Chapter 18: Dungeon of Hearts, Queen of Secrets

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Dungeon of Hearts, Queen of Secrets ???? Recap: After defeating the Crimson General by emotionally overloading him (and kissing his corrupted mouth), Jemil purified a myth-class beast and saved the city of Felgarde. Now, Queen Victoria has summoned him personally. Her new quest? One locked beneath the capital: The Forbidden Dungeon of Beast Hearts—a prison for beasts who defied their own instincts. ???? The Queen’s Invitation A royal carriage arrived the morning after Felgarde’s defense. No guards. Just a single note: "Come alone. Bring your... women, if you must. But only you will hear the truth." —Queen Victoria Jemil showed the letter to the harem. Nyx, wrapping her legs around his shoulders while pretending to ’stretch’, snorted. "She wants to confess something juicy." "She’s hiding something," Mira muttered, her blade glinting under her cloak. "Queens don’t summon Summoners into forbidden dungeons unless there’s guilt." "I bet she just wants to wrestle him," Lyra muttered. "Naked. In chains." Ursa blinked. "Should I bring cookies again?" ???? Entering the Forbidden Dungeon The capital’s underground was hidden beneath the palace. The dungeon doors opened with the Queen’s crest—a golden lion devouring a rose. Inside? Darkness. Whispering chains. Pulsing runes. Walls that breathed. [System Warning: Beast Emotion Field: Intensified] [All party members: +50% vulnerability to emotional manipulation] Jemil felt it instantly. His own emotions magnified. He couldn’t stop thinking about: Lyra’s fire-drenched kisses. Mira’s wings brushing his chest. Nyx’s illusions... unzipping his pants. The sound Ursa made when she nibbled a cookie with a giggle. He groaned. "This is a trap." "Damn right it is," Nyx purred, lips at his ear. "And you walked right in." ???? Trial of the Bonded The dungeon was a puzzle. Each chamber unlocked only by emotional trials tied to Jemil’s companions. First Room – Lyra’s Flame A burning hallway. Only way through: allow Lyra to control her flames while embracing him. He held her. She burned around him. She whispered, "I’ll never let you burn alone again." [Bond Strengthened: Lyra – Level 3] Second Room – Mira’s Reflection A mirror world. Jemil faced illusions of Mira rejecting him. He stood his ground. "You push me away," he told her, grabbing her hand. "But I’d rather bleed beside you than love someone else safely." [Bond Strengthened: Mira – Level 3] Third Room – Nyx’s Truth An endless hall of lies. To pass, he had to trust Nyx to lead him. She took his blindfolded hand. "I’ve tricked a thousand souls," she whispered, her lips brushing his jaw. "But only one has ever made me want to be honest." [Bond Strengthened: Nyx – Level 4] [Nyx secretly in denial of being in love – Status updated to: Soft Confession Incoming] ???? The Queen’s Secret At the final gate, Queen Victoria stood alone—cloaked in royal armor that looked far too tight to be battle standard. "Jemil," she said softly. "You need to know what really happened to the Tower." The room shifted. Runes lit up. Her voice echoed. "The Tower didn’t collapse on its own. The beasts didn’t rebel by chance. I made it happen." "I used a forbidden technique. I made all bonded beasts emotionally dependent on their summoners. I... I twisted the system to give them no choice but to love us." The harem froze. Jemil stepped forward. "You forced them?" Victoria nodded. "I thought it would prevent another war. Instead, it led to obsession. Madness. Betrayal." She pointed to the final gate. "Down there are the ones who resisted. Including... your mother’s bonded beast. The original myth-class." Everyone gasped. "You’re saying I’m...?" "Half-human. Half-beast. You are the bridge. And if you survive the final floor, you’ll unlock your true class." ???? The Final Floor: Rejected Bonds The last floor was a sanctuary—and a prison. Beasts of impossible size and beauty waited there. Chained. Starved not of food, but of affection. As Jemil entered, one lifted its head—an ethereal panther woman with glowing eyes and wings of light. "You..." she whispered. "You have her scent. You are her cub." [New Character Unlocked: The First Wife – Aerialra, the Beast of Beginning] [Relationship Status: Unknown] [Quest Triggered: Reclaim the Origin Bond] The panther stepped toward him. "I was once your mother’s. But I see myself in you." She stroked his cheek. "Will you claim me?" [Bondable Option: Yes / No] [Warning: Claiming Aerialra will change your class to: Towerborn Heir] [Your destiny will no longer be your own] ???? CTA — It’s All Coming Together... Jemil just learned his mother helped break the Tower. His origin is beast-blooded. And now, the original mythical beast is offering herself to him—body, heart, and soul. ???? Will he claim her? ???? Add to your Library, gift a Power Stone, and comment below: Would YOU claim Aerialra? Or stay loyal to the chaos of the current harem? Next up: Chapter 19 – "The Beast of Beginning, The Kiss of Inheritance"