Succumania

This was a day after Luka had left the house. Vinum, eager for her long-awaited rematch against the human who had fought her to a draw, had tracked down the organization known as L.U.N.A.R. and its elusive resident.

Within the dimly lit confines of the facility, she bartered knowledge for knowledge—offering books on dark magic in exchange for information. Through this, she learned about the talismans that had disrupted her last battle and, more importantly, the whereabouts of the detective.

But something else caught her eye.

As she spoke with Nina, the woman seemed only half-engaged in their conversation. Her attention flickered between Vinum and a file she was browsing, her expression carefully neutral.

However, something caught her eye. 

Used to reading an enormous quantity of books, her eyes caught the attention of a few specific lines on the monitor. 

"Care to come back to that last line?" she said, her eyebrows raised with interest.

Nina didn't look down immediately. "Classified information."

A smirk curled on Vinum's lips. "Classified to some, maybe. But you're not the type to read something boring in the middle of a conversation. So, what is it?"

There was a beat of silence before Nina finally met her gaze, fingers drumming lightly against the desk. Her other hand lingered over the keyboard, hesitating.

"It depends," Nina finally said. "What can you offer in exchange?"

Vinum's smirk deepened, but her tone carried a rare solemnity. "I promise to give you something of equal value." Her golden eyes flickered with an intensity that left little room for doubt. "And I don't break promises."

Nina studied Vinum for a long moment, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. There was something unreadable in her gaze, something calculating.

"You sound confident," she said, leaning back slightly in her chair. "But information isn't always about value—sometimes it's about consequences. Are you sure you want to know?"

Vinum's smirk didn't waver, but her eyes glinted with something sharper. "If it's about him, then yes."

Nina exhaled softly, as if weighing her options, then turned the monitor slightly so Vinum could see it better.

"This is an old report of mine," Nina muttered. "So don't get on my case about the typos—I was in a hurry when I wrote it."

Vinum barely heard her. Her gaze locked onto the screen, scanning the contents with the practiced speed of someone used to absorbing vast amounts of knowledge in an instant.

At first, it was nothing particularly surprising—standard surveillance. Reports on Luka's movements, his encounters, the people he crossed paths with. But as she read further, something changed. Her fingers, which had been lightly tapping against the table, stilled. Her expression lost its amusement, replaced by something sharper, darker.

It was written so plainly, so offhandedly, as if it were nothing but a footnote in an otherwise mundane document. Yet it wasn't.

Her pulse quickened.

"This…" Her voice was barely above a whisper, an odd mixture of unease and exhilaration curling around her words. "Is this true?"

Nina exhaled, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah. That's why I was rereading it. I thought it might explain why you girls are still hanging around him, but…" She slumped forward, resting her head on the desk with a groan. "Nothing. No real answers. I guess I was being too hopeful, but damn, I hate reading my own reports."

Vinum didn't respond right away. She was still staring at the screen, her grip tightening on the edge of the desk.

She had only wanted to confirm Luka's whereabouts. To get her rematch. But this—this changed things.

Her interest couldn't have been this piqued.

And yet, her heart was hammering in a way she wasn't used to.

Something about this report, about what it implied, unsettled her. Excited her. It gnawed at her, stirring something deep in her core.

Vinum finally tore her gaze away from the screen, her smirk creeping back onto her lips, but it was thinner now—almost forced. "I see," she murmured, rolling the thought over in her mind.

Nina lifted her head slightly, eyeing her with mild curiosity. "You see what?"

Vinum didn't answer right away. Instead, she turned on her heel, stepping away from the desk with an unusual quietness.

"I need to see him," she said simply.

Nina raised an eyebrow. "Now?"

Vinum cast one last glance at the report, her tail flicking behind her.

"Now."

If it was true, then…

She needed to taste him.

Sprawled on the grass outside, Luka gasped for breath, his chest rising and falling with each labored inhale. Sweat clung to his skin, his limbs burning from exhaustion. Above him, his ruthless instructor loomed, her arms crossed, unimpressed.

"You're slowing down," came the sharp, teasing voice. "Pathetic, really. Is that all you've got?"

Luka groaned, dragging a forearm over his brow to wipe the sweat from his eyes. "Give me… a second," he huffed, barely getting the words out.

The woman above him clicked her tongue in disapproval. "You don't get a second in a fight. You either react, or you lose."

"Yeah, yeah," Luka muttered, pushing himself up onto his elbows. "It's not like you told me this a thousand times already…"

"And yet," she sighed, tilting her head, "you still got caught off guard. Makes me wonder how you even survived in Tamia."

Luka scowled. "Are you seriously doubting me now?"

"I mean," she shrugged, "don't tell me it was just dumb luck after all?"

"When did you get this annoying?" Luka grumbled.

His instructor smirked before pointing to the side. "Probably around the time you told me you got your ass kicked by a kid." Luka followed her finger, only to see Rumi quietly sitting nearby, munching on a fruit biscuit. She met his gaze, chewed thoughtfully, then nodded in agreement.

"That 'kid,'" Luka retorted, making air quotes with his fingers, "is queen-class level for monsters."

"Is that excuses I hear?" Kanami's eyes darkened.

Luka groaned, rubbing his temples. "It's not an excuse. It's a fact. Do you know how ridiculous those monsters are? You can train for years, and I still won't be strong enough—"

"Blah, blah, blah." Kanami waved a hand dismissively. "All I hear is whining."

Luka shot her a glare. "You weren't there! You didn't see what she—"

"I see someone who still got his ass handed to him," Kanami cut in, stepping closer and tapping her foot impatiently. "Besides, don't come whining about some rather strong monster when you're the one who defeated the demon king back in Tamia."

"I almost died and I can't use magic properly ever since…"

Kanami scoffed, crossing her arms. "Oh, boo-hoo. 'I almost died,'" she mocked, exaggerating a pitiful whine. "Cry me a river. You didn't die, and last I checked, you're still breathing, still moving, and still complaining."

Luka clenched his jaw, irritation bubbling up. "I can't use magic properly anymore, Kanami. Do you know how much of a handicap that is?" His voice was edged with frustration. "I went from holding my own against some of the strongest beings in the world to—" he gestured at himself, still sprawled on the ground, "—this. You think that's easy to deal with?"

Kanami let out a slow breath, watching him carefully. "No. I think it's reality."

Luka blinked. "…What?"

She crouched beside him, her expression unreadable. "You're so fixated on what you lost that you don't see what's still in front of you. Yeah, you lost your magic. Big deal. You're still you, Luka. You're still that idiot who found a way to survive things no human should." She nudged his forehead with a finger. "The moment you stop whining and start figuring out how to fight with what you have now instead of what you used to have? That's when you stop losing."

Luka stared up at her, stunned into silence for a moment. As much as she annoyed him, Kanami had a way of cutting straight through his self-doubt, stripping away excuses until only the truth remained. And she was right.

Did it suck? Absolutely. Was it unfair? Definitely.

Fighting Vinum almost cost his life last time, and every time he had to push himself a bit further, he was at risk of killing himself from the exertion. 

Yet, he still managed to come up to a draw.

But…

"But what if I'm tired of fighting, huh?" he said his voice low. 

"Well…" Kanami looked up in the air, embarrassed. "I didn't think of this."

"I hate fighting, you know that."

"I know…" she sighed deeply while straightening up. "But we both know it's not because you like it that you're doing it. It's because you don't have a choice."

"Why don't you just go an fight her in my place then? Give her a good blade in the neck for all I care…"

"Is that how you want it to go?"

Luka clenched his jaw, but he didn't answer.

Kanami let out a slow breath. "I get it. You're tired. You don't want to do this anymore. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't understand." She crossed her arms. "But Luka… if that's really what you want—if you're ready to just walk away—then say it. Say you don't care. Say you want someone else to handle it."

Silence stretched between them.

Luka felt something twist in his chest.

Could he say it? Could he really just turn his back and let someone else handle it?

No, his pride refused it. Even if he was tired, scared and just exhausted from everything, he couldn't just give up.

Because even if that succubus was evil in humanity's terms… He couldn't just let her die or he would never forgive himself.

"...Damn it," he clicked his tongue in annoyance before standing up.

Kanami's lips twitched slightly. "Yeah. That's what I thought."

Luka let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. "You're really annoying, you know that? I could swear you're almost as annoying as Morrigan sometimes."

Kanami smirked, tilting her head. "Almost as annoying as Morrigan? Wow, thank you."

Luka scoffed, rolling his shoulders as he tried to shake off the lingering fatigue. His body still ached from their sparring session, but compared to the weight pressing down on his mind, it was nothing.

He knew the moment he stood up that there was no turning back.

No matter how exhausted he was.

No matter how much he wanted to be done with it all.

Because he couldn't just give up his problems to others. It was he who promised this rematch, so he would better see it through. 

With a sigh, Luka wiped the sweat off his brow and forced himself to his feet, ignoring the protest of his aching muscles. The exhaustion was still there, gnawing at him, but it didn't matter.

"Damn it…" he muttered, rubbing a hand through his hair in frustration. "Why does the world want to fuck me over at every turn."

Kanami chuckled darkly, crossing her arms. "Yeah, I can't argue with that. You're definitely not the luckiest guy I know."

Luka shot her a quick glare, but it lacked any real heat. He knew she was right. Luck had never been on his side. He'd never been the chosen hero, never been the one to have everything handed to him. Life had been a constant uphill battle, and it wasn't about to stop now.

"Okay, let's get back to training!" Luka clapped his hands together, assuming a battle-ready stance with a focused look in his eyes.

Kanami smirked, mirroring his stance. "Don't break on me now!" she teased, her grin widening as she prepared to meet his next move head-on.

Meanwhile, in the present time, LUNAR…

"Oh, thank you for coming," Nina greeted the person entering her lab, her tone warm but professional. Standing in the doorway was none other than Alma Elma, the succubus queen herself, with Morrigan by her side. Despite Luka's complaints, he had kept his word and asked them to come visit the scientist in her laboratory.

Nina adjusted her glasses and gave them a polite nod. "I appreciate you both taking the time to come here."

Inside, she was boiling with excitement. 

Alma Elma gave a gracious smile. "Of course. I couldn't deny a request like that after all…♪"

Morrigan, however, seemed less impressed as she eyed the lab cautiously. "Oh? So this is the lab? It gives me the creeps…" She shuddered dramatically, her eyes scanning the cluttered space. "I hope you won't blow up anything like Promenstein."

Nina let out a soft laugh, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "Ahah, don't worry. Nothing will explode here... probably."

Morrigan raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, but Alma's light chuckle eased the tension in the room.

Both succubi stood several feet apart, carefully avoiding eye contact. The air between them felt thick, but Nina was determined to keep things light. She gestured toward the hallway behind her, attempting to defuse the tension.

"How about I give you a tour? I'm sure you'll find a few things that'll pique your interest."

Alma Elma nodded graciously, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Well, I'm not exactly a scientist… but if you say there are some interesting things in here, I'm willing to take a look."

Nina smiled, relieved to hear that. She turned and started walking down the hallway, motioning for them to follow. "You might be surprised, then. Magic and science got hand in hand with each other. Let me show you."

She led them to a small storage room filled with neatly organized shelves, each stacked with various projects she had been working on. Some were half-finished experiments, others meticulously arranged in various stages of development.

"As you can see," Nina continued, "this is where I store a lot of my current projects. Some of these are still in the experimental phase, but I'm hopeful about a few of them."

"Oh? What's this?" Morrigan's voice came from across the room as she picked up a small pocket watch from one of the shelves, examining it closely.

Nina's eyes widened in alarm, and she rushed over to her. "Wait! Don't click on the button—"

But it was too late.

"Ahaha! Click!" Morrigan grinned mischievously and pressed the small button on the pocket watch.

Instantly, the room was filled with a blinding flash of light, followed by a faint, eerie hum. Nina's heart skipped a beat. "No! Not again..." she muttered under her breath as she rushed toward Morrigan, who was looking around with a smirk, completely unfazed.

Before Nina could reach her, everything flickered, and she found herself suddenly back in her original position, as if the last few moments had never happened.

"No! Not again…" she muttered again, disoriented, as she quickly rushed toward Morrigan once more.

But as soon as she started moving, the room flashed again, and she was back at her starting point.

The cycle continued, each flash of light resetting everything to its previous state, trapping Nina in an endless loop.

"Huh…" Morrigan said, her expression unreadable. She seemed unaffected by the time shifts, her gaze amused as she clicked the button once more.

This time, the room froze completely, the loop halted, and Nina was suddenly back in her original position, just as if nothing had happened.

Nina let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing her temples. "I can't believe this is happening again…" She turned to face Morrigan, who was still holding the pocket watch with an impish grin.

"You really do enjoy pushing buttons, don't you?" Nina said, her tone dry, though there was a hint of relief now that the loop had stopped.

Morrigan shrugged, still grinning. "Hey, I was curious. You've got some interesting gadgets here, but you really ought to put a warning label on them."

"You can't expect an idiot to not touch everything," Alma Elma chuckled dryly from across the room.

"Huh? Care to repeat that, you violent succubus?" Morrigan shot Alma a sharp glare, her hands resting on her hips in mock challenge.

Alma Elma tilted her head innocently, her lips curling into a playful smile. "Nothing…♪"

"Alright," Nina said, exhaling sharply, "let's move on before I end up trapped in a loop again."

They followed her into another room filled with the scent of chemicals. Vials and potions lay around everywhere, with stocks of ingredients filling the shelves above the different magical cauldrons.

"Oh! This is the potion room!" Morrigan's eyes sparkled as she took in the sight of bubbling liquids and strange glowing substances. "I wonder what they taste like!"

"P-Please don't try them!" Nina said hurriedly, waving her hands in alarm just as Morrigan reached for a vial. "They might have dangerous effects!"

Alma Elma, meanwhile, had already begun to browse the shelves with casual interest. She picked up a bottle of shimmering liquid, inspecting it closely. "Perhaps there are some love potions here. Do you think one of them could cure little Luka?"

Nina froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. "C-cure Luka?" She blinked, taken aback by the mention of his name. "What do you mean, cure?"

Alma Elma's smile softened, her gaze distant for a moment as she reflected. "Oh, just a thought. Poor boy can't even enjoy the embrace… the perks of a succubus." She glanced over her shoulder at Nina with an understanding look.

"I already tried," Nina sighed. "If it were curable with potions, I would have already done it."

"Awww…" Alma Elma pouted slightly, her fingers carefully placing the bottle back on the shelf. "Is it a curse, then? Poor guy."

"To be honest, I don't know," Nina muttered, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. But she was cut off suddenly by a loud clink and a soft gulp from across the room.

"HEY!" Nina yelped, eyes wide with alarm.

Morrigan stood there, completely unfazed, holding an empty vial and licking her lips. "Hmm, tastes like apple juice!" she said nonchalantly, smirking as she inspected the bottle. "Quite refreshing, actually."

Nina's heart dropped. "You drank it?!"

"Eh, it's fine," Morrigan said with a shrug, looking completely unaffected. "Honestly, I've had worse. And I was getting thirsty."

Alma Elma raised an eyebrow, her expression amused but curious. "You didn't check what it was first?"

"I figured you would've warned me if it was dangerous," Morrigan said with a wink.

Nina, however, felt her unease deepening. She glanced at the empty vial in Morrigan's hand and then at the succubus, a chill creeping down her spine. "I mean, it's fine, it's not dangerous, but..." Nina's voice trailed off as she looked at Morrigan, still waiting for the effects to kick in.

"Hey, why do I feel hot all of a sudden?"

Nina's eyes widened at Morrigan's words. She felt her heart skip a beat, a sinking feeling rushing through her stomach.

Nina's eyes shot wide open. Her stomach dropped as her pulse quickened, panic setting in. "Wait, what? What do you mean, hot ?" she asked, taking a cautious step toward Morrigan.

Morrigan blinked, looking slightly disoriented, and swiped a hand through her damp hair. "I don't know... it's like I'm standing right next to a furnace. This potion was supposed to be refreshing, not... this." She dramatically fanned herself, clearly struggling to keep her composure.

Nina swallowed nervously, feeling the weight of the situation. "That's Calvados. A very potent alcohol that's still in the raw, unrefined state." She quickly turned to Alma Elma, a worried look on her face. "I didn't realize it was that strong. Does Morrigan handle her alcohol well?"

Alma Elma gave a small, knowing smile, but there was an edge of concern in her voice. "Well, we'll see how she handles it now, won't we?" Her gaze flickered over to Morrigan, who was now looking distinctly uncomfortable.

Morrigan gave her a playful shove. "I'm fine. Just—oh gods, it's getting worse!" Her skin was beginning to flush, and she was visibly sweating now.

Her vision became dazed while Nina was rummaging through her affairs to find some kind of antidote to alcohol. 

"H-Hey! Stop making so much noise!" Morrigan's head throbbed painfully, a hammer pounding inside her skull. Her hands began to shimmer with a faint blue glow, her aura crackling dangerously as the heat surged. "I'll turn you to dry fish!"

"W-What?!" Nina's eyes went wide in fear as she recoiled, her heart racing. "Please, Morrigan, calm down!"

"Gehehe... Just stand still, girl…" Morrigan's grin was mischievous, but her voice was laced with irritation as her aura flared, threatening to engulf Nina. "I'm getting fired up! Uwooooh!" she shouted, half-blabbering. "Hey you, robot!" she pointed at the small roid rolling around the room. "Take this!" 

Before anyone could react, Morrigan's aura surged forward, enveloping the robot in a crackling blue haze. The machine let out a series of frantic beeps before collapsing into a twitching heap on the floor. Its voice box distorted, emitting a strange, staccato noise. "USB PORT INVADED. AH.AH.AH.AH.AH.AH.AH.AH."

Nina's jaw dropped, her glasses nearly slipping off her face. "How the hell did she do that?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising an octave. She stared at the robot, which was now sparking and emitting smoke. "Did she just—did she just make it climax?!"

Alma Elma, who had been observing the chaos with mild amusement, stepped forward with a sigh. "Yeah… I don't get it either," she said, her tone surprisingly serious. She crossed her arms, her tail flicking lazily behind her as she approached the intoxicated

succubus.

Morrigan's head snapped toward Alma Elma, her eyes narrowing. "Hey, you bitch!" she slurred, pointing an accusatory finger at the queen. "Here's my revenge—!"

Before Morrigan could finish her sentence, Alma Elma's fist came crashing down on the back of her neck with surgical precision. The succubus crumpled to the floor in a heap, her aura dissipating like smoke in the wind.

"Go sober up, okay?" Alma Elma said, brushing her hands together as if she'd just completed a mundane chore. She glanced at Nina, who was still staring at the scene in stunned silence. "She'll be fine. Probably."

Nina blinked, finally snapping out of her daze. "Probably?!" she repeated, her voice tinged with panic. "What if she wakes up and does something even worse?!"

Alma Elma shrugged, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Then we'll knock her out again. Easy." She leaned down, hoisting Morrigan over her shoulder with surprising ease. "For now, let's get her somewhere quiet before she wakes up."

As Alma Elma carried Morrigan out of the room, Nina hurried after them, still clutching her bag. "Wait! I think I found the antidote! If I can just—"

"Save it," Alma Elma interrupted, her voice smooth and teasing. She glanced over her shoulder at Nina, her ruby eyes glinting with mischief. "Unless you want our private time together to be interrupted?"

Nina's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and she nearly tripped over her own feet. "W-What are you talking about?!" she stammered, her voice rising an octave. "This is serious! Morrigan could—could—"

"Relax," Alma Elma said, cutting her off with a chuckle. She adjusted her grip on Morrigan, shifting the unconscious succubus slightly higher on her shoulder. "Morrigan's tough. A little nap, and she'll be back to her usual self. Probably with a killer headache, but that's her problem, not ours."

Nina fidgeted nervously, her fingers twisting the strap of her bag. "Then… does that mean…" she began hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Luka told you?"

Alma Elma's smirk widened, and she stopped walking for a moment to turn fully toward Nina. Her ruby eyes gleamed with amusement as she studied the flustered girl. "Oh, Luka told me everything," she said, her tone dripping with lust. "How about we get better acquainted, Nina?"

Nina's face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she looked like she wanted to melt into the floor. "L-Let's go…"

One can only wake up alone so many times before realizing the blessing of sleeping with a beauty such as her. 

A wild day, a wild night, she even lost her glasses in this act of bliss.

With a slight pump of her fist, she flashed a bright smile.

Nina, full victory! 

There was no way she was going to fail that armor now. She would give everything to repay the favor.