On the rocky hill, Lilith and Tifania gazed at the city sprawled beneath them. The place looked like a demonic settlement, with black wooden buildings that appeared eerie yet beautiful, adorned with glowing stones of various colors. Each house had a unique arrangement of the glowing stones, creating a mysterious yet enchanting atmosphere.
"Wow... this city is really unique," Lilith murmured while observing the scene below.
Tifania patted Lilith's shoulder with a small smile. "You know, Lilith? This city is inhabited by creatures similar to my khodam—bat-winged humanoids."
Lilith turned to her. "Really? So... it's like a city of bats?"
"Yes, exactly. I've heard rumors about this place from other demons. They say that near this city, there's a cave inhabited by a tribe of succubi. Maybe we can find some clues there," Tifania explained, pointing westward where a cave entrance was faintly visible.
Lilith nodded. "Alright, let's check it out."
---
A While Later
After descending the hill and passing through the city, they arrived at the entrance of a large cave adorned with glowing purple plants. Inside, they could hear music echoing—a rhythm so alluring it made their blood simmer slightly.
"Strange... is this some kind of ceremony?" Lilith whispered.
Tifania chuckled. "Oh, I think it's what they call the 'Suco Dance'. A tradition among succubi and incubi to demonstrate their seductive power."
Just as they stepped inside, two beautiful bat-winged women approached them, their eyes sparkling upon seeing Lilith.
"Your Majesty! Queen Lilian has returned!" one of them exclaimed with joy.
Lilith froze. "Huh? Queen Lilian?"
The succubi immediately knelt before her, as if unable to believe the return of the figure they called queen. Tifania, standing beside Lilith, couldn't help but laugh softly at Lilith's confused expression.
A muscular man with large horns appeared from the cave's interior. His face looked stern, but his eyes glowed with respect. "Your Majesty Lilian... is it true that you have returned to us?"
"Err... I'm not Lilian. I'm Lilith," she replied awkwardly.
The man nodded as if ignoring the correction. "Your face... your aura... you look just like Queen Lilian, who disappeared centuries ago. If you permit, we would like to hold the Suco Dance to celebrate your return!"
Lilith turned pale. "S-Suco Dance?"
Tifania patted her shoulder, still grinning. "Relax, they just want to test your seductive strength. Besides, you're their queen now. You can't refuse, right?"
---
In the center of the cave, the succubi and incubi had gathered, forming a large circle. The music began to play, the rhythm sultry and full of passion.
Lilith stood in the center, clearly uneasy, while her first opponent stepped forward—a beautiful bat-winged woman exuding a sensual aura.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. It is an honor," her opponent said, grabbing Lilith's hand and pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Eh! W-Wait!" Lilith barely had time to protest, as the dance commenced swiftly. Her opponent pressed their bodies together, wings brushing against each other, and the woman's hand gently stroked Lilith's back, activating the Seduction Skill.
Lilith felt the touch like a small electric shock, teasing every nerve. Yet, unknowingly, her succubus instincts awakened. Her red eyes glowed, and a sly, seductive smile formed on her lips.
"D-Damn, I can't lose," Lilith whispered to herself.
Within seconds, her opponent collapsed, face flushed, body trembling weakly. The other succubi cheered, while Lilith exhaled in relief.
However, there was no time to rest. The next opponent stepped forward—an incubus with a muscular build and confident eyes.
"If I defeat the Queen, I shall become the king," he declared with a smirk.
Lilith steadied herself. "We'll see about that."
The dance resumed, this time more intense. The incubus embraced her tightly, his hands exploring her back and wings with practiced ease. Lilith bit her lower lip, struggling to resist the surge of arousal triggered by his touch. Yet, she retaliated by running her fingers across his chest, causing him to shiver.
After a few minutes of holding back, the incubus finally fell, face burning, conceding to Lilith's overwhelming charm.
---
The competition continued until Lilith had defeated thirteen challengers—three women and ten men. In the end, after conquering her thirteenth opponent, Lilith collapsed to the ground, her face crimson.
Tifania approached her with a broad smile. "Amazing, Queen Lilith. Defeating thirteen before giving in? They'll surely acknowledge your power now."
Lilith could only groan softly while massaging her temples. "What kind of dance is this... I almost died of embarrassment."
After the intense Suco Dance, the atmosphere in the cave shifted from passionate excitement to festive joy. The succubi and incubi were elated, singing and dancing in celebration of their queen's triumphant return.
To honor Lilith, they prepared a grand feast. Several of the villagers brought forward an enormous creature—a rabbit twice the size of a cow, with thick, velvety fur. It took several strong men to haul the creature into the center of the gathering.
"Is that... a rabbit?" Lilith murmured, her eyes wide with surprise.
Tifania chuckled. "Yeah, that's a Shadow Hare. They're common around here, but this one's huge. Must've been a real challenge to catch."
The succubi expertly prepared the meat, seasoning it with herbs and placing it on large stone grills. As the delicious aroma filled the cave, Lilith's stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since arriving in Istarian.
When the feast began, Lilith and Tifania sat near the central fire, surrounded by the tribe members who eagerly offered them the choicest cuts. The meat was surprisingly tender and flavorful, with a slightly sweet aftertaste.
"This is really good!" Lilith exclaimed, savoring the food.
The incubi laughed, clearly proud of their cooking. "We're honored that the queen likes it!"
---
After the meal, Lilith stretched, feeling refreshed. One of the younger succubi approached with sparkling eyes.
"Your Majesty, would you and your companion like to join the evening hunt? It's a tradition after the Suco Dance to test our strength."
Lilith glanced at Tifania, who shrugged. "Sounds fun. We could use some exercise after eating that much."
The group set out from the cave, moving silently through the dark forest. Glowing fungi and bioluminescent flowers guided their path. It didn't take long before they spotted a pack of Shadow Wolves prowling near the treeline.
"Careful," Tifania whispered. "They hunt in groups and are quite aggressive."
Lilith nodded, stepping forward confidently. One of the wolves, larger than the rest, lunged at her, fangs bared. Using her shadow tentacles, she caught it mid-air and choked it until it passed out.
Tifania transformed into her bat form, soaring into the air before swooping down to strike another wolf with a precise kick. The impact sent the beast sprawling.
The hunt lasted nearly an hour, with Lilith and Tifania working in sync. The tribe members supported from the flanks, ensuring no wolves escaped. By the end, they had defeated a dozen wolves, their bodies piled near the camp.
As Lilith wiped the sweat from her brow, she noticed a notification from her system—she had reached level 2.
"Congrats, Lilith. You leveled up," Tifania said.
"Level two already? That's slower compared to my journey to Mars," Lilith remarked, inspecting her hands. She could feel a subtle increase in power, but it wasn't as significant as she'd hoped.
"Still, it feels slow," Lilith admitted with a sigh. "At this rate, it'll take forever to get stronger."
Tifania tapped her chin thoughtfully. "We're just picking off small groups. If you want to level up faster, we'll need to find a place with more concentrated monsters. I know a few spots where creatures swarm, but it'll be risky."
Lilith's eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect! I need to get stronger."
Just then, Tifania glanced at her wrist, where a small, glowing device displayed the time. "It's getting late—or at least, as late as it gets in Istarian. Remember, there's no night or day here. We should head back before it gets too dangerous."
"Okay, let's go back to Earth."