Nyx's eyes narrowed, intrigued. "Tier nine already? Alright. Let's see if I can handle it. Summon it."
Nyami shifted uneasily. "Master, tier nine tests even veterans. Be careful please."
The air thickened as Elysiana wove her mana, intricate patterns forming. The hellhound appeared in a blaze —massive, fur black as void, eyes burning orange. It growled low, it's gaze locking on Nyx, muscles rippling under tough skin.
Nyx gripped the sword form, charging forward. He swung hard at its flank; the blade sparked off the hide, barely scratching.
"Too tough," he grunted, leaping back as it swiped with claws that gouged the stone.
The hound opened its maw, hurling a fireball. Nyx rolled aside, the blast scorching the floor. "Switching," he called, mist reforming into the gun. He backed up, keeping distance, aiming for the eyes.
It prowled, another fireball launching. Nyx sidestepped, firing a bolt that grazed its ear. The beast snarled, intelligent enough to feint left before throwing right. He dodged the fire, heart pounding, and squeezed the trigger twice —once missing, the second hitting the left eye. The hound howled, staggering.
"One side down," Nyx muttered, circling. It blindly hurled fireballs in arcs, forcing him to weave and duck.
Sweat poured down his face, vision sharp but body straining. He lined up the right eye, firing true. Both eyes burst in light, the beast rearing in pain.
Now, sword. Nyx closed in fast, mist shifting mid-stride. He leaped onto its back, driving the blade deep into the neck. The hellhound thrashed once, then dissolved in a roar of fading flames.
Nyx dropped to the floor, panting heavily, body slick with sweat. His chest heaved, limbs trembling from the effort.
"Got it... barely."
Elysiana approached, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "Outstanding, Nyx sama. Few handle tier nine on first try. Your instincts are really sharp —the weapon amplifies them well."
Nyami hurried over, concern in her eyes. "Master, you pushed hard. Sit, catch your breath."
But before he could respond, something shifted. From the Mistflare sword, transparent rose vines emerged, coiling around his arm like delicate thorns.
They tightened, then stung sharp, drawing beads of blood from his skin.
Nyx let out a pained gasp, staggering.
"Ah—what—"
The vines pulsed once, absorbing the red drops, then retracted into the mist, the weapon returning to its dormant swirl.
His vision blurred at the edges, colors smearing.
A deep thirst clawed inside him—not just for blood, but something hotter, more primal. It flared wild, making his throat burn and pulse race.
Elysiana's calm shattered, panic flashing in her eyes.
"No! —the awakening spike! Nyami, teleport us now! To my bedroom —quick!"
Nyami flicked her finger, pink mist blooming around them like a soft veil. The training room vanished in a swirl, replaced by a lavish royal chamber.
Velvet curtains draped the walls, gold accents gleaming on furniture carved with floral motifs.
In the center sat a double king-sized bed, piled with plush pillows and covered in deep red sheets that shimmered like fresh wine.
The mist cleared, and Elysiana guided Nyx to the bed's edge, making him sit. She knelt before him, her hands tenderly cupping his cheeks, thumbs brushing sweat-damp skin. Her touch was cool, soothing the fire building inside.
"Hold on just a little longer, Nyx sama," she whispered, her voice steady despite the worry. "Breathe with me. In... out. The thirst will pass soon."
Nyx gripped the sheets, nodding through gritted teeth. "It's... strong. Like fire in my veins. What happened?"
Elysiana glanced at Nyami, who stood nearby.
Nyami met her gaze and nodded. With another flicker, she vanished in a puff of pink mist, leaving them alone.
"The weapon triggered it," Elysiana explained softly, her red-streaked hair falling forward as she leaned closer. "Your blood fed its core, but with only one sin awakened, the desires spike hard. Trust me... Just follow my guidance."
She tilted her head, exposing the pale curve of her neck, pulse visible under the skin.
"Bite here. Take what you need. It'll ease the pain."
Nyx's eyes locked on the spot, thirst overwhelming reason.
He leaned in, fangs —subtle but sharp from his heritage —piercing gently. Warm blood flowed, rich and sweet, flooding his senses. He sucked hungrily, hands clutching her shoulders, the act pulling him back from the edge.
Minutes passed in haze, until the thirst dulled to a simmer. He retracted, licking the marks that already began to heal with her priestess magic.
Blood tinged his lips; he wiped it away, vision clearing.
"What... was that?" Nyx asked, voice rough. "Felt like losing control."
Elysiana sat beside him on the bed, her hand lingering on his arm. She looked composed again, but a flush colored her cheeks.
"The sins tie to your power, Nyx. With just wrath awakened, any surge —like from Mistflare amplifies the cravings. Blood, rage... and deeper urges. From now on, limit sin-related powers. Use them as less as possible until you gain more mastery over them."
Nyx leaned back against the pillows, the red sheets cool under him.
"Limit them? But I need strength for the academy. What should I do instead?"
She smiled, soft and knowing, her eyes holding a spark of something warmer. "I'll help you awaken lust. It's the next step —balances the fire with desire. There's a special gift in it: bonding. You link yourself with a partner, sharing their essence."
"Bond?" Nyx echoed, sitting up straighter. Interest piqued through the lingering haze.
"What does that mean exactly?"
Elysiana's fingers traced his jaw lightly.
"The bond lets you draw on their power partially. Their strengths become echoes in you —mana, skills, even hidden talents. It's intimate. For lust's awakening, it requires... closeness. Physical union to seal it."
Nyx's brow furrowed, pieces clicking.
"So... Basically sex With someone To awaken it fully?"
Her face turned a deeper red, shyness creeping into her elegant poise. She nodded, averting her gaze for a beat before meeting his eyes.
"Yes. That's the rite. And I'm here to help, Nyx sama. As your priestess, your guide... I'd be honored to awaken it with you."
He stared, baffled, heart skipping.
"You? Elysiana, the high priestess? This isn't... I mean, are you sure?"
She rose gracefully, then knelt again, cupping his cheek with both hands now, her touch tender and sure.
"More than sure. I've served Nyxiana faithfully, but you... as her apostle, you're her chosen. I'd be delighted to give you my first time, my entire life's devotion."
Nyx swallowed, the room's warmth closing in, her scent —faint incense and flowers —stirring the embers of that deeper thirst.
Elysiana reached into her robe's fold, pulling out a small pink vial, its liquid glowing softly.
She uncorked it, pouring the contents into her mouth, holding it there. Her eyes locked on his, filled with quiet resolve.
Leaning in, she pressed her lips to his in a deep kiss, parting to push the sweet, tingling liquid into his mouth. It flowed warm, sparking through him like liquid starlight.