Three Days on the Road
The journey to the capital was grueling.
They traveled mostly at night, avoiding main roads and settlements where bounty hunters might be watching. Daemon's Tier 2 endurance made the pace manageable for him, but his partners struggled—even Maya, who was the most physically capable after him.
By the third day, exhaustion was taking its toll.
"We need to rest properly," Maya said as they made camp in a dense grove of trees. The sun was rising, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. "Not just a few hours of sleep in shifts. Real rest. A full day and night."
Daemon wanted to argue. Every hour they delayed was an hour the Church investigators got closer. But through his bonds, he could feel his partners' genuine exhaustion. Sera's feet were blistered. Vivienne, unused to travel, was fighting fatigue with pure willpower.
"All right," he conceded. "We rest here today. Full recovery. Tomorrow night we continue."
Relief flooded through all three bonds.
They set up a proper camp—bedrolls arranged around a small fire, wards placed at the perimeter using Maya's knowledge of protective herbs. It wasn't true safety, but it was better than nothing.
"How far to the capital?" Sera asked, tending to her blistered feet with salve Maya had prepared.
"Another four days at this pace," Vivienne said. She'd been studying the maps they'd brought. "Maybe three if we push hard. But we need to be careful approaching the city. The capital has gates, guards, entry procedures. We can't just walk in looking like refugees."
"We'll need new identities," Maya agreed. "Documents. Cover stories. The capital isn't like a small town—they keep records."
Daemon had been thinking about this. "Vivienne, you're still legally married to Viktor. Even with him imprisoned, you have access to your family's resources, don't you?"
"Some. My family is minor nobility in the capital. If I can reach them, explain the situation..." Vivienne considered. "They might help. Especially once they learn Viktor is a confessed murderer. That dissolves the marriage contract and returns my dowry."
"So we have a potential source of funds and legitimacy," Daemon said. "What about the Crimson Rose? Do we have any leads besides a name?"
"I've heard rumors," Maya offered. "The Crimson Rose is supposedly a network that helps System Bearers. Safe houses, training, protection from the Church. But they're secretive—you don't find them, they find you."
"How?"
"By displaying your abilities in the right places. Drawing their attention without drawing the Church's." Maya stirred the fire. "It's dangerous. But if they're real, they're our best option."
Daemon checked his status, something he'd been doing compulsively since they'd left:
[CURRENT STATUS]Tier: 2 (The Despoiler)Cultivation Points: 42/500Corruption: 25% (Tier 2 - The Corruptor)Energy: 68% (recovering from travel stress)
BONDED PARTNERS: 3/7
Maya (Level 2+) Sera (Level 2+) Vivienne (Level 1+)
CORRUPTION EFFECTS ACTIVE:
Reduced empathy People viewed as resources Satisfaction in others' suffering Growing sense of superiority Easier to justify dark actions
He'd been fighting these effects for three days. Every person they'd passed on the road, his first instinct had been to assess their usefulness or threat level. Every obstacle made him consider using his corruption abilities to simply force compliance.
The whispers never stopped:
Corruption: 25%Whisper: You're exhausting yourself maintaining these moral restrictions. Just use your Dominate Will ability. Take over a merchant's mind, steal his wagon and supplies. It would be easy. Efficient. Why suffer when you have power?
"Because that would make me a monster," Daemon said quietly.
The others looked at him. He hadn't realized he'd spoken aloud.
"The corruption is talking to you," Maya said. It wasn't a question. "Constantly?"
"Yes. Suggesting shortcuts. Easier paths that involve using people." Daemon met her eyes. "It's getting harder to ignore."
Sera moved to sit beside him, taking his hand. "Then we help you ignore it. That's what we're here for."
Through their bond, he felt her determination. Felt all three of his partners' commitment to keeping him grounded. It helped, but he wondered how long it would be enough.
"I need to cultivate," he said. "To maintain the bonds. And honestly..." He looked at his partners. "I need the connection. The reminder that this power is about more than just domination."
"Who?" Maya asked practically.
Daemon's Desire Mapping ability automatically assessed all three:
Maya (Level 2+): Bond strong but could be stronger. Cultivation would yield 8-12 points. Emotional connection deep. Risk: None.
Sera (Level 2+): Bond strong but could be stronger. Cultivation would yield 8-12 points. Emotional connection deep. Risk: None.
Vivienne (Level 1+): Bond new and developing. Cultivation would yield 15-20 points. Emotional connection growing. Risk: Might feel used if approached too transactionally.
"All of you," Daemon said. "Not right now—you need rest. But once we've recovered. Group cultivation. It strengthens all the bonds simultaneously and yields better results."
Corruption: 25%Whisper: Efficient. You're learning. Multiple partners at once maximizes power gain. And if you used your new abilities during the cultivation—your Desire Chains, your Dominate Will—you could push them further. Make them give you more. Extract every drop of power available.
"No," Daemon said firmly. "Group cultivation because it strengthens our connections. Not to extract maximum power."
The corruption whispered its disappointment, but Daemon ignored it.
"Tomorrow, then," Maya agreed. "After we've all rested properly. A full session with all three of us. Should push you closer to fifty points."
They spent the rest of the morning setting up proper camp, then sleeping in shifts. Daemon took first watch, his enhanced senses alert for any threats.
As he sat by the fire, monitoring the forest around them, his mind wandered to what lay ahead. The capital was massive—over a hundred thousand people. A place where they could disappear. But also a place with dangers they'd never encountered.
Other System Bearers, potentially. The Church's main cathedral. Political intrigue on a scale that made Viktor's scheming look like child's play.
And somewhere in that vast city, hopefully, the Crimson Rose.
Through his bond with Vivienne, he felt her wake from restless sleep. A moment later, she emerged from her bedroll and came to sit beside him.
"Can't sleep?" he asked.
"Too much on my mind." She stared into the flames. "Three days ago I was a nobleman's wife living in a manor. Now I'm a fugitive sleeping on the ground." She smiled slightly. "It's strangely liberating."
"Do you regret it? Bonding with me? Betraying Viktor?"
"Not for a moment." Vivienne's voice was firm. "Viktor was a gilded cage. You offered freedom, even if that freedom comes with danger." She glanced at him. "Though I'll admit, I didn't expect things to escalate quite so quickly."
"Neither did I." Daemon added wood to the fire. "I thought I'd spend months building power before confronting him. But the opportunities came faster than expected."
"Because you took them. You didn't wait for perfect conditions—you acted when chances presented themselves." Vivienne studied him. "That's why you'll survive this. You adapt quickly."
Through their bond, Daemon felt her genuine admiration. And underneath it, something else. Desire, certainly—their initial cultivation had been intense. But also something deeper. Respect. Partnership.
Vivienne wasn't just a tool he'd acquired. She was a genuinely intelligent, capable woman who'd chosen to ally with him. Who brought strategic value beyond cultivation.
"Thank you," he said. "For everything. The intelligence, the help at the gathering, coming with us even though you could have stayed safe in the capital."
"I'm bonded to you now. Where you go, I go." She paused. "Though I will need to contact my family once we reach the capital. Arrange access to my resources. Is that acceptable?"
"Of course. We'll need funds to survive there anyway." Daemon met her eyes. "But be careful. Your family might try to control you, arrange another marriage, trap you in the same situation you just escaped."
"They might try." Vivienne's smile was sharp. "But I'm not the same woman who accepted Viktor's proposal years ago. I won't be controlled again."
Bond Level: Vivienne (Level 1+ → Level 2)Bond Benefit Unlocked: Strategic Mind Link - Can share tactical assessments telepathically
Vivienne gasped softly. "I felt that. The bond strengthening. I can... I can sense your tactical thinking now. Your assessment of threats."
"And I can sense yours." Daemon felt the new connection settle into place. "This could be incredibly useful."
"We're becoming a proper team," Vivienne said with satisfaction. "Not just a man and his partners, but a coordinated unit."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the sunrise through the trees. Eventually, Vivienne returned to her bedroll, and Daemon continued his watch.
When Maya relieved him for the next shift, she touched his face gently. "You're holding together better than I expected," she said. "The corruption is strong, but you're fighting it."
"It's exhausting."
"I know. But you're doing it. That matters." She kissed him softly. "Now rest. I'll wake you if anything happens."
Daemon lay down between Sera and Vivienne, both women unconsciously moving closer to him in their sleep. Through his bonds, he felt their dreams—peaceful for the most part, though tinged with anxiety about their uncertain future.
He let their presence anchor him, push back against the corruption's whispers, and finally drifted off to sleep.
That Evening - Group Cultivation
They woke as the sun was setting, all four of them well-rested for the first time in days. After a simple meal of travel rations, they prepared for cultivation.
"How do we do this?" Sera asked, nervous despite having participated in group cultivation before. "With three of us and one of you?"
"The System will guide us," Daemon said. "But basically, we form a circle. Energy flows between all of us. What one person feels, we all feel to some degree. The key is synchronization—moving together, building together, finishing together."
"That sounds..." Vivienne paused. "Intense."
"It is," Maya confirmed. "But also beautiful. You'll see."
They arranged themselves on spread bedrolls, the afternoon light filtering through the trees creating a peaceful atmosphere. Daemon sat at the center, his three partners around him in a triangle formation.
The moment they all made physical contact, golden energy sparked between them.
[GROUP CULTIVATION INITIATED]Participants: Daemon, Maya, Sera, VivienneBond Levels: 2+, 2+, 2Compatibility: Excellent (all partners know each other)Estimated Points: 25-35 (depending on quality)
The energy began to flow immediately—from Daemon to Maya to Sera to Vivienne and back to Daemon in an endless loop. Each circulation made the power stronger.
Daemon used his Desire Chains ability to link all three women together, creating a web of shared sensation. What Maya felt, Sera and Vivienne felt. What Sera experienced, Maya and Vivienne experienced.
It was overwhelming in the best way.
"Oh gods," Vivienne breathed. "I can feel all of you. Everything you're feeling."
"That's the Chains," Daemon explained, his voice rough. "We're all connected now. Sharing."
The cultivation progressed naturally, guided by instinct and the System's subtle direction. Daemon moved between his partners, ensuring each felt valued, each received attention. But the real magic was in how the three women interacted with each other.
Maya guided Sera, showing her advanced techniques. Sera's natural enthusiasm brought joy to the experience. Vivienne's intelligence added an element of creative experimentation.
And through it all, the golden energy built and built.
Energy Synchronization: 78%... 85%... 91%...
Partners' Satisfaction: All rising in perfect harmony
Technique: 45 → 48 (+3 from group coordination mastery)
Daemon felt himself approaching climax and used the Desire Chains to bring all three women to the edge with him. They were all connected, all building toward the same peak together.
"Together," Maya gasped. "Everyone together—"
Synchronization: 97%
BREAKTHROUGH IMMINENT
They reached the peak in perfect unison, and the grove flooded with golden light. Power poured into Daemon from all three sources simultaneously, their energies merging and amplifying each other.
[GROUP CULTIVATION COMPLETE]
EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY
Cultivation Points Gained: 33
Total Progress: 42 → 75/500
BONDS UPDATED:
Maya: Level 2+ → Level 3New Benefit: Perfect Synchronization - Cultivation efficiency +25% with this partnerSera: Level 2+ → Level 3New Benefit: Emotional Amplification - Can share joy/pleasure with others through DaemonVivienne: Level 2 → Level 2+New Benefit: Strategic Enhancement - Tactical thinking improved when bonded
ACHIEVEMENT: Three Level 3 BondsBonus: Group cultivation now generates +30% additional points
Energy: 68% → 35% (significant depletion from extended session)
Corruption: 25% (No change - genuine connection maintained)
They collapsed together in a tangle of limbs and exhausted satisfaction. The golden runes on Daemon's skin were blazing bright, spreading further across his body—now covering his chest, arms, shoulders, back, and beginning to trace down his legs.
"That was incredible," Vivienne breathed. "I've never... I mean, with Viktor, I never knew it could be like that."
"Because Viktor didn't have a Lust System," Sera said with a tired smile. "And because he didn't actually care about your pleasure."
"True on both counts." Vivienne laughed. "Well, I'm officially ruined for normal intimacy. How does one go back to ordinary after that?"
"One doesn't," Maya said wisely. "You're bonded to a System Bearer now. Ordinary is over."
Through his bonds, Daemon felt all three women's deep satisfaction and affection. Not just for him, but for each other. The group cultivation had strengthened not just his individual bonds with each woman, but their bonds with each other.
They were becoming a true unit. A team. A family, of sorts.
[OBSERVATION]Independent bonds forming between partners:
Maya ↔ Sera: Strong friendship, mentor/student dynamic Maya ↔ Vivienne: Mutual respect, intellectual connection Sera ↔ Vivienne: Developing friendship, different life experiences but genuine liking
This significantly strengthens harem stabilityJealousy potential: Very lowGroup cohesion: High
"We're fifteen percent of the way to Tier 3," Daemon said, checking his interface. "Seventy-five points out of five hundred."
"That's actually good progress," Maya said. "Tier 3 is exponentially harder than Tier 2. We knew it would take time."
"How long?" Vivienne asked.
"At this rate? If we do group cultivation every few days, with occasional individual sessions... maybe two months to Tier 3." Maya did mental calculations. "Though it'll get harder as we go. The System will demand more challenging scenarios, more difficult conquests."
"More partners, too," Daemon said. "The System says I can bond up to seven total. We have three. Four more slots available."
"Do you want more?" Sera asked quietly. Through their bond, he felt her acceptance mixed with mild anxiety. She'd adjusted to sharing him with Maya and Vivienne, but four more women?
"I don't know," Daemon admitted. "Part of me—the part focused on power—says yes. More partners means more cultivation opportunities, faster advancement. But another part wonders if I can maintain that many bonds without losing the genuine connections."
"Quality over quantity," Maya said firmly. "Don't bond someone just for power. That's how you accumulate partners who resent you instead of support you."
"Agreed," Vivienne added. "Though I will say, in the capital, there will be opportunities. Powerful women, interesting women, women who might genuinely fit with our group."
"Our group," Sera repeated, smiling. "I like that. It's not just Daemon's harem—it's our group. We all have a say in who joins."
Corruption: 25%Whisper: That's inefficient. You should choose partners based on maximum power gain, not group consensus. You're the one who needs the strength. They should follow your decisions without question.
Daemon pushed the whisper away. "We're a team. Any new partners need to fit with all of us, not just me. Agreed?"
"Agreed," all three women said simultaneously.
They rested for another hour, regaining energy, then broke camp. Time to continue their journey.
As they walked through the darkening forest, Daemon felt different than he had three days ago. Still corrupted—the whispers never stopped—but more stable. His partners' bonds were stronger, giving him better anchors.
Maybe he could do this. Maybe he could grow powerful enough to survive whatever threats came while maintaining enough humanity to be worth saving.
Maybe.
Two Days Later - Capital Outskirts
The capital of Astaria rose before them like a mountain of stone and ambition. Walls fifty feet high. Guard towers every hundred yards. Gates that could withstand siege engines. And beyond the walls, buildings stacked upon buildings, reaching toward the sky.
Daemon had visited once as a child. It had seemed magical then. Now, with his enhanced senses, he could feel the pressure of so many people concentrated in one place. Thousands of emotional signatures overlapping, creating a cacophony that made his Desire Sense nearly useless.
"It's overwhelming," he said.
"You'll adjust," Maya assured him. "Your mind will learn to filter out the noise. Focus on individual signatures instead of the mass."
They approached during the busy afternoon hours, when the gates were crowded with merchants, travelers, and workers returning from the fields. Daemon had changed back into his Marcus Blake disguise—auburn hair, scholar's clothes, forgettable face.
Vivienne had transformed herself as well. Gone was the noble lady in expensive gowns. She wore a simple traveling dress and had pulled her hair back severely. She looked like a merchant's wife, respectable but not wealthy.
Maya and Sera kept their own appearances—the healer and her assistant, traveling to the capital for medical supplies.
"Papers," the gate guard said bored. He'd probably checked hundreds already today.
Vivienne produced documents—expertly forged by a contact she'd reached two days ago. They identified them as the Hartwell family, merchants from the eastern provinces seeking new opportunities in the capital.
The guard barely glanced at them. "Entry tax is five silver per person. Twenty silver total."
Vivienne paid without hesitation, and they were waved through.
Just like that, they were in.
The capital's streets were chaos. Crowds everywhere. Merchants shouting their wares. Street performers juggling fire. Beggars on corners. Nobles being carried in sedan chairs. And everywhere, the noise—the overwhelming noise of a hundred thousand people living on top of each other.
"We need lodging first," Maya said practically. "Somewhere clean but not expensive. We need to conserve funds until Vivienne can access her family's resources."
They found an inn in the middle-tier district—not so cheap that it attracted criminals, not so expensive that it drew attention. Three rooms: one for Daemon, one for the women to publicly share, and a common room where they could actually gather privately.
Once settled, they convened to plan.
"My family's estate is in the noble quarter," Vivienne said. "I'll visit tomorrow, explain the situation, arrange access to my dowry. That should give us operating capital."
"I'll establish myself as a healer," Maya said. "Build contacts, learn the city's layout. See if I can hear any whispers about the Crimson Rose."
"I can find work at a tavern," Sera offered. "Barmaid skills work anywhere. And taverns are where you hear gossip."
They all looked at Daemon.
"And you?" Maya asked. "What's your role?"
"I need to find the Crimson Rose," Daemon said. "Captain Harris said they help System Bearers. If they're real, they're our best option for protection and training."
"How do you find them?"
"By being findable. They said they find System Bearers who display their abilities." Daemon met their eyes. "So I need to use my powers openly. Carefully, but openly. Draw their attention."
"That's incredibly dangerous," Vivienne said. "The Church has agents everywhere in the capital. Inquisitors on call. If you draw the wrong attention—"
"Then I'll have to be smart about it." Daemon's corruption whispered seductive ideas, but he ignored them. "I'll start small. Use my Desire Sense in gambling dens, reading opponents. Use my Enhanced Persuasion in merchant negotiations. Subtle displays that show I'm unusual but don't scream 'System Bearer.'"
"And if the Crimson Rose doesn't find you?" Sera asked.
"Then we build power the old-fashioned way. I cultivate with you three, advance slowly toward Tier 3, and hope we can lay low long enough to become strong enough that we don't need protection."
It wasn't a great plan, but it was what they had.
"One more thing," Maya said seriously. "Daemon, your corruption is at twenty-five percent. That's a critical threshold. Every decision from here on out will either push you higher or help you stabilize. Be very careful about the choices you make in this city."
"I will be."
Through his bonds, he felt all three women's doubt. They wanted to believe him. But they could also feel the corruption whispering constantly, sense how hard it was for him to resist.
Corruption: 25%Whisper: This city is full of opportunities. Powerful people to manipulate. Wealthy targets to rob. Potential partners to seduce and dominate. You could rise so fast here. Become someone truly formidable. All you have to do is stop holding yourself back.
"I'll be careful," Daemon repeated, as much to himself as to his partners.
That night, he lay in his room alone, staring at the ceiling and listening to the city's endless noise. Somewhere out there was the Crimson Rose. Somewhere out there were other System Bearers, both allies and enemies.
And somewhere inside him was a line he hadn't crossed yet—the point where the corruption would win and he'd become the very thing he'd started fighting against.
He just had to figure out where that line was.
Before he crossed it without realizing.