The first challenger stepped forward.
Surprisingly, the fucker who was talking shit earlier had sat back down.
Instead, the one challenging him was a lanky boy with a mess of dark hair, fists clenched as if he was about to punch destiny itself.
"I- I'll take you on!" he stammered, chest heaving.
"One-on-one. Right here, right now!"
Kain slowly lowered his coffee, giving the boy a long, lazy look.
He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms behind his head.
"Dude, you can barely keep your legs from giving up on you, just sit back down"
The boy's jaw tightened.
"I- I'm not afraid of you!"
"Alright," he said, standing slowly.
"Come on then. Entertain me"
What followed was… brief.
The boy lunged, fists swinging, and within seconds, he was flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling like he'd just discovered gravity existed.
A collective gasp ran through the cafeteria.
Some students tried to hide it, some didn't even bother.
Others weren't surprised; Kain already had the reputation, but some were just that stupid to challenge him.
"Next," Kain said casually, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve.
"Anyone else?"
Another boy.
This one, taller and broad-shouldered, stepped forward, trying to look confident.
"I'll—"
"Stop talking," Kain interrupted.
"Action. Now!"
The boy charged, adrenaline pumping like wildfire.
Within two steps, he was sprawled across the floor in a heap, coffee and toast flying in all directions.
Kain caught a piece of bread mid-air, took a bite, and shrugged.
Nina snorted, leaning back with her tail flicking lazily.
"You always do this at breakfast, huh? Just humiliate them for fun?"
"Entertainment is key," Kain replied.
"And who doesn't love a little morning chaos?"
From the corner, a cluster of girls whispered nervously, unsure if they should intervene.
Kain caught their worried glances.
"Relax," he said with a light chuckle.
"They're perfectly fine. And besides…"
He flicked a glance at his harem, all eleven of them grinning, confident.
"You know they'll never touch a hair on my head"
The challengers were now visibly sweating, some muttering about giving up, others shaking their heads in disbelief.
One particularly brave or foolish girl from the back tried to speak up.
"I—I don't even care about him! You—he can't—"
"Shh," Kain said, raising a finger.
"That's adorable. Don't you want to try next? Maybe you'll earn… what? Five seconds of glory?"
The hall erupted into laughter, some from Kain, some from the girls, most from sheer disbelief.
Most people often forget.
This mother fucker is the villain.
He does shit just because he wants to.
And he just made it clear.
The next stupid bastard who dares to challenge him will lose their head.
None dared step forward.
Kain sat back down, picking up his coffee, and thought with genuine amusement.
'Perfect. Morning chaos is complete. My girls get all the rewards tonight. Who knew a breakfast could be this profitable?'
As to the poor fucks who challenged him and got beaten?
Kain quickly stole the money from their wallets.
With a low chuckle, he picked up a slice of bread when the girls started talking.
"The whole thing was… enlightening," Darcy murmured, brushing her hair back.
"Delightful," Nina added, her tail twitching in amusement.
"I mean, they lasted longer than most," Alyssa said as she bit down on her cake.
Beatrix shrugged.
"Patheic. They don't even get to be called knights in training"
Ruby giggled as she too stole some money from them.
"Either way, it was adorable that the girls from the healing division tried to strand up to Kain, as if these men couldn't keep their stupid jealousy down"
They all nodded.
Kain stretched, yawning lazily.
"I just like the fact that it was profitable"
The girls chuckled, some shaking their heads at how effortlessly he toyed with people.
Lyla leaned in close.
"You really are terrible, you know that?"
Kain grinned.
"And you love it. Don't lie…"
The laughter was cut short when a summons arrived.
A crisp, golden letter floated onto the table in front of him, sealed with the emblem of the academy.
Kain raised an eyebrow, tearing it open with deliberate slowness.
"Iris wants to see me," he said aloud, tilting his head.
"It must be important that she sends a message like this," he said, getting up.
The girls were about to follow when he motioned for them to attend class.
"Boo, that's no fun," Darcy said with a giggle.
"Yeah, Kain, you promised to reward us for not causing problems yesterday," Yani said with a pout.
He planted a kiss as he left the bag of gold on the table.
"Girls, buy a beautiful dress for tonight, I'm taking all of you to dinner"
Their eyes all lit up as they let out a squeal of joy.
They practically grabbed him and planted kisses all over his face.
Which he happily welcomed.
15 Minutes Later | Iris's office
Kain pushed the door open lazily, entering with a slow, confident stride.
He expected to see Iris with a smile, or maybe just her with something for him to take care of, but instead, he saw two women he had never seen before.
One stood by the window, striking in every way possible.
Tall, graceful, her posture perfect.
Dark hair cascading down her shoulders, sharp features, flawless skin… like she'd walked off the pages of a fashion magazine.
Kain's lips parted slightly as he surveyed her.
"Ah," he murmured to himself.
"Now this… is interesting"
Next to her stood a younger woman.
Tall, elegant, beautiful in a different way.
There was a quiet poise, a warmth that radiated around her.
Her hair shimmered under the sunlight, and her eyes held an intelligence that demanded attention.
Kain licked his lips subtly, his mind already spinning.
"Good morning, Kain," Iris's voice finally drew his attention.
The way she spoke reminded him that in front of others, they have to act professionally.
He gave a slight bow as he sat on a chair, to which Iris gave him a slight giggle.
"Cough– This is Mrs. Angel, Aiden's mother, and… his older sister, Elena. They've come to discuss some matters regarding your recent… activities"
Kain flashed a smile that was equal parts charming and dangerous.
"Oh?"
He leaned back in the chair, stretching slightly as his crimson gaze swept between the two women.
The way Mrs. Angel carried herself… composed, regal, untouched by the filth of the commoners, made his tongue itch.
Elena, on the other hand, had a subtle fire in her eyes, the kind that would break slowly but beautifully under the right pressure.
Two perfect cracks in Aiden's fragile little world.
[System Notification]
[New Targets Discovered]
[Elara Angel | Affection: 0% | Loyalty: 0% | Lust: 0%]
[Emotion: Curiosity laced with irritation]
[Thought: "This boy is dangerous… but oddly composed."]
[Elena Angel | Affection: 0% | Loyalty: 0% | Lust: 5%]
[Emotion: Guarded, yet intrigued]
[Thought: "Why does he look at me like he owns me?"]
Kain's grin widened slightly as the numbers flickered before his eyes.
'Perfect. Low resistance. High curiosity'
He rested his chin on his hand.
"So… I'm to assume my activities have troubled Aiden enough that his mother and sister were dispatched to handle it? Or is this more… personal?"
Mrs. Angel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You've caused… disruption. Not only among the students, but my son has been—"
Kain raised a hand, silencing her instantly.
[Skill: Devil's Interruption]
[Forcefully cuts the target's words short, turning the silence into pressure]
Her lips froze, her voice caught in her throat.
Elena's brows furrowed at the strange pause, while Iris covered her mouth with a cough to hide her amusement.
"Forgive me," Kain said smoothly.
"It's just that every time someone says the word son in my presence, I can't help but think of how fragile, how utterly breakable boys like him are"
Mrs. Angel's eyes widened slightly.
Elena's hands curled into fists.
[Skill: Dark Charm]
[Your words slip beneath their guard, sowing doubt and intrigue. Targets experience a heightened emotional response toward you]
He leaned forward now, his voice dropping low, silk over a dagger's edge.
"You came here to scold me… but I wonder. Do you believe he deserved what happened?"
"That weakling could never protect you. Nor could he protect any woman he promised to be with"
His eyes locked onto Elena's, and she stiffened under the weight of his gaze.
A flush ghosted across her cheeks before she tore her eyes away.
[System Notification]
[Elena | Affection: 5% | Loyalty: 5% | Lust: 15%]
[Emotion: Uneasy, conflicted curiosity]
[Thought: "Why does my heart skip like that? No… no, this is wrong!"]
Mrs. Angel crossed her arms tightly, but her breathing had quickened ever so slightly.
She looked more rattled than angry now.
Kain chuckled low, licking his lips.
He leaned back again.
'Step one complete. Now… let's see how quickly I can turn them on that coward'
Elara's silence stretched.
Her throat bobbed, though no words escaped.
Elena, meanwhile, pressed her lips tight, eyes flickering between anger and confusion.
Kain basked in it.
The way their composure cracked under pressure was more satisfying than any duel.
He let the silence hang a moment longer, then leaned back casually, like a predator who knew the prey was already cornered.
"I'll be honest with you," Kain said, his tone velvet and venom at once.
"I don't hate Aiden. Hate would mean he's worth the energy. He's… background noise. White static. And yet you people expect me to act like he's important"
[Skill: Devil's Tongue]
[Plant seeds of doubt. Force the target to imagine weakness in someone they care about]
Mrs. Angel's brows furrowed, tension and denial fighting in her chest before Kain spoke up again.
"Did he tell you that despite knowing they wanted more affection, this fucking moron couldn't even hold their hands?"
"That a simple peck on the cheek would send him flying to the moon, seriously, what is he? Five?"
Elena's breath hitched audibly before she bit her lip and turned her gaze away.
[System Notification]
[Elena | Affection: 12% | Loyalty: 10% | Lust: 25%]
[Emotion: Conflicted, shaken, slightly aroused]
[Thought: "He shouldn't say things like that… so why does part of me want to hear more?"]
Mrs. Angel's composure faltered, her voice trembling as she finally spoke.
"You're… vile. Dangerous…"
Kain leaned closer just enough that the air between them grew warmer.
"Dangerous men get things done, Mrs. Angel. Fragile boys get left in the dust"
[Skill: Corrupt Insight]
[Force the target to envision what they secretly desire but refuse to admit]
Elara's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of something, memory, longing, need, surfacing before she blinked it away.
She crossed her arms tighter, though her nails dug faintly into her skin.
[System Notification]
[Elara | Affection: 7% | Loyalty: 5% | Lust: 10%]
[Emotion: Rattled, conflicted intrigue]
[Thought: "No… no, I won't let this man… but why does he feel so certain?"]
Kain laughed, sharp and amused.
"Tell that coward I'm always up for a challenge if he ever grows the balls to stand up to me"
He rose, giving a quick bow to Iris.
The two Angels sat stunned, their walls already spiderwebbed with cracks.
Forced to stare at his back as he left Iris's office with a satisfied look.
"..."
"..."
Elara exhaled shakily.
Her nails left faint crescents in her arms.
Elena still stared at the desk, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but nothing came.
Iris, meanwhile, leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
"Well," she said lightly.
"Now that the matter is settled. Please leave as you know, Aiden has cut any connection he has to Zenith Academy, so please do not bother him anymore"
Elara flipped her head around so quickly.
She pressed her lip so hard it looked like she was going to pop with anger.
"This isn't over!"
Iris let out a low chuckle as she went back to her paperwork.
"Sure"
Meanwhile…
Kain walked towards his next class.
Students shrank from his presence, whispers trailing behind him, but he paid no mind.
His thoughts were already elsewhere, lingering on the way Elara's mask had slipped, the way Elena's breath had hitched.
[System Notification]
[New Quest Unlocked: "Angel's Descent"]
[Objective: Corrupt the mother and sister of the fallen hero]
[Reward:??? ]
Kain chuckled under his breath.
"Ah. You can only blame yourself, Aiden. At least Finn knew not to fuck with me anymore"
"This is all on you!"
He grinned.
Looks like the Heavens were on his side after all.
Five Minutes Later…
He entered the classroom without a care in the world.
Sliding into his seat like the morning hadn't been a blood sport.
Pencils and pens paused.
Eyes tracked him.
He didn't bother pretending to care.
Ruby leaned on his desk, blue eyes narrowed.
"What did Iris want? Are you good?"
Lyla's voice was softer, careful.
"If this is about… earlier, we can handle fallout"
Beatrix crossed her arms, jaw tight.
"Did Aiden try something stupid?"
Alyssa clutched her notebook to her chest.
"Kain… we were worried"
Nina scoffed, but her tail flicked hard.
"He somehow found a way to be a nuisance once more, didn't he?"
Lupa nodded in agreement.
"Tch. Can't that fucker take a hint?"
Hazel's gaze lingered, analytic.
Holly stood beside her, cool and unreadable.
Aqua's eyes glimmered with a calm tide.
Yani peered up from a folded menu she'd been scribbling in.
"Are we still having dinner? I was thinking sweet cream pastries—"
Kain's smile shut them all up at once.
"Relax," he said, lazy and amused.
"The sky isn't falling. I'm taking care of it, so don't worry"
That earned him a chorus of relieved exhales and a couple of wicked grins.
"Here's what you're actually going to do," Kain continued, tapping a finger on the desk.
"Ditch class. Now. Go buy dresses for tonight"
Alyssa blinked.
"Right now?"
"Right now," he repeated.
"I want heads turning and jaws breaking when you walk in"
"Ruby, pick something that makes the jealous choke"
"Lyla, soft, but dangerous"
"Beatrix, something that really brings out your knight training"
"Aqua, ocean silk, or something that goes with that blue hair"
"Lupa, white when you're not awakened, silver when you are"
"Hazel, Holly, contrast like night and day"
"Nina, something that says 'look at me and die.'"
"Alyssa, cute pink with a bit of red"
"Yani, coordinate them. Colors, silhouettes, the whole parade"
Ruby's grin sharpened.
"Gods, I love it when you tell us to be a problem!"
Beatrix smirked.
"Understood"
Nina clicked her tongue, already standing.
"Fine," but she had a nice blush already forming.
The row turned into motion, bags, laughter, a flicker of chaos when Kain's hand closed gently around Darcy's wrist.
"Stay," he murmured.
Her eyes lit like a struck match.
"Mm?"
They stepped into the shadow of the hall, just out of earshot.
"I want everything on Aiden's mother and daughter," Kain said, voice low.
"Elara and Elena Angel. Habits. Schedules. Weak points. Who they owe, what they hide, who they can't live without. Servants they trust. The shops they frequent. Temples, they pretend to pray at"
Darcy's lips curled.
"You want me to peel them."
"I want you to flay their secrets and gift-wrap the nerves," he corrected, smiling.
"Also, find Aiden and Finn's hometown. I don't care if Finn thinks he's done with me. Drag both of their names through every mirror they've ever looked into. Make sure they know I'm coming back for whatever they have left"
Darcy shivered, breath catching.
"I should ask Ruby, I think they all have the same hometown"
"Good, just get it done by tomorrow," Kain said.
She bit her lip, eyes bright.
"Yes, Kain"
He brushed his thumb over her knuckles, a reward and a command in one.
"Good girl"
Darcy nodded once and slipped away, already a ghost.
Kain strolled back to the threshold; the others clustered at the exit, fizzing with anticipation.
"Eight o'clock," he said, voice carrying.
"Don't be late. Don't be subtle!"
Ruby blew him a kiss.
Lyla gave him a beautiful smile.
Alyssa gave him a quick hug before running back to the group.
Beatrix tapped her sword hilt like a promise.
Lupa winked, and Aqua's laugh was a cool ripple.
Hazel and Holly exchanged a quiet, competitive glance.
Nina rolled her shoulders like she was walking into a fight.
Yani skipped, already humming dress ideas and dessert lists.
They vanished down the corridor.
Kain let out a low whistle as he walked toward his room.
[System Notification]
[Quest Updated: "Angel's Descent"]
[Sub-Objective Added: "The Forgotten Pawn" (Target: Finn)]
[Sub-Objective Added: "The Silent Fool" (Target: Aiden)]
Meanwhile…
The mall was alive with glitter and noise, a palace of glass skylights and polished marble floors.
Bright advertisements flickered across giant screens, mannequins stood in their frozen perfection, and clerks behind counters tried their best not to stare at the approaching storm.
Kain's girls didn't simply walk.
They owned the floor.
Heads turned.
Whispers spread.
And when Ruby stopped in front of the largest boutique, she clapped her hands once like a commander signaling the charge.
"Alright," she declared, eyes glittering as she surveyed the racks of silk and velvet.
"Kain said dresses. So let's not embarrass him!"
"Oh, don't act like you're doing this for him," Nina cut in with her sly smirk, slipping past Ruby to trail her fingers along a rack of crimson gowns.
"You've been dying for an excuse to spend half his money on fabric you'll only wear once"
Ruby snatched a scarlet gown from its place and spun it around her body, pressing the silk to her chest with a grin sharp enough to slice glass.
"And he'll love every damn coin I spend"
Aqua rolled her eyes, her hand brushing over the cool shimmer of a deep blue dress.
"Honestly… I can't believe we're stressing this much. It's just dinner"
Beatrix, standing behind them with her arms crossed, let out a low, humorless laugh.
"'Execpt the fact that some losers will be trying to pick us up…"
Ruby smirked, tossing her hair back like a banner.
"Exactly. Which is why I plan to make them choke"
That earned a ripple of laughter through the group, and soon fabric was flying from racks, colors debated, hems compared, necklines argued over.
But not everyone joined in right away.
Lyla stood a little apart, her hand lingering on a pale gown, her eyes lost in its shimmer as if she saw something no one else could.
Her voice came soft, almost hesitant, yet it cut through the chatter like glass across silk.
"I used to think strength meant being untouchable," she said.
"That letting no one close made you invincible. But with Kain… It's different. He sees me. And for once, I don't feel weak because of it"
The others stilled.
For a moment, the boutique went quiet, save for the low hum of background music.
"…Great. Lyla's gone all poetic on us again," Ruby muttered, though her grin betrayed affection more than irritation.
Beatrix leaned against the doorframe of a changing stall, boots tapping against tile in a slow rhythm.
"She's not wrong. I was raised to serve. To protect names that weren't mine, to die for people who would never remember me. That was supposed to be enough"
She lowered her gaze, then smiled faintly.
"But when Kain told me to stand beside him instead of beneath him… I finally felt like I mattered. For the first time. Unlike a certain fool"
Ruby rested her chin in her palm, her scarlet dress still draped across her frame.
"Oh, now we're getting confessions? Don't think I'll stay quiet"
"You never do," Holly muttered dryly from the mirror, adjusting the sleek lines of a black onyx gown against her body.
Ruby ignored her.
Her eyes softened, though her grin never faltered.
"Kain isn't like other men. He isn't foolish or cowardly. He knows exactly what he wants, and he'll chase it to the ends of the earth if he has to. Even if it takes weeks!"
Nina huffed, trying to look unaffected as she pulled a blood-red gown with a slit that left little to the imagination.
But the faint flush in her cheeks betrayed her.
"He's cocky. Infuriating. Always smirking like he's two steps ahead of everyone else. And yet…" she paused, her voice dipping low.
"When he looks at you… It's like you're the only one in the room. Like he's stripped away everything else. And then you can't think straight…"
"Now that's a confession," Darcy drawled, pushing open a changing booth curtain.
She emerged in a violet dress that hugged her figure like a second skin, her smirk sharp and dangerous.
"When I met him, I was anything but kind. My loyalty was chained to a fool who couldn't even move forward"
"But Kain… the way he carried himself, his presence, it hooked me. I couldn't stop wondering about him. And I never looked back"
"He's gentle with us, isn't he?"
Aqua's voice was quieter, though her lips curved into a smile as she draped a gown over her arm.
"Me? I wasted time with someone who never cared enough to know me. He acted shocked when I chose someone who did"
Lupa laughed, sharp and wild, tossing a silver-white dress over her shoulder like a wolf baring its teeth.
"Which is why we can bother him so much. He chose us. And we chose him"
Hazel studied her reflection in a midnight gown, tilting her head as if trying to make sense of her own words.
"Such an odd human," she murmured.
Alyssa stepped out in a soft pink dress dotted with roses, cheeks glowing as she spun once for the others, her smile radiant.
"And that's what keeps us on our toes. He's never predictable. That's why he shines"
And then there was Yani.
Arms loaded with more dresses than any sane person could possibly wear in one evening, her sketchbook still somehow tucked under one elbow, she looked almost comical, and yet her beaming face carried no shame.
She scribbled furiously, trying to capture every neckline and detail.
"I'm just glad," she said softly, without looking up, "that he didn't kill me when he had the chance"
"Despite what I am… he welcomed me. With open arms…"
The others fell silent for a beat.
Even Ruby's smirk faded as they glanced at the goblin hybrid, the weight of her words sinking deep.
And then, as if sensing the heaviness, Ruby snapped the tension with a flick of her scarlet gown.
"Well. If we're all done confessing, can we get back to what matters? Making every single pair of eyes in that hall regret ever doubting us"
The laughter came again, lighter this time, spilling across silk and mirrors.
And together, they drowned the boutique in colors, voices, and a quiet devotion that no outsider could ever truly understand.
Kain's Room
He stood in front of the mirror, buttoning his black shirt, humming softly to some tune only he knew.
His reflection looked back at him, calm, unbothered, the kind of man who didn't prepare for a battlefield or a banquet, but treated both the exact same way.
His phone buzzed on the desk. He lazily reached for it without breaking his rhythm.
Darcy:
Attached was a photo of Finn, swallowed by blankets, eyes glazed at his monitor like a corpse that discovered Wi-Fi.
"He hasn't left his room in months. He doesn't even answer when people knock"
Kain chuckled under his breath.
"Poor bastard"
He slipped his watch on, still humming.
The phone buzzed again.
This time, the girls were tearing poor Finn apart.
Ruby:
"Darcy with the killshot. RIP Finn"
Alyssa:
"Not RIP. More like good riddance"
Beatrix:
"He was always too weak. Kain just proved it"
Lyla:
"Stop talking about him. It's pathetic"
He let out a low chuckle, typing one-handed.
Kain:
"Focus on getting ready. I'm about to pick you all up"
Immediately, a flood of notifications poured in.
Ruby:
"Of course, love. See you in a bit~"
Alyssa:
"We'll make you proud, Kain"
Lyla:
"You'd better appreciate the effort I'm putting into this"
Kain tossed his phone onto the bed before the spam could escalate further.
He was still humming when it buzzed again.
This time, a new message, not the group.
Nina:
Attached is a photo of Aiden at the corner store, arms stacked with tubs of ice cream, a rom-com DVD slipping from his grip. His face was pale, his eyes hollow. He looked like heartbreak had chewed him up and spit him out.
"I don't think he's coming for you… It seems like he already gave up"
[System Notification]
[Sub-Objective Completed: "The Forgotten Pawn" (Target: Finn)]
[Sub-Objective Completed: "The Silent Fool" (Target: Aiden)]
[Rewards: Erogenous Overload]
[Grants you the ability to pinpoint and hyper-stimulate a partner's most sensitive erogenous zones, driving them to a state of overwhelming pleasure. By targeting multiple sensitive areas simultaneously, you can induce powerful, almost debilitating orgasms]
"Nice! Well, I'd better get going, pretty sure they can't wait any longer"
He reached for his jacket, sliding it on with the same careless grace.
Before closing the door behind him with a soft thump!