The morning sun should have felt warm, but Ethan Kane's skin buzzed with a strange, unnatural energy. He sat at the edge of his bed, staring at his trembling hands.
Last night hadn't been a dream.
The crimson glow still flickered faintly in his eyes. His muscles felt firmer, his senses sharper. Every sound, every scent—it was all more vivid. He could even smell the faint perfume lingering on his hoodie from brushing past Aria yesterday.
And then Selene's voice slid into his mind again, low and intoxicating.
[Mission: Conquer Aria Lane.] [Reward: Seduction Aura Lv.1 + Stamina Boost.] [Failure: System Lock. Eternal weakness.]
Ethan clenched his fists. "Conquer Aria… the same Aria who laughed at me."
The memory stabbed at him, but instead of pain, it brought heat—a hunger that coiled in his gut.
"Fine," he muttered. "If that's what it takes to never be weak again… I'll do it."
Later That Day – Campus Grounds
Ethan spotted Aria easily. She was perched on the campus fountain, surrounded by friends, laughing as if last night's humiliation was a harmless joke. Marcus wasn't with her today—probably busy showing off somewhere else.
Ethan inhaled deeply. The air itself seemed to bend around him, humming with invisible threads of energy. And then—
[Seduction Aura Lv.1 Activated.]
The change was immediate. A faint, unseen warmth pulsed outward from his body. Girls walking past slowed their steps, their eyes lingering on him just a second too long.
Aria's head turned, as if drawn by instinct. Their gazes locked.
For the first time in his life, Ethan didn't look away.
Instead, he smirked.
Aria blinked, her laughter faltering. Something flickered in her expression—confusion, curiosity, maybe even attraction. She excused herself from her friends and stood, walking toward him.
"Ethan?" Her tone carried disbelief. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
He stepped closer, every word rolling off his tongue smoother than ever. "Because you deserve to see the man you threw away."
Aria frowned, but her cheeks colored faintly. She tried to scoff, but her voice came out weaker than she intended. "You're acting strange. Did… did something happen to you?"
Ethan leaned down, close enough that his breath brushed her ear. "Something did happen. I realized I don't need your approval anymore. But you…" His eyes glowed faintly crimson. "…you still want mine."
Her pupils dilated. Her body stiffened, as if fighting against something unseen. But then her lips parted slightly, betraying her.
Ethan's pulse thundered. The system's influence was working.
[Target Weakness Detected: Aria craves forbidden attention.] [Probability of conquest increased by 35%.]
A slow grin spread across Ethan's face. "Come with me."
Empty Classroom – Thirty Minutes Later
The door clicked shut behind them. Aria leaned against the wall, her chest rising and falling too quickly.
"This is insane," she whispered. "Marcus would kill you if he saw us here."
Ethan stepped closer, his hand braced against the wall beside her head. "Then why are you here, Aria?"
Her lips trembled. She couldn't answer.
He tilted her chin up with his fingers, his eyes locking onto hers. "You mocked me. You laughed while I broke in front of everyone. But right now… look at you." His voice dropped, dark and commanding. "You're trembling—for me."
Aria's breath hitched. She should have slapped him, pushed him away. But instead, she melted under his gaze, her body betraying her pride.
Ethan's smirk widened. He could feel her surrendering piece by piece, her resistance crumbling under his aura.
[Conquest in Progress: 60%]
Her whisper was barely audible. "Ethan… this is wrong."
He leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear. "No. This is what you've always wanted. You just didn't know it until now."
Her knees buckled slightly. Her hands, trembling, gripped his shirt.
Ethan's hunger roared to life. He captured her lips in a kiss—hard, claiming, nothing like the shy fantasies he used to have. Aria gasped, her body stiffening, but then she moaned softly against his mouth, her resistance shattering.
The taste of her lit fire in his veins. Heat surged through him, his body crackling with power.
[Conquest Progress: 100%] [Mission Complete.] [Reward Unlocked: Seduction Aura Lv.1 Permanently Enhanced. Stamina Boost Acquired.]
Ethan broke the kiss, his lips hovering a breath away from hers. Her eyes were glazed, her breath ragged, her face flushed.
"You're mine now," he whispered.
Aria shuddered, torn between pride and the undeniable pull consuming her.
"Ethan…" she breathed, almost pleading.
He stepped back, satisfaction curling in his chest as the system's rewards surged through him. His body thrummed with energy—stronger, faster, sharper than ever before.
Selene's voice purred in his mind.
[Well done, Ethan. The first step has been taken.] [New Mission: Claim the woman of your rival.] [Target: Marcus Blackwood's girlfriend.] [Reward: Charm Amplification Lv.1, Evolution Path Unlocked.]
Ethan's cruel smile returned.
Marcus had humiliated him in front of the world. Now it was Ethan's turn. Not only would he rise—he would take everything Marcus thought was his.
And it started with his woman.