Desires & Heresy

The Grand Cathedral of Lunaria loomed before him, its towering spires piercing the sky. A marvel of divine architecture, a symbol of unwavering faith. But Zane saw it for what it truly was—a fortress where piety and ambition intertwined, veiled beneath centuries of tradition.

It took priests a lifetime of devotion or ruthless political maneuvering to reach this position. But for him? From a nameless priest to a bishop—all it took was turning the most devout into vessels of lust and pleasure.

Zane adjusted his white and gold bishop's robes, the fabric heavy but finely tailored to fit his tall frame. The gold embroidery traced elegant patterns, a mark of his rank—extravagant, but not excessive.

The high collar sat stiff against his neck, and the flowing sleeves gave him an air of quiet authority. Across his chest, stitched in shimmering thread, was the sigil of Goddess Lunara—Radiance of Eternal Light, the Divine Arbiter of Virtue and Sin.

A symbol of purity.

An emblem of judgment.

An empty thing.

His fingers brushed over the embroidered mark, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

This body, like the others before it, fit him too well.

No matter how many times he took over a new identity, his form never changed—the same tall build, dark brown hair, and sharp amber eyes. At first, he had thought it was a coincidence, but as the pattern repeated, the feeling became unsettling. It was as if every man he replaced had been cut from the same mold, distant echoes of himself.

He had searched for a connection, some hidden link between them.

But, as always, he found nothing.

And, as always, it didn't matter.

A soft chime echoed in his mind, golden text flickering across his vision.

[HOLY CORRUPTION SYSTEM]

> [Level 2 Initialized]

✓ [New Identity: Bishop Lucian Duskveil]

[New Main Target: Archbishop Athena Ella Luminis]

°~ [Corruption Progress: 0%]

°~ [Psychological Traits: High Empathy | Unwavering Faith | Self-Sacrificing Nature]

°~ [Time Limit: 3 Months]

°~ [Reward: Third Divine Authority (??)]

Zane exhaled slowly, amber eyes narrowing slightly.

Three months.

Less than before.

But time wasn't the enemy. Impatience was.

He had corrupted a priestess, a nun, a noblewomen, a high priestess—but Archbishop Athena Ella Luminis was different. To the world, she was untouchable. A woman closer to sainthood.

Zane smirked.

Not for long.

The heavy cathedral doors creaked open, unveiling an entrance hall bathed in golden light. The air was thick with the scent of sacred oils and aged parchment, incense curling in intricate patterns.

Marble columns stretched toward the vaulted ceilings, where murals of divine triumphs overlooked all who entered. A place of faith.

But also—a place for politics.

Zane's gaze swept the chamber. Clergy members stood in disciplined formation, robes pristine, expressions composed. But his attention was drawn to the women standing at the center—the target for corruption.

Athena Ella Luminis.

Her presence was overwhelming.

Platinum-blonde hair cascaded like sunlight, a striking contrast against her high-collared white and gold robes. Her radiant golden eyes carried the warmth of divinity itself—filled with something pure. Something unshakable.

And then there was her body.

Even beneath the flowing fabric, there was no hiding her proportions.

Her massive, heavy breasts pushed against the thick ceremonial layers, the sacred embroidery doing nothing to hide their sheer size and fullness, each breath making the fabric strain ever so slightly. Her waist was impossibly narrow, only making the contrast to her wide, motherly hips more obscene—hips made to be held, to be worshipped. Every movement was slow, deliberate, the natural sway of her body almost sinful despite the purity she embodied. Untouched, yet built like temptation itself.

She was a vision of untouched divinity.

And a challenge worth savoring.

Zane took a step forward—

"Bishop Lucian Duskveil," a voice interrupted.

Smooth. Low. Amused.

Seraphina Val Vicente.

She approached with the grace of a woman who knew she commanded respect.

Tall, imposing, beautiful.

Her crimson eyes flickered with something unreadable, her every movement calculated. Unlike Athena, whose purity made her untouchable, Seraphina was a different kind of force—not divine, but dangerously captivating in her own way.

Her full, high breasts pushed against the confines of her robes, restrained yet demanding attention with every controlled breath. Smaller than Athena's, yet firm and perfectly shaped, fitting her lean, commanding frame. Her waist was tight, her hips firm rather than soft, built for strength. She was taller than most women he had met, though still beneath him, every step measured, precise.

Seraphina didn't just exist within power; she wore it like a second skin.

Zane smiled.

"Archbishop Seraphina," he greeted, inclining his head just slightly. Not out of deference. But invitation.

She smiled back, but there was something sharp in it—a knife wrapped in silk.

"Welcome to the Grand Cathedral," she said smoothly. "It is an honor to have new, faithful believers join our ranks."

Zane bowed his head slightly, the perfect image of humility. "The honor is mine, Your Excellency."

Seraphina chuckled softly. "Come, Bishop Lucian. Allow me to show you around."

Zane felt it—something was off.

Her voice was warm, welcoming, yet laced with something deeper.

A test? A warning? A challenge?

But he smiled nonetheless.

Maintaining the everlasting, pure face.

He followed as Seraphina led him through the halls, her voice smooth as she explained the Grand Cathedral's history, its relics, its sacred duties. Zane played his part—nodding, asking thoughtful questions, subtly observing her.

And she was observing him just as much.

They walked through the ornate prayer halls, past towering stained glass windows, through the grand library, where ancient texts of faith and history lay untouched by dust.

Then, in the quiet of an empty corridor, Seraphina slowed.

She turned to face him, crimson eyes gleaming.

"Bishop Lucian," she murmured, "even though we are devout, you should know—this Grand Cathedral holds more than just faith."

Zane tilted his head slightly. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Seraphina smiled. "Please, don't pretend." She took a slow step closer. "I can feel it."

A pause.

"We are the same, you and I."

Zane remained still, his smile unwavering. In that moment, he understood.

From the first glance, he had sensed it—the silent recognition, the unspoken understanding. 

Seraphina was like him. 

A predator who watched, waited, and seized every opportunity. Not just a leader of faith, but a woman willing to do whatever it took to rise higher.

Her crimson eyes carried the same cold calculation he had seen countless times before—not the gaze of a believer, but of someone who saw people as stepping stones. 

She wasn't bound by faith or duty. She was bound only by ambition. A woman who could be whatever the moment required—devout believer, ruthless politician, or something in between.

Seraphina fought for control over the Grand Cathedral, a place divided by power struggles. Two factions silently waged war—her own, built through local ties, family influence, and ruthless political maneuvering, and the other, led by an archbishop appointed directly by the Holy See. This Grand Cathedral was a battlefield, and even the smallest push could tip the balance.

And that was why she had approached him.

A new bishop was more than just another priest. He was a tool, an advantage, another piece in the game.

But Zane was no mere piece.

She had miscalculated.

She had been searching for a piece to control, a hand to tip the scales.

Instead, she had found the one who could flip the entire board.

But Zane had no interest in playing her game.

She sought control over the Grand Cathedral.

But Zane's ambition reached far beyond these walls.

His goal was the entire Theocracy.