Succumania

"Hey, hey, let's stop them for fuck's sake!" Luka growled from the sidelines, struggling against an invisible force.

Morrigan smirked, holding him in place with her psychic powers.

Alma Elma and Minagi were standing in the arena below, their eyes locking on each other with fierce intensity as they prepared to fight.

"I will crush you with my fists," Alma Elma declared, her hands coated with wind magic.

"Your fists? Now that's interesting…" Minagi chuckled darkly.

"They're going to destroy the arena! Did you see what she did against the Hatman?" Luka growled again. 

"It should be fine," Astaroth muttered. "Minagi-sama will end this fight quickly."

Luka shot her a bewildered look. "You say that like it's a good thing!"

Down in the arena, Alma Elma cracked her knuckles, the air around her fists distorting as her wind magic intensified. Her signature smirk never wavered. "Let's see if you can keep up, Minagi."

Minagi rolled her shoulders, her crimson eyes gleaming with something between amusement and anticipation. "I wonder… Do you even realize the difference between us?"

Then, without warning, Alma Elma moved. She vanished in an instant, her body propelled by a burst of wind magic as she reappeared behind Minagi, her fist already swinging toward her back.

A deafening boom echoed through the arena as the strike connected—

Or so it seemed.

Minagi's feet didn't move. She blocked the blow with one arm, the air trembling from the shockwave.

"Fast," Minagu mused. "You trained well. I wonder who was your master?"

Alma Elma grinned, pushing against Minagi's arm before twisting her body mid-air, delivering a sharp kick aimed at Minagi's ribs. The older succubus blocked it effortlessly, her expression calm.

"You tell me," Alma Elma shot back. "I trained alone by reading a book!"

Minagi smirked. She struck back with a swift punch. Alma Elma barely had time to raise her forearm, bracing for impact. A shockwave erupted from the clash, sending cracks through the ground beneath them.

Luka winced. "They're actually going to level the place…"

"Minagi-sama is still holding back," Astaroth murmured, watching with keen eyes. "If she got serious, it would already be over."

"That book…" Minagi muttered, watching as the queen of succubi rose to her feet. "Is it The Art of the Extreme Fist ?"

"Wha—" Alma Elma's eyes widened. "How do you know that book?"

"Because I am the one who wrote it," Minagi chuckled. "But after failing to teach my race discipline, I realized no one would read it."

Alma Elma froze, her eyes narrowing as she processed the words. "You... wrote it?" she asked incredulously, disbelief flashing across her face.

Minagi's smirk widened, her crimson eyes glittering with unspoken knowledge. "Yes. The very same. But as you can see, my efforts were in vain. No succubus ever wanted to follow it."

Alma Elma's mind raced. "Impossible… Does that mean…"

"I am glad to see someone who went to the trouble of learning every move inside of it. Queen of Succubi from another world, let me show you my ultimate technique."

Without another word, Minagi began to channel her power. Her right fist flared with searing flames, while her left hand crackled with freezing ice. The contrast between the two elements was almost surreal, like watching the very forces of nature themselves dance in Minagi's hands. A blinding light began to form, as if the fire and ice were locked in a tense struggle, both powers pulling at each other in an elegant but deadly standoff.

Alma Elma's heart raced as she took in the display. She had never seen anything like this before. The raw energy in Minagi's fists was overwhelming. The combination of fire and ice, two opposing forces so delicately controlled, was something Alma Elma could barely comprehend. A sense of awe and fear mixed in her chest as she realized that the technique Minagi was about to unleash was beyond her current level of understanding.

"Do it!" Minagi ordered. "If you don't, you're going to die!"

The reality of the situation hit Alma Elma like a crashing wave, sharp and unrelenting. She couldn't waste any more time doubting Minagi's abilities. She couldn't afford to second-guess herself. Without another moment's hesitation, Alma Elma gathered her own fire and ice magic, wrapping them around her fists, preparing to strike back.

She brought both hands together in a swift motion, but—

The balance was off. The fire surged forward, overpowering the ice and disrupting the technique.

And before Alma Elma could understand—

Minagi leaped.

"Alma Elma!" Luka shouted as he watched Minagi's fists collide in an explosion with the succubus queen, the arena cracking under her power.

The explosion rocked the entire arena, sending a shockwave that rippled through the ground. Dust and debris filled the air, and for a moment, everything went silent. 

Luka's heart stopped as he watched the aftermath. The ground was cracked, shattered under the sheer force of the collision. Alma Elma lay on the ground, barely moving, her body contorted in an unnatural way.

Minagi stood a few feet away, her feet firmly planted on the ground. The glow from her fists had already faded, and she slowly wiped the sweat from her brow as she observed Alma Elma's form.

"Impressive… but you failed," Minagi said as she approached slowly the succubus queen.

Alma Elma groaned, struggling to push herself up, her body aching from the intense blow. Her vision was blurry, but she could hear Minagi's words clearly. "I... failed...?" she murmured, her breath ragged.

"You didn't control the balance," Minagi explained, her tone cold but not unkind. "When fire and ice clash, the one that's stronger will dominate. You didn't take the time to ensure they were equal in power. That's why you failed." She said as she imbued her fists again.

"STOP IT ALREADY!" Luka growled, breaking the hold Morrigan had on him.

He leaped into the arena despite the protests of everyone and landed right in front of the ancestor of succubi. 

"This is a duel between my future disciple and me, don't interfere," Minagi ordered in a commanding tone.

"Di…sciple?" Alma Elma said weakly behind him, blood trickling down her wounds. From up close, she was in a worse state than he thought. Her wings were broken and her tail and skin burned deeply.

Luka's eyes hardened, a fierce protectiveness flaring within him. "And this is my fucking house!" he snarled, his finger pointing straight at Minagi. "As long as I'm here, no infighting, and no beating down on already defeated opponents!"

Minagi's gaze softened just a touch, though it held no fear. "And you think you can stop me?" she asked with an amused smile. She kept advancing, unphased by Luka's challenge.

But since Minagi didn't stop walking forward, Luka's finger shone brightly for a split second.

Her eyes widened, and for the briefest of moments, she hesitated, but it was already too late.

"Luka, no!" Nina called out, but once again, it was too late.

The Dawnstar erupted from Luka's fingertip in a searing flash of light, a concentrated beam of energy that rivaled the heat of the sun itself. The air roared as it collided with Minagi, the sheer force of the blast shaking the entire arena to its foundations. The ground beneath them cracked and melted under the intense heat, molten stone bubbling up as debris rained down from the trembling ceiling. The magical barrier containing the enlarged space groaned under the strain, fractures spiderwebbing across its surface as the power of the Dawnstar threatened to tear it apart entirely.

For several agonizing seconds, the arena was filled with the deafening roar of thunder and the blinding glare of white-hot light, the spectators shielding their eyes against the onslaught. When the light subsided, the remnants of the destruction lay bare for all to see—scorched walls, a cratered floor, and a haze of dust and smoke that filled the air.

Minagi was slumped against the far wall, her white shroud singed and tattered, her lavender hair disheveled as she slowly rose to her feet, her crimson eyes narrowed but unbowed. Across the arena, Luka's breath came in ragged gasps, one hand clutching his chest as pain radiated through his body. Unleashing the Dawnstar from the outset had been possible thanks to the return of his mana, but it had taken a brutal toll—his limbs trembled with exhaustion, and his vision swam as he fought to steady himself. He needed time to recharge, to breathe, but he couldn't afford to show weakness now.

"I said…" Luka rasped, his voice hoarse as he pointed at Minagi again, his fingertip glowing faintly in a deliberate bluff, the light flickering just enough to sell the threat. "Stop it!"

Minagi straightened fully, brushing a strand of lavender hair from her face as she regarded Luka with a mix of curiosity and grudging respect. The Lilith Sisters soon arrived in front of her as if to shield her, Lilith glaring daggers at Luka.

"Stop it you three," Minagi ordered. "Our host is right. We shouldn't anger him."

"He still hurt you, Minagi-sama," Lilith replied in a menacing tone. 

"Oh for fuck sake! Just listen to your boss!" Luka growled, taking a step further forward. 

"I shall dispose of him once and for all," Lilith moved swiftly, ignoring her mother's orders.

"Lilith! Wait!" Minagi tried to stop her but it was too late, the purple-haired succubus was already close to Luka, ready to rip his throat.

"I SAID—" Luka's arm flared brightly, a sudden burst of light erupting from his fist that made Lilith falter for a split second, her crimson eyes widening as she instinctively hesitated. "STOP!"

Before her claws could reach his throat, Luka's fist slammed downward with brutal force, catching Lilith square in the temple. The impact echoed through the arena like a gunshot, the sheer power behind the blow sending her crashing to the ground, forming a crater. Her momentum was halted in a split second, her body limp and embedded in the stone like a piece of art.

The arena fell into a stunned silence, the spectators frozen as they processed what had just happened. Astaroth and Morrigan exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of shock and wariness as they stepped back slightly, their protective stances faltering.

Minagi's crimson eyes widened briefly, a flicker of surprise crossing her features before her composure returned, her lips pressing into a thin line as she regarded Luka with a newfound intensity.

Luka stood over Lilith's prone form, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath, his fist still clenched and glowing faintly with residual energy. "I swear… You're all a big pain in my ass."

He dusted himself with an annoyed expression before turning back to Alma Elma. Luka's expression darkened with concern, and he turned to Nina, who stood frozen at the edge of the arena, her pale eyes wide with shock. His glare zeroed in on her as he barked, "Hey, the girl who can't keep her hands out of her pussy! Take her back upstairs and heal her!"

"W-WHAT?!" Nina sputtered, her face flushing crimson as her hands flailed in indignation. "Says the guy who can't stop getting dry—Ah!" Her retort was cut short as a small fireball erupted just above her head, the heat singeing a few strands of her chestnut hair and making her flinch back with a yelp.

"Shut up!" Luka snapped, his voice carrying an edge of irritation as he pointed at her again, his fingertip still flickering with a faint glow. "At least I was faking being under Lilith's potion! You didn't even fight back!"

Astaroth blinked.

Minagi blinked.

Lilith, still embedded in her crater, shuddered with rage, her fingers twitching as she pushed herself up onto her elbows, her crimson eyes blazing with a mix of fury and humiliation. Blood trickled from the gash at her temple, staining her pale skin, and her voice trembled with barely restrained anger as she hissed, "W-What did you just say…?"

Luka turned to her, his glare as fierce as ever despite the exhaustion creeping into his frame, his voice dripping with sardonic exasperation as he planted his hands on his hips. "Mind control doesn't work on me, you morons! The moment I tasted your fucking perfume in my tea—which was ruined, by the way—I decided to play along. That's right, Lilith! You did all of this pampering for nothing!"

Succubus-chan whistled. "What a twist!"

Lilith pushed herself fully upright, her movements jerky with rage as she wiped the blood from her temple, her tail lashing violently behind her. "You… you insolent little—" she snarled, her voice trembling with fury as she staggered to her feet, her hands flexing as if ready to lunge again.

"Enough, Lilith," Minagi cut in sharply, her tone brooking no argument as she raised a hand, her crimson eyes flashing with authority. "He's proven his point. And exposed your failure in the process." Her gaze flicked to Luka, a glimmer of grudging respect in her expression as she added, "You've got more cunning than I gave you credit for. Perhaps you're worth more than I thought."

Luka snorted, his glare shifting from Lilith to Minagi as he crossed his arms. "I don't care what you think I'm worth. I just want you all to at least behave a bit while in this world."

He sighed heavily before looking at everyone one by one. "Listen. All of you. I don't mind being dryfished or whatever you do to me during this trial. Morrigan did it in a way that still makes me want to bash her skull in, but we still play games together and she is a fun friend. I can deal with that."

He shifted his attention to Astaroth, his tone softening just a touch as he met her red eyes. "You went at it with honesty—asked me beforehand. And after, you even gave me some aftercare, so I don't hate you. Plus, you tried to free me from that damn love potion, which I respect."

Then his gaze hardened again as it returned to Lilith, his voice dropping into a low, biting growl. "But you. Not only did you try to kill me at the casino after getting manipulated by someone else, but then you keep fucking with me in these convoluted attempts to gain my trust in the most roundabout ways possible. I get it—you're worried about your world, you're in a dire situation, but…" He threw his hands up in exasperation, his frustration spilling over as he took a step closer to her, his glare unrelenting.

"Just be normal! That's it! Hell, your body's insane—I wouldn't even mind sleeping with you if you weren't so damn sneaky about everything! None of what you do feels genuine!"

He gestured broadly at the succubi gathered on the sidelines, his voice rising as he waved a hand toward them. "Look at everyone else here! I bet most of them would love to dryfish me too, right, Succubus-chan?"

"Well yeah…" she replied with casual honesty. 

"See?! See that?" Luka jabbed a finger in her direction, his tone a mix of exasperation and vindication as he turned back to Lilith. "And I'm still fine with her, you know why? Because at least when we do things together, it's not forced!"

Lilith froze, her anger subsiding as her hands fell to her sides.For once, she seemed at a loss, her lips parting as if to retort but no sound emerging, her pride warring with the sting of his blunt honesty.

Minagi's expression remained unreadable for a moment, her crimson gaze shifting between Luka and Lilith as she absorbed his outburst. Then, slowly, her lips curled into a faint smirk. "You wield honesty like a weapon, young man. I like that."

Lilith's jaw tightened, her crimson eyes flickering with a storm of emotions—rage, humiliation, her pride wounded. She took a shaky step forward.

"Look," he said his voice quieter. "I'm not your enemy and I never was. But honestly, I'm at my limit there. I already got one of my friends killed by a succubus, I don't want another reason to stop trusting you people. You want my help? Ask for it. Straight up. No potions, no tricks—just talk to me like an equal and we're good."

With a sudden stomp on the cracked floor, the sound echoing sharply through the arena, his gaze swept over the room, taking in every succubus present with a fierce intensity. "And remember that I'm the damn boss of this house! So while I can be very patient with all of you, if you keep fucking with my mind or do reckless things like Morrigan or Lilith did, I swear I'll kick you out!"

His chest heaved as he took in the moment, his voice dropping lower. "I just want to have fun with all of you… Like Saki asked me to."

Lilith, on the other hand, seemed to crumble a bit under his words. Her anger dissipated, replaced by something akin to shock, shame, or perhaps a dawning realization. She took a step back, her shoulders sagging, her gaze flicking down, as if trying to gather the remnants of her shattered pride.

Minagi stepped forward in a respectful stride as she locked eyes with him. "Very well. It seems my daughters have caused you more trouble than I realized, and for that, I apologize."

She closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her thoughts. Then, after nodding once to herself, she opened them. "From now on, we shall work with you, without any more manipulations, as comrades. And Lilith shall face a punishment of your choice for attempting to brainwash you even after you've given them a second chance."

Luka blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "Wait, I get to choose?"

Lilith's head snapped up, her eyes wide with fear as she stared at Luka. "Punishment?" she echoed, her voice trembling slightly. 

"Yes," Minagi replied with a firm tone. "He's earned the right to decide. You've overstepped—repeatedly—and now you'll face the consequences. What say you, Luka?"

Luka exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair as he glanced at Lilith, his earlier anger cooling into something more pragmatic. "Yeah, okay," he muttered. "I'm not into revenge or anything petty, but…" he smirked evily. "You need to get it through your head that this sneaky crap doesn't fly in this house."

"So here's your punishment," he chuckled. "First off, you won't get anything from me even during this trial while your sisters will."

"You truly believe I am jealous of—"

Luka cut her short. "Secondly, you'll be at my every command for a week. If I tell you to jump, you jump. Clear?"

"This is getting ridiculous—"

"AND FINALLY!" he growled, irritated from being cut off. He looked around for a while, not thinking of anything at the moment until his eyes rested on Nina helping Alma Elma. "You're Nina's sex slave for that same week. Do whatever the fuck you want with her, I don't care."

"WHAT?!" Nina shot back, her eyes widening in shock as her hands froze mid-healing, a flush creeping up her neck.

Lilith froze completely, her crimson eyes glistening with unshed tears as her shattered pride threatened to spill over. She raised a trembling hand, her lips parting in a silent gasp, but Luka simply turned away, his smirk now tinged with satisfaction.

"By the way, Lilith, one final thing," he tossed over his shoulder, his tone dripping with mock gratitude as he chuckled. "Thanks for the handjob." With that, he strode off, leaving the arena in stunned silence.

"That one will sting," Minagi winced. 

"So huh.." Nina approached Lilith, almost forgetting about Alma Elma. "Come with me to my lab, we will have fun, okay?"

"R-Right!" Lilith smiled as best as she could, her voice turning into a high-pitch. 

A sudden clatter broke the awkward silence as debris tumbled from the cracked ceiling, shattering against the floor and sending up a cloud of dust. Nina glanced up with a weary sigh, her shoulders slumping as she surveyed the wreckage around them.

"Now I have to rebuild the whole place again…" she muttered, her voice heavy with exasperation as she rubbed her temples. "I told him not to use the Dawnstar, dammit!"

Astaroth crossed his arms, still feeling the lingering energy in the air. "Well… now I understand why Alma Elma respects him. I'm still shivering."

"True," Minagi added. "He used the same spell as that Hatman but more controlled and focused. He would make a great disciple…"

With that, the incident of the evening passed, and every succubi returned to their room after a hearty meal.

As the clock crept toward 11 PM, Luka stretched with a tired sigh, exhaustion finally catching up to him. He moved through the dimly lit halls, the faint glow of moonlight slipping through the windows. Once he reached his room, he slumped on the bed and looked at the ceiling. 

"Shit… I'm completely empty…" he sighed heavily, his nerves cracking. 

When suddenly, a knock echoed in the room. 

"Come in!" he exclaimed, not even bothering to look at the door. 

The door creaked open, and someone stepped inside, their figure wrapped in bandages that rustled faintly with each movement. Luka bolted upright, fatigue vanishing in an instant as his eyes locked onto the visitor, his heart lurching.

"Alma Elma? You okay?" he asked, swinging his legs off the bed as he took in her battered state.

Her wings were strapped tightly with makeshift splints, the delicate membranes still scorched and torn despite Nina's earlier efforts. Bandages crisscrossed her arms and torso, stained faintly with blood where the burns had been deepest, and her tail dragged slightly behind her. Yet, her eyes met his with the same usual spark despite the pain. 

"Been better," she chuckled as she walked closer. "I should heal quickly. There are multiple healing spells working on me right now."

"You should be resting, not walking around," he said, his tone gruff but concerned. "You took quite the beating back there."

Alma Elma chuckled weakly. "You're right… I never stood a chance."

Behind that smirk, Luka could feel a deep pain. With a concerned frown, he stepped closer. "Wanna talk about it?"

"No…" she replied with another faint chuckle, though it sounded more like a sigh this time. "I just need some good rest away from everything, so…"

"Right," he ruffled his hair. "Come here," he grabbed her hand and guided her to the bed.

She didn't resist, letting him lead her with a faint, grateful quirk of her lips. The mattress dipped slightly as he eased her down to sit on the edge, her tail curling loosely beside her as she settled with a soft grunt of effort. Luka sat next to her, close enough to offer support but giving her space, his hands resting on his knees as he watched her carefully.

"Why did you want to fight her, though? That duel came out of nowhere," he asked again, his voice quieter now.

Alma Elma leaned back slightly, her bandaged hands pressing into the mattress as she stared at the wall, her smirk fading into something more guarded. "It's just an old grudge," she said dismissively. "Nothing too important. Don't worry about it."

Luka nodded silently, accepting her deflection for now as he leaned back beside her, his shoulders brushing the headboard as he tilted his head to stare at the ceiling. "You still want to beat her, though, don't you?"

"...I do."

"Then rest and get better," Luka said simply, his gaze still fixed upward, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "If she can pull off that technique, I'm sure you can figure it out too."

"Eh, you think?" she chuckled.

"You're super strong, of course you can. Besides…" he glanced at her with a chuckle. "I'm here to help if you need me."

"Awww…" she smiled. "What kind of help do you offer?" she teased.

"Well, the first thing I can do…" Luka grinned, and in a swift, gentle motion, he slid an arm around her from behind, pulling her down to lie on the bed with him. "Is give you a good night of rest."

She let out a surprised laugh, the sound bright and unguarded as she let him maneuver her, her bandaged form settling against the mattress with a soft thud. Her wings, strapped tightly with splints, splayed awkwardly behind her, but she didn't protest, her tail draping lazily over the edge as she nestled into the pillows beside him. "You're becoming bolder by the day. Where is the little guy that came just by touching my boobs?"

"I got some training recently…" he deadpanned. "But yeah, I'm less sensitive now." He nestled in the bed with his back to her. "So I believe we can sleep no problem here."

Alma Elma's gaze softened, her crimson eyes tracing his profile for a moment before she slid closer, wrapping a bandaged arm around his waist and nuzzling her cheek against the top of his head with a quiet sigh. "Thank you," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with a rare sincerity as her eyes drifted shut.

"Huh… the light…" Luka mumbled, blinking at the faint glow still illuminating the room.

With a lazy flick of her fingers, Alma Elma summoned a small burst of wind, the breeze darting across the room to smack the light switch with a soft click, plunging them into darkness. The sudden shift left only the moonlight filtering through the window, casting a gentle silver glow over the bed.

"Wow, cool," Luka whispered, a hint of awe in his voice as he settled deeper into the mattress.

"Now hush," she brought her hand to cover his mouth. "I'm tired."

Luka let out a muffled chuckle against her palm, his body relaxing as the tension of the day melted away. Her arm stayed draped over him, a steady weight that grounded him as her breathing slowed, the faint hum of healing spells pulsing softly beneath her bandages.

For a moment, Luka lingered on the edge of sleep, her warmth a rare comfort.

This is nice… he thought one last time before drifting to sleep he desperately needed.

Because…

Tomorrow was the evaluation