The crimson hall had barely settled from the echoes of their last victory when a ripple of unease passed through the air. Sarah felt it first — subtle, almost imperceptible, yet undeniable. The Lust Engine pulsed sharply, a warning in rhythm with her heartbeat. Her fingers brushed against Rias's wrist as they prepared to move, the brief contact sparking a crimson surge that rolled through her veins.
"Something's coming," Koneko muttered, her eyes scanning the shadows with razor focus. Rossweisse's lips pressed into a thin line, her hand tracing the faint outline of a weapon that seemed to hum with anticipation. Even Xenovia stiffened, muscles coiling for action.
Sarah nodded, letting the residual pulse of Heart Synchrony guide her movements. The subtle warmth of their combined energies hummed along her skin, every glance, every effleurement of fingers or shoulders sending a ripple of power through the hall.
Sarah PV: 165 / Lv: 20 / Force: 46 / Desire: 330 / Intelligence: 26 / Agility: 26
From the far end of the hall, shapes emerged — more defined than the spectral echoes they had faced before, moving with purpose and coordination. The shadows now bore an unmistakable intelligence; their movements deliberate, probing, assessing. A low, distorted hum vibrated through the air, responding to the Lust Engine's pulse.
Akeno's voice cut through the tension, soft but commanding. "This is the moment, Sarah. Heart Synchrony must evolve now. Push beyond Level 3. Your Ascension awaits."
Sarah exhaled, extending her hand toward Rias in a deliberate frôlement along the forearm, fingers brushing in a subtle, electric contact. The pulse surged outward, Heart Synchrony flaring visibly as it integrated Koneko and Rossweisse's energy. A wave of crimson light rippled across the floor, striking the advancing shadows before they could close the distance.
Skill Triggered: Heart Synchrony – Level 4 / Ascension Ready
Effect: Advanced synchronization allows simultaneous offensive and defensive amplification, scaling with emotional and tactile connection.
Sarah PV: 170 / Lv: 21 / Force: 48 / Desire: 350 / Intelligence: 27 / Agility: 27
The first wave of shadows struck, their attacks coordinated and swift. Sarah moved instinctively, weaving through the hall, each motion guided by the subtle tug of the Lust Engine. A glance toward Rias, a brief touch to Koneko's shoulder, and a flick of Rossweisse's wrist—all were conduits for power, amplifying the flares of her Charm Domain.
A shadow lunged directly at Rias, and Sarah reacted, extending her fingers in a light effleurement along her friend's wrist. The resulting pulse of Heart Synchrony slammed into the attacker, sending it staggering backward, disoriented. The connection, delicate yet potent, had become a tangible weapon.
Sarah PV: 175 / Lv: 22 / Force: 50 / Desire: 370 / Intelligence: 28 / Agility: 28
Xenovia and Koneko moved in tandem, their strikes weaving through the gaps Sarah created. Every brush of contact, every subtle glance, now served dual purposes: maintaining synchronized energy and destabilizing the enemy's coordinated assault. The hall seemed to bend to their rhythm, pillars trembling as Heart Synchrony expanded outward in radiant waves.
One particularly formidable shadow surged toward Sarah herself, a clawed hand aimed with lethal precision. She pivoted, brushing her palm against Rias's waist in a deliberate frôlement that sparked a crimson pulse. The energy coalesced, Heart Synchrony flaring to its full extent, and she redirected the attack with a controlled wave of force.
Skill Activated: Ascension – Heart Synchrony Level 4 / Full Pulse
Effect: Amplifies all synchronized connections into a battlefield-wide offensive and defensive surge. Emotional intensity multiplies Force and Desire temporarily by 40%.
Sarah PV: 180 / Lv: 23 / Force: 52 / Desire: 390 / Intelligence: 29 / Agility: 29
The hall shook as the pulse radiated outward, disorienting the enemy and creating openings for her harem. Rias moved with precise efficiency, exploiting the cracks Sarah's energy had formed. Koneko's movements were swift, the subtle alignment of her actions with Sarah's flares creating a rhythm that the shadows could not predict. Rossweisse's calculated strikes cut through the disrupted enemy lines.
Yet even amidst victory, a tension lingered. The remaining shadows regrouped, moving with intelligence that belied their spectral nature. A deeper strategy was at play. Sarah's pulse quickened, the Lust Engine vibrating in anticipation of a greater challenge.
A flick of her fingers against Rias's shoulder, a shared glance with Koneko, and another effleurement along Rossweisse's arm — each small gesture now amplified by Ascension. The combined energy spiraled outward in a visible crimson surge, scattering the shadows and creating a momentary calm in the hall.
Sarah PV: 185 / Lv: 24 / Force: 55 / Desire: 420 / Intelligence: 30 / Agility: 30
Akeno's voice, sharp with approval, echoed in her awareness. "You've unlocked the first true Ascension. Heart Synchrony has become more than a skill—it is a living extension of your bonds. Remember this, and the next wave will find you ready."
Sarah's chest heaved, but her gaze swept across her companions. Each touch, each glance, each pulse of energy had been vital. They had survived the first real assault, and she could feel the power of Ascension thrumming through every bond.
Rias stepped closer, her fingers brushing Sarah's in a gentle, electric frôlement. "This is only the beginning," she said softly. "The true enemies are coming, but we are ready—together."
The hall trembled again, faint shadows flickering at the edges, a whisper of the challenges yet to come. Heart Synchrony had reached a new peak, and Sarah knew that every glance, every touch, every heartbeat would be crucial for the battles that lay ahead.
Sarah PV: 190 / Lv: 25 / Force: 58 / Desire: 450 / Intelligence: 31 / Agility: 31