<Status Report!>

<User: Silas Cupid Ashard>

<Age: 18 (New!)>

<Level: 7>

<EXP: 0 / 700>

<Core Functions: Active!>

<Strength: 16+1=17>

<Speed: 16+1=17>

<Stamina: 25>

<Agility: 12+2=14>

<Intelligence: 15+10=25>

<Endurance: 25>

<Ability & Related Skills (New!):>

<Ability: Thread Manipulation (Stage 1)>

<Cupid’s Traits:>

- Lust (Unranked)

- Mischief (Unranked) 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

<Skills:>

- Smooth Talker (Lvl 1)

- Sex Machine (Lvl 1)

- Prowess (Lvl 1)

<Marked Partners:>

- Anna Miles

<System Potential:>

<Desire Manipulation: Unlocked!>

<Charm Reflex: Unlocked!>

<Targeted Obsession: Unlocked!>

<Fated Connection: Locked (Level 8+)>

***

"Damn! They are looking good," Silas commented as he looked at the system screen while brushing. He was genuinely surprised.

’System, how did my intelligence stat spike up that much? And what’s with the age detail? I know the others are from yesterday’s beatdown.’

[Answering the host... Sometimes I wish I didn’t have a personality.] The system said in a dry voice.

’That’s not the answer...’

[It seems the intelligence stat works perfectly.] The system added sarcastically.

[Anyway, your intelligence stat spiked up because you learnt new things. The intelligence stat is just like your other stats. You might’ve read books with systems that give their hosts attribute or stat points to increase their stats. I am not like that, or rather, I wasn’t configured to do that shit.

All your stats are based on what you do. You have to work to achieve them. No pain, no gain. The intelligence stat increases based on things you learn. Learning could be reading a book, figuring out something, comprehending something, or experiencing something, etc. But the increment is based on what you are learning. If you take a children’s book to read and learn something from it, the possibility of it giving you a good increment is equal to zero.

The age detail is just something I put there to remind you that you are officially an adult. Go, rogue baby!]

’Nice. And the ability? Thread Manipulation? Can I get some fair idea of it?’ Silas asked as he took off his tight boxer shorts, setting his little brother free, and stepped into the shower.

[It’s basically thread manipulation.]

"That doesn’t answer shit!"

[Then find the answer yourself!]

"Jeez! Chill."

[Thread Manipulation]

[Classification: Conceptual Ability]

[Description: Everything is connected. Every life, every choice, every emotion, every destiny, every piece of mana, every world. These connections take the form of Threads. The holder of Thread can perceive, manipulate, sever, strengthen, create, and eventually weave these threads. Most people see reality; a Thread Holder sees the things connecting reality.]

[Stage 1: Thread Perception]

[Skills:

- Thread Sight: Allows the user to perceive threads invisible to others. Examples: mana threads, emotional threads, life threads, contract threads.

- Thread Analysis: By observing a thread, information can be learned. Examples: relationship strength, emotional state, loyalty, hostility, intentions, weak point detection.]

[Note: Everything possesses a thread...]

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

[Congratulations! You are officially the most powerful being on Earth!]

"Are you for real?"

[There’s no one on the planet with an SSS-ranked ability, except you. You will have to do the evaluation test to prove your identity as an awakened, but the most their devices can determine is up to S-rank.]

"I am doomed!"

[You are doomed.]

***

Silas slipped back into the infirmary as the afternoon light slanted through the blinds, the waiting room finally empty. He found her in her office, filing papers with her back to the door.

She turned at his knock, surprise melting into a warm smile. "Back so soon?"

He crossed to her in three steps, cupping her cheeks. "Thank you for yesterday. Let me reward you."

She blinked, something flickering in her eyes, surprise, maybe, or vulnerability. "You don’t have to thank me."

"I want to." He leaned in closer, his forehead almost touching hers. "Let me reward you."

Her lips parted, and before she could respond, he kissed her. It was slow at first, soft and exploratory. His lips moved against hers with a tenderness that surprised even him. She melted into him, her hands finding his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt. The kiss deepened, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips until she opened for him, letting him in.

The taste of her was sweet, faintly of coffee. His hands slid from her cheeks into her hair, loosening the bun, letting the dark strands fall around her shoulders. She sighed into his mouth, her fingers curling into his shirt, pulling him closer.

"I’ve been thinking about you all day," she murmured against his lips.

"Show me."

She pulled back just enough to look at him, her eyes dark and heavy-lidded. Her hands moved to his belt, working the buckle with practiced ease. He let her, his own hands finding the buttons of her dress, undoing them one by one. The fabric parted, revealing the swell of her breasts, the curve of her stomach, the lace edge of her panties.

She pushed his trousers down his hips, and he kicked them off along with his shoes. His cock was already hard, straining against his boxers. She hooked her fingers into the waistband and pulled them down, letting him spring free.

"Lie down," he said, his voice husky.

She obeyed without hesitation, stretching out on the floor, on the carpet that smelled faintly of disinfectant and her. The afternoon light painted her skin in gold and shadow. Her dress lay open, framing her body like a gift unwrapped. Silas lowered himself over her, his body covering hers, his weight pressing her into the carpet. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down into another kiss, deeper this time, hungrier. His hand slid down her side, over the curve of her waist, the swell of her hip, until his fingers found the damp heat between her thighs.

She gasped against his mouth as he touched her, her hips bucking into his hand. She was already wet, her folds slick and hot beneath his fingers. He circled her clit slowly, teasing and watching her face contort with pleasure.

"Please," she breathed. "Silas, please."

"Please, what?"

"Please fuck me."

He positioned himself at her entrance, the head of his cock pressing against her slick heat. He held there for a moment, savoring the anticipation and the way she looked up at him, desperate and wanting, the way her body trembled beneath him.

Then he pushed inside. He fucked her with a steady, driving rhythm, hard enough to make the desk chair rattle, and deep enough to make her moan his name. Her nails raked down his back, and her heels dug into his ass. She came with a trembling cry, and he followed moments later, burying his face in her neck as he spilled into her.

They lay there catching their breath, her fingers tangled in his hair.

"I love you," she whispered.

He pressed a kiss to her collarbone. "I love you, too."