The Life of Lust Demon

Hearing the damn system notification, Anos almost lost it.

No fucking way! This is a goddamn joke, right? He could barely believe what was happening. Was he really about to be dragged into this messed-up Romance, like playboy?

First, Luna triggers a mission, and the reward? A random mystery item. Great, that's gonna be useful. Then Zoey pops up with a mission that unlocks a Heaven-Tier skill. Fine, whatever. And now Mia? Mia, of all people, triggers a mission, and the reward's unlocking a second Store Center and a shitload of Scoundrel Points. Anos was getting whiplash just trying to keep up! Each reward was tempting as hell, but none of that mattered.

What mattered was the goddamn reality check slapping him in the face. Was he really about to juggle four damn boats? And one of them was his sister. His fucking sister. What the hell kind of chaotic, incestuous nightmare was this system trying to drag him into?

No way I'm walking away from this shit. Not a chance. But fuck, the more he thought about it, the more conflicted he got. The system? Living up to its name—ridiculous as hell.

And then there was Mia's favorability rating. What the hell?! How the hell had it climbed to 39? Fine, Zoey at 41 made sense—he'd literally saved her life, so that was a given. But Mia? He hadn't done jackshit for her, except maybe fuck with her head a little.

System's right. Maybe Mia is masochistic.

Wait a second... The thought hit him like a ton of bricks. Could it be? Did Mia actually get off on being teased?

Shit, no way! The realization hit him like a freight train. Was it possible? Did she have some weird masochistic streak, and the more he messed with her, the more she got attached? His mind spiraled. If this was true, he could actually shape her into the perfect partner. Someone loyal. Someone who'd obey his every damn command. The idea of making her into the ultimate, ride-or-die companion was... tempting. Too tempting.

No, no, NO, stop thinking about it! Anos gritted his teeth and shook his head, trying to shove the thought away. But that damn idea kept creeping back. The system sure as hell wasn't helping—it was practically encouraging him to think this way. Could Mia really turn into some sort of devoted partner? Someone who'd fight by his side, and maybe more? The thought made him itch to try it.

Focus, Anos! He growled at himself. But the temptation lingered, like a bad itch he couldn't scratch.

To make matters worse, his stupid words earlier probably bumped Mia's favorability even higher. Once it hit 50, the system would throw him the keys to the kingdom, and the success rate would go up depending on how the stars aligned. The higher the damn favorability, the more chance he'd have to make something of it. But none of that mattered now. He didn't need to get tangled in this mess today.

No, the real problem was figuring out how the hell he was going to manage this clusterfuck of relationships without losing his mind.

But for now? He was gonna put it all on hold. Bigger problems were coming—or at least, that's what he kept telling himself. This nonsense? He'd deal with it... later.

---

Mia felt a trace of sweetness when Anos took her hand and led her out. The warmth of his touch made her heart flutter slightly, but she didn't overthink it. Behind them, Sasha watched the scene unfold, a complicated mix of emotions churning inside her. She couldn't quite place what she felt, but something about the moment tugged at her, so she hurriedly followed after them.

Once outside, Anos let go of Mia's hand. If things went south, it could easily be misunderstood, and he wasn't about to deal with any unnecessary complications.

"Anos, are you really going to stand up for Mia?" Sasha asked, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Of course," Anos said, his tone steady and confident. "You're my friends. You matter to me."

It wasn't the first time he'd said something like that. In fact, he'd already considered both of them good friends, even though the bond was still in its early stages.

"But…" Sasha hesitated, "He's at the Spirit Core Realm."

Anos raised an eyebrow. "What stage of the Spirit Core Realm?"

Sasha frowned slightly, thinking hard. "I think… Spirit Core Stage-One? Or maybe Stage-Two? I'm not sure." She tilted her head as she tried to recall the details, but it was clear she wasn't entirely certain.

Anos smirked, clearly unbothered by the news. "Then it's fine."

"Ah?"

The two girls were shocked by his casual tone. The Spirit Core Realm was no small deal, but Anos seemed absolutely unphased.

"Trust me," he said with a wink, "Leave it to me."

The moment the words left his mouth, both Mia and Sasha felt their faces heat up. The confidence, the boldness—it was enough to make their hearts race, and suddenly they felt a little more than just friends.

Sasha glanced at Anos, disbelief written across her face. "You're at the Spirit Core Realm? No way! We entered the Sky Martial Court together. How long has it even been?"

The gap between them was staggering—two entire realms. It was almost unbelievable.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Take a guess..." Anos said with a confident grin, his tone casual yet carrying an edge of pride.

They stood there, uncertain, but the possibility lingered. If he had spent his time hunting demonic beasts, it was certainly within the realm of possibility. But how many beasts would it take to climb that high? And more importantly, could he defeat the truly powerful ones?

In many prestigious families, it was common practice to capture demonic beasts and allow the younger generation to deliver the final blow, boosting their strength. While it was an effective method, it came with serious drawbacks. First, while one could rapidly level up this way, it wasn't without its dangers. Once demonic beasts reached level 50, few humans could even approach them, let alone capture them. Even a brief chance for the beasts to recover could spell death for anyone foolish enough to challenge them.

Second, while this method could increase strength quickly, it didn't provide the kind of battle experience needed for true mastery. A fighter who leveled by slaying beasts step by step would eventually be overwhelmed by someone who gained their power through training and Enlightenment. The difference in combat experience would be undeniable. The former would be crushed by the latter, without question.

Sasha and Mia exchanged a look, both of them struck by the same realization. This must be the reason Anos dared to challenge a cultivator at the Spirit Core Realm—because if he wasn't, there was no way he could stand a chance. But if he truly had reached that level… they would be left utterly speechless.

The idea was almost too much to process.

Anos had the potential to shock the entire Sky Martial Court. The last time he revealed his strength, it was enough to defeat cultivators at the Elemental Foundation Realm—one or Two-Stage, at best. But now? If he could take on even a single Stage from the Spirit Core Realm, it would stun everyone in the room. Just how much time had passed since then?

It was impossible to ignore the truth: Anos's cultivation speed was nothing short of insane. His rapid progress made even him struggle to adapt to his newfound power.

Anos had finally reached the Spirit Core Realm.

He exchanged one million points for ten Level-Up Fruits, each one a powerful boost to his strength. Without hesitation, he consumed them one by one.

"What are you eating? I want some too!" Mia noticed Anos eating and reached out for a piece.

Anos gave a sly smile, replying casually, "It's a Strength Pill. Just preparing for the battle ahead."

The two girls exchanged glances, unconvinced but not pressing the matter. At that moment, Anos's aura began to shift.

Ding… Leveling up to Spirit Core Realm!

The air around them thickened, Anos's presence becoming more intense. It was subtle at first, but soon it became impossible to ignore—his power was rising, fluctuating and stabilizing with each passing second.

"Spirit Core Realm… Is that the aura of Spirit Core Realm?" Sasha asked, her voice tinged with awe.

Anos remained silent, focusing as the changes within him took shape. His eyes snapped open, the light in them sharp and intense.

Ding… You have successfully leveled up to Spirit Core Realm!

Anos felt the difference deep inside—a sharp, distinct shift that signaled his true advancement. The gap between realms was massive, and this new power flooded through him, expanding his strength far beyond his previous limits. It was no wonder fighting across realms was so challenging.

Mia's voice broke the silence, her eyes wide with admiration. "Wow! Anos, you really made it to the Spirit Core Realm!"