Kuina took a deep breath.
She was panicking a little. Her eyes darted between Ortus, the room, and the system alert flashing in her mind.
And then, for the first time ever, she said it.
"No. I refuse. I won't do it."
She had defied the system.
Ortus rose from the bed with a soft smile. She walked forward, gentle and slow.
Kuina's eyes sharpened. "Don't come any closer! I'm warning you!"
Ortus didn't stop. She raised a hand, touched Kuina's cheek with care, then let it trail down her neck.
And then—
Ortus grabbed Kuina's throat, lifted her into the air, and began choking her.
"You… dare to refuse me?
You really think you can say no to making love with me? Refuse to sacrifice your entire harem?
Wow. Incredible. You used to obey everything like a good little soldier.
And now, suddenly, you've found your courage? Who do you think you are?
Who the fuck do you think you are to defy the Goddess of Sex?"
Kuina gagged.
She couldn't breathe.
Her feet flailed in the air.
Her face turned red.
Ortus smiled, exhaled, and let go.
Kuina collapsed, gasping violently.
"Fuck... you... bitch! What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Ortus sighed. "You're lucky I have one rule. I never force anyone. Not without magic.
And only because I love you… and I respect you…
I'll overlook that little system alert.
So, let's talk like adults. You wanted that, right?
Sit down. Relax.
You're dying to get some answers, aren't you?"
Kuina slowly rose, breathing hard.
She slumped into the nearest chair, glaring daggers at Ortus.
"I want you to tell me what I have to do for you to set me free.
I don't want this anymore. Not the system, not the fighting. I'm done.
I've had enough of all of this."
Ortus sat back on her bed, seductive gaze burning.
"Giving up so easily, baby? After everything you've been through? You're ready to retire?"
"I've hit level one million and all I feel is emptiness.
I'm not stronger than James or you, and I know it.
I don't want to keep going through this slow, sick game.
Two months of madness, of torture, of nonstop chaos.
It needs to end."
"And then what? You want to go back to your original world?
Because over there, baby, there's no magic.
Your powers disappear the moment you leave this realm."
"I never said I want to leave.
I said I want you to release me.
I've been thinking… all this fighting, all the sex, all the love…
I was doing it all because I thought maybe I could get revenge.
On my father. On James.
That was my drive.
But then Kylie told me she killed my father a decade ago.
And I found out James is an immortal god now. He can't even die.
So what's left?
At first, I thought… nothing.
But then I realized...
There is something.
My harem.
The girls."
Ortus raised an eyebrow.
"The girls, huh?
You just refused a system command and almost got them killed."
Kuina clenched her fist.
"Shut up. This isn't about ego.
This is about frustration.
I needed to say no.
I always said yes. Like a robot. Out of fear. Fear of punishment.
But now I understand.
You won't let them die. Not them, and not me.
Because you care about them. You admire them. You love them.
You know them.
You're the one who led me to them.
And if there's one thing I'm actually thankful to you for...
It's that.
You brought them into my life.
They're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Ortus smirked at the corner of her lips.
"You're thanking me, baby? That's so sweet.
You know… I had to find girls just like you.
Frustrated. Powerful. Desperate for love.
Girls who would worship you. Submit to you.
Crave your touch.
Just like you."
Her smile narrowed.
"But tell me something, Kuina.
Is there one girl you care about more than the rest?
One you feel stronger emotions for?"
"I love them all… equally."
Ortus chuckled.
"Ha. You're really going to lie to me?
We both know that's bullshit.
I saw everything."
Kuina froze.
"You… what?"
Ortus grinned.
"I saw everything. Every fight. Every kiss. Every fuck.
I watched it all. And I loved every second of it.
But I only wanted you to experience it. That was the point."
"You're disgusting.
I had no privacy at all?"
"Privacy?
You fought naked. You kissed like nobody was watching.
You moaned their names and came in front of everyone.
Now you complain?"
Kuina blushed.
"I… um…"
Ortus waved it off with a smile.
"Never mind, baby.
Just answer me.
Who do you love the most?"
"Why are you asking me this?"
"Because I want to know."
"I really love them all.
But…
But… I think Kylie is the most special one."
Ortus stood, walked to the table, and poured champagne into two glasses.
"Kylie, huh? Interesting.
Is it because of the sex?"
"No.
It's because she truly loves me.
She doesn't fake her feelings like you do.
She's honest. She's crazy, yes, but I…
I genuinely love her.
She made me say it out loud for the first time in my life."
Ortus brought one glass to the table beside Kuina and sat back on her bed.
She sipped.
"I am the queen of faking emotions. You're right.
But Kylie…
She's special to me too.
I found her when she was alone. Broken.
I made her what she is.
But thanks to you…
She stopped doing her job.
She betrayed me. She revealed the system's secret.
And yet, I forgave her."
Kuina shot up, rage boiling.
"You nearly killed her in the arena!
You destroyed her!
Only after I begged you did you heal her!
You're a monster!
And not just her!
You forced Molly to lose her virginity!
You cursed Clara!
You humiliated Mortis!
You crushed Piper and Mira!
You even destroyed James's life!
You made all of us your fucking playground!
You abused your power for entertainment!
For what?!
For fun?!
You have no boundaries, Ortus!
And I will never forgive you for that!"
Ortus's smile faded.
She looked down. Her voice dropped.
"Her words...
They cut me.
My pride... my ego... my desire… all of it crumbling.
Fuck."
She flicked her finger by accident.
The sound spell activated.
The entire harem heard everything.
"Yes. I did all of it for entertainment.
But you don't understand.
You have no idea what it means to be invincible.
To be immortal.
You think you suffer?
I suffer more than all of you combined."
"Oh yeah?
So your goal is to trap men and women in this system, force them to fuck, power up, and become immortal like you?
Is that what you did to James?"
Ortus exploded.
"Then why didn't you say no?
Why did you keep obeying the missions?
The fights? The killings?
You killed Naamo. You wiped out Michael.
You slaughtered soldiers like nothing.
So spare me your fake morality.
Why did you do it if you hated it so much?"
Kuina's voice cracked with fury.
"I wasn't pretending!
I was afraid!
Yes! I was scared of the punishment!
Of the consequences!
I fought to protect the girls!
Everything I did was to shield them!
I put on a mask of confidence, of bravery, in battle.
But deep down?
I regretted every fucking second.
But if it's about them and me?
I will protect them even if I have to die!
Do you get that, Miss Ortus?"
Ortus began sweating.
"No. I won't let you humiliate me like this!
My actions were justified!
The entertainment of an immortal being is worth everything!"
She lunged.
Kuina caught her strike, hand to hand.
"I know I can't beat you.
I know.
But if you want to kill me… do it.
Go ahead.
But I've opened my eyes.
After what you did to James, I realized one thing.
I don't want to be your puppet anymore.
I want to marry my girls.
Yes. I want to be with them forever."
Mira heard it as she applied makeup in front of her mirror.
She smiled softly.
"My Kuina..."
Kylie heard it too.
She teared up from joy.
"Yes..."
Lika, Molly, and Clara all heard it.
They smiled.
Molly raised an eyebrow.
"She wants to marry me too?"
Clara giggled.
"Wow… she wants to marry me? This is… beautiful."
Lika looked down. Shame flooded her.
"So in the end, you chose love, Kuina.
I'm coming. I love you…"
Piper and Mortis were in the Sacrifice Forest.
Piper cried.
"Finally… finally, I feel like she truly loves me."
Mortis, now in human form, kept doing pushups.
"I refuse the marriage. Tell her that."
Piper laughed.
"She meant the girls, dumbass."
"She better. Just in case… don't let her get any weird ideas."
Piper splashed magic water on him and laughed again.
"Idiot.
Come on. We visited.
Now let's go see Kuina."
Back in the chamber, Kuina and Ortus still clashed, hand to hand.
Kuina stared deep into her eyes.
"I can understand your frustration.
You're bored.
But you need to change your ways.
You need to find a better kind of entertainment.
Try goodness.
Try healing this world instead of forcing sex and violence on people.
Stop killing just because someone's a virgin.
That could be your start."
"You think one conversation will change me?"
Ortus laughed darkly.
"Please.
You know my ideology. It's set in stone."
Kuina's eyes welled up.
She released her grip.
Ortus gasped.
"You're… crying?"
Kuina looked at her, tears streaming.
"I understand your ideology.
But I'm tired.
Tired of missions.
Tired of forced sex.
It's time you let me go.
Please. I'm begging you.
I don't even want to fight you anymore.
I never wanted revenge on you.
You're cruel. You're selfish. You're evil.
But you're not my real enemy.
Because despite all of it...
You gave me the girls.
You sent Kylie to me with that bottle.
So thank you.
But now…
It's time you opened your heart. Just a little."
Ortus trembled.
A tear slid down her cheek.
She reached out, wiped Kuina's tears gently with her fingers.
Then she opened her arms.
She pulled Kuina close into a warm, tight hug.
"Shhh.
Enough.
You don't have to cry like this.
I thought you were the tough one.
You surprised me, baby."
Ortus lifted Kuina's chin.
"Give me a kiss… and I'll do whatever you ask.
I may be a villain… but I do have feelings."
Kuina blinked, still in tears, but smiled softly.
"A kiss? Fine. But make it quick."
They kissed.
Deep.
French.
Hungry.
Tongues.
Heat.
Their lips moved in rhythm, saliva mixing between them.
Kuina pulled back first.
"Wow.
You really do kiss like a goddess…"
Ortus smirked.
"Baby, you're lucky I didn't use a lust spell.
You'd be dripping at my feet.
But I'll leave you wanting more."
Kuina scratched her head.
"This all happened too fast…
But I need to know.
Can you really release me?"
Ortus's face turned serious.
"I can.
But… the system is designed for emergencies.
So you only have two choices."
She walked toward her desk and summoned a scroll of light.
"Option one.
The system leaves you.
You marry your girls.
You build your life with them.
But… you remain here.
You'll become a goddess.
You'll stay by my side in this divine realm, alongside the other gods.
I'll give you power equal to James."
Kuina listened, breath held.
"Option two.
You still get peace.
You still live with your harem.
But you stay at your current power level.
No extra boosts.
And you'll leave this world.
You'll go back to your real world.
There, you'll become a goddess too.
I'll leave you a crack in reality.
You'll be able to move between your world and mine.
You'll take care of your planet.
And… you'll keep in touch with me.
Bring me girls or men in need.
I'll help them.
And I'll try… to be better."
Kuina stared at her.
"You're…
You're offering me Kylie's old job.
To be your envoy in the real world."
"But where are all the girls Kylie brought in the past?"
Ortus looked away.
"It's sad…
Most of them died in battle.
Some refused to follow the system or rejected sex altogether.
They didn't survive the journey.
Only you… and James.
You're the only ones who made it.
And Kylie… she stopped being an envoy long ago.
Because of you.
She followed you. She waited for you."
Suddenly—
A voice.
"I'm done, Ortus."
James stood by the window.
"I'm no longer the God of Rage.
Let Kuina become a goddess without me.
I'm done with all of this."
Kuina turned, eyes wide.
"What…
What will you do now?"
James stood tall by the window. His voice was calm.
"I'm going into solitude.
I'll think.
I'll live like a human for a while.
Let's make a deal.
Kuina…
You take the first offer.
You'll live here.
Without me.
And I'll become the god of your real world.
I'll manage everything over there.
We'll keep in touch now and then.
Everyone wins."
Ortus smiled.
"I don't mind.
As long as both sides are active, I accept the deal.
But Kuina…
You have to choose.
If you reject both offers…
I can't help you anymore."
Kuina began sweating.
Her heart raced.
She realized… there was no third path.
And so, she breathed in, and made her choice.
"Okay.
I choose the first option.
I'll become a goddess in this realm.
I'll stay here.
I'm doing this because…
James, I know now.
You've already paid for your sins.
And more than that…
I want my freedom.
But Ortus—
I want to see that you, too, won't fuck around with the new girls who arrive.
Or the men.
Even though I've killed so many of them,
I now understand…
Not everyone was evil.
Many of them were just victims."
Ortus gave her a warm look.
"Shake James's hand.
Then we'll begin."
Kuina floated toward him.
James extended his hand.
She took it.
He smiled.
"You did the right thing, Tyurkin."
They stared into each other's eyes.
Their past.
Their pain.
Their power.
"Maybe in another world," Kuina whispered,
"I'll come for revenge, Atomis."
James smirked.
"I'll be waiting."
Ortus opened the crack to the real world.
James stepped in.
He looked back one last time.
"Goodbye.
Thank you…"
He vanished.
Outside, the harem was already waiting.
The palace vibrated with energy.
All of them had heard everything.
Piper screamed,
"My goddess! I love you! Come out already!"
Kylie turned to her, raising a sharp eyebrow.
"Shut it! I love her more!"
Lika tied her long white hair into a ponytail and shouted from the window,
"Kuina! I'm sorry about the ultimatum! I love you! And yes, I'll marry you!"
Kuina turned red.
"…How…
How did they hear me?"
Ortus glanced at the magic array.
"…Fuck.
Sorry."
Kuina giggled.
Ortus walked up to her.
She placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Go to them.
Soon everything will be set.
But know one thing…
The system is gone.
Welcome to the realm of the gods, Kuina.
The Goddess of Rage and Love."
To be continued