Hello, dear reader, how have you been since we last met? As in our previous meetings, I'm doing quite well and feeling motivated. Now that we've settled the greetings, let's move on to the details of the story below.
This story continues from the point where Robert is lying naked and finds himself in a kind of test somewhere between a simulation and reality. To be honest, it's a fast-paced kind of story, but before you quickly scroll down the screen and skip past this point, there are a few things I'd like to warn you about.
Dear listener, you be patient as well; we're almost at the point where we dive into the story. First, the warnings, my friends.
First of all, this story contains an excessive amount of sexual description. I'd like to inform you that it is a full-on fantasy story in which elements of erotica intertwine at almost every junction, in almost every line. Readers who have moral concerns or similar sensitivities may choose to stop reading from this point on. And for my friends who decide to continue, my advice is this: please take care of your equipment. I would like to thank everyone who reads and listens in advance.
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Robert's consciousness emerged from the chaos engulfed in blood-red light, drifting into the embrace of a strange, artificial softness. His eyelids felt as heavy as lead, his eyelashes sealed shut with a sweet, sticky syrup. When he tried to take a deep breath, the air filling his lungs was foreign; it held neither the sterile ozone of the Academy nor Amara's wild, musky perfume... A synthetic strawberry aroma, overpowering and almost intoxicating, dominated the air.
The surface beneath him possessed an uncanny comfort. There was no hard floor or the familiar texture of his bed; it was as if he were floating on a giant, compressed cloud of pink cotton candy. Every curve of his body was flawlessly supported by the strange, flexible surface underneath.
Blinking his eyes open, the view that met him was a shocking, surreal tableau that held no logical connection to his last memory—that blurred recollection where bodies entwined, and passion and betrayal reigned supreme.
He was in a closed room. Yet, this space resembled nowhere he had ever known. The walls, the floor, and even the ceiling he couldn't see but sensed were there, were all covered in a vibrant, eye-catching bubblegum pink. There were no corners; the walls merged with the floor and ceiling in flawless, fluid curves, transforming the space into an infinite, organic capsule—a giant womb. The light source was ambiguous; the pink material itself seemed to emit a soothing, yet artificial glow that didn't strain the eyes.
He pushed himself up slowly from where he lay. His muscles ached, but it felt more like a reflection of spiritual exhaustion on his body rather than physical fatigue. He realized he was naked. The wounds from that wild night, the bruises, the lipstick stains... All were erased. His skin was smooth, clean, and slightly damp.
As he stood up, he noticed the floor yielding slightly under his weight, swallowing the sound of his footsteps. It was impossible to estimate the size of the room; the curved, monochromatic walls distorted depth perception, creating an illusion of infinity. He looked around. On the walls, there were three vertical, rectangular doors—seamlessly integrated, frameless, smooth, and matte black. They bore no markings or handles. They were dark, unknown islands in the middle of a pink sea.
And in the exact center of the room, a motionless figure stood with its back turned to him.
It was a woman. She had a medium height and a thin, almost fragile build. She wore a short, sleeveless, bright sky-blue silky dress that exhibited every curve of her body. The hem ended just above her hips in an almost indecent shortness, generously displaying her shapely, smooth legs. But what truly drew attention was her hair. Falling to the middle of her waist, vibrant, wavy, red hair looked as if it had been poured from liquid fire... The bright color created such a sharp contrast with the room's calm, artificial pinkness that it pulled his gaze like a magnet.
Robert hesitated for a moment. Who was this? A new game by the Council? Or a part of Lyra's insidious plan? The woman didn't move. She just stood there; appearing as if she had been there before him and would wait there forever in absolute stillness.
Just then, a semi-transparent, bright blue rectangular notification panel sprang to life in Robert's field of vision, as if suddenly appearing in thin air. The panel hung suspended, following him wherever he looked as if fixed to his pupils. Information flowed across it in futuristic block letters:
[PALACE OF PLEASURE]
Player Level: 0 / 100 XP
Acquaintances: 0
Relationship Status: Single
Equipment: None
Outfit: Standard (Hidden)
Robert paused at the phrase "Standard (Hidden)." At that moment, he realized he wasn't actually naked. He was wearing a light, flexible, seamless, matte grey bodysuit that fit his body like a second skin. He didn't know when he had put it on, how he had put it on, or where it had come from. It felt like a natural extension of his flesh; it neither warmed him nor cooled him, it was simply there.
While he was trying to make sense of this strange, game-like interface, a soft, melodic, synthetic voice with a pleasant, slightly metallic timbre echoed through the room. It was as clear as if it were speaking directly inside his brain.
"Training Directive Initiated."
With this announcement, the red-haired woman in the center turned toward Robert with a slow, fluid motion.
Her face was breathtaking. But what he saw wasn't Amara's predatory beauty or Sinf's ethereal elegance. This was a flawless, symmetrical, almost mathematical beauty. Porcelain-smooth skin, large and vivid "forget-me-not" blue eyes, a small upturned nose, and full, strawberry-red lips... She resembled a character designed by the most talented artists, a perfectly crafted android replica, rather than a human. Yet, instead of a mechanical emptiness, there was a warm, inviting, almost affectionate glint in her eyes. She smiled. The smile was both a perfectly rehearsed professional gesture and irresistibly seductive.
She approached him slowly, with graceful steps as if gliding over the pink floor. Every step was silent, only the silky fabric of her dress rustling softly. When she stopped right in front of him, only a single step of distance remained between them. The sweet, synthetic strawberry scent was now more intense.
"Welcome to the Palace of Pleasure," she said. Her voice was much warmer and more human than the synthetic announcement voice from a moment ago. It was silky but controlled; every word spilled from her lips with perfect diction. "I am your assistant guide. I have been assigned to explain the initial stages and what you can do here."
Robert was still in shock. His brain was struggling to fit what was happening into a logical framework. "Where is this place?" he asked, his voice coming out hoarser than he expected. "What Palace? My teammates... Where are they?"
The woman smiled in an understanding, almost maternal manner. "There is no need to worry. Everything is fine. This is a safe training and simulation area designed specifically for your personal development and the discovery of your potential. Your teammates are safe, but you do not have direct access to them at this moment. I am Assistant Berilda." She placed her hand elegantly over her heart. "Now, I will show you how to use the system, how to activate features, and what you can do in this new environment."
As Berilda spoke, the blue interface before Robert's eyes changed. A more detailed main menu appeared, with small, stylized icons next to each option:
[QUESTS (Locked)]
[FRIENDS (Empty)]
[EQUIPMENT (Empty)]
[PROFILE (Robert - Level 0)]
[SETTINGS]
"Firstly," Berilda said, her voice resembling a patient teacher, "you must choose how you wish to control this interface. Whether directly with your mental commands—which is the most intuitive and fast method—or..." She raised her right hand and pointed to a slight bulge on the left hip of Robert's grey bodysuit. "...you can provide touch control via the Zel device in your pocket."
Robert involuntarily moved his hand to the spot she indicated. And there, he found a smooth, cool, slightly curved device that fit perfectly in his palm, something he had never felt before. He pulled it out. It was a midnight blue color, with rounded edges and no physical buttons. The moment Robert looked at the device, the surface came alive, and the exact interface before his eyes appeared as a bright touchscreen.
"You can change this preference at any time from the Settings menu," Berilda said. "Use whichever feels more natural."
With astonishment, Robert first navigated the menus by touching the smooth screen of the Zel device. The response was instantaneous and fluid. Then he closed his eyes and thought about entering the "Profile" menu. The interface in his field of vision changed simultaneously with his thought. It was a faster, more natural sensation than even the Twist Machine's Fuj interface. He entered Settings and made the control mode permanently "Mental." The screen of the Zel device went dark. However, the interface on his retinas was still there, awaiting orders.
"A flawless choice," Berilda said, nodding approvingly. "Mental control will help you unleash your potential faster. Now, your most fundamental goal here is..." Her eyes met Robert's directly. In those "forget-me-not" blue depths, there was now a more distinct, playful, almost provocative glint. "...to interact with the female entities you encounter and become friends with them."
"Make friends?" Robert's voice was harder, more skeptical this time. "Who brought me here? Tell me! The Council? Lyra? Or is this another one of her insidious games?"
Berilda continued, brushing off Robert's angry questions skillfully like foam on a river. "In the process ahead, you will need to form teams, fight in different 'Zones,' level up, participate in Arena battles, and even aim for the goal of reaching the summit of the Tower, known as the 'Struggle for Existence.' However, for now, in this Starter Room, you have only one goal: To bring the relationship level between you and your assigned female entity to the required point within the time given to you."
She took another step closer. The synthetic strawberry scent had now become dizzying. "For example... You can start by meeting me. Consider this your first quest."
Robert thought about resisting for a moment. Shouting, attacking the doors... But his instincts screamed it was useless. The pink room was a prison. And the way out, apparently, was to play this artificial, red-haired woman's game. He took a deep breath and slumped his shoulders. "Alright," he said with a weary acceptance. "I'm Robert. Apparently, the new guest of the... palace."
Berilda's smile widened with an air of victory. "Pleased to meet you, Guest Robert. And I am Assistant Berilda. Your specially assigned guide to the Palace of Pleasure."
DING!
A soft, satisfying chime was heard, and a notification appeared on the interface in front of Robert:
[+50 Player XP Gained! (Level 0: 50/100)]
[Relationship Level with Berilda Increased: 1 / 10]
[New Actions Unlocked: Deep Chat, Proximity]
"A beautiful start," Berilda said, looking genuinely pleased. "Now, let's get to know each other a little better using the 'Deep Chat' action. Tell me about yourself. What was your life like before the pink room? What excites you?"
Robert began to tell his story, albeit reluctantly, filtering it more carefully. He spoke of Oakhaven, his family, his passion for science; but he didn't say a single word about the Academy, Dream Bending, or the Red Friends. Berilda listened with rapt attention, occasionally asking surprisingly insightful questions. She spoke of herself too; how much she enjoyed being part of the palace and helping newcomers discover their "potential"... Their conversation flowed strangely naturally, more like a chat between two old friends than a dialogue between an AI and a human. After a few minutes, just as Robert was getting lost in the conversation...
DING!
[+100 Player XP Gained! (Level 0: 150/100 -> Level 1: 50/200)]
[Relationship Level with Berilda Increased: 2 / 10]
[New Actions Unlocked: Holding Hands, Touch (Shoulder/Arm), Gift Options]
"You're doing great, Robert!" Berilda said cheerfully. "Your Player Level has already risen to 1! Now, shall we move on to... a bit more physical interaction? Let's try the 'Holding Hands' action." She extended her hand gently, palm facing up. That smooth, flawless hand hung in the air like an invitation.
Robert extended his hand hesitantly and touched the smooth, artificial yet equally warm skin. At the moment of contact, a slight tingling sensation spread up his arm.
"Now," Berilda said, pointing to the interface with her other hand. "Enter the 'Friends' section in the menu. You will see me in your list now. Select my profile. There, you will see that a small heart icon has appeared next to the 'Add Friend' icon. That indicates our relationship level. Now, select the 'Add Friend' option."
Robert gave the commands with his mind. The interface changed obediently. Berilda's profile picture and basic information appeared on the screen.
"Now take out the Zel device again and hold the back of it towards me. This will confirm our bond of friendship."
Robert took the device out of his pocket and pointed it at Berilda. The screen of the device instantly came to life, and Berilda's profile picture settled into the top left corner of the screen as a permanent 'friend' icon.
"Very good," Berilda said, her voice filled with satisfaction. "We are now officially friends! This will provide you with some advantages. Now, enter the 'Send Gift' option. In your starting inventory, you will see a 'Crystal Flower' gifted by the system. Gift that to me. It will strengthen our relationship further."
The moment Robert selected the bright, blue flower icon from the menu, his palm began to tingle violently as if thousands of tiny needles were passing through it.
"Do not worry," Berilda said, smiling. "It is a normal occurrence. The system is converting a virtual object into physical reality. You can let go of the device if you wish; you can guide the flower with your mind as well."
Robert quickly dropped the device from his hand. The device remained suspended in the air. And in Robert's hand, which had been empty just a moment ago, now stood an elegant, real, tangible flower made of crystal, refracting light in thousands of different colors.
"Incredible," Robert whispered. This technology was not just a visual illusion. It was matter creation.
He extended the flower to Berilda. As Berilda took the flower, her fingers touched Robert's gently, lingering deliberately a little longer. Her "forget-me-not" blue eyes for a fleeting moment.
DING!
[+200 Player XP Gained! (Level 1: 250/200 -> Level 1: 50/300)]
[Relationship Level with Berilda Increased: 3 / 10]
[New Actions Unlocked: Touching Hair and Face, Giving Money (Locked), Invite to Room (Locked)]
"Don't worry about the 'Give Money' and 'Invite to Room' options for now," Berilda said, gently pinning the crystal flower to the collar of her blue dress. "These will become active later, when your own Room and 'Credit' system are unlocked. But now... We can touch each other's hair and face. A necessary step for building trust and intimacy. Come," she said, taking another step closer and tilting her face slightly towards Robert. "Caress my face and touch my hair. Don't worry, I won't leave it unreciprocated."
Although uncomfortable with this artificial intimacy, Robert had to continue the game. He raised his hand and touched Berilda's porcelain-smooth cheek. The skin temperature was normal, but the texture was of supernatural flawlessness. He ran his fingers through the waves of that fire-red, silky hair. The texture of the hair felt real, yet every single strand was perfect, as if designed individually.
Berilda raised her hand simultaneously; her fingers first grazed over Robert's stubble, then ruffled his hair. Robert saw that her contact, simultaneous with his own touch, created small but continuous experience point increases (+1 XP, +1 XP, +2 XP...) on the interface. As the duration of the touch extended, the amount of points flowing like a waterfall increased as well. This was a mechanical, gamified intimacy.
"The maximum relationship level is 10," Berilda explained, continuing to caress his face. "Each level unlocks not only new actions but also new information, secrets, and special quests regarding that entity. Over time, more... daring activities become possible."
Amidst this mechanical progression, Robert couldn't help but ask the question accumulating inside him again. "Is this... Real? I mean, you, the room, your touch... Everything? Is it a simulation?"
"I am absolutely real, Robert," Berilda said, looking into his eyes with a mesmerizing depth. "Real enough for you to touch and feel."
"No, that's not what I meant," Robert said, desperation in his voice. "What am I inside of? Where is this place? Who brought me here and why?"
The warm, inviting smile on Berilda's face faded for a split second, a millisecond. The human glint in her eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating void. Then, just as quickly, the smile returned. "This is a tower, Robert. And where you are is the Starter Room. Here," she said, pointing to the three dark doors in the room, "you enter through one, and your personal journey begins."
"Journey? What journey?"
"The journey of discovering your own potential," Berilda said, her voice regaining that artificial cheerfulness. "But do not forget," she added, her tone turning serious. "Every female entity is different. The easy communication you established with me does not mean you will establish it with others. Each one has things they like and dislike, their traumas, their stories, and their secrets. Every level will unlock different option locks and different challenges for every entity. Ascending may not always be as easy and... enjoyable as it is with me."
"But why? Why only females? Is this some sort of... harem simulation?"
Berilda's eyes dipped into that momentary void again. "I am not authorized to explain this." Then, she shared the spine-chilling statistic as if stating the weather forecast. "However... You are the 540th male to come here."
Robert's blood ran cold. The number rang in his mind like an alarm bell. "Five hundred and forty... What does that mean? I asked before!"
"It means," Berilda said, a cold reality now unconcealed in her voice, "in its time, this tower has seen many more. It tested... all of them. And all of them... failed. The tower swallowed them all."
"What happened to them?" Robert asked, unable to hide the fear in his voice.
"They died."
The single, clear word stabbed into the pink walls of the room like an icicle. "They died? What do you mean? Wasn't this a game?"
"If you fail to accomplish the quests in time," Berilda said, her voice now like that of a ruthless judge, "or if later, you decide to use the power you gain in this tower for your own selfish pleasures, your own perverted fantasies, outside the purpose of the 'Struggle for Existence'... that is what will happen to you. The system does not forgive failure or betrayal."
Robert swallowed. The situation was much more serious than he thought. This was different from the Council's ruthless but at least understandable rules. This was an arbitrary, sadistic game. "So... Basic needs? What will I eat, what will I drink? Where will I stay? Will I sleep?"
"When you leave here and step into the first 'Zone', your first quest will start automatically," Berilda said, returning to assistant guide mode. "That quest will provide basic survival supplies—water, nutrient tablets—to your inventory. And it will give you the basic 'Construction Modules' and 'Credits' necessary for you to set up your first 'Room' of your own."
"'Set up'? Will I build my own room?"
"You can adjust everything from your Zel device or mental interface. From the wall color of the room to furniture, security systems to entertainment units... This will be your sanctuary. However, my advice is to switch the control back to 'Mental' from Settings and use the interface in front of your eyes. It is much faster and more intuitive. Especially under stress, you wouldn't want to search for a device in your pocket."
Robert thought about the crystal flower experience from a moment ago and the tingling in his hand. Materialization ability wasn't just for gifts, apparently. She was right. He entered Settings mentally and changed the control back to 'Mental'. "So will this interface be in front of my eyes constantly? It's distracting."
"No," said Berilda. "To close it, focus with your eyes on the small, semi-transparent 'X' mark in the top right corner of the interface and mentally 'push' it forward. To open it, just raise your hand and snap your fingers." Robert tried it. The interface vanished. Before his eyes was only pink emptiness. He snapped his fingers, the interface came back instantly. "Basic notifications and voiceovers other than that will be announced directly to your mind, like a whisper amidst your thoughts, not in your ears."
"What kind of technology is this?" Robert asked, a mix of admiration and fear. It was beyond everything he knew.
"I am not authorized to explain this," Berilda said with the same mechanical yet precise expression. Then, she returned to that warm, friendly guide mode. "Now, let's earn some more experience points, shall we? Reaching Level 6 might provide us with some advantages before passing through the first door. Continue caressing my face and hair."
Forced to adapt to the rules of this pink hell, Robert approached Berilda again. This time, not just as a mechanical task, he tried to consciously focus on the details, on possible clues behind her artificiality. He looked at the nakedness of Berilda's shoulders, the elegant curve of her neck, the delicate protrusion of her collarbone. He cupped her face slowly, wandered his fingers over that flawless skin, tried to see the faint veins under her eyes. Then he dove back into that fire-red, silky hair. Points continued to flow on the interface. As his touches prolonged, the flow of points accelerated. Level 4... Level 5...
DING!
[+500 Player XP Gained! (Level 1: 550/300 -> Level 2: 250/400)]
[Relationship Level with Berilda Increased: 6 / 10]
[New Actions Unlocked: Dancing, Hugging, Establishing Inner Bond (Locked), Trust Point (Created)]
"Great!" Berilda said, her voice filled with genuine satisfaction. "Level 6! And we created the first 'Trust Point'! This shows the bond between us isn't just superficial. Now... we can dance. It is an action that is both fun and earns experience points very quickly."
Robert couldn't help but ask again. He was looking for a crumb of reality within this artificiality. "Berilda... are you real? I mean, do you have a soul? Do you feel?"
Berilda smiled. This time her smile was a bit more sorrowful. "Real enough for you to touch, Robert." But she knew that wasn't what Robert meant. "But no. I do not have a real soul... like you. I am... a part of this Tower. An echo."
"But... you are so realistic," Robert said. Her touch, her smile, those human reactions she gave to questions...
For a moment, an inexplicable sorrow appeared in Berilda's eyes. "Perhaps... perhaps 'reality' is not as clear-cut a line as you think, Robert. Perhaps we are all echoes on different levels." Then, she quickly shook off this philosophical depth. "But now is not the time for philosophy! It's dance time! Come on, dance with me."
"But I... I don't know how to dance," Robert said, still under the influence of that last sentence.
Berilda giggled, her artificial cheerfulness returned. "No problem! The system will help you. Enter 'Friends' from the menu, select me. You will see the 'Dance' option. Click it and select a dance type you want from there. Leave the rest to me."
Robert entered the menu. He was faced with a dance list longer and more varied than he had ever seen before. Tango, cha-cha, waltz, salsa, swing; even exotic, extraterrestrial dance names like "Xylosian Shadow Dance", "Freljord Ice Waltz" were there. He chose one he knew from Earth, evoking passion and close contact. "Tango."
The moment he made the choice, the room's atmosphere changed. The pink lights dimmed slightly, leaving their place to warmer, dimmer, blood-red and golden yellow tones. And a classic tango music dominated by passionate, rhythmic accordion and violin sounds began to play in the air.
Berilda took a step back, her stance changed instantly. She was no longer the cheerful assistant guide; she was a professional, confident, seductive tango dancer. She tilted her head slightly to the side, extended one hand to Robert, and pretended to place the other on his waist. "Leave the control to me," she whispered, her voice husky and inviting.
The moment Robert held her hand, his body went out of his own control again. His legs, arms, torso began to move as if he had been doing this dance for years, as if managed by invisible strings. In perfect harmony with Berilda, he began to take the sharp turns, sudden stops, and passionate steps of the tango. Berilda's body was glued to his; the thin, silky fabric of that bright blue dress rubbed against Robert's grey bodysuit, creating a palpable static electricity between them. Their bodies entwined, legs interlocked, in the turns Berilda's fire-red hair licked Robert's face like a whip, the synthetic yet dizzying strawberry scent filled all his senses. This was not a dance, it was a vertical act of lovemaking. A hypnosis. While Robert lost himself to the passionate rhythm of this pink trap under the music and Berilda's flawless guidance, experience points continued to flow like a waterfall on the interface. Right turns, left turns, sudden lifts, glides close to the floor, their bodies colliding again and again... Every single movement increased the points exponentially.
DING!
[+800 Player XP Gained! (Level 2: 1050/400 -> Level 3: 650/500 -> Level 4: 150/600)]
[Relationship Level with Berilda Increased: 7 / 10]
[New Actions Unlocked: Kissing]
The music stopped suddenly. Both remained in the final position, breathless, tightly hugging each other. Berilda's chest was pressed against Robert's, rising and falling rapidly.
"It was perfect!" Berilda said, her voice both tired and excited. "As you see, Robert, every kind of intimate interaction you have with the opposite sex increases relationship experience points rapidly. However, do not forget, your main player experience points increase slower. The real way to increase that is to complete quests."
She pulled back, yet her hands remained on Robert's shoulders. Her eyes were brighter than ever, more... alive. "Now," she said, a new, deeper tone in her voice. "With the new level, the 'Kissing' lock has been opened. It is practically the most effective method for gaining instant relationship experience. Go to the 'Friends' menu again, select me, and enter the 'Kissing' section. From there... Choose a type of kiss."
Despite the absurdity of this mechanical progression, Robert couldn't stop himself from getting caught up in the game. He didn't know if the thing before him was a machine, a soul, or an echo. But it felt real. He entered the menu. Under the "Kissing" option, dozens of sub-headings appeared: Innocent Kiss, Passionate Kiss, French Kiss, Vampire Kiss, Butterfly Kiss... The list went on. His eye caught the most well-known, the most cliché one. "French Kiss."
The moment he made the selection, Berilda's stance changed again. More inviting, more... ready. As Robert approached, the woman tilted her head slightly to the side and closed her eyes. "Don't forget," she whispered, her lips slightly parted. "The longer... The more experience points."
And their lips met.
This wasn't a dance; it was a more intimate, deeper exploration. Robert pulled Berilda close, grasping her waist with one hand and diving into the fire-red hair at the nape of her neck with the other. The woman's lips were soft and full; her taste was sweet, like that synthetic strawberry scent. Their tongues touched, explored, first hesitantly, then more boldly. Robert tried to surrender himself to the sensation with his eyes closed. He pressed his body firmly against hers, wanting no space to remain between them. Experience points were flowing on the interface at the highest speed yet (+5 XP, +7 XP, +10 XP...).
At that moment, a curiosity awoke in a corner of his mind. An impulse. He slid his hand down from Berilda's waist toward the hem of that short, blue skirt. Just as his fingertips were about to touch the smooth, warm skin under the skirt, at the point where her inner thigh began...
ZZZT!
His hand was repelled violently as if it had hit an invisible, electric wall. In that area, a magical shield made of blue, hexagonal patterns appeared momentarily in the air and vanished. A red, flashing warning flashed on the interface:
[SYSTEM ERROR! YOU DO NOT POSSESS THE REQUIRED RELATIONSHIP LEVEL (Level 9 Required)!]
Robert pulled back in shock. He broke the kiss. "What was that?"
Berilda's eyes opened. There was a momentary surprise on her face, and then... disappointment. "I'm sorry," she said. "The system... only allows certain interactions at specific trust levels. We aren't... that close yet."
Facing this artificial barrier, a strange ambition awoke within him. He would reach that level. He moved his hand back to Berilda's waist, but this time he grasped it tighter, more possessively, and pressed the woman against himself. "Then let's continue," he said and fastened his lips to hers again.
This time the kiss was more ambitious, more demanding. Berilda responded to Robert's sudden, strong move with a force unexpected from her body. She leaned her body against him, her nails digging slightly into Robert's back. Points began to flow even faster.
DING!
[+1200 Player XP Gained! (Level 4: 1350/600 -> Level 5: 750/700 -> Level 6: 50/800)]
[Relationship Level with Berilda Increased: 8 / 10]
[New Actions Unlocked: Advanced Sexual Interaction (Level 1: Chest and Back Nudity - Touching/Kissing/Licking Allowed)]
The warning on the interface stopped Robert. He pulled back, gasping for breath. He looked at the newly unlocked actions. Chest and Back Nudity... The game was becoming increasingly daring. He looked at Berilda. On her flawless face, a more distinct desire, an expectation was now readable.
"Are you..." Robert said, his voice still hoarse. "Are you a real soul? Or just... A very advanced system?"
The vivid glint in Berilda's eyes returned to that momentary void again. "I am not... A real soul like you, Robert."
"But how can you be so realistic?" he asked. Her kiss, her tongue, her teeth, the fullness of her lips, the warmth of her breath... Everything was extraordinarily real.
A strange, sorrowful smile appeared on Berilda's face. "Perhaps reality is just a copy imitated well enough. Or perhaps... I am a ghost created from the echoes left by the 539 men who came here, from their desires and disappointments." Then she quickly shook off the dark thought. "But don't think about these things now! We are Level 8! Now... We can hug!"
Robert had started to get used to the woman's sudden mood swings. He selected the 'Hugging' action unlocked in previous levels. He took a step toward Berilda and wrapped his arms around her slender body. He buried his face in her neck. The scent of her fire-red hair was that sweet, synthetic strawberry scent again. Berilda wrapped her arms around him too, tightly. The hug felt more intimate, more... real than the kiss. Points continued to flow slowly but steadily.
When they parted, Berilda's eyes were shining. "Did you like it? If you want... We can hug again."
Although Robert saw the mechanical desire to earn points behind this simple offer, he didn't care at that moment. He stated he wanted to again, and they hugged once more. This time longer, tighter.
When they parted, Berilda said the same thing again. "If you want..."
To silence the woman, Robert entered the 'Kissing' menu again. This time he marked the "Flirtatious Kiss" option.
Berilda's stance changed instantly. She took on a playful, elusive demeanor. When Robert approached, she giggled and pulled back. When he tried to catch her, she spun around, her blue skirt flaring up. Then she stopped suddenly, and at a moment Robert didn't expect, she approached, planted a quick, wet kiss on his lips, and ran away again. This was a cat-and-mouse game. When Robert finally cornered her, Berilda showed fake resistance, then completely let herself go. Their kisses were short, interrupted, breathless, yet equally fun. The points increased irregularly but rapidly with every catch and escape.
When it was over, they were both laughing. "If you want... We can do it again," Berilda said, trying to catch her breath.
Just then, a notification appeared on Robert's interface in large, bright letters.
DING! DING! DING!
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU REACHED PLAYER LEVEL 1!]
[QUEST SYSTEM ACTIVATED!]
Berilda's face turned serious. "That's it! You reached Level 1! The 'Quest' tab has been unlocked. Please check your list."
Robert entered the 'Quests' tab mentally. There was a single quest there:
[QUEST 1: FIRST STEPS]
Target: Over 3 Palace of Pleasure Days, reach Relationship Level 7 with at least 5 different female entities.
Reward: +1000 Player XP, Basic Survival Kit, Room Construction Module (Level 1), 500 Credits.
Time: 72 Hours (Started!)
Failure Result: Death.
"Careful, Robert!" Berilda's voice said in an urgent tone. "Your time has started! Now, by choosing one of the three doors in this room, you must pass to the first 'Zone' and start your quest!"
Robert stared at the last word in the quest description, 'Death'. "And what if I don't go? If I stay here with you? If we make our level 10?"
"Then you die when the time is up," Berilda said, no hesitation in her voice. "Your relationship with me is not part of the quest. I am just a guide. A training tool."
Robert looked. At the flawless face, the warm smile... Was it all a lie? "But... I don't want to leave you," he said, his voice surprisingly sincere.
For a moment, a real emotion, perhaps pity, appeared on Berilda's face. "I know. But you have to go. This is your journey."
Robert entered the 'Kissing' menu one last time. This time he selected the "Japanese Style Kiss" option. Its description was "Intense, audible, and possessive."
Berilda understood what he was going to do. She closed her eyes, prepared herself.
Robert walked over and fastened his lips to hers. It was completely different from the others. Wetter, louder; a struggle of tongues and lips. It was a possessive act, where almost audible sucking sounds could be heard. Robert was pressing the woman against himself, grasping her like property.
When the kiss ended, Berilda was breathless. "Now... You must go," she whispered.
But Robert didn't let go. He wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. "Just a little more."
"Robert... You must go."
"Where?" Robert asked innocently.
To break free, Berilda pointed to the doors with her hand. "To one of those doors..."
She couldn't finish her sentence. Robert caught the woman's arm, which she had raised first. Then he bowed his head and began to suck the sensitive, intimate area of her armpit with his tongue, slowly and provocatively. Berilda shivered with shock and pleasure. From there, Robert moved up and fastened his lips again to Berilda's, who was trying to speak.
DING! DING!
[+1500 Player XP Gained! (Level 6: 1550/800 -> Level 7: 750/900)]
[Relationship Level with Berilda Increased: 9 / 10]
[New Actions Unlocked: Sexual Interaction (Level 2: Vagina and Butt Interaction Allowed)]
The notification on the interface stopped Robert. Level 9. And most importantly, the newly unlocked actions... His eyes darkened with desire. He looked at Berilda. On his guide's face, there was no longer just an artificial warmth; there was real, uncontrollable desire.
But at that moment, the unknown danger behind the doors and the threat of death hanging over his head created a cold shower effect. He pulled back.
"I have to go," he said, his voice hoarse.
Berilda nodded with disappointment but understanding. "Good luck, Robert. Remember... Don't die."
Robert looked one last time at the pink room, at the artificial yet dangerously real guide. Then he turned his back and walked toward the left one of the three dark doors at random. The door opened silently at his touch, and he stepped into the unknown darkness behind it. When the door closed behind him, Berilda was left alone in the Starter Room. The expression full of desire on her face was wiped away, replaced by a cold, calculating void. Her eyes shone like Lyra's. The test had truly begun.