Apocalypse Survival Why Do I Have A Lust System

The night seemed endless as Selene and Marcus pressed on through the ruined city. Every shadow felt alive, every gust of wind carried a sinister whisper. Despite their victory over the demons, Selene's unease only grew. The system's cryptic messages and sudden enhancements left her feeling more like a puppet than a person.

"You're unusually quiet," Marcus said, his voice breaking the heavy silence.

"I'm just... thinking," she replied, her grip tightening on her iron rod.

"About the system?" Marcus asked, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

Selene froze. "How do you know about that?"

He gave her a small, wry smile. "You're not the only one with secrets, Selene. I've seen signs of people like you before. Survivors who woke up different after the Rift."

"What do you mean?" she pressed, her heart pounding.

Marcus hesitated, as if weighing how much to reveal. "Some people got powers. Some got curses. And some..." He trailed off, his expression darkening.

"Some what?" Selene demanded.

"Some became something else entirely," he said finally. "The system might be helping you now, but don't trust it blindly. It always comes with a price."

Selene swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over her like a storm cloud. Before she could respond, a distant scream shattered the silence.

"That came from the east," Marcus said, his body tensing.

"We have to check it out," Selene said, already moving in the direction of the sound.

"Wait—Selene!" Marcus called after her, but she didn't stop.

They arrived at the source of the scream to find a woman cornered by a hulking demon. Its jagged claws gleamed in the moonlight as it loomed over her, snarling.

"Get away from her!" Selene shouted, charging forward.

The demon turned, its glowing red eyes locking onto her. It roared, the sound reverberating through the air like a thunderclap.

"Selene, be careful!" Marcus warned, drawing his sword.

The fight was brutal. The demon was faster and stronger than the ones they had faced before. Selene dodged its swipes, the system's enhancements barely keeping her ahead of its attacks.

"Lust energy reserves low. Engage in bonding activity to replenish power."

The system's voice rang in her ears, but she had no time to process it. She swung her iron rod with all her might, striking the demon's leg. It stumbled, giving Marcus an opening to drive his sword into its chest.

The demon let out a final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing into ash.

"Are you alright?" Marcus asked, rushing to Selene's side.

"I'm fine," she said, though her legs felt like jelly. She turned to the woman they had saved. "Are you hurt?"

The woman shook her head, her eyes wide with terror. "Th-thank you," she stammered. "I thought I was going to die."

"You're safe now," Selene assured her. "Do you have somewhere to go?"

The woman nodded. "There's a group of survivors nearby. I got separated from them."

"We'll take you there," Marcus said, helping her to her feet.

As they escorted the woman through the dark streets, Selene couldn't shake the system's lingering words. What did it mean by "bonding activity"? And why did it feel like the system was steering her life in a direction she didn't fully understand?

When they reached the survivor camp, they were greeted with cautious relief. The group was small, barely a dozen people, all huddled around a makeshift fire.

"Thank you for bringing her back," an older man said, stepping forward. "It's not safe to travel alone anymore."

Selene and Marcus stayed for a while, sharing what little information they had about the demons and the failing barriers. And after a while they departed.

The sun rose reluctantly, casting faint rays over the ruined landscape as Selene and Marcus pushed forward.

Selene's grip on her weapon tightened as they approached a crumbling overpass. Below, the husks of abandoned cars lined the streets, and the eerie silence was broken only by the occasional distant growl of a demon.

"Something's wrong," Marcus muttered, scanning the area with narrowed eyes.

Selene felt it too—a heaviness in the air, like the calm before a storm. She glanced at Marcus. "What do you think it is?"

"Could be an ambush. Or worse." His hand rested on his sword, ready for anything.

The ground beneath them trembled slightly, a faint vibration that grew stronger with every passing second.

"What the—" Selene began, but her words were cut off as the pavement cracked and buckled.

A massive fissure tore through the ground ahead of them, releasing a wave of scorching heat and sulfuric stench. From the depths of the earth emerged a creature unlike any they had encountered before—towering, with molten skin that glowed like embers and horns spiraling from its skull.

"WARNING: High-tier demon detected. Lust energy reserves insufficient for sustained combat."

Selene froze as the system's voice echoed in her mind. The demon roared, its fiery breath igniting the air around it.

"Run!" Marcus shouted, grabbing her arm and pulling her back as the creature slammed a clawed hand down where they had just stood.

"No! We can't just run!" Selene argued, her instincts screaming to fight.

"Not like this," Marcus growled. "We're not equipped to take it down!"

The demon advanced, each step shaking the ground. Selene's heart pounded as she frantically searched for a plan.

"Emergency Protocol Activated: Lust Bonding Required for Power Surge."

The system's words sent a chill through her. "What does that even mean?!" she hissed under her breath.

"Selene, move!" Marcus's shout snapped her back to reality as the demon lunged.

They darted into the remnants of an old building, its walls barely holding together. The demon's roar shook the structure, debris falling around them as they took cover.

"We're trapped," Marcus said grimly, wiping sweat from his brow.

"No," Selene said, her mind racing. "There has to be a way. The system—it said something about a power surge."

"What are you talking about?" Marcus asked, his confusion evident.

"I don't have time to explain," Selene said, her voice shaky but determined. She closed her eyes, focusing inward. "System, what do I need to do?"

"Physical bonding with compatible partner will trigger energy surge. Enhanced abilities will last for 10 minutes."

Her eyes snapped open, her cheeks burning. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Selene, what's going on?" Marcus pressed.

She hesitated, her gaze meeting his. Could she really ask this of him? The demon's roar reminded her that hesitation would get them both killed.

"Marcus, trust me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need you to… to help me."

"Help you how?" he asked, still confused but willing to listen.

Before she could answer, the demon struck again, tearing through the wall and sending them tumbling to the ground.

"Selene!" Marcus shouted, pulling her up as the demon loomed over them.

Her decision was made for her. Grabbing Marcus by the collar, she pulled him into a desperate kiss.