The air thickened, pulsing with a charge that blurred the line between pain and pleasure. Thorn's smoldering gaze never left Elian's, like a wildfire daring the flame to leap higher.
Neressa's hand hovered near her dagger, but Elian shook his head—a signal that this battle would not be won with steel.
Carnal Duel had begun.
The Dance of Flesh and Will
Thorn stepped forward, each movement fluid, a predator's grace wrapped in raw, carnal power. His scars shimmered faintly with lust sigils — runes that pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, designed to amplify desire and agony alike.
"You think you can outplay me, Flamebearer?" Thorn's voice was a growl, low and dangerous. "This place bends will and flesh. It's my domain."
Elian met him, voice steady. "Then I'll show you why fire consumes darkness."
Their bodies circled—predator and flame—an ancient dance of dominance and submission.
Elian focused the Lust System, summoning Carnal Dominion's deeper tendrils. The power flickered in his Sight like molten silk, weaving temptation into every glance, every breath.
Thorn snarled, closing the distance, his fingers tracing the scar along Elian's jaw with a deliberate, teasing cruelty.
"You'll have to do better than that."
Elian's lips curved in a dangerous smile. "Watch closely."
The Clash of Powers
As Thorn lunged, Elian wove Mirrorbrand — reflecting Thorn's own desire back onto him. Thorn's eyes flickered with surprise, pupils dilating as lust mingled with shock.
The Warden faltered, just for a heartbeat.
Elian pressed the advantage, fingers trailing a slow path down Thorn's chest, igniting smoldering hunger. Each pulse of Carnal Dominion tightened the invisible chains binding Thorn's will.
But Thorn was no ordinary foe. His scars flared bright, and he unleashed a shockwave of raw lust, forcing Elian to stagger back, breath catching in his throat.
Neressa's eyes glinted in the shadows—her readiness a silent promise to intervene if needed.
Shared Surrender
The duel twisted into a strange rhythm: attack, resist, yield, reclaim.
Thorn's growls softened to murmurs, his defiant stance bending under Elian's relentless pull.
"You're… different," Thorn gasped, voice rough with need.
Elian's fingers brushed Thorn's scarred wrist, locking the Lust Sigil's power into his veins.
"Only those who burn brightest leave a mark."
A pulse of sex points surged, and with a final, whispered command, Elian activated a new ability:
Siren's Command — an unbreakable compulsion that wove Thorn's will into Elian's own.
Thorn's resistance melted.
Ally Bound in Flesh
Panting, Thorn collapsed to one knee, his gaze steady and respectful.
"You've earned passage—and my loyalty, Flamebearer."
Elian extended a hand.
"Rise, Thorn. We have a deeper spiral to descend."
The Deeper Spiral
With Thorn now a powerful ally bound by lust and loyalty, the trio advanced deeper into the Labyrinth.
Lady Virelle awaited them, her mask shifting to show Neressa's image — fierce, untamed, beautiful in her dangerous grace.
"You've taken the first steps, but the Labyrinth is no mere place of temptation. It is a crucible."
She gestured to a chamber where shadows writhed like living silk.
"Beyond this lies the heart of the Labyrinth—the Core of Flesh. To claim its power, you must confront your greatest desires and darkest fears. And only those willing to bleed pleasure and pain alike can prevail."
The Shadows Stir
As they stepped forward, the chamber walls pulsed with erotic illusions — scenes of betrayal, passion, and sacrifice.
Elian caught Lysandra's name whispered on the wind.
A subtle, dark thrill surged through him. Her grief-fueled surrender had left a lasting imprint—a tether pulling him onward.
Neressa's hand found his, a grounding touch in the shifting maze.
"We're not alone in this," she said, eyes fierce.
"No," Elian agreed. "And that is why we will conquer."