Incubus Ascension

The morning light filtered through the ancient canopy above the hidden grove, painting the forest floor in soft, dappled gold. Liam stirred on the bed of woven leaves and moss, his body aching in that familiar way that came from pushing too hard, too fast. He opened his eyes and sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. The girls were already up—Ellara adjusting the straps of her dark leather armor with quiet efficiency, Mira brushing out her hair with careful fingers, and the others moving about with the graceful certainty of those who had risen with the dawn. They looked rested, alert, alive. A quiet relief settled in his chest.

’They’re okay. We made it through another night.’

He let out a long sigh, the kind that carried the weight of unspoken fears. The previous day’s battles still clung to him like smoke— the corrupt general, the desperate fights, the strange pull of this world that kept demanding more from him. But seeing them safe grounded him. These women had become his anchor, their trust a responsibility he refused to fail.

Liam reached for the items Ellara had entrusted to him the night before. His fingers tingled as he focused, drawing out the lingering Origin Power. It flowed into him steadily, a warm current that filled the hollow spaces inside. The system chimed softly in his mind, confirming the total.

**1000 Origin Points collected.**

"Good enough," he muttered. He stood, brushing dirt from his clothes, and met the girls’ eyes. "Let’s head back to the Elven Royal Palace. We’ve got what we need."

Ellara turned toward him, her crimson eyes steady. The Dark Elf Queen carried herself with the quiet authority of someone who had already weighed her choices. "I’ve decided to follow you, Liam. Wherever this path leads."

He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips despite everything. "Alright. I’m glad to have you with us."

They set off together through the whispering woods, the group moving as one. The journey back felt lighter than the trek out—perhaps because they carried purpose now instead of uncertainty. Birds called overhead, and the ancient trees seemed to lean in as if listening. Liam walked near the front, hyper-aware of every rustle, every shadow. ’No more surprises. Not today.’

The palace came into view sooner than expected, its elegant spires rising like living branches against the sky. Guards bowed as they passed, and soon they stood before Queen Citra. Her presence filled the grand chamber—tall, radiant, and unmistakably powerful—yet Liam caught the subtle tension in her shoulders, the faint weariness behind her regal smile.

He stepped forward. "There was a corrupt general causing trouble near the borders. We handled it, but you should send people to secure the area."

Citra nodded, her expression hardening with resolve. "I will see to it personally. Thank you, Liam."

He continued, "We also gathered enough energy. The Origin Points... they’re ready."

Her eyes brightened. Without a word, she reached out and gently pulled him along, leading the group toward the northern hall. The others followed close behind. The chamber was quiet, almost reverent, centered around the ornate case holding her mother Lia’s vase. Liam’s gaze locked onto it—and his stomach tightened.

Faint cracks spiderwebbed across the surface, barely visible but unmistakable.

’He knew. The Eye saw this coming and tried to destroy it before I could use it.’

The realization sent a chill down his spine. He checked his status: 1000 OP still intact. Then the system prompt appeared, clear and instructional, guiding him through the ritual of sealing.

Liam placed both hands on the case. Power surged from his core, draining rapidly as he followed the precise mental steps. The air grew thick, humming with energy. Before his eyes, the cracks slowly sealed, fading away as a new, vibrant aura enveloped the vase. It pulsed with contained might.

He read the updated description:

**Seal of the Eye – F Rank. Extra-dimensional being.**

*Because the seal is weak, it can only hold the Eye for two years.*

A prompt flashed: **Activate the seal?**

"Yes," Liam said firmly.

The ground trembled beneath their feet. A deep rumble echoed through the palace as the sky above cracked open with jagged lines of unnatural light. The vase shook violently in his grasp—strong enough that he had to drop it to the floor with a careful thud. It rattled for a heart-stopping moment, then stilled.

Liam wiped sweat from his brow, breathing hard. He checked the description again:

*A piece of the extra-dimensional being, the Eye, is now sealed inside the vase.*

"Thank god," he whispered, shoulders sagging with relief. ’It worked. One less nightmare for now.’

But the system wasn’t done. A new quest window materialized, heavier than any before:

**Quest: Save your wife, Queen Citra, from being killed by the Opposed Faction.**

**Failure: Host death, death of the girls, death of Citra.**

**Rewards: Permission to plant your seed inside the Tree of Life. 200% favorability with all women elves. Note: Some may become yandere.**

Liam smacked his lips, a mix of determination and dark humor flashing across his face. Of course he would do it. Citra was his wife in this world, the woman who had stood beside him through hell. He wouldn’t let her—or any of them—fall. But the weight of it pressed on him. ’Just what kind of trap card does the Opposed Faction have? To think they could threaten the strongest person on the continent...’

Before he could voice any of it, a green portal swirled open beside him. The girls rushed forward, weapons half-drawn, but Citra raised a hand. "It’s alright. This is the Tree of Life calling for him."

They hesitated, then nodded, trusting her words. Liam felt himself pulled through.

He emerged in a vast, glowing green expanse—ethereal and alive, like standing inside a living heartbeat. In the distance, a woman floated toward him. She possessed curves that rivaled Citra’s own, with flowing green hair and eyes like deep forest pools. She drew close, cupped his face, and kissed him deeply, passionately.

"Thank you," she murmured against his lips. "For killing that worm that fed on my core."

Liam nodded, steadying himself. "It was what I had to do."

She pulled back slightly, her expression turning grave. "There is a bigger problem. Citra didn’t tell you everything."

Liam’s heart clenched. "What do you mean?"

The Tree of Life—Ti—explained with quiet sorrow. Citra had suffered terrible wounds battling the vessels of the Eye and the True Devil at the Great Border. That was why the Elven Continent felt so untouched compared to others; most threats had been turned away at great cost. Now, the Opposed Faction sensed weakness. They had acquired a weapon from the border—one crafted by both the Devil and the Eye to ignore level differences and strike her down.

"Where is it now?" Liam asked, jaw tight.

"Being transported from the northern borders toward a Duke’s territory. You must intercept the carriage and destroy it."

He thought of the girls, of the risk. ’Too dangerous to bring them into the unknown. They need to stay near Citra.’

"Tell Citra and the girls to remain here," he said. "I’ll handle this."

Ti nodded, then drew him into another lingering, tongue-filled kiss. "For good luck. Be careful, Liam. They’re acting bold—as if they no longer fear Citra. They must have hidden cards."

He absorbed her warning, feeling the weight of it. Then the green space faded. Vines lifted him skyward, carrying him swiftly over the treetops. The wind rushed past, cool and bracing. Below, the landscape blurred until he spotted it: a heavily guarded carriage moving along a remote road.

Liam’s pulse quickened, resolve hardening like steel. ’This ends now.’

"It’s time," he said under his breath, and jumped.