Lyrion at night was a different beast. Lanterns glowed with enchanted flames, casting the city in hues of gold and sapphire. The streets buzzed with life—drunk adventurers stumbling out of taverns, street performers juggling fireballs, and ladies in tight dresses that made my heart do cartwheels. I leaned against a wall outside the Adventurers' Guild, my Lustrous Scepter tucked under my arm, soaking it all in. This world was a buffet, and I was starving.
Lila appeared beside me, silent as a shadow, her dagger glinting in the moonlight. "You look like a kid in a candy store, Kain."
I grinned, eyeing her thigh-hugging leather pants. "Can you blame me? This place is paradise. And you're not helping, strutting around like that."
She rolled her eyes but didn't move away. "Keep your pants on, pretty boy. We've got a job."
"A job?" I raised an eyebrow. "What, another wolf extermination? I'm not in the mood for doggy daycare."
"Better," she said, tossing me a parchment. "A-rank quest. Some noble's offering big coin to investigate a tower outside the city. Rumors say it's haunted, and people keep disappearing. Guildmaster's sending a team, and you're on it."
I scanned the parchment. *Mysterious tower, vanishings, potential dark magic. Reward: 1,000 gold.* My eyes lit up. That was enough to live like a king—or at least fund a few nights at Lyrion's finest brothel. Not that I'd admit that to Lila. "Sounds fun. Who's the team?"
"Me, you, Aria, and some mage chick Gorran's bringing in." Lila smirked. "Try not to drool over her too much."
"No promises," I said, winking. "Lead the way, Sticky Fingers."
---
The guild hall was quieter now, most adventurers either drunk or asleep. Aria stood by the quest board, her arms crossed and her expression screaming "I'm done with everyone's nonsense." Beside her was a woman I hadn't seen before, and *holy mana reserves, Batman.* She was a knockout—long silver hair cascading down her back, a figure-hugging robe that left little to the imagination, and eyes like amethysts that seemed to see right through you. She held a staff topped with a glowing orb, and the air around her crackled with mana. High-tier mage, no question.
"Kain," Aria said, her voice clipped. "This is Seraphine, Lyrion's top elemental mage. She's joining us for the tower job."
Seraphine's gaze flicked to me, and her lips curved into a smile that was equal parts alluring and dangerous. "So, you're the prodigy everyone's talking about. Cute."
I leaned on my scepter, flashing my best grin. "Cute? Lady, I'm a walking masterpiece. Kain Velhart, at your service. You single?"
Aria groaned, and Lila snickered. Seraphine just raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Bold. I like that. But let's see if your magic's as good as your mouth."
"Oh, it's better," I said, winking. "Stick around, and I'll show you a spell that'll make your heart race."
"Enough!" Aria snapped, her face red. "We leave at dawn. Get some rest, and Kain, keep your hands to yourself."
"No hands, just eyes," I said, dodging the glare she shot me. Lila laughed, and even Seraphine looked amused. This team was gonna be fun.
---
Dawn came too soon. I'd spent half the night fantasizing about Seraphine's robe and the other half dodging Lila's attempts to steal my coin pouch for "practice." We met at the city gates, geared up and ready. Aria was in her usual armor, sword gleaming. Lila had swapped her street clothes for a sleek black outfit that made her look like a ninja assassin. Seraphine's robe was even more distracting in the morning light, and I had to force myself to focus on the mission.
The tower was a day's ride east, so we piled into a horse-drawn cart provided by the guild. I sprawled across one bench, scepter across my lap, while Lila sharpened her daggers and Aria stared out the window, ignoring me. Seraphine sat across from me, her staff resting against her shoulder.
"So, Seraphine," I said, breaking the silence. "What's a gorgeous mage like you doing slumming it with us?"
She smirked, twirling a strand of silver hair. "Curiosity. I heard about your little stunt with the Crimson Fang. Void magic isn't something you see every day."
"Void magic's just the start," I said, leaning forward. "Wanna see what else I can do?"
"Later," she said, her tone teasing. "If you survive the tower."
Aria muttered something about "idiots," but I ignored her. The cart rumbled along, and I let my mind wander. The tower sounded like trouble—disappearances, dark magic, the works. My kind of party. Plus, with three hot women as teammates, I wasn't complaining.
---
By midday, we reached the tower. It was a jagged, obsidian spire jutting from a barren hill like a middle finger to the gods. The air around it felt heavy, like a storm was brewing, and faint whispers of mana tickled my senses. Definitely cursed. I hopped out of the cart, scepter in hand, and grinned.
"Home sweet home," I said. "Who's ready to kick some ghost ass?"
Lila snorted. "You're way too excited about this."
Aria drew her sword. "Stay sharp. We don't know what's in there."
Seraphine's eyes glowed faintly as she scanned the tower. "The mana here is… twisted. Be careful."
I twirled my scepter. "Careful's my middle name. Right after 'Awesome' and 'Sexy.'"
The girls groaned in unison, but I was already striding toward the entrance, a massive iron door carved with runes that pulsed with dark energy. I raised my scepter, and a quick pulse of mana—*Arcane Probe*—revealed the runes were a sealing spell. Amateur stuff. I snapped my fingers, and the runes fizzled out, the door creaking open.
"Show-off," Lila muttered, slipping past me.
"Jealousy's a bad look, Sticky Fingers," I said, following her inside.
The tower's interior was a labyrinth of stone corridors, lit by flickering torches that cast eerie shadows. The air was cold, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed in the distance. Lila took point, her rogue skills making her near-invisible as she scouted ahead. Aria followed, sword ready, while Seraphine and I brought up the rear.
"Any guesses what's causing the vanishings?" I asked Seraphine, keeping my voice low.
"Could be a demon, a cursed artifact, or a rogue mage," she said, her tone serious. "The mana feels… alive. Like it's watching us."
I grinned. "Kinky."
She shot me a look but didn't respond. Point for Kain.
Lila hissed from up ahead, signaling us to stop. We crept forward and peeked around a corner. A massive chamber opened before us, its floor covered in glowing runes that formed a summoning circle. In the center stood a woman—or something that looked like one. She was drop-dead gorgeous, with long black hair, crimson eyes, and a dress that clung to her like a second skin. But the aura around her screamed *danger*—mana so thick it made my skin crawl.
"Well, hello there," I said, stepping into the chamber. "You the one causing all the fuss?"
The woman's eyes locked onto me, and her lips curved into a sultry smile. "A child? How… intriguing. I am Nyx, mistress of this tower. And you are?"
"Kain Velhart, mage extraordinaire and admirer of fine women," I said, winking. "Wanna grab a drink after this?"
Aria grabbed my arm. "She's a demon, you idiot!"
Nyx laughed, her voice like honey laced with poison. "Perceptive, swordswoman. But I'm no mere demon. I'm a succubus queen, and this tower is my domain."
Lila drew her daggers. "Great. A horny demon. Just what we needed."
I chuckled. "My kind of enemy."
Nyx's eyes glowed, and the runes on the floor flared. "You amuse me, boy. Surrender, and I might let you live… as my pet."
"Tempting," I said, raising my scepter. "But I'm more of a 'conquer' guy than a 'pet' guy."
The air exploded with mana as Nyx attacked. Shadows coalesced into tendrils, lashing out like whips. Aria charged, her sword slashing through the tendrils, while Lila vanished into the shadows, aiming for Nyx's back. Seraphine raised her staff, chanting, and a barrier of light sprang up, deflecting a wave of dark energy.
I grinned, mana surging through me. "Let's heat things up. Infernal Cascade!" Crimson flames erupted from my scepter, flooding the chamber. Nyx hissed, raising a barrier of shadows, but my flames ate through it like paper. She teleported, appearing behind me, her claws aimed at my throat.
"Nice try," I said, spinning. "Void Lance!" A spear of darkness shot out, grazing her side. She screamed, more in rage than pain, and retaliated with a blast of raw mana. I countered with *Null Pulse*, shattering her spell.
Lila struck next, her daggers sinking into Nyx's arm. The succubus snarled, swatting Lila away like a fly. Aria roared, her sword glowing with enchanted light as she slashed at Nyx's legs. Seraphine unleashed a storm of ice shards, pinning Nyx in place.
"She's strong," Seraphine panted. "We need to hit her harder."
"On it," I said, my grin turning cold. Time to get serious. I raised my scepter, channeling every ounce of mana I had. The air around me warped, the Lustrous Scepter's gem blazing like a star. "Ethereal Barrage: Overdrive!"
Dozens of glowing orbs materialized, each pulsing with enough mana to level a building. They shot forward, hammering Nyx from every angle. She screamed, her barriers collapsing, and the chamber shook as my spell tore through her. When the dust settled, she was on her knees, blood dripping from her wounds.
"Not… possible," she gasped, her eyes wide. "A human child… with this power…"
"I'm no ordinary human," I said, leveling my scepter at her. "Last chance. Surrender, or I turn you into ash."
Nyx laughed, weak but defiant. "You'll regret this, boy. My master will come for you."
I smirked. "Tell him to bring a date."
I snapped my fingers, and a final *Void Lance* pierced her heart. She dissolved into shadows, leaving behind a single crimson gem that pulsed with dark mana. I picked it up, feeling its power thrum against my skin. *Nice loot.*
Aria sheathed her sword, glaring at me. "You're reckless."
"And you're welcome," I said, tossing the gem in the air and catching it. "We just bagged a succubus queen. That's gotta be worth some street cred."
Lila limped over, rubbing her side. "Not bad, pretty boy. You're growing on me."
Seraphine approached, her eyes on the gem. "That's a Demon Core. Dangerous. We should seal it."
"Or sell it," I said, grinning. "Bet it'd fetch a fortune."
Aria smacked the back of my head. "Focus, pervert. We need to report this to the guild."
I rubbed my head, pouting. "Fine, but I'm keeping the gem. Souvenir."
---
Back in Lyrion, the guild went nuts over our report. A succubus queen? That was S-rank territory. Gorran promoted us all—me to B-rank, Lila and Aria to A-rank, and Seraphine got a pat on the back since she was already maxed out. The noble who'd posted the quest doubled the reward, and I walked away with a fat sack of gold and a smug grin.
Later, I found Lila at the bar, sipping ale. "So," I said, sliding in beside her. "Dinner's on me. You in?"
She smirked. "Only if you stop staring at my legs."
"No deal," I said, winking.
She laughed, and for the first time, I saw a real smile. *Progress.*
As I sipped my drink, I glanced at the Demon Core in my pocket. Nyx's last words echoed in my mind—something about her master. Trouble was coming, and I'd be ready. But for now, I had gold, girls, and a whole city to conquer.
This world wasn't ready for Kain Velhart. Too bad for them.