The night after Marcus's humiliation spread across campus like wildfire.
Ethan Kane—once the butt of every joke—had stood toe-to-toe with Marcus Blackwood and crushed him in front of dozens of witnesses.
The whispers were everywhere.
"Did you see the look on Marcus's face when Ethan sank that shot?""Vanessa couldn't take her eyes off him.""Aria skipped class today. Bet I know why."
For the first time in his life, Ethan wasn't invisible. He was dangerous. Desired. Dominant.
And the System wasn't letting him rest.
[Mission: Expand Your Domain.] [Condition: Build your first true harem of three loyal women.] [Progress: 2/3.] [Reward: Incubus Evolution – Stage Two.]
Two down. One to go.
Selene's Voice
"You've tasted victory, Ethan," Selene purred in his mind, her voice a sultry echo. "But power is a hunger that never ends. Aria and Vanessa have given you strength, but to evolve further, you must claim another."
Ethan smirked. "Who's next?"
"Someone untouched by Marcus. Someone who will burn brighter, who will kneel willingly. Seek her, and your throne will grow unshakable."
Ethan scanned the lecture hall as he entered. His crimson-tinged eyes flicked across faces until they landed on her.
Lila Monroe.
She sat near the back, headphones around her neck, glasses perched on her nose. Unlike Aria and Vanessa, she wasn't part of Marcus's shallow, glittering world. She was quiet, brilliant, overlooked—just as Ethan once was.
The System highlighted her in his vision.
[Potential Target Identified: Lila Monroe.] [Compatibility: High.] [Warning: Strong will detected. Requires finesse.]
Perfect.
First Contact
Ethan dropped into the seat beside her. She glanced up, startled, then quickly looked away.
"You're in my spot," she muttered.
Ethan smirked. "Then maybe it was meant to be mine."
She rolled her eyes but didn't move. Her voice was sharp, defensive. "You're Kane, right? The guy who humiliated Marcus?"
"Depends who you ask," Ethan said smoothly. "If you ask Marcus, I'm a thorn in his side. If you ask the girls around here…" His crimson eyes gleamed. "…I'm exactly what they've been waiting for."
Lila blinked, caught off guard by his confidence. But instead of swooning like Aria or trembling like Vanessa, she scoffed. "Wow. Cocky much?"
Ethan leaned closer, his voice low and teasing. "Confident. There's a difference."
For a moment, her cheeks flushed before she masked it with annoyance.
Selene's laugh echoed in his mind. "Yes… she resists, but resistance only makes the conquest sweeter."
Later – Library Encounter
Lila thought she could shake him, avoid him. But Ethan was patient, relentless.
He found her in the library that evening, buried in books. She looked up, startled again.
"You stalking me now?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Ethan smirked, pulling out a chair across from her. "Maybe. Or maybe fate just keeps putting us together."
She shook her head, but he saw it—the tiny smile she tried to hide.
They talked. At first, it was bickering. She challenged his arrogance, he teased her stubbornness. But as minutes turned to hours, Ethan peeled back her layers. She wasn't like the others. She was smart, sharp-tongued, unwilling to fall easily.
And Ethan loved it.
Because beneath her defenses, he saw the hunger in her eyes—the same hunger he once had.
The Breakthrough
As they left the library together, rain poured outside. Lila cursed softly, pulling her jacket tighter.
Ethan shrugged out of his, draping it over her shoulders.
She froze. "What are you doing?"
"Keeping you warm," Ethan said simply. "Don't overthink it."
Her lips parted. For the first time, her sharpness faded, replaced by something softer. Vulnerable.
When their eyes met, Ethan leaned closer. She didn't move away.
The kiss was gentle at first—unlike the hungry conquest of Aria or Vanessa. It was tentative, testing, like striking a match in the rain. But when she kissed him back, fire roared to life.
System Notification
[Target Interest Level: 70%.] [Conquest Nearing.]
Selene purred. "Yes… she's yours, Ethan. Claim her, and the path to your second evolution opens."
Lila's Confession
They ended up back at her dorm, clothes damp from the rain. Lila paced nervously, pushing her glasses up.
"This is insane," she whispered. "I don't… I don't do things like this. I'm not Aria. I'm not Vanessa."
Ethan cupped her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Good. I don't want another Aria or Vanessa. I want you, Lila."
Her defenses shattered. With a trembling breath, she whispered, "Then take me."
And Ethan did.
System Notification
[Conquest Complete: Lila Monroe.] [Domain Expansion Achieved: 3 Loyal Women.] [Reward Unlocked: Incubus Evolution – Stage Two.]
Ethan's body convulsed with power. His aura exploded outward, crimson flames flickering faintly around him before sinking into his skin. His muscles tightened, his vision sharpened, his hunger deepened.
Selene's voice moaned in delight. "Stage Two, Ethan… you are becoming more than human. More than predator. You are Incubus Overlord in the making."
Ethan stood over Lila, his crimson eyes blazing. For the first time, he felt it fully—this wasn't just lust. This was dominion.
And Marcus?
Marcus would soon realize he wasn't just losing his women. He was losing his throne.