Her nails raked down his back as golden light erupted from his skin.
Daemon Vorst had no idea what was happening to him. He only knew three things: he was supposed to be dead, this woman had saved his life, and he'd never felt power like this coursing through his veins.
"What are you?" Maya gasped beneath him, her green eyes wide with shock and something else—hunger, perhaps, or recognition. Her body arched as intricate runes blazed to life across his chest, spreading like liquid fire across his skin.
The energy flowing between them was visible now. Daemon could see it—golden threads coiling in the air, wrapping around them both, pulsing in time with their racing hearts. With their movements.
This was impossible.
Maya's fingers dug into his shoulders, pulling him deeper. The runes flared brighter. He felt something building inside him, not just physical pleasure but power—raw, intoxicating, overwhelming power that threatened to consume him entirely.
"Don't stop," she breathed against his neck, her voice trembling. "Whatever's happening to you... don't stop."
And then he saw it.
Floating in his vision like some kind of hallucination, translucent text appeared:
[PRIMORDIAL LUST SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
CULTIVATION IN PROGRESS
Energy Absorption: 47% Partner Synchronization: Rising Technique: Basic (Improving) Partner Satisfaction: 73% (Excellent)
What the hell?
Maya moaned, her back arching higher, and the percentage jumped to 78%. The golden energy intensified, wrapping tighter around them. Daemon felt it flowing into him now—not just pleasure but something more fundamental. Strength. Vitality. Life itself.
He was absorbing her energy. No—they were sharing it, multiplying it between them.
"The marks," Maya gasped, her hand touching the glowing runes on his chest. Her fingers traced the intricate patterns that seemed to shift and writhe with each heartbeat. "You're a System Bearer. A real one. I thought they were just legends..."
Daemon couldn't focus on her words. The sensations were overwhelming—every nerve ending in his body felt like it was on fire, but it was the good kind of burn. The kind that made him feel alive for the first time in... how long had it been?
The interface flickered again:
ENERGY ABSORPTION: 84%WARNING: First Breakthrough ImminentRecommendation: Achieve Mutual Climax for Optimal Results
"Together," Maya whispered, as if she could sense what was coming. Her legs wrapped tighter around him. "We have to finish together. Trust me."
The golden light intensified until the entire room glowed. The energy spiraled faster, tighter, building toward something. Daemon felt it approaching like a tidal wave—
CULTIVATION BREAKTHROUGH ACHIEVEDTIER 1 CULTIVATOR UNLOCKED
The world exploded into sensation.
Power flooded through Daemon's body in waves that made him cry out. Every muscle, every bone, every cell felt like it was being reforged. The runes on his skin burned themselves deeper, becoming permanent marks of what he'd become.
Maya shuddered beneath him, her own body glowing with residual energy. She was gasping, trembling, but her eyes were bright with exhilaration.
"Incredible," she breathed. "I felt it. Your breakthrough. That was... I've never felt anything like that in my life."
Daemon collapsed beside her, his chest heaving. The golden light was fading now, the runes dimming to a soft glow beneath his skin. The interface was still there, hovering at the edge of his vision:
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
STATUS UPDATE:
Name: Daemon Vorst Cultivation Tier: 1 (Awakened) Vitality: 15 (+10) Charm: 12 (+7) Endurance: 18 (+13) Technique: 8 (+8) Dominance: 14 (+9)
NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED:
Enhanced Stamina (Passive) Desire Sense (Active) Energy Absorption (Automatic during cultivation) Partner Bond: Maya (Level 1)
SYSTEM MESSAGE:Welcome, Bearer. Your journey to power has begun. To advance, you must cultivate. To cultivate, you must embrace desire. Every partner strengthens you. Every encounter shapes your destiny.
Current Goal: Reach Tier 2 (0/100 Cultivation Points)
Daemon stared at the impossible text floating before his eyes. His mind was reeling, trying to process everything that had just happened.
"You can see it, can't you?" Maya asked softly, propping herself up on one elbow to look at him. Her dark hair fell across her bare shoulders, and even now, exhausted and confused, Daemon couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. "The System interface. The stats. The messages."
"How do you—"
"I'm a healer, Daemon. And before that, I was a scholar. I've spent twenty years studying forbidden cultivation texts." She reached out, gently touching the runes on his chest. They pulsed at her touch, and he felt a phantom echo of their earlier connection. "The Primordial Lust System. One of the Seven Ancient Systems. I never thought I'd actually see someone awaken it."
"Seven Systems?" Daemon's voice was hoarse. "What are you talking about?"
Maya's expression grew serious. "You're in danger. Real danger. System Bearers are hunted by those who fear their power—and coveted by those who want to use them. We need to talk. But first..." She glanced down at the text floating in his vision, even though she couldn't see it herself. "First, we need to figure out exactly what happened to you."
"I can tell you that," Daemon said bitterly. The memories came flooding back now—the betrayal, the assassination, everything that had led him to this moment. "Twelve hours ago, I was supposed to die."
TWELVE HOURS EARLIER
The engagement party was in full swing when Daemon Vorst's world shattered.
He stood in the doorway of the Rose Garden, his hand gripping the doorframe so hard his knuckles went white. Before him, illuminated by golden magelights and surrounded by flowers that cost more than most people earned in a year, his fiancée Elena was kissing his cousin Marcus.
It wasn't a stolen moment. It wasn't a mistake. It was a deep, passionate kiss—the kind that spoke of familiarity and practice. Marcus's hand was on her waist, proprietary and confident. Elena's fingers were in his hair.
They hadn't noticed Daemon yet. Neither had the fifty other guests who filled the garden, celebrating an engagement that was apparently already broken.
"Ah. You've arrived."
Daemon turned to find Marcus's father, Lord Viktor Vorst, standing behind him with a glass of wine and a satisfied smile. His uncle. The man who'd taken control of the family business after Daemon's father died.
"You knew," Daemon said flatly.
"Of course I knew. I arranged it." Viktor took a sip of wine. "Your father's debts were considerable, nephew. The Valdren family was willing to forgive them in exchange for a marriage alliance. But not with you." His smile widened. "Not anymore."
"What are you—"
"Your assets have been seized. Your property, your accounts, everything your father left you." Viktor's voice was casual, as if he were discussing the weather. "The courts were very understanding once we presented evidence of your... financial mismanagement. All that gambling and drinking, such a shame."
"That's a lie! I never—"
"It doesn't matter what's true, boy. It matters what people believe." Viktor gestured to the party. "By morning, everyone who matters will know that Daemon Vorst is a disgrace. Broke. Unworthy. And Elena will be betrothed to my son instead."
Daemon's hands clenched into fists. "Why? What did I ever do to you?"
"You exist." Viktor's pleasant expression never changed. "You're your father's son. And as long as you live, you're a threat to everything I've built. So I'm removing you from the board."
He raised his hand, and four armed men stepped out of the shadows. House guards. Men Daemon had known his entire life.
"Captain Harris?" Daemon looked at the lead guard in disbelief. "You served my father for twenty years—"
"I serve House Vorst," Harris said quietly. "And Lord Viktor is the head of House Vorst now. I'm sorry, young master. But you need to come with us."
Daemon looked around the party. Some guests had noticed the commotion. Elena had finally pulled away from Marcus and was staring at him with wide eyes—but not with guilt. With pity.
She'd known. They'd all known.
"What are you going to do?" Daemon asked, his voice surprisingly steady. "Kill me?"
"Nothing so crude. There's a monastery in the northern mountains. Very remote. Very austere. You'll take vows of poverty and silence." Viktor smiled. "Consider it an act of mercy. After all, we're family."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then we'll find your body in a ditch tomorrow morning, tragically murdered by bandits." Viktor's smile never wavered. "Your choice, nephew. Monastery or morgue."
For a long moment, Daemon stood frozen. He looked at the guards, at his uncle, at the party full of nobles who were now openly staring. At Elena, who couldn't even meet his eyes.
He ran.
It was stupid. It was desperate. But Daemon bolted for the garden's side exit, hoping—praying—that he could reach the street before—
"Stop him!"
Harris was faster than he looked. The captain tackled Daemon before he'd made it ten steps, slamming him into the cobblestones hard enough to knock the wind from his lungs.
"I said I was sorry, young master," Harris muttered as he pinned Daemon down. "But Lord Viktor pays better than your father ever did."
The other guards surrounded them. One of them—Daemon couldn't see which—kicked him in the ribs. Hard.
"Make it look like a fight," Viktor called out. "The boy resisted arrest. Tragic, really."
They dragged Daemon out of the garden as he struggled. He caught one last glimpse of the party—of Marcus with his arm around Elena's waist, of the nobles whispering behind their hands, of his uncle raising his wine glass in a mocking toast.
Then the guards hauled him into an alley, and the beating began in earnest.
They left him in the Thornwood Forest.
Daemon wasn't sure how long they'd beaten him. Long enough that he couldn't feel his left arm anymore. Long enough that every breath sent stabbing pain through his ribs. Long enough that he'd stopped struggling and just focused on not passing out.
"Deep enough," Harris said finally, his voice echoing strangely. "No one comes out this far. Animals will take care of the rest."
Daemon tried to speak, but only managed a wet cough that tasted like copper.
"For what it's worth," Harris said quietly, crouching down beside him, "your father was a good man. Better than Viktor. But good men die, and the rest of us have to survive." He stood up. "Try not to suffer too long."
The guards left.
Daemon lay there, staring up at the canopy of trees above him. It was autumn, and the leaves were turning gold and red. Beautiful, really. He'd never paid attention to how beautiful the forest was.
I'm going to die here, he thought distantly. Twenty-four years old, and I'm going to die bleeding in the dirt.
It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. But it was happening.
His vision started to blur. The pain was fading now, which he dimly recognized as a bad sign. He was going into shock. Or dying. Probably dying.
At least it'll be over soon.
But as consciousness slipped away, something strange happened.
The air around him began to shimmer with golden light.
Daemon's eyes snapped open—or tried to. Everything was hazy, dreamlike. But he could see something appearing in the air above him. Text. Glowing, ethereal text written in characters he'd never seen before but somehow understood:
[PRIMORDIAL LUST SYSTEM]
COMPATIBLE SOUL DETECTED
CRITICAL STATE: Host Dying
EMERGENCY ACTIVATION INITIATED
WARNING: Incomplete Activation May Result in System Corruption
RECOMMENDATION: Seek Cultivation Partner Within 24 Hours
The words burned themselves into his fading consciousness. And then, mercifully, everything went black.
Daemon woke to warmth and the smell of herbs.
He was in a bed—a real bed, not the forest floor. Soft blankets covered him. Bandages wrapped his ribs. His left arm was in a sling but no longer numb.
And sitting beside the bed, reading a book by candlelight, was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.
She looked up as he stirred, and Daemon found himself staring into eyes the color of spring leaves.
"You're awake," she said, setting down her book. "Good. I was worried you'd slipped too far. I'm Maya. I found you in the forest." She leaned forward, studying his face with professional interest. "Can you tell me your name?"
"Daemon," he managed. His throat was incredibly dry. "Daemon Vorst."
Something flickered in Maya's expression. Recognition? But all she said was, "Well, Daemon Vorst, you're very lucky to be alive. Another hour and you would have died from blood loss." She poured water from a pitcher and held it to his lips. "Drink slowly."
The water was the best thing Daemon had ever tasted. When he'd finished, he asked, "How did you find me?"
"I was gathering herbs in the Thornwood. Medicinal plants grow best in deep forest." Maya set down the cup and studied him with those unnervingly intense eyes. "But that's not the interesting question, is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"The interesting question is: why were there glowing runes appearing on your skin when I found you?" Maya reached out and pushed aside his bandages, revealing his chest. "And why are they still there?"
Daemon looked down and felt his breath catch.
His entire chest was covered in intricate golden marks—swirling patterns and characters that seemed to pulse faintly with inner light. They looked like tattoos, but he'd never had any tattoos. They looked like scars, but they didn't hurt.
They looked like magic.
"What..." His voice cracked. "What did you do to me?"
"I didn't do anything. These appeared on their own while I was treating your wounds." Maya's expression was unreadable. "I'm a healer, Daemon. I've seen a lot of strange things. But I've never seen anything like this." She paused. "Can you see them? The words in the air?"
Daemon froze. "How did you—"
"Because twenty years ago, I read a very old, very forbidden text. It described seven ancient cultivation systems, lost to time. Most scholars think they're myths." Her eyes locked with his. "But you're proof they're not, aren't you? You're a System Bearer."
"I don't know what that means."
"It means you're either very lucky or very cursed. Possibly both." Maya sat back, crossing her arms. "The System chose you for a reason. It saved your life. But Systems don't give power for free, Daemon. They demand payment. And based on the runes..." She gestured at his chest. "Based on those runes, I can tell you exactly which System awakened in you."
"Which one?"
"The Primordial Lust System." Maya's expression was serious. "One of the most powerful—and most dangerous—of the Seven. It grants incredible abilities, but it requires... specific forms of cultivation to advance."
"What kind of cultivation?"
Maya's cheeks actually colored slightly. "The kind that requires a partner. Intimate partnership." She met his eyes. "Sexual cultivation, Daemon. That's how your System works. That's how you gain power."
For a long moment, Daemon just stared at her. Then, despite everything—despite the betrayal, the beating, the near-death experience—he laughed. It hurt his ribs, but he couldn't help it.
"You're telling me I got magic sex powers? That's the System that chose me?"
"It's not funny. This is incredibly dangerous. The Church hunts System Bearers. The Empire wants to control them. And if anyone discovers what you are—"
"Good."
Maya blinked. "What?"
Daemon sat up despite the pain, his eyes hard. "Let them come. Let them all come. My uncle tried to kill me. My fiancée betrayed me. Everyone I trusted threw me away like garbage." The runes on his chest pulsed brighter. "If this System can give me power—if it can make me strong enough to take everything back—then I'll use it. I don't care what the price is."
Maya studied him for a long moment. Then, slowly, she nodded.
"All right. I believe you're serious." She stood up, moving to the window to draw the curtains closed. "But there's a problem. Your System is still incomplete. It activated during your near-death state, but it didn't fully bond with you. If you don't complete your first cultivation within the next few hours..." She turned back to him. "You'll die. The System will consume you from the inside."
"How do I complete it?"
Maya's eyes met his, steady and unwavering.
"You cultivate. With a partner." She took a breath. "With me."
Daemon's heart skipped a beat. "You're... offering?"
"I'm a widow. I have no family, no obligations. I'm old enough to make my own choices." Maya's voice was calm, but her hands trembled slightly. "And more importantly, I'm a healer with twenty years of cultivation study. If anyone can guide you through your first breakthrough safely, it's me."
"Why would you do this? You don't even know me."
"Because I've spent two decades searching for proof that the Ancient Systems were real. And because..." Maya's expression softened. "Because I know what it's like to have everything taken from you. I know what it's like to want revenge. And I believe everyone deserves a second chance."
She walked back to the bed, her eyes never leaving his.
"So I'll ask you once, Daemon Vorst. Do you want to live? Do you want power? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to survive?"
Daemon looked at her. At the beautiful, mysterious woman who'd saved his life. At the runes glowing on his chest. At the faint interface still hovering at the edge of his vision.
He thought about Elena kissing Marcus. About his uncle's satisfied smile. About Harris saying "Try not to suffer too long."
"Yes," he said. "Whatever it takes."
Maya nodded slowly. Then she reached up and began unbuttoning her shirt.
"Then let's begin your first cultivation."