The temple bells rang at dawn, slow and ominous.
Aiko sat on the marble edge of a sacred bath, skin still tingling from the night before. Silas's training had pushed her to the edge of sanity, but it had paid off—she felt clearer, sharper. Her body no longer trembled under the weight of her arousal; she could control it. Channel it.
Still, as she pulled on her ceremonial leathers—tight, black, laced in crimson—she felt the familiar throb at the base of her spine. The Breedbound hunger never truly left.
And that was the point.
She didn't have to submit to it anymore.
She would wield it.
---
They arrived at the Colosseum of Cindervault just after midday.
Kael walked beside her, as unreadable as ever. Vorik trailed behind, a little too quiet, a little too watchful.
The arena stood like a monument to lust and war, its arches carved with depictions of ancient orgies and erotic battles. Men filled the stands—thousands of them. Warriors, nobles, sinners, monks. All eyes turned toward Aiko as she stepped onto the obsidian-slick arena floor.
Gasps.
Cheers.
Groans of desire.
Some wept openly.
A voice boomed across the sky: "Welcome to the Tournament of Thirst!"
Aiko flinched. Not because of the announcement—but because of what came next.
A rumble of energy.
Her system pulsed.
---
[==== SYSTEM NOTICE ====]
World Event Triggered: Tournament of Thirst
Objective: Overcome all erotic combatants in public spectacle.
Victory Condition: Outlast, outmatch, and out-seduce your opponents.
Elimination occurs via orgasmic collapse, failure to resist arousal, or forfeiture.
WARNING: System-inhibited climax limits temporarily lifted.
Bonus Reward: First Erotic Crown of Virelia
Opponents: 7
Combatants: Mixed-gender, various classes.
Round One: Begins now.
---
Aiko's heart kicked into overdrive. Her fingers clenched into fists, leathers squeaking from the tension.
A gate opened.
Her first opponent stepped into the light.
A woman.
Tall, built like a dancer—lithe and dangerous. Her crimson hair fell in waves down her back, and two curved daggers hung from her hips. She wore little more than translucent straps and attitude.
"I am Saera," she said, licking her lips. "Shadowcourtesan of the Nightblood Guild. And I want to make you scream in front of thousands."
Aiko blinked.
"Wait… this is co-ed?!"
Kael smirked from the sidelines.
"Virelia doesn't discriminate," Silas said dryly.
Saera lunged.
---
Aiko barely dodged the first strike—but it wasn't a dagger that came at her.
It was a kiss.
A blast of pheromones followed—sweet, cloying, making her knees buckle. Saera's fingers snaked around Aiko's neck, her tongue teasing just behind her ear.
"You're trembling," she whispered.
Aiko bit her lip.
"Because I'm excited."
Her hips bucked, knocking Saera off balance. She spun, grabbing the redhead's arm, twisting it behind her, slamming her against a stone column. Their bodies collided with heat, slickness, friction.
The crowd screamed.
"Not bad," Saera gasped. "But can you take this?"
Her eyes flared violet.
A psychic pulse slammed into Aiko's mind.
Desire. Relentless.
Come.
Submit.
Let go.
---
[==== SYSTEM NOTICE ====]
Mental Domination Detected.
Rolling Breedbound Willpower…
Roll Successful.
New Trait Unlocked: Erotic Counterpulse
You may convert psychic lust-based attacks into energy.
+5% Sync Rate bonus for resisting domination.
---
Aiko laughed.
"You tried to drown me in heat?" she snarled. "I am the ocean."
She leaned in—and bit Saera's lip.
Hard.
Then her hand slipped between them, two fingers pressing down against the shadowcourtesan's pleasure-point rune.
"Let's see how long you can hold out."
She pushed power through her touch—not just arousal, but command.
Saera's eyes rolled back.
She bucked, moaned, and screamed.
---
[==== SYSTEM NOTICE ====]
Opponent Status: ORGASMIC COLLAPSE
Saera has been eliminated.
+1 Victory
Skill Acquired: Shadow Bind (Temporarily paralyze a target with a kiss)
Sync Progress: 27%
Mutation Surge: Stabilized
Arousal Level: Medium-High
---
Aiko stepped back, wiping Saera's fluids from her lip with two fingers—then licking them clean.
The crowd lost their minds.
Kael looked murderous.
Silas looked pleased.
Vorik? He was already hard again.
"Who's next?" Aiko shouted.
The second gate opened.
And what walked out wasn't a dancer.
It was a brute.
A man twice her size, oiled muscles gleaming in the sun, a loincloth barely containing the threat beneath. Tattoos of binding and submission covered his chest.
"I'm Gorran," he growled. "And I'm going to break you with pleasure."
Aiko tilted her head.
"Sweetie," she purred, "you can try."