Incubus Ascension

Liam stared at the red-haired woman standing in the dim light of his hidden sanctuary, heart hammering against his ribs like a war drum. His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword until his knuckles ached. Just minutes ago, he had barely escaped death in the chaos outside—blood still crusted on his sleeves, lungs burning from the run. And now this. No sign of the girls. No laughter from the kids. Only her, sitting there as if she owned the place.

"Who the hell are you?" he rasped, voice rough with exhaustion and fear.

The woman tilted her head, her crimson hair catching what little light filtered through the cracks in the stone walls. "My name is Laila," she said calmly, her tone almost gentle. "And don’t worry. The kids and the girls are in a safe place."

Liam shook his head sharply, taking a half-step forward with the sword raised. ’Safe? After everything I just went through to get back here?’ The adrenaline from his narrow escape still surged through him, making every shadow feel like a threat. A stranger in his secret base, family vanished—it all screamed trap.

Laila sighed, a soft sound that carried more weight than it should. She snapped her fingers. From the far side of the room, a shimmering veil of darkness lifted like theater curtains parting. There they were—the girls huddled protectively around the children, wide-eyed but unharmed. One of the little ones peeked out and waved tentatively.

Liam’s shoulders sagged. The sword dipped slightly as air rushed back into his lungs. He lowered the blade but didn’t sheath it. "What do you want?"

Laila met his gaze steadily. She lifted one hand, and dark energy coiled around her fingers like living smoke, pulsing with the same hungry power that lived inside him. "We are the same, you and I."

Liam shook his head again, jaw tight. "We aren’t."

But something about her nagged at his memory. He squinted, studying her face. "Wait... you’re the woman who offered us a ride toward the capital barrier, right outside the walls."

Laila’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "You still remember. Good. Honestly, I want to use you."

"You’re awfully honest about it," Liam muttered, a bitter edge creeping into his voice despite the tension.

She laughed lightly, the sound echoing oddly in the enclosed space. "It’s literally a curse placed on me. I always tell the truth. Whether I like it or not."

Liam exhaled slowly, glancing once more at the girls and kids before focusing on her. ’I’ve got nothing to lose by hearing her out. Not after today.’ "What do you need?"

Laila lowered her hand, the dark energy fading. "It’s about our future. We exiles on the Dark Continent... the seal on our goddess Nyx has vanished. She’s free now."

"So what does that have to do with us?" Liam asked, suspicion still thick in his tone.

Laila shook a finger at him, almost playfully. "She’s very weak right now. The other exiles will see this as their chance to absorb her essence and rise to godhood."

Liam kept staring, his mind racing. "And what does any of that have to do with me?"

A sharp chime echoed in his head, followed by the familiar translucent blue window of the system:

**Quest Received: Save Nyx**

**Time Limit: 1 Month**

**Failure: World erasure, user death, and the creation of a mad god.**

"Damn it, Laila," Liam cursed under his breath, rubbing a hand over his face. The weight of it hit him like a physical blow—another impossible burden dropped into his lap when he was already running on fumes. ’Why me? Why now?’

As if reading the expression on his face, Laila leaned forward slightly. "This concerns all of us exiles. Whoever steals Nyx’s essence could kill the rest of us without breaking a sweat."

Liam’s expression hardened. The protective instinct that had kept him fighting for the girls and kids flared stronger. "Alright. This just turned very bad. How do we stop it?"

"It’s simple," Laila said. "We stop the ones going after her essence."

Another chime rang out immediately:

**Quest Received: Kill Valor, the Strongest Exile**

**Time Limit: 6 Days**

**Failure: Host death and the girls’ deaths.**

**Reward: Massive increase in dark energy.**

Liam’s eyes flicked to the notification, then to the girls huddled across the room. ’Valor? And the girls... their deaths?’ The thought twisted something deep in his chest. He had dragged them into this life already. He couldn’t let it claim them too.

"Who is Valor?" he asked, voice low.

Laila’s demeanor cracked for just a moment—something haunted flashing behind her eyes—before she schooled it. "An enemy."

Liam nodded. That was answer enough. "Where is he?"

She studied him for a long second. "Valor works inside the royal castle. He has another identity: Minister of Foreign Affairs."

"How does an exile climb that high in the kingdom?" Liam pressed.

Laila sighed. "His second ability—Scheming. He sweet-talked, bribed, and manipulated his way to the top. No one knows what he really is."

Liam felt the conversation drifting. He raised a hand. "Look, about your Nyx request—I’ll help. But chasing down enemies one by one isn’t the way. We should find Nyx first. Protect her directly. It’s smarter than running around after every target."

Laila watched him quietly, then gave a slow nod. "This is better. More logical."

She stood gracefully. "I’ll call for you after you finish things here. This killing of Valor."

"How did you know I’d go after him?" Liam asked.

"I felt your murderous intent when you said his name," she replied with a faint smile. "And honestly? I’d like it if you did it too."

With a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed him a sleek black card. It landed perfectly in his palm—an invitation to the royal party tomorrow night. "He’ll be there."

Liam caught it. "How do I contact you?"

"I’ll be the one contacting you."

Darkness swirled around her like ink in water, and she stepped through a newly formed portal, vanishing without another word.

The room felt heavier once she was gone. Liam crossed to the girls immediately, crouching down to check on them. "Everything alright? Did she hurt any of you?"

They shook their heads, though their eyes still held traces of fear. One of the older girls managed a weak smile. "We’re okay, Liam. She didn’t touch us."

Relief washed through him, but it was short-lived. A new notification pinged:

**Warning: Spirit Points critically low. Recommend immediate farming.**

Liam cursed inwardly. ’Of course. I need a lot more SP if I’m going to take on someone like Valor.’ He straightened, glancing around the sanctuary that no longer felt safe. "We can’t stay here. I’m wanted now. If I stick around with the kids, I’ll only expose you all to more danger."

He gathered them quickly. "Come on. We’re heading back to the hotel."

Once inside the familiar hotel room, Liam sealed the space with a silence barrier, the dark energy humming softly around the walls. It wouldn’t stop everything, but it would give them a moment’s peace. He sank onto the edge of the bed, sword across his lap, staring at the invitation card in his hand while the girls settled the children.

’One month to save a goddess. Six days to kill a monster in the heart of the kingdom. And the girls’ lives on the line if I fail.’ The exhaustion from the day pressed down on him, but beneath it burned a stubborn resolve. He had people to protect. He always had.

Tomorrow, the real fight would begin.