Chapter 31: Trial of Pleasure & Pain

The floating petal-elevator carried us higher into the Lust Temple, the velvet air thick with tension—and anticipation.

As the platform touched down, the next floor revealed itself in all its twisted glory.

It was a massive open arena split into two zones: one drenched in shimmering gold light and silk drapes, the other dark and pulsing with red runes etched into obsidian stone. Pleasure and pain, side by side. Each path glowed with pulsing sigils. Each radiated its own kind of threat.

[Dungeon Announcement – Trial of Pleasure & Pain Begins]

Choose a Path:

▷ Zone of Pleasure – Buffs and Rewards, but increased vulnerability to mental attacks.

▷ Zone of Pain – Reduced pleasure-based effects, but damage is shared and amplified.

"Split party challenge," Aria muttered, frowning. "We're being forced into opposing extremes."

"Looks like the temple's trying to see if we can still work as a unit when half of us are getting pampered and the other half is being slapped," Iris said with a smirk.

"You said that way too happily," Raven deadpanned.

I studied the team. "Alright. Let's pair up and split. Pleasure team: Iris, Lira, and Aria. Pain team: Raven, Mei, and me."

"Wait, you're going into Pain with Mei?" Iris arched a brow. "You sure about that?"

Mei just silently stepped closer and wrapped her arms around mine like I was her emotional seatbelt.

"I'm sure."

Zone of Pain

The moment we crossed the threshold, the air changed.

Hot. Heavy. Electric.

The obsidian floor cracked underfoot. Chains floated from the walls, glowing red. A moan echoed through the air—not of pleasure, but the sharp gasp that comes right before a whip hits skin.

[Shared Damage Activated – All pain felt is magnified but distributed among party members]

The first enemy appeared.

A female warrior with blades for arms and no eyes—only a blindfold soaked in blood. Her body shimmered like living steel, curves exaggerated, movements too fluid.

[Enemy – Pain Maiden Lv. 25]

"She's fast," Raven said.

"She's mine," Mei growled, her mutation glow pulsing faintly.

She activated Heatstep Rush, her body flickering like fire across the stones. The Pain Maiden lashed out with a spinning blade.

I threw myself into the fray to deflect it, and the impact made my entire nervous system scream.

[Shared Damage: 47 HP lost – Distributed]

We felt it. All of us.

Even Raven grunted, sweat beading on her brow.

But then something triggered.

[Skill Activated – Harem Synchrony]

[Shared Pain reduces cooldowns of all bonded allies by 1 turn]

"Oh hell yeah," I grinned.

Mei struck, her flame-enhanced palm smashing into the Pain Maiden's gut. Raven followed with a hail of gunfire, bullets laced with Marked for Death.

The monster shrieked and dissolved into glowing chains.

[Enemy Defeated – Loot Acquired: Red Sigil Fragment x1]

[EXP Gained: 540]

[Level Up! Hiro – Level 18 → 19]

+3 Stat Points | +1 Skill Point

[Level Up! Mei – Level 21 → 22]

We panted hard, sweat and blood mixing.

I opened my status quickly.

[Hiro – Stat Points Available: 3 | Skill Points: 2]

Allocated: +2 VIT, +1 CHA

New Stats – VIT: 32 | CHA: 39

[New Skill Available – Domination Pulse (Requires 2 Points)]

Oh yeah.

That one was going in next.

Zone of Pleasure – Orgasmic Buffs

Meanwhile, in the Zone of Pleasure, things were… very different.

Iris lounged on a plush pink couch being fed grapes by floating fairy constructs. Lira was surrounded by glowing orbs that massaged her mana channels. Aria was trapped in a hammock of silk while dreamlike hands stroked along her skin, gently teasing her boundaries.

[Buff: Enhanced Mana Recovery + Libido Overcharge Active]

[Debuff: Mental Focus -10% per minute]

"I can't tell if this is heaven or a trap," Lira murmured.

"Both," Aria breathed.

Then enemies appeared.

Ethereal nymphs formed from smoke and perfume. Beautiful. Deadly.

[Enemies – Illusory Sirens x3]

Their attacks weren't physical. They danced, they moaned, they whispered dark promises.

"I think one of them just said she wants to marry me," Iris whispered.

Lira snapped her fingers. Moonlight flared and banished the closest siren.

Aria's trap magic pulsed, forming a binding aura as the second siren was caught.

Iris summoned Spell Roulette.

[Random Effect: Lustshock Wave – Mental Disruption + Orgasm Triggered]

The third siren exploded into giggles and vanished into a puddle of steam.

[Enemies Defeated – Lust Fragment x2 Acquired]

[EXP Gained – Iris, Aria, Lira: +400 Each]

[Iris Leveled Up – Lv. 21 → 22]

[Lira Leveled Up – Lv. 19 → 20]

Reunion

The two groups reconvened in the central room.

Everyone looked… flushed.

"Okay," Iris said, still glowing. "Best. Dungeon. Ever."

"Shut up," Raven groaned, nursing a gun-scorched shoulder.

Mei collapsed into my chest, her fingers slipping under my shirt.

"You leveled up again," she whispered, lips brushing my ear. "Do you feel it? We're getting stronger… closer."

I kissed her.

And I could feel it—her heat, her hunger, her bond. She wasn't just part of the harem.

She was mine.

[Harem Link Progression – Mei: 83%]

[Next Milestone: Unique Passive Bond Skill Unlock]

End of Chapter 31