Incubus Ascension-Chapter 17

Liam woke up to the familiar buzz of his phone vibrating on the nightstand.

Sunlight was already sneaking through the blinds, so it had to be late morning.

He rubbed his eyes, grabbed the phone, and squinted at the screen, mostly notifications he didn’t care about.

Today was a day off. No classes, no training, no nothing.

He sat up, stretched until his back popped, and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

His dorm room still smelled faintly like yesterday’s takeout. Kind of gross, but home.

Olivia crossed his mind almost immediately.

She’d been putting up with a lot lately, his weird schedule, the random bruises he couldn’t really explain, all of it.

She deserved a proper day out. Something nice. A real date, not just grabbing coffee between shifts.

He hit her contact and put the phone to his ear while he stood up and started pacing the small space between his bed and desk.

She picked up on the second ring. "Hey, you."

"Hey. You free today?"

There was a tiny pause, like she was smiling. "I can be. Why?"

"How about we do something? Like... a real date. Dinner, maybe. I’ll pick you up."

She laughed softly. "You’re actually asking me on a date-date? Bold move, Liam."

"I’m feeling bold," he said, grinning even though she couldn’t see it. "So? Yes?"

"Yes. Come pick me up in about an hour? I need time to get ready."

"Deal. See you soon."

He ended the call, feeling lighter already. Okay. Plan. Step one: look halfway decent.

He left the dorm, locked the door behind him, and headed straight for the mall. There was a suit rental place he’d passed a hundred times but never gone into.

Today felt like the day. He walked in, told the guy behind the counter he needed a tuxedo for tonight, something sharp but not over-the-top.

He measured him quick, pulled a classic black one off the rack, and he tried it on.

It actually looked... good. Better than he expected.

He paid for the rental, told them he’d bring it back tomorrow, and walked out feeling like he was playing dress-up as an adult. Whatever. Olivia would like it.

He took a cab straight to her place. When he got to her door he knocked twice, not too loud.

"Coming!" Her voice came through, bright and a little rushed.

A second later the door opened and she stepped out, pulling it closed behind her.

He forgot how to breathe for a second.

She was wearing this glossy white dress that caught the hallway light and clung to her in all the right places.

It was nothing crazy revealing, just... perfect. It showed off her curves without screaming for attention.

Her hair was down, loose waves, and she had on these delicate silver earrings that moved when she tilted her head.

"You okay?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Yeah. You look..." He cleared his throat. "You look incredible."

She smiled, small and pleased. "You clean up nice too."

They linked arms and walked down to the street.

He’d booked a table at this Italian place downtown a couple days ago, just in case. Nothing too fancy, but nice enough that it felt special.

When they got there the host led them straight to their table near the window.

Olivia sat down, smoothed her dress, then looked across at him and laughed quietly.

"What?"

"That tux really suits you," she said. "You look like you’re about to go rob a casino or something."

He picked up the wine glass the waiter had already poured, raised it a little. "Like James Bond?"

She giggled, eyes crinkling. "Not quite. But better. Much better."

He took a sip, grinning behind the rim. Everything felt good, easy, warm, normal.

Then he caught movement in the corner of his eye.

Four guys. Coming from four different corners of the restaurant, all moving toward them.

Not casually. Purposefully. Their eyes were locked on him, hard and focused.

His stomach dropped. Something was wrong. Bad wrong.

One of them peeled off straight toward their table.

He stood up fast, chair scraping loud against the floor.

Olivia frowned up at him. "Liam? What’s wrong?"

He didn’t answer. He kept his eyes on the guy coming closer. His hand found the back of his chair, fingers curling tight around the wood.

He was maybe five steps away when his hand dipped inside his jacket and came out with a dagger.

The blade caught the light. He lunged straight for Olivia.

He didn’t think. He just reacted.

He yanked the chair up high and activated the skill in his head.

[Minor Passive Strengthening activated]

His arms and shoulders tightened, muscles swelling just enough under the tux that he felt the fabric strain.

Then he brought the chair down hard, right across the guy’s face.

The impact cracked loud. He crashed sideways into their table, glasses and plates smashing onto the floor.

The other three froze for half a second, then ripped off the robes they’d been wearing over their clothes and charged.

He saw the crest on their shoulders: red scythe curled around a skull.

Shit.

He grabbed Olivia’s wrist and pulled her behind him. "Stay close."

He planted one foot on the edge of their table, shoved hard.

It skidded forward and slammed into the second guy’s stomach. He doubled over, air whooshing out of him.

He scooped Olivia up into his arms, she gasped, and bolted for the stairs at the back.

The three still standing followed fast. He could hear their shoes pounding behind him.

Halfway down the stairs he knew they were gaining. Too fast. They’d catch them before they hit the street.

He gritted his teeth. Olivia’s arms were tight around his neck, her breathing quick against his ear.

He opened the system shop in his head, scrolling fast while he ran.

[Skill: Super Soldier Serum]

Rarity: D+.

Passive.

Boosts strength to peak human, all stats to E-rank.

Price: 50 SP.

That was everything he’d saved. Every single point.

Olivia’s weight in his arms felt heavier than it should. He could hear the men shouting behind them.

He hit confirm.

The serum hit like lightning, heat rushing through every muscle, every vein. His legs suddenly felt lighter, stronger, faster.

He took the rest of the stairs three at a time and burst out onto the street.

Cars everywhere. Horns. No way to run straight.

Mud Town. The slums. Alleys, turns, chaos. He could lose them there.

He veered left, sprinting toward the edge of Lumina city.

Olivia’s voice was shaky against his shoulder. "Liam, who are they? Where are we going?"

"I don’t know who they are. Not exactly. We’re heading to Mud Town." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Her eyes went wide. "You mean the slum city? Where all the, "

"Yeah," he said, breathing hard but steady now. "It’s our only shot."

They left the clean streets behind, passed through the nicer districts, until they reached the innermost wall, Sina.

No guards at this section. Just cracked concrete and a hole big enough to slip through.

He ducked low, carried her through, and they were in.

Mud Town hit like a smell first, damp, smoke, garbage, metal. Narrow streets twisted everywhere.

He found a small abandoned house, boards half off the windows, door hanging crooked.

He slipped inside and set Olivia down gently in the shadows.

They waited.

Five minutes later he heard boots pounding past outside.

"Where the hell is he?"

"Spread out, he can’t be far!"

Then another voice, sharper. "He never left the wall. He’s still inside. Hurry, back through!"

The footsteps faded, heading the opposite way.

He let out a long, shaky breath. "They’re gone. Finally."

He turned to look at Olivia.

Her face was pale, eyes huge, staring right at him.