03 - An unusual but functional strategy (R18)

Ethan awoke to the warmth of the sun on his face and the melody of birds singing and jumping from branch to branch in a vibrant forest.

His head throbbed painfully as he tried to stand, barely managing to keep his eyes open as his body slowly regained strength.

The memories of his encounter with this primordial being were faulty and hazy, as if it had all been a distant dream, and the only thing that convinced him of its reality was the fact that he was there and that his wounds had been healed.

"Is that... a mana heart?" Ethan murmured, bringing his hand to the right side of his chest and feeling a second beat next to his heart, radiating a powerful, invigorating energy that coursed through his veins.

He was already familiar with this energy and could even control it to a certain extent, even if he was unable to circulate it through his body. 

But now it was different; he didn't just control this energy as an external force that he had learned to feel and manipulate. Now this force was part of him, and controlling it was simply natural.

That energy was mana, a universal force that was present in every corner of this world.

As he contemplated his new abilities with a smile on his face, a voice entered Ethan's head, reminding him of the traumatic events he had just gone through. "If you hear my voice, I believe you're already in your home world. From now on, we will not be able to communicate, so this will be the only message I leave you. Listen carefully.

My power, the power I left for you, is not considered beautiful, pure, or honorable, and it is not a power that anyone who longs for a long life would want to have. If it is discovered, the whole world will do everything to make sure that you are dead.

I've left you something to help you understand how my power works—a system. Use it well, for it can be both your rise and your fall.

Ethan listened intently to every word in his mind, his heart filled with gratitude and eagerness to know what this power was and what abilities it would give him.

"But... what system?" Ethan asked inwardly, and even after long seconds, nothing happened after the voice in his head stopped.

At that moment, overwhelmed by confusion, Ethan heard footsteps accompanied by the sharp whistle of a blade cutting through branches and bushes in his direction.

His eyes fluttered, and he turned quickly in the direction of the sound, making no attempt to hide his nakedness.

It was a young woman with short blue hair, blue eyes, and a young, sweet-looking face who was taken by surprise when she realized Ethan's presence.

She was dressed in a dark cloak and a tight jumpsuit that accentuated her slender, tall figure with a slim waist, hips as wide as her shoulders, and breasts that fit her slim figure well.

Her first reaction when she saw Ethan was to try to move away as quickly as possible, but her body froze as soon as her eyes fell on Ethan's nakedness, and her eyes swept across his body.

The girl's eyes widened, her beautiful face flushed vibrantly, and she almost fell backwards as she screamed in a shrill, feminine voice, "YOU FUCKING DEGENERATE! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"Damn it, wait!" Ethan exclaimed as he raised his hands, but the girl didn't seem to hear. She pulled out two daggers she had strapped to her lower back and advanced towards an unarmed and unclothed Ethan.

A bluish aura arose from the girl's toned legs and flowed towards the ground, which broke beneath her feet as her body was thrown forward in a burst of speed, closing the distance between her and Ethan in less than a second.

'Shit!' Ethan screamed internally as he threw his body to the side, barely able to dodge the girl's onslaught.

Despite dodging the attack, one of the blades still grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.

At that moment, Ethan's beautiful blue eyes took on a slight crimson hue, and he gritted his teeth. What rose in his chest wasn't anger; in fact, it was contempt, as if the blood coursing through his veins couldn't accept being taken for an 'inferior'.

[The corruption system was initiated.]

[Skill: The dragon's lust was automatically activated, affecting all females in a 10-meter area].

"You asked for it!" Ethan growled, and completely ignoring the translucent text screen that appeared in his vision, he sent a palm strike towards the girl's back.

Ethan expected a painful grunt when his hand finally hit her, but what he heard was a dry smack as his palm embraced a soft, fleshy mound.

The flesh quivered with the slap, which, despite not using any mana, was still powerful enough to hurt an ordinary human.

"Aah! mmm~~..." A painful cry followed by a sensual moan escaped the girl's lips as Ethan's hand sank into her ass, enjoying every inch of the softness and tenderness of that succulent mass of flesh.

"Perverted bastard!" It took her a full second to regain her composure and move away as fast as she could, stopping only after she was more than 10 meters from Ethan, who had a look of ecstasy on his face.

[You have committed minor questionable acts; +100 corruption store points; check your status].

[Warning, points for questionable acts are only rewarded if these acts are committed against non-bonded females.]

[Valeria was afflicted with +5% lust].

Ethan's gaze floated from Valeria's figure to the two new text boxes that appeared in front of him, trying to understand what had happened.

"So this is the system Seraphar was talking about?" Ethan muttered, understanding the warnings he had received from the Primordial and the reason why the other Primordials had decided to get rid of him.

Looking away from the system's messages, which soon disappeared, Ethan once again observed the girl.

[Name: Valeria Crystalwind

Race: Human

Lineage: Ancient Crystal Beast

Talent: S

Age: 18

Stage: Awakening (2/3)

lust: 10%

Corruption: 0/100]

"So I can see everyone's statistics and even their cultivation level?" Ethan murmured in a deep, astonished voice. He knew little about this system, but with what little he knew, he was sure he would adapt well.

"Ah... ah... What are you staring at, you fucking pervert? Do you want me to gouge your eyes out?" Valeria screamed at Ethan as she rubbed her burning buttocks with her hands.

Her legs were shaking, and her half-open lips revealed clenched teeth in a face of pure rage.

Seeing this reaction, Ethan smiled slightly. Even though she was a furious tigress ready to tear him apart, he couldn't help but think of her as an adorable little girl.

As he prepared for another round, Ethan felt a chill run through his lower body and a shiver run up his spine. He wasn't a nudist, and the thought of fighting a woman who carried such sharp blades without any protection on his private parts was certainly not pleasant.

"If you're so concerned about my nakedness, why don't you give me some clothes? I don't want to swing my dick around with nothing to protect it!" Ethan shouted at Valeria, hoping that would be enough. He didn't know how to explain the situation and didn't even have time to think of anything.

"Fuck you..." Valeria replied through gritted teeth. Her vision slowly analyzed Ethan's figure more carefully: he was a handsome, tall young man with long, beautiful black hair that fell over his muscular chest and piercing blue eyes in a face that mixed masculine and androgynous features that could make any woman melt.

As if she had no control, the girl's gaze descended from Ethan's face and swept over his toned, well-built muscles, stopping only when she found his member fully erect and pulsing toward her.

The flush on her face took on an even more vivid reddish hue, and a slight wetness accompanied by uncontrollable heat took hold of her panties.

Why do I like this? It's all that damn bastard's fault!' Valeria screamed at herself as she tried to deny the reality of her body begging for everything her vision was incapable of letting go of, turning all that feeling into anger and going on the offensive again with a roar: "I WILL KILL YOU A THOUSAND TIMES!"

"Crazy girl!" Ethan replied, dodging Valeria's body as it came at him like a cannonball. A bluish aura took over the girl's entire body, and the mana around her stirred, propelling her forward with even more speed.

"Is that... crystal steps? Ethan thought as he desperately tried to get away from Valeria. His gaze shifted from the sharp blades trying to slice him to the tiny crystals penetrating the atmosphere.

He had read about this technique somewhere and knew that if it wasn't for the strength and speed of the body Seraphar had given him, he would have been dead long ago.

"It's powerful, but not powerful enough!" Ethan roared before stopping his stride and raising his hands, concentrating the maximum amount of mana in his palms, forming a thin but resistant layer of crimson energy.

"Huh?" Valeria's eyes widened, and the excitement that had appeared on her face when she realized that Ethan wasn't going to run away disappeared as a metallic clang pierced the air and her two daggers bounced off her opponent's hands.

"I got you!" Ethan grabbed the girl's wrists with one hand and used his weight to throw her to the ground, not missing the chance to slap her, enjoying every inch of it as his hand sank into that soft, juicy ass, resulting in a dry thud and a painful female moan spreading through the air.

[You have committed minor questionable acts; +100 corruption store points; check your status].

[Valeria was afflicted with +5% lust]

"Auhmm~~... you fucking bastard." Valeria fell backwards and tried to get up, but Ethan wouldn't let her, throwing his body over hers, pinning her wrists to the ground, and holding his body between her legs, making sure she couldn't get up.

[You have committed intermediate questionable acts, +500 corruption store points; check your status].

[Valeria was afflicted with +15% lust.]

Ethan didn't even pay attention to the numerous messages from the system, keeping his eyes on hers and speaking as calmly as possible: "Can you stop? You can't beat me, Miss Valeria Crystalwind."

The young woman seemed startled to hear that name, but she couldn't say anything. Her breath was panting with depraved sounds she never thought she could make, and her beautiful emerald eyes could barely stay open, avoiding Ethan's penetrating gaze at all costs.

[Valeria was afflicted with +25% lust.]

I can't give in. Please. Damn body...' She was in a fight against herself, trying her best to gather the strength to fight, but she was completely overwhelmed again and again, something that wasn't helped by the position she and Ethan were in.

The girl's legs were completely open, with Ethan firmly positioned between them, and, intentionally or not, his penis was pressed directly between the lips of her vagina, struggling to pass through the thin leather fabric that seemed on the verge of tearing.

[Valeria was afflicted with +25% lust.]

She tried to move her hips and wrap her legs around Ethan's waist, struggling to climb onto the man's body and get rid of the sea of pleasure that was slowly taking over her body, but all she could do was stimulate her pussy even more.

Ethan wasn't in much better shape; his face was just inches from the woman's, and the sweet feminine scent exhaled by her body took over his breathing, intoxicated his mind, and dominated his gaze.

Only now, enveloped in the scent and softness of that body, could Ethan finally contemplate how attractive this woman really was.

Just then, a dry rip echoed through the air, and Ethan watched Valeria's beautiful face contort in surprise as her clothes finally gave way under the pressure of Ethan and Tore.

[Valeria was afflicted with +25% lust.]

[Valeria's corruption increased by 1; her acceptance of you increased].

"Ohuhmm~~..." Valeria moaned depravedly as Ethan's cock sank into her soaked panties. A wave of pleasure overtook her mind and she finally lost the strength to fight back.

At that moment, their eyes met, and in their flushed faces and trembling bodies begging for each other, they understood that they had reached a point of no return.