Incubus Ascension

Liam stepped out of Vanessa’s modest home, the wooden door clicking shut behind him like a quiet punctuation to another fleeting moment of peace. The morning air carried the faint salt of the sea and the earthy scent of recent rain, but beneath it all lingered the weight he couldn’t quite shake. His boots crunched against the gravel path as he moved toward the bridge connecting the little island to the mainland.

’One more loop,’ he thought, jaw tight. ’Just enough to throw her off.’

The crossing felt longer than usual, each step echoing with the memory of the girls’ laughter still ringing from inside the house. He’d left them sleeping soundly, safe for now. But safety was an illusion he’d learned to distrust. Something ancient and watchful was hunting him across possibilities, and every choice he made tightened the noose—or loosened it. He picked up speed, the wind whipping past as the familiar silhouette of the starting town rose ahead.

He walked through the bustling gates, nodding at familiar merchants setting up stalls. Children darted between legs, and the smell of fresh bread wafted from a nearby bakery. Liam made straight for the knight barracks, where Captain C2 stood overseeing morning drills, her armor gleaming under the sun.

Her eyes widened the moment she spotted him approaching alone. "Liam? Where are the girls? Don’t tell me they’re still lazing about after yesterday’s mess."

He hesitated, the words about the Eyes—the dangerous extra-dimensional presence that stalked his every future—catching in his throat. Telling her wouldn’t change the threat. It would only burden her with worry she didn’t need. He shook his head, forcing an easy smile. "Nah, just felt like hanging out with you today. Been a while since we’ve had a proper drink without half the continent trying to kill us."

C2 blinked once, then grinned, her simple, straightforward nature shining through. "Well, if that’s the case, I’m not complaining!" She grabbed his arm with surprising strength and hauled him toward the nearest tavern, her laughter booming. "Drinks are on me—until they’re on you!"

Hours blurred into a haze of clinking mugs and raucous stories. They drank deeply—far too deeply. By the time the sun dipped low, the world tilted pleasantly. Stumbling out into the cool evening, they found themselves at the edge of the town barriers. Liam laughed as he relieved himself against the glowing ward stones, C2 doing the same beside him with zero shame. The absurdity of two high-level fighters marking territory like drunk sailors struck him, and he doubled over in laughter.

Only afterward, as the buzz began to fade, did a different memory surface. ’The little girl... and Wilbert.’

He left C2 leaning against the barrier, already snoring softly, and made his way to the modest house on the outskirts. Peering through the window, warmth bloomed in his chest. Inside, Wilbert moved with purpose, stirring a pot of stew while his daughter set the table, chattering happily. The man’s eyes had lost their haunted glaze; he looked present, attentive—finally a father again. Liam smiled, a quiet relief settling over him. Some things could still be set right.

He returned to the barrier, hoisted the unconscious C2 over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and carried her back to her quarters. Tucking her in with surprising gentleness, he whispered, "Sleep it off, Captain. You’ve earned it."

Then he was gone, racing toward the capital. His high level turned the journey into a blur of wind and blurred landscapes—less than ten minutes, the world streaming past in streaks of green and stone.

The orphanage courtyard buzzed with the usual afternoon energy. The children spotted him immediately, swarming like excited puppies. Liam laughed, reaching into his inventory to pull out handfuls of rich chocolate pieces. He made sure the quiet boy in the back received an extra share, ruffling his hair. "Share with the others, yeah? And save some for tomorrow."

Their delighted cheers followed him as he left, pushing onward toward Hydra City. The streets grew busier, the air thicker with the scent of spices and ale. He found Ri exactly where he expected—slouched at the bar in the inn, nursing a tankard with her usual brooding intensity.

From there, his path took him to Valhalla’s grand halls, then near the estate where L and her father, the count, resided. He kept the visits brief but meaningful: a shared joke with old allies, a nod of respect to the count, quiet words of encouragement where they were needed. Each stop anchored him, a reminder of how far he had come from the lost soul who first stumbled into this world.

By the time he finished the circuit, three full days had slipped by in what felt like a whirlwind. Liam stood on a quiet ridge overlooking the landscape, catching his breath, when the air before him shimmered. The Eye materialized, its vast, unblinking presence pressing against reality itself.

"Why have you been visiting every soul you know?" it demanded, voice like cracking ice.

Liam shrugged, keeping his tone light. "Just wanted to catch up. See how far I’ve reached, you know?"

The Eye pulsed. "I have caught you now."

A slow smile spread across his face. "It seems so. But..." He glanced at the glowing system window only he could see—**Quest Completed: Evade Pursuit (Time Extended)**. "You caught me just one minute later."

The Eye flickered violently, then vanished with an audible snap of displaced air.

Liam jumped once, pumping his fist with a whoop of pure triumph. ’It worked. The damn thing probably sees every possible future. By hitting every old contact, I shifted enough variables to push the timeline just far enough.’ He let out a long breath, shoulders sagging. "I’m so done with these extra-dimensional bastards and their future-sight tricks. True Devil, Eyes... all of you."

He raced back to Vanessa’s house, heart lighter. The girls were still there, lounging in the living room with snacks and stories. "I’ll be back like always," he promised them, earning warm smiles and teasing jabs about his sudden wanderlust.

Then the system chimed.

**Ding! New Quest: Solve the Hidden Curse Inside the Princess Necklace.**

Liam paused mid-step, gaze dropping to the ornate necklace resting against the princess’s collarbone. ’Wasn’t that supposed to be a legacy from the heroes? Why a curse?’

He inspected it again, and cold dread pooled in his stomach.

**Necklace of Death. Time until user dies: 2 days.**

"Shit," he muttered. The princess was laughing with the others, completely oblivious to the invisible noose tightening around her neck.

He couldn’t wait. Pulling her gently aside into a private corner of the garden, he kept his voice low. "You’ve got two days left to live."

She dropped to her knees, face pale. "Why? Liam, what are you talking about?"

He pointed to the necklace. "It’s draining your life force. Slowly killing you."

Her eyes widened in horror. "But... the golden-haired lady said it was a legacy. A gift!"

"Did she leave any way for you to contact her?" he asked.

The princess shook her head, voice trembling. "No. She just said I’d meet her when I needed to."

Liam’s fingers brushed one of the five glowing jewels. A jolt of dark energy drained from him into the stone. He tried to lift the necklace off her, but it wouldn’t budge, as if fused to her skin. Another system alert appeared.

**Quest: Help the Princess Get Rid of the Cursed Necklace.**

**Failure: The Princess’s Death.**

**Rewards: Original Necklace of the Five Heroes.**

His heart hammered. ’Fake? Those level 2500 skeletons back then... were they the real deal, or just decorations?’ The timer on her necklace continued its merciless countdown.

"There’s no time," he said urgently. "We have to move fast or you die."

Back inside, he explained the situation to the girls. They immediately insisted on coming along, voices overlapping with concern.

"No," Liam said firmly. "Just me and her will be faster and quieter. I can protect her better that way."

The princess nodded, steeling herself. Together they headed for Hydra City, urgency lending speed to their steps. As they pushed open the door to the familiar inn bar, chaos greeted them. Ri was in the middle of a brawl with a dozen rough-looking members of the Scorpion Gang—blades flashing, tables overturned.

For the first time, Liam saw her truly cornered. But he no longer feared such small-time threats. ’I’m way past caring about gangs like this.’

He leaped into the fray without hesitation, a blur of controlled violence. Fists and dark energy strikes dropped thugs one after another until the last Scorpion lay groaning on the floor. He helped Ri to her feet. "Why the hell were they coming after you? I thought your family’s duty guarding the tomb kept them away."

Ri spat blood, wiping her mouth. "New leader decided traditions are dead—including my family’s role. He’s more vicious than the last one. Wants everything for himself."

"What about the tomb entrance?" Liam pressed. "Did they lock it down?"

She nodded grimly. "They took my house. I’m staying here at the inn now. Everything’s gone to hell."

Liam exhaled slowly, glancing at the shaken princess beside him. The clock was still ticking. Whatever came next, they would face it together—cursed necklace, dangerous gangs, and all.