A couple of hours into the party, Max and Poppi were having an absolute blast.
The music never stopped.
Food and drinks flowed endlessly.
And the Beelzejuice?
Practically raining from the sky.
They had even run into Verosika, who quickly joined them.
"This is amazing!" Verosika laughed, raising her drink. "I've never had this much Beelzejuice before!"
She took another long sip, clearly enjoying herself far more than she expected.
Poppi, on the other hand, was completely gone.
She was hanging off Max's back, arms draped over his shoulders, laughing uncontrollably while still somehow managing to keep drinking.
"This is the best party ever!" she slurred. "Way better than anything in Pride!"
Max stumbled slightly, trying to keep both himself and Poppi balanced.
He had already gone through over six gallons of Beelzejuice.
The only reason he was still standing was because he had left just enough survival abilities active to keep his body functioning.
Even then—
He could barely stand.
But somehow…
He kept going.
Helping Poppi.
Holding her steady.
Making sure she didn't fall.
It felt… automatic.
Like a default setting.
"Man…" Verosika said, stretching slightly. "It's so hard to get Beelzejuice outside these parties."
She swirled her drink.
"Bee's got these weird golems patrolling Gluttony just to control the supply."
She sighed.
"And getting it across rings is a nightmare."
She took another drink.
"But this? This makes it worth it."
She glanced at Max and Poppi.
"…Though I wasn't nearly as crazy as you two."
Max chuckled weakly.
His senses felt… strange.
Verosika's succubus magic was active.
But it wasn't what he expected.
It wasn't overwhelming lust.
It was…
Amplification.
Everything felt stronger.
Sounds were sharper.
Emotions deeper.
Touch more intense.
And yes—
Desire was definitely part of it.
He found himself noticing both Verosika and Poppi far more than usual.
Max carefully guided Poppi over to a chair near what looked like a bar—though it was completely unused, thanks to Bee's overwhelming party setup.
He gently sat her down.
Poppi blinked at him lazily.
"Thanks…"
She smiled softly.
"Glad I'm with you…"
She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss.
"Even under succubus magic… you won't take advantage."
She smirked slightly.
"Though you should learn to indulge more."
Max rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'm too nervous for that," he admitted. "No matter how drunk or charmed I am."
He chuckled lightly.
"Maybe one day. But I—"
He stopped.
Pain.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Max looked down.
A holy spear was sticking straight through his chest.
Everything went quiet for a moment.
He slowly turned.
Behind him—
Vortex.
Holding the spear.
But something was wrong.
"Finally," the voice said.
It wasn't Vortex's.
"I don't have to deal with you anymore."
Max narrowed his eyes.
"And no risk to me," the voice continued. "This host came willingly."
Verosika rushed forward.
"Max!"
She grabbed his arm.
"Come on, Poppi, help me—!"
But Poppi didn't move.
"…Relax," Poppi said calmly.
Verosika blinked.
"What?"
"Look at his face."
Verosika turned back to Max.
And froze.
He wasn't in pain.
He wasn't panicking.
He was—
Pissed.
"You just had to do that," Max said slowly.
His voice dropped.
"Now all my skills are active."
He looked up, eyes glowing faintly.
"I'm sober at a Bee party."
Verosika stared at him, completely confused.
"…What?"
Vortex—no, the thing controlling him—stepped back.
"How are you still alive?!"
Max ignored him.
He looked down at the hole in his chest.
"Right… holy weakness."
He sighed.
"Guess that's still a thing."
He raised a hand.
"Let's fix that."
A surge of magic pulsed through him.
The wound began closing instantly, flesh knitting itself back together as if nothing had happened.
Max rolled his shoulders slightly.
"Better."
Then he looked at Vortex.
No—
At the Rat controlling him.
"I'm only going to say this once," Max said calmly.
"You should've stayed hidden."
Lightning crashed down on him.
Fire followed.
Vortex unleashed everything he had.
Max didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't react.
"Man…" Max said, looking almost bored.
"Elemental immunity is really useful."
Vortex froze.
Then tried to teleport away.
Max moved instantly.
"Lopsided Duel."
Reality twisted.
Max disappeared—
And reappeared with Vortex mid-teleport.
He grabbed Vortex by the throat and lifted him effortlessly.
"You know…" Max said quietly.
"I'm kind of pissed."
His grip tightened.
"If you can hear me in there, Vortex…"
He paused.
"I just took your girl."
He sighed.
"Though honestly… you weren't treating her that well anyway."
He shook his head slightly.
"Sorry about this."
Then his eyes hardened.
"And as for you…"
His voice dropped.
"You're out of bodies."
"I will find your real one."
"You pissed me off."
Dark energy erupted from him.
Aura of Despair—full power.
Vortex's body went still.
Then limp.
Dead.
Max released him, letting the body fall.
He stood there for a moment.
Then muttered—
"Raphael."
A new effect spread outward.
A custom skill.
[Feedback]
The energy surged through the Rat's network—spreading damage, disrupting connections, weakening distant hosts.
Max exhaled slowly.
Then glanced around.
"Alright…"
He raised a hand.
A pulse of magic spread outward.
Memories shifted.
Rewritten.
Everyone except Poppi forgot what had just happened.
Max stretched slightly.
"I'll revive Vortex later," he said casually.
Then turned back toward the party.
A grin returned to his face.
"But right now…"
He grabbed another drink.
"I'm not wasting a Bee party."
He walked back toward the chaos, rejoining Poppi and Verosika as the music roared back into focus.
[A: Hey, hope you enjoy the story and thanks for giving my story a try. I know its extreamly rough at the beginning but hopefully its been getting a lot cleaner now. I had someone request tgat i add Carmilla Carmine to the Harem and ill let you decide. Yes or No?]