Chapter 12: Kalysta's Curse – The Succubus Who Refuses to Love
Volume 2: The Origin Lustcore – Harem of the End
Arc 2: Lust vs Love Trials Begins
> [Status: Nyxira Recruited – Layer Two Cleared]
[Next Gate: Trial of Desire's Lie]
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1. The Forgotten Pleasure Temple
When the next Lustcore gate opened, we were pulled into a surreal garden of floating pavilions, pink fog, and rivers of honey-wine.
The sky shimmered with starlight that pulsed in time with our heartbeats.
A throne of velvet tongues rose in the distance.
And upon it lounged the most dangerous woman I'd ever seen.
Kalysta.
Queen of Succubi.
A creature of every perfect sin.
Her golden eyes blinked slowly, amused.
"You brought the whole zoo," she purred, licking her lips. "Even Nyxira. Brave."
Lilix raised her dagger. "She eats men for sport."
"Correction," Kalysta said. "I devour liars of love. Kairo is... different. For now."
System Ping:
> [New Trial: The Heartless Desire] [Objective: Survive Kalysta's court without falling in love with her.]
Rhyssara: "...We're all doomed."
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2. Feast of the Lustless Queen
Kalysta didn't seduce in the obvious way.
She wasn't all cleavage and winks. No.
She seduced with truth.
Her palace was full of lovers she never loved—men and women who'd given everything for a chance to make her smile.
She never once smiled for them.
"It's a curse," she said. "I cannot love. I can only inspire obsession."
We dined on food that tasted like memory:
A lemon tart that reminded Seraphina of her first kiss.
A wine that turned to Lilix's mother's lullaby.
A meat skewer that tasted like Rhyssara's lost home.
And mine?
A chocolate that melted into Kalysta's voice whispering, "You could love me forever. And I would forget you tomorrow."
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3. Desire Labyrinth
The true trial began after dinner.
We were pulled into a dream-maze, each facing Kalysta's illusions:
Elyria walked a cathedral of lovers—each one a version of Kairo begging her to choose them over her goddesshood.
Lilix chased her own shadow, which seduced and mocked her.
Rhyssara faced a realm where Kairo had chosen Kalysta and never looked back.
And me?
I faced Kalysta herself.
Not as a queen.
But as a girl.
Alone. Terrified. Crying.
She reached for me. "Help me. Teach me to feel again."
System Alert:
> [Warning: Illusion Intensity at 89%]
But I'd learned by now:
She wasn't the one in pain.
I was.
Because I wanted to save her.
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4. The One She Can't Touch
I rejected the illusion.
Kalysta screamed. The realm cracked.
Suddenly, I was back at her throne.
The girls had broken through too, each panting, some crying, all scarred but standing.
Kalysta rose, genuinely stunned.
"No one's ever resisted this far."
She walked to me. "You should be mine."
"I'm not a prize," I said. "And you're not a curse. You're afraid."
She slapped me.
Then kissed me.
And sobbed into my chest.
"I... want to feel love. But I can't."
Seraphina walked over. "Then stay with us. Until you can."
Kalysta looked up. "All of you are insane."
"Welcome to the harem," Lilix said, handing her a cup of regret wine.
System Update:
> [Kalysta has joined your Harem] [Title Gained: Lover of the Cursed]
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5. The Pillow Talk Pact
That night, we didn't fight. We talked.
Kalysta curled in a circle of arms, surrounded by people who didn't want her body.
They wanted her heart.
She confessed she remembered every lover.
Just not their feelings.
Rhyssara braided her hair.
Nyxira sat silently by her.
Kalysta whispered to me, "If I ever hurt you, kill me."
I said, "If you ever run, I'll find you."
We didn't kiss.
Not that night.
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6. The Gate to the Third Lustcore Layer
At dawn, the next Lustcore Gate formed.
It was shaped like an hourglass bleeding stardust.
Kalysta looked at it, then at me.
"I'll walk with you," she said. "But don't make me love you."
"You don't have to," I said. "We'll do it together."
As the gate opened, Valtheria's voice returned.
"Another piece reclaimed. But remember, Kairo...
Not every broken thing wants to be whole."
We stepped through.
Together.
> [End of Chapter 12]
[Next: Chapter 13 – Trial of the Devourer: When Lust Consumes All]