Recap of Chapter 37:Adrian and Kael clashed in the grand hall, their Diamond and Obsidian chains colliding in a furious storm of light and shadow. Kael revealed his greatest advantage: Dark Mommies, twisted versions of Adrian's Sugar Mommies, who fueled his dominance with cruelty and corrupted lust. With the balance hanging by a thread, Adrian fought to keep his Diamond Bond burning bright — but the darkness pressed closer with every moment.
The marble floor cracked under their power. Chains of diamond and obsidian lashed through the air, shattering chandeliers and sending fragments of crystal raining down like sparks of war.
Adrian's teeth clenched as he pushed his Diamond Chains forward, every pulse resonating with the strength of Seraphina, Celeste, and the others who had chosen him. The bonds didn't just empower him — they reminded him why he fought.
Kael, however, looked almost amused. His Obsidian Chains slithered like serpents, wrapping around Adrian's light and crushing it. Behind him, his three Dark Mommies circled, their eyes burning crimson.
One stepped forward — a tall woman with raven hair, her lips curved in a cruel smile. She snapped her fingers, and a black flame coiled around Adrian's ankles, searing with both heat and raw desire.
Adrian gasped, nearly buckling under the wave. His body screamed for release, for surrender — but his spirit burned hotter.
The system chimed:
[Alert: Dark Mommy Curse Detected.]Effect: Lust Drain – 20% stamina reduction.]
Celeste's voice cut through the haze. "Adrian! Focus — the Diamond Bond can counter curses. Redirect Seraphina's blessing through your veins!"
Adrian shut his eyes for a heartbeat, pulling on the prismatic flame burning in his chest. The Diamond Bond surged, flaring through him in bursts of ecstasy and will. The black fire hissed, recoiling, and then shattered into sparks.
When he opened his eyes, Kael was smirking.
"Not bad," Kael growled. "But you're still a child playing at thrones."
He yanked his chains, slamming Adrian into the marble. Pain ripped through his body, but the Diamond Bond kept him from breaking.
Seraphina finally stepped forward, her diamonds glittering like a thousand blades. Her voice was soft but sharp. "Careful, Kael. He's not like the others you've crushed."
Kael laughed, deep and cruel. "Oh, I know. That's why I'm enjoying this."
The second Dark Mommy joined the fight. Pale-skinned, with silver hair cascading like rivers, she extended her hand — and a wave of shadows erupted, filling the hall with suffocating darkness.
Adrian staggered, blinded, chains thrashing uselessly. The darkness clung to him, seeping into his pores, whispering promises of surrender.
The system screamed:
[Alert: Host under Obsidian Fog.]Risk: Loss of Willpower.]
Adrian grit his teeth. "No… I won't break."
He focused, channeling every Sugar Mommy bond, every memory of triumph, every whisper of pleasure that had once fueled him. The Diamond Chains pulsed with pure light, slicing through the fog in radiant beams.
For a moment, the darkness parted.
But Kael was already moving. He lunged, Obsidian Chains wrapping around Adrian's torso and pinning him down. His face loomed close, his eyes burning with menace.
"You're strong," Kael admitted, his tone grudging. "But strength isn't enough. The system doesn't reward heroes. It rewards monsters."
Adrian snarled. "Then I'll be the monster who tears you apart."
The hall shook as their powers collided once more, the air itself fracturing under the clash.
The third Dark Mommy finally stepped forward. She was the most terrifying of all — eyes burning with wicked joy, her fingers tipped with claws. She sliced the air, and the Obsidian Chains sprouted spikes that sank deep into Adrian's light.
The system wailed:
[Diamond Bond Integrity: 65%… 50%…]
Celeste screamed. "Adrian, you're losing—!"
But Seraphina only smirked, her diamonds glowing brighter. "Not yet. Look at him, Celeste. He's not done."
And Seraphina was right.
Adrian roared, summoning everything. The Diamond Bond erupted in a storm of prismatic fire, blasting outward in a wave so intense the Dark Mommies staggered back, hissing in pain.
Kael's smirk faltered. For the first time, his chains cracked.
The system's voice boomed:
[Diamond Bond Ascension Triggered.]New Ability: Crown of Desire – Manifest Throne Energy.]
A radiant crown formed above Adrian's head, diamonds glittering like stars. His chains thickened, glowing like molten light, and with one swing he shattered Kael's grip, forcing the rival host back.
Kael growled, shadows swirling angrily. "So… you finally show your teeth."
Adrian stood tall, crown blazing, every nerve alight with both pain and ecstasy. His chest heaved, but his eyes burned with fire. "This isn't just about me. It's about every bond I've made. Every Mommy who chose me."
The palace walls cracked, the throne itself flickering into existence at the far end of the hall. A towering seat carved of light and shadow — Desire's Throne.
The system thundered:
[Final Phase Unlocked: Claim Desire's Throne.]Objective: Defeat Rival Host Kael or lose everything.]
Adrian's heart raced. This was it. The culmination.
Kael bared his teeth, his Dark Mommies regrouping behind him. "Then come, Adrian. Let's see who the system truly favors."
The ground split, chains writhing, light and shadow crashing together as both hosts charged.