Recap of Chapter 4:
Losty's journey led him into the Black Veil District, where whispers of the Shadow Duchess filled the air. In the House of Ashes, he faced her in all her mystery—draped in midnight silk, veiled in secrets, ruling the underworld with an iron hand. She dismissed his boldness as cheap and commanded him to prove himself in the Trial of Shadows: a night-long survival test against waves of her assassins. With his dagger ready and his grin sharper than ever, Losty accepted the challenge.
The first assassin struck before the echo of the Duchess's order had faded.
A blade hissed through the candlelight, aimed straight at Losty's throat.
He ducked, twisting low, the edge grazing the collar of his robe. His counter was quick, the dagger flashing upward to catch the assassin's wrist. A grunt, a stumble, and Losty shoved the masked figure back into the circle of shadows.
The crowd of killers circled him silently, waiting.
Losty laughed. "So this is the great test? Send them all at once, Duchess. I don't like waiting."
The system chimed.
[Skill Activated: Wild Bond]
Confidence under pressure boosts charm and focus.
Two more assassins lunged together. Losty rolled, sand grinding beneath his palms as he came up behind one. His dagger kissed the back of their neck—just enough to draw blood, not kill. He shoved them aside with a smirk.
"You'll need sharper toys."
The second came harder, blade whistling. Losty caught it with his dagger, sparks flying as steel clashed. He leaned in close. "Nice try." With a twist, he disarmed the assassin, flipping the blade into his own grip.
The Duchess's laugh was soft, but it echoed through the ruined cathedral.
[Affection +10% | Current: 25%]
Wave after wave followed. Some came with whips, some with twin daggers, some with poison darts. Losty adapted, his Silver Tongue skill twisting into taunts that rattled his opponents, his Kiss of Temptation leaving even hardened killers hesitating under his grin.
By the time the third wave crashed against him, sweat dripped from his brow, but his stance never faltered. His robe was torn, his chest heaving, but he stood tall in the flickering light, weapons dripping with proof of his defiance.
The assassins stepped back, beaten, their masks shattered, their pride broken.
And still, Losty grinned.
The Shadow Duchess rose from her throne at last, her gown brushing against the stone. Her masked gaze never left him as she descended the steps.
"You bleed," she said, fingertip brushing a thin cut across his jaw.
"Barely," Losty replied. "Your little game was fun. What's next?"
Her laughter was silk and venom. "Next… you and I speak as equals."
The system chimed.
[Trial of Shadows Completed]
[Affection +30% | Current: 55%]
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Veil – Temporarily hide your presence in danger or seduction.]
The Duchess leaned close, her lips almost grazing his ear. "Few men survive my shadows. Fewer make me laugh. You've done both. Do not waste this chance, Losty."
He tilted his head, whispering back, "Then don't waste yours."
For the first time, her breath hitched. A crack in the mask.
She turned, hiding it with a smile. "You'll return tomorrow. Alone. Or you'll never return at all."
As Losty left the House of Ashes, the system's panel glowed with triumph.
[Quest Complete: 3/3 Sugar Mommies Acquired]
[Unlocking Sugar Palace…]
The night wind bit at his skin, but the fire inside him burned hotter. Selena, Vivienne, Cassandra, and now the Shadow Duchess—all bound to him in some way, their affections growing, their rivalries brewing.
The Sugar Mommy System purred in his mind:
[New Stage Unlocked: The Sugar Palace – A Realm of Desire, Power, and Rivalry.]
Losty grinned into the darkness.
"The real game begins now.