The soft rustling of sheets.
Warmth. Pressure.
Vaelion's eyes cracked open, and his first thought was this isn't my bed.
His second thought?
Why am I naked?!
He shot up, blinking wildly.
Right next to him—equally unclothed—lay Caelia.
Her crimson hair was a mess of wild silk against the pillows, her pale skin glowing in the early morning light. She turned to face him, stretching lazily, her curves barely hidden beneath the edge of the blanket.
"Oh, you're awake already?" she purred. "Morning~"
Vaelion yelped and scrambled back.
"C-Caelia?! Why are we—? What happened?!"
Caelia tilted her head, mock innocence in her eyes. "You really don't remember? Tch… after the way you were begging for more, I thought I left a stronger impression."
"B-Begging?! I-I—what did we—?!"
Before she could respond, the door exploded open in a gust of wind and sparkles.
Kurumi, in her black-and-red divine gothic attire, leaned against the doorframe, sipping tea like this was a casual morning chat.
"Well well… seems our dear Vaelion's finally a man."
"K-Kurumi—how long have you been standing there?!"
"Long enough to hear moans echoing through the upper tower," she said with a smirk. "Congratulations. Caelia dominated you."
Caelia gave a smug little nod. "Glad someone appreciates my effort."
Vaelion covered his face with his hands. "I… I don't even remember…"
Kurumi grinned. "You were unconscious from Gift-burn before it started. She took care of everything. Willingly, I might add."
"This can't get worse…"
As if fate wanted to prove him wrong—
A violent boom rocked the building.
The balcony shattered inward as a glowing figure descended in a blaze of holy light—one of Heaven's Elite Soldiers, clad in radiant silver armor.
Kurumi narrowed her eyes. "Well, that ruined the afterglow."
Vaelion leapt to his feet, grabbing his gear and strapping on his daggers — Verdict and Sin — in one smooth motion. His upper body still bare, muscles tense, but his eyes sharpened.
"Azurelion—talk to me."
The spirit responded immediately, voice deep and calm in Vaelion's mind.
"I'm shifting forms. Prepare for Lion Mode. Speed stable. Power and defense rising exponentially."
The heaven soldier raised a divine lance, preparing to strike while Vaelion was still mid-channel.
"Too slow," Vaelion whispered.
A sudden pulse erupted from his feet—Voidstep—and he vanished from sight.
The soldier's lance struck air.
Azurelion's golden essence erupted behind the boy—transformed into the Lion.
"Lion's Roar!"
With one clean movement, Vaelion dashed in, crossing his daggers in a radiant X and slashing upward with a feral roar. The sheer force cracked the enemy's armor.
The soldier spun, attempting to retaliate—
—but Vaelion saw it.
Echo Mind. One second ahead… dodge—now.
He bent backward, letting the lance skim over him, and twisted with a spinning kick to the soldier's head. Verdict flashed, embedding in the shoulder joint.
The soldier staggered. Too slow.
"Final Judgment—Sin Arc!"
With a roar, he drove both daggers into the ground, sending up a pulse of divine energy that engulfed the enemy in white-hot light.
A second later, silence.
The heaven soldier lay unconscious, armor melted and scorched.
---
Later That Day — Royal Chamber
Vaelion knelt before the throne, eyes lowered, body still sore.
His mother, the Queen of Elaria, looked down at him with one hand raised dramatically.
"You did what?!"
"I-It wasn't planned!" Vaelion stammered. "I woke up and—"
"You lost your virginity and didn't even write me a letter beforehand?" she gasped, holding her fan to her chest. "Unbelievable."
Vaelion groaned. "You're being ridiculous."
"To whom, at least?"
Caelia entered, unbothered as always, and stood beside him with graceful confidence.
"It was me."
The Queen blinked.
Then smiled.
"Of course it was. You do have the aura of a conqueror."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"And how old are you again, Vaelion?" the Queen asked.
"…Nineteen."
She clapped her hands together.
"What an achievement! Making divine women fall for you at this rate, we'll need a separate castle just for your wives."
Caelia chuckled. "I'm proud to be the first."
"First?" the Queen arched a brow. "You planning to make this a trend?"
Vaelion held up his hands. "I'm not doing anything! They just—fall for me!"
"And get in your bed."
"Not helping, Mother."
That Night — Vaelion's Estate
The house was… tense.
Lunaria, Mai, Kurumi, Caelia. All sitting in the living room, each one eyeing the other.
The silence was broken by Lunaria.
"So. Who gets to sleep beside him tonight?"
"It should be me," Caelia said, brushing her hair back. "I'm carrying his divine essence."
Mai folded her arms. "Logically, it's unfair to grant repeat turns without rotation."
Kurumi tilted her head with a sly grin.
"Let's vote."
"No." Lunaria stood. "Let's duel."
"Ladies, I can still hear you," Vaelion called from the hallway.
"We know," they all said in unison.
That night, the name Vaelion trended across six spiritual dimensions—because sleeping near him turned into an all-out magical pillow war.