Chapter 44: The Harem Directive

The sex had been intense—relentless—and she could feel that she was spent, not just from pleasure, but from the toll of what he’d taken. Her vitae, siphoned into him through the act, left her thrumming, overstimulated, every nerve alight. Her body throbbed, her heart raced—but it wasn’t weakness. It was a sign of what she’d given him. Willingly. Power, and trust. The irony was that she was one of those who saw him a threat, yet now, she was the first one who had willingly given him more power. If he was a threat, then it had to be said that, then she was the one aiding him. But Daphne at this moment didn’t care. "Let’s stay like this for a second," she murmured, her voice low but steady. "After that, we’ll see how much vitae you’ve absorbed." She reinforced his arm around her bare waist, fingers brushing his skin, a sign that she didn’t want him to move yet. Zaeryn didn’t object. How could he, when anyone would envy him for holding someone so breathtaking in his arms? He stayed that way—tangled and silent—wrapped in her warmth and the shared afterglow, as if the rest of the world had simply ceased to exist. A few seconds passed in that quiet embrace. Zaeryn could feel something different stirring inside him—an unfamiliar energy, likely the Vitae he had absorbed from Daphne. ’Hmmm, I wonder if this was enough...’ he thought. The moment the thought crossed his mind, a familiar interface materialized before him. He skipped past everything he’d already seen. [SYSTEM LOG] [VITAE ABSORPTION COMPLETE] ► User: Zaeryn ► Target: Daphne Virellith – Tier 3, Race: Human ► Absorption Status: Successful – Significant quantity of Vitae absorbed ► Vitae reserves increased: +550 points ► New total: 3000/3000 [NEW ABILITY ACQUIRED: Vitae Weaving] [NEW ABILITY ACQUIRED: Hyper Cognition] Zaeryn blinked, a little taken aback. ’Already?’ He had expected to absorb only a fraction of Daphne’s power, not so much that it would trigger a new ability so soon. But he wasn’t complaining. And he understood something about how the soul sync and Eros engine worked. This intimate encounter created exactly the kind of bond required. Daphne, in that moment, willingly gave him her Vitae, and in doing so, she also showed a deep level of vulnerability and trust—two things her character rarely displays. This act, combined with the physical and emotional intensity of the experience, was more than enough to create the deep connection the system requires. The fact that Zaeryn was able to absorb her abilities and gain Vitae Weaving and Hyper-Cognition is direct proof that the bond was successful and not shallow. He wouldn’t have been granted such powerful skills if there was any corruption or backfire. This also meant that Daphne was genuine towards him, so he could trust her. This made Zaeeyn feel better. Now he didn’t have to worry about what the chief scientist had in store for him. Well, at least, he will know she doesn’t plan to hurt him, intentionally. He continued to browse through the stats, and one new stat caught his attention. ’Vitae reserves? What’s that?’ The familiar screen updated with a new entry, its cold, clinical text answering his unspoken question. [SYSTEM LOG] [VITAE RESERVES] ► Function: The Vitae Reserve is your internal energy pool. It is the raw power source for all active abilities, including Vitae Weaving. Each time a skill is used, a portion of this reserve is consumed. ► Current Status: You have a total of 3000/3000 Vitae Points. This significant increase resulted from the successful absorption of Daphne Virellith’s powerful Vitae. ► Recharge Method: Vitae can only be replenished through a genuine, intimate bond resulting in successful absorption. Casual or shallow encounters will not suffice. ► Warning: Low reserves will result in physical and mental fatigue, weakening your combat and cognitive capabilities. ► Directive: To maintain stable Vitae reserves, it is imperative that you continue to cultivate deep, authentic connections. Zaeryn stared at the screen for a second, his eyebrows twitching in disbelief. ’So wait,’ he thought to himself, the absurdity of the situation almost making him laugh. ’The system is literally asking me to... maintain a harem.’ At first, the thought felt limiting. He hated being dependent on anything, let alone something so vulnerable. But then, a slow, predatory smirk spread across his face. No one could call him irresponsible if it was a matter of survival. This wasn’t a choice; it was a biological imperative. The more he fulfilled this directive, the stronger he would get. It wasn’t a problem at all—after all, he always wanted a roster of sexual partners or a harem, and this would only give him a legitimate reason. He was simply following the rules of the new world. He scrolled further down. [ABILITY DETAILS] ► Vitae Weaving (Rank F / Nascent) – You’ve unlocked the foundational principles of Vitae manipulation. Allows for the creation of basic, temporary Vitae constructs. Further mastery requires absorption from advanced Vitae practitioners. ► Hyper-Cognition (Rank D) – Your mind has been enhanced by exposure to advanced neurological patterns. Grants increased processing speed, memory retention, and analytical capabilities. Zaeryn narrowed his eyes. That grin returned—until something else caught his attention. ’System,’ he thought. ’Why is Vitae Weaving listed as "Nascent"?’ The system responded at once. [SYSTEM RESPONSE] ► You have acquired the ability, but it remains inactive until properly channeled and mastered. ► You must undergo training to awaken and control this skill. ► Recommendation: Seek guidance from Chief Scientist Daphne Virellith. Zaeryn huffed a breath of amusement. This was no different from most females in this world. Some abilities had to be activated and be learned through use, while the easier ones could be activated effortlessly. And since Daphne was a Tier 3 Vitae wielder—and he now had her abilities—that technically put him in the same category as a Tier 3 Warlady. The only disadvantage, of course, was that he wasn’t experienced in wielding them. ’Does this mean Daphne will also have to teach me how to activate the Vitae Weaving ability? Well, who else knows how to use it? She’ll have to,’ Zaeryn thought to himself. Of course. She gives him her body, her Vitae—and now she’s the one who has to teach him how to use it. He cast a glance toward the woman still curled beside him.