PreIntegration
Ch 3
Our lips met. Hers were irresistibly soft, inviting, willing. The surge of her desire coursed through my veins, leaving a trail of fire. Then our tongues met, deepening the kiss. I think she forgot to breathe as her arms tightened around me, pulling herself closer. I felt powerful.
Take her. Make her your obedient thrall. She is ripe for the taking, and her taste oh, her taste is exquisite. We could feast on her for months. Feel how desire empowers you. This is true power.
I wanted her. Every motion of our lips, the way our tongues danced while I pinned her against the wall, her lips drew me in deeper. Her moan was pure music. The insistent voice in my head grew louder, pushing me to the brink. I craved more of her desire, her energy. I wanted the power it promised. Maybe then I could save Katie.
Yes. Drink deeply. Taste what you can have.
Just as our moment peaked, a loud knock echoed from the door nearby, and Maria's voice interrupted.
“Miss. Your attorney and Accountant will be here in an hour.”
With the interruption, the atmosphere shifted, and my senses began to return. Fear crept in as I realized what had almost happened. I caught a shy smile on her face.
“Perhaps we should get your measurements, Ms. Garner.”
Listening to the heavy breathing coming from Spring, I nodded, struggling to come to grips with what had just happened. My mind felt foggy. I moved to the center of the bathroom as she pulled out a measuring tape and entered details into her phone. The air between us swelled with tension as she asked about my style and clothing needs. I vaguely hoped I was making sense.
Too quickly, it was over. She moved up on her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek. “Feel free to greet me like that anytime.” she said. I smiled at her, not hiding my lust or was it hunger?
After Spring left and the door closed with a soft click, I sat down, hugging my knees. The shift from passion to solitude was sudden, and nausea overwhelmed me.
I almost killed her. She posed no threat. I almost killed her. Tears streamed as I repeated it in my mind. My chest tightened, and my shirt clung to me. The thought wouldn't let go. What was I becoming? Was this always inside me?
“Sara. Stop and take a slow breath.”
Ari's voice broke my mantra. The voice, sultry, warm, and inviting, pulled me out of this growing void. My body automatically obeyed her. I felt air fill my empty lungs. After the third breath, the room stopped spinning, but my tears didn't.
“Look, Sara, I am your guide, not your counselor, so I am only going to say this to you once. You need to deal with your loss and pain. If you don't, your bloodline will consume you. It has latched onto the holes in your soul, and it will only gain more of a hold on you.”
I opened my puffy eyes and looked at her, standing atop my arms. "Why? You didn't warn me.” I accused. A brief flash of anger crossed her face.
“Sara, I am your guide. My role is to help you navigate the System, not to dictate the path you take. Now I have two recommendations. It won't solve your problem, but it will help in controlling your nature for a short time. Put any free points you get into WIS. It will help with your mental resistance. The other is to treat sexual energy like a faucet. When you feed, let that energy dip. Cut off the flow's volume. It will not be so consuming then.”
I wanted to yell, to demand an apology. But her role was clear. She'd only tried to help. The System guides, not controls. My choices are mine. No one else's.
“One last thing, Sara. We are demons. We destroy and kill by nature. Though as a society we do control it better then we once did ages ago. It's up to you alone to control it. Bring that demon out only when you have no other choice. With that said, you have a notification and a new quest.” She finished.
When Ari vanished, I was left alone once again with my guilt. Still, I brought up the notification to see what the system had to say next.
System Notification
Congratulations, you have unleashed your inner Succubus.
Hidden Quest chain unlocked.
Complete the different quests to unlock more abilities. You have two paths to follow.
Choose one
Become the Greater Succubus.
Rewards: Full transformation to a Succubus. Lose current class and abilities. Gain the race of Demon. Gain all physical and magical abilities of a Greater Succubus.
Become a Futaccubus.
Rewards: A unique race. A combination of Futanari and a Greater Succubus. Sounds like a great time to me. Gain titles and rewards for starting a new species. Race upgrade to Mythic. Unique Racial perks and abilities.
Bonus Reward: You don't accidentally suck your best friend dry.
New System Quest.
Reach 25% towards the next rank for your bloodline and receive a unique ability.
“Fuck you, System.”
Yeah, that is all I had to say to that. I selected the second path. No way was I going to embrace the succubus path. Sure, I could be considered morally gray, but I would not kill for the sake of power.
Sighing, I tried to put myself back together. Luckily, nothing bad happened; if anything, I had a cute girl who wanted more. Of course, was that just my influence on her? Did I just bring to the surface something she would never have acted on in the first place? Why was I still lightheaded?
Then I noticed Pheromones was active. I hadn’t meant to trigger it. I willed it off. What had just happened made it clear: I needed control. The thought of draining Katie haunted me.
Well, damn if that thought didn't bring another round of fresh tears. Fear gripped my very core. I don't know, it felt like forever. A fresh knock on my door pulled me out of that, realizing the world wasn't going to wait for me.
“Ms. Garner, the front desk called. They are on their way up.”
A fresh knock pulled me back to the present. Clearing my throat, I masked my emotions before responding. “Thanks, Marie. Show them to the office. I will be out in a few minutes.” After her acknowledgment, I forced myself up and tried to clean my face again, preparing for the shift from personal turmoil to work.
While collecting myself and giving my eyes a few moments not to look so red, I glanced about the bathroom like I had expected it to change. It had a small toilet room right off the entrance. There was a large double sink with a mirror that went from the ceiling to the backsplash. Off to the right, further in, was a rainfall shower that easily had room for five people if my guess was correct. The large bath also served as a hot tub, dominating the room with its marble flooring. Perhaps after I dealt with the suits, I would use it. Maybe spend an hour or so just trying to sort through my own thoughts. Fuck, it isn't even eleven yet. I looked at my phone as I picked it from the side of the bed before exiting the room.
Leaving the bathroom, I crossed to the office at the far side of the penthouse. The path from the dining room to the living room gave me extra time to compose myself. Passing the kitchen, Marie set down a fresh cup of coffee.
Taking in a breath was a bad move. The place was just filled with desire. As I grabbed my cup, I looked at Marie. “Thank you,” I said. I thought the excitement in the air came from her, and wondered if I had caused this while my power was going full blast. After she returned my smile, encouraging me, I walked to face a couple of stiffs not the kind of stiff I preferred to deal with. But you make do with what you've got.
Meeting with the suits went about as expected. They argued about how much I planned to spend and how much I would draw out from the trust. Of course, telling them in six months their little bank accounts wouldn't mean shit would do no good. This was really starting to frustrate and bore me. Again, the whispering in the back of my head started back up. It was a struggle not to act under the whisperer's influence. To pull these two men into my influence, if anything, to get them to shut up and do my bidding. It was then that I unleashed another soft wave of Pheromones, the intent to increase their infatuation with me, if anything, at least to make them more malleable to letting me have my way with less argument.
Oh, I felt their eyes on me in my office. I could feel their gaze on my tight young body with my shirt showing the strain against my tits. I was horny after that little romp with Spring. It was barely a taste. I needed to end this quickly before I gave in to this weird desire. This strange hunger seemed to be trying to take over, the whispering telling me to feed on their desire, their essence to grow stronger, turning them into my little puppets. I could. I know I could, seeing in their eyes as my Pheromones fill the air with lust and desire. I enjoyed how they squirmed in their chairs, trying to hide their pitiful erections.
Blinking, I stand up, walking to the door while feeling their eyes glued to my ass. “Gentlemen, I appreciate your concerns and your advice, but I want twenty-five percent of the funds freed up and available by the end of the week. Any more argument and I will find another firm to handle my affairs.”
I had to get them out. They needed to leave before I lost the control I barely had. The desire for them to paint my face and my tits. To be a dirty slut as they used me like their personal canvas. Yet somehow I found the control, turned off my ability. The end of the meeting felt a bit fuzzy as I called Marie. “Please see these gentlemen to the door. I am going to take a hot bath. If you don't mind, I could use something small to eat. I just realized I haven't had anything at all today.”
New Quest
Prepare Shelter
This is a general quest for participants of preintegration. To help you survive the first few days, it is recommended that you have a base of operations. What you designate as a shelter is up to you.
It must fit these guidelines.
Has at least one room for storage, supplies for one month. It has a sleeping area, a bathroom (or an area designated as one), and is defensible. It can not be your primary residence.
You have up to one month before integration to have a designated shelter.
Rewards: Diminishing
Failure: You have a higher chance of dying.
Well, if that wasn't annoying. The pop-up filled my vision, causing me to almost walk into the closed door of the Master bedroom. Grumbling under my breath, I left my trail of clothes on the floor, heading into the bathroom. Filling the tub and letting the steam rise, I checked under the sink; maybe I could find something for the bath.
Everything looked freshly stocked. Count on Marie to make a quick run to the store to get the basics. Tossing in a lavender bath bomb to help calm myself, I sank into the water. The heat felt like a blessing after I submerged myself.
Feeling the need to distract myself, I took another look at my status sheet. So much to take in. The problem I was having when I looked at it, aside from the shitty UI. I saw different ways I could go. My race gave me the stats to go physical. Yet, it also offered an avenue following a hybrid style. Then there were my potential skills, which could move me into a tech build. Granted, with unconventional equipment. In a way, it was a bit embarrassing.
Still, Ari was right in saying who was going to laugh when they got shot in the face. I wasn't going to lie to myself. The pull to tinker and create was stronger in me than ever. I could only imagine the potential of what I could create. I could probably make enough things to fill any role within a group. Of course, having all this freedom did little to help me make a decision. This was real, and if I messed up, I couldn't go back to an old save or pay to reset myself.
It was definitely that idea of messing up that kinda froze my mind. Sure, I had time, but it could easily slip past my fingers.
Hearing the door open pulled me from my thoughts as Marie came in. The scent of her desire was on a whole other level, which caused me to feel a bit guilty. I had caused it. Yet from what I understood so far, it did amplify what was ready there. I couldn't force someone to want me. Of course, one advantage was having high charisma, but something told me I couldn't let it affect someone not attracted to women.
She set a small plate of finger sandwiches and a cup of tea with a pot on the ledge of the bath. Thanking her, she smiled back, and I caught her looking at the swell of my breasts, visible above the bubbles. I pretended not to notice. I didn't want to embarrass her. Honestly, I don't remember her doing that before, or was I just a little blind to it?
I went back to that shelter quest for a moment, rereading it. Maybe I could buy a cabin or something in the woods. That would probably count. It didn't say it had to be in a special underground bunker or anything like that. Honestly, it wasn't high on my list of questions, so I dismissed it again and called out to Ari.
It took a minute, but she appeared on the other side of the hot tub in a red bikini. Well, if you want to call a pair of shoestrings a bikini. OK, yeah, I did. “Would you mind answering some questions for me?” She gave a nod as she waved her hand, and a cute little glass of red wine appeared in her hand. I giggled at how adorable it all looked, and she just stuck her forked tongue out at me. Holy shit, that was a long tongue. I felt a shiver run down my spine at the thought of it.
“So what is up with core and body? How does it rank, and how does it affect my build long term?”
Watching her sip her wine. Did I have other questions that burned in me like the succubus thing, the new quests I got, or that damned whispering in my head? That was really annoying. I didn't want to deal with it at the moment, though. This seemed like it would take my mind off the darker thoughts.
Ari's sultry voice filled the air. “Well, the body aspect is easy. Ranking it up makes you tougher. Also, the higher your rank, the more mana you can hold, which in turn means you won't burn out with higher-grade equipment, and your skills have more room to grow. It is possible to have a skill or ability powerful enough to burn your body out from its requirements of mana and physical exhaustion. To rank it up, once you hit level twenty, you will get a quest to find a treasure that you take when you reach level twenty-five.”
Treasures, wasn't that a cultivator thing? I looked at her, confused. “Aren't treasures a different System?” Oh, the rabbit hole I was falling into with my expanding knowledge of what this System was about. She nodded.
“Yes, so when the Master System created this System, it went into an agreement with two other Systems. This is a trial alliance between Systems to see if they can make stronger warriors. Even though different Systems battle over resources and universes. They are all bound together by greater enemies that would wipe them all out.”
Good information to have. “OK, that is really cool. So it is taking the best of three Systems. I can see how that would hold more potential. So what about core then, and do you get to follow a more specific System, or is the whole leveling thing a mix and match?”
“Yes and no. When you level your core for the first time, at level twenty, you are given a choice of three quests. Which one you pick is the path you will follow for the rest of your life. But even as you continue that path, there will be influences from the other two Systems.”
Drinking the tea, I began to feel a bit calmer. I don't know what tea Marie used, but it was nice. It had a subtle, soothing flavor with just a touch of spice. Drying my fingers on the towel nearby and enjoying another small sandwich, Ari continued.
“So if you choose the cultivator path, you focus more on learning to cultivate the mana around you, building the strength of your core. Once it reaches 99 percent, you can't level it till you complete the quest for a treasure and reach level twenty-five. Then you have your regular System core. Your choice of this path will send you on a quest to find four core shards. The quality and type of shards will depend on the danger level of the quests you take. The System gives you options.”
Well, that was different, so as you progress, the System gives you the choice of your own power level. Though I could imagine the harder quests would increase the chance of death. Risk to reward.
“What is the difference between the two choices?”
“The biggest is that a cultivator has less direction from the System. As they develop themselves, they can influence the direction their skills and abilities take. Where the System would generally give limited options, but help keep a build more focused. Each side has its strengths and weaknesses.”
I could feel myself going more towards following a System path out of the two. “The third?”
“Beast core System. The quest for this one is usually to kill a certain beast at a rank higher. Sometimes the quest is any beast. The higher the rank of your class, the more specific the quest will be. The core you use to rank up can cause changes to your body, taking on an aspect of that creature. Also, it will begin to influence your class.”
Definitely not me, but damn, that path had its own potential as well. The more I learned, the more I liked this System. Well, aside from being snarky.
“I like it. It gives you options without being complicated. So I take it level twenty-five is a milestone?”
The little demon smiled at my question as she sipped her wine with a dainty hand, like she was some high society diva. A nod. “Oh, Level twenty-five is your first evolution. You get class upgrade choices. Sometimes your race evolves or gains new abilities, and skills. The skill cap is raised from 5 to 10. And other things can happen. It just depends on what you have achieved during the leveling process.”
I was feeling better. Yeah, I was still a bit scared and upset that I could lose control if I wasn't careful. I did feel a bit calmer, though. “So, someone who is a Legendary class but just coasted their way vs someone who is a common class who busts their ass could even out the power difference?”
“Yup. System rewards hard work. Good decisions. Some risk-taking. It wants to ensure users can't just rely on a family name, money, or the fact that they're stronger than others to assume it will remain that way. I have seen a few people get killed when someone they bullied evolved and came back for vengeance. It's not pretty.”
I wonder what is out there that the System has to ensure only the strongest survive. More questions, others answered. Downside to not growing up with the System, I suppose. “I can see the advantage of growing up with the System, so how do newly integrated planets survive the establishment?”
Ari was quiet for a while. That faraway look in her eyes. I didn't like it. The logical side of my brain might understand why information was being withheld, but it didn't mean I had to agree with it.
“What I can tell you is this, Sara. Most worlds don't survive. Many factors are involved. It can be a lack of unity and/or leadership within the race or races on the planet. Also, the classification of a world on integration can be a factor. The lower the world's class, the less protection the System can provide.”
That just didn't bode well. My gut told me Earth wasn't going to get a happy ending. Of either kind. “What about those that survive? Are they taken as slaves? Welcomed by the newly arriving overlords? Are we free to explore the universe?” This was frustrating, and I had to fight back tears. It wasn't like I wanted to be a hero from a book or comic. Hell, I always felt the bad guy in that superhero movie who wanted to wipe out half the population was the good guy,
With all of that, I still wouldn't want to see that amount of death and suffering. Ari shrugged. She didn't have an answer either. I assume, like everything else, there were more factors involved.
Grandpa and I had many discussions about my views of humanity. It bothered me. No, not the view itself, but the fact that I felt different from most people. Honestly, I didn't believe others when they said that they would help everyone they met. I thought that when you are fighting over a can of beans, no one knows how to hunt or forage. It was my opinion that when the shit hit the fan, people would be out for themselves. We would see the worst of humanity. But it's still hard when you speak your mind about it, and people give you the side eye.
Well, like the wisdom machine he was, Grandpa offered this to me. If you are always true to who you are and you aren't harming anyone, it doesn't matter. Everyone has skeletons in their closet, Sara. Even me. As long as you treat others well, help those who need it, and ensure your own safety, who are they to judge?
I suppose he was right. I smiled for a moment, as I always enjoyed his little nuggets of wisdom that sometimes seemed to come out of nowhere. Yet they were always spot on. I suppose one of my goals is to try to be even a quarter as wise as he was. Maybe he did have skeletons in his closet, but to me, he would always be my hero.
Coming back here was bringing up too many memories too fast. I felt strained emotionally, along with everything else that was happening. I really just wanted to crawl into bed and hide under the pillows and blankets for a few days. Then my phone rang. Of course it did.
Ensuring my hands were dry, I answered it, putting on a cheery voice. It was a struggle to keep my emotions hidden, but I think I was getting better at it. The call was short. Renee, the building manager, wanted to come up to meet me since she had taken over the building while I had been living elsewhere. She was just doing her job. I couldn't be mad at that. I had about thirty minutes before she would come up. Guess bath time is over with.