The young man woke up, his eyes not met by the usual under bunk of the brothel's bed but by a white ceiling. No, it wasn't just a white ceiling; the entire room was white. No, it wasn't just a room; it was a space. A white space.
"You have finally arrived, Master. It took you so long to reach level two."
Suddenly, he heard a voice. He looked around and saw a stunning woman clad in a black, revealing dress with a provocatively high slit on one side.
The dress clung to her curves in all the right places, crafted from sleek, black fabric that shimmered faintly in the ethereal white surroundings. Its neckline plunged daringly, revealing a tantalizing hint of cleavage. The open back of the dress dipped sensually, exposing the smooth expanse of her skin.
As the fabric cascaded down, a provocative slit snaked up one side, baring a glimpse of her toned leg with each step. Completing the ensemble, her stiletto heels matched the dress in color, elongating her legs and adding an extra touch of seduction to her already captivating presence. The dress effortlessly blended elegance with allure, accentuating her silhouette in a way that was both tasteful and seductive. It whispered promises of mystery and sophistication, leaving the young man captivated by the enigma that stood before him in this surreal, white space.
She was exquisite. No, perhaps the term didn't do her justice. She transcended mere beauty. Yet, what truly distinguished her from other women were the singular features she possessed. While elves and mermaids exhibited variations in their physiques compared to human women, this particular woman harbored something so distinctive that finding its equal elsewhere would likely prove impossible.
The woman adorned goat-like horns spiraling atop her head and proudly displayed black bat wings on her back.
The man's eyes widened as he looked up at her, his gaze locked with the dragon-esque allure of her purple eyes. "Who are you?"
With a regal air, she responded, "I am Eve, your humble servant and the Queen of Succubi."
Her voice resonated like a melodious bell, casting an otherworldly ambiance that made the man question the reality around him. The surreal surroundings felt like a dream, and he struggled to grasp the truth of the situation.
"You're a succubus? But I thought demons were wiped out in this world."
"I am no ordinary succubus. I was the Queen of Succubi, a ruler of the demon realm. The past is of little consequence now, as I find myself diminished to a mere servant in your service," she explained.
"A servant? What do you mean?"
The Queen of Succubi regarded him disdainfully with her purple dragon pupils, conveying a sense of being regarded as filth. "After my demise in the Second Demon-Human War, I became nothing but mana for a spawn devoid of demon lineage. Being your mana means supporting you in times of need, serving as your source of power. It's distasteful, but I have no choice. I was on the verge of notoriety as the Great Queen of the Underworld when that Archangel ended me."
The young man tilted his head. "Archangel, you say? I thought the Second Demon-Human war only involved demons and humans."
"You overlook historical accounts, Master. The war involved demons, humans, and other races like mermaids, elves, demigods, and even gods themselves. Archangel Aria, a paragon of justice, was the one who vanquished me. Her arrow prowess was unparalleled. If I were to be reincarnated, vengeance upon her would be mine. But fate had different plans, and here I am, within your mortal vessel."
With a snap of her fingers, a crimson throne adorned with thorns, reminiscent of an evil lord's seat, materialized in the air.
"How did you do that?"
"This is a spiritual space, a world within you. Much like I can perform any feat in this realm, so can you. Summon a vision of beauty and engage in amorous acts. Expand your resting place to grand proportions, even fashion a mansion if you so desire."
The young man rose, intrigued, "Everything is within my grasp here?!"
"Indeed, almost everything. The sole prohibition pertains to engaging in intimate acts with me. Aside from that, the possibilities are boundless."
Unfazed by the prospect of carnal encounters within this ethereal space, the young man pondered, "Can I concoct a remedy for my ailing sister here?"
"Ah, if that is your wish, I regret to inform you that it is not feasible. While you possess the power to create and manipulate within this realm, you cannot transpose items crafted here to the external world. Did you truly believe that by conjuring a woman here, you could consummate such unions in the tangible world? Alas, these creations exist only within the confines of your imagination. Pleasurable interactions may unfold here, but these entities are mere figments."
"I see," sighed the young man, disheartened. "So, what is the nature of this place? How did I find myself here?"
"It seems your enthusiasm has waned."
"My sole concern lies in discovering a cure for my sister."
"You don't appear to be afflicted with a sister complex, but I suppose looks can be deceiving, can't they?"
"She's all I have now. I can't afford to lose her."
"Of course, Master," the succubus remarked, rolling her eyes. "Now, you're inquiring about how you arrived here, correct? Have you taken notice of the number etched on your palm?"
The young man glanced at his palm, saying, "Ah, you mean this?" Observing it, he realized the number had reset to zero. However, the digit in the upper left corner was no longer one; it had become two. "Why did it change?"
"You truly have no idea?" the succubus sighed, sounding exasperated as she elegantly crossed her legs.
"I know the number increases every time I have sex, but that's about it."
The succubus rolled her eyes again, muttering, "What can one expect from a naive man like you?" She regarded the young man with an air of disdain. "The small number signifies your current level. Since you've amassed enough essence to level up, you've now reached level two. This is the level at which you unlock me. I must say, though, you certainly took your time reaching level two. I never anticipated you'd dawdle in the art of lovemaking. If I were in your position, I'd swiftly embrace any opportunity to ascend, sparing no inhibition to expedite the process."
"There's absolutely no way I would stoop to such actions."
Assaulting women was a sin; Sister Iris had made that clear. The young man wouldn't do anything Iris disapproved of, as it would feel like a betrayal. That's why he couldn't and wouldn't engage in such actions.
"Sure, sure," the succubus scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Regardless, the reason you find yourself here is because you've attained level two. Now that you've reached this stage, do you understand how to level up?"
"I believe it involves engaging in intimate activities."
"Exactly." The woman uncrossed her legs and elegantly recrossed them in a different manner. "You must engage in lovemaking to level up. However, this time, the goal is not merely a hundred encounters. It's twice that amount. And once you reach level 3, to ascend to level 4, you'll need to double your efforts once again."
The concept was clear. In level two, he had to have intimate encounters two hundred times to reach level 3. Upon reaching that stage, the requirement would escalate to four hundred encounters. It sounded like arduous work. Well, it wasn't as if the young man had any intentions of pursuing such a path. As soon as he gathered enough funds to cure his little sister, he planned to leave the life of a sex worker behind permanently.
"You appear indifferent to the idea of leveling up, but are you certain that's the wisest decision?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I understand you seek a cure for your sister, but curing such an affliction won't be easily achieved. In fact, it's doubtful there even exists a cure. Therefore, I propose, before you deplete all your funds on uncertain remedies, consider visiting the witch in the Elian Mountains first. I believe she possesses knowledge of your sister's exact ailment and might be acquainted with a potential remedy. That woman holds every scrap of knowledge in this world, even wisdom that has yet to be transcribed into books."