Spirit_Alphabet

Chapter 63: The Searing Sand Arena

The midday sun began to shine more intensely, but under the large beach umbrella, the atmosphere was cool and exceptionally relaxing. The heated photoshoot had ended, leaving behind a comfortable silence and a faint static charge that still lingered between the two of them. The waves continued to crash against the shore in a slow, steady rhythm, as if lulling this peaceful moment to continue.

Owen was meticulously packing Jace's expensive "ChronoFrame" camera into its aluminum case. His every movement was as careful as if he were handling a priceless antique. He felt relieved that this seemingly reckless mission had been successfully completed.

Sahara had put her thin silk robe back on over her bikini. She sat with her legs elegantly crossed on the lounge chair, slowly sipping a glass of fruit juice, while her eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, watched him with an unreadable smile.

"I have to admit..." she said, breaking the silence, her voice tinged with genuine surprise. "You really impressed me. I never thought someone with such boring fashion sense would have such a good artistic eye."

Owen chuckled softly. He closed the latches on the camera case with a click and turned to face her. "I'm just a novice photographer trying to do my best... especially with such a beautiful and cooperative model in front of me."

The direct compliment made Sahara's smile widen. "Sweet talker... But fine, you did very well today. I had more fun than I expected."

But as the relaxed atmosphere was about to continue, just as Owen was about to lift the camera case, his Awakened instincts screamed a warning! He felt two chillingly sharp killing intents aimed directly at his back, intense and menacing!

Fwip! Fwiss!

The soft sounds of objects cutting through the air, filled with murderous intent, came from behind him from two different directions simultaneously!

Owen didn't even have time to turn around. The instincts honed from combat and survival in dimensional gates shrieked a violent warning, making the hairs on his body stand on end. His body reacted before his brain could command it. He threw the camera case onto the sand and kicked off with all his might, throwing himself sideways and rolling across the hot ground!

His world spun for a moment. He felt the cold edge of a dagger slice through the air where his neck had been just a split second before, the chill of it stinging his skin. At the same instant, a low thud sounded. A silenced bullet buried itself in the sand where he had just been standing, creating a small hole with a wisp of smoke rising from it!

Owen sprang back to his feet, instantly in a ready stance. He turned to face the threat that had appeared so suddenly and silently. Two men in practical, dark casual clothes stood before him in attack range. Their eyes were as cold and emotionless as a viper's. The tattooed man was pulling a new dagger from his waist, while the scarred man was lowering his silenced pistol, surprised that their target had dodged.

What's going on? Owen was utterly confused. He had no idea why these two wanted to kill him. His once-relaxed eyes turned cold and serious in an instant. He clenched his fists, preparing for the unexpected fight.

Amidst the sudden chaos that erupted like a lightning strike, Sahara showed no signs of panic. Her composure was astonishing, as if she had anticipated this would happen. She remained seated, legs crossed on the lounge chair, moving only slightly to avoid the sand kicked up by Owen's dodge.

Her eyes, hidden behind expensive sunglasses, remained fixed on the confrontation before her. She let out a soft sigh, not of fear, but of annoyance that her peaceful rest had been disturbed.

Suddenly, a powerful and fierce woman's whisper sounded next to her ear. "Shall I help him, my lady?"

Sahara gave a knowing smirk and shook her head slightly. "Not yet, my love... I want to see for myself... just how capable the man I've chosen is."

"Hmph! At least I like him more than that pervert Jace. He keeps secretly taking pictures of your ass. If you hadn't stopped me, I would've flushed him down a toilet!" The whisper was filled with clear anger and dissatisfaction.

The comment made Sahara suppress a chuckle. "Don't be so hard on him, my love~ He's my best friend, after all. Even if he has some... strange hobbies."

With that, she calmly leaned back on her lounge chair, crossed her legs elegantly, and took a small sip of her fruit juice, as if waiting for an interesting show to begin.

.....

The men in black didn't give Owen much time to recover. They exchanged a look and attacked simultaneously, systematic and merciless.

The tattooed man was a C-Rank Power-Type Awakened. He immediately used his "Acceleration" ability! To a normal person, his body was just a blur, but to Owen, it was a shockingly fast movement. He closed the distance in an instant, the dagger in his right hand flashing like a silver streak, aiming for the vital points at Owen's neck and heart like a serpent, while his left hand raised the silenced pistol to fire, cutting off any path of retreat.

Swish! Swish!

Owen was under immense pressure. He used the footwork he had trained so hard for to dodge the continuous barrage of dagger strikes. The bullets fired to block his path forced him to change direction abruptly, causing him to lose his rhythm several times.

And as Owen was busy surviving the close-quarters assault, the scarred man, a B-Rank Elemental-Magic Type Awakened, stood calmly at mid-range. He slowly raised a small, black wooden staff. A brown jewel at its tip began to glow faintly.

"Arise... Wall of Sand!" As he roared, more than half of his mana was drained, sacrificed for the major spell. The sand around Owen and Sahara vibrated violently before a wall of compressed sand, over four meters high, shot up from the ground! It encircled them, cutting off all escape routes and instantly transforming the open beach into a searing arena of death!

'Damn it! These two work as a team!' The thought flashed through Owen's mind like lightning. Adrenaline surged through his body, his heart pounding. He glanced at the sand wall that had completely enclosed them before a cold analysis replaced his panic. 'One is a high-speed Power-Type to apply pressure up close, while the other is an Earth-Element mage to control the area and cut off escape... a professional coordination... This is a clear-cut slaughterhouse.'

The scarred man didn't let his enemy's shock last. Seeing his partner continuously pressuring Owen, he began to cast another earth spell to end the fight.

His palm touched the hot sand. Brown mana flowed from his body like roots burrowing into the ground. "Stone Spear!"

At his roar, the sand behind Owen, a perfect blind spot, sank slightly before a sharp spear made of solid rock shot up, silent and swift. It aimed straight for the center of Owen's back, intending to pierce through his body and end his life in one blow!

'Shit! I can't dodge this!' Owen swore internally. He was busy dodging the non-stop dagger strikes from the front. This coordinated, seamless attack left him with no options.

He had no choice but to use his [Avatar of Asura]!

Vwoosh!

An arm made of crimson mana, engraved with ancient patterns, appeared in the air behind him. It wasn't clenched into a fist, but open, a palm as strong as an iron shield.

CLANG!

The sound of the mana palm striking the tip of the stone spear was like metal hitting rock. The sturdy stone spear shattered into pieces, raining down on the ground. The surprise attack had cost Owen his focus and created a momentary opening... and that was the split second the high-speed assassin was waiting for.

"Too slow!" the tattooed man yelled, lunging forward at maximum speed.

SCHLICK!

The cold edge of the dagger sliced across Owen's left arm, leaving a long gash. A searing pain shot through his brain, forcing him to grit his teeth. Bright red blood seeped from the wound, staining his favorite grey t-shirt.

The fierce battle continued amidst the sound of the waves and wind trapped outside the sand wall. Owen was completely on the defensive. It was a dance of death, and he was being forced to move to his enemies' rhythm. He had to dodge the fast, dangerous attacks from the assassin before him while also watching out for the earth magic constantly being fired from a distance barrages of sand bullets and sand pits forming under his feet to trap his movement.

Owen used only the necessary amount of mana to defend himself. Asura arms were created and destroyed over and over, sometimes as a palm to parry the dagger, sometimes as a gauntlet to block sand bullets. But every time an Asura arm was destroyed and had to be recreated, it drained his meager mana reserves.

After several minutes of pressure, the tattooed man smirked, holding the upper hand. He saw the large beads of sweat on Owen's temples and his increasingly heavy breathing.

"You're better than I expected, but with an F-Rank mana level... you can't last much longer!" he taunted, before exploding forward again, this time faster and more ferocious than before.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Owen managed to summon an Asura arm just in time to block the dagger. The impact sent a shockwave through his body, forcing him back a step. He panted heavily, the salty sweat stinging his eyes. The enemy's taunt echoed in his head... he was right.

'My mana... is almost gone...' Owen thought, feeling the energy in his body about to run dry... In his desperate thoughts, the [Warp Reality] power emerged as an option... but he immediately discarded it... 'Not yet... It's not time for my last trump card.' He decided firmly. 'If I stay on the defensive, I'll lose... I have to risk it all!'

Owen made his decision in a split second. He feigned a misstep while dodging the latest sand bullet, his body stumbling sideways deliberately. The Asura arm he was using to defend himself dissipated, seemingly because he was out of mana, revealing a huge opening across his chest and torso.

The tattooed man saw it and smirked arrogantly. "Out of mana, you piece of trash!"

Carelessness took over. The thought of finishing this strong "prey" with his own hands was too sweet to wait for his partner's support. He shot forward at maximum speed, like an arrow, intending to plunge his dagger through Owen's heart!

But just as he entered the kill zone... Owen's once-weary eyes flashed with a cold, sharp light!

'You're in my trap!' Owen roared in his mind.

He exploded with a counterattack! And this time, he didn't use the Asura arms for defense, but to "capture!"

Vwoosh! Vwoosh!

Two crimson mana arms appeared in front of Owen with shocking speed. They didn't move to parry the dagger but shot forward, grabbing both of the tattooed man's arms with violent precision!

"Ah! What the!?" The tattooed man's eyes widened in shock. He struggled to break free, but it was too late. The Asura arms constricted around his arms like steel clamps, immobilizing him.

With his enemy momentarily frozen, Owen didn't let the golden opportunity slip. He reinforced both his fists with all his remaining mana, until they glowed with a faint red light. Then, he unleashed the most brutal and violent close-range assault he could muster!

THWACK! THWACK!

His right and left fists, reinforced with mana, slammed into the tattooed man's solar plexus and ribs! The faint sound of cracking bones could be heard. His body bent like a shrimp in pain.

THUD! THUD!

Owen hammered his fists into the same spots relentlessly. Every punch was packed with the destructive power he had learned from Nova.

"Ack... gurgle... cough!" The tattooed man coughed up blood, his eyes starting to roll back as he neared unconsciousness from the heavy blows.

"You! Let him go!"

The scarred man's furious roar came from behind. He was pale with shock seeing his partner fall. He quickly raised his staff to cast another major spell to save him.

"Stone Fist!"

The sand in front of him rapidly formed into a giant fist, which then shot towards Owen with immense destructive power, trying to force him to release his partner!

Owen cursed in frustration. He knew if he took this attack head-on, he'd be seriously injured. He reluctantly released the Asura arms and kicked off with all his strength, dodging out of the attack's radius just in time.

BOOM!

The stone fist slammed into the sand, creating a small crater. The shockwave and sandblast spread out.

Owen retreated to a safe distance, his body trembling slightly from using every last drop of mana in his last attack. He panted heavily, feeling the emptiness inside him make the world blur and his head spin.

The scarred man rushed to support his partner, who had collapsed to the ground. "Hey! Are you okay!?"

"Cough... cough... Damn it!!!... I think a few of my ribs are broken!" the tattooed man replied hoarsely. He struggled to his feet. Though heavily injured, he could still fight.

Now, all carelessness and arrogance were gone from their eyes, replaced by the utmost caution and seething hatred. They no longer saw Owen as "F-Rank trash," but as a monster hiding its fangs behind a weak mask.

The two stood side-by-side again, working as a team with much more caution, preparing to attack Owen, who now had almost no energy left to fight. The atmosphere grew tense once more…

—-------

Chapter 62: The Work of Art 2

Sahara's words, declaring she was "ready," still echoed in Owen's head. He stood frozen, taking a deep breath to calm the turbulent emotions from the heated touch moments before. The sweet scent of sunscreen mixed with her unique body odor still lingered on his nose and palms.

He forced a slow nod before deliberately turning his back on her, breaking away from her seductive gaze to buy himself a moment to regroup. He walked back to the matte black aluminum camera case leaning against the terrace pillar. The two clicks of the latches unlocking in the silence were like a signal, calling him back to his mission.

The sight of the "ChronoFrame X-Pro" resting on the bright red velvet cushion helped pull his focus back to the true objective… Jace's insane mission.

After calming his turbulent emotions, Owen finally picked up the heavy camera. The cool touch of the titanium body and its solid weight effectively brought his senses back. He fully slipped into the role of a professional photographer to control the situation and his own wavering mind.

"Okay, Ms. Sahara," he began, his voice as formal and composed as he could manage. "We'll start with some casual wide shots first, to get a feel for the light and the atmosphere… You can start with a pose like you're reading on the lounge chair."

Sahara smiled, pleased with his (fake) professionalism. She elegantly lay back down on the lounge chair in the same position, picking up a hardcover book and pretending to read. But her eyes, hidden behind expensive sunglasses, were fixed on Owen's every move.

Click…

The shutter of the professional-grade camera sounded, soft yet crisp. It was the only sound that broke the silence amidst the rhythmic crashing of the waves. Owen started with wide shots to familiarize himself and regain his footing. He moved around her silently, changing angles to capture her beauty amidst the luxurious atmosphere of the private beach. The sunlight hitting the turquoise sea created a sparkling, beautiful bokeh in the background.

Sahara cooperated fully. She was a true professional. Every movement was natural and elegant, befitting a fashion queen. She shifted from a relaxed sunbathing pose to leaning against the large umbrella post, arching her body slightly to accentuate the curve of her hips, or walking along the shore, letting the foam of the waves touch her feet. Every pose was as beautiful as a shot from a high-fashion magazine.

Seeing Owen getting into the zone and focusing on his work, Sahara started to have fun with the game. She decided to tease and seduce her "photographer" to the absolute limit.

As she stood sideways to the camera, letting the breeze gently play with her hair, she pretended to stretch lazily. She slowly raised her arms above her head, twisting her torso slightly. The movement made her full breasts stand out, the fabric of the bikini pulling taut until the hard nubs of her nipples were clearly visible, pressing against it. Then, she deliberately arched her full, rounded hips towards the camera.

"Does this angle… please you? My personal photographer~" she asked, her voice syrupy sweet, glancing at him over her shoulder. The word "my" was clearly emphasized.

Owen almost dropped the camera. He swallowed hard, trying to focus on the composition and leading lines instead of the seductive curves before him. "P-Perfect," he answered, his voice trembling slightly, quickly firing off a series of shots to capture the incredible image.

She giggled, delighted to see him lose his composure, before walking a little deeper into the water. The waves splashed against her legs, soaking them. The wet fabric of her bikini clung to her buttocks, revealing their round shape even more clearly. Every groove, every curve was now even more pronounced than when it was dry.

Sahara could feel his focused gaze. She slowly turned to face the camera, a dangerous and seductive smile at the corner of her lips.

"Or… do you want a shot that's… a little more intimate?" she said, slowly running her hands over her smooth stomach and flared hips. Her fingertips traced the damp edge of her bikini, caressing her own skin as if inviting his lens to do the same. It was an act that was both innocent and lewd at the same time.

"Tell me, darling…" she whispered, as if the sound had drifted in on the sea breeze. "What do you want me to do next?"

Her question shattered the last of Owen's professional facade, like tossing a lit match onto a pool of gasoline. Owen could feel the blood rushing through his veins. The cock beneath his pants hardened until it ached. But he knew this was a test… a test of whether he would be consumed by his primal instincts or maintain his composure and professionalism.

He gathered all his remaining focus, suppressing his surging desire. His eyes looked deep into her challenging ones before a dangerous smirk appeared at the corner of his lips. He replied in a voice as steady and seductive as hers.

"Since you asked… I won't be shy~" he said, walking closer until he could feel the heat radiating from her skin. "I want to admire your body, this 'work of art'… from every angle."

He paused, letting his words hang in the heated atmosphere. "Let's start with… you turning your back to me slowly… and looking back… let me see the shadow cast upon your most beautiful curves."

Sahara raised an eyebrow, surprised by his boldness. She hadn't expected him to maintain control. She obeyed willingly, slowly turning her back to the camera, revealing her smooth back and rounded buttocks, which were now dotted with a few grains of white sand. Then, she turned her head to look back at him over her shoulder with a challenging gaze.

"Like this?"

"Yes! Perfect! Hold that pose!" Owen quickly fired off a series of shots. He zoomed in and out, changing the angle from straight-on to a slight upward angle, just as Jace had requested.

The image through the "Stellar Optics" lens was breathtaking. Her perfect buttocks filled the frame. The late-morning sun created highlights on her honey-colored skin, perfectly accentuating every curve and contour. The small grains of sand clinging to her cheeks sparkled like jewels.

Owen slowly lowered himself… lower and lower… until he was kneeling on the hot sand. He was now looking at the masterpiece through the angle of Jace's dreams… the upward angle that made her buttocks look as grand and formidable as twin mountains waiting to be conquered.

Owen had finally captured the most perfect "work of art." But that wasn't enough for Jace, and it wasn't enough for him right now either…

"Excellent," he praised, walking to the other side. "Now… I want a slightly different angle. Use both hands to hold the umbrella post, and lean forward until your torso is parallel to the ground."

Sahara smiled, knowing exactly what he was doing, but she complied. She walked to the umbrella post and leaned forward as he instructed. The pose deliberately accentuated and lifted her buttocks. The still-damp fabric of her bikini clung to every curve, clearly revealing the groove between her two ass cheeks.

Owen swallowed hard. This was an extremely dangerous image…

Click! Click! Click! Click!

He shot frantically, capturing every detail… from the shadow cast in the deep groove to the droplets of seawater slowly trickling down the curve of her ass cheeks. It was a sight that was both sacred and profane at the same time.

"Are you satisfied yet… my photographer?" Sahara's voice sounded, pulling him from his trance.

Owen took a deep breath and slowly stood, brushing the sand from his knees. "The best shots of the day," he answered truthfully.

The photoshoot ended with a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Owen walked over to thank her formally.

"Thank you for today. You truly are the best model."

"Of course, darling~" she smiled, gracefully picking up her robe and putting it on. "I hope you got the shots you were 'satisfied' with."

Owen chuckled softly. He felt that after passing this heated test, their relationship had become closer and more casual. He felt he was beginning to understand this complex and intriguing woman a little better.

…..

Two hundred meters away…

Behind a large granite rock formation, eroded by wind and waves into a strange shape resembling the claws of some monstrous beast, the atmosphere was the complete opposite of the paradise-like beach. There was no relaxation or thrill here, only tension, malice, and danger lurking in the shadows.

The bright sunlight only made the deep shadow behind the rock seem darker and more menacing. The heat radiating from the sun-baked rock caused sweat to bead on the hairlines of two men, mixing with the damp, salty air and the faint smell of rust from the pocketknife at their waists.

The two men, dressed in black long-sleeved t-shirts and cargo pants, were crouched in silence, like predators stalking their prey. One of them, who had an ugly scar across his left eyebrow, was using binoculars to watch the scene on the beach intently. The lenses reflected a clear image of Owen and Sahara enjoying their photoshoot.

He saw everything… from the scene where Owen carefully rubbed sunscreen on Sahara's back and seductive buttocks, to the heated poses and the intimate teasing that went beyond a typical photographer and model.

"Look at that… the queen is having fun with her man," the scarred man said in a flat, cold voice. He lowered the binoculars and turned to his partner, who was carefully wiping a silenced pistol with a small cloth. "It was worth the wait, hiding out here every day. She finally let her guard down."

"Yeah…" his partner, who had a spiderweb tattoo on his neck, replied without looking up. "I was bored to death staking her out in the city. At least the view is better here." He smirked. "We haven't seen her go anywhere alone for weeks. She's been on high alert, like she knows someone is after her. I can't believe she'd come out today with just one guy… This is our golden opportunity."

"Stick to the plan," the scarred man said, his eyes narrowing menacingly. "We take out the pretty boy first, make it quick. Then we have some fun with our target."

He gave a wicked smirk, licking his dry lips. "The client wants her destroyed—reputation, social status, body, and soul. But she has to be alive to see it… So, we'll rape the fashion queen, film it from every angle, and release it all over the internet… That's it, job done. The reputation she built her whole life will crumble in one night."

"Just to be sure," the tattooed man interjected. He looked up, meeting his partner's eyes, his own gaze colder and more cautious. "We need to check that guy out first. He could be a high-rank Awakened hired as a bodyguard. Let's not be careless. It's not worth it if the job goes south."

The scarred man nodded in agreement. He took a high-tech device that looked like a pistol from his shoulder bag. The device looked old and heavily modified, with some wires wrapped in electrical tape, but he handled it skillfully. It was a long-range mana scanner, the kind you could only buy on the black market. He slowly extended it from the shadows, aiming at Owen, who was packing up his camera equipment with a relaxed posture.

A faint red beam, invisible to the naked eye, shot out and hit Owen in the middle of his back. Numbers and letters appeared on the device's digital screen…

[Mana Level Detected: F]

Seeing the pathetically low result, both men let out a sigh of relief. The tension on their faces vanished, replaced by cruel and disdainful smiles.

"Hmph… his mana level is only F. What a weakling," the scarred man said contemptuously. "Must be some trash who just awakened. His Awakened rank can't be much different."

"Even better," the tattooed man added. He stood up, stretching until his bones cracked. "Means we don't have to waste our energy. Let's take him out and go have fun with the fashion queen."

The two men looked at each other and nodded. They packed their gear and checked the silenced pistols at their waists one last time before rising and stepping out from the shadows. They moved like leopards, their feet making almost no sound on the hot sand, heading towards their targets, whose fun was about to come to an abrupt end…

—-------

Chapter 61: The Work of Art

Owen pushed open the door to "Jace's Tech Den," and the unique, mixed aroma of high-tech equipment immediately greeted him. He looked past the shelves filled with cutting-edge gadgets towards the counter and found the shop owner in the middle of a full-blown sales performance.

Jace stood casually behind the counter, one hand on his hip while the other demonstrated a small camera drone to a couple, his sales pitch bombastic and full of impressive technical jargon. "And with my brilliantly designed gyroscope system, it doesn't just fly steadily… it can also dodge a bullet fired from 1000 meters away!" he said, skillfully maneuvering the drone to fly back and forth under his arm.

Owen could only shake his head slightly at his friend's unchanging work style. He quietly browsed the shop, waiting for Jace to finish with his customers.

After the couple, impressed by its (unnecessary bullet-dodging) performance, easily agreed to buy the expensive drone, Owen walked over to Jace.

"Still a master salesman, huh, genius~?" Owen greeted him.

"Of course, my friend!" Jace replied proudly. "My products are the real deal, not just hype. So, what can I do for you?"

"Something important," Owen leaned forward and whispered. "I did it, Jace… I claimed I just bought a new camera and wanted to test its performance, so Sahara agreed to be my model. We've set a date for this Wednesday." He explained briefly before getting to the purpose of his visit.

"So I came to you because I need to borrow a professional-grade camera to make it believable. I need a camera that looks like it was just bought… If I use my own, someone like Sahara will know with one glance that it's been used for a long time. The plan could fall apart."

At Owen's words, Jace's whole world stopped spinning. The cloth in his hand fell onto the counter without him realizing it. His eyes went wide with shock, before a fire of envy blazed up, impossible to conceal.

"What!?" he shouted loudly, then shot out from behind the counter, grabbed Owen's shoulders, and shook him violently. "Are you serious!? Sahara agreed to be your model!? One-on-one!?"

Owen could only nod, confused by the overly dramatic reaction.

"This is insane!" Jace let go of Owen and ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "Me… her best friend… I've never gotten an opportunity like that! Do you know how hard I have to work to secretly take pictures of her, just to get one good shot!?" He started pacing around the shop like a caged rat, muttering to himself. "The angle's not right… not enough light… and I have to keep dodging people's eyes… And when I finally get a picture that's as perfect as a fine work of art, it gets deleted right in front of my face?..."

Owen just shrugged at Jace's over-the-top performance. But suddenly, Jace stopped pacing. The look of envy in his eyes was replaced by a spark of hope and extreme excitement, like an artist who had just discovered the path to creating his masterpiece.

"Wait right here!" he ordered sharply, before quickly running and disappearing into the back of the shop.

Not long after, he returned with a sturdy and luxurious matte black aluminum camera case. He placed it on the counter as if laying a cornerstone, then respectfully undid the latches one by one before opening it with care.

Inside was lined with bright red velvet cushioning. In the center lay a "ChronoFrame X-Pro" model mirrorless camera. Its body was made of a solid black titanium alloy, looking powerful and full of technology. It was a special custom-made model with only a few in the world. Next to it was a "Stellar Optics 1200mm" telephoto zoom lens that looked more like a sniper rifle barrel than a camera lens.

Jace looked at it with the eyes of an obsessed artist. He gently caressed the camera as if it were his beloved treasure before looking up to meet Owen's eyes seriously. "This is my treasure, my friend… Take good care of it!"

He handed the camera to Owen, his tone changing. It was filled with passion and pressure. "Get every angle, especially the 'upward angle.' The light and shadow must be as perfect as a Caravaggio painting! Don't you disappoint me!"

Owen took the camera, which was heavier than he expected. He looked deep into Jace's blazing eyes and nodded firmly. He could feel the immense increase in pressure. This was no longer just a mission in exchange for a scanner; it was now carrying the great (and twisted) hopes and dreams of Jace on his shoulders.

…..

The coastal road on Wednesday was as beautiful as a painting. Owen drove his SUV along the route Sahara had sent him. On one side was a steep cliff, and on the other, the turquoise sea sparkled under the bright sun. He turned onto a discreetly hidden private road before stopping in front of a massive, formidable black wrought-iron gate.

After passing through security, he truly entered Sahara's "kingdom." Her vacation home was a modern architectural style of glass and polished concrete, standing majestically on a low hill with a panoramic view of the sea. An infinity pool that stretched to meet the horizon made it seem as if the water connected seamlessly with the ocean.

Owen parked his car and walked into the open-plan house. Floor-to-ceiling doors were wide open, welcoming the gentle sea breeze. And then, the owner of the house appeared. She stepped out from the shadows of the living room with the graceful gait of a queen.

Sahara was in a sheer, floor-length white silk robe that was tied loosely. It couldn't hide the incredible curves of the body beneath. With her every step, the fabric fluttered, revealing glimpses of her legs and honey-colored skin.

"I was starting to think you wouldn't dare to show up… darling," she smiled with a hint of intrigue. "Come in… care for something cold to drink?"

"Just water is fine," Owen replied, trying his best to keep his voice normal.

She led him through the elegantly decorated house, with its minimalist but expensive-looking furniture, out to a large teak wood terrace that connected to a pristine private beach. Two canvas lounge chairs and a large umbrella were already set up. On a small table next to the chairs, a pitcher of fruit juice and crystal glasses, cold with condensation, were ready.

The sound of the waves crashing onto the shore in a steady rhythm became the luxurious and private soundtrack for the scene. Owen could feel the faint scent of salt in the air blowing in from the turquoise sea before him. The warm sunlight bathed his skin but didn't feel overly hot, as the breeze blowing across the teak terrace continuously carried the heat away.

Sahara stood facing the sea, letting the wind play with her jet-black hair and the hem of her robe. She stood still for a moment as if soaking in her private kingdom, before turning back to face Owen, her eyes sparkling with a playful and challenging look.

"So, what do you think, darling? Can my little kingdom help you relax a bit?" she said with a smirk. "Or… does this kind of atmosphere make you nervous?"

Owen took a sip of water to buy some time. He could feel the psychological game she was starting. "I have to admit, it's a very beautiful view," he answered coolly, then glanced at her to convey his meaning. "But if anything were to make me nervous… it would probably be the owner of this place."

The direct and cleverly complimentary answer made Sahara laugh with delight. "Quite the sweet talker, aren't you~" she said. "Well then, let's see… just how well you can handle 'the owner of this place.'"

She slowly untied the silk knot at her waist, deliberately and slowly. Her dark brown eyes were locked on him, as if to mesmerize him into watching her every move. Her long, slender fingertips slowly loosened the knot, revealing the full cleavage and honey-colored skin hidden beneath the fabric, bit by bit, before she let the silk robe fall softly and silently to her ankles.

Owen unintentionally held his breath…

The gorgeous figure hidden beneath the robe was now fully revealed to him. She was in a mint green one-piece bikini, designed to be both classy and supremely seductive. It wasn't just a swimsuit, but a work of art. The high-quality fabric hugged every curve of her body perfectly. The suit was cut deep at the waist and back, revealing flawless, smooth honey-colored skin, and further accentuating her full, rounded buttocks. Small, gold metal accessories on the neck strap and hips reflected the sunlight with a flash, making her look like a sea goddess who had just appeared.

"Stunned, are we?" she asked, giggling at his reaction, before walking over to pick up a stylishly designed bottle of sunscreen from the table and handing it to him. "Looks like I'll have to trouble my honorary photographer for a bit."

Owen was pulled from his trance. He cleared his throat lightly to cover it up. "Ahem… It would be my pleasure, madam~"

Sahara threw herself down onto the lounge chair, facedown, with the grace of a panther. She stretched her arms out lazily, her back to him, revealing a flawless, smooth back, a spine that curved down to full, rounded buttocks that peeked out challengingly from the edge of the bikini. It was an inviting and extremely dangerous sight. "I can't reach my back… help me out."

It was a command in the form of a request… one he could not refuse.

Owen approached hesitantly. He sat down lightly on the edge of the chair, feeling his weight make it sink slightly. He opened the bottle and squeezed the sunscreen onto his palm. A faint, fragrant scent of coconut and frangipani drifted to his nose. He could feel the coolness of the cream contrast with the heat of her body as his fingertips made light contact with her back.

Her skin was unbelievably soft and smooth, like the finest silk warmed by the sun. He swallowed hard, trying to be professional and focus on the mission as much as possible. He slowly and evenly spread the cream all over her back. His palm moved in a soft, circular motion, but every touch of his fingertips as they traced the curve of her spine and her slender waist made the blood in his veins run hot.

When his palm reached the edge of her slender waist, he paused for a moment. Before him was the true goal of his mission… full, perfectly round buttocks, standing out defiantly under his palm. This was the 'work of art' that Jace was obsessed with… and now it was just inches away.

His heart pounded harder. This was no longer just applying sunscreen; it was crossing into extremely dangerous territory. He gathered all his courage and slowly moved his cream-covered palm down to touch the upper part of her buttock, as lightly as possible.

The first touch was like a static shock that shot through both of them. The skin of her ass was both exquisitely smooth and taut, firm with well-toned muscle and a perfect layer of fat, making his palm feel searing hot. He began to rub the cream in a slow, gentle circle, trying to finish the job, but the more he touched the large, round globes before him… the more he became entranced by their perfection.

His fingers began to work on their own, lightly kneading the soft flesh before slowly increasing the pressure to massage the cream deep into her skin. The full, supple feeling, as resilient as a ripe peach, made the cock beneath his pants instantly harden until it ached. It was so tight it felt like it would burst.

"Mmm…" Sahara involuntarily moaned in her throat, a sound that was husky and full of pleasure. She didn't just moan… she was responding… slowly and deliberately arching her round hips up to meet his palm, grinding her firm buttocks against his hand seductively. It was a wordless expression… permission, an invitation for him to press on.

The sire instinct in Owen was screaming. He wanted to flip her over and slam his shaft into her right then and there, but he had to restrain himself. He forced himself to continue his work. His palms continued to massage both her buttocks, alternating left and right, skillfully, as if mesmerized, until the cream had been completely absorbed, leaving only the smoldering heat from both their bodies.

After he finished applying sunscreen for Sahara, Owen quickly stood up and took a step back to compose himself, taking a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions. His heart was still pounding like a war drum. The air was thick with a sexual tension ready to erupt at any moment…

Sahara slowly flipped over onto her back. She put on her sunglasses and glanced at him through the dark lenses. "Thanks… Your massage felt very good I'm ready for the photoshoot now, darling~" Her words were full of innuendo… and now, it was time for the photoshoot to begin.

—-------

Chapter 60: Beyond Expectations [R-18]

Inside the silent walk-in closet… the air was still thick with the scent of expensive perfume absorbed into the surrounding clothes, mixed with the unique body scents of the two people, creating an intensely close and private atmosphere. The soft light from the ring light in the center of the room shone down, chasing away the shadows and transforming the ordinary space into a studio of seduction.

Clara kept her eyes closed, nestled against Owen’s strong chest. The sense of security she had always longed for filled her heart to the brim. Owen gave a faint smile before slowly and gently loosening his warm embrace. He steadied her until she could stand on her own, then took a step back to meet her eyes.

"Okay, Clara… are you ready?" he whispered softly, his voice laced with a firmness that was a final offer for her to back out.

Clara nodded with determination. The shyness that had been so clear on her face before had completely vanished, replaced by a newfound courage and a burning, awakened desire. She stood up to her full height, confidently adjusting her tiny crochet bikini, and then walked to stand in front of the camera with the poise of a professional model ready to begin work.

Owen smiled at the change. He immediately switched back into professional director mode. He walked over to adjust the camera angle slightly lower and zoomed in almost all the way. "I'm going to set a low angle, focusing primarily on you and… uh… your chest."

He walked back over to her and continued to explain in a serious tone. "Personally, I have no problem showing my face on camera with you," he said firmly, meeting her eyes to confirm his sincerity. "But it's necessary for me to stay out of the frame, showing only from the waist down…"

He paused for a moment to let her process, before continuing. "It's a strategy for this type of video. Not seeing my face will make it easier for your fans to imagine that the person you're… servicing… is them. It will make this clip more accessible and appealing. And most importantly… this is your channel. You are the one and only star here. Having my face in the shot will only make our content worse."

Hearing his reasoning, Clara was a little disappointed. A look of clear regret flashed in her eyes. Deep down, she wanted the whole world to see… she wanted all her fans to know that this strong, perfect man was hers, and that this beautiful body of hers belonged only to him. But she understood his professionalism and his careful plan.

She sighed softly before smiling with understanding and admiration for his professionalism. "I understand… For the fans… for our follower count," she said, glancing at his crotch, indicating that she would also be doing it for her own "pleasure."

The shoot began…

Owen walked over and sat down on the stool placed in the center of the light. He slowly unzipped his pants, revealing a massive, 12-inch cock that was hard and erect like a tower. It was searing hot, its veins bulging formidably from his aroused state.

Clara watched the image through the recording camera lens, her heart pounding violently. She took a deep breath before stepping into the frame slowly and gracefully. The soft light bathed her full figure in the tiny bikini, making her fair skin seem to glow. She slowly knelt before him, her eyes gazing at the masterpiece before her with a look of both worship and hunger, before reaching out with a slightly trembling hand to cup it.

"Mmm…" Owen involuntarily groaned in his throat at the touch of her soft palm.

That low groan was like the first reward that made Clara’s heart swell. She didn't wait, beginning the first lesson of her service. She leaned in slowly, using her two massive breasts, which were spilling out of the tiny bra, to squeeze his hot cock tightly. The warm, supple mounds of flesh enveloped his shaft completely. The sensation made Owen take a deep breath.

She began to move her breasts up and down slowly, deliberately grinding her full flesh against his cock. She closed her eyes, savoring the incredible sensation. The feeling of the hard, hot piece of flesh rubbing between the valley of her breasts was so powerful. The wet sound of flesh slapping against flesh, "slap… slap… slap…," was a shameful and intensely arousing rhythm. Owen closed his eyes, trying to hold back his groans, but the slight tremble of his body did not escape Clara's notice.

Seeing that he was starting to lose control, she escalated her service to the next level…

She slowly released the heavenly embrace and opened her glossy lips, gluttonously covering the large, moist head of his cock.

Bob Bob Bob~

Slurp Slurp Slurp~

The heat and wetness inside her mouth were completely different from the touch of her breasts. It was far more intimate and intense. Her hot, wet tongue expertly licked around the ridge before she sucked his cock deeper and deeper, until it hit the back of her throat. She remembered that heavenly taste well, and this time she would savor it slowly, to make it worth the wait.

"Aahhhh Clara… Fuck!" Owen growled low, his hands gripping her hair hard, but not pulling. He let her completely control this game.

She looked up to meet his eyes for a split second, her eyes moist and red with lust, before she went back to pleasuring him tirelessly. Her hands weren't still either; they gently massaged his testicles, sending wave after wave of thrilling pleasure through him until he was nearing his limit.

"Clara… I'm gonna… I… I'm…!!!"

He warned her one last time, but it only seemed to make her more aggressive! Clara knew the moment she had been waiting for had arrived. She quickened the pace of her sucking, frantically, as if trying to drain his very soul out of him!

In his final moment of thought, Owen concentrated, commanding his "Semen of Creation" power to work. He imagined a new taste… not the sweetness of honey, but the refreshing complexity of a fine fruit wine, mixed with a slight fizz at the tip of the tongue… a special gift just for her.

And then… the dam of Owen’s self-control finally broke.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!"

He roared at the top of his lungs, his hips spasming violently, thrusting forward automatically, slamming his cock into her throat one last time!

SPLOOOOOOGE! SPLOOGE SPLOOGE SPLOOGE~

Twitch Twitch Twitch~

The torrent of delicious semen that Clara had craved shot into her mouth with an insane frenzy. The volume was so massive that she had to try her best to swallow it all. The taste that touched her tongue this time was different. It wasn't the familiar sweetness, but a more complex, luxurious freshness, tinged with a faint fruitiness and a fizziness that awakened all her senses.

It was so delicious!… So delicious it almost drove her crazy! She refused to waste a single drop, greedily swallowing every last bit down her throat.

When the frenzied release was over, Owen was panting heavily, his body still twitching rhythmically. But his cock, having just released its energy, was still hard and throbbing in Clara's warm mouth.

Clara slowly pulled her lips away, lingering. She closed her eyes, savoring the luxurious taste that still coated her mouth and throat. It was the taste of a victory sweeter than anything else. She used her tongue to lick the stains of love juice from around her own lips until they were clean, before leaning down to service his still-erect cock again, gently. She slowly licked every drop of semen from the large shaft, as if it were a precious treasure she couldn't bear to lose.

When she finished cleaning him, Clara looked up and smiled at him like a satisfied victor, her eyes moist and shining with an unconcealed look of success.

Owen looked at the scene and could only smile with a sense of helpless endearment. He reached out and pressed the record button on the camera. The red light went out. Their hottest new piece of content… had been born.

…..

The next morning… soft sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere. The faint, rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air.

But the atmosphere at the dining table was the complete opposite of that peace. Owen and Clara sat close together, their heads almost touching as they stared at a tablet screen with eyes blazing with excitement.

"My god… look at these numbers, Owen!" Clara whispered, her voice trembling. She raised a hand to her mouth in disbelief. "It's… it hasn't even been 12 hours!"

On the screen was the dashboard of Clara's OnlyStar account. The new follower count was skyrocketing. Clara now had over 51,000 followers, 12,000 subscribers, and 800 fans. The system's estimated income was at $251,000… and this was just the beginning. Owen expected it to continue rising for another two or three days before the trend started to level off. It was a result that was far beyond both of their expectations.

Clara happily scrolled down to the comments section. Her face flushed slightly as she saw the flood of messages from her fans.

[Comment A: Oh… Clara… you are a goddess! I've watched this clip ten times, and it still makes me cum every time!]

[Comment B: Those milk mountains are heaven on earth! Your mouth, too… I'd pay anything to taste it just once!]

[Comment C: Who the hell is that guy!? You can only see the lower half, but you can tell he's got a damn good body! I'm so jealous!]

[Comment D: Wait a minute… am I seeing things? Isn't that a 12-inch dick!? My god… Clara, how did you handle it!? I truly respect you!]

[Comment E: I've never seen anything so hot in my life! Please make another video like this, my queen!]

[Comment F: As much as I envy that guy, I have to admit this clip turns me on a hundred times more than your others! Seeing you service a man like that is amazing!]

These lewd and blatantly objectifying messages no longer made her feel bad. On the contrary… she felt a strange sense of power and satisfaction, knowing her body could drive so many men crazy. Of course, not every comment was like that. She also saw messages from a small group of fans who had been with her from the beginning.

[Comment G: I'm a little disappointed in you, Clara, for starting to make content like everyone else. I liked the warmer, cuter version of you more.]

But those few voices were quickly drowned out by the wave of desire from the majority of her fans.

"Looks like our plan worked better than expected," Owen said with a satisfied smile.

"Much better than expected!" Clara giggled, in a good mood. She looked up to meet his eyes, her own sparkling playfully. "I guess we'll have to 'work hard' more often… Director."

The two of them laughed, happy with their great success, unaware of a shadow that had fallen silently over the kitchen…

"What are you two looking at? Seems like you're having fun."

A familiar, deep voice came from behind them without any warning!

Owen and Clara jumped as if they'd been electrocuted! They both whipped their heads around at the same time, their faces filled with extreme panic. Clara quickly grabbed the tablet and frantically tried to turn off the screen, almost dropping it on the floor.

Damian stood at the kitchen doorway in his favorite suit, holding a file in his hand. He was looking at them with a slightly suspicious gaze. "Sorry to startle you. I just forgot some documents in my office and came back to get them," he shrugged. "I heard you two having fun and just wanted to know what you were up to."

Clara's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest. But Owen quickly took control of the situation. 'Stay calm… I need the most believable excuse.' he thought to himself.

"Oh, we were just checking the price of that cryptocurrency we secretly bought," Owen replied as naturally as possible. He gave a dry laugh. "It shot up a lot last night, so we got a little over-excited."

He didn't wait for Damian to ask any more questions, quickly standing up and changing the subject. "But… it's good that you're back. How are things at the coffee shop? Is everything running smoothly?"

The deflection worked like a charm. The suspicion in Damian's eyes faded, replaced instantly by a spark of enthusiasm as he started talking about work.

"Very smoothly, my friend!" he said excitedly. "Jessica is a great shop owner, but the back-end system still has a lot of room for improvement. I have a ton of ideas to improve the menu and run online marketing promotions!"

Damian began to enthusiastically explain his plans, while Owen pretended to listen and offer his opinions, but inside, he was so relieved he could have collapsed. He secretly glanced at Clara, who was still sitting frozen… She looked back at him, her eyes still panicked, but also filled with gratitude and admiration for his quick wit.

They had… narrowly escaped again.

…..

Later that afternoon, after surviving the scary situation that morning, Owen retreated back to his bedroom. He collapsed onto his favorite gaming chair and leaned back, exhausted. The image of Damian almost catching them was still seared in his mind. It was a reminder of how dangerous and fragile the path he had chosen was.

Once he had calmed down, he turned his focus back to his next, equally important mission… the insane and life-threatening mission to take pictures of Sahara's buttocks in exchange for delaying Jace's payment.

'How am I going to plan this?' Owen thought hard. He tried to come up with various complex plans. 'Secretly take pictures of her at the shop? No way… that's her kingdom. I'd definitely get caught.' He dismissed the thought. 'Or maybe I should…'

Nearly an hour passed, but he still couldn't think of a single method. Every plan he came up with had a flaw and was too high-risk. Finally, he sighed in defeat.

'Damn it! I'm too lazy to think about this anymore… Maybe I should just try the simple and direct approach first…'

He decided to take a gamble on the most direct and insane method… calling her directly.

Owen picked up his phone and dialed the number from the black, gold-trimmed business card he had received. His heart beat a little faster as he waited for the call to connect. Not long after, Sahara's confident and uniquely charming voice came through.

"What is it, darling~? What's so urgent that you're calling me during work hours?"

Owen took a deep breath. "Hello, Sahara~ I just have a small favor to ask." He began with the excuse he had prepared. "I just bought a new camera and I wanted to test its performance, but I haven't been able to find a beautiful model yet. So you were the first person I thought of."

He paused for a moment before making his offer. "I was wondering if you would honor me by being my model for a few pictures? Of course, I'm happy to pay you in full."

Silence fell for a moment, before Sahara's bright, cheerful laughter rang out. "Hahahaha! You want me to be your model? Darling… you really have some nerve."

"Normally, I don't do this kind of thing for just anyone," she continued, her tone turning playful. "But for a client I'm 'into' like you… I'll make an exception."

Owen's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't thought she would agree so easily.

"I'd be happy to be your model… but I don't want money," Sahara continued. "In exchange, you have to come buy clothes from my shop more often. It's a fair trade."

"Deal! Absolutely!" Owen quickly accepted, so happy he couldn't hide it. He could only think to himself, why had he wasted so much time agonizing over a plan?

"So… when are you free? And where?" he asked quickly.

"Wednesday is my day off," Sahara replied instantly, as if she already had a plan in mind. "I usually go sunbathing at a private beach south of the city. The atmosphere is great and it's very private. You can take my pictures there."

"Perfect! This Wednesday it is," Owen agreed enthusiastically.

The two of them quickly arranged the date, time, and place, before Sahara added a parting shot, her voice laced with innuendo.

"See you then, darling… Make sure you bring your camera. I'll pose for you… until you're satisfied~"

With that, she hung up, leaving Owen sitting there stunned with his phone. He had just solved what seemed to be his most difficult problem with a single phone call. The mission he had been worrying about had now turned into a sexy photoshoot date at a private beach… He could only shake his head at this unexpected turn of events.

—-------

Chapter 59: New Content?

Late Friday afternoon, the once-fierce sunlight began to wane, casting a warm, golden glow that bathed the skyscrapers of Titan City in a honey-colored light. Owen was driving his trusty SUV through the increasingly congested traffic, yet his heart felt strangely light. He smirked, humming along to his favorite rock band playing softly from the car's speakers.

Meeting Finley today was like a cool breeze blowing into his chaotic life. It wasn't just about Rosy's streamer project getting off to a beautiful start, but because of the pure charm and adorable shyness of "her." It made Owen feel refreshed and inexplicably excited.

'What a truly lovely person…' he thought, unable to stop smiling as he recalled Finley's blushing face and nervously averted eyes. 'And I have such a weakness for this kind of cute stuff… Sigh~'

His thoughts drifted along with the music until his car came to a stop at a red light by a crosswalk. Owen leaned back comfortably in his seat, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the song. His eyes scanned the surroundings idly… and then he saw something that made the smile vanish from his face.

Amidst the crowd hurrying across the crosswalk, a blind elderly man was slowly making his way with a cane. Suddenly, a young man in a suit, talking on his phone and running without looking, collided with the old man, knocking him off balance.

THUD!

The white cane in the old man's hand flew several meters away before landing on the road with a loud "CLANG!" The blind man froze in the middle of the crosswalk. He slowly crouched down, fumbling desperately for the cane that was like his eyes, but he couldn't find it as it was too far away.

What was even more depressing was that no one paid any attention. Everyone just walked past as if the old man was invisible, leaving the elderly man stranded in the middle of the road alone.

Owen's brow furrowed. He let out a weary sigh. His first instinct was to honk and curse at the young man in the suit, but a deeper instinct… the power that bound his very soul… was giving him an order.

'Damn it…' he grumbled internally. 'I just want to go home…'

Owen knew he couldn't just sit and watch any longer. He had to help the old man immediately, because it was his covenant… He turned on his signal, quickly pulled out of the lane, and parked in a temporary spot on the side of the road. He got out of the car and ran straight to help the old man.

"Sir, are you alright?" he said in a soft voice, supporting the old man's arm. "Your cane is over here." He ran to retrieve the cane that had fallen in the middle of the road and brought it back to the old man just before the light turned green.

"Thank you, young man. Thank you so much," the old man said with a warm smile. Owen nodded and helped him safely across the street.

He walked back to his car, feeling good about helping someone, but he couldn't help but feel the annoyance that came with it. "I hope nothing like this happens again today," he muttered to himself as he opened the car door.

But it seemed that God had heard his complaint and decided to mess with him further…

"Meow! Meow!"

The panicked cries of a cat came from a large tree by the side of the road where he had parked. Owen looked up and had to sigh for the second time that day. On a branch about three meters off the ground, a small tabby kitten clung tightly, trembling with fear. Below, a large pit bull stood on its hind legs against the trunk, barking menacingly without stopping. And next to it… a little girl, the cat's owner, was standing there crying her eyes out pitifully.

Owen closed his eyes and counted to three in his head. 'Okay… just a cat stuck in a tree… no big deal.'

He walked over to the little girl and crouched down. "Don't cry. I'll get your kitty down for you."

With that, he walked to the tree, quickly assessing the height and strength of the branches. With his C-Rank body, climbing a tree like this was a piece of cake. It took him less than ten seconds to climb up, safely rescue the terrified kitten, and chase the mean dog away.

"Here's your cat… You have to take good care of him next time, okay?" He returned the kitten to the little girl, who had now stopped crying and was smiling widely with joy.

Owen was about to turn back to his car, but something in the corner of his eye made him stop for the third time.

At the entrance of a nearby apartment building, a small, elderly woman was struggling to carry two large, heavy-looking paper grocery bags up the stairs. Her small, frail body was trembling precariously, as if she could fall at any moment.

Owen put his head in his hands. 'What the hell is with today!?'

He walked straight towards the old woman with a tired smile. "Ma'am, let me help you with that."

He took all the bags from her, holding them as easily as if they were bags of snacks, and led her up the stairs to her apartment door. "Thank you, dear. It's hard to find a kind young man like you these days," the old woman blessed him profusely.

Finally… after completing a trifecta of good deeds, Owen managed to get back to his SUV. He collapsed into the driver's seat, exhausted. Small beads of sweat had formed on his hairline and his back, which was damp from running around helping people in a hurry.

He looked up at the orange evening sky through the windshield and could only laugh at himself softly.

"Damn covenant…" he muttered with amusement. "…So this is the 'price' I have to pay… What a pain."

Even as he grumbled, deep down, he didn't feel bad at all. He started the car and pulled back onto the road, heading home where his next mission, and an even more complicated relationship, awaited him…

…..

Later that evening, after Owen had rested and taken care of his personal business, he knocked lightly on Julian's door.

Julian's bedroom was unchanged. It was the true kingdom of a university student. Band and movie posters were scattered on the walls. The bookshelf was a chaotic mix of textbooks and novels. But the most prominent feature was the high-spec computer and the large curved monitor in the middle of the room, a clear indicator of the owner's passion for the world of gaming.

When Owen stepped inside, he found Rosy and Julian already waiting on the bed. Rosy, in a black rock band t-shirt and ripped jeans, was leaning back against her (fake) boyfriend comfortably, while Julian was scrolling through something on his phone with a smile.

"Hey, Julian, Rosy. Ready to talk about our big project?" Owen greeted them both, pulling over Julian's gaming chair to sit down.

His words made both of them immediately shift their attention from what they were doing. "Of course!" Rosy replied, her eyes sparkling. "I'm so excited I can barely wait!"

Owen smiled at her positive energy. "Good news is, I met an amazing cosplay maker today. Her name is Finley, god-tier skills. And she's very excited about our project."

"Really! That's awesome!" Julian exclaimed, just as excited. "So we can start Rosy's debut soon!"

"That's right," Owen nodded. "But first… we need to send Finley the most basic information. Which is… our model's measurements." He said, taking a measuring tape he had prepared from his pocket and turning to Rosy with a friendly smile. "Time to get measured, Rosy."

Rosy grinned widely. She didn't seem shy at all. She stood up in the middle of the room enthusiastically. "Bring it on! I'm ready!"

The atmosphere in the room was filled with cooperation and fun. Owen walked over to Rosy with the measuring tape in hand. He acted as professionally as possible, carefully measuring each of her proportions according to the list Finley had sent.

"Okay… let's start with your bust measurement," Owen said flatly. He carefully placed the tape around her back and brought it to the front, trying his best not to touch her body unnecessarily, but the proximity was unavoidable. He could feel the heat from her skin and smell the faint scent of the rose perfume she wore.

While Owen and Rosy were focused on the measuring, Julian, who was watching from the bed, did not have the same innocent thoughts as the atmosphere suggested.

'Oh my god… I finally get to see this.' He screamed happily in his mind, his eyes fixated on their every move. 'Look… Owen's hand is so close to Rosy's chest! They're so close! Aahh~ Just thinking that they'll have to get even closer in the future in this room… my room… it's driving me crazy!'

His dark desire to see his own girlfriend be possessed by his stronger best friend was violently ignited. He raised his phone, pretending to play a game, but his fingers quickly opened the camera app. He zoomed in on Owen and Rosy standing close together, quietly saving this precious memory in his private collection.

"Next… your waist," Owen continued, moving the tape down to Rosy's slender waist. His professionalism made Rosy feel at ease and cooperative. She giggled when the tip of the tape tickled her waist.

"Hahaha, that tickles, Owen!"

"Hold still, or the measurements will be off," Owen gently chided. They both laughed together in a friendly manner.

That image of intimacy only fanned the flames in Julian's heart. He bit his lower lip hard to suppress a moan of satisfaction. He imagined a day when Owen wouldn't just be touching Rosy's body with his hands, but with his entire body… on his bed… with him watching closely.

The measuring continued until it was finished. Owen neatly jotted down all the numbers in a notebook. "Alright. I'll send all this information to Finley tonight. We should see a draft of the costume in about 2-3 days."

"Awesome!" Rosy said excitedly. "Thanks so much for handling everything, Owen."

"No problem. This is our project," Owen replied, before turning to Julian. "As for you… get this room ready. We'll be using it as our main studio."

"You got it, no problem!" Julian replied with an over-the-top enthusiasm. "My room is always ready for you guys… anytime." He emphasized the last word with a smile whose true meaning no one understood.

Owen and Rosy left the room, leaving Julian alone with his thoughts. He collapsed onto the bed, spread-eagled, and raised his phone to look at the picture he had secretly taken again… the picture of Owen and Rosy standing close together. It was an image that sparked his fiery imagination… It seemed he would have to buy a few cameras to secretly install in his room.

…..

Midnight… It was the time when the outside world slept, but for Owen and Clara, it was time for their OnlyStar shoot.

Clara's small walk-in closet was once again transformed into a temporary photo studio. The soft light from a ring light shone down, chasing away the shadows and revealing Clara's beautiful figure as she sat waiting on a soft, padded stool in the center of the room. The scent of expensive perfume from the clothes hanging around them mixed with the quiet, private atmosphere.

Today, she was in an extremely revealing white crochet bikini, showing off her smooth, fair skin and her perfectly full proportions. Especially her two massive breasts, which were spilling out of the small bra top precariously.

Owen was busy adjusting the new camera. He checked the angle and lighting one last time. "Okay, Clara. Everything's ready. We'll start with the still photos first, like usual."

But when he turned back, he saw that Clara wasn't looking at the camera. She was looking at him with a strange expression… It was a look that mixed deep embarrassment, hesitation, and a spark of intense, hidden desire. She was lightly biting her lower lip, as if gathering her courage.

"Um… Owen," she said softly. "Today… I… I have a new idea for our content."

Owen raised an eyebrow slightly. "A new idea? Great. Let's hear it."

She took a deep breath before saying the sentence that made Owen's world stop for a moment. "I… I want to try making… a short video clip." She paused, her beautiful face quickly flushing. "…A clip where… I'll use… my breasts and my mouth… to make you finish."

Silence fell for a moment. Only the soft hum of the air conditioner could be heard.

Owen's eyes widened in genuine shock. He never expected to hear those words come out of her mouth. "Clara… you… are you serious?"

He slowly walked towards her, kneeling down in front of her to be at eye level. His playful look was completely gone, replaced by the utmost seriousness. "Clara, do you understand what you just said? This isn't just taking some revealing pictures anymore. This is making a real porn video."

He stared deep into her trembling eyes. "If this clip gets posted… it'll be on the internet forever. It will change your life. You can't go back… Are you sure you're ready for this?"

His concerned warning made Clara hesitate for a moment. But then she took a deep breath. The hesitation in her eyes vanished, replaced by an astonishing determination.

"I'm sure, Owen…" she said in a firm voice. "I've been thinking about this for days… We still have a lot of debt left. If we make stronger content, we'll make more money, and the debt will be paid off faster… I don't want to see Damian go back to how he was before."

She used the debt and her husband's future as her reason… but it was just a pretty excuse. The deepest truth hidden in her heart… was the incredible taste that still lingered on the tip of her tongue… The sweet taste of wild honey she had experienced in the bathroom that day. It haunted her every night, awakening a desire she never knew she had, and this was the only way she could "taste it" again with a valid reason.

When Owen saw the clear determination in her eyes, he could only sigh in defeat. He knew he couldn't change her mind anymore.

"Okay… if you've decided," he said flatly. "Then I'll do it… But I have a condition."

He reached out and held her cold hand tightly. "If anyone tries to threaten or blackmail you over this, you have to tell me immediately… I promise… I will protect you! In every possible way!"

He paused for a moment before dropping a bombshell on Clara. "…Because I'm not just an ordinary streamer anymore… I've become an 'Awakened,' Clara."

Those words made Clara stop breathing for a moment. Her eyes widened to their absolute limit. She raised a hand to cover her mouth in disbelief, the shock written all over her face.

"A-an Awakened!?" she managed to say, her voice trembling through her fingers. "You… are you serious, Owen!?"

Owen nodded slowly with a faint smile. "I was planning to surprise everyone on the camping trip to Blackwood next week… Please keep this a secret from Damian and Julian for now."

A second later, the shock on Clara's face transformed into an uncontrollable excitement. She took her hand away from her mouth, revealing the widest smile Owen had ever seen. Her eyes sparkled like a child who had just received the biggest Christmas present in the world.

"Oh my god! Owen! Really!? Is this real!?" she asked repeatedly, her voice rising with unconcealed excitement. "Awesome! That's awesome! What's your power? How strong is it? What can you do!?"

Before Owen could answer, she threw herself into his arms, hugging him so hard with joy that he lifted off the ground. Both her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, her legs instinctively hooking around his waist.

Owen, who had almost lost his balance, could only laugh softly as he hugged her back gently. He was amazed by her energetic reaction. It was so different from the warm and gentle woman he had known.

'Maybe…' he thought as he gently stroked her smooth back. '…it's because of the 'Demon Path' I've been walking with her for the past few months that has unleashed this side of her?' And he had to admit… he liked this version of Clara quite a bit.

This hug was filled with a pure, happy energy. Both the relief that the man she had feelings for now had the power to protect himself, and the excitement that he had become her strong protector.

Amidst the lights of the temporary studio and the still-waiting camera, the two of them held each other, letting the feeling of excitement connect them… Tonight, they had crossed a line from which there was no return. Not just as OnlyStar content creators, but as the keepers of each other's greatest secrets…

—-------

Chapter 58: The Trap

After finishing his business with Jace, Owen drove home in the late afternoon. He spent a little time greeting Damian and Clara, who were enjoying their new life in the living room, before excusing himself to the solitude of his bedroom, which was like his private command center. He threw himself down into his favorite gaming chair, letting out a long sigh to drive away the fatigue and mental clutter from his latest mission.

Now, it was time to get back to focusing on an equally important project… Rosy’s debut as a streamer.

He turned on his computer. The large monitor flared to life, revealing a rough plan he had drafted. It was filled with market analysis data, target audiences, and initial content ideas. Owen knew that the first debut was the most important. It was the first impression that would determine whether Rosy’s channel would "make it" or "break it."

To create the maximum impact, he and Julian agreed that Rosy had to debut in a high-quality cosplay of a character from a fantasy anime that was currently a massive hit. It would immediately attract both fans of the anime and viewers who liked cosplay streamers. But the problem was… where would he find an outfit of that level?

Owen knew that a generic, off-the-shelf cosplay would never create the impression he wanted. He needed a meticulously crafted outfit with perfect details, as if it had jumped right off the TV screen… and in that moment, he thought of someone who would know the best source… the "Goddess of the Fashion World," Sahara.

He picked up his phone, dialed the number from the golden business card she had given him, and after a short wait, the voice full of confidence and unique charm came through.

"What is it, my love~? What made you call me? Is there a problem with the clothes you bought?"

"Not at all, Sahara," Owen chuckled softly. "The outfit you chose is perfect. But I have something else I'd like to ask for your help with." He briefly explained the streamer project and said he was looking for a "talented cosplay costume maker."

Sahara laughed with delight. "Oh, darling~ That stuff isn't my style at all," she said. "But you called the right person… I know exactly who you're looking for. She's a freelancer who works alone. Her skill in creating cosplay outfits is… you could call it god-tier. But the reason she's not widely known is that she's a little shy."

"That's exactly who I need," Owen said with excitement.

"Of course. I'll send you her contact info in a message. And… tell her I was the one who recommended you. She'll trust you more," Sahara said as a parting shot before hanging up.

Not long after, a message from Sahara popped up on Owen’s phone screen, with the short name "Finley" and a phone number. Owen didn't wait; he dialed it immediately.

After a moment… the call was answered, and the voice made Owen a little surprised. It was an unbelievably soft and cute voice, but it was also laced with clear nervousness and uncertainty.

"H-hello..."

"Hello, this is Owen. I got your contact information from Ms. Sahara," Owen introduced himself politely.

The moment she heard Sahara’s name, he could feel the tense atmosphere on the other end of the line relax instantly. "Oh… you're an acquaintance of Ms. Sahara. What a relief~" The voice became friendlier and more trusting. "Um… so… what did you want to talk about?"

Owen briefly explained the streamer project and his need for a masterpiece-level cosplay outfit. Upon hearing about the challenging work, the voice on the other end changed again. It was now filled with the excitement and confidence of an artist who had found a creative project she liked.

"That sounds very interesting! A good challenge," the voice replied enthusiastically. "In that case, we should probably meet to discuss the details and look at some drafts. Would you be free to meet at the central park tomorrow, Mr. Owen? I don't have my own shop, you see."

"Of course. How about nine in the morning tomorrow? The atmosphere should be nice then," Owen suggested.

"Perfect! It's a deal," the other end replied cheerfully.

After hanging up, Owen leaned back in his chair with a feeling of slight impressment and curiosity. He smiled to himself as he imagined the cosplay artist… someone with a cute but shy voice, and skills that even Sahara had to acknowledge… He felt an indescribable anticipation to meet the "owner of the voice" tomorrow.

…..

The central park at nine in the morning had a fresh atmosphere, full of the green of nature. Soft sunlight filtered through the leaves of the large trees in golden beams, creating a sparkling pattern on the dew-damp grass. The scent of colorful, beautifully planted flowers drifted on the cool, comfortable breeze. Owen arrived at the meeting spot, a bench under a large maple tree, and saw who he presumed was the person he was meeting, already waiting.

A small, slender figure, about 20 years old, in a soft, comfortable cream-colored knitted cardigan worn over a white tank top and light-blue high-waisted shorts, which revealed fair, shapely legs. Her short, fluffy light brown hair was styled to be casually messy, complementing a sweet face that was like a porcelain doll. A pair of large, light brown eyes scanned the surroundings nervously, her slender hands gripping the straps of the backpack on her lap tightly.

[Character Illustration: Finley]

'Cuter than I expected,' Owen thought to himself as he walked towards her quietly.

"Are you Finley?"

The owner of the name jumped like a startled rabbit, whipping her head around to look at him with wide, shocked eyes, before quickly standing up and giving a small, polite bow. "Ah… Y-yes… I'm… Finley Sterling. N-nice to meet you!" The voice that replied was as soft and cute as it had been on the phone, but it was laced with clear nervousness.

'Her nervous voice is so cute~' Owen couldn't help but smile, having been struck by Finley's adorable demeanor. He was now 100% sure this was the shy artist Sahara had mentioned. He began to use feminine pronouns for Finley without realizing it. "I'm Owen. Nice to meet you too. Please, have a seat," he said, gesturing to the bench.

Finley just gave a small nod and sat back down primly, not daring to meet his eyes directly, a shyness that only amplified her cuteness in Owen's eyes.

Although she seemed nervous at first, the moment Owen started talking about work, the atmosphere around Finley changed instantly. The shyness from a moment ago vanished, replaced by a look of determination and a deep passion for her own work.

"You said you need a cosplay outfit for a new streamer's debut, right, Mr. Owen?" Finley asked as she took a tablet out of her backpack. "Can you tell me the rough concept?"

"It's the ‘Demon Lord Girl’ character from the anime, 'Reborn in Another World as a Fallen Demon Lord,'"

Upon hearing the name of that anime, Finley’s eyes sparkled. "Oh! That character has a beautiful design! And the details of the outfit are incredible!" He was like a different person, talking with enthusiasm. "I've been wanting to try making that outfit! It's a really popular anime right now!"

Finley started to open a sample portfolio file on her tablet and showed it to Owen. The images that appeared made Owen so stunned he was speechless. They were pictures of cosplay outfits so beautiful and incredibly detailed it was almost unbelievable they were handmade. From a knight's armor that looked like real metal but reflected light beautifully, to a witch's gown embroidered with glowing magical patterns, to a steampunk outfit with complex mechanisms. Every piece was a masterpiece.

As Finley leaned in to explain the details of each material on the tablet screen, Owen unintentionally inhaled a faint, sweet scent, like vanilla and a hint of flowers, filling his lungs. He could see her fluffy, light brown hair just inches away, and the smooth skin of her cheeks, which were almost poreless. Finley's cuteness at such close range made his heart beat a little faster, and he felt an unstoppable heat begin to build in his lower body.

"About the measurements," Finley continued, pulling Owen from his trance. "If it's inconvenient for you to come get measured in person, I can send you a list of the required measurements along with a detailed video tutorial on how to do it."

"That's great," Owen replied. He was deeply impressed by this professionalism that came with such cuteness. The two of them discussed the concept, materials, and delivery schedule with relish. The conversation flowed smoothly, filled with the enthusiasm of an artist who had met a client who understood the value of her work.

Owen felt like he wasn't just commissioning a job… he was getting to know someone who was becoming more and more charming and interesting…

After they had finished discussing the work details, the once-formal atmosphere relaxed noticeably. The late-morning sun began to shine more strongly, but it was still cool and comfortable under the shade of the maple tree. Owen didn't want this meeting to end just yet, so he continued the conversation with Finley.

"I'm really impressed with your work, Finley," Owen began. "When did you start getting into this kind of creative work?"

The question seemed to surprise Finley a little. He was quiet for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. "Um… well… for as long as I can remember, I guess?" he answered softly. "When I was a kid, I liked watching cartoons and drawing the characters I liked. When I got a little older, I wanted to try and bring them to life… so it started from there."

"So you do everything yourself? From designing the patterns to the sewing and painting?" Owen asked, impressed.

Finley nodded shyly. "Yes… I like to have control over every step. It's like creating a piece of art." When speaking about what she loved, the once-nervous look in Finley’s eyes began to shine with confidence. "I'm very happy when I see the outfits I create, and that they can also let someone become the character they love!"

The more they talked, the more Owen felt that Finley was an extremely cute and precious person. Every time she laughed softly at his jokes, or when her light brown eyes sparkled when talking about what she liked, it made Owen so delighted he almost didn't want the conversation to end.

He watched Finley as she spoke with relish… the thin lips that moved as she chattered, the smooth, clear cheeks that flushed red in the sunlight, and the fair legs that shifted under her shorts in a fetching way. That pure beauty and innocent demeanor violently stimulated the raw, predatory instinct within him. He felt the familiar heat begin to build at the core of his body…

As Owen was enjoying the conversation and lost in his own heated thoughts…

Ting!~

The translucent blue screen of the [Choice System] appeared before him, offering a relationship path with Finley.

…..

[You are developing good feelings for the target before you. What will you do next?]

[1. End the conversation professionally.]: (Relationship Unchanged)

[2. Befriend her. Talk about games and anime with Finley.]: (Affection +1 | Enters the path to being friends with Finley)

[3. Compliment Finley for who he is beyond his work and ask him out for next time.]: (Affection +1 | Enters the path to wooing Finley)

…..

Owen scanned the options quickly. For him, the answer was clearer than clear.

Although his radar for distinguishing between a "real woman" and a "trap" might be a bit faulty, his radar for finding charming and attractive people was always sharp. And for Owen… if he was truly "into" someone, gender was a minor detail he could overlook.

Seeing Finley's cute face and shy demeanor, combined with the system confirming he was a target who could enter a romance path, he didn't hesitate in the slightest to choose "Option 3."

"I really love hearing you talk about your work," Owen said, breaking the silence, his voice full of sincerity. "The passion you have for your work is truly amazing."

The unexpected compliment made Finley pause for a moment. His sweet face flushed. "Th-thank you."

Owen met the light brown eyes that were looking down shyly before continuing in a softer, deeper voice, "Your work is amazing… but I think the person who created it is even more amazing…"

He paused for a moment, letting the words work on the listener's feelings. "...If you don't mind, I'd like to get to know you better. Could we go for coffee sometime?"

The direct invitation made Finley look up at him with a look of complete shock. His face quickly turned crimson, spreading to his ears, as if he had been splashed with hot water. He quickly looked away, bowing his head until his chin almost touched his chest, before giving a barely perceptible nod.

"O-okay..."

The reply was so soft it almost disappeared in the wind, but it was loud enough for Owen to hear. A satisfied smile appeared at the corner of his lips. He stood up. "I'll take my leave then. I'll contact you again about the measurement details."

Owen walked away with a feeling of satisfaction and excitement for the new "little lady" he had just met, unaware that he was walking into the sweetest… and perhaps most dangerous "trap" he had ever encountered in his life…

—-------

Finley

Finley

Chapter 57: An Offer He Can't Refuse

Less than two hours later, Owen arrived in front of "Jace's Tech Den" as arranged. A short electronic melody chimed as he pushed the door open. The shop's unique scent, a mixture of hot soldering irons, the plastic of new equipment, and the faint smell of energy drinks greeted him immediately.

Jace's shop was unchanged, an organized chaos. Shelves were filled with the latest IT equipment, boxes of computer parts, cables coiled like multicolored snakes, and strange-looking high-tech prototypes scattered everywhere. The blue and purple neon light from computer cases and decorative bulbs shone throughout the shop, creating a modern and mysterious atmosphere, like the laboratory of a mad inventor.

Owen found the shop owner hunched over the counter. Jace was wearing a special magnifying headset and was intently soldering a tiny spot on a complex circuit board.

"Hey, Jace," Owen greeted him.

Jace looked up when he heard Owen's voice. He took off the magnifying headset and grinned widely. "What's up, my friend! You're here earlier than I thought."

"I just didn't want to waste time," Owen replied with a faint smile. "Let's continue our talk, about the equipment we discussed."

Jace’s expression turned both serious and excited at the same time. "Definitely! Let's get right to it." He leaned back in his chair. "First, I have to tell you, the off-the-shelf mana detectors are like kids' toys. They’re crude, can only detect at close range, and they're bulky. Everyone will know you're using one."

He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with pride. "But you came to the right place… because a 'genius' like me can create a 'custom-made special' that's a hundred times better than anything on the market."

Jace began to explain enthusiastically. "I can build a small scanner that can record the unique 'mana waveform' of each Awakened. It doesn't just detect 'if' there's energy, but it can tell you 'whose' energy it is. It’s a high-level espionage device, my friend."

"Excellent," Owen said with satisfaction. "That's exactly what I need."

"But…" Jace drew out the word. "Something of this level has its conditions." His smile turned a little cunning. "To build it, I'm still missing some important 'materials'… a 'Nexus Crystal,' which is used to balance the sensors. It's something that can only be bought on the black market. And of course, it’s not just about money, but also 'connections' and trust. I definitely wouldn't build something of this level for just anyone."

Owen frowned. "So what do you want?"

"Easy, my friend," Jace raised his hands to calm him down. "I saw the potential in you from the first time we met, and I love a challenging project like this. But before we get to that…" he grinned widely. "I have a more interesting offer… I'll build this device for you, on the condition that you agree to 'test' a few of my prototype inventions in exchange…"

"But first… I have to ask you some important questions," Jace narrowed his eyes at Owen seriously. "Are you an Awakened, Owen?"

Owen paused for a moment before nodding frankly. "Yes, I am. I just recently became an Awakened."

The answer made Jace nod with satisfaction, as if the final piece of the puzzle had fallen into place. He pointed to a pile of strange equipment in the corner of the shop. "That's perfect, my friend! I need you to ‘test’ those devices I built, to record real-world usage data from an Awakened. I’ll then use that data to improve my work. If you do this job for me, I’ll agree to build the 'Specter Scanner' for you… at a friendship price."

Owen, having no other choice and knowing this was his best chance, nodded in acceptance. "Deal. I accept the offer."

"Excellent!" Jace smiled, satisfied. He seemed even more excited than Owen. "Then wait right here for a second, my friend!"

He quickly ran and disappeared into the back of the shop, leaving Owen standing amidst the high-tech clutter. Not long after, Jace returned with the first "toy" in his arms.

It was a pair of ankle-high boots made of polished silver metal. But instead of a normal sole, it had a glowing blue energy panel. And importantly, it had several wires connected to a control panel that looked incomplete and was wrapped in electrical tape.

"And this is my first masterpiece!" Jace announced proudly. "Introducing… the 'Anti-Gravity Boots Mark I'!"

…..

Jace led Owen out of the shop through an employee-only door. It led to a service corridor hidden behind the various shops, a world completely different from the luxurious hallways of the shopping mall. The cold concrete floor, the loud whirring of ventilation fans, and the musty smell mixed with the faint scent of food from a nearby restaurant's back kitchen. It was the perfect testing ground for a device not yet ready for public eyes.

"Alright, my friend," Jace said excitedly, handing the Anti-Gravity Boots to Owen. "It's easy to use. Put them on, then press the green button on the right ankle to activate them. Then just think about the direction you want to go… its neural interface system will pick up your brainwaves."

Owen took the boots and put them on, not entirely convinced. When he pressed the activation button, the energy panel under his feet glowed a soft blue, accompanied by a low hum. He felt his body become strangely light.

He cautiously tried to step onto the concrete wall beside him… and it worked! His foot stuck to the wall as if held by a magnet. So he tried to take another step… until he was able to walk up the wall in an amazing fashion.

"Awesome! It really works!" Owen exclaimed with excitement.

"See! I told you I'm a genius!" Jace shouted back proudly, quickly jotting down data on his tablet.

But then… as Owen was walking upside down on the ceiling of the corridor…

Fzzt~ Zzzzt!

The energy panel under the boots began to flash red, accompanied by the soft sound of an electrical short. Suddenly, the adhesion force disappeared, but the anti-gravity function malfunctioned, forcefully pushing his body up against the ceiling, right into an air duct pipe!

"Hey! Jace! What’s happening!?" Owen yelled as he dangled upside down in mid-air.

At that moment, a stray orange cat that was digging for scraps looked up and saw the image of an upside-down human floating above its head. In its shock, it let out a loud "MEOW!" and leaped away in a panic, crashing into a delivery cart, which lost its balance and slid, slamming loudly into the back door of the adjacent restaurant.

CRASH!

The back door flew open. A chef in a grimy apron poked his head out, annoyed. "Hey! What was that noise! You scared the hell out of me while I was cooking!" he shouted, looking left and right.

Owen knew instantly he didn't have much time. He used his abs to swing his body and grab onto the large air duct, hiding in a dark corner just in time before the chef looked up. He manually shut down the boots' system and let his body fall to the floor, before rolling behind a large trash can in silence.

"Damn it! The gyroscope axis adjuster isn't responding!" Jace muttered to himself, not paying any attention to the surrounding chaos. He was busy noting down the error with technical terms Owen didn't understand. "I probably need to add another layer of backup capacitors…"

After that, the testing of the crazy devices continued. For example, Owen had to test "Grappling Gloves" that could shoot out to grab things from a distance, but when they grabbed, they wouldn't let go, until Owen had to use his B-Rank Awakened power to painstakingly pry the steel fingers open. This was followed by a "Tickle Baton" that Jace claimed used sonic waves to incapacitate an opponent with tickling instead of an electric shock. The result was that it only vibrated weakly, giving Owen a mild case of goosebumps.

Throughout the testing, Jace stood by muttering about the errors in his own work, but at the same time, he couldn't help but be amazed by Owen’s ability and quick wit. Every time a device malfunctioned, Owen was able to handle the situation and prevent any damage or danger to those around him, calmly and effectively.

When all the tests were over, Owen stood before Jace, slightly sweaty and tired.

Jace looked up from his tablet, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "Okay, my friend. You did great. The data I got is priceless! You handled the situations much better than I expected."

He said, fully acknowledging Owen's capabilities. "I will definitely build you the best 'Specter Scanner'… But first, let's talk about the 'price'."

…..

After returning to the shop, filled with the aura of technology, Jace invited Owen to sit in a customer chair in front of the counter. He handed Owen a cold can of an energy drink before sitting down opposite him and getting to the important matter.

"From the data I just got," Jace said, tapping his tablet screen. "I’ll tune the sensors of the 'Specter Scanner' to be specifically suited for your use. It will be discreet and maximally effective… You can come pick it up in three days."

"Great. And the price?" Owen asked.

Jace gave a proud smile. "For a normal customer, something of this level costs one hundred thousand dollars… but for you, as my excellent tester… I’ll give you a special discount, my friend… A friendship price of only 'sixty thousand dollars.'"

Jace's use of the word "only" was like a sledgehammer hitting Owen right in the face. His face went pale instantly. He quickly took out his phone to check his bank account balance again, and the harsh reality hit him… He had less than ten thousand dollars left after his splurge on luxury clothes and golf equipment.

He was completely cornered…

'Damn it… what do I do,' Owen thought in a panic. 'Should I call Alex for help? No… if I do that, I’ll be too indebted to him.'

Just as he was about to give up and tell Jace the truth, his instincts told him to call upon the last power he could rely on.

'Choice System… I have to count on you now!'

Ting!~

The translucent blue screen flashed to life before him, responding to his call in a time of crisis. The system analyzed the situation and offered possible solutions to this financial crisis.

…..

[You are facing an unexpected financial problem. What will you do?]

[1. Take a dangerous job from Jace's black market connections to earn money.]: (High risk | may create more enemies.)

[2. Beg and plead with Jace until he might soften up.]: (Low chance of success | and it will make you look pathetic.)

[3. Make him an offer he can't refuse. Offer to take 3 sexy photos of Sahara’s "buttocks" for him, in exchange for delaying the payment until next month.]: (Affection +10 | Jace agrees to delay the payment until next month.)

…..

Owen’s eyes widened when he saw the third option… 'This is… insane,' he thought. But considering the outcome and the risks, it was undoubtedly the best choice.

He made his decision in a split second…

Owen looked up from his phone, meeting Jace’s eyes with a serious expression. "Jace… I don't have enough cash to pay you right now," he admitted frankly. "But… I have an offer that you might be more interested in than money."

Jace raised an eyebrow, curious. "I'm listening…"

Owen gave a cunning smile. "I happened to see you and Sahara arguing in front of her shop the other day… It seems you have a special appreciation for her 'artwork'."

Hearing the name, Jace’s face immediately turned to one of despair and frustration. It was the despair of an artist whose work had been destroyed before his very eyes.

"Oh… Sahara? Don't even get me started on that, my friend!" he slumped down in his chair, miserable. "She doesn't understand my art at all! The camera angle that day was perfect, the lighting was like a Caravaggio! But she called me a pervert and made me delete the picture right in front of her!"

Owen held back a smile. "So… if I could get you a 'masterpiece' of Sahara’s sexy buttocks, a couple of pictures… would you be willing to delay the payment for the scanner until next month?"

Suddenly… Jace’s entire world stopped spinning…

His cool, genius persona shattered in an instant. His eyes widened until they almost popped out of their sockets. Both his ears turned as red as ripe tomatoes.

"S-Sahara's… ass!?" he repeated, his voice trembling.

Owen nodded seriously.

Silence fell for a moment before Jace leaped over the counter and grabbed Owen’s hand tightly with the utmost excitement.

"Deal! Deal, my friend! Deal! You can pay me next month! No! Two months!" he said enthusiastically. "But the pictures have to be in 4K resolution! An upward angle would be great! The kind where you can see the curves clearly, my friend!"

Owen could only nod, dazed by Jace's complete change in personality.

He walked out of the shop with mixed feelings. He had successfully solved his immediate problem, but now he had a new mission that was both insane and extremely dangerous… The mission to take pictures of the ass of the terrifying goddess of the fashion world, Sahara. Fortunately, they weren't nude photos, just sexy ones… He could probably think of a discreet way to do it… hopefully…

—-------

Chapter 56: The Golf Match

The once-relaxed atmosphere, filled with casual conversation, instantly turned tense the moment Victoria issued her challenge. The gentle breeze and the giggles of her friends died down as if a switch had been flipped. All eyes were fixed on the confrontation between the club's resident queen and the mysterious young man.

Owen turned to face her fully. He looked deep into those blue eyes, which were filled with an unconcealed arrogance and a desire to win, before a calm and cool smile spread across his face. His smile showed no sign of nervousness or excitement; it was the smile of someone who had the entire situation under control and was enjoying the game that had just begun.

"With pleasure, madam," he said, accepting the challenge, his voice even but firm. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to lead the way, as this is my first time here."

His steady and unfazed demeanor only irritated Victoria more. She had thought he would show some hesitation or at least some surprise, but he was acting as if being challenged to a golf match by the governor's wife was a common, everyday occurrence. His coolness was so infuriating she wanted to hit him in the face with a golf club.

"Follow me," she said curtly, before turning and leading the way to the first tee box with the gait of a queen about to punish a challenger, with her group of girlfriends and Owen following closely behind. They instantly became the center of attention for everyone on the driving range.

The match began amidst a gentle breeze and the soft late-morning sun. Victoria went first, as was customary. Her swing was elegant and well-practiced, as befitting a high-society lady, but beneath the beauty was a slight tension from the pressure she had created for herself. The golf ball flew a good distance but veered slightly to the right, landing in the rough where the grass was longer than usual.

It was Owen’s turn. He stepped up and addressed the ball with a relaxed and natural posture. The power from the "Golf Genius" made his every movement smooth and perfect. He swung the club, striking the ball with a clear, ringing sound. The golf ball shot out in a straight line like an arrow, landing beautifully in the middle of the fairway, clearly and significantly surpassing Victoria’s ball.

The psychological game had begun. "That's a very beautiful swing," Owen complimented Victoria as they walked to their balls. "This set of golf clubs must be very expensive. They suit you very well."

The seemingly sincere compliment made Victoria frown. It was like he was implying that all she had was expensive equipment and a pretty posture, but her performance was lacking.

The match continued. Owen continued to display his superior skill in every shot. He hit farther, more accurately, and was visibly calmer. Every time Victoria hit a nearly-good shot, he would casually compliment her. "Oh! That shot was almost perfect. Just missed by a little," or "Very good weight on that one. Just need to control the direction a little more." Those words felt like repeated, light slaps to her face. They slowly chipped away at her concentration and her confidence.

After two holes, Owen had a decisive lead… The lips that Victoria had been pressing together tightly began to tremble with a rage she could no longer contain…

Victoria stood biting her brightly-lipsticked lower lip as she stared at the scorecard in the caddy's hand. The numbers that confirmed her defeat in the past two holes were as clear as a brand of sin. Her face began to flush with a mixture of anger and shame. The once-warm sun now felt unbearably hot and annoying.

The whispers of admiration for Owen from her friends periodically reached her ears, like needles constantly pricking her ego.

"Unbelievable, his swing is so steady," Emily mumbled to another friend. "Yes… like a professional. He must be very good…"

'Who is this nobody?' Victoria screamed in her mind. How dare he stand out in my territory, in front of my entourage! (Of course, she didn't remember Owen, and with her personality, she wouldn't bother to.)

She would not yield… She would never be defeated by this unknown stranger in front of everyone!

At the tee box of the third hole, a par 3 famous for its beauty and challenge, a clear pond that sparkled like a jewel under the sun lay before them. A small grassy knoll and pristine white sand traps guarded the slightly elevated green where the flagstick was invitingly planted. Victoria decided she would no longer play by these boring rules.

She addressed the ball… took a deep breath to gather her concentration… not just for the swing, but for the delicate control of her power. Then she swung with all her might. But just as the club head was about to impact the ball, she secretly used her Telekinesis, sending an invisible wave of energy to envelop the golf ball in advance.

Her golf ball flew beautifully over the pond, but an experienced player would see that its trajectory was clearly heading for the left side of the green… But then, something strange happened. As the ball was about to land… it was suddenly pushed by a "mysterious wind," changing its direction slightly in mid-air before it landed on the edge of the green and rolled to a stop near the hole, in a position where she could easily make a birdie with a single putt.

Her friends cried out with excitement at the incredible "luck."

"Vicky! Unbelievable! That ball should have gone left!" Emily exclaimed. "The wind must have helped you! Amazing!"

Only Owen showed no reaction. He stood still, having sensed the faint, web-like fluctuation of mana that had just faded in the air… a power so faint, but it could not escape his now-sharpened perception. This, combined with the knowledge from [Golf Genius], which told him instantly that the previous swing could never have produced that result.

He narrowed his eyes at Victoria, who was feigning delight at her own "luck." She raised a hand to her chest in surprise, saying to her friends, "Oh my, I guess this is really my day."

A cold smirk appeared on Owen’s lips. He knew that the real game… had only just begun.

The match continued, but the balance of power had completely shifted. Owen still hit every ball perfectly as before, but now, Victoria had suddenly become a formidable opponent.

She began to use her Telekinesis more and more continuously and discreetly. Every time she hit the ball, Owen could feel the faint wave of mana interfering with the play. It wasn't a blatant control, but small "adjustments" that had a massive effect.

On a long par 5, Owen hit a perfect drive, the ball landing beautifully in the middle of the fairway. Meanwhile, Victoria's ball sliced to the right, heading for a thick line of trees. But instead of disappearing into the woods, the golf ball hit a single tree branch at an impossible angle and bounced back out, landing on the fairway in an even better position than Owen’s.

"Incredible!" Owen said with a smile as they walked to their balls. "It seems luck is truly on your side today, madam."

Victoria just gave a cold smile in return, but internally, she was annoyed by his use of the word "luck."

The game had turned around quickly. Victoria’s score began to catch up at an astonishing rate. She made miraculous shots time and time again, from making the ball "jump" over a sand bunker, to chipping the ball from off the green and having it stop dead next to the hole as if it had invisible brakes. Now, the score between them was tied on the final hole.

"That's amazing, Vicky!" her friends cheered excitedly. "You're finally back on top of your game! Teach that man a lesson about who's the queen of this place!"

Owen pretended to be trying his best, a slight look of pressure on his face, but inside he was calm and empty. He knew he couldn't beat the "magic" before him with skill alone.

At the final green, the afternoon sun cast long shadows. The tall pine trees cast shadows across the perfectly manicured grass. Both their golf balls were about the same distance from the hole, but it was Victoria’s turn to putt first. She gave him a sneering smile before addressing her putter with confidence.

As Victoria was about to make the final putt to claim victory… Owen sensed the most concentrated wave of mana he had felt so far. It enveloped the golf ball like an invisible hand, ready to guide it into the hole… and at the same moment, the translucent blue screen of the [Choice System] flared to life in front of him, along with an emotionless, synthesized voice in his head.

…..

[You are about to be defeated in an unfair match. What will you do?]

[1. Expose her despicable actions to everyone.]: (Affection -10 | No one will really believe you, as you have no proof.)

[2. Let her defeat you, then go congratulate her.]: (Affection +1 | Victoria will gradually lose interest in you, as you are just like everyone else.)

[3. Let her win this match, then congratulate her. Imply that this was not your true skill to provoke her anger, and plan to get your revenge next time.]: (Affection -5 | Enters the path to defeating Victoria. | You can use the evidence of her cheating to blackmail her into doing one thing you command.)

…..

Click!

The sound of the putter hitting the golf ball. The golf ball rolled in a perfect straight line, as if guided by a ruler… before dropping softly into the hole.

"Yes!" Victoria exclaimed with joy. She turned to sneer at Owen like a true victor, amidst the applause and cheers of her friends.

In Owen’s mind, the first choice was social suicide… the second choice was to give up the mission… leaving only the third choice. Owen analyzed all the options in a split second… before his gaze turned cold and unpredictable.

He had made his decision…

He took a deep breath and walked towards her with a friendly… but completely unreadable smile.

Owen walked through the circle of her girlfriends to Victoria, who was standing there smiling with satisfaction. He held out his hand to congratulate her with the posture of a graceful, defeated gentleman.

"Congratulations on your victory," he said in a sincere voice, without a trace of resentment. "It was an excellent match."

Victoria accepted with an arrogant smile, barely touching his hand. "Of course, it was." But before she could fully bask in her victory, Owen spoke his next sentence, which made her smile freeze.

"Thank you, really. I haven't had a chance to warm up on a real course like this in a long time. It was very good practice."

The atmosphere suddenly went quiet. The words were like a splash of ice-cold water on the fire of her victory. It instantly devalued her proud win into nothing more than a "warm-up" for him.

Victoria narrowed her eyes at him coldly. "Oh… so you lost and now you have to make the excuse that you were 'practicing'? I thought you were more of a gentleman." She tried to turn the situation around, to make him look like a sore loser making excuses.

But Owen just chuckled softly, as if her accusation was utterly amusing. "An excuse? Not at all," he said, meeting her eyes directly, his gaze strangely sincere. "You won ‘fair and square.’ I just feel that… this was just a friendly game where neither of us was being serious."

This statement was even more vicious than saying he had gone easy on her… It wasn't the excuse of a sore loser, but the declaration of the game’s 'status' from a superior. He readily admitted her victory but devalued it to nothing by dragging her down to the status of a 'practice partner' just like him. It was a declaration that the victory she had tried so hard for (even cheating) meant as much to him as a casual warm-up.

His coolness was the perfect fuel, igniting the fire of her pride until it was uncontrollable. She would not let this man walk away with the belief that he was superior to her!

"Stop right there," she ordered, her voice sharp. "If you think what just happened wasn't 'for real'… then fine!"

She stared him down, announcing in front of all her friends. "Next week… same time! We’ll have a rematch! And this time, I want you to use all of your 'real skill'!"

Owen feigned a moment of thought, as if considering the request of a petulant child, before letting out a soft sigh and giving a gentle smile. "If it will make you happy, madam… then very well."

His easy acceptance, as if humoring a stubborn child, was the final insult that made Victoria so angry she could have screamed.

"I’ll be waiting," Owen said as a parting shot, before giving a slight bow to her and her friends, and then walking away with elegance, leaving Victoria standing there, her fists clenched in a rage, staring at his back with a hatred ready to explode at any moment.

…..

The scene cuts to Owen driving his SUV away from the club. The friendly smile that had been on his face was completely gone, replaced by a cold, determined gaze. His plan was one step closer to completion, but he knew that to win against her cheating next time, he needed undeniable "proof."

He took out his phone and searched for a contact he had saved… the young man with high self-confidence who claimed to be a genius in the world of technology… Jez.

The line rang for only a moment before the other end was picked up with an enthusiastic voice. "What's up, my friend! Anything this genius can help you with?"

Owen didn't beat around the bush. "Jez, I need some equipment… a device that can detect mana usage at close range and record the data as evidence. Does your shop have anything like this?"

The voice on the other end was quiet for a moment before laughing with amusement. "Haha! You asked the right person, my friend! That kind of thing isn't sold in regular shops… but of course, a genius like me can get it for you. Better come to the shop to talk details. This isn't something we should talk about over the phone for too long."

A smirk appeared on Owen’s lips. "I was right to call you. Okay. I’ll be at your shop in less than two hours."

The plan to blackmail Victoria had officially begun…

—-------

Chapter 55: Titans' Oasis Country Club

The Saturday morning sun streamed through the curtains of Jessica’s bedroom. But what woke Owen from his deep sleep wasn't the light or an alarm clock, but a hot, wet, rhythmic sensation that was enveloping his lower body.

He slowly opened his eyes. The first image was blurry for a moment before it gradually came into sharp focus… and the sight made the blood in his veins pump until it was searing hot.

Jessica was kneeling at the foot of the bed, beautifully naked. Her fiery red hair was slightly messy from sleep. She was servicing him diligently, her sweet, beautiful face moving up and down in a steady rhythm. Her full lips, glistening with saliva, were hungrily sucking and pulling at his fully erect cock. The wet, lewd sounds echoed softly in the morning quiet.

When she sensed he had moved, she slowly released his large cock from her warm mouth, reluctant. A thin string of clear saliva connected the flared, crimson head to her lips before it regretfully broke.

She looked up and gave him a sweet smile, her eyes moist and full of love. “Good morning. Time to wake up, my love~ Today is your big day.”

With that said, she didn't wait for him to reply, lowering her head to possess his shaft once more, this time with even more intensity and skill. She used her mouth, tongue, and hands to frantically arouse all his senses until Owen couldn't help but let out a low moan, before he released a torrent of hot love juice down her throat until he was empty.

After their passionate morning wake-up call, the two of them held hands and went into the bathroom to shower together. The warm steam that filled the room mixed with Jessica’s blissful moans, which could be heard periodically. Owen took every opportunity to touch and have sex with her. He had a clear goal in his mind… he wanted to fully stimulate the "Broodmother's Brand" within her to awaken her dormant powers. That way, she would be able to protect herself and become an important asset to him in the future.

When they had finished showering, Jessica naturally took on the role of a doting wife. She used a soft towel to dry every drop of water from Owen’s muscular body before meticulously dressing him in the sapphire-blue golf polo they had bought yesterday. Every touch of hers as she caressed his chest and back was filled with love and pride.

When he was fully dressed, Jessica led him to stand in front of a large mirror. She stood behind him, adjusting the collar of his polo shirt one last time before wrapping her arms around him from behind and resting her cheek on his broad back.

"You look absolutely perfect, my love~" she whispered softly. "Are you ready to start your mission… Mr. Marlowe?"

Owen looked at the reflection of the elegant young man in the mirror, then placed his hand over hers, which were wrapped around his waist. "Always ready… thanks to my brilliant secretary," he said with a smile, before turning to kiss her gently on the forehead as a gesture of mutual encouragement.

…..

The luxurious white SUV parked in a spot hidden from view, but with a clear line of sight to the main entrance of the "Titans' Oasis Country Club."

The sight before him was the epitome of opulence and luxury. A massive white marble archway was elegantly engraved with the club's name in golden letters. The long road leading inside was flanked by perfectly manicured lawns, like emerald green carpets, and colorful flower gardens that gave off a faint, fragrant scent. Only supercars and top-of-the-line sedans were permitted to drive past the strict and formidable-looking security checkpoint.

Owen sat still behind the steering wheel, his heart pounding with his plan and anticipation. He looked at his own reflection in the rearview mirror… a young man in an expensive polo shirt that perfectly accentuated his muscular body. It was a flawless mask, but he knew that this alone was not enough.

For this mission, he needed the ultimate advantage… he needed this mission to proceed with true "perfection."

He closed his eyes, cutting himself off from the outside world. In the dark void of his mind, the image of the massive "Scales of Covenant" appeared. It looked as sacred and formidable as ever.

He began to create a short-term covenant with himself, voicing the vow in his mind, firm and clear.

"I sacrifice my entire sense of taste… for one week."

As soon as he finished the words, on the left pan of the scales… the side of sacrifice… a glowing energy orb representing his sense of taste appeared. The pan slowly and heavily lowered. The "price" had been paid.

"In exchange for the ability… [Golf Genius]… for one day."

On the right pan of the scales, a simulation of a perfect golf swing appeared. It glowed with a brilliant golden light and slowly lowered until…

Click…

The two pans of the scale came to a perfect level. A clear sound echoed in his head… the covenant was complete. And Owen didn't have to negotiate the terms at all. It showed his increasing precision in calculating the "price" and "reward."

In that instant, the entire knowledge and skill set of the sport of golf flooded into his brain like a bursting dam! From the physics of the swing, to calculating wind direction and speed, to reading complex lines on the green, to the feeling of every muscle moving in perfect harmony. Everything was deeply engraved in his subconscious, as if it were an instinct he had been born with.

Owen opened his eyes again. His gaze had changed… It was sharp, resolute, and filled with the confidence of a professional.

He put the car in gear and stepped on the gas… heading steadily towards the entrance gate. The performance… had begun.

…..

Owen’s luxurious white SUV moved smoothly to a stop in front of the security checkpoint of the "Titans' Oasis Country Club." The atmosphere was serene and exclusive, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the neatly planted pine trees and the faint sound of a fountain from within.

An officer in a clean white uniform walked out of the guard post with a polite but firm demeanor. He gave a slight, standard bow before speaking in a formal tone. "Welcome to the Titans' Oasis Country Club, sir."

The officer paused for a moment, his eyes quickly scanning the car and assessing the driver before continuing in a slightly firmer tone, a line he had probably said countless times.

"For the privacy and security of all our members, may I please see your membership card?"

Owen didn't show any signs of nervousness or haste. He just nodded in understanding before reaching over to the passenger seat and picking up a cream-colored linen envelope. The envelope was sealed with bright red wax, which was clearly and elegantly stamped with the governor’s seal.

"I don't have a membership card," Owen said flatly. "But I have this…"

He held the envelope out the window.

The security officer took the envelope, confused. At first, he thought it might be an ordinary delivery document, but when his fingertips felt the quality of the paper and the weight of the seal, he frowned slightly before carefully opening the envelope.

The moment his eyes saw the familiar signature of "Governor Alexander Ashford," written in a powerful, dark ink… his demeanor changed completely.

His once-impassive eyes widened with a mixture of shock and awe. His once-straight back automatically bowed. He quickly put the letter back in the envelope and handed it back to Owen with both hands, which were trembling slightly.

"My deepest apologies, sir!" he said, his voice loud and clear, immediately switching from the standard "sir" to a more deferential tone. "Please, right this way, sir!"

He quickly ran back to the guard post, pressed the button to open the giant, ornate golden wrought-iron gates, and at the same time, raised his walkie-talkie to report to the main office, his voice filled with excitement. "Notifying reception… the governor's important guest… has arrived!"

Owen gave a slight nod of thanks before driving majestically through the gates.

When he walked into the lobby, which was luxuriously decorated with a high, domed ceiling and a massive crystal chandelier, the once-relaxed atmosphere among the members who were sipping coffee quieted down a little. All eyes were fixed on the new young man who had arrived with such an unusual welcome.

A middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit, the club manager, rushed out of his office in a panic, with a few receptionists following closely behind him.

"Welcome to Titans' Oasis, esteemed guest!" the manager greeted with his most sincere smile, bowing to Owen until his back was almost parallel to the floor. "We were notified by the governor that you would be visiting today. Everything has been prepared for you."

He continued with humility. "All expenses for today… have been taken care of by the governor. Please enjoy all of our club's facilities to the fullest without any worries. Whether it's the golf course, the spa, or the restaurant… if you require anything else, please just inform any of our staff at any time."

The news of the arrival of the "governor's important guest," who was unnamed but was receiving the highest level of care, spread among the staff and the members who were present like wildfire. This instantly created a profile for Owen that was mysterious, powerful, and had an extraordinary background. He wasn't just some unknown new-money face; he had become an enigma with close ties to the city's highest level of power.

Owen thanked the manager in a calm and polite voice but deliberately kept his distance, not being overly friendly, which only made him seem more mysterious and intriguing.

"Thank you very much," he said flatly. "For now, I'll head to the driving range."

With that, he walked in the direction the staff gestured, his stride steady and elegant, leaving the staff and several club members who had witnessed the event to stare after his broad back with curiosity and wonder… who was this young man who had arrived with the governor's prestige?

…..

The driving range at Titans' Oasis was vast and incredibly green. The atmosphere was filled with the relaxation of a weekend. The soft laughter of members in brightly colored outfits and the periodic, ringing sound of golf clubs hitting balls mixed with the gentle breeze, creating a symphony of luxury.

Owen chose a driving bay in a relatively private corner. He gently placed his solid black leather golf bag down before beginning to warm up his body with movements that were natural and casual, yet laced with the precision of a professional athlete. Every stretch was perfect and purposeful.

And the moment he picked up a driver, the atmosphere around him changed. The relaxation from a moment ago was completely gone, replaced by an aura of resolute, cold concentration. The power from the [Golf Genius] covenant shot through every particle of his body. He could feel a perfect connection between his mind, his body, and the golf club in his hand. It was no longer just a piece of equipment, but an extension of his body.

He teed up the first golf ball… took a deep breath… and addressed the ball with a perfect stance.

It was a sight as beautiful as a poem in motion. Every part of his form was flawless, from his stable footing, to the smooth rotation of his hips to generate power, the fluid weight transfer from his back foot to his front, to the final snap of his wrists that unleashed all the power. It was powerful yet smooth, fast yet perfectly controlled.

SWOOSH~ CRACK!

The sound of the golf ball being struck was clear and ringing, completely different from the dull "thwack" of the others. The white golf ball shot into the sky in a straight line, like a laser beam, before arcing beautifully as if drawn with a compass, and then landed near the 300-yard marker with pinpoint accuracy. It bounced a little further and then stopped dead.

Ball after ball… Owen hit them without rushing, each shot spaced out evenly. Every ball had the same, perfect result. No misses, no slices. Every ball flew in a straight line and landed in an unbelievably consistent range. This superior performance, combined with his elegant new look in the sapphire-blue polo, slowly began to attract the eyes of those around him.

Not far away… under a large parasol, Victoria was sitting cross-legged on a white wicker chair, elegant. She was the queen of her social circle, surrounded by her high-society girlfriends. They were all giggling at her jokes and admiring the new pair of diamond earrings she had just gotten.

"Damn, Vicky, they're so beautiful they're blinding me!" one of her friends named Emily said with envy, playfully raising a hand to shield her eyes.

Victoria laughed with satisfaction. "Alex is just like that. He always knows what's best for me~"

But then, Emily’s eyes glanced at something more interesting. She lifted her expensive sunglasses slightly. "Wow… look at that guy. I've never seen him before. But look at his swing… it’s perfect!"

Those words made her other friends turn to look, and suddenly… the center of attention shifted from the diamond earrings to the mysterious young man.

"Who is he? He's so handsome," another young woman said, her eyes sparkling.

"He looks so classy… definitely not some new-money type who likes to show off. Look at how he dresses and carries himself."

"I think I saw the governor's seal on the letter he gave the staff when he came in… Victoria, do you know him?" The whispers began to grow.

All the attention of the group of girls slowly and completely shifted from Victoria to the mysterious young man, leaving the queen of the conversation sitting alone with her diamond earrings.

Victoria, who was used to always being the star and the center of every conversation, began to get visibly annoyed. The ever-growing whispers of admiration for the mysterious young man from her friends were like waves slowly eroding the throne of her queendom.

Her lips, coated in a bright purple lipstick, pressed together tightly. She looked at Owen with a cold gaze, without a trace of the admiration her friends had. In her eyes, he was an "annoyance" who had dared to steal her spotlight right in front of her.

To reclaim the attention and to show everyone who the real "queen" of this place was, she decided to deal with this "problem" herself.

CLINK!

She placed her mimosa glass on the glass table a little louder than usual, but loud enough to make all her friends stop and turn to look at her as one.

"This is getting boring. Let's make it a little more interesting," she said to her friends with a cold smile before standing up and walking straight to Owen’s driving bay with an arrogant and challenging gait, like a queen about to teach a trespasser a lesson.

Owen, who was concentrating on addressing his next ball, felt a shadow fall over him, blocking the sun, along with the scent of an expensive perfume that was luxurious yet laced with arrogance. He paused and turned to look at the source of the shadow that had disturbed his concentration.

Victoria stood beside him, her arms crossed, looking him up and down with an undisguised, appraising gaze, as if inspecting a piece of merchandise, before she issued her challenge, her voice cold and dripping with superiority.

"Nice swing…" she said, drawing out the words. "But I wonder if it will still look this good on the actual course… Care to play a hole… Gentleman?"

Her words were full of blatant disdain, and the word "Gentleman" at the end was emphasized to sound more like an insult than a term of respect. The surrounding atmosphere quieted down a little. Her friends and other members nearby were all staring at them.

The confrontation between the two of them… had officially begun…

—-------

Chapter 54: A Gentleman's Lesson

“So, you tasteless gentleman, is there any clothing you’d like to buy?”

Sahara’s voice was sharp and direct, but instead of being offended, Owen just gave a charming smirk. The unexpected reaction made the shop owner raise an eyebrow in surprise. She had expected him to look displeased with her jab.

"I admit, I'm not good at this," Owen replied casually, not feeling her words were an insult at all, because it was the truth.

"That's why I'm here. I need an outfit for the 'Titans' Oasis Country Club.'" He paused, looking her directly in the eye so she would understand his true need. "Both a set for the golf course and a casual set for the clubhouse. I need a look that's sharp… and trustworthy."

Sahara’s eyes immediately sparkled, like a predator that had found delicious prey. This was the kind of challenge she loved. She crossed her arms, a posture that accentuated her amazing curves. "'Trustworthy,' darling?" she said with a soft chuckle. "...That word is so boring. My shop doesn't sell 'trustworthiness.' We sell an 'identity' that makes people turn their heads."

She walked towards him, her gait as elegant as a jungle cat on a runway, before stopping in front of him and getting straight to work. The atmosphere around her changed to that of a serious professional. "Let's see what kind of raw material we have here…"

Her long, slender fingers, adorned with strangely designed gold rings, traced the structure of Owen’s body without hesitation, from his broad, well-formed shoulders, to his firm chest under the t-shirt, down to his tapered waist. "Hmm… a very good frame. As if you were made specifically to wear my clothes."

She turned and gave a quick, decisive order to her staff before turning back and gesturing for Owen to follow her deeper into the shop. The air was filled with the scent of high-quality, meticulously tanned leather and an expensive perfume that gave off a complex and luxurious feeling.

"For the course," Sahara said, quickly pulling a polo shirt made of thin, sapphire-blue silk and a pair of light cream-colored chinos from a rack, as if she already had the image in her head. "The blue will make your skin tone stand out against the bright green grass, and the cream color gives a relaxed yet classy feel. It's a quiet declaration that you're not here just to play around."

Jessica, who was following closely, moved in. She looked at the outfit in Sahara’s hands with admiration before offering her own opinion, gently, based on her beliefs. "It's a very beautiful outfit. But perhaps a pure white polo shirt with khaki pants would provide a more classic and safer look. It's like the uniform of the people there. Starting by blending in might be a better strategy."

Sahara turned to look at Jessica with a friendly but clearly superior smile. "Oh, darling… save 'classic' and 'safe' for an old folks' party. At the Oasis… you don't go there to be 'approachable.' You go there so that others 'want to approach' you." The explanation was so sharp and logical that Jessica was taken aback. She understood instantly that this wasn't just about choosing clothes, but about social strategy.

Owen was gently pushed into a fitting room that was indescribably luxurious. The walls were lined with dark velvet, and there was a large, gold-framed mirror. Not long after, he stepped out.

The moment they saw him, both Jessica and Sahara froze for a moment.

The image of Owen was now completely different. The sapphire-blue polo shirt perfectly hugged his well-proportioned body, accentuating the muscles of his arms and chest that were shaped by his training. The cream-colored pants made his legs look long and elegant. From a casual young streamer, he had transformed into a gentleman who looked relaxed yet possessed a hidden power, as if he had been accustomed to a life of luxury his entire life.

"See?" Sahara said with satisfaction. "This isn't just clothing. It's creating an identity."

"Next… an outfit for socializing in the clubhouse," she continued without delay. "We need something that looks casual but still maintains its sharpness." She draped a weightless-looking, smoke-grey linen blazer over her arm, followed by a clean white mandarin collar shirt and a pair of jet-black slacks. "The linen will give a less formal feel, but the smoke-grey color will grant a mysterious and intriguing aura."

This time, Jessica countered more quickly, having learned her lesson from before. "Grey might make him blend in with the crowd. Perhaps a dark navy blazer with white pants would create a more striking look and show more confidence."

Sahara laughed with amusement. "Navy is a smart choice for a businessman looking to close a deal, my dear… But for a gentleman looking to 'open someone's heart,' mystery is always more charming than blatant confidence." She winked at Owen. "Trust me… grey will make them ask, 'Who is he?' not 'What does he do for a living?'"

Owen disappeared into the fitting room again, and when he returned, the atmosphere around him had changed once more.

The unbuttoned, smoke-grey blazer was worn over the white shirt perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and making him look even more elegant. The jet-black pants helped to make him look taller and more formidable. He had become a dangerously classy young man, the kind of person you’d want to get to know but wouldn't dare to approach first.

Jessica looked at the image of Owen, who seemed like a completely different person, before turning back to look at Sahara with an unconcealed look of awe. She slowly raised both her hands in a sign of surrender. "Okay, I understand everything now," she said with a smile. "This is why everyone calls you the 'Goddess of the Fashion World'… I now agree with every word they say."

Sahara gave a wide smile, accepting the compliment with full pride. "Of course, darling! This title wasn't earned by luck!" she said cheerfully, before clapping her hands lightly to get their attention. "Alright, don't be too amazed just yet! The show isn't over! We still have one last outfit for lunch on the terrace… which is the outfit I am most proud to present!"

She led them to another corner of the shop…

After trying on the casual outfit for lunch a pure white cotton shirt with the top two buttons undone, revealing his chest, paired with sea-blue linen pants with slightly, carelessly rolled-up cuffs Owen's new identity was complete.

Jessica stood looking at Owen, who was back in the smoke-grey blazer, her heart swelling. Her face flushed slightly with an overwhelming feeling. She felt an immense pride and desire for her "Master." In her eyes now, he wasn't just the young man she loved; he was a moving work of art, flawlessly beautiful and filled with a hidden power.

Sahara smiled, satisfied with her masterpiece. "See… this is a true work of art." She walked over to Owen again, her posture filled with the confidence of a creator admiring her masterpiece. She reached out to adjust his collar lightly, her long, cool fingers touching the warm skin of his neck, gently but deliberately. As she was admiring her work up close, her full, curved hips under the tight-fitting dress pressed naturally against his strong thigh.

She leaned in to whisper in his ear, her warm breath, tinged with a sweet scent from a distant land, arousing his primal instincts. "A look like this has a price, my love… and you… are you ready to pay?"

At the jet-black marble payment counter, Jessica glanced at the golden digital numbers on the screen that the employee had just finished keying in. She had to take a deep breath to suppress her shock. It was an amount high enough to pay her apartment rent for almost half a year. The "personal financial manager" part of her brain was screaming. She was about to protest the necessity of these luxurious clothes.

But Owen had already handed his solid black credit card to the employee with a calm and steady demeanor, as if he were just paying for a cup of coffee. The simple but decisive action made Sahara, who was standing with her arms crossed, narrow her eyes at him differently. She saw now that he wasn't just a man with good raw material that she had dressed up. He was someone who understood the "value" of image, and had the means and confidence to truly support it.

"Thank you for your business," the employee said humbly after the card had been swiped.

After the employee had carefully packed all the outfits into black shopping bags with gold trim, Sahara personally walked them both to the front of the shop. She handed Owen her personal business card, made of thick black paper with gold embossed letters.

"If you need a 'uniform' for your next big performance… you know who to call," she smiled and winked suggestively, before adding in a softer voice, "Or if you just need advice from an 'expert'… I'm always available."

She turned and walked back into her kingdom of style with elegance, leaving Owen and Jessica standing with numerous shopping bags containing his new "identity," ready for the next role he was about to play.

…..

After Owen and Jessica left Sahara’s fashion kingdom, the scent of expensive perfume still lingered in their noses. But Jessica, in her role as a personal financial manager, didn't let Owen rest. She insisted that the mission was not yet complete.

"Image isn't just about clothes, my love," she said, pointing to a shop across the way, decorated with dark wood and large clear glass panels. "To play golf at a high-class country club, you need the proper equipment. We absolutely cannot let you walk in empty-handed and rent the club's golf clubs. It will make you look unprepared and unprofessional."

She then dragged him to a professional-grade golf equipment shop not far away. The atmosphere inside the shop was calm and dignified, a contrast to the flamboyance of Sahara’s shop. This place was filled with the scent of fine tanned leather from gloves and golf bags. The walls were lined with sets of golf clubs, displayed like works of art under soft spotlights.

There, Owen had to reluctantly pay another large sum for a famous brand golf club set and a full set of accessories, which Jessica had meticulously chosen. It was all packed in a classy-looking, solid black leather golf bag that was good enough not to make him look like a pathetic beginner.

When the two of them returned to the SUV parked in the quiet underground garage, Jessica immediately took out her tablet and opened Owen’s banking app. She refreshed the remaining balance. The light from the screen reflected on her beautiful face, which slowly turned a little pale. She then turned the screen to show him with a serious look.

“Owen! Look at this!” she said, her voice both desperate and stern. “This is the remaining balance in your account after… our 'investment' today. It's at a very worrying level! I am ordering you, as your financial manager… from this moment on, you are forbidden from spending money on any nonsense, especially on in-game purchases! Otherwise, by the end of this month, we’ll be eating instant noodles instead of steak for sure!”

The cute but firm warning made Owen give a dry smile. He felt just like he was being scolded by a real wife. He raised both his hands in a gesture of surrender and nodded obediently. "Yes, yes, Ms. Secretary. I'll remember."

…..

The atmosphere changed completely when they got back to Jessica’s cozy apartment. The two of them worked together to bring all the shopping bags and equipment out and arrange them on her king-sized bed. The image of the luxury brand clothes in the slick black paper bags and the gleaming golf club set contrasted with the clean white bedsheets and the relaxed atmosphere of the room. It was a reflection of the two worlds Owen was about to step into.

Jessica fully embraced her role as "secretary and partner." She went and got a hardcover book from her bookshelf with a serious-looking title: "High-Class Gentleman's Etiquette for Success."

“Alright… time for your special lesson,” she said, opening the book to the first chapter, her expression turning into that of a strict teacher. “Please change into your clubhouse outfit, Mr. Marlowe. Practicing in a real environment is of the utmost importance.”

Owen chuckled softly at her seriousness but obeyed without question. He came out again in the elegant, smoke-grey blazer, the atmosphere around him changing instantly.

Jessica took a deep breath before she began to read the contents of the book with a sincere voice. “First… posture,” she said, trying to demonstrate. “You must walk with your back straight, chin slightly up… but not in an arrogant way. It must be an expression of inner confidence…” But her attempt at an elegant walk looked awkward and stiff, making it comical.

Owen couldn't help but smirk. He tried his best to hold back his laughter at the sight before him.

“Uh… about ordering wine,” she continued, quickly flipping the page to hide her embarrassment. “If you’re not sure… always ask the sommelier. Don't try to act like you know… But if you have to choose yourself, go with a wine from the Bordeaux region. It’s the safest… Uh… and… conversation should strictly avoid politics and religion…”

She looked up from the book, meeting his eyes with a determined look, even though her face was still flushed. “Understand?”

Owen looked at the makeshift teacher before him with a look full of love and fondness. He stepped towards her slowly and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into a tight hug before whispering softly in her ear, "I understand everything… my teacher."

His teasing words made Jessica smile with embarrassment, but she didn't give up. "Not yet. It's not over," she said, gently but firmly pushing herself out of his embrace. "The book is too theoretical. We need to see it in practice." And with that, she picked up her mobile phone, opened the MeTube app, and unabashedly began searching for a video on royal dining etiquette in front of him.

Her relentless effort made Owen smile. He leaned back against the wardrobe, watching her as she tried her best, even if she looked a bit clumsy. And in that moment, he felt a strange warmth in his heart. He realized that this woman wasn't just a passionate lover in bed; she was an ally who was truly dedicated to his success.

“Alright… one last thing, just as important,” she said, putting down her phone after watching the clip. “Tying a necktie… Even though this blazer doesn’t require one, you should still know how to tie a ‘Windsor Knot.’ It’s a basic for every gentleman.”

As Jessica was earnestly trying to adjust the collar of his blazer as she had seen in the clip, the teaching-like atmosphere slowly faded. Their proximity created a subtle static electricity in the air. The faint, fragrant scent of her hair and skin drifted to his nose, awakening a familiar desire.

Owen gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, so firmly she couldn't escape. His strong arms held her tight around her slim waist. He held her and led her to stand in front of the large mirror on the wardrobe door.

The image reflected back was of an elegant young man in a luxurious outfit, and a beautiful young woman in his arms. They looked perfect together, like a couple from a high-fashion magazine doing a photoshoot.

Owen buried his face in the fair crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet scent deep into his lungs before whispering in a hoarse voice that made Jessica’s skin tingle. “I definitely couldn’t have done this alone without you. Thank you… Jessica.”

Jessica closed her eyes happily. She leaned her back against his strong, warm chest, placing her hands over his, which were wrapped around her waist. “No matter how dangerous your mission is…” she paused for a moment before whispering the words that made the blood in Owen’s veins run hot. “I will always be by your side… Master.”

Those words were like a switch being flipped. Owen spun her around to face him, crushing his lips down on her waiting, parted ones. It wasn't a hungry, passionate kiss, but one filled with love, gratitude, and the deepest trust. His tongue slipped in, gently but firmly, tangling with hers, exchanging their sweet taste and their breath.

He gently scooped her up into his arms, as if she were weightless. Jessica smiled happily, wrapping both her arms around his neck as he carried her to the bed.

He gently placed her down on the soft sheets amidst the scattered, expensive brand-name shopping bags. His body followed, covering hers without delay. The clothes that had just been worn to practice a role were now about to be taken off to begin a truer, more passionate "lesson."

Owen carelessly took off his luxurious grey blazer, tossing it onto a nearby chair before unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his perfect chest and abs. Then he slowly unzipped Jessica’s dress, meticulously kissing his way down her smooth back as it was revealed bit by bit, until her entire dress had fallen to her waist, revealing her beautiful naked form under the dim light of the room.

He flipped her over and began to pleasure her with his lips and tongue skillfully, starting from the fragrant crook of her neck, down to the trembling mounds of her full breasts. He sucked on her hardened nipples until she arched her chest with a thrilling pleasure, before moving lower, giving her pleasure with his hot, wet tongue until her body writhed with desire.

When she was ready to the limit, he took his large, hard cock and aimed it at her slick slit, which was twitching and waiting for him. Then he slammed it in all the way in one go…

Half an hour later...

"Ah-ah-ah-ah... Aahh... M-Master… right there… harder… Aaaarrrrrggghhh!~"

Jessica’s blissful moans could be heard from the not-quite-closed bedroom, the final song of a long day, filled with love, trust, and preparation for the new mission that lay ahead…

—-------

Sahara

Chapter 53: The Gilded Scarab

Friday morning began with an atmosphere brighter than ever before. Soft sunlight streamed through the large living room windows, bathing the furniture and polished wooden floors in a sparkling glow. The rich aroma of freshly roasted and ground coffee, brewed by Damian, wafted through the house, replacing the musty smell of beer and the depression that had lingered for months.

Owen walked out of the kitchen in a comfortable, casual outfit, a steaming cup of black coffee in his hand. He stepped into the living room and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

The image of Damian sitting cross-legged on the sofa, calmly sipping black coffee, was the new Damian. He was in a perfectly tailored, dark business suit, reading business news on a tablet, as if the image of the brilliant CEO from the past had returned.

Seeing Owen walk in, he put down his tablet and smiled confidently. "Morning, my friend. Today, I really feel like I'm back to being myself again."

"I'm glad to see you like this again," Owen replied. He sat down on the opposite sofa, feeling the positive energy radiating from his friend.

Not long after, Clara entered the room. She was in a comfortable, casual outfit that was still alluringly charming. A beige, V-neck, off-the-shoulder long-sleeved shirt and a short, tight-fitting black skirt, which beautifully accentuated her voluptuous proportions and curves.

Owen secretly watched her walk in with a smile. Ever since the income from their joint OnlyStar venture had skyrocketed, Clara had decided to quit her full-time job at Grandma Alice's flower shop to become a full-time housewife again, though she would stop by to help out at the shop once a week to visit her.

She walked straight to Damian with a bright smile, gently adjusting his dark blue tie before leaning down to give him a big kiss on the cheek. "Do your best on your first day, my love!"

Then, while Damian was still sitting there with a happy smile, she turned to Owen, who was sitting nearby. "You too, Owen. You do your best today."

And then she leaned down and gave him a quick, discreet peck on the cheek. It looked like an encouraging gesture for a close friend who had helped her family, but for Owen, he felt a deeper meaning… The faint, seductive scent of her perfume and the touch of her lips lingering on his cheek for just a split second was a secret greeting between the two of them. It was a reaffirmation of the sweet taste she had experienced in the bathroom the other day.

Damian watched the scene with a smile, not suspecting a thing. He was instead grateful that his wife was so fond of and encouraging to his best friend. "I'm heading to work now, my love," he said, bidding farewell to his wife and Owen, before walking out of the house with a brisk and hopeful stride.

After Damian left, the living room fell silent for a moment. Clara and Owen met each other's eyes, her gaze sparkling with a playful and challenging look, before she walked into the kitchen, humming cheerfully, leaving Owen to sip his coffee and watch the news alone.

The mission to help his friend had ended beautifully. And now, it was time for him to get serious about Alex's mission… the mission to make Victoria fall in love with him.

After finishing his coffee, Owen put the cup down on the table. The warm, comfortable atmosphere of breakfast slowly faded, replaced by a complete focus. He walked back to his room, which was like his private command center, before closing and locking the door securely. The soft click of the lock completely cut him off from the outside world.

He walked to his desk, slid his keyboard and gaming mousepad to the side, and took out a brown document folder from a drawer. It was the information file on Victoria that Anya had given him. He opened it slowly, the cold, emotionless smell of paper drifting up to his nose.

The light from his desk lamp shone down on the documents, which were filled with photos and in-depth information. Owen began to study the information meticulously once again. This time, he wasn't just skimming; he was building a psychological profile of his target in his head.

His eyes scanned her personal information before stopping at the "Awakened Status" section.

'Interesting…' he thought, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk. '…A Control-Type Awakened with an "A-Rank Telekinesis" ability, but due to her nature of disliking training and combat, her overall Awakened Rank is only C, even though she has a very high amount of mana… A talented but lazy princess, I see.'

This information made him even more confident. She had power but didn't know how to use it to its full potential, unlike Nova, who trained her body every day until she was stronger than her own innate power. Victoria was a queen sitting on an ivory throne, but without a strong army.

He scanned the list of her favorite brand names, the types of art she collected, the names of her friends in high society, and most importantly, her almost unchanging daily routine, until he found the key piece of information that solidified his plan.

"Victoria Ashford is an honorary member of the 'Titans' Oasis Country Club' and often appears there to play golf every Saturday morning, without fail."

A cold smirk appeared on Owen’s lips. He had found the perfect infiltration route. It wasn't just about approaching her, but about invading her battlefield directly, where social status and image were the most important weapons. He closed the folder with a loud "THUD." The decision was made.

He stood to his full height. He knew that to enter her world, he first needed the proper "uniform." He grabbed his wallet and the key to his SUV.

"Time to go shopping, I guess," he mumbled to himself.

But he wouldn't go alone. Choosing clothes that would impress a woman like Victoria required a sharp eye and excellent taste… and he now had the most suitable person for the job.

Owen picked up his phone and dialed Jessica’s number. She picked up after just a few rings.

"Hello~ What is it, my love" her sweet, happy voice came from the other end of the line.

"Jessica… I have an urgent matter that needs my personal secretary’s help. Are you free? I'll come pick you up at your apartment," he said in a natural tone.

"For my master… I’m always free," she replied in a teasing voice laced with suggestion, before adding, "Drive safe~"

Owen smiled, then drove off to pick up his important assistant for this mission.

…..

Owen parked his SUV in front of the apartment building where Jessica lived. He called to let her know he had arrived and was waiting downstairs.

Not long after, the main entrance opened, and Jessica’s form appeared in a cream-colored casual dress that accentuated her fair skin and beautiful figure. She walked straight to the car with a bright smile, but instead of opening the passenger door, she quickly opened the driver’s side door where Owen was sitting.

Before he could even greet her, she leaned into the car quickly, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her red-lipsticked lips against his in a deep, passionate kiss.

"Mmmm~ Smooch~"

It was a kiss full of longing and desire. Her hot tongue bravely slipped into his mouth, chasing and tangling with his hungrily. Owen responded just as fiercely, one of his hands moving up to cup the back of her head, pressing her in for a deeper, more intimate kiss.

When she slowly pulled her lips away, a thin string of saliva connected them before breaking off regretfully.

"I missed you so much… Master," she whispered hoarsely, before pulling away and walking around to get into the passenger side, her face flushed, leaving Owen smiling with her sweet taste still on his lips.

As the car pulled away from the apartment, the once-hot atmosphere slowly changed. Jessica turned to look at him, her sweet smile gone, replaced by the serious expression of a secretary about to start her work.

"My love… before we go run your errand, we need to talk about something first."

"What is it?" Owen raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Your finances," she said, pulling out her own tablet. "I spent last night reviewing the accounts you sent me… and I have to say, it’s rather worrying…"

She zoomed in on an expense graph. "You're the type who likes to spend large sums of money without thinking, aren't you? Like that camera… You bought it when your income wasn't even twenty thousand. And this car, too. Even if it was necessary, your finances weren't stable at the time. You could have just waited another month for the OnlyStar income to come in so your account wouldn't be so at risk."

She continued without stopping. "And that's not including all the miscellaneous expenses… especially the money you spend on in-game purchases. That’s the real culprit…"

Hearing Jessica’s lecture, Owen’s face went pale and sweat beaded on his forehead. He felt like he was shrinking smaller and smaller, while Jessica’s form began to grow terrifyingly large. He had never seen this side of Jessica before, and he had to admit, it was both formidable and sexy at the same time. But to avoid being called out any further, he quickly changed the subject to deflect.

"Okay, okay, I get it. I’ll be more careful, Ms. Secretary," he quickly cut her off. "The reason I called you today is because I have an important job I need your help with." He changed his tone to be a little more serious.

He began to briefly explain the mission to get close to Victoria, that his goal was to infiltrate high society to build a relationship with her, and that the most important first step was to create the perfect "image." That's why he needed a woman with taste and a sharp eye like her to help, as his "personal stylist" for this mission.

Jessica listened intently, her expression changing from a nagging secretary to a professional planner in an instant. She was excited and proud to be trusted to take part in his important mission. "So you’re saying… we’re going on a major shopping spree?" she smiled knowingly.

"Exactly," Owen smiled back. "And I need you to choose the best… without worrying about the price… Well, maybe you should worry a little bit…" he said hesitantly, thinking of the money in his pocket.

Those words made Jessica’s eyes sparkle. She let out a soft laugh. "So you want the person who just scolded you about your spending to help you burn through a large sum of money? Absolutely, Master… This is what I do best!"

…..

Their SUV turned into the parking lot of the largest shopping mall in Titan City. The atmosphere around them changed completely the moment the large glass doors slid open to welcome them. Cool air, filled with the scent of expensive perfume, replaced the heat of the big city. The soft sound of classical music played, mingling with the sound of footsteps on the polished marble floor. Everything indicated wealth and class.

"If we’re going to infiltrate the country club, we have to dress like the people in it," Jessica said as she confidently led Owen. She linked her arm with his naturally, in the role of a perfect personal secretary and wife.

Jessica led Owen straight to the brand-name clothing section, before both their eyes were drawn to the largest and most opulent boutique on the floor. It was a shop luxuriously decorated in a gold and pitch-black color scheme. The name of the shop was elegantly engraved in golden letters: "The Gilded Scarab."

"And this… is the best shop!" she whispered.

As they were about to step inside, they were stopped by a sharp voice, full of authority and frustration, coming from within.

"No! No! No! That scarf is not meant to be just 'wrapped,' darling! It must be 'draped' like the wind! Make it look like a perfect coincidence, not like a forgotten rag! Do it again, now!"

The owner of the voice was standing with her hands on her hips, energetically ordering her staff. She was a beautiful woman from the land of the pyramids, around 35 years old, in a tight-fitting white dress with gold trim that accentuated her honey-colored skin and her voluptuous figure, especially her massive, challenging, rounded buttocks. She had long, curly black hair in intricate braids, and sharp, dark brown eyes. She was scanning the displays in the shop with a critical gaze.

[Character Illustration: Sahara]

Owen stared at her and frowned with a sense of familiarity, before he remembered that he had seen her before. Her name was “Sahara,” the woman who had once clashed fiercely with Jez.

After dealing with her staff to her satisfaction, Sahara turned and saw Owen and Jessica, who had just stepped into the shop. Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly, assessing Owen’s attire from head to toe, before she walked straight towards them with the graceful gait of a queen.

“Welcome to my Gilded Scarab… No offense, but your outfit is a bit plain. A t-shirt and jeans? You have no fashion sense at all, darling~ You’re wasting your good figure,” she said bluntly, tapping Owen’s chest lightly with a finger, as if to test the firmness of his muscles.

“My name is Sahara. I’m the owner, and I will be the one to advise you on your clothes.”

Owen shrugged, unfazed by her criticism, because it was true. “I won’t argue… I’m not the type who’s interested in fashion. Uh… and a pleasure to meet you. You can call me Owen. And this is my personal secretary, Jessica.”

Hearing his frank admission, Sahara raised an eyebrow slightly before laughing with amusement. “Oh~ at least you admit you’re terrible at this, and you’re not mad at a mouthy woman like me. Many of my clients don’t like it when I tell them the truth about their fashion. But who cares? This is my shop. I can sell or not sell to whomever I please.”

She glanced at Jessica for a moment, assessing her, before turning back to Owen. “So, you tasteless gentleman, is there any clothing you’d like to buy?”

—-------

Sahara

Chapter 52: Evaluating the Awakened Rank

Meilin led Owen through a second door into a space that was vast and completely different from the previous room. The sound of the metal door sliding shut behind them was a low thud, completely cutting them off from the outside world.

This was the Awakened performance testing center. It was as large as a futuristic gymnasium. The floor and walls were made of a durable, seamless dark grey metal alloy. The high ceiling was filled with LED panels that cast a soft white light, along with complex energy detection sensors that pulsed with a faint, rhythmic light.

The room was filled with high-tech and formidable performance testing equipment, from an unusually large high-speed treadmill, to a pressure platform that radiated a faint energy, to a punching bag connected to a digital display. In the center of the room was a small circular combat arena, and in one corner, a black marble pedestal prominently displayed a clear crystal orb the size of a basketball. Inside the orb, a blue light swirled slowly, as if alive.

Meilin stopped in the middle of the room and turned to face Owen. "Before we begin the test, I will explain the Awakened ranking system to you."

She continued in a formal tone. "There are a total of 7 Awakened ranks: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, and the highest, legendary rank is Hero. Ranks F to D are low-tier Awakened, who may not be much stronger than ordinary people. Ranks C and B are mid-tier Awakened, whom ordinary people have no chance of fighting, and they are considered the main force. Ranks A and S are high-tier Awakened, comparable to superhumans. They can affect an entire city."

She paused for a moment, her eyes shining with seriousness as she mentioned the final rank. "And finally, the Hero rank, the highest level with only 3 people in the world. They have enough power to affect an entire continent."

Owen listened to the information intently. He understood the power hierarchy of this new world more clearly. Nova was an S-Rank Awakened… a woman strong enough to destroy an entire city by herself. The thought was both amazing and chilling at the same time.

"Alright, let's start with the ‘physical strength’ test," Meilin said, pointing to the punching power measurement machine. "First is to measure the power you have. Please use all of your physical strength, without reinforcing it with mana."

Owen walked to the testing machine. He got into a proper boxing stance, twisted his waist to send power through his shoulder, and unleashed all his strength into his right fist, slamming it squarely into the punching bag target!

BANG!

A heavy, dull sound echoed through the testing room. The red digital numbers on the display shot up rapidly before stopping. He was then taken to the other testing machines in sequence.

The Pressure Test: He stood on the metal platform. Instantly, an invisible pressure assaulted him from all directions, as if he were sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Owen gritted his teeth, every muscle tensing until his veins bulged. He stood his ground against the ever-increasing pressure until his knees began to tremble and buckle slightly. The machine then beeped and stopped.

The Speed Test: On the high-tech treadmill, Owen unleashed his top speed. The surrounding scenery blurred for a moment, with only the sound of the wind whistling past his ears.

The Endurance Test: He lifted a heavy metal bar above his head, holding it still for as long as he could. Minutes passed until sweat dripped into his eyes and his arms began to tremble violently.

The Reaction Test: He had to stand in the middle of a circle of light panels and use his hands and feet to touch the lights that flashed randomly as quickly as possible. His body moved like a dancer, dodging and attacking at the same time.

When the long physical test was over, Meilin looked at the summarized data on her tablet, her slender brows furrowing slightly.

"Overall physical performance… Rank C," she said. "Several times stronger than an ordinary person, which is very high for someone who claims to have only recently awakened." Her voice turned slightly colder.

She looked up to meet his eyes directly, her gaze full of suspicion and scrutiny. "May I ask for more information on what you did to get such a strong body? The Association's rule about registering within 2 weeks of awakening is very strict."

Hearing the question, which was laced with suspicion and the authority of the law, Owen didn't seem flustered at all. He gave a faint smile and answered truthfully, as it wasn't a secret. “It’s something I gained from the Dimensional Gate of Chaos that recently appeared in the city center. You've probably heard the news that two ordinary people managed to survive. I was one of them.”

The answer made Meilin’s eyes widen slightly with genuine surprise. The suspicion in her eyes began to fade, as this was something she could easily verify. “Oh~ so it was you! If that’s the case, then gaining a C-Rank body is still too small a reward in my opinion. You did very well, Mr. Marlowe. It’s no surprise that you would later become an Awakened.” After she spoke, she couldn't help but give him a thumbs-up, a gesture of sincere admiration.

She paused for a moment before returning to her professional evaluator mode. "Then let's begin the ‘combat skills test.’”

Suddenly, a metal panel on the floor of the combat arena slid open, and a humanoid training robot walked up with a rhythmic gait. It had a slender body, covered in black padding. It had no face, but a red sensor on its head scanned back and forth. Its movements were fast and agile, like a professional fighter.

Seeing it, Owen’s eyes immediately sparkled. What man doesn't like robots? He had never seen a combat robot like this before.

Owen walked down into the combat arena and firmly raised his Muay Thai guard.

Seeing that Owen was ready, Meilin immediately announced, "Begin!"

WHIRRR~

The robot charged at Owen instantly. It attacked with straightforward and very fast movements, punching and kicking at Owen without pause. Owen, who had been rigorously trained by Nova, was able to handle it calmly. He used his Muay Thai skills to dodge, parry, and counter with heavy and precise punches, kicks, knees, and elbows.

THWACK! THWACK! THUD!

The sound of his fists and elbows hitting the robot’s body echoed through the room. The fight lasted less than five minutes before Owen found an opening to sweep the robot's leg, causing it to lose its balance, and followed up with a flying knee to its torso, sending it flying until it lay motionless on the floor.

Meilin raised an eyebrow slightly, impressed. "Your combat skills are excellent… evaluated as Rank B."

"Next… mana quantity."

Owen walked to the pedestal with the crystal orb. He placed his hand on its cold surface slowly and began to channel his mana into it. The orb began to glow with a soft blue light, but the light was dim and not very bright, like a firefly on a dark night.

Meilin frowned slightly. "Mana quantity… Rank F. Much lower than expected."

"The final test, ‘ability application.’”

They walked back to the combat arena. "I will have the system simulate a combat situation. You must use your ability to handle it."

As she finished speaking, panels on the walls around the room slid open, revealing several tennis ball cannons aimed at him. Soon, they began to fire a barrage of tennis balls at Owen! Owen quickly created an Asura arm to parry the attacks while nimbly dodging back and forth.

Then, multiple targets appeared around him, for him to attack. Owen changed from creating one ‘arm’ to creating six ‘fingers’ instead, which was the number he could control at the moment. He didn't wait, controlling all six fingers to attack all the targets simultaneously.

And finally, was the elimination of a boss, which was made of a clearly more durable material than the previous targets. Owen reinforced his own fist, increasing the strength of the Asura’s punch to destroy the strong target. But with his small amount of mana, his Asura arm began to tremble and become unstable near the end, and it shattered and dissipated at the same time the boss target was destroyed.

When the test was over, Meilin recorded the final results. "Good control, but lacks stability due to limited mana… Ability application, evaluated as Rank C."

…..

After the final test was over, Owen was panting heavily. Almost all the mana in his body had been drained. Meilin led him through another door to a small, private lounge, which was a complete contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the testing room.

A plush black leather sofa and a crystal glass table gave off a feeling of luxury and relaxation. After the exhaustion from the continuous tests, he collapsed onto the sofa, completely spent. Sweat was still beading on his hairline, but his heart was filled with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety for the results.

About fifteen minutes passed. The door slid open again. Meilin walked back in with a tablet in her hand. Her face was still professionally impassive, but her eyes held an unconcealed admiration.

"Your overall evaluation results are out," she said, showing him the data on the screen. It was filled with complex graphs and numbers before she summarized it for him.

"Based on the evaluation of all data, congratulations, Mr. Owen Marlowe… your Awakened Rank is 'Initial B-Rank.'"

A smile automatically appeared on Owen’s lips. It was the exact result he had been hoping for.

"Your profile is quite interesting," Meilin continued. "Your mana value is quite low for a B-Rank, but it's compensated by your physical strength, and especially your combat skills, which are far above the standard for a new Awakened. If you can increase your mana quantity in the future, you have a good chance of reaching mid- and high-tier B-Rank without much difficulty."

"Thank you for the advice," Owen replied politely.

"That concludes the evaluation," she summarized. "You may wait for your Awakened ID card at the front lobby. The system is currently processing it."

After Meilin left, Owen returned to the lobby to wait. He took out his mobile phone to play a game to kill time amidst the still-bustling atmosphere. Over an hour passed until he was starting to get bored. Finally, a soft, automated announcement sounded.

"Mr. Owen Marlowe, please come to counter number 3."

Owen walked to the counter as called. The same employee handed him a card with a smile. "This is your Awakened ID card. Congratulations."

He took it in his hand. It was a card made of a material like a matte black metal alloy, feeling cooler and heavier than a normal card. On the card, his recently taken photo appeared, along with the "Shield of the Eye" emblem and all the important information that specified his new identity.

Owen walked out of the massive Awakened Association building. The afternoon sun shone down on him. He looked at the card in his hand again. The text on it was the confirmation of his success.

[ Owen Marlowe | Awakened Rank: B | Type: Control | Ability: Avatar of Asura ]

He clenched the card so tightly his knuckles turned white before carefully putting it in his wallet… His first mission to create his "mask" was complete.

He got into his SUV and drove home in a particularly good mood. The anxiety he once had had completely vanished, leaving only an excitement for the future and the new possibilities that lay ahead. He turned on his favorite rock band and hummed along the entire way… Today was the first day of his new life as an official Awakened.

—-------

Chapter 51: The Awakened Association

"Awakened Association, Titan City Branch"

The image that appeared before Owen was a modern, towering skyscraper. It was constructed from pitch-black glass and a polished metal frame that glinted in the late morning sun. Its design was simple yet exuded a sense of formidability and power, like a fortress of the new world watching over every life in the city.

And above the massive automatic entrance, a large emblem was prominently displayed. It was the "Shield of the Eye," a modern-style shield with a polished silver metal border. In the center of the shield was a wide-open eye, but instead of a normal iris, it contained a glowing five-pointed golden star a symbol representing protection, vigilance, and the five types of Awakened powers.

Owen took a deep breath to calm his racing heart before getting out of the car and walking straight to the entrance. The giant automatic doors slid open silently, revealing a lobby that was breathtakingly spacious and grand. The floor was paved with jet-black marble that reflected the downlights on the ceiling, which was so high it created a perfect mirror image.

This place was truly a hub for superhumans…

He scanned his surroundings and could feel the auras of various mana powers hanging in the air. He felt like a small fish that had just been released into a vast ocean. He saw all sorts of people.

A group of teenagers in high school uniforms stood in a circle, talking excitedly perhaps new Awakened who had just come to register like him. A burly man in light leather and metal armor looked like a Hunter who had just returned from hunting monsters in a dimensional gate, as his gear still had faint bloodstains and scratches.

And a group of businessmen in expensive suits were sitting in a corner of the lobby, talking intensely. Everyone was different, but they all had one thing in common: the "mana power" that radiated from their bodies.

Owen walked through the crowd to the white marble reception counter that stood majestically in the center of the lobby. A young female employee in a neat and tidy dark blue uniform looked up from a holographic screen with a professional smile. On her collar was a small pin in the shape of the "Shield of the Eye."

"Hello, welcome to the Awakened Association. How may I help you?"

Owen smiled back politely. "Hello, I’ve just recently awakened, and I'd like to officially register."

The employee's smile didn't fade. She handed Owen a modern-looking tablet. "Could you please fill in your basic personal information here first? The form will also ask about the situation when you awakened. You don't have to go into too much detail, just a general overview is fine."

Owen took it and quickly began to fill in the information. Name, age, address, awakened power, and so on…

When he pressed confirm and handed the tablet back to her, she gestured towards a young woman who was walking out from an inner hallway with a graceful posture. She was the officer who would be conducting Owen’s initial evaluation.

The woman appeared to be around 30 years old, with a tall, slender figure and a steady gait. She was in a perfectly tailored Association uniform that flawlessly accentuated her beautiful proportions. She had sharp, almond-shaped eyes, skin as fine and white as porcelain, and jet-black hair tied neatly in a bun, indicating she was from the land of dragons. The nameplate on her chest was engraved with the name "Meilin."

Owen noticed that as she walked past the group of loudly talking Hunters, they quieted down a little and instinctively made way for her. This woman was definitely not just an ordinary officer.

"Mr. Owen Marlowe, this way, please," she said in a voice that was soft yet held a hint of boldness, before turning and leading him down a long hallway deeper into the building.

The hallway looked simple but gave off a feeling of pressure. The walls were made of seamless, dark grey marble that reflected their two shadows. Underfoot, a beige carpet absorbed the sound of their footsteps until it was almost silent. They walked past several doors made of frosted glass, which obscured the view inside but from which the faint sounds of fighting and power explosions could be heard, reinforcing the fact that this place was truly the center for super-powered individuals.

She stopped in front of one of the doors and tapped it lightly with a keycard. The door slid open silently to the side.

Inside, the power evaluation room was simple yet modern. There was a white metal table with two chairs in the middle of the room. One of the walls was a solid black opaque glass, which Owen guessed was probably a two-way mirror with someone observing them from the other side. Or maybe he was just overthinking it; it could just be a normal projection screen.

Meilin sat down in the opposite chair with an elegant posture before gesturing to the empty chair. "Please have a seat, Mr. Marlowe."

Owen nodded and sat down, feeling the cold of the metal through his clothes. He sat up straight, his hands clasped politely on his lap, fully prepared for her evaluation.

"I am Meilin, and I will be your preliminary evaluator today," she introduced herself formally. "First, I need to explain the basic information so you can understand our system for classifying the Awakened. The Association's duty is to organize and support all Awakened. Understanding your own ability type is the most important first step."

"I understand," Owen replied in a flat tone, showing he was ready to listen.

Meilin nodded with satisfaction. "Good… To give you a clearer picture," she tapped her fingertip lightly on the smooth surface of the table.

Instantly, the solid black glass wall lit up, becoming a high-definition screen that impressively displayed the Association's "Shield of the Eye" emblem.

"The Awakened are divided into 5 types, according to the characteristics of their awakened power, which are represented by the five points of the star in the Association's emblem," Meilin said as she zoomed in on the golden five-pointed star. Each point of the star lit up, accompanied by a video that illustrated her explanation.

"1. Power-Type," the first point lit up, along with a hologram of a man punching a concrete wall until it shattered. "Are Awakened who have the ability to directly enhance their own physical performance, such as strength, power, speed, durability, senses, and so on. This is the most common type and the main force of the Hunters."

"2. Body-Transformation Type," the second point lit up. The image changed to a young woman whose skin was turning into reflective diamond. "Are Awakened who have the ability to transform their own bodies into other things, such as turning their body into rock, steel, wood, and so on. This also includes transforming into various animals, as well as transforming the body into elements, such as having a body of fire or water."

"3. Elemental-Magic Type," the image changed again, this time to an old man calling down a thunderstorm. "Are Awakened who have the ability to change their own mana into various elements such as earth, water, wind, and fire, and control them freely. For example, creating fireballs, creating windstorms, creating lightning spears, and so on. This is the type with the highest wide-area destructive power."

"4. Control-Type," the final image showed a young girl using psychokinesis to lift the wreckage of a car into the air. "Are Awakened who have the ability to use their power to control various things, whether they are living, inanimate, or non-living. For example, hypnosis, creating illusions, controlling objects, and so on."

Owen listened intently, while internally assessing his "power to deceive." Which category could his "Avatar of Asura" be placed in? It could be seen as a Body-Transformation Type, or perhaps a form of Control-Type.

Meilin paused slightly, her sharp eyes staring at Owen as if to read his mind, before the final, top point of the star flashed with a light brighter than the others. The image on the screen changed to static and symbols too complex to understand.

"And finally… the Special Type. These are Awakened who have abilities beyond the 4 types mentioned above, abilities so unique they cannot be placed in any of the four categories. It is the rarest and smallest type."

After she finished her explanation, the light from the screen went out. The glass wall returned to its pitch-black state, reflecting the faint shadows of the two of them. Meilin looked directly at Owen, her gaze as sharp as if it could see through to the essence of the power sleeping within him. "Alright, Mr. Marlowe… it’s your turn. Please demonstrate your ability for me in the testing room."

With that, she stood up and led Owen to another adjacent door, which opened into a wide, empty room with walls made of a strong, seamless grey metal. The two of them walked to the center of the room, where several training dummies were lined up. Each was made of a different material, from a flimsy-looking straw dummy, to a stronger wooden dummy, a durable stone dummy, and finally, a metal dummy that glinted coldly.

The ceiling of the room was filled with energy detectors and various sensors that cast a soft blue light, in order to meticulously measure the power values of the ability the Awakened displayed.

“You may begin when you’re ready. If it’s a combat type, please attack the straw dummy in front of you. If it’s a support type, you can just display it. You can give a brief explanation of its ability; you don't have to go into detail, as it’s normal for Awakened to hide some aspects of their abilities,” Meilin explained professionally.

Owen nodded. "Understood," he replied, before giving his prepared explanation. "My ability is to use mana to create a 'doppelganger' that looks like an Asura to help in combat."

Meilin gave a slight nod, her face still impassive. "Interesting. Please, show me."

Owen took a deep breath, concentrated, and drew out the mana in his body. Instantly, a dark red energy began to form in front of him. The air around him shimmered slightly before the energy condensed and took the shape of one Asura arm. With his small amount of mana, it was only a single arm. Even so, it still looked formidable and powerful.

Owen began to control the Asura arm floating in front of him with all his effort, until beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He commanded the Asura arm to clench into a strong fist, and then ordered it to attack the straw dummy before him.

FWOOSH!~

The Asura fist flew forward and punched the straw dummy with a speed equal to Owen’s own real punch.

CRASH! SHATTER!

The sound of the straw dummy being thrown back over ten meters and hitting the wall echoed loudly, followed by the shattering sound of the Asura doppelganger, which Owen could no longer maintain, causing it to dissipate into the air like a faint red smoke, after only a single attack.

Meilin watched the scene with the eyes of a professional evaluator, her gaze shining with clear interest.

"Hmm~ A decently powerful attack…" she said as she quickly recorded the data on the tablet in her hand. She then walked over to check the various values measured by the room's sensors. After nearly 10 minutes, she was able to evaluate Owen’s ability.

"...Considering the high concentration you need to control this ability, combined with the destructive power it released, even though you only awakened a few days ago, this ability is classified primarily as a 'Control-Type,' with a ‘Power-Type’ as a sub-component. Overall, your ability has no difficult or complex limitations, so it is classified as Rank B. By the way… what is the name of this ability of yours?" She tilted her head, asking with curiosity.

Owen crossed his arms and smiled with satisfaction. “It’s called [Avatar of Asura]!”

She looked up and gave him a formal smile. "Congratulations. The evaluation of your awakened power is complete. It is [Avatar of Asura (Rank: B)]…”

She paused slightly before continuing. “Next will be the overall performance test to determine your Awakened Rank… Please follow me this way."

—-------

Chapter 50: The First Covenant

The warm morning sun shone through the living room window, chasing away the gloom that had clung to the house for months. Owen took the last sip of his black coffee before putting the cup down and walking straight to Damian’s office, the door of which was now ajar.

Knock… Knock…

He knocked lightly on the door as a signal.

"Come in," a deep, firm, and confident voice replied. It was a voice Owen hadn't heard in a very long time.

When the door opened, Owen couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. The image of his best friend sunk in a pile of beer cans with vacant eyes was gone. The man now sitting behind a neatly organized desk was the real "Damian Ward" he knew.

He was in a perfectly tailored, dark grey suit that accentuated his figure, making him look elegant. The once-messy beard had been cleanly shaven, revealing a sharp jawline. His hair was stylishly cut, making him look like a capable and confident CEO once again. The once-despairing eyes were now filled with a new spark of determination and hope.

Owen walked in and gently patted his friend’s shoulder with a smile. "Ready?"

Damian nodded firmly. He stood to his full height, adjusting the collar of his suit slightly. "Always, my friend."

The two of them then walked out of the house to Owen’s SUV together, heading for Jessica’s coffee shop. The atmosphere in the car was quiet but not uncomfortable. It was filled with the gratitude and trust of two friends.

"I don't know what your boss is thinking, hiring a guy who just went bankrupt like me. But I’ll do my best to live up to the faith you have in me!" Damian said, breaking the silence. His voice held no trace of nervousness; it was laced with complete self-confidence.

Owen turned to look at his friend and gave a proud smile. He gave Damian a thumbs-up, showing his approval of this version of him.

"That's the top executive CEO I know," Owen replied firmly. "And that's what Jessica is about to see too. Don't worry, my friend."

Those words finally brought a wide smile to Damian’s face. The feeling of being himself again spread throughout his heart…

When the car parked in front of the coffee shop, the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans floated out to greet them. Jessica, in a clean white shirt and a black apron, was standing behind the counter, chatting with a customer with a professional smile. As soon as the bell on the front door chimed, she turned to look.

Her gaze fell on Damian, who was the first to walk in. Her eyes immediately showed her impression of his professionalism. She was a little surprised that this dignified and confident man was the friend Owen had told her was suffering from depression.

"Jessica, this is Damian Ward, the one I told you about," Owen made the formal introduction. "Damian, this is Ms. Jessica, the owner of this coffee shop."

"A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Jessica," Damian said, holding out his hand politely. His smile was charming and professional.

"Likewise, Mr. Ward," she smiled back, shaking his hand firmly. The atmosphere of their first meeting was filled with mutual respect.

After the initial introductions, Owen glanced at his watch and said, "I have some business to attend to, so I'll have to take my leave. Damian. Jessica." He looked at both of them with a confident gaze. "I'm sure you two will get along great…"

He gave Damian a slight wink of encouragement and a small nod to Jessica before turning and walking out of the shop. He left Jessica and Damian to discuss the details of the job and conduct the interview privately, so that Jessica could decide to hire Damian based on his own merits, and so the two of them could build a business relationship and trust with each other.

Owen glanced into the shop one last time, seeing the two of them sitting down at a corner table and starting to talk animatedly… A new light of opportunity had been lit. And now, it was time for him to go and accomplish his own mission.

The sound of the SUV's engine started up smoothly as Owen drove away from the familiar coffee shop district. The faint, fragrant smell of roasted coffee still lingered in his nose. A smile of relief appeared at the corner of his lips. The mission to give his friend a new life was one step closer to completion.

But as the car entered the bustling main road, the atmosphere changed instantly. The image of steel and glass skyscrapers piercing the sky periodically blocked out the sun. The clamor of the big city seeped into the cabin. The good feeling from a moment ago slowly faded, replaced by the heavy thoughts of his own problems. He gripped the leather steering wheel tighter without realizing it.

'I’ve taken care of someone else’s business, now it’s time for my own,' Owen thought.

He was no longer Owen Marlowe, the ordinary streamer. He was an "Awakened," with mana flowing through every particle of his body. But in this changed world, being an Awakened without being officially registered was no different from walking around carrying a weapon of war without a license. It wasn't just illegal; it was also bringing danger to himself and those around him.

His thoughts dove deep into the essence of the power he had just discovered… [Scales of Covenant].

Just thinking of its name, he could feel the immense and formidable power sleeping within him. Nova had said his ability must be at least A-Rank, which was quite accurate because it was an S-Rank ability… But that was just the "Ability Rank." It was the maximum potential he could reach, not his current strength.

Assessing himself honestly, his evolved body was probably at the C-Rank level. Combined with his ability to use mana and his trained combat skills, his current "Awakened Rank" should be around B-Rank, which was already very high for someone who had only awakened a few days ago.

But the thing that would cause him problems wasn't his rank… but the "type" of his power.

The four main types of S-Rank powers, whether it was the strongest 'Power-Type,' the adaptable 'Body-Transformation Type,' the wide-area destructive 'Elemental-Magic Type,' or the most annoying 'Control-Type'… all of them were formidable, but they were still things the world could somewhat understand and assess. But his power… [Scales of Covenant]… it was undoubtedly a "Special Type."

And an "S-Rank Special Type" power was the most dangerous and most sought-after thing in this world. It was a power that existed outside the rules, was unpredictable, and could warp reality. If this information were to leak, he would become a target for the Awakened Association, secret government agencies, and major guilds hungry for power. He could be forced to become someone's tool… The peaceful life for him and those around him would end instantly.

'No way… I will never reveal this trump card.'

Owen made a firm decision. He needed to register legally, but he had to have a "power to deceive" that didn't seem too outstanding or threatening. A B or C-Rank power should be enough to let him live as a mid-tier Awakened without drawing suspicion.

And luckily, his power could "create" a new power, through making a covenant with himself.

Having made his decision, Owen reached out and touched the large GPS screen on the car’s console. A blue light flashed. He typed in a new destination without hesitation.

"Awakened Association, Titan City Branch."

An image of a towering, futuristic building in the heart of the city appeared on the map. A new blue route was quickly calculated and displayed. Owen stepped on the gas, and the luxurious white SUV changed lanes and headed towards the heart of the metropolis… towards the beginning of a new identity he was about to create with his own hands.

…..

The luxurious white SUV turned onto the ramp of an underground parking garage of a building located near the Awakened Association. The musty smell of concrete and exhaust fumes drifted over. Owen drove down to the lowest level, which was almost deserted. The light from old fluorescent bulbs shone in patches, leaving most of the area in shadow. He chose to park in the most secluded corner before killing the engine.

Suddenly, the world fell silent. The coldness of the concrete took over. There was only the faint hum of the light bulbs to keep him company in the dim darkness.

He sat still for a moment, his hands still on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the empty concrete wall before him. He gathered his focus and his will. This was not a decision that could be made lightly. It was binding himself to a "rule" that would affect him for the rest of his life. In this gamble, failure was not an option.

When his mind was as firm as a rock, Owen closed his eyes. The noisy outside world of the big city slowly faded away. He focused on the mana flowing within his body… and activated his true ability.

Vwoosh!

In the dark void of Owen’s mind, the image of a massive, "ancient scales" slowly appeared. It looked sacred and too formidable to describe. The balance beam was made of a material that looked like jet-black marble but sparkled like a galaxy of stars. The two pans were made of a golden metal, engraved with intricate ancient patterns. It was the symbol of the greatest law… Equivalent Exchange.

He was here to make his first "permanent covenant." He voiced his vow in his mind, firm and clear with every word.

"From now on, I vow to always lend a hand to those in need before me, as long as I have determined that they truly need help."

As soon as the vow was made, on the left pan of the scales… the side of sacrifice… a beautiful, clear, glowing orb appeared. It shone with a soft, warm light, like his own soul. The left pan slowly and heavily lowered, a confirmation that the "price" had been set.

Seeing this, Owen immediately began to request his "reward."

"In exchange for… the ability [Avatar of Asura (Rank: B)], which allows me to condense my mana into an avatar form to aid in combat, effective from close to mid-range."

As Owen finished his request, on the right pan of the scales… the side of reward… the form of a six-armed "Asura" warrior made of dark red mana slowly appeared. It looked fierce and powerful, radiating a heat he could feel. The right pan began to lower… and lower… until it went past the balance point and tipped clearly to the right side.

The scales were not balanced…

It meant that the "reward" he had requested… was worth more than the vow he had paid.

Owen wasn't surprised by the unbalanced scales before him. On the contrary, he was as calm as if he had expected this. A vow that would make him a good person who helps others sounded troublesome and would make his life more difficult, true, but it was still too "abstract" to be exchanged for a concrete, high-level combat power like this. So he calmly began to add more "limitations" to balance the exchange.

"Add four more limitations to [Avatar of Asura (Rank: B)]," he announced in his mind, his voice echoing as if he were carving rules into stone.

"One, the created avatar cannot move more than 100 meters away from the user." As he finished the words, the red Asura on the pan was bound by a faint chain of energy, connecting it to the center of the scales, and the right pan moved up slightly.

"Two, the strength of the avatar will not exceed the strength of the user's own mana-reinforced body." The once-raging aura of the Asura dimmed slightly, looking calmer and more controlled. The pan moved up again.

"Three, I can only create up to nine partial manifestations, such as arms, legs, or palms, at the same time." The avatar was briefly superimposed with images of nine small limbs before they vanished. The pan lifted higher again, almost reaching a balance.

"And four… I can only create one full version of the Asura avatar, which can be no larger than 100 meters, depending on the user's amount of mana."

As he finished his final statement, the heavily tipped scales began to move back quickly. The right pan slowly lifted… higher… and higher… until…

Click…

The two pans of the scale came to a perfect level. A clear, bell-like sound rang in his head, a signal that the covenant had been formed.

And in that moment, on the jet-black marble base of the scales, glowing crimson letters carved themselves into the stone as if with a red-hot iron. It was the "penalty" for if he broke the covenant.

“If you violate this covenant (each time you fail to help someone in need before you), you must atone by performing public service every day for a full month. And if you continue to violate the covenant while you are still atoning, you will have the ability [Avatar of Asura (Rank: B)] confiscated, you will be cursed with “weakness” for 1 week, and this covenant will be considered void.”

Owen read the penalty carefully. It seemed a bit harsh but fair. He accepted it without argument.

The image of the sacred scales slowly faded. The silence was replaced by the humming of the lights in the parking garage once more. Owen opened his eyes to the real world. He could feel a new line of power circulating within him. It wasn't a raw, directionless power, but one that was forged and had a clear form… a power that was ready to be called forth into a shape according to his will.

He clenched his fists, feeling the hidden strength within. His eyes were filled with resolve…

His "mask" was now created. It was time to walk into the Awakened Association…

—-------

Chapter 49: Punishment in the Bathroom [R-18]

The chilling cold of the clean, white tiled floor seeped through the thin fabric of Clara’s dress and into her knees, but she barely felt it. All her senses were fixated on the image before her… on the man who stood towering over her like a statue of a god of punishment.

Time seemed to have stopped ever since the sound of the bathroom door locking went Click! His cold, decisive command had completely shattered the playful mischief she had started. Now, all that was left was the thrilling and dangerous truth she had to face… a truth she herself had paved the way for.

The white neon light on the ceiling shone down on Owen’s body, casting a long, distorted shadow on the tiled floor. The clean scent of disinfectant mixed with the faint smell of wine and her perfume, creating a strange atmosphere. The warmth in his eyes from when he was with Damian was now as cold as polar ice. He stood still, saying nothing more, letting the uncomfortable silence and the invisible pressure do their work.

And the thing that stood imposingly before her… was the center of the entire emotional storm. A massive, 12-inch cock, so hard its veins were bulging. It was both a punishment and a reward at the same time. The flared, crimson head of it was beaded with clear drops of desire, a blatant challenge for her to taste.

“Owen… are… are we really going to do this? If Damian finds out…” she whispered, her voice trembling. It was a final attempt to cling to the last shred of reason and morality of her role as a good wife.

“You’re the one who started this game, Clara… and now you have to finish it,” Owen replied in a cold tone, devoid of any gentleness. “Or would you rather explain to him yourself why you were being so naughty under the dinner table… and using your foot to rub my crotch in front of him?”

Those words were the last straw. They shattered her wall of reason. Clara submitted completely. Her sense of right and wrong was incinerated by the fire of desire she herself had lit.

Her trembling hand slowly reached forward, hesitant. Her fingertips lightly touched his searing hot flesh. The heat radiating from it made her body flinch slightly, before she gathered all her courage and wrapped her hand around Owen’s large cock. Its heat, size, and an unimaginable strength made her mind go white for a moment.

She slowly lowered her face, his strong, masculine scent filling her nose, awakening her deepest, hidden primal instincts. She opened her mouth slightly and clumsily placed her trembling lips over the large head. Her tongue hesitantly licked the clear drop at the tip. Its faint, salty taste only stimulated her mouth to produce more saliva.

Owen remained still, but she could feel the muscles of his abdomen tense slightly as her lips touched him. He placed one hand gently on her hair, not forcing her, but as a clear signal to "keep going."

Clara closed her eyes. She began to suck on the head lightly. A shameful "mwah" sound echoed in the silence of the bathroom. The feeling of having a hot piece of flesh in her mouth was so new and exciting. She began to use her tongue more boldly, lapping around the ridge of the flared head more skillfully than she thought she could, as if her body knew exactly what to do to please the man before her.

"Mmm…" a low groan escaped Owen’s throat. It was a sound of satisfaction that made Clara’s heart pound.

She began to swallow his cock deeper, slowly, bit by bit. Its immense size filled her mouth until she felt like she would gag, but the desire to please him was stronger. She used both her cheeks to help squeeze and slide along its length, while her hand still gripped and jerked the base of his cock in a matching rhythm.

Bob Bob Bob~

Mwah Mwah Mwah~

The wet, lewd sounds continued. The heat from her breath and her drenching saliva only made Owen’s cock harder and hotter. Owen leaned down slightly, using the hand on her head to apply a light pressure, forcing her to swallow his cock all the way down her throat.

"GAK!"

Clara let out a small choke, tears welling at the corners of her eyes, but she didn't pull away. She accepted his dominance willingly, letting him control the rhythm as he thrust his cock into her throat as he pleased. He thrust in, gently but firmly, making her feel the tip of his cock hitting the back of her pharynx again and again. It was a sensation that was both choking and thrilling, until her mind went blank, unable to think of anything but the moans in her own throat.

Cough Cough Cough~

Gag Gag Gag~

Mmm Mmm Mmm~

[Image: Clara giving Owen a blowjob 1]

Owen’s hand moved from her head to lift her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes while her mouth was still working hard. A spark of satisfaction was clearly visible in his cold gaze.

“You seem to be a fast learner, Clara…” he whispered hoarsely. “Keep going… until I’m satisfied.”

The command only made the fire in Clara’s body blaze hotter. She slowly released her desire, quickening the pace of her mouth and tongue, making it faster and more violent. She sucked, licked, and slid his cock in and out of her mouth and throat with all her might. The shameful sounds echoed through the small bathroom.

Bob Bob Bob~

Mwah Mwah Mwah~

Owen could only stand there, his body tensed with thrilling pleasure, letting Clara continue to pleasure him. But beneath his cold exterior, he could feel the hesitation that still remained in her every movement. Even though her body was responding, a deep part of her mind, conditioned by her role as a "faithful wife" for over a decade, was still resisting. It was the final barrier preventing her from fully expressing herself.

He decided in a split second… that he had to destroy this final wall of reason. To make this punishment… and this release… truly complete.

He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering the warm mana circulating in his body, and then subconsciously commanded it, quietly activating his “Pheromones of Infatuation” ability, at the most concentrated and intense level he could manage.

The invisible pheromones, like a vapor of lust, slowly emanated from his body. It was a strange, fragrant scent that Clara had never experienced before. It filled the cramped bathroom, slowly seeping into her senses, like a snake coiling around its prey. A flash of heat ran through her entire body from the inside, melting away the walls of reason and guilt completely. Her thoughts began to blur, replaced by an intense, savage lust that was boiling up uncontrollably.

And then, the look in her eyes changed…

It was no longer trembling with fear or hesitation. It was now moist and blazing with a perfect fire of slutty desire. The lips that had been shyly pursed were now slightly parted. Her breathing grew shallow and quick…

Her hesitation vanished in an instant!

Bob Bob Bob~

Mwah Mwah Mwah~

Cough Cough Cough~

Gag Gag Gag~

[Image: Clara giving Owen a blowjob 2]

The sucking sounds that had been clumsy became greedy and wet. She began to suck and lick his cock madly. Her soft, supple lips and cheeks pulled so hard it created shameful sounds that echoed through the bathroom. Her hot, wet tongue expertly licked all over the shaft, as if she had done it countless times before. She used both her mouth and tongue to arouse him without restraint, the tip of her tongue flicking at the frenulum before she swallowed him to the base and spat him out again and again.

Owen had to tense his abs to withstand the onslaught of thrilling pleasure. Both his hands were clenched, braced against the cold tiled wall to keep his balance.

Her hands weren't still either. One hand gripped the hot base of his shaft and began to jerk it up and down, fast and hard, in perfect sync with the rhythm of her mouth. Her other hand slowly moved down to gently massage his heavy testicles. Her fingertips kneaded them softly, sending wave after wave of pleasure through Owen until he couldn't help but groan.

“Mmm Ssshh Fuck!~ Clara… you… are so good… Aaaahh~”

Hearing Owen’s moans, Clara only grew bolder. She became even more violent. Her slit was now so wet that her love juice was seeping through her tiny panties, staining her light-colored dress in a dark patch. She wanted to slide her own hand into her pants to grind her clit, which was now swollen and hard, until she came.

But the desire to pleasure him to the limit was stronger. So she endured it, channeling all her lust into servicing the cock before her with all her might, as if trying to suck the very soul out of him through his shaft.

She looked up to meet his eyes for a split second, her eyes moist and red with passion, before she went back to sucking and licking his precious treasure with hunger, leaving Owen trembling under her control…

Clara had completely lost her "faithful wife" persona in this moment of lust. She had become a woman loyal to the primal instinct awakened by Owen’s powerful pheromones. Every movement she made was filled with the desire to please him and to milk every last drop of his manhood from his body.

Bob Bob Bob~

Mwah Mwah Mwah~

Cough Cough Cough~

Gag Gag Gag~

The wet, lewd sounds continued to echo in the silent bathroom. Owen stood leaning against the cold tiled wall, both his hands now gripping Clara’s head tightly. He tried his best to control his trembling body from the non-stop waves of pleasure. The thrilling sensation shot from the tip of his cock to his brain like repeated bolts of lightning.

'Damn it…' he roared in his mind. 'This is… too good…'

His abdominal muscles tensed into beautiful ridges with every movement of her head. He could feel his body reaching its limit. The intense heat packed in his abdomen was about to explode.

'Almost there… I’m about to cum…' the thought flashed through his mind. And in that moment, his newly awakened power automatically responded to his will.

Owen concentrated, commanding the mana flowing through his body to gather at the core of his desire. He activated his "Semen of Creation" ability, imagining the taste he wanted to give her…

It wasn't just a release, but a branding of this experience onto her tongue and her soul. He imagined a taste "as sweet and fragrant as wild honey," mixed with the faint, alluring scent of night-blooming jasmine… a taste that would make her crave and long for him forever…

"Urk… Clara… I… I'm going to…!!!"

He warned her one last time, but it only seemed to make her more aggressive! She quickened the pace of her sucking and jerking, as if trying to drain him dry in her hand and her mouth!

And then… the dam of Owen’s self-control finally broke.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!"

He roared at the top of his lungs, his hips spasming violently and thrusting forward automatically, slamming his cock into her throat one last time!

SPLOOOOGE!

SPLOOGE SPLOOGE SPLOOGE~

GUUUUUUSH!

SPLOOGE SPLOOGE SPLOOGE~

Twitch Twitch Twitch~

[Image: Clara giving Owen a blowjob 3]

A torrent of hot semen, its taste now customized, shot into her mouth with an insane frenzy. The volume was so massive that Clara choked. She tried her best to swallow the warm liquid, but some of it still overflowed from the corners of her mouth in a stream, staining her chin and her fair neck, making her look both shameful and incredibly hot at the same time.

Clara’s eyes widened in utter shock.

She had expected the natural, musky taste like Damian’s, but what touched her tongue was a deep sweetness she had never tasted before in her life… It was as sweet and rich as honey, but also infused with an alluring fragrance that made her mind go completely white. It was delicious… unbelievably delicious.

The shock transformed into an insane craving in an instant!

When the release was over, Owen panted heavily, his body still twitching slightly. But Clara refused to let a single drop of that precious treasure go to waste. She swallowed all the semen in her mouth with a loud "GULP GULP GULP~" before using her tongue to lick the stains from around her own lips until they were clean.

Then, she bent down to service his still-erect cock again with hunger. She sucked and licked every nook and cranny meticulously and greedily, as if afraid that heavenly taste would fade away.

Owen watched the scene with the eyes of a victor. He stood still, letting her clean him to her satisfaction. Clara’s body was still trembling slightly from the overwhelming passion. Her eyes were moist and stared at him with an unconcealed look of disbelief and fascination.

When the hot punishment was over… the tense, savage authority that Owen had been radiating vanished in an instant, like a mask being removed. The eyes that had been as cold as polar ice returned to their usual warmth and concern. He was back to being the old Owen… the kind Owen that Clara was familiar with.

He knelt down before her gently. Her knees were slightly red and were beginning to ache from kneeling on the hard tiled floor for so long. Owen used his thumb to gently wipe the tears and saliva stains from the corner of her mouth. His touch was soft and comforting, before he slowly helped her weak body to its feet.

“Can you stand?” he asked softly.

Clara nodded slowly. Her legs were still trembling slightly with exhaustion, but her heart was filled with a strange bliss from what she had just done with him.

Owen’s warm gaze swept over her body before stopping at the large, wet red stain on her light-colored dress, the result of the juice he had "deliberately" spilled on her earlier. He gave a gentle smile.

"Your dress is all wet," he said in a soft voice. "You can take a shower in here and wait. I'll go get you a new dress from your closet."

Owen walked out of the bathroom, leaving Clara to be by herself and gather her scattered senses. She watched his broad back until he was out of sight before turning to face her own reflection in the mirror…

The woman in the mirror was no longer the same Clara… Her hair was a mess, her lips were swollen, her eyes were moist and red with passion. And most importantly… his taste was still on her tongue… a sweet taste that would make her crave it for the rest of her life. She quickly took off her dress and showered, afraid that she would take too long and make Damian suspicious.

Not long after, Owen returned with a light brown dress in his hand. He knocked on the door gently and handed it to her.

After changing her clothes and fixing her hair, Clara took a deep breath and opened the door to face him again.

Owen was waiting, leaning against the wall. He looked her up and down in the new dress with a satisfied gaze before holding out his hand to her.

"Let's go… act like nothing happened," he whispered with a smile.

Clara nodded, her face flushing slightly as she thought about what she had just done with him. She placed her hand on his strong one. The two of them walked back to rejoin the party, where the sound of laughter could still be heard… leaving their hot secret and an unforgettable taste behind in that silent bathroom…

—-------

Clara giving Owen a blowjob 3

Clara giving Owen a blowjob 2

Clara giving Owen a blowjob 1

Chapter 48: The Over-the-Top Celebration

That evening, the atmosphere inside Owen’s house, which had been lifeless for months, was once again filled with laughter and excitement. The despair that had hung over this house like a grey fog had been swept away, replaced by the warm, bright light of a new hope.

In the living room, Damian, with the spark of determination back in his eyes, was energetically helping Julian set the table and prepare drinks. Every movement he made was full of a power and vigor not seen before. The face that was once pale and miserable was now adorned with a constant, wide smile.

And in the kitchen, Clara was in a particularly good mood, making snacks and baking a cake. The sweet scent of vanilla and fresh butter wafted through the house. She hummed a sweet love song softly as she stirred the ingredients in a large glass bowl. Owen came into the kitchen to help her get plates and glasses from a high shelf.

“Let me help you,” he said flatly.

“Thanks,” she smiled back, meeting his eyes for a split second before turning her attention back to the cake in the oven. But in that brief moment their eyes met, Owen saw a different kind of spark… it was a playfulness laced with seduction.

Clara’s personality had begun to change without her realizing it. Because her “Demon Path” score had been increasing over the past few months, perhaps already over 60, she had become bolder when it came to “lewd” things. And if Owen could raise her affection score to 80, he would be able to ask her for sex easily, and she might even be the one to ask for it herself.

As Owen reached up to get the plates from the shelf, Clara deliberately moved closer, as if to grab some spices nearby, causing her warm back to press firmly against his strong chest.

“Oops Sorry, Owen” she apologized in a sweet voice but didn’t move away immediately. She remained standing there, letting their bodies touch intimately.

Owen could feel the full softness of her back and her plump, rounded buttocks. It pressed against his stomach and lower body until he could feel the heat seeping through the fabric. He held his breath for a moment before quickly grabbing the plates and stepping back to regain his composure.

But she didn’t stop there. Every time they passed each other in the rather cramped kitchen, she would deliberately bump her large hips against his thigh and crotch, periodically sending him a syrupy sweet look laced with the fun she was having teasing him.

Owen’s eyebrow twitched slightly at her challenging behavior. He wanted to throw her over his shoulder and spank her ass until she learned her lesson, but he could only suppress the feeling.

Not long after, when all the food and drinks were ready, the four of them sat around the large table in the living room. The atmosphere was filled with true happiness and laughter.

Damian raised his beer glass high, his face flushed with joy. “I’d like to make a toast to my best friend… Owen! Thank you for everything, really, man. If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened to my life,” he said, his voice trembling with gratitude.

He then began to talk about his various plans to improve Jessica’s coffee shop, his eyes sparkling. From improving the menu, to online marketing, to running promotions. Everyone celebrated and was happy for his bright future. That night was filled with the sound of laughter and hope, returned once more.

…..

The atmosphere at the dining table was full of lively conversation and laughter. Everyone was congratulating Damian on his new step in life. Even though it was just a manager position at a small coffee shop compared to the CEO of a large company he used to run, it was the "light" he needed most right now.

“I know it might not seem as grand as before,” Damian said with a shy smile, but his eyes were full of determination. “But I promise to do my best. I won't let anyone, especially you, down, Owen.”

“Hey~ honey!” Clara interrupted in a bright, slightly louder than usual voice. She raised her wine glass high, her eyes sparkling. “I don't care how grand it is. The most important thing is that I have my old husband back! Not the zombie version of Damian! Who just stares blankly at a computer screen anymore. To the new Damian!”

Her direct and humorous words made Owen and Julian burst out laughing. Only Damian’s face turned crimson with a mixture of embarrassment and guilt, for having been so irresponsible and causing his wife so much distress for so long.

After that, the conversation shifted to Owen. He turned to meet the eyes of Julian, who was sitting across from him, and beckoned him over to an empty corner of the sofa.

“Julian, I wanted to ask your advice about something,” Owen began in a friendly tone.

“It’s… Rosy wants to try earning some extra income on her own. She said she wants to try being a streamer, and she asked me to help teach her,” Owen said gently. He deliberately positioned himself as just a "good older brother" offering advice.

In reality, the relationship between Rosy and Julian was more complicated than it appeared on the surface. She hadn't officially broken up with him because Owen had asked her not to, for certain reasons. As for Alicia, Rosy’s mother, she didn't know about this either. She had assumed her daughter had already broken up with her ex-boyfriend before getting a new one like Owen. So, from Julian’s perspective… Rosy was still his "girlfriend."

So Owen continued, as respectfully as possible, “So I wanted to ask your opinion first. As her boyfriend, are you okay with me and Rosy working on this together? It might mean we have to spend more time together.”

Hearing that, Julian’s eyes immediately lit up! His heart pounded with the utmost excitement.

'Oh my god! This is even better than I dreamed! Owen and Rosy are going to get closer! They'll get to spend time alone together! Aahh~ I want to see them have a secret, intimate relationship so badly! I want to see Owen pin my Rosy down on the bed and slam his big cock into her while I watch live!' Julian screamed with happiness internally. The dark desire to see his own girlfriend ravaged by his stronger friend had been violently ignited.

He pretended to think for a moment, putting on a serious face as if he were weighing the decision heavily, before replying with a smile that showed his full support. “Of course, Owen! I have no problem at all! It’s a good thing that Rosy gets to do what she loves!”

He continued in a fake, excited tone, “But I have one condition… You two have to stream at my place. Because I want to see her stream too. She’s going to be a little troublemaker who drives the chat crazy, hahaha.”

“Sure, no problem,” Owen agreed easily, completely unaware that he was walking right into a trap his best friend had laid… a trap that would allow Julian to watch the scene he desired most up close…

…..

The celebration continued merrily. The sound of Damian’s long-unheard laughter echoed through the living room, blending with Julian's lively chatter. But beneath the warm facade… an invisible storm of lust was brewing violently between Owen and Clara.

Clara’s advances became more obvious and aggressive with each passing moment. She walked over to serve Owen the freshly baked chocolate cake, its fragrant aroma mouth-watering. But as she bent down to place the plate, she deliberately pretended to trip on the leg of the table.

“Whoops!”

Her entire body fell onto Owen, who was sitting down, with full force! Her massive, soft, and plump breasts, under her V-neck dress, crushed against his shoulder and bicep. Owen could feel their full heat, weight, and the hardened tips of her nipples rubbing against his muscles. The sweet scent of her perfume mixed with her unique body odor drifted into his nose, making him feel dizzy for a moment.

“Oh my! Sorry, Owen. I’m so clumsy~” she quickly got up and apologized with a flushed face, but her eyes shone with a look of unconcealed satisfaction and challenge.

“Hahaha! Be careful, honey,” Damian laughed, suspecting nothing, just as Julian smiled at her clumsiness.

But the seduction didn't end there. As she sat down on the sofa next to Damian, she secretly slipped off her high heels before slowly sliding her foot, clad only in a thin black nylon stocking, under the table. She gently caressed Owen’s calf before slithering higher, stopping at his crotch, as he sat opposite her.

Owen flinched slightly. He tried to move away and sent her a stern look to warn her off, but she wasn't scared in the slightest. She smiled back tantalizingly, a challenging look. The tip of her toes continued to circle and grind against his cock through the fabric of his jeans, until it began to harden uncontrollably.

Owen’s patience was nearing its limit… and then, the breaking point arrived.

Clank!

Clara pretended to drop her dessert spoon on the floor near Owen’s feet.

“Oh dear~ Seems my hands are a little slippery…” she said innocently, before bending down to crawl under the table to get it, under the unsuspecting eyes of Damian and Julian.

But what happened under the table was far from innocent…

The moment her head was under the table and out of everyone's sight, her mischievous hand didn't wait. It shot out to caress and grip the hard, bulging cock that was straining against his pants, forcefully and without fear!

Owen gritted his teeth, his entire body tensing. He could feel her nails deliberately scratching his shaft through the fabric. It was the last straw… He would have to teach her a real lesson! And just as his patience was about to snap, the familiar power responded to the high-pressure situation.

Ting!~

The translucent blue screen flashed to life in his mind, offering a choice that was both dangerous and sweet.

…..

[1. Warn her off politely. Grab her hand, give her a light, stern look, and whisper for her to stop playing around. (Affection +1, Angel Path +1, Clara will stop, but the sexual tension will remain.)]

[2. Pretend to spill a drink on her, then play the part of helping her clean up in the bathroom, in order to punish her for what she did to you. (Affection +1, Demon Path +5, Clara will reluctantly give you oral sex.)]

[3. Push her hand away forcefully, showing your clear displeasure and getting up to leave. (Affection -5, Clara will feel ashamed and regretful.)]

…..

Owen quickly scanned the options… The Angel Path was no longer his way, and making her regret it wasn't what he wanted either… That left only one path. The path she herself had laid for him.

As Clara crawled out from under the table and was about to eat her dessert with a victor's smile, Owen shot to his feet. His decision was firm and cold.

"I'll go get us some more juice," he said flatly, then walked to the bar counter to pour the drinks. And as he was walking back to the table…

SPLASH!

Owen deliberately pretended to trip over his own feet, causing the glass of bright red juice in his hand to "accidentally" spill all over Clara’s lap and light-colored dress, soaking it in a wide circle. The cold liquid made her jump.

“Ah! Sorry, Clara! I’m so sorry!” he put on a big show of apologizing. “Damn it! Your dress is all wet. Come on, I’ll help you clean it up in the bathroom.”

He didn't wait for her to refuse or for anyone to protest. Owen grabbed the stunned Clara’s wrist and pulled her to her feet. He turned to the other two with a guilty look. "We'll be right back!"

Before dragging her straight to the bathroom to begin the "punishment" she herself had started…

BANG!

Owen pushed Clara’s body into the bathroom so hard she stumbled against the cold tiled wall. Before he followed her in and locked the door with a loud Click!

The sound was like a signal, completely cutting them off from the outside world. The warm atmosphere and laughter from the living room vanished instantly, leaving only an uncomfortable silence and the cold, white light of the neon bulb shining down.

Owen’s kind, friendly expression was completely gone, replaced by a gaze that was as cold and aggressive as a predator staring at its prey. Clara, seeing that kind of look for the first time, trembled with a mixture of dangerous excitement and a little guilt for teasing him too much.

He didn't say a single word…

Zzzzip…

The sound of his jeans zipper being pulled down was slow yet heavy. Every moment of it echoed in Clara’s senses. Owen pulled out his massive, 12-inch cock, which was so hard it was pointing right at her face. The heat and bulging veins on it looked extremely formidable under the white light of the bathroom. The flared, crimson head of it was beaded with clear precum, a testament to the arousal he had tried to suppress.

He stared deep into her trembling eyes before giving a command, his voice firm and cold.

"Since you're the one who started this… take responsibility for it, Clara… Suck it for me, now!"

Clara’s eyes widened in shock. She never thought he would go this far. She feigned shyness and fear, turning her face away, trying not to look at the hot piece of flesh before her.

“We… we shouldn’t go any further, Owen,” she said, her voice trembling. “I… I was just playing around.”

But her acting was far from convincing… Even though she was looking away, the corner of her eye was still sneaking glances at his large cock. Her face was flushed to her ears, and she let out a loud Gulp as she swallowed, unable to hide her desire.

Owen gave a cold smirk. He didn't fall for her act for a second. He took another step closer to her.

“But you’re the one who started this, Clara,” he emphasized each word. “So… suck… it… now…”

He paused for a moment, letting the pressure and the heat from his shaft do the work. “…Otherwise, you have no right to leave this room. Or would you rather Damian start to wonder why we’re in the bathroom together for an unusually long time?”

The threat worked perfectly… It was an ultimatum she could no longer refuse…

Clara closed her eyes in submission before slowly turning back to face him. She slowly knelt down on the cold tiled floor… accepting defeat in the game she herself had started…

—-------

Chapter 47: A Light for a Friend

The bright, hot midday sun streamed through the not-quite-closed curtains of the bedroom, creating a golden beam that cut through the dimness of the room. It illuminated the wreckage of their love war scattered on the floor clothes ripped away without a care, an empty wine bottle, and dried stains of love juice on the fur rug before casting its light upon the two still-naked bodies, entwined on the wrinkled bed.

The beam of light woke Owen from a long, deep sleep. He blinked slowly, adjusting his eyes to the brightness, before he felt the warm weight and soft suppleness pressing against his chest.

Jessica was still sleeping peacefully in his arms. Her breathing was steady and faint, a sign of true relaxation. The face that had been filled with fear and confusion just days ago now looked relaxed and blissful in a way it had never been before. Her lips, slightly swollen from their deep kissing, were curved into a faint smile, as if she were having a good dream… her first good dream in weeks.

The role of the cold, dominant "Master" had ended with the passing of the night. All that was left was Owen… the man she loved. He looked at her beautiful face with an overwhelming feeling of love and tenderness. He moved as gently as possible, so as not to disturb her precious rest.

He took care of her with the utmost gentleness. The fingertips that had been strong and aggressive were now unbelievably soft. He slowly unfastened the leather collar from her elegant neck, revealing the faint red mark where it had been. It was a brand from the passionate night they had shared.

Then he gently cupped her rounded buttocks, which still had the faint red marks of his palm prints, lifted them slightly, and as gently as possible, pulled the still-inserted butt plug from her swollen and still-twitching asshole. A soft "pop" sounded as it came free, followed by a warm liquid that seeped out.

“Mmm…” Jessica moaned softly in her throat, shifting slightly, but she did not wake from her sweet slumber.

Owen got out of bed quietly, his perfect body moving with grace under the afternoon sun. He went into the bathroom and returned with a small towel and a basin of warm water. He meticulously began to wipe the dried stains of love juice and sweat from her naked body.

He started with her face, tracing the warm cloth along her smooth cheeks and swollen lips, before moving down to her neck, gently wiping away the sweat. His touch moved lower and lower, past the full mounds of her breasts which still had faint red marks from his bites, down to her flat stomach where the dark red "Broodmother's Brand" was clearly visible. It was the symbol of his eternal possession.

And finally… he gently used the cloth to clean her bruised but blissful "battlefield of love." He carefully parted the swollen, still-damp folds of flesh and wiped away the dried cum and her love juice that had gushed out all night, as lightly as possible. Her unique body odor mixed with the fishy scent of their lovemaking rose up, arousing his instincts once more, but he suppressed it with the love and tenderness he felt for her.

The gentle, warm touch slowly woke her from her sleep. Jessica blinked her eyes open slowly. The first thing she saw was Owen’s face, looking at her with eyes full of the deepest love and concern… and in that moment, the emotional wall she had tried to hold up came crashing down.

Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes, endlessly. She shot up and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his strong chest and crying her heart out without any shame. These weren't tears of sadness or pain… but tears of "release."

She poured out all her feelings through those tears. Last night, Owen didn’t just "overwrite" the bad memories… he had used his body and his heart to "cleanse" her soul, making it pure and free once again.

She felt like she had been reborn… This body was hers… this mind was hers… and all of it… belonged to him… the only man who accepted and embraced her on the day she was most broken.

The two of them lay holding each other in silence. No more words were needed. Owen gently stroked her trembling back, letting her release everything until she was content. They watched the sunlight streaming into the room together… it was a true symbol of a new beginning, bright and free from the shadows of the past…

After Jessica had let out all her feelings, the atmosphere in the bedroom was filled with a peace and trust that had never been there before. The emotional storm had passed, leaving only a clear sky and a deep warmth.

The two of them were still holding each other in bed, their naked skin pressed together under a thin blanket, exchanging warmth and gentle touches. The scent of their bodies mixed with the faint, fishy smell of their lovemaking still hung in the air, a testament to their complete union.

Owen gently stroked her soft, fiery red hair. His hand moved down her smooth back, feeling the heat of her skin, before coming to rest on her rounded buttocks, which were still faintly red from the sweet punishment of the night before. He squeezed it gently, possessively, making Jessica, who was resting her face on his chest, shift slightly and let out a satisfied moan.

He decided this was the perfect time to talk about their future… a future where Jessica was now an important part of his life.

“My love…” he began in a soft voice, whispering gently in her ear. “I have something important I want to talk to you about.”

Jessica lifted her face from his chest. Her eyes were still slightly red from crying but were now filled with a spark of love and trust unlike ever before. She met his gaze, waiting. “What is it?”

“About the job at the coffee shop,” Owen said directly. “I don’t think I can work at your shop anymore.”

He saw the surprised look in her eyes and quickly explained before she could misunderstand. “It’s not that I don’t like working with you… In fact… the only reason I’ve kept doing it until now is because I wanted to be near you, to see your face every day.”

The sweet and direct confession made Jessica’s face flush instantly. Her heart swelled until it felt like it would burst. She had never thought that the reason he had put up with a simple part-time job was because of her.

“But now…” Owen continued, his hand still caressing her buttocks without stopping. “Since we’re like this, and my goals are bigger now… the income from the coffee shop is really too little for me.”

Jessica was overjoyed to hear his real reason. It didn’t make her feel bad at all. On the contrary, she felt valued and loved to the utmost. She nodded in understanding without any protest.

Owen continued, his voice softening. “And I still remember… you once told me that you didn’t really like the work at the shop that much. It’s too chaotic and tiring. The only reason you’re still doing it is because it’s the last legacy your father left for you, right?”

His words hit home. She nodded slowly, her eyes showing a trace of sadness as she remembered the past.

“Then… I have a proposal,” Owen looked deep into her eyes, his gaze serious and full of determination. “Quit your job at the shop… and come work for me instead.”

“Be my personal secretary, my financial manager, and everything else for me… so we can be together all the time, building our future together…”

Jessica’s eyes widened, completely caught off guard. The offer was so sweet and tempting… To be by his side all the time was what she desired most. But then she shook her head lightly, the guilt towards her late father still holding her back. “But the shop… I can’t just leave the shop. It was important to my father.”

“We don’t have to leave it,” Owen smiled cunningly, the plan in his mind starting to take shape. “We’ll just hire a professional 'manager' to run the shop for you. You’ll still be the owner, still get the profits every month, but you won’t have to tire yourself out managing it every day. That will give you plenty of time to be with me.”

The proposal was like a light at the end of a tunnel. Jessica’s eyes sparkled with hope. She had never thought of this simple yet perfect option before. It was a solution that allowed her to preserve her father’s legacy while freeing herself from a heavy burden and moving towards the new future she truly wanted.

Seeing that she was starting to come around, Owen smiled with satisfaction. He pulled her into a hug and gently kissed her forehead, because he had finally seen a way to help his dear friend who was in a difficult situation…

Damian Ward… the man who was facing massive debt and depression. He was the most suitable person for the position of the new coffee shop manager… This was Owen’s chance to give his friend a new life.

…..

Owen looked deep into Jessica’s blissful, moist eyes. His hand was still gently stroking her bare back, a comforting touch that reinforced their new beginning, before he spoke the name that was on his mind in a steady voice.

"I’d like to propose the name 'Damian Ward' for your consideration."

Hearing the name, Jessica raised an eyebrow slightly. She pulled away from his embrace a little to look at his face clearly. She knew Damian as Owen’s best friend and landlord, the man who was currently sinking in failure and debt.

"I know he’s struggling right now," Owen continued, his expression serious. "But before his company went bankrupt, he was one of the most brilliant and visionary executives I’ve ever known. He has a sharp eye and a love for detail. I believe your coffee shop would be in the hands of the best ‘manager’ possible."

He paused for a moment before making an amazing offer. "I’d like to propose his salary terms be a 30% share of the shop’s net profit per month."

"30%!?" Jessica exclaimed in shock. "Owen, that’s much higher than the standard for a general manager! They usually only get 10-15%."

"I know," Owen nodded firmly. "But this isn't just about hiring an employee. It’s an investment in a person. I want to give him a chance to get back on his feet again. And I can guarantee you that his work will be worth every cent."

Jessica looked deep into Owen’s eyes. At this point, she trusted him with all her heart. She knew he wasn't doing this for himself, but to help a friend he loved. The thought warmed her heart even more. She smiled gently. "If you believe in him that much, then I believe in you. It's a deal," she said obediently, before moving in to hug him tightly.

"As for the position of your secretary… I’ll do my best. Don't you worry," she buried her face in his chest, inhaling his unique scent deep into her lungs. "About my salary… I don't need a single dollar. Just being with you like this, being a part of your life, that’s the best payment I could ever have."

Owen chuckled softly. He hugged her back lovingly, kissing her temple gently. "That won't do. This is a real job, and you are my most important partner. You will be compensated for your abilities, definitely," he insisted firmly, giving her no room to refuse. "We’re going to get rich together… my love."

After they had settled their future, Owen excused himself to go home so Jessica could rest from their hard-fought night. He promised to call her again in the evening.

He arrived home in the late afternoon. The atmosphere in the house was unusually quiet. He went straight to Damian’s home office. The door wasn't locked. When he opened it, the musty smell of stale beer and an atmosphere of despair immediately hit him.

The room was completely dark, with only the bloody light from a computer screen showing a plummeting red stock graph. Owen found his friend sunk in an old office chair, staring numbly at the falling numbers. The table was littered with empty beer cans. His body looked thin and worn down, his eyes as vacant as a soulless person.

"Damian," Owen called his friend’s name softly.

Damian turned to look at him slowly, his eyes without a spark. "Oh… it’s you, Owen. What's up?" His voice was hoarse and lifeless.

Owen walked over to stand beside the desk. He didn't beat around the bush. "I have a job for you…"

Damian let out a self-deprecating laugh. "A job? Don't joke around, Owen. Who would want to hire a failure like me?"

"My boss at the coffee shop," Owen replied immediately, his voice firm.

The answer made Damian freeze for a moment.

Owen continued with a steady voice. "She wants to step back from the shop to do other things, so she’s looking for a reliable, professional manager. I suggested you… I told her about your abilities back when you were in your prime, and she was very interested… Damian, this isn’t charity or pity. She really needs your skills."

When he told him the good news about the manager position at Jessica’s coffee shop, along with the salary condition of a 30% profit share, Damian could barely believe his ears. He slowly put down the beer can in his hand, staring at Owen with trembling eyes.

The vacant, hopeless look in his eyes was replaced by a spark of life once more… It was a glimmer of hope he thought had been extinguished long ago.

"Are you… are you serious, Owen?" he shot up from his chair, his hands trembling. "A 30% share… Someone… still really wants to hire me? After I ruined everything…"

"Of course, my friend," Owen smiled at him. "I'm not talking to the Damian who’s sitting in a pile of beer cans right now. I'm talking to ‘Damian Ward,’ the executive who built a company with his own two hands. I need that man to come back again!... And Jessica needs that kind of man to take care of her shop."

Owen’s words were like a key that unlocked the door of despair. The wall Damian had built to shut himself in crumbled in an instant. He walked around the desk and threw his arms around Owen’s neck, hugging him tightly. A man’s tears flowed uncontrollably. It was a release of all the frustration, the failure, and the feeling of worthlessness he had accumulated for months.

"Thank you… thank you so much, my friend… I… I don't know what to say… Thank you for still believing in me…"

Owen patted his friend’s back gently. "It’s time to get up and fight again, my friend… The world outside is still waiting for you."

As Damian slowly released his wet embrace, he wiped his tears with the back of his hand, but the smile of hope that appeared on his face for the first time in months was the brightest thing in this dark, musty office.

But just as the atmosphere was filled with the hope of two friends…

BANG!

The office door flew open with such force that it slammed against the wall. Clara’s form, who had been eavesdropping with rapt attention, rushed in, her face stained with tears of joy. Her eyes were red but sparkled with a happiness unlike ever before.

"My love! I heard everything! What Owen said… is it true!?" She threw her arms around Damian, so happy she was shaking. He hugged his wife back tightly, nodding repeatedly, unable to form words. The warmth that had been long absent had returned to their family once more.

After soaking in the happiness with her husband, Clara pulled away and turned to the one who had given them this chance. Her eyes shone with the deepest gratitude.

"Owen! Thank you for helping him, thank you so much… You are such a good person!"

She left Damian’s embrace and naturally hugged Owen. Her voluptuous and soft body pressed against his strong frame so tightly there was almost no space between them. Her massive breasts were flattened against his chest, the heat from her skin seeping into him.

But her hug was different… it had a deeper and more dangerous meaning hidden within.

While Damian was standing there, smiling through his joyful tears, Clara deliberately buried her face in the strong crook of Owen’s neck. Instead of saying thank you, she took a deep breath… inhaling the masculine scent of his body mixed with his faint sweat, hungrily.

Owen flinched slightly. He could feel the hot breath washing over the skin of his neck, and the faint moan that sounded by his ear. It was an open expression of desire… a love letter sent only to him, without her husband suspecting a thing.

Her face flushed instantly, not from joy… but from the lust that was awakened by being so close to the man she was beginning to give her heart to. He knew instantly that for Clara, he was not just a benefactor… he was becoming her "everything."

She pulled away slowly, turning back to smile at Damian with her still-flushed face, but her eyes were filled with the happiness of a faithful wife.

Leaving Owen standing there. He was playing with fire… a complicated and dangerous fire of lust. But at the same time, he had given his friend a new life, and was beginning to build his own empire with the women he loved…

The path ahead was still long… and filled with choices waiting for him to make…

—-------

Chapter 46: The Cleansing and the Release [R-18]

The first lesson ended amidst heavy moans and panting. Jessica collapsed face-down on the soft pillow, her body trembling from the intense and novel release. Her ass, red with handprints, still throbbed rhythmically, sending a burning, thrilling sensation through her entire body. It was the confirmation of the "branding" she had desired. She had submitted completely, body and soul, and was ready for the next lesson.

Owen looked at his "handiwork" with a satisfied smile before climbing onto the bed, slowly and unhurriedly. One of his knees pressed into the mattress, followed by the other. He knelt behind her in a perfectly dominant position, gazing at her sweat-drenched back and her reddened ass, ripe as a fruit, with the eyes of a predator about to devour its prey.

He leaned down, one hand gripping her rounded hip firmly. His thumb gently caressed the red handprints, as if admiring his work, while his other hand took hold of his massive, 12-inch cock, which was so hard its veins were bulging. It was hot and slick with his own precum. He slowly aimed the flared head at her swollen slit, which was wet and twitching, waiting to be invaded.

“The next lesson…” he whispered huskily in her ear, his warm breath on her neck raising goosebumps. “…is to make your body remember… who its true owner is!”

SHHLUUUUUURP! THUMP!

He didn't wait for her to respond, slamming his hips forward and driving his large cock deep into her tight pussy in a single thrust. The tightness and intense heat from within, which squeezed his cock violently, made Owen let out an involuntary hiss of pleasure, “Aahh Ssssshh Fuck!” As for Jessica, whose slit had just been pierced by the hot piece of flesh, she could only arch her back from the thrilling sensation, letting out a high-pitched scream.

“Aaaaaarrrrrggghhh!”

[Image: Jessica x Owen]

Owen immediately began the process of "possession." He moved his hips, ramming his cock in and out of her slit with the raw violence she had asked for. Every thrust was filled with a power and desire to brand her with his ownership, the flared head of his cock slamming against her cervix without pause. The wet sound of flesh on flesh echoed through the once-quiet bedroom in a savage rhythm.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!

His large cock plunged in and out mercilessly. The dog tail plug was pushed, grinding violently against the walls of her rectum from the inside, creating a layered pleasure that almost made Jessica pass out. She dug her fingers into the bedsheets until they wrinkled, willingly accepting every impact.

Owen used his free hand to gather her fiery red hair into his fist, giving it a gentle but firm tug, forcing her to lift her face from the drool-soaked pillow to look at her own reflection in the large mirror opposite the bed.

The image reflected back was that of a woman being completely dominated. Her face was flushed, contorted with bliss, her eyes moist and glazed over, her lips parted as she let out incoherent moans. Behind her was the body of her master, relentlessly pounding into her… It was the most shameful and arousing sight of her life…

“Look… look at the little slutty dog being fucked in that mirror,” he growled low in her ear, his hot breath on her skin making her tremble. “See who’s ramming his cock into your pussy!”

The mirror reflected her pleasure-distorted face, her moist, glazed-over eyes, her body trembling with every thrust, her ass red with handprints, and the large cock plunging in and out of her body without stopping… It was an image that was both degrading and aroused her primal desires to their absolute limit.

“Ah… Aahh… M-Master…” she moaned, her voice ragged, calling out the name of her owner uncontrollably.

“Whose body is this!?” he barked, slamming into her with a deep, powerful thrust.

“Aah! It’s… It’s Master’s!” Every time she spoke the confession, it was as if an invisible chain around her heart was breaking, link by link. The shame of the past was being overwritten by the pleasure of a submission she herself had chosen. Her mind was being cleansed by the pain and lust that he was giving her.

“Whose moans are these!?” he thrust again, harder and deeper than before, the head of his cock grinding against her soft cervix until she felt a dull ache throughout her entire abdomen.

“Ah! Aah! They… they belong to Master!” she shrieked at the top of her lungs, her mind going completely white for a moment from the overwhelming sensation.

“Very good!”

Owen quickened his pace, his thrusts becoming faster and more violent. He fucked her with the frenzy of a beast in heat. Every time he pulled out almost completely and then slammed back in, the still-inserted butt plug would move, repeatedly grinding against her internal pleasure spot, creating a layered bliss that nearly drove her insane.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!

The fierce lovemaking continued, the violence and desire escalating until Owen felt the drive in his body reaching its peak. He held her trembling body tightly, leaned down, and bit her fair neck hard enough to leave a faint red mark, another brand of his ownership.

“I’m about to cum… Get ready to take my seed… Jessica!” he roared one last time. Using her real name in this moment was an assertion that he wasn't just possessing the "little dog," but her entire being… preparing to release every drop of his ownership into her…

He quickened his thrusts, deep and hard, until the crimson head of his shaft broke through her open cervix and entered her womb. It was the most complete invasion.

Owen’s final roar rose up, his body tensing violently. The massive cock, buried deep in Jessica’s womb, began to throb in time with his heartbeat before releasing a torrent of hot, thick semen with an insane frenzy.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

SPLOOOOGE! SPLOOGE SPLOOGE

GUUUUUUSH! SPLOOGE SPLOOGE

Twitch Twitch Twitch~

Aaaaaaaahh!~

Aaaaaarrrrrggghhh!~

Their screams of pleasure rose up together. And in his mind, Owen used his "Sire" power to its full extent. He subconsciously commanded the "Semen of Creation" that was gushing out to be merely a "semen of pleasure" that would not make her pregnant. But at the same time… he had embedded a part of the "Broodmother's Brand" energy into every particle of that seed.

A massive amount of the milky-white fluid shot into her womb until it was overflowing. The heat spread throughout her abdomen. It gushed back out from her slit, staining his cock and her thighs until they were soaking wet.

And in that moment…

VWOOOOSH~

A supernatural phenomenon occurred! A dark red light flashed from within Jessica’s body. It shone so brightly that Owen could see the shadow of her internal organs through the smooth skin of her abdomen, before the light gathered into a single point… on her lower belly.

A "brand," an intricate and beautiful ancient pattern, like a magical tattoo, slowly appeared on her fair skin. It glowed a bright red, like a hot iron, before slowly fading into a beautiful and powerful dark red sigil.

Owen panted heavily, his cock still buried inside her. He leaned down and whispered in her reddened ear, his voice hoarse and full of the power of possession.

“Do you see this symbol… my love,” he changed his address to her for the first time that night. “It’s proof that you are now completely mine… and always will be.”

Those words… and being branded by his power… pushed Jessica to the most intense orgasm of her life.

“Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhh!!!”

She screamed at the top of her lungs, her mind going completely blank. Her body convulsed so violently she couldn't control it. Her pussy clenched around Owen’s cock as tight as a steel clamp before gushing out a massive amount of clear fluid like a broken dam, soaking the entire bed… She had achieved a perfect squirting orgasm.

She looked at the dark red brand on her lower abdomen with a look of the utmost crazed delight. Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks… Finally… this body had been branded by the one she loved… She could feel a warm energy radiating from the symbol, as if it were cleansing away all the filth and disgusting memories… She was free…

And in that moment…

Ting!~

The familiar translucent blue screen appeared before Owen.

…..

[ Congratulations! You have unlocked Jessica's [ Eternal Love ] achievement!~]

[ Reward : You can " Warp Reality " on a small scale 1 time!]

…..

Owen’s eyes widened with joy that her affection score had finally reached 100… It was proof that what he had done tonight had truly and completely healed her heart. But he had to tear his attention away from it…

When he felt the clenching of Jessica’s pussy change… It was no longer the clenching of an orgasm… but a violent, demanding, endless squeezing.

He slowly looked up at her, and the gaze she was giving him… sent a shiver down Owen’s spine. It was no longer submissive… it was blazing with a crazed, unstoppable fire of desire. Her "cleansed" body had awakened a long-suppressed primal instinct, and now she was staring at him… her "Master"… with the eyes of a lustful demon just freed from its chains…

Owen’s instincts screamed danger, but his body, having just released, couldn’t react in time!

“My turn to pleasure you, my love~” she whispered hoarsely.

A sudden "role reversal" occurred! She used a strength that seemed almost inhuman to flip Owen’s large, powerful body onto his back with ease, before straddling him in a cowgirl position, fast and aggressive. She grabbed his still-erect cock, drenched in their mixed fluids, aimed it at her swollen slit, which was gaping and waiting to be filled, and slammed her hips down the entire length in one go.

SHHLUUUUUURP! THUMP!

“Urk!” Owen grunted, the impact winding him slightly. He had never been topped by a woman with such violence before.

She didn't give him time to recover, taking the offensive completely, grinding her hips down on his cock with a savage intensity, like a raging storm. Her fiery red hair whipped back and forth, her face filled with an unprecedented bliss. She screamed his title over and over again.

“My Master! My Master! My Master! Love! Love! Love! I love you so much! Aaaarrrgh!~ Pant, pant, pant…”

It was no longer the call of a submissive slave, but her own form of a declaration of ownership… It was the roar of an alpha female, newly awakened from her slumber…

She pleasured herself and Owen with a mad frenzy, riding and grinding her pussy against his cock as if her life depended on it. Her hands roamed over his abs and chest with fascination. She inhaled his body odor deep into her lungs like a drug before leaning down to kiss him, devouring and slutty, trying to suck out his every breath and all his saliva.

Smooch Mwah Mwah~

Schlick Schlick Schlick~

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!

“Aah! Aah! Aah! Master! Master's cock is the best! It's mine! All mine!”

She came over and over again, her body spasming violently until her love juice gushed out without stopping, but she still continued to ride him tirelessly, as if this liberated body had no limit to its pleasure.

Owen, who had at first been on the receiving end, soon recovered and responded just as fiercely. He flipped the situation, becoming the one in control of the game once more, lifting her body up while their cocks were still connected.

The war of love raged on, changing through many positions. They fucked in every part of the apartment, from the bed, against the wall, to the dining table where the candles were still lit. Both of them unleashed their primal instincts completely, fucking like it was the end of the world.

Time passed until the early morning… around 4 AM, after Owen had released his cum inside her a countless number of times, Jessica’s body finally reached its limit.

“Aaaaaarrrrrrggghhh….”

She let out one last long moan before she passed out, collapsing onto Owen’s sweat-drenched chest in a state of perfect pleasure and exhaustion.

Owen panted heavily. He looked at the ceiling where the faint light of dawn was beginning to shine through, his eyes glazed over, before he slowly raised an arm to embrace the soft, hot body of the woman who had just given him such a wonderful night… The night of healing was over…

They lay holding each other, completely spent, on the bed soaked with their love juice and sweat, before sinking into a deep sleep together…

—-------

Jessica x Owen

Chapter 45: The Loyal Dog [R-18]

Ten minutes that felt like an eternity had passed… Owen slowly sipped the last of the red wine in his glass, letting his thoughts and the desire that had been ignited run wild. Jessica’s final word still echoed in his head… "Master"… The address fully awakened the possessive, dominant instinct within him.

When the time was up, he put down his wine glass and stood to his full height, walking with a steady gait towards the bedroom door, which was left ajar for him. Every step was heavy and filled with anticipation. He pushed the door open gently…

And the sight he beheld made him freeze, his breath catching for a moment…

Her bedroom was beautifully arranged, illuminated only by the soft, dim light from a bedside lamp. And on the fluffy fur rug in the center of the room… Jessica was kneeling on all fours, awaiting his arrival.

She was in a set of black lace lingerie that barely covered anything at all. It was intentionally designed to be open-cupped, revealing the mounds of her fair flesh and her hard, pinkish nipples, which were pierced with small, shiny metal rings. The bottom part was also crotchless, blatantly revealing her smooth, hairless, swollen slit.

On her head was a jet-black dog ear headband. Around her elegant neck was a thick, tight-fitting leather collar, from which a long leather leash hung down to the floor. And the thing that drew Owen’s eyes the most was… the black butt plug with a dog tail inserted in her ass. Its fluffy tuft of a tail swayed slightly every time she shifted her hips… She had become a perfect and completely slutty "loyal dog."

[Character Illustration: Jessica cosplaying as a dog 1]

[Character Illustration: Jessica cosplaying as a dog 2]

She looked up at him, her eyes trembling yet resolute, before she began to slowly and gracefully crawl towards him on all fours, like a well-trained pet. She stopped at his feet and, with trembling hands, offered the cold end of the leather leash to Owen.

A single tear rolled down her cheek before she made her true request with determination.

"Please… be my master, Owen~" her voice was shaky but laced with resolve. "Order me… be rough with me as you please… Please make my body… remember only my master's touch… Please help me overwrite the disgusting memories of that bastard… make them disappear."

Owen understood instantly that this wasn't just about sex, or a simple role-playing game. It was a ritual of "healing" and "reclamation" for her soul. He would have to use his dominance to completely erase the effects of Cole's disgusting control. He would have to willingly accept the role of her "master."

He leaned down and took the leather leash. Its cool, smooth touch gave him a strange sense of power. He looked down at his new "pet," kneeling before him, with the eyes of a complete possessor.

“Look up at me… little dog,” he gave his first command, his voice deep and powerful.

Jessica flinched slightly at the name but slowly lifted her head to meet his eyes as commanded. Her moist eyes were trembling and filled with a mixture of emotions: shame, excitement, and wholehearted submission. A satisfied smirk appeared on Owen’s lips when he saw her obedient gaze.

“Very good,” he whispered flatly, before giving the leash a gentle but firm tug. It wasn't a yank, but a clear, wordless signal for her to get up and crawl after him.

Jessica began to crawl on all fours, expertly following his lead. The thick, soft fur rug cushioned her knees and palms, but with every movement, the lace lingerie chafed against her skin, igniting a strange sensation within her. The fluffy dog tail plugged in her ass swung back and forth with her movements, a captivating sight.

The end of the leather leash connected to the collar on her elegant neck grew slightly taut. The sound of the small metal chain connecting them went "jingle-jangle" in the silence of the bedroom. It was the only sound that signaled the movement of the loyal slave who was about to begin her lesson.

He walked to the center of the dimly candlelit room and turned to look at the beautiful form that was kneeling, waiting for his command, before he began to give simple orders to test her submission.

“Sit.”

His deep voice echoed in the silence. Jessica obeyed without question. She lowered her hips to sit on her heels, a posture that made her open, bare breasts seem even more prominent.

“Lie on your back.”

She slowly lay back on the rug, revealing her smooth, swollen slit, which was blatantly exposed by the crotchless lingerie, under the flickering candlelight. It was already damp and twitching slightly with excitement.

“Down.”

She flipped over, returning to her all-fours position once more.

“Roll over.”

Jessica rolled across the rug, a little clumsily. Shame and excitement warred within her, but she followed every command without resistance.

Owen smirked with satisfaction. “Very good… my little dog,” he praised in a flat tone. “Now… crawl and lie down at my feet.”

Jessica obediently crawled towards him until her face was only a few inches from his strong, bare feet. She could feel the heat from his skin.

“What a shame, your master's feet are dirty right now. So… lick them clean…”

The command made Jessica freeze for a moment. Shame and the last remnants of her reason screamed within her. Heat rushed to her face, turning it crimson. But when she looked up and met his cold, powerful eyes… the eyes that promised to protect and possess her… she knew this was what she wanted. Complete submission to destroy her old, tainted self.

She slowly leaned down, her trembling tongue flicking out to lightly lick the top of his bare foot at first, before growing bolder, lapping all over the sole. The rough texture and the faint salty taste of his skin, mixed with the feeling of complete domination, shattered the walls of her shame and released her deepest, most slutty desires. Her slit began to grow slick and wet, uncontrollably.

After she had cleaned them to his satisfaction, Owen gave his next command.

“Very good…” he said, using the tip of his foot to lift her chin. “Now tell me… who do you belong to?”

“I… I belong to… Master,” she answered, her voice shaky, her moist eyes looking at him with worship.

“Louder!” he barked softly, but with the force of a thunderclap.

“I belong to Master!” she answered, her voice loud and clear this time. The feeling of declaring her new identity was strangely thrilling, making her body tremble.

“Good girl~” Owen smiled with satisfaction. “Since you are mine… your pleasure is also mine… Pleasure yourself for me, now!!”

Jessica’s eyes widened with a mixture of shock and excitement. She slowly moved her trembling hand down between her legs, sliding her middle finger into the wet, plump folds of flesh that were waiting to be invaded. The tip of her finger touched the hard nub of her clit, which was covered in the clear fluid that was flowing from her nonstop. She maintained eye contact with her master the entire time as her finger began to slowly grind her clit in circles.

Schlick Schlick Schlick~

Squish Squish Squish~

Squelch Squelch Squelch~

“Ah… Aahh… Mmm~” a sweet moan escaped her lips, unable to be suppressed.

“Faster…” Owen ordered, his voice cold and flat. “I want to see you come… now.”

The command was like a switch being flipped. Jessica immediately quickened the pace of her finger. She rubbed her clit frantically, like someone who had never felt pleasure before. Her hips swayed back and forth uncontrollably, her eyes beginning to glaze over and roll back slightly before her body tensed violently.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!”

Gush Splooge-splooge-splooge

Squelch-squelch-squelch~

She screamed at the top of her lungs as her love juice gushed out, staining the fur rug before her like a broken dam. Her body went limp, completely spent, panting heavily as if she had just run a marathon.

But the lesson… was not over yet.

Even though Owen let her recover for over 5 minutes, Jessica’s body was still trembling from her first release. She lay panting on the soft fur rug, but her master’s arms made no move to comfort her. His eyes were still cold and full of authority, as if looking at an unfinished piece of art.

“Get up… and go to the bed,” Owen ordered, his voice merciless. “Crawl like the dog you are, and present your ass… I’m going to punish a naughty dog who made the floor dirty.”

Those words pierced Jessica’s heart. They were cruel and humiliating… but they were also what she desired most. She forced her weak, almost molten body to get up and crawl on all fours again, heading for the king-sized bed, which was covered in pristine white sheets.

She clumsily climbed onto the bed before arranging herself as commanded… She planted her palms and knees on the cool, soft sheets, arching her hips as high as she could. Her rounded buttocks, adorned with the dog tail plug, were presented prominently before Owen, a seductive sight. It was the most blatant invitation… a submission without any defense.

Owen followed her, stopping silently behind her. He placed his palm gently on her soft, smooth ass cheek. The gentle touch made Jessica flinch slightly, before he asked in a chilling voice that made her whole body tremble.

“Are you ready for your punishment?”

“Yes… Master…” she answered, her voice hoarse.

SMACK!

His heavy palm came down on her left ass cheek with full force, without any warning. The sound of flesh on flesh echoed through the silent room. The sharp pain shot from her buttocks through her entire body, making Jessica jolt.

“Aah!”

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

Owen continued to slap her without holding back, alternating left and right in a heavy, steady rhythm. Her once-fair white ass began to turn a rosy pink… then slowly grew redder and redder with his passion. The burning pain slowly transformed into a strange, thrilling pleasure.

The force of his slaps also vibrated the dog tail plug inserted in her ass. It moved and ground against a sensitive spot inside with every impact, creating a pleasure that was layered on top of the pain until she was nearly crazed… It was the feeling of being truly possessed.

“Ah… Aahh… Please… Master… Harder… Spank me more!” she begged madly, swaying her hips to receive the punishment willingly.

Owen satisfied her demand. He increased the force of his slaps until her ass was bright red, clearly showing the shape of his handprints… It was the "brand" she needed to erase the tarnish of the past. And as he raised his hand for the final slap…

SMACK!

“Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggghhh!!!”

Jessica’s body convulsed violently once more. She reached a climax unlike any she had ever felt in her life… It was a release born from a perfect mixture of pain and pleasure. Another wave of her love juice gushed out, staining the pristine white sheets in a wide circle…

Jessica had submitted completely, body and soul. She collapsed face-down on the pillow, panting heavily, her eyes moist with excitement and ready to receive the "next lesson" from her master…

—-------

Jessica cosplaying as a dog 2

Jessica cosplaying as a dog 1

Chapter 44: Nova's True Ability

The sun dipped low, almost disappearing behind the mountains. The last golden light of day bathed Nova’s tall figure as she lay stretched out on the grass, turning her fair skin into a radiant honey color. Owen sat beside her, feeling the peace that emanated from the surrounding forest, but inside, his heart was burning with curiosity.

Nova turned onto her side, facing him directly. She propped herself up on an elbow, her other hand supporting her head. The casual posture only served to accentuate the curves of her body, especially her rounded buttocks, which were taut under her tight pants, making Owen have to secretly swallow.

She smiled knowingly, her emerald eyes sparkling in a way Owen had never seen before. It wasn't the gaze of a strict instructor, but the gaze of a young woman about to reveal her greatest secret.

“Most people think my S-Rank power is a ‘Power-Type,’ something like [Body of Might (Rank: S)] or [Strength of the Mountain (Rank: S)], because they see me showing off my destructive power so often…”

She paused, letting the silence do its work, before uttering the words that would change Owen’s understanding forever. “…But the truth is, my awakened power is actually [Potion Master (Rank: S)].”

“Potion Master?” Owen repeated in a disbelieving tone, his brow furrowed with unconcealed confusion. “Are you kidding me? A potion-making ability? What does that have to do with that destructive power of yours?”

Seeing Owen’s clear look of disbelief, she laughed out loud. “Hahaha, don't make that face, Owen. I'm really not lying. It’s because I trust you, you crazy student, that I’m telling you this."

She pouted slightly, an adorable look, before moving a little closer until Owen could smell the faint scent of her sweat mixed with her unique, fragrant body odor. It was a scent that awakened his primal instincts. “And don't you dare underestimate this ability of mine.”

She continued in a serious tone. “You think I bought all those potions you’ve been drinking for the past few months? And gave them to you for free, without charging you? Even though they're so expensive?”

Those words hit Owen right in the heart, and he only just now realized it.

“That’s because I’m an S-Rank Potion Master. For me, creating a large number of recovery potions is as easy as filling a bottle with water,” she said with a nonchalant shrug.

“Damn…” Owen mumbled, stunned. He felt both grateful and ashamed at the same time. “I… I never knew. Thank you, Nova. For everything.”

“Save your thanks for later,” Nova said with a cunning smile, letting Owen think over just how overpowered her ability was.

“But you know that’s not the ability that made me this strong… The reason I was able to become an S-Rank Awakened is because of one of the Potion Master's abilities, called ‘Anti-Overdose,’” she explained calmly.

“Anti-Overdose?” Owen raised an eyebrow. The name sounded simple, but simple and straightforward things were often the most powerful.

“Yes… You should already know that normal people or general Awakened all have a limit to how many potions they can use. Some can only drink one recovery potion a day, some can drink two, depending on their physical capabilities.”

She slowly sat up to face him directly. Her tall body cast a shadow over Owen’s, making him feel a sense of pressure. “And if you drink potions beyond your body's limit, they become a poison instead. Like temporary paralysis, permanent loss of lifespan, or in the worst case, death…”

She leaned in closer to tease him, her face only a few inches from his. Her massive breasts, nearly spilling out of her sports bra, pressed against his chest with a soft bounce. Owen held his breath without realizing it, the heat from her body radiating into him.

“…And with my ‘Anti-Overdose’ ability, my body has no limit to drinking potions at all, even if I drink a thousand bottles a day.”

Owen’s eyes widened, his heart pounding as if it would burst from his chest. "No… limit?"

Nova smiled, satisfied with his reaction. She paused for a moment to let Owen digest the information before concluding with a sentence that shook his world.

“And it’s my favorite ability… because it allows me to train relentlessly, 24 hours a day if I want, by continuously drinking fatigue recovery potions.”

As she finished speaking, Owen could only gape, his jaw hanging open. The image of Nova training like a madwoman in the gym flashed in his mind. He knew now… he knew now just how overpowered the strongest woman in the city was… It was a simple ability that produced the most terrifying results. Her strength didn't come from talent alone; it was forged from endless training… driven by an engine that never turned off.

This woman… wasn't just a strong warrior… she was a monster in human form who could improve herself without limits… And that thought… made the piece of flesh under Owen’s pants begin to harden uncontrollably. He wanted to grab her, fuck her, and make her his broodmother right now. With such a strong broodmother, the children she produced would surely be incredibly strong…

But it seemed his thoughts were read by Nova in an instant.

Nova’s sharp, hawk-like eyes easily noticed the unusually prominent bulge in her student's pants. A cunning and dangerous smirk spread across her lips.

“Hmmmm~” she purred. “Looks like something… has woken up.”

Before Owen could make an excuse or move away…

In a flash!

Nova’s hand, as strong as a steel clamp, moved with shocking speed. It shot out and grabbed his hard, 12-inch cock with full force, right through the fabric of his tight-fitting gym pants!

“Urk!” Owen doubled over, jolting with shock and a thrilling sensation that shot through his entire body like an electric current. Her palm, though calloused from training, still had a strange softness. It squeezed his shaft so tightly he could feel her heat and strength being transferred into him.

Nova squeezed it gently, as if assessing the quality of a secret weapon, before her eyes shot wide open in genuine disbelief.

“Damn… this is…” she swallowed hard. “…much bigger than I thought.”

The unexpected compliment made Owen’s face burn, but the thrilling pleasure didn't last long as her grip began to slowly tighten. It wasn't a squeeze of arousal, but one that asserted a completely different level of power.

“Ah… Nova… that hurts…” he moaned faintly.

Nova smirked with satisfaction. She leaned down and whispered in his ear. Her voice was husky and seductive, but every word was filled with an irresistible authority.

“I know what you’re thinking… you horny student,” her tongue deliberately licked his earlobe, sending a shiver down Owen’s spine. “But don’t forget our deal… you can only play with my body when you can defeat me in a Muay Thai match… Understand… hmmmm~?”

As the sweet purr ended, she squeezed his cock with all her might!

“AGGGHHHHHH!!!” Owen screamed, his face contorting in pain that shot through his entire body. It was a sensation that was both thrilling and so painful he thought he would pass out. He could feel that if she squeezed just a little harder, his future as a "sire" would surely end right here.

“I… I understand!!!” Owen quickly yelled, his voice trembling, before she could crush his cock in her hand.

“Very good,” Nova smiled like a victor. “That’s enough for today… You can go now.”

With that, she released her hand from his cock, freeing him from the monster’s claws in an instant.

Owen didn't wait for a second. He shot up and ran with his tail between his legs back to his SUV, not even daring to look back. He was terrified that if he stayed any longer, she might get the idea to tease him in an even more brutal and passionate way…

After leaving Nova’s gym and driving down from the quiet mountain, Owen headed back to the bright and lively center of Titan City. But his destination tonight wasn't to go home and sleep. He still remembered the promise he had made to Jessica… and after a full day of grueling training and a world-changing lesson, his body craved her soft touch and warm embrace.

The luxurious white SUV drove along a familiar road before pulling to a smooth stop in front of Jessica’s apartment building. Owen killed the engine and took a deep breath. The excitement and desire smoldering in his chest made his heart beat a little faster.

He stood before the door to her room and knocked lightly, just a few times…

Knock… Knock…

Almost instantly, the door opened smoothly, as if she had been waiting right there for him the whole time.

The sight he beheld surprised him a little… and he had to admit, it made the blood in his veins run hot. Jessica wasn't in her work clothes or a comfortable casual outfit as he had expected. She was in a tight-fitting, blood-red slip dress. The shiny satin beautifully accentuated every curve of her body, from the full cleavage that was pushed up and almost spilling out, to her tiny waist, to her perfectly flared, rounded hips.

The room was filled with the fragrant aroma of freshly cooked steak mixed with the faint scent of red wine. The lights in the room were dimmed, with only the flickering candlelight on the beautifully set dining table providing illumination, creating an atmosphere that was romantic, private, and extremely suggestive.

“I’m glad you came…” she said in a sweet voice, her red-lipsticked lips revealing a warm and seductive smile, before she reached out with her slender hand to naturally lead him inside.

During the delicious candlelit dinner, they talked about various things that had happened. Owen told her about his training (skipping the details of Nova’s power), while Jessica talked about the coffee shop. But as the atmosphere relaxed and the wine in their glasses was nearly half-gone, Jessica put down her fork. Her once-smiling face was now filled with clear anxiety.

She took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage, before opening up about the feelings she had been holding back.

“Owen… I’m still scared,” she said, her voice trembling, her once-sparkling eyes now shaking with dread. “About Cole’s 'boss'… I’m afraid he’ll do something to you… I… I feel so guilty for dragging you into this dangerous mess.” Clear tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes.

Owen stopped eating. He put down his knife and fork and reached across the table to hold her cold hand tightly. The warmth from his palm seeped into her heart. He looked deep into her trembling eyes with a gaze that was steady and filled with the power he had just discovered today.

“Jessica… look at me,” he said, his voice deep but firm, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Listen… the day I went to save you, it wasn't a burden. It was my 'choice.' I chose to protect you. And now… I am strong enough to do it. No matter what bastard shows up, you will be safe with me… I promise.”

His words, as solid as an oath, and his gentle actions melted the wall of fear in her heart completely. The tears that were once tears of fear now became tears of gratitude and overwhelming emotion. They streamed down her smooth cheeks. She knew in that moment that she had given her heart and body to this man completely.

When the deep conversation ended, the atmosphere changed entirely. Fear was replaced by a desire that smoldered even hotter than the candle on the table. Jessica met Owen’s gaze, her eyes full of love and resolve.

She slowly stood up, walked around the table to him, slowly but full of confidence, and then leaned down to whisper in his ear, her voice husky and utterly seductive.

"I have… a 'dessert' for our celebration waiting in the bedroom…"

She paused for a moment, deliberately using the tip of her hot, moist tongue to lightly lick his earlobe, sending a shiver down Owen’s spine. The piece of flesh under his pants began to respond to the invitation instantly.

"...Wait for me for 10 minutes, and then follow me…"

She paused again, before whispering the final word that would change their status forever…

“...Master.”

The sudden change in address made Owen raise an eyebrow with a mixture of surprise and excitement. He watched the figure in the fiery red dress disappear into the bedroom with a cunning smile… The real "celebration"… had only just begun…

—-------