Rebirth
Darkness.
It wasn't dramatic. Just empty. Cold, still, and quiet.
Velas, once feared across continents as the Incubus King, was dead—or supposed to be. His body had been destroyed, his name cursed, his empire wiped out. But his soul remained, floating in the void like a stain the gods couldn't erase.
He didn't know how long it had been. Maybe years. Maybe centuries.
Then something cracked.
A pulse.
Heat.
> "You're still holding on."
The voice wasn't familiar, but it sounded amused. And ancient.
> "You were supposed to disappear. But you're still here… stubborn bastard."
Velas didn't speak. He couldn't. He had no mouth, no lungs. Just his thoughts—and an anger that never faded.
> "You want another chance, don't you?"
Yes.
> "Then take it. But you won't be what you were. No empire. No throne. You start from nothing."
That was fine. Velas didn't need a crown to conquer. He needed power—and the chance to earn it back.
> "Then go. But be warned... You're not the only one who crawled back from the pit."
The void collapsed.
---
A sudden breath tore into his lungs.
Velas shot up with a gasp, eyes wide. Air rushed in, and light stabbed at his vision. Everything hurt—his chest, his head, even his teeth.
He was alive.
Sort of.
The body he now had wasn't his original one. It was younger, thinner. Weak. Human.
He looked down at himself. Pale skin. Scars across his chest. Calloused hands. His arms had no strength. His fingers were bruised. His nails broken.
He was lying in hay, in the corner of a dirty stone cellar.
Footsteps echoed from above. Wooden floorboards creaked. Muffled voices followed.
"I think he's still breathing."
"Then keep kicking him 'til he stops."
Velas narrowed his eyes.
So… they dumped him here to die. Classic.
He pushed himself upright, muscles protesting every movement. His head throbbed. A quick scan of the room showed old crates, a moldy blanket, and a rusted shovel. Nothing useful.
No magic. No strength. No charm.
He clenched his fists. His power as an Incubus King had been tied to his soul. But right now? He felt almost human.
No… not entirely.
A glowing panel flickered to life in his mind.
---
[Lustborne System Initialized]
Welcome back, Velas.
Class: Incubus (Sealed)
Status: Reincarnated Host
Progress to Unlock: 0/1 Sexual Conquest
---
He grinned.
So that's how it is.
To unlock his powers, he had to do what he did best.
---
The door to the cellar opened with a loud creak.
A young woman stepped in, holding a wooden tray. She wore a plain servant's dress and looked exhausted—dark bags under her eyes, limp brown hair tied back loosely. She paused when she saw him sitting upright.
"You're awake?"
Velas didn't answer.
She approached slowly, placing the tray beside him. Bread, soup, and a cup of water.
He could see the doubt in her eyes. Fear, too.
"I'm… I'm not supposed to be down here," she said quietly. "But I couldn't just let you die like that."
Velas studied her. She looked familiar.
Then it clicked.
This body he was in—it belonged to someone else. A bastard son of some minor noble. Discarded, mistreated. This girl… she knew him.
"You're Mara," he said, his voice rough.
She blinked. "How do you know my name?"
"I remember."
He didn't, really. But the fragments of this body's past were bleeding into his mind. This girl had been kind to him. She'd brought him food before. Maybe she was the only one who ever had.
Her eyes widened slightly. "Your voice… you sound different."
"I am different."
He picked up the cup and drank. The water was lukewarm, but it cleared his throat. He set it down, then looked her in the eye.
"Why did you help me?"
Mara hesitated. "Because no one else would."
"You could be punished."
"I know."
He reached forward, brushing his fingers against her hand. She flinched at first—but didn't pull away.
"You're lonely," Velas said.
She lowered her gaze.
"You feel invisible. You give, but no one gives back."
She bit her lip.
"You wanted someone to see you."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I see you."
She blinked fast, swallowing hard. Her breath caught in her throat.
Velas's words weren't magic—not yet. But the intent behind them was. Seduction had never just been about looks or lust. It was about knowing what someone needed… and giving it to them.
He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I won't forget this," he said.
She turned red. "I-I should go."
He let her, for now.
As she left, the panel in his mind flickered again.
---
[Lust Energy Detected: 7%]
Progress to Unlock: 0.07/1 Sexual Conquest
Trait Activated: Insight (Level 1) – Enables basic emotional reading of targets.
---
Velas exhaled slowly.
It had begun.
---
Later that night, Mara returned.
This time, she didn't speak. Just sat beside him on the floor and gave him a fresh blanket. She didn't look directly at him, but he could feel her heartbeat speeding up.
She was torn. Tempted. Afraid.
He didn't push it.
Not yet.
He needed to recover first. Regain some strength. Build up her trust—and desire. He could feel her emotions like a soft glow in the back of his mind now. Insight wasn't strong yet, but it was enough.
He was going to seduce her. Not just for power—but because she was his first step back.
---
Velas looked down at his new hands again.
He'd lost everything once.
But this time, he'd take it all—slowly, carefully.
And when he was strong enough?
The gods would remember why they feared him.