The ground quaked as boulders crashed into the landscape, sending molten rock spraying in every direction. Luka felt the weight of the dreamscape resisting him, bending only slightly under his influence. The Nightlord was still the master of this realm, and right now, she was playing with him.
The Nightlord hovered in the distance, her expression one of cold amusement. "You're out of your depth, Luka," she called out, her voice echoing through the fiery sky. "This is my world. My rules. You cannot hope to match me here."
"And you're still a stubborn little idiot!" Luka shot back, his voice steady despite flying at a speed he wasn't accustomed to. "Come on! Just be Saki again already!"
"...Are you an idiot or something?" the Nightlord winced at his words, as if hurt from second-handed embarrassment. "No way I'm going back to being such a weakling!" She shot back.
The volcanoes below them shuddered violently. Lava surged like living veins of fire, and then—
Luka's eyes snapped upward.
The sky. It was no longer open.
It was a ceiling.
And it was coming down.
"Are you kidding me?!" Luka barked, watching as the entire dreamscape shifted, the ground accelerating upward. "She's actually trying to crush us! This is insane!"
"Tch." Alma Elma narrowed her eyes, then smirked. "Fine, if you can't cheat reality, let's do it my way."
She shifted her grip, pulling Luka closer. Before he could react, she spun, launching him toward the Nightlord with incredible speed.
"Wait, WHAT?!" Luka yelped as he shot forward like a missile. "This isn't a plan! This is murder!"
The Nightlord's eyes widened. She barely had time to raise a hand before Luka slammed into her at full force, the impact sending a shockwave through the sky.
The world lurched.
Everything twisted.
Then, in an instant, the fiery hellscape shattered like glass, and Luka found himself standing on solid ground.
The transition was so abrupt that he staggered. Gone was the suffocating heat, the lava-spewing volcanoes, the crushing sky. Instead, an eerie twilight surrounded him, stretching endlessly in all directions.
A dream within a dream.
The Nightlord stood a few paces away, slowly rising up from the blow. " What just happened…"
Luka cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as he took a step forward. "Okay," he exhaled. "Round two."
The Nightlord's expression darkened, her lips curling in an irritated sneer. "Tch. Persistent idiot."
Then, with a flick of her fingers, the very ground beneath Luka vanished.
He plummeted again.
"OH, COME ON!"
The weightless drop sent his stomach lurching as he tumbled through the void, wind whipping past his face. Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fist, his contract flaring up like a beacon.
"Morrigan! I choose you!" Luka thrust his hand upward, summoning a portal.
Nothing.
His stomach dropped even faster than he did.
"THIS WAY, MORRIGAN! THIS WAY!" he shouted, eyes darting to a floating figure in the distance—Morrigan, standing with her back to the portal, seemingly unaware.
At the sound of his voice, the blue-haired succubus stirred, turning sharply. Her piercing gaze locked onto him. A moment later, her aura flared to life, a burst of blue energy illuminating the void as she shot forward, cutting through the dreamscape like a falling star.
Just before Luka hit whatever abyss lay below, Morrigan's power surged around him, telekinesis catching him mid-air.
Luka let out a sharp breath as he stopped just short of oblivion. He glanced up at Morrigan, grinning. "Took you long enough."
"Yeah, sorry…" Morrigan gritted her teeth, her grip on him tightening as she floated them both back to solid ground.
Up above, the Nightlord watched, arms crossed, her eyes unreadable. Then, with a slow, deliberate smirk, she extended her hand.
"Oh no you don't!" Luka growled, flashing another Dawnstar at her.
This time, the attack was more compressed, a concentrated beam of radiant energy designed to pierce through the Nightlord's defenses. It shot toward her with blinding speed, the air crackling with power as it closed in on its target.
But the Nightlord barely reacted. With a simple step back, she let the attack pass, the energy dissipating harmlessly into the darkness behind her. Her smirk widened, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Is that all you've got, Luka?" she taunted, her voice dripping with mockery. "I expected more from you."
Luka clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Not even close," he muttered under his breath. He held his hand forward again, the red lines of his contracts glowing brighter as he summoned more portals. "Lilith and Astaroth! Come to me!"
The air around him shimmered as two new portals opened, their edges crackling with energy. From within, the two Lilith sisters emerged.
Lilith floated gracefully beside Luka, her wings spread widen and her eyes sharp with focus. "You called?" she said, her voice calm but hinting at some amusement.
Astaroth landed gracefully on the ground, her body crackling with her fierce red aura. "About time!" she said. "I was starting to think you forgot about us."
"Never," Luka said, his grin returning as he glanced at the two succubi. "We've got a misbehaving succubus to take down. You ready?"
"Always," Lilith replied, her voice steady as she raised her hand, dark energy swirling around her fingertips.
The Nightlord's smirk faltered for a moment as she took in the sight of the three succubi standing beside Luka. "Foolish endeavor," she sighed, turning the whole landscape upside down in a heartbeat, making everyone fall toward what was once the sky.
"Whoa! This is insane!" Morrigan had trouble re-adapting to the situation, her telekinesis suddenly losing its hold on Luka.
"Morrigan!" Luka called out, his voice tinged with panic as he reached for her. But before he could fall too far, Lilith caught him mid-air, holding him tight against her.
"Careful," she said. "If we lose you here, we might not be able to go back home."
"THAT'S what you're worried about?!" Luka growled, a vein popping on his forehead as he glared at her.
Lilith giggled, ruffling his hair affectionately. "And also, it would be a shame to lose you," she added, her tone softening. "I still haven't shown you our world. And Morrigan was pouting all this time you've been away."
"Well then—" Luka grinned as he brought his hands together. "Let's make sure we can do this later!"
With a lot of focus, he managed to return the landscape to its original form, allowing Astaroth to dash toward the Nightlord. They exchanged blows with their hands before Morrigan joined in, sending multiple blue balls of energy that exploded on the Nightlord's invisible shield.
"That force field is troublesome," Lilith muttered, watching the fight from a distance. "It's tough enough to take one of your Dawnstars, I bet."
"It is… She is powered by the human's dreams. And considering she got the whole planet under her control… She's at her best."
Lilith's lips curled into a faint smile, her gaze never leaving the Nightlord. "Then we'll just have to hit her harder," she said, her voice calm but laced with determination. "She may be powerful, but she's not invincible."
"You're right," Luka nodded with a grin, his finger flashing again. Both Astaroth and Morrigan moved out of the way as another Dawnstar was shot, colliding with the barrier in a brilliant flash.
The moment after, while trails of smoke covered the battlefield, Lilith shot forward, breaking both the sound barrier and the shield in one motion.
Luka dropped right at the moment she destroyed the barrier, his body rolling on the ground multiple times before he grabbed the Nightlord's wrist.
"Gotcha," Luka hissed, his fingers tightening around her arm.
"What are you—" she stammered, clearly taken aback by the sudden touch.
"I'm going to make you remember whether you like it or not!" Luka growled, his fist raised.
The only weakness of a succubus, is love.
In other words. If I show her how much I love her, if she falls in love with me again then—
"So, let's get on a road trip you and I!" his punch found her face, sending her flying toward a door he had opened. He followed after her, the landscape changing once more to a forest.
The Nightlord staggered as she wiped the blood from her cheek, her expression twisted with both fury and disbelief. She had barely steadied herself before another punch landed squarely on her jaw, sending her crashing into yet another door, this one swirling with dark energy.
"Stop it!" she snarled, her voice strained, her eyes flashing with pure malice.
Luka didn't flinch. "I'm not done yet." He pressed forward, his eyes burning with determination as he followed her through the door into the next scene. The landscape changed once more, and they now stood in the heart of Eran, a city in Tamia that Luka had once called home.
Buildings loomed around them, shadows stretching long in the dim light of the street lamps. He could feel the faint pulse of memories rising to the surface. The city was alive with them—familiar faces, moments long past.
If I make too much contact with her, she might fry my brain. But If I inject my memories bit by bit, then I'm safe!
Luka's heart tightened. He had to keep it together. He couldn't let himself get distracted by the past, not now. Not with her.
Before the Nightlord could recover, he sent another fist toward her, his punch hitting with enough force to send her crashing into the ground. The cityscape around them rippled, distorting like a water's surface disturbed by a stone. Luka's grin twisted into something more desperate, more urgent.
Each punch was a step closer to what he needed to do. Every impact was a way to crack through the walls she had built around herself. His only hope was that the memories, injected bit by bit, would break her, would tear away at the walls until she was Saki again.
"I'm going to show you," Luka muttered to himself, stepping closer to the fallen Nightlord, "whether you like it or not."
"I am not…" she rasped, her hand moving but Luka swiftly swatted it away.
"I don't care…" he sighed, his smile returning. "You say you're not Saki, that she died, right? I REFUSE! I'll make you Saki! Because you still remember my name!"
The Nightlord's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. For a moment, it seemed like his words had struck a chord, like they had reached something deep within her. But then her expression hardened, and she raised her hand once more.
"You're wrong," she said, her voice cold and final. "I am the Nightlord. I am Lust incarnate. And I will not be swayed by your foolish nostalgia."
"Argh! For Christ's sake!" Luka threw his hands skyward, exasperation etched across his face. "I'm gonna spank some damn sense into you!"
"What—?!" Her eyes widened in sheer incredulity, but before she could finish, Luka lunged again. His fist connected with a resounding crack, sending her stumbling backward through a shimmering door that materialized in the air behind her.
The world shifted in a heartbeat. They emerged in her opulent chamber, the air thick with the smoky warmth of firewood crackling in an unseen hearth. The Nightlord crashed onto a massive bed swathed in silken sheets, her body sinking into the plush layers as she scrambled to regain her balance. The room glowed with a soft, amber light, casting shadows that danced across the intricate tapestries lining the walls.
"I'm gonna love the fuck out of your Lust factor," Luka declared, his body looming over her.
"Wh-What?!" she stammered, a faint flush creeping across her cheeks, her usual poise unraveling under the sudden, absurd intensity of his words.
"You're Lust, huh? Then let's see who's best at it!"
Her breath hitched, her body tensing beneath him as she struggled against his grip. "You… you're insane!" she spat, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
Luka leaned closer, his face inches from hers, his grin softening into something more earnest. "Maybe I am," he said, his tone dropping to a rough whisper. "But if this is what it takes to get through to you—to bring Saki back—then I'll out-lust Lust itself."
"W-Wait, Luka!" she stammered as she felt his arm grope her. "That's not how it should be! I should dominate you!"
"Fuck off!" Luka shot back with a laugh, yanking his shirt over his head and tossing it aside while activating Pleasure Eater. The motion silenced her, her lips parting as a torrent of memories crashed into her mind like a tidal wave.
It wasn't that the Nightlord was morphing into Saki at that moment. No, it was something more profound—Saki had always dreamed of this, a buried longing now rising to the surface. The predecessor's wish pulsed through her, overriding her control, and against her will, her mouth watered at the thought.
The Nightlord froze, her crimson eyes wide with a mix of shock and something dangerously close to desire. Her hands twitched against the silk, caught between pushing him away and pulling him closer. "This… this isn't right," she whispered, but the words lacked conviction.
"To think all this trial was to prepare me for this moment," Luka growled, groping aggressively her two piles of meat. "What are these, huh? Why're they so damn big? You getting fat or something, you idiot?"
Saki—no, the Nightlord—let out an embarrassed moan beneath his touch, her face blooming with a deeper flush of mortification. "W-What, stop it!" she protested, her voice cracking with flustered indignation. "This is ridiculous! Why can't I make you cum—? You shouldn't even be able to approach me!"
Her words faltered, swallowed by a gasp as Luka's hands tightened, his grin widening in triumph. "Can't what?" he teased. "Can't fight back? Or can't admit that you're going to lose at your own game?" He pressed closer, his bare chest brushing against her.
Her breath hitched again, her struggles weakening as her crimson gaze darted across his face. "Ah… Ah please stop…"
"Then give it up!" Luka growled, his hand slapping her ass. "Give me back Saki! Fuck your stupid rules of reincarnation! If you don't, I'm gonna bully not only you but all the other sins forever! I'll be the goddamn Hatman 2.0!"
"You… You wouldn't dare…" she breathed with a tremor in her voice.
"I would. And I'd win. Wanna bet?"
"I'm just a newborn!" she whimpered, her tone shifting to a desperate edge. "You can't do this to me! It's cruel!"
Huh… I feel like she doesn't have a hold on anything anymore… Maybe I can already…
Without hesitation, he leaned in for a kiss, his lips catching hers with an intense conviction. She didn't resist, as if she waited for it to happen and then—
He felt it. Something deep inside her, like a tidal force of nature surrounding her whole being suddenly coursing toward him. Her body softened beneath him, the fight draining out of her as the energy left her body.
Luka pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, his breath ragged. Her crimson eyes shimmered, turning green and no longer sharp with authority but clouded with vulnerability. "Saki," he whispered, his voice thick with hope, searching her face for the girl he refused to let go.
"How…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "You really are… impossible."
Luka held her emerald gaze, his chest heaving with exhaustion. "Impossible, huh?" he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips despite the tremor in his voice. "Guess that's what it takes to get through that thick skull of yours." His hands slid from her arms to her shoulders, gentle now, cradling her as if she might shatter under too much pressure.
She didn't pull away. Her breath came in shallow bursts, her newly green eyes darting over his face as if trying to piece together a puzzle she'd forgotten she'd ever known. "I… I don't understand… What happened?"
He pulled back fully, springing up from the bed with a grin that stretched ear to ear. "I got you back, that's what!" he declared, his voice ringing with unrestrained triumph. "Ahahaha! Operation Get Saki is a total success!"
"I still don't remember you…" the girl on the bed deadpanned. "You stripped me of Lust, that is all."
"Huh?" Luka blinked, whipping around to face her, his grin faltering as he processed her words. "What do you mean, 'that's all'?"
"That girl Saki is gone, how many times should I tell you?" she sighed. "Now I am just a powerless succubus…"
"...The hell you said?" Luka's face twisted into an angry look as he pinned her down again, his face inching hers. "You look exactly like her now, you even got rid of those absurd breasts."
"Because I transformed to match your taste, that's all," she replied, her tone calm and matter-of-fact, as if explaining the weather.
"I still like big boobs, you know," he deadpanned, then abruptly turned away, crossing his arms. "Alright, fine. Guess I'll just marry Alma Elma then."
"Ah?!" Saki(?) suddenly sat up, her eyes wide in alarm. "W-Wait! You're going to give up just like that? Leave me alone?"
"I'm gonna fuck all the women in the world! Ahahaha!" Luka declared, yanking his pants off with a dramatic flourish and tossing them aside. "I wanna fuck! I wanna fuck!"
"Oh no…" she muttered, her voice dropping as her gaze fixed on him with growing unease. "The Lust factor's getting into his head…"
She bit her thumb, considering what to do. She wasn't Saki and never would be, but this man was about to become even worse than her—or maybe not, but he was going to be a problem for the world soon enough.
"Hohoho!" a sudden voice came through, the purple fox appearing in the room. "It seems he managed to gain the Lust factor, just as planned!"
"W-Who are you?" the ex-Nightlord stammered, her hands fumbling for the sheets to cover herself, instinctively shrinking back.
"My name is Daji," the fox replied, her grin widening into something predatory, all teeth and cunning. "And I've got a little idea to bring back that Saki of his." She licked her lips, her eyes glinting as she loomed over the girl.
"W-Wait! Luka Morgen! Help me—!"
But the fox already pounced in her slime form, swallowing the succubus inside her.
Luka froze mid-laugh, his manic energy stuttering as he blinked at the scene. "Uh… what the hell just happened?" he muttered, scratching his head, the Lust-fueled haze in his mind flickering under the absurdity unfolding before him.
"Do not fret," Daji replied while she massaged the succubus inside her. "I'm merely extracting something she's been hiding… Ah, there we are."
With a fluid motion, she withdrew, leaving the succubus sprawled on the bed, coated in a glistening sheen of slime, her body twitching faintly from the ordeal.
Now," Daji continued, her tone brimming with anticipation as she turned her sly gaze toward Luka, "let's see what we can do with that Lust you've so eagerly claimed."
"Huh?" Luka blinked, caught off-guard.
"You can call upon succubi, isn't that true?" Daji continued, looking at the ex-Nightlord from the side-eye. "And she is merely a dream that exists as long as you do, right? Then go on, call her my lord."
"Wait…" Luka muttered, staring down at his hand as realization dawned. "You're saying I can—"
"I've freed her soul, the one trapped inside this new Nightlord," Daji added with a sly smirk. "I thought about keeping it for myself, but… it suits you better, don't you think? After all, a person can be summarized by three aspects. The body, the mind, and the soul. Since you already have the two last, all you have to do now…"
Luka's eyes narrowed as he flexed his fingers, the red lines of his contracts pulsing faintly along his skin. Daji's words echoed in his head, stirring a mix of confusion and curiosity beneath the lingering haze of Lust. He glanced at the ex-Nightlord, still sprawled on the bed, her slime-coated form trembling slightly as she struggled to sit up. Then he turned back to Daji, her predatory grin unwavering, her purple tail flicking with barely contained excitement.
The ex-Nightlord coughed, wiping slime from her face as she glared at Daji. "You… you meddling fox," she rasped, her voice weak but laced with indignation. "What have you done to me?"
"Improved your situation, darling," Daji replied with a dismissive wave. "You were a hollow Nightlord without a proper core. Now you're… well, let's say a canvas. And he—" she nodded toward Luka, "—gets to paint it."
Luka's brow furrowed, his mind racing. "Hold up. So you're saying Saki's soul is… what, floating around in there? And I can just summon her like some kinda succubus Pokémon?"
"Oh, I like that! Yes, something like that. Go on, give it a try. Call her name. See what happens."
The ex-Nightlord's green eyes widened, a flicker of panic crossing her face as she clutched the sheets tighter. "Wait—no, don't! You don't know what you're—"
But Luka wasn't listening. He clenched his fist, the red lines flaring brighter as he focused, his voice steady despite the wild thrum of his pulse. "Saki," he said, loud and clear, pouring every ounce of intent into the name.
"Come back to me."
The air in the room thickened, a faint hum vibrating through the space as the dreamscape itself seemed to hold its breath. The ex-Nightlord gasped, her body jerking as if struck, and a soft glow began to emanate from her chest—faint at first, then growing into a pulsing, golden light. Her hands flew to her sternum, her breath hitching as she stared down in shock.
"What… what's happening?!" she cried, her voice cracking.
Daji's grin widened, her eyes glinting with delight. "There it is. The soul's waking up. Keep going, Luka—don't stop now."
Luka stepped closer, his heart pounding as he watched the light intensify. "Saki!" he called again, his voice rising with urgency. "I know you're in there! Come on, don't leave me hanging!"
The glow surged, enveloping the ex-Nightlord's body in a shimmering cocoon of gold. Her eyes fluttered shut, her head tipping back as the light consumed her, seeping into every inch of her form. Her limbs went slack, the sheets slipping from her grasp as the radiance pulsed brighter.
Luka's breath hitched as the golden light began to fade, the body of the girl unchanged. However—
He could feel it.
Deep within the confines of his body, no his very being, he could feel that same pull.
The red mark on his arm began to glow again, signaling her return.
The wild haze of Lust that had clouded his mind evaporated, leaving only clarity in its wake. With a grin breaking across his face, he leapt onto the bed, his arms wrapping around her in a fierce, unrelenting hug before she could even open her eyes.
"Saki," he breathed against her, his voice thick with relief and joy, holding her as if letting go might make her disappear. "It's you, isn't it?" he gasped, his face pressed against her shoulder.
The green-eyed succubus blinked, her vision blurred and hazy as a warmth enveloped her, seeping into her bones. She stirred faintly in his grip, her voice a soft, uncertain murmur. "Luka…?"
"Y-You're back?" he pulled back and looked at her with teary eyes. "It's really you isn't it?"
"Why are you naked?" she frowned, a faint blush creeping on her cheeks. "And I thought I…"
"YES!" Luka suddenly yelled, his hand shaking her. "YOU DIED YOU IDIOT! YOU SCARED ME TO DEATH!"
"Awawawa!" Her voice quavered, jolted by his frantic shaking. "Don't shake me so hard!"
"YOU GOT ME THROUGH A STUPID TRIAL THAT ALMOST GOT ME KILLED! FOR WHAT? SO THAT I COULD KILL YOU FOR REAL? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"
"Huh?" She blinked, her expression blank with confusion, clearly lost. "I only did this to protect you, Luka. So you'd have a way to defend yourself against the next—"
"WELL I OUTLUSTED HER! THANKS FOR THE BRIGHT IDEA!"
"H-Huh?" she blinked again.
"So now…" he calmed himself down and took a deep breath. "For putting me through so many problems because you couldn't tell me a single thing… I'll punish you hard."
"H-Huh?" she stammered, her face paling.
"I'm Lust now," he declared, his voice never wavering. "Because of you. Which means you have a responsibility now."
Her lips parted, a faint squeak escaping as she stared at him. "R-Responsibility?" she finally managed, her voice a shaky whisper as she shrank back slightly against the bed. "What… what do you mean by that?"
"I died I don't know how many times against those succubi in that trial," Luka growled, his hands still resting on her shoulders, his grip firm but not harsh. "I even almost fucking died because you thought losing you would stop me from dragging you back…"
"HOW COULD I PREDICT YOU'D DO THAT?!" Saki cried, tears welling in her eyes as her voice broke. "Where's my shy Luka that I loved teasing? W-What's going on?"
"Oh, he's still here," he nodded. "Just buried beneath days of insanity that brought me here. You wanted to train me under succubi, then there you have it. I'm going to fuck you 'til you get my point!"
In one swift motion, he stripped her bare, the sheets falling away to reveal her naked form under his intense, lustful stare. Her breath hitched, her blush flaring brighter as she instinctively tried to cover herself, but Luka's hands caught hers, pinning them gently but firmly to the bed.
"L-Luka!" she yelped, her voice a mix of shock and flustered protest. "What are you—?"
"Punishment," he said simply, his grin returning, sharp and unapologetic. "You don't get to play martyr and leave me behind without consequences. Because I love you. And what you did…" his voice cracked for the briefest of instant. "Made me think I'd lost you forever, you idiot…"
"How did you take Lust?" Saki asked, her mind still trying to process the situation. "I should've been ruthless! I should have been very hard to defeat! How can this—"
"Shut up!" he growled, kissing her deeply and then pulled back.
"You've lost it!" she whimpered, her breath jagged as tears streaked her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Luka! I really am! I was desperate—I didn't know what else to do and—!"
"I said shut up!" Luka snarled, sheathing himself inside her with a single, decisive thrust. A low groan rumbled from his throat as he felt her inner walls yield to him, tight and warm. "You're an idiot! A real fucking idiot! And idiots like you need to be punished properly!"
But Saki's response was a broken sob, her tears spilling freely as she clung to him. Her arms and legs wrapped around him tightly, pulling him closer. Her nails dug into his back, her breath hitching between cries, and despite the intensity of the moment, there was something tender in the way she held him—like she was afraid he'd vanish if she let go.
Luka's rhythm faltered for a heartbeat, his own breath catching as he felt her trembling against him. "Saki…" he murmured, his voice softening, though the edge of his frustration lingered. He buried his face in her neck, his lips brushing her skin as he moved, slower now, but no less determined. "You don't get it, do you? I'd tear the world apart for you. And you almost made me lose you…"
"You'd do that…?" she whispered.
"I just did. So what are you gonna do to apologize, hm? Drain me dry like all the other stupid succubi?"
"No," she said through her tears, shaking her head faintly. "I guess… I was terrible, wasn't I?"
"Horrible, yeah. Leaving me like that after you cried so much while I was sleeping…" he stopped entirely, his body trembling slightly. "You should've just told me everything…"
"You wouldn't have survived this place without the training…" she countered weakly, her voice thick with regret.
"Yeah," he nodded, conceding the point with a grudging sigh.
"Ahem," Daji coughed. "I'm enjoying the show, truly, but I'm still here."
"GET OUT OF HERE YOU DAMN FOX!" Luka and Saki growled at the same time.
"Only if you hear the condition I gave you earlier."
"Oh, right," Luka looked up, still frustrated from the interruption.
"From now on I shall stay by your side, Luka," Daji grinned wickedly. "I hope you know what that means?"
"Oh, definitely," Luka nodded before looking back at Saki. "So, yeah. I'm getting a harem, fuck it."
"Good, I'm leaving then," Daji chuckled before walking away.
"What?" Saki blinked, her tear-streaked face snapping up to stare at him in disbelief.
"Don't tell me you've got any objections…" His eyes darkened, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Putting me through all this just to marry a failure like you would be a pretty weak reward…"
"You're just mean now," she sighed, pinching his skin lightly in retaliation, though her lips twitched faintly. "Of course you get a harem. Your role as my husband was always gonna be satisfying a bunch of succubi anyway."
"What?" Luka blinked, his head jerking back as he processed her words, caught off guard.
"Ahaha… Surprised?" Saki grinned wickedly. "You're Lust now you idiot! Of course you'll get a harem!"
"I feel like you're waiting to see me fail…" Luka muttered, his face paling slightly.
"No, but…" She pulled him closer, her voice dipping into a teasing purr. "Let's just say maybe you deserve it."
"Alright but you're at the bottom of the harem. Gotta climb your way back up."
"WHAT?!"
"Yeah," Luka said, leaning back with a smug grin, folding his arms as if he'd just won a grand argument. "You heard me. You've got some ground to make up, Saki. Leaving me to fend off succubi and nearly dying on me? Not a good start…"
She sputtered, her blush flaring anew as she sat up straighter, clutching the sheets to her chest like a shield. "That's ridiculous! I'm the one who set this all up! I should be at the top by default!"
"Set it up?" Luka raised an eyebrow with a frown. "The fuck you mean 'set it up'? I thought you did but in the end, you just threw me at succubi in the hope I would get stronger! YOU HAD NO PLAN IN MIND YOU DUMBASS!"
"Oh?" her eyes darkened as she closed her legs around him tighter. "Then how about that?"
"About wha—" His words choked off into a sharp gasp, his body tensing as an overwhelming wave of pleasure crashed through him. His shaft pulsed, spilling inside her in an instant, leaving him breathless and reeling.
"From 0 to 10, how fast was it?" she grinned, feeling his seed pooling inside her.
"Eh," he grunted, swallowing hard to steady himself, his voice rough. "1…"
"You wanna die?"
"You wanna die?" Saki's grin evaporated, her eyes narrowing into a lethal glare as she squeezed her legs even tighter.
"You threatened me to drain me dry you dumbass!" he growled, thrusting back inside her in defiance. "I will never let you have a win!"
"Ah?!" she growled, squeezing him tight inside her, painfully so. "I was lying of course! I would never drain you dry! I just wanted you to take the trial seriously to get stronger!"
"THEN JUST TRAIN ME!"
"I WAS TOO TIRED TO FUCK!"
"WHAT KIND OF A FAILURE OF A SUCCUBUS CAN YOU BE IF YOU CAN'T FUCK?"
"FUCK YOU!"
"FUCK YOU!"
Their voices clashed, a furious back-and-forth that filled the room. Luka's thrusts matched his words, each one a punctuation of his frustration, while Saki's grip tightened in retaliation, her legs and inner walls a vice of defiance. It was a messy, heated tangle of anger and passion, neither willing to back down, their argument spiraling into something primal and absurdly intimate.
"I LOVE YOU!"
"ME TOO YOU IDIOT SUCCUBUS!"
And yet, beneath the shouting and the clashing, there was a wild, undeniable happiness threading through it all—a reckless joy that neither could suppress.
"I SAVED EVERYONE! SHOW SOME RESPECT!"
"I'LL SHOW SOME RESPECT ONCE YOU'VE PUT ME BACK UP ON THE HAREM RANKING!"
"NEVER!"
Their words were defiant, sharp but they clung to each other—fingers digging into skin, breaths mingling, all of it telling a different story. It was a fight, sure, but it was theirs, and in its messy, loud glory, they found something that felt like home.
Like old-times banter, added with the pleasure of love.
Her wish was finally fulfilled.
Thanks to this lustful hero.