030 TO BREAK THE CHASTITY BELT
The woman's suspicion gave way to belief. "You're right. You can see it. But… even if you can identify the curse points, it doesn't matter. You can't break it," she said, resignation in her voice.
Leo stood silent for a long moment, his eyes scanning her body as he studied the curse's intricate web. Finally, his expression shifted.
"I can't remove the codes entirely, but I can isolate them. If I focus the curse into a single spot, it might weaken its grip on the rest of your body. I don't know what it'll do to you—are you willing to let me try?"
She hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. Do it."
Without wasting a moment, Leo got to work.
His fingers traced the glowing codes, carefully unraveling and manipulating them. He isolated the strands of the curse, consolidating them into a single point at her chest. As he worked, he severed many of the curse's links to the rest of her body.
"Argghhh", the woman screamed as magic was torn from her body, but she did not resist the attempt at healing.
"The curse is still in you," Leo said finally when he was finished. "But by concentrating it here and breaking most of its connections, its effects should diminish."
Moments later, the glowing codes began to shift. The complex array of magic over Yun-Yun's body faded, retreating into a contained knot of codes on her chest.
"I can't heal your wound," Leo admitted, pointing to her chest where the curse now resided. "But this is the next best thing."
She raised her hands, to check her condition. Suddenly, she froze as warmth radiated from the spot Leo touched. A soft, golden glow spread across her skin, sending gentle waves of magic coursing through her body.
Her bruises lightened quickly, her muscles relaxed, and a newfound strength seemed to return to her frame.
For the first time, Yun-Yun let out a relieved breath. "You've done more than anyone else ever could," she whispered, her voice soft with gratitude.
"I'm glad it worked", Leo said.
"How… how did you heal me?" she asked, bewildered.
"Health: 100%. Animosity: 82%," Leo noted with a slight smile. The woman was fully healed from her wounds. Her own magic healed her.
"I didn't heal you. You healed yourself. I just moved the curse that affected your self-healing to your chest, isolating it so it no longer hinders you."
"Your strange magic could weaken my curse... Who are you?" she asked, more curious now than hostile.
"Well, I'm Lilleo Gullee. I told you that." He chuckled. "If you'd stop trying to spit on me, maybe we can talk."
The mage's defiance softened, a flicker of intrigue in her eyes. "What do you want from me?"
"Animosity: 78%"
Leo smiled, stepping back. "Let me be clear, I don't need you for sex. I have plenty of maids and courtesans for that. What I need are your skills."
She eyed him suspiciously. "What kind of skills do you want from me?"
"Your magic. I want to learn it."
The mage scoffed. "My magic? It's far more advanced than anything in this wretched world."
"Yet your clan still fell to the Koresh Empire," Leo countered, his voice calm but cutting.
Her expression faltered. She knew he was right. Her clan's downfall had left her vulnerable. "It is too complicated to explain to you."
"Then you may have a chance for revenge later … if you survive your current situation of course", Leo said.
Perhaps… this was her chance she thought. "Revenge is not necessary but I can teach you magic. You would have to free me first."
Leo pulled out her slave certificate, the parchment that bound her to him. With a flick of his wrist and a murmured spell, it burst into flames, disintegrating before her eyes.
"Animosity: 61%"
Her relief was short-lived, however, as Leo moved closer, his eyes drifting toward her waist.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice wary. "We had a deal. You're not to touch me."
"Animosity: 100%"
"Relax," Leo said, kneeling down to inspect the chastity belt. "I'm breaking this fucking thing for you?"
"You can't. The locksmith who forged it is dead. I killed him myself."
"Animosity: 50%"
Leo smirked. "There aren't many locks I can't break, given the right… motivation."
She raised an eyebrow. "What kind of motivation?"
Leo sighed. "Damn it. This requires more lust than I've got."
"Lust? What are you talking about?" she asked, incredulously.
"I need lust to break the belt, if you would believe me," he explained, his voice tinged with frustration. "Just a little bit more. I ran out of it while isolating your curse."
The mage, still naked before him, looked offended. "I'm standing here naked, and you don't feel any lust? Is that an insult to—"
Before she could finish, Leo grabbed her, pulling her into a deep, unexpected kiss. To her surprise, she didn't resist.
When they finally broke apart, she whispered, "This is only to help you break the chastity belt."
"Animosity: 10%"
"Do you really believe that nonsense about Lust?" Leo taunted, a smirk on his face. "No wonder your clan fell so easily. So naïve."
The woman paused for a moment.
"There are ancient evil sects that channels emotions such as anger and lust into magic. It's rare, but not unheard of. Are you practicing the Lust Mantra?"
"Lust Mantra, huh? Fitting name. I call it something else—a Lust Counter."
"There's only one way to find out if you're telling the truth," She said, her gaze sharp.
"How could you possibly tell?" Leo asked, genuinely curious.
Without warning, she pulled Leo's pants down, her hand swiftly grasping his groins. He froze.
"I thought you didn't want to be touched?" he questioned, eyes narrowing.
"Those who practice the Lust Mantra shift their Cakra Core from their abdomen to… here," she said, gripping him firmly. "Your magic is bound here by a demonic presence."
Leo stood stunned, her words sinking in.
"Demonic Presence?"