The crimson light of the hall still lingered in Sarah's vision as her body hummed with newfound energy. The shadows had dissipated, leaving behind an eerie silence that pressed against her ears. Her heart had yet to settle, each beat resonating with the Lust Engine that now thrummed like a living thing within her chest. She could feel the warmth of victory, but also the weight of responsibility pressing down upon her shoulders. Every action, every surge of emotion, mattered now — the system demanded it.
Akeno stepped closer, her silver hair swaying with deliberate grace, eyes glinting like polished steel. "Your control is acceptable for a first awakening," she murmured, voice soft yet carrying the authority of experience. "But the system will not forgive hesitation. Desire is not just power; it is discipline. Without it, you will falter."
Sarah nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. The warmth in her chest pulsed with anticipation. She had understood instinctively that mastery would require more than brute strength; it would require trust, connection, and the courage to expose herself fully to the currents of emotion swirling through this world.
She turned her gaze toward the hall's far end, where a faint shimmer marked the entrance of two figures approaching. One moved with a deliberate, precise step, her long crimson hair flowing behind her, the other silent and taut, her petite frame radiating latent strength.
Rias Gremory and Koneko Toujou.
Rias's eyes widened slightly as she regarded Sarah, a faint smile playing at her lips. "So this is the heir of Lilith…" she said, voice soft but commanding. "You carry the weight of a legacy older than most demons alive today."
Koneko's gaze was cautious, her body taut and poised. She measured Sarah silently, noting every twitch of her muscles, every pulse of magical energy emanating from her form. There was respect there, and a challenge — unspoken, but clear.
The Lust Engine responded immediately. Sarah felt a surge of energy, her Desire stat rising as she sensed the attention, the subtle pull of their curiosity and unspoken admiration.
Sarah PV: 100 / Lv: 3 / Force: 12 / Desire: 35 / Intelligence: 12 / Agility: 11
Akeno's eyes glimmered knowingly. "Good. You feel it. Every bond strengthens you, and every hesitation weakens you. Let's see how far you can extend this connection."
The hall shifted, the living pillars reacting to her presence, stretching and coiling as if testing her perception. Shadows, more intelligent this time, coalesced from the corners, their forms larger and more deliberate, each one attuned to the subtle rhythms of emotion in the air. They lunged as one, a coordinated assault meant to test her reflexes, her focus, and above all, her capacity to convert desire into power.
Sarah's body moved before she fully thought. Her hand reached instinctively toward Rias, brushing lightly against her shoulder. A pulse of energy flared — soft, golden, and intoxicating — dispersing into the hall and scattering the shadows that approached too closely. Koneko's eyes widened as the ripple of energy brushed against her senses, a subtle acknowledgment of the bond forming in that instant.
The system updated automatically:
Sarah PV: 100 / Lv: 4 / Force: 14 / Desire: 50 / Intelligence: 13 / Agility: 12
She felt a thrill, not from victory, but from connection. This was the Heart Synchrony forming, the first real bridge of power through emotion rather than brute force. Every step, every glance, every slight touch was a thread weaving the bonds she needed to survive — and to ascend.
Akeno circled her slowly, eyes calculating, lips curved in a faint smirk. "You will need more than instinct. Your Desire alone is not enough. You must learn to read the hearts around you, to turn attraction and trust into strength."
Sarah swallowed and nodded again. She had already begun to feel the responsibility weighing on her — the lives of those she connected with, the consequences of failing the system, and the risk of losing herself to Lilith's lingering influence. Yet within that weight lay exhilaration, the promise of power and control, tempered by the warmth of connection.
Rias stepped forward, extending her hand deliberately. "Come. Let me show you what it means to channel this power intentionally."
The moment her fingers brushed Sarah's, another surge of energy flared, and she felt the system respond with almost a voice of its own.
Skill Unlocked: Touch of Spirit (Level 1)
Channel energy through the body to protect or empower allies.
Effect: minor healing and defensive aura.
Sarah flexed her fingers, feeling the warmth radiate outward, a pulse of sensation and strength that vibrated in tune with her heartbeat. Koneko, observing silently, gave the smallest nod — acknowledgment of a growing bond, a tacit agreement of trust and understanding forming within the group.
Akeno's smile widened slightly, sharp and approving. "Impressive. You are learning fast. But this is only the beginning. Desire can elevate you… or destroy you. Never forget which it is."
The hall trembled subtly, shadows receding into corners, yet the lesson lingered in the air: every emotional bond was a weapon, every spark of trust a shield. Sarah inhaled deeply, letting her awareness settle on the three women now close to her — her allies, her tests, and the first threads of what would become her harem.
For the first time since her rebirth, she felt the dual thrill of anticipation and danger — of raw power awaiting mastery, and of connection, perilously intertwined with the Lust Engine.
Her gaze hardened. The path ahead was long, filled with enemies, tests, and the risk of succumbing to Lilith's shadow. But for the first time, she felt truly alive — a heir of Desire, rising steadily, one bond at a time.
Sarah PV: 100 / Lv: 5 / Force: 16 / Desire: 65 / Intelligence: 14 / Agility: 13
The first stage of awakening was complete, yet countless trials awaited. Shadows, allies, desires — each one a step toward the throne she was destined to claim: Queen of Seven Desires.