Arthur found a private training room in the east tower – a small round room with strong walls and basic equipnt. No one used it this late, and it had special wards that hid magic, making it perfect for secret practice.
He lit the wall torches with a simple lighter – no need to waste energy on fancy magic he could barely control anyway – and stood in the middle of the room.
In the corner stood an old wooden practice dummy that generations of princes had used for training.
[New Ability: Submission Strike (Rank 1)]
[Description: Use a harem mber’s loyalty to weaken an opponent’s will]
[Cost: 30 Energy]
[Duration: 10 seconds]
[Range: Line of sight]
[Cooldown: 120 seconds]
Arthur was just standing there, staring at the practice dummy, trying to imagine Gareth’s face on that plain old wooden head. He focused on his connection with Lily, rembering the pure loyalty that had flowed from her into him just hours ago.
[Submission Strike: Activate?]
[Energy Cost: 30]
[Current Energy: 195/200]
[Select Harem mber: Lily/Valentina]
"Lily," Arthur whispered, reaching for that feeling of her devotion still fresh inside him.
[Channeling: Lily]
[Primary Attributes: Loyalty 98%, Submission 100%]
[Strike Configured: Precision Focus]
[Energy Cost: -30]
Arthur held out his hand toward the dummy. Energy gathered in his palm – not fiery like normal magic, but a subtle shimr that felt like Lily’s essence. He pushed the power out with a quick hand motion.
An almost invisible wave rippled through the air. When it hit the dummy, nothing happened at first.
Then the wooden face seed to change, looking a bit like Gareth. The illusion only lasted monts, but in those seconds, Arthur felt strangely connected to the dummy – like if it were alive, it would hesitate and doubt itself.
[Submission Strike: Success]
[Effect: Target will hesitate and have weakened resolve for 10 seconds]
[Cooldown: 120 seconds]
Arthur walked around the dummy, thinking about what this ant. Ten seconds of hesitation in a fight could be huge – enough ti to dodge a spell or land a critical hit. But the ability didn’t seem to do much damage on its own.
He waited for the cooldown to finish, then got ready to try again, this ti focusing on Valentina’s essence.
[Submission Strike: Activate?]
[Energy Cost: 30]
[Current Energy: 165/200]
[Select Harem mber: Lily/Valentina]
"Valentina," Arthur commanded, reaching for that mix of ambition, possessiveness, and cunning that defined their blood bond.
[Channeling: Valentina]
[Primary Attributes: Ambition 95%, Cunning 90%, Possessiveness 90%]
[Strike Configured: Aggressive Dominance]
[Energy Cost: -30]
This ti, when the energy left his hand, it had a visible red tint – Valentina’s blood magic influence.
The dummy shook when struck, and the face that appeared looked shocked and submissive.
Surprisingly, small cracks ford in the wood, like the strike actually had physical force.
[Submission Strike: Critical Success]
[Effect: Target will submit for 10 seconds and have 25% less physical strength]
[Blood Magic Influence: Minor physical damage added]
[Cooldown: 120 seconds]
After that second hit, Arthur started feeling all warm and building inside.
It was like this weird feeling was spreading from his chest to his limbs.
His vision even got a little blurry, with all these glowing symbols and system ssages popping up.
[Energy Threshold Reached]
[Experience Accumulated: Sufficient]
[System Evolution Triggered]
[Level Up: 2 to 3]
[All abilities strengthened by 15%]
[Physical Attributes Enhanced: Strength 20%, Stamina 15%]
[Harem Capacity Increased: 3 to 5]
Arthur gasped as power flow through him. His muscles tensed and relaxed in waves, feeling stronger and denser.
He flexed his hands, amazed at the new strength flowing through them. The physical enhancent was unexpected but welco – maybe now he wouldn’t be so outmatched if tomorrow’s Trial turned into a physical fight.
[Evolution Successful]
[Level 3 Incubus Abilities Unlocked]
[Physical Attributes Enhanced]
[Harem Capacity Expanded]
The wooden dummy across the room suddenly looked fragile, breakable.
With a quick movent that surprised even himself, Arthur crossed the distance and struck it with his palm.
The dummy split down the middle, cracking nearly in two from the force of the blow.
Arthur stared at his hand in amazent. The evolution had changed him more than he’d expected.
[Quest Update: Trial of Arcane Mastery]
[Status: Preparation Advancing]
[New Abilities Available]
[Countdown: 1 day remaining]
[Victory Chance: 45% ↑]
As he left the training room, Arthur walked with new confidence. He could feel the enhanced strength in his body.
Servants he passed in the hallway seed to press themselves against the walls without thinking, their eyes lowered in automatic respect.
Tonight’s session with Beatrice would be more than training—it would be the start of his expanded harem, the next step in his rise to power.
And afterward, he would need to keep control over Valentina while getting more information about tomorrow’s Trial.
He stopped at a window overlooking the gardens, where Gareth was training with the Ironwood mages, fire jumping from his fingertips in impressive displays.
Arthur watched calmly, no longer intimidated by his brother’s elental power.
"Enjoy your fire magic, brother," he said quietly. "I would be ready to teach you sothing better."
Arthur headed to the North Tower Library to et Valentina before his session with Beatrice. He needed information to plan for both the Trial and Thorne’s assessnt.
The library was quiet, most nobles having left to prepare for evening als. Arthur snuck in through the big oak doors and knew right away that Valentina was around.
He found her by the window, her silhouette standing out against the red sunset. Her dark dress seed to soak up the fading light.
When she looked at him, her eyes had that sa spark of scheming and longing.
"You’re here sooner than I expected," she said, her voice smooth and easily heard in the quiet room. As Arthur got closer, he noticed so small differences in how she was acting compared to the last ti they t.
The jealousy from before had been replaced.
[Emotional Sensing Activated]
[Energy Cost: -5]
[Target: Valentina]
[Ambition: 95%, Cunning: 90%, Desire: 75%, Possessiveness: 85%]
"I thought we might need more ti," he replied. "Tomorrow is the Trial, and Thorne wants a magical assessnt in the morning."
A flash of concern crossed her face. "That’s... troubling. His investigation must be moving faster than we thought."
"That’s why I need all the help I can get," Arthur said, getting closer. "So, what did you find out?"
Valentina’s lips ford a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.. "Always straight to business. No ti for small talk?"
Arthur reached out, tracing a finger along her jaw. "We can mix business with pleasure. You know that better than anyone."
She leaned into his touch. "Indeed. And I have sothing that might really interest you." She pulled a small folded note from her sleeve. "I’ve made contact with Mada Roselle."
Arthur raised his eyebrows. "The Pleasure District madam? How did you manage that?"
"We have... mutual interests," Valentina said mysteriously. "She’s been watching Judge Bainbridge for years. It seems our respected judge has specific tastes that would ruin him if made public."
"Blackmail material," Arthur said, taking the note and reading its contents. The details were explicit—Bainbridge’s preferences for being dominated, humiliated, treated like sex slave. "This could force him to reconsider his loyalty to Gareth."
"Exactly," Valentina purred, stepping closer until her body nearly pressed against his. "But there’s more.
Mada Roselle has also noticed strange visitors in the Pleasure District. Arathian agents, asking questions about magical anomalies in the palace."
Arthur tensed. "Foreign powers are interested in the succession?"
"Not just the succession," Valentina said, her eyes searching his.
"They’re specifically interested in unusual magical signatures. Energy patterns that don’t match traditional elental or divine magic."
The implication was clear—they might be looking for sothing like his incubus powers. Arthur turned away, moving toward the window to hide his reaction.
"There’s sothing else," Valentina continued, following him. "Mada Roselle believes she can help with Thorne’s assessnt tomorrow. Her establishnt provides... services... to certain mbers of the magical community. She knows tricks for temporarily masking magical signatures."
Arthur turned back to her, interested. "And what would she want in exchange?"
"Protection," Valentina said simply. "The new king’s protection for her business. And perhaps... a more personal connection to the throne."
[Strategy Updated]
[New Objectives Added]
- Contact Mada Roselle about Judge Bainbridge
- Prepare magical misdirection for Thorne’s assessnt
- Develop counter-strategy for fire-based Trial challenges]
"I see," Arthur said, considering the implications. Adding Mada Roselle to his growing network—maybe even his harem—would provide valuable intelligence and resources.
With his newly expanded capacity, it was now a viable option.
"You’re not jealous?" he asked, watching Valentina carefully. "You seed quite possessive before."
Valentina’s smile was sharp. "I’ve had ti to think about our arrangent. I understand the necessity of your... collection.
As long as I remain your primary confidante, your queen in all but na, I can accept the others."
Arthur stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He could feel that blood bond between them.
"You’ll always be special, Valentina," he whispered, wrapping his arm around her waist. "No one else shares our blood bond. No one else knows what I truly am."
She tilted her head back, exposing her pale throat. "Then show that I’m still yours. Before you go to your little training session with the Academy girl."
Arthur grabbed her tightly and pulled her close while kissing her passionately. It showed who was in charge. When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily.
"I have ti before I need to et Beatrice," he said, his voice low and rough. "And I think we need to seal our new understanding."
Valentina’s eyes darkened with desire as she backed toward the reading table in the corner. "Alright, let’s not waste any ti, my prince."
As the sun went down and the library grew dark, Arthur embraced Valentina again, feeling even closer to her as he thought about all the challenges they had to face tomorrow. The Trial, Thorne’s evaluation, the Arathian investigation—all part of a complicated ga that he was starting to believe he could co out on top of.
[Energy Harvested: 65]
[Current Energy: 195/200]
[Blood Bond Strengthened]
[New Intelligence Acquired: Bainbridge’s weakness, Thorne counterasures, Arathian interest]
Afterward, as they straightened their clothes, Valentina handed him a small vial of dark liquid.
"From Mada Roselle. Drink this before Thorne’s assessnt. It will mask your unique energy signature for about an hour—enough ti to fool his detection spells."
Arthur pocketed the vial. "Thank you. This could make all the difference."
"Just so you know," Valentina said, her tone getting real serious, "tomorrow changes everything. Once you beat Gareth in the Trial, there’s no turning back." The court will see you as a true contender for the throne."
Arthur nodded, feeling the weight of tomorrow’s importance. "I’ll be ready."
As he walked out of the library, he realized he was running late to et Beatrice.
Damn, I gotta think of a better excuse," he thought.
[Ti Remaining Before Trial: 14 hours]
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