The knock on the door came while Jade was finishing toweling off after a relaxing bath. It had been another long day of training, and the hot soak had done wonders for her aching muscles. Not wanting to leave whoever it was waiting, Jade opted to throw on a long shirt rather than get fully dressed. She made her way to the door, extending her still-developing senses to examine the visitor's aura. It was the housekeeper, Myra, probably bringing fresh supplies for the week. Jade opened the door with a polite smile, ushering the elven woman into the home.

"Sorry, I was just getting out of the bath." Jade apologized, holding the door open for her.

"Not to worry." Myra said, carrying a bundle to the kitchen. "I hope I didn't interrupt. Are your friends out?"

"Yeah, they left with a team this morning. Making sure the last of the stronghold monsters really are gone. I wanted to go with them, but Serrethis wanted me to take it easy today." Jade frowned. "Apparently, I've been pushing myself too hard."

Her recent experience at the shrine of Elaria had been a poignant reminder of the dangers of ignoring her limits, so Jade had reluctantly agreed to the suggestion. Her stiff, aching muscles were a strong indicator that it had been the right call.

"We can't have that." Myra said, shaking her head as she stowed items in a cabinet. "Rest is very important. All work and no play isn't good for anyone, especially people like us."

"People like us?" Jade furrowed her brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I've been wanting to meet you properly for some time, Jade." The elf said, ignoring her question and turning to face her. She smiled, but there was a shadow in her eyes that hadn't been there before. "I'm so glad we finally have some time alone together."

Alarm bells rang in the back of Jade's mind. Her creepy words aside, the woman's entire demeanor had just shifted on a dime. The elf stalked back into the main room, moving with the balanced poise of a predator. She stopped in front of the door, coolly regarding Jade as she slowly backed away. Her instincts told her this woman was dangerous, and it took Jade a moment to figure out why. Her aura had changed. Gone was the weak, calm shroud that surrounded regular people. It had been replaced by a keenly controlled cloak of power that Jade couldn't begin to penetrate.

What was happening? Myra had been visiting them for days, how had she missed this? It had to be some sort of aura disguise, the sort that accompanied certain powers like her…

Like her shapeshifting ability.

"Who are you…?" Jade asked, stopping as she reached the far wall. She was right at the bottom of the stairs, prepared to bolt up them if the need arose. Her weapons were up in her room, as was the rest of her equipment, a fact she was suddenly keenly aware of.

The woman's features shifted, changing before her eyes. Dark, leathery wings unfurled from her back, joining a long, flexible tail. A pair of horns rose from her head, glistening in the lamplight. It was Jade's first time seeing the transformation rather than experiencing it, and it took her startled mind precious moments to parse what was happening.

A succubus!

"My name is Malice." The demon said with a feral smile. Her posture was relaxed and disarming, completely at odds with her predatory, oppressive aura. "I've been looking forward to meeting you, sister."

Instinctively, Jade pulled up her properties.

* Name: Malice

* Level: [Unknown]

* Race: Succubus

* Class: None

* Origin: [Restricted]

* Warning: Labyrinth systems are unable to properly interface with this creature.

The word 'restricted' flickered and then vanished almost too quickly for Jade to see, leaving a blank space in the screen. She barely noticed.

"…Why?" Jade asked, not taking her eyes off the creature in front of her. She mirrored the other woman's transformation, shifting into her demon form with a thought. Whatever was about to happen, she wanted to be ready.

As ready as she could be while dressed in a loose shirt over her underwear, at any rate.

"Oh, a few reasons." Malice said lightly, taking a step closer. Jade tensed, prepared to spring into action. "First, you have something I want. But before we get to that, I have to know. Why did you decide to become one of us? I didn't even know the Labyrinth could do that."

"That's what I keep hearing." Jade muttered, sweeping her magical senses to encompass as large an area as she could. It was no good, there wasn't anybody else nearby. That probably wasn't a coincidence.

"Well?"

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"I was dying." She replied, seeing no reason to lie. "Poisoned by a monster. This was the first choice I found that would save me."

"Ahh… Happenstance, then." A slight frown crossed Malice's face. It was replaced a moment later by another grin, the expression of someone in on a secret. "In that case, it's time for a test."

Jade resisted the urge to glance at the stairs beside her. She was trying to decide if she could make it to the top before Malice could react. Without knowing her level, the only insight Jade had into the demon's power was the strength of her formidable aura.

"What kind of test?" she asked, shifting her feet slightly.

"It's simple." Malice's grin broadened. "If you survive, you pass."

Wonderful.

That was all Jade had time to think before the succubus dropped a clawed hand to her hip. In one smooth motion she drew a coiled whip from her belt and struck with lightning speed.

Crack!

Jade dove away from the stairs, narrowly avoiding the bite of the lash. Woodchips and splinters erupted from the wall she'd been standing in front of, the impact gouging a line into the wood. She rolled to her feet, instincts telling her to go on the offensive, to seize the opening and attack before Malice could strike again.

But no, she was clearly too powerful. Jade knew next to nothing about her capabilities, but her aura and blinding reflexes told her everything she needed to know about her chances in a straight-up fight.

Jade came to a stop behind a large chair, spinning back towards the stairs and blinking towards them in a rush of air and mana, leaving a shimmering illusion in her wake. She maintained her momentum, sprinting up the steps three at a time. If she could get to the balcony, then she could jump down to a walkway and-

Stinging pain lanced through Jade's bare leg as the whip struck her, the lasher coiling around her calf like it was a living creature with a mind of its own. Jade gasped in pain, red welts already forming on her skin.

* Combat Log

* You have been inflicted with 'Will Breaker'

* 'Will Breaker': Temporary 3% penalty to willpower per stack. Current number of stacks: 1.

"Leaving already?" Malice asked from the bottom of the stairs, tone playful. "But we're not done yet."

She heaved back on the taut whip, sending Jade tumbling back down the stairs. Anger flooded Jade's veins, searing through them like fire. She did not like being played with. Twisting as she fell, Jade planted her feet on the stairs and launched herself at Malice with a snarl. Claws extended from her hands as she pumped mana into her eyes, revealing the succubus's vulnerabilities. Red glows began emanating from the woman's throat and heart, guiding her strikes as she lunged towards her-

And was swatted aside by an almost casual swipe of Malice's clawed free hand. Jade fell to the floor with another gasp of pain, landing hard on her shoulder. She didn't hesitate, rolling to the side to avoid another crack of the whip and flinging a spell at her assailant.

"Noctus!"

At such close range, the bolt of darkness couldn't miss. The swirling shadows coalesced around Malice's head as the spell took hold, stealing her vision. Jade didn't waste time, brushing her hand against the floor and painting it with a rune trap as she sprang to her feet. The magic circle flashed violet, searing into the wood before fading away.

"So, this is what you like?" Malice smirked, blindly slashing her whip in a wide arc. Jade was forced to dodge away from the main door to avoid the strike. The lasher kissed her side in a glancing blow, tearing a furrow through her shirt as another flash of pain blossomed across her skin. Jade seized the tear, using her claws to rip her shirt off in one smooth motion, leaving her in her undergarments. She felt the magic of her 'Seducer's Mantle' ability intensify as the clothing was discarded, fortifying her body in the place of armor. It would have to do.

Malice raised a hand to her face, using some form of magic to wipe away Jade's debuff. The succubus smiled at her, her own clothing shredded by her transformation into her true form. The scraps of fabric hanging from her left little to the imagination, creating an alluring distraction that was potent, Jade knew there had to be a supernatural element to the effect.

"Well?" she asked, stepping forward. Jade was cornered in the kitchen, Malice blocking her retreat to both the upper floor and the front door. She slapped the haft of her whip against her palm, eyes alight with eager anticipation. "Don't leave a girl waiting."

She struck again, and this time there was nowhere to go. The whip slashed across Jade's chest, scoring another line of angry welts into her skin. Her racial ability, now fully active, dampened the pain considerably, but it couldn't eliminate it entirely. Jade ignored the stacking debuffs, vaulting the kitchen table and kicking Malice square in the stomach before she could pull her whip back. The invisible trap was just to her right, unseen. Jade tried to send her stumbling into it, but the succubus held firm, grunting as she absorbed the blow. She grabbed Jade by the leg, tossing her to the floor again.

This time, Jade let herself be sent sprawling. She rolled with the impact, coming to rest near the main door. Jumping upright, Jade reached for the handle-

And felt the whip wrap around her forearm, tugging her to a halt with another burst of searing stings. The lashes dug into Jade's flesh, this time drawing blood. With each strike the pain intensified, but now there was another aspect to it. The pulsing pain was accompanied by a tingling, enticing warmth. The sensation crawled across her skin, spreading from the rune-inscribed whip like a distracting whisper in her ear. Jade paid it no heed, a fierce smile breaking across her lips.

"Got you."

Jade pivoted, grasping the taut whip with both hands and pulled with all her enhanced strength. Malice, though clearly stronger than Jade, was caught off guard. She stumbled closer, regaining her footing after only a couple of steps. A couple of steps was all Jade needed.

Violet chains burst from the floor, wrapping around the surprised succubus's arms, legs, and wings. She was pulled to her knees, the conjured restraints pulling taut and holding her to the ground. Malice moaned as the magic settled, a sultry sound that was far more distracting than it had any right to be.

"Well… Aren't you fun." The succubus smirked, not appearing the least bit bothered by her situation.

Jade held no illusions that the trap would hold her for long. It was t ime to get help. Again, she reached for the door-

"Stop."

The cool sound of Malice's command wound around her like a leash, pulling her to a halt. Her mind was growing fuzzy. What… What was it she was supposed to be doing? Jade struggled to recall, her will clashing against that of Malice's.

"Now, come here." The succubus smiled, still kneeling in the trap. "You have something I need."