The crimson glow of the hall had dimmed, leaving only the faint lingering pulses of Heart Synchrony reverberating through Sarah's body. The residual warmth from her companions hummed in harmony with the Lust Engine, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to breathe, feeling the weight of their combined victory. Yet even in that quiet, there was a subtle shift, a whisper in the air that something beyond training had begun to stir.
Rias stepped closer, her gaze scanning the hall with a cautious intensity. "Do you feel it?" she asked softly, her voice carrying a mixture of curiosity and unease. "There's… something different. I can't place it, but it's there."
Sarah's fingers brushed against hers in a fleeting effleurement, the touch gentle yet deliberate, and a pulse of Heart Synchrony rippled outward. The Lust Engine surged, the crimson aura around her hands and arms flaring softly as if acknowledging the unspoken warning. She tightened her focus, letting the warmth and connection guide her awareness.
Sarah PV: 145 / Lv: 16 / Force: 38 / Desire: 250 / Intelligence: 22 / Agility: 22
Koneko shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the shadows at the edge of the hall. "Something's off," she muttered, her voice tight with concentration. Rossweisse mirrored the suspicion, her hand already tracing the arc of a potential counter-strike. Even Xenovia stiffened, a subtle energy ripple vibrating along her body.
Sarah exhaled slowly. Heart Synchrony… Bond Pulse… everything we've trained, she reminded herself. She extended her fingers, lightly brushing against Rias again, eyes locking for a heartbeat that stretched long enough to feel their pulses sync. A flash of crimson light spiraled between them, a signal, a channel of readiness.
From the corner of her vision, she caught it — a subtle tremor in the shadows, a shimmer along the wall that shouldn't have been there. At first, it was faint, almost imperceptible, but the Lust Engine reacted instantly, a sharp surge that shot through her veins and tingled along her fingertips.
"Alert," Sarah whispered. She stepped forward, letting the Charm Domain ripple outward, her aura spreading in soft waves that brushed against each companion. The subtle warmth of proximity, the gentle frôlement of arms and waists as they moved closer together, catalyzed the power. Heart Synchrony responded, amplifying their combined potential.
Skill Used: Bond Pulse – Emergency Activation
Effect: Converts tactile and emotional cues into amplified offensive and defensive energy. Allies in range gain temporary boosts to Force, Agility, and Desire.
Sarah PV: 150 / Lv: 17 / Force: 40 / Desire: 270 / Intelligence: 23 / Agility: 23
The first shadows detached themselves from the corners, humanoid but distorted, their forms twisting with energy that was neither fully spectral nor entirely corporeal. They advanced cautiously, testing, sensing. Sarah's heart thudded as the Lust Engine pulsed in response to their intent. She moved instinctively, circling with Rias, their hands brushing once more in a subtle effleurement that sent a tangible pulse of energy into the hall.
Rossweisse and Koneko flanked them, the synchronized Heart Synchrony weaving a lattice of energy that wrapped around their forms. Every brush of skin, every glance shared, acted as a conduit, amplifying attacks and bolstering defenses. Even the faintest contact — a hand on a shoulder, a touch to the waist — sent visible arcs of crimson energy coursing through the synchronized field.
The shadows lunged. Their strikes were precise, testing openings, attempting to exploit weaknesses. But Sarah's movement was fluid, guided as much by instinct and emotion as by conscious calculation. She extended her hands, and a soft frôlement along Rias's arm triggered a surge that rippled outward, knocking the nearest shadow back. A glance exchanged with Koneko reinforced the effect, the synchronization now tangible across the group.
Sarah PV: 155 / Lv: 18 / Force: 42 / Desire: 290 / Intelligence: 24 / Agility: 24
One of the shadows advanced too quickly, its strike aimed at Rossweisse. Sarah reacted instantly, her hand brushing the woman's wrist just as she moved to intercept. The connection triggered Heart Synchrony, and a crimson pulse arced outward, forcing the shadow back while creating a protective dome over their small formation. The interplay of touch, glance, and synchronized energy was no longer just training — it was survival.
Akeno's voice rang softly in her mind, guiding, observing: "Remember, control your desire. Let it flow, let it amplify, but do not let it dominate. Heart Synchrony is power, not instinct alone."
Sarah's eyes met Rias's once more, and in that instant, they shared a silent understanding. Each pulse of energy, each heartbeat, each subtle frôlement was a bridge between them, a thread binding their potential into one unbroken flow. The Lust Engine surged again, the aura around Sarah's body flaring in waves that rippled across the hall.
Skill Updated: Heart Synchrony – Level 3
Effect: Battlefield-wide amplification; tactical and emotional synergy now increases Force, Agility, and Desire by 30% while active.
Sarah PV: 160 / Lv: 19 / Force: 44 / Desire: 310 / Intelligence: 25 / Agility: 25
The shadows faltered, disoriented by the combined might and connection of the group. Even the smallest gestures — a touch to the shoulder, a glance toward the advancing enemy — became catalysts for power, reinforcing attacks and defenses alike. Sarah moved with a deliberate grace, weaving through the hall with her companions, each step, each subtle interaction amplifying their combined potential.
Yet beneath the surface, a tension lingered. The shadows were more than simple opponents; their movements hinted at intelligence, coordination, a lurking strategy. Sarah's gut tightened. This was not the end. The hall vibrated with the anticipation of greater challenges ahead.
By the time the last shadow recoiled, staggered and fractured by the synchronized onslaught, Sarah and her harem stood at the center of the hall, the air charged, their bodies humming with the afterglow of combined energy. Each glance, each frôlement, each pulse of the Lust Engine had become a weapon, a shield, and a lifeline.
Rias stepped closer, brushing Sarah's hand with her fingers. "This is only the beginning," she murmured, her eyes steady, aware of the growing strength between them. "The bonds you've built… they will be tested."
Sarah's chest heaved, but the thrill of control, power, and connection burned brightly. The hall seemed to hum in response to the synchronized energy, and she knew, without doubt, that the next wave of challenges would be met not just with skill, but with the unbreakable pulse of Heart Synchrony.
Sarah PV: 165 / Lv: 20 / Force: 46 / Desire: 330 / Intelligence: 26 / Agility: 26