The room shook with Marcus's arrival. Not footsteps — a ripple of pressure, like the air itself bent to him. Frost crawled across the glass walls, spiderwebbing out from where his hand rested against the window.
Victor raised his rifle, breath fogging in the cold. "He's not even trying to hide now."
Jack stepped forward, calm even as the temperature plummeted. "Why would he?"
The shadow in the hall shifted, then Marcus stepped into the light.
He didn't look human anymore. His body moved with predator grace, but his limbs seemed jointed wrong, bending slightly too far. His eyes glowed faint red, his smile stretched too wide. The Revenant form wasn't meant to comfort.
"Jack," Marcus purred, voice echoing like a chorus. "I've been watching."
Jack's jaw tightened. "Enjoy the show?"
Marcus's grin widened. "Every scream. Every tear." His gaze shifted. "Especially hers."
Helena flinched, curling closer to Jack's side. He wrapped an arm around her, steadying her trembling.
"Stay behind me," Jack murmured, voice low but sharp enough to cut.
The System chimed cold:
⸻
[Boss Battle: Revenant Marcus]
[Danger Level: Critical — Above Player Tier]
[Objective: Survive | Asset Protection Priority: Helena Cross]
⸻
Victor fired first. The rifle cracked like thunder, the sound deafening in the small space. Bullets sparked off a wall of black mist Marcus raised with a lazy flick of his hand.
"Cute," Marcus drawled.
He blurred forward, faster than Jack expected, Victor slamming back into the wall as if a truck had hit him.
Helena screamed. Carla scrambled behind Jack, clutching at his arm.
"Stay down!" Jack barked, shoving her back.
The System flared red:
⸻
[Warning: Marcus Influence Spreading — Carla Vance 99% → 75%]
⸻
Jack's head whipped around. Carla was frozen, staring at Marcus with wide, glazed eyes.
"Carla!" Jack snapped, voice sharp enough to crack the moment.
She blinked, trembling, lips parting. "I—Jack… he's—"
Marcus's grin sharpened. "I don't need to fight you, Jack. Not when she wants me to take her."
"No!" Carla moaned, but her body betrayed her, her feet shuffling forward even as she shook her head.
Jack grabbed her wrist, holding her back. "You're mine. Say it."
"I'm—" Carla's voice cracked, breathless. "I'm yours."
Marcus laughed softly. "Liar."
⸻
The air thickened. Jack's grip faltered as an unseen force slammed him back against the wall.
Helena screamed his name, dropping to her knees beside him. Marcus stepped closer, his shadow stretching long across the penthouse floor.
Carla trembled in place, caught between Jack's voice and Marcus's pull.
"Don't you dare," Jack snarled, voice rough. "Don't you walk to him."
Marcus's whisper slid into her ear like silk. "He made you a toy. I'll make you a queen."
Carla's breath hitched. Her eyes glazed over, her breathing shallow. "I—I can't—"
"Carla!" Jack roared, but she took a single step forward.
Then another.
⸻
[Bond Carla Vance: 75% → 50%]
[Marcus Influence: 40% → 70%]
⸻
Jack slammed his fist into the floor, fury boiling. "Carla, you're mine."
She moaned low. "I'm sorry, Jack."
She turned—and walked straight into Marcus's waiting arms.
Helena gasped, covering her mouth. "No…"
Marcus's grin was pure victory. "Good girl."
⸻
He wrapped his hand around Carla's throat, lifting her chin. "You came to me willingly."
Jack strained against the invisible force pinning him, teeth bared. "Let her go!"
Marcus ignored him, tilting Carla's face up. "Show him who owns you now."
Her body trembled, but her voice came out soft and breathy: "You…"
Jack's vision went red.
⸻
Marcus dragged her forward, pressing her to her knees. His fingers tangled in her hair as he unzipped his pants.
"Don't," Jack snarled.
Marcus's gaze flicked to him, smug. "Watch."
⸻
[Explicit Scene Start]
Marcus shoved his cock into Carla's mouth without hesitation. She gagged, eyes glassy with lust. His fist in her hair forced her head forward, pacing in a passionate rhythm, his cock hitting the back of her throat.
"Good girl," Marcus murmured darkly, his voice like a blade. "Look at him while you choke on me."
Carla's dazed eyes met Jack's. Shame, desire, and submission burned in them. She moaned around Marcus, spit bubbling at the corners of her mouth.
Jack thrashed against the force holding him down, rage clawing at his chest.
Marcus groaned low, hips snapping harder. "You trained her well. Perfect mouth. Perfect throat. Now she's mine."
Helena clung to Jack's arm, face buried in his shoulder.
Marcus grabbed Carla's hair, forcing her to take him deeper until she gagged violently, drool streaking down her chin. "That's it," he purred. "Show him you love it."
⸻
[Bond Carla Vance: 50% → 20%]
[Marcus Control: 70% → 90%]
⸻
Marcus yanked her up by her hair, lips glistening. "On the floor. Now."
Carla obeyed, crawling onto her back. Marcus stripped her panties in one motion, his grin sharp as a blade.
Jack's roar rattled the room. "Marcus!"
"Quiet, King," Marcus sneered. "Your crown means nothing here."
He thrusted into Carla, making her eyes roll back. She arched, moaning loud enough to echo off the walls. She took Marcus's cock effortlessly, body pliant beneath him. Face down, ass up, Marcus felt a power deep within … he'd never felt like this before.
Marcus bent close, whispering in her ear, but his voice carried. "Say my name."
"Marcus!" she groaned. "Marcus!"
⸻
The System flared red in Jack's vision:
⸻
[Critical Alert: Asset Carla Vance — Claimed by Rival Marcus]
[Jack King Reputation: Humiliated]
[Rivalry Progress: 80% → 60%]
⸻
Marcus fucked her mercilessly, pinning her wrists above her head. He had Carla's pussy dripping better than Jack ever had. Every thrust was a message, every moan wrung from her throat a victory.
Jack's muscles strained, veins bulging as he tried to break free. He couldn't.
Helena clung to him, whispering, "Jack… please…"
Marcus glanced up, his grin feral. "Don't worry, Helena. You're next."
Helena gasped, shrinking back.
Jack's snarl was pure animal. "Touch her, and I'll kill you."
Marcus laughed softly. "You'll try."
⸻
He came with a guttural groan, spilling into Carla as she screamed his name again. The System chimed like a death knell:
⸻
[Asset Carla Vance: Converted — Marcus's Property]
[Rival Control Boost: +25%]
[Jack King Status: Defeated — Temporary]
⸻
Marcus stood, wiping himself off carelessly, while Carla curled on the floor, glowing with exhaustion. He looked down at Jack with pure mockery.
"You thought you couldn't lose," Marcus said smoothly. "Consider this… education."
He snapped his fingers, and the pressure pinning Jack vanished. Jack lunged forward, but Marcus blurred into mist, his laugh echoing through the room.
⸻
Jack dropped to his knees beside Carla. She avoided his gaze, breath ragged. Helena clung to his arm, shaking.
The System pulsed cold:
⸻
[Quest Update: Rivalry 60% — Status: Marcus Ascendant]
[Objective: Recover Carla | Destroy Marcus]
⸻
Jack's hands clenched into fists. For the first time since he'd claimed this building, since he'd made Helena his and bent Carla to his will, he felt it—failure.
Marcus had taken from him.
Jack looked up at Helena, his voice a growl. "We're getting her back. And when I'm done, Marcus will wish he'd never touched her."
The skyline outside flickered, sirens echoing in the distance.
Jack's reign wasn't over. But tonight, the king had bled.