Succumania

During the same day Luka and Vinum fought…

In a small room devoid of any furniture besides a bed, a sink, and a room for a toilet, the two succubi and the holy man were resting. A pile of burgers was sitting on the only table of the room. 

A woman clad in a tight leather suit sat at the table, chewing lazily on a burger, savoring every bite as if it were a fine delicacy.

"Did you really have to order that many…?" Saki sighed, her voice tinged with exasperation as she eyed the towering stack of food. She poked at the pile, wondering how anyone could possibly finish it all. But before she could finish her thought, the other succubus was already reaching for another burger, having devoured the first in a matter of seconds.

"She's got quite the appetite," Ntwali remarked with a low chuckle, his deep voice resonating in the small space. The holy man sat cross-legged on the floor, his torso bandaged. "Though I wonder why she can't talk."

The succubus shrugged, her sharp nails tapping against the burger wrapper. She then pulled out a crayon and a sheet of paper, scribbling something quickly before holding it up for the others to see. The handwriting was messy but legible: "Talking's overrated."

Saki's eyebrows twitched. "What do you mean overrated? Aren't you just too lazy to talk?"

Without missing a beat, the silent succubus, still chewing, scribbled again. " Says the one who won't stop yapping."

A vein popped on Saki's forehead. "Hey!" she snapped, her temper flaring. With a sharp thud, she slammed her fist against the table, rattling the burger tower.

The silent succubus only smirked, unbothered, and casually reached for another burger.

"...I don't even know why I bother." Saki sighed, her shoulders slumped.

Ntwali chuckled again, leaning back against the wall. "I'm more interested in why she is here," nodding toward the silent succubus. "You are looking for another of your kind, correct?"

The leather-clad succubus stopped chewing for a brief moment, then gave a slow, deliberate nod.

"Is it the one erasing people from existence?" Saki added.

The silent succubus nodded again, this time without hesitation, as she reached for yet another burger.

"Well," Ntwali exhaled, rubbing his chin. "That complicates things."

Saki frowned. "I didn't know there was such a big shot around here. Is it a coincidence that the both of you are looking for the same person?"

"Do you know what she looks like?" Ntwali asked.

The silent succubus made an 'X' shape with her arms.

"So that's a no…" Saki muttered. "A name? Any kind of clue?"

She grabbed a napkin and scribbled quickly before tossing it onto the table.

"She's in Japan. That's it."

Saki's lips pressed into a thin line. "Great. That narrows it down to a mere 125 million people."

The silent succubus simply shrugged, taking another bite of her burger.

"Do we even know who that succubus erased? Perhaps there are some clues…" 

Ntwali groaned as he pushed himself up from the floor, rolling his shoulders. "None. We only know that there are differences between this timeline and others. But what was changed? We don't have a single lead."

Saki clicked her tongue. "Perhaps Myusca and Nemea have something to do with this. We should go see them again. Isn't the Succupolice supposed to stop criminals like them?"

But the silent succubus shook her head.

Saki narrowed her eyes. "Then what are you here for?"

The silent succubus wiped her fingers on a napkin, then scribbled out another message.

" We take care of people dangerous to succubi's existence."

Saki's lips curled into a slight smirk. "Ah, I see… Since those two are just eating humans, you don't care."

She nodded before gulping down another burger.

Ntwali exhaled, crossing his arms. "Then that means whoever we're dealing with isn't just some rogue succubus causing trouble. If you were sent after her, she's a direct threat to your entire kind."

The silent succubus didn't react immediately. Instead, she finished chewing, licked her fingers clean, and then scrawled another note.

" Why is a holy man fighting with a succubus? "

Saki and Ntwali exchanged uneasy glances.

"It was just a matter of circumstances," the holy knight chuckled. "She and I met while I was investigating a small library where that succubus of yours might hide."

The silent succubus tilted her head slightly, waiting for him to continue.

"At least until we met those two who tried to kill me," he finished with a frown. "I wonder. Are they working with our target?"

The silent succubus simply watched them, then scribbled another note.

" So you weren't planning on eating him?"

Without a word, she slid the paper toward Saki's face, making sure to shield it from Ntwali's view.

"Of course not!"

The silent succubus smirked, tapping the table twice before scribbling something else.

"Ok. Just to make sure."

Saki growled. "What does that even mean?"

Meanwhile, Ntwali watched them with mild curiosity. "Do I even want to know what you two are whispering about?"

"No." 

After finishing her last burger, the silent succubus licked her fingers clean before standing up from the chair. She made a simple hand gesture— Stay here —before turning on her heel and heading out of the room without another word.

Saki and Ntwali exchanged glances.

"She didn't say where she was going," Saki muttered.

"She doesn't say much at all," Ntwali pointed out dryly. "But I doubt she'd just leave for no reason."

"Perhaps she's just going to order more burgers?" Saki mused.

Ntwali chuckled, then winced. "Perhaps. Either way, I'm stuck here. Just chuckling hurts now." He carefully adjusted the bandages on his torso, sighing.

Silence settled between them for a moment. Then, Saki exhaled, her expression growing more serious.

"...I have a bad feeling about all this."

"Oh? About her?" Ntwali asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No." Saki shook her head. "About this 'succubus' of yours. Nothing tells us it has to be a succubus in the first place."

"Didn't that Myusca girl call for an 'old hag' when she entered the library?" the knight pointed out.

"I know and it's weird. Vinum shouldn't be here so there should be no reason for her to say that…"

She then leaned back against the back of her chair. "We'll just see when we interrogate them."

The next morning…

"By the way…" Luka, sitting in the living room with a half-eaten piece of toast in hand, looked up from his breakfast, his brow furrowed in thought. "Has anyone seen Morrigan recently?"

The question hung in the air, catching everyone off guard. Alma Elma and Eva exchanged incredulous looks, their expressions a mix of surprise and mild concern. The imps, busy with their own breakfast, barely reacted—except for Rumi, who tilted her head curiously, her large eyes blinking at Luka.

"Now that I think about it," Alma Elma's eyes narrowed. "Where is she? It's been a while since I haven't seen her."

"Nope, didn't see her," Eva shrugged while biting into a sandwich.

Luka set his toast down, his expression growing more serious. "That's what I thought. It's just… strange? She's always been around, causing trouble. But now? Nothing. It's like she's gone."

"I bet she is fine," Alma Elma sighed. "There is no way something happened to her." Her ruby eyes then darkened. "Don't tell me you miss her?"

"I don't know what you're implying but no. I'm just concerned she might do something stupid."

Indeed, Morrigan was on a stroll. Right in the morning, in the streets of this bustling city, the blue-haired menace was taking a gentle walk in her usual attire. Her succubus traits hidden with magic, she wandered from road to road, her mischievous smile never leaving her face.

After all, she had been kicked out of the house by Alma Elma one day and had been forced to find a way to live alone. So she went from house to house each night, forcing a guy to let her sleep inside after using her aura on them.

She soon arrived at a grand plaza where a bustling crowd was gathered. On the weekend, at this particular place, it was common to see public manifestations and gatherings to protest about many different subjects and topics. However this one day, one group of older men and women stood at the forefront, their placards boldly declaring, "Say No to Pornography!" and "Casual Sex is Killing Our Pride!"

"Ah?" Morrigan's eyes went wide as she heard the people shouting different slogans in the middle of the day.

"Say no to casual sex!" one of the protesters shouted again, shaking her sign vehemently. "Sex is sacred!"

Morrigan raised an eyebrow, her mischievous grin widening. "Sacred, huh?" she muttered under her breath, eyes glinting with playful amusement. It was the kind of protest she often found laughable—a group of people so convinced of their own beliefs that they felt the need to impose them on others. It was almost too easy to poke fun at.

She casually leaned against a nearby pillar, her gaze scanning the crowd as the fervor of their chants grew louder. 

An older man at the front raised his megaphone, shouting the next slogan: "Protect our pride, protect our families!"

"These guys must be very religious, huh… Sounds like Ilias nutjobs." These protesters, with their crusade against casual sex, reminded her of the overly righteous types she'd crossed paths with before.

"Protect our families!" another protestor yelled, shaking their sign in the air. "Defend our morals!"

Morrigan couldn't help but roll her eyes. The irony wasn't lost on her—here were people shouting about morality and pride, yet she knew full well they'd crumble under the slightest temptation. In fact, her fingers were hitching to just unleash her aura here and then to prove them wrong.

However, she had an idea just to piss them off.

Then, with a shark-like grin, she held her hands around her mouth. "Hey!" she called out, immediately catching the attention of the crowd.

"Check this out!" she said, lifting her shirt up for a flashbang of tits that made the whole crowd stunned silent. She then quickly put it back on and flipped them off. "Kiss my ass!"

The response was immediate and predictable—gasps, exclamations of outrage, and furious shouts from all directions.

"There are children here! How dare you!" one woman shouted, her face red with indignation.

"Shameless! You whore!" another bellowed, her face twisted with disgust.

"Get after her!"

"Oh, crap." her smile soon disappeared as she saw a couple of women rushing after her. 

She quickly began to run at full speed, easily outpacing the two women in heels. She buzzed through the streets with unnatural agility, people making space for her. A glance over her shoulder told her they had already given up, and she stopped running with a satisfied grin. 

"Ha! This city is quite fun!" she chuckled to herself, feeling the rush of freedom, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins.

But just as she thought she had shaken them off completely, a low grunt reached her ears.

"Urgh!" 

She skidded to a halt, her heart skipping a beat as she looked over her shoulder. Her grin faded as she took in the sight: the women had given up chasing her, but somewhere along her flight, she had inadvertently wandered into a part of the city that wasn't quite so welcoming.

The streets had grown dark and grimy, the buildings towering on either side like silent giants, blocking out much of the sunlight. Graffiti tags covered the walls, and litter scattered the ground, giving the alley an unmistakable sense of decay. The air was thick with the smell of trash and dampness, a far cry from the bustling streets she had been running through moments before.

The grunt came from a group of young men ganging up on another one. A young man with a cap was getting punched and kicked while on the ground, and his aggressors laughing. The victim's arms were wrapped around his head, trying to shield himself from the blows, but it was clear he was outnumbered and helpless.

"What a shithole…" she muttered to herself.

Her first instinct was to keep walking, to slip back into the streets where things were a little less… annoying. But then the laughter of the aggressors hit her ears again, and something about it irked her. Maybe it was the fact that she didn't like seeing someone getting kicked while down—or maybe it was just the sheer boredom of the few days alone in the streets.

Either way, she stepped forward, her hands glowing blue. Her mischievous smile slowly returned as she approached the scene.

"Hey, you assholes," she called out. "Have a treat, on the house."

Her aura surrounded the group of three men, and, in the blink of an eye, they all began to groan and collapse as they wet themselves. 

"Ahahaha! Hora hora, not so tough are we?" she continued pleasuring them with her aura while laughing until she was satisfied with herself. When she was done, they were all silent, completely in a daze from the sheer pleasure they had been subjugated to.

The man who had been kicked down slowly stood up, his eyes wide with disbelief. He was wearing a jersey adorned with some kind of gang logo, his cap matching the same motif. He wiped the blood off his nose and looked up, locking eyes with Morrigan, his expression full of shock.

"You want some too?" she teased, her hands waving around as her eyes flashed with eagerness.

The man blinked, clearly thrown off by her attitude. "Whoa! You're so strong, miss!" he stammered, a mix of awe and confusion in his voice. He reached up to clutch his head in disbelief, looking more like a fan than a thug at this point.

Morrigan raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the sudden shift in tone. "Huh?"

"How did you do that? You're so cool!" he continued, still trying to process what had just happened. His hands were shaking as if trying to figure out whether he should be scared or impressed.

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps made Morrigan tense. She turned her head to see a new group of men arriving, all wearing the same gang colors, some armed with bats, others with crowbars. Their eyes immediately locked on her, and she could tell they were tense.

"Hey, Jerry! You fine man?" one of them called out, his crowbar pointed at Morrigan.

"Yeah! This gal here is a beast—she took them out in a second!" Jerry, still standing a little wobbly on his feet, grinned and pointed toward Morrigan, his voice filled with awe.

The new group of men exchanged wary glances, unsure of how to handle the situation. They clearly weren't expecting someone like her, but now their focus was entirely on her, the girl who had single-handedly saved their friends without breaking a sweat.

"Whoa, you saved Jerry?" one of them said with a smile. 

"Yeah. So what?" Morrigan was a bit put off by their cheerfulness and answered matter-of-factly. 

The group of men began shouting in unison. 

"Whooo! What's your name missy?"

"You took these guys all by yourself? What the hell man?"

They rushed to her, hitting her with playful shoves and starry eyes. 

"My name's Morrigan," she replied while trying to take a step back, but they were all around them.

"Hey calm down everyone! Don't be so pushy with her!" a man with blonde hair said.

"Wanna join our gang Morri?" 

"Yeah, with you we could destroy the Fallout Bulls!"

"The… What?" she stammered, looking a bit uncomfortable from the forceful attention but not without enjoying it.

Before she could respond, one of the guys reached forward and slapped a cap onto her head. The cap fitted snugly, and he grinned with pride.

"You're one of us now, Morri!" he declared. "Hey, can I call you boss?"

Morrigan froze for a moment, her hands instinctively touching the cap. The suddenness of it all made her pause, unsure whether to laugh or smack him away. She hadn't exactly signed up for this, but the absurdity of it wasn't lost on her either.

However…

She raised her head with a sly grin. "Alright, boys! Let's beat up these Fallout whatever's!"

The crowd erupted with a deafening cheer. "Whooooo!" they shouted, clearly swept up by her energy, ready to follow her lead without hesitation.

Morrigan glanced around at the group, their enthusiasm feeding her amusement. "Morri! You're our boss now!" one of the men shouted in awe.

However, not everyone was as thrilled about the turn of events.

The blonde-haired guy, who seemed to be the previous leader, stood stunned, his face reddening with frustration. "H-Hey! I was the boss of the Yellow Hawks before!" he protested, trying to assert his position.

"Shut your trap!" Morrigan stood next to him before giving a flick of her aura on him. It had an immediate effect and his eyes were soon filled with lust toward her. "We're the Lilith Bros now!"

The men around her cheered even louder at the new name, completely entranced by her aura and their newfound allegiance. The blonde-haired guy, now utterly under her influence, looked up at her in dazed reverence.

Morrigan's grin widened. This was so much fun. She looked at the group, like little brothers under her care, ready to lead them into whatever situation the wind would take them. 

"Let's go boys!" she shouted while pointing her finger in a random direction. The gang, completely behind her, followed her lead without hesitation, their loyalty sealed without even needing to influence them with magic.

"Yeah, let's go mess 'em up!" one of the men cheered, slamming his fist into his palm as he grinned widely.

"Morri, you're so badass!" Jerry shouted, his voice filled with awe.

"Just you wait! I'll show these idiots who dared threaten my boys like that!"

And with that, the group soon found themselves standing in front of the hideout of the Fallout Bulls. The building was rundown, its exterior covered in faded spray paint. Morrigan's eyes narrowed, her smile creeping back across her face as she pointed accusingly at the building.

"They're here?" she asked with a frown, eyeing the base as if it had personally offended her.

"Yup! That's their base!" one of her boys piped up.

"Damn, they live in a shithole too…"

Her boys didn't miss a beat. "Our place isn't better…"

"Then we'll take this one and make it better!" Morrigan announced, her eyes flaring. She stepped forward, her posture confident. 

And then, they heard footsteps.

Morrigan's eyes locked onto the man stepping out of the Fallout Bulls' hideout. He was chewing gum, baseball bat casually held in one hand, a cocky swagger in his step. The second he saw Morrigan and the gang, his lips curled into a smirk, as if he thought they were a joke.

"You sure picked the wrong place to mess with, sweetheart," the man drawled, flicking the gum out of his mouth. He brandished the bat like he was ready to swing.

Multiple people appeared from the shadows, each and every one of them armed with knives, bats, or crowbars, ready to throw down. 

"The Yellow Hawks? Aren't they just kids playing gang?" another added, his face twisted into a bemused grin. "Why the fuck are you little shits here? We're not playing."

"So what, your boss's a gal now?" one of the Fallout Bulls said with a chuckle, his tone dripping with mockery. He pointed at Morrigan with his crowbar, as if she were some kind of novelty.

Morrigan's boys shifted uneasily, their earlier confidence wavering under the weight of the Fallout Bulls' numbers and bravado. A skinny guy with a nervous twitch whispered, "Uh… are we sure about this? Was Jerry right about all this?"

"I don't know, I just followed," another muttered, his voice trembling. They all took a step back, only to realize they were surrounded. The Fallout Bulls had closed in, cutting off any chance of escape.

The man with the baseball bat smirked, twirling it lazily in his grip. "Run your pockets," he ordered, his tone dripping with condescension. "And maybe we'll let you go with a few bruises. Consider it a lesson in respect."

Morrigan's boys exchanged panicked glances, their bravado crumbling like a house of cards. Jerry, despite his shaking hands, tried to stand his ground. "Boss…" he started, his voice barely above a whisper.

But Morrigan didn't even flinch. Instead, she tilted her head, a slow, smug grin creeping onto her face. She took a step forward, hands still buried lazily in her pockets, and locked eyes with the bat-wielding thug. 

"Yo, you're the one who's gonna be emptying his pockets," she said coolly, throwing up gang signs she'd only ever seen on TV.

For a second, silence. Then—

The Fallout Bulls burst out laughing. A few clutched their sides, wheezing at the absurdity of her words.

"You don't scare the Lilith bros with your stink ass face. I bet not even Eva would touch you!"

"Who the fuck is Eva?"

Morrigan didn't answer. Instead, she snapped her fingers. Her hand glowed with an eerie blue light, her aura surging out like a shockwave.

"Get fucked, bitch."

The blue energy latched onto the bat-wielding thug, his entire body locking up as a strangled noise escaped his throat. His legs buckled, and he hit the ground hard, his eyes rolling back as his body twitched violently. A damp patch spread across his crotch.

For a moment, the only sound was the faint shuddering breath escaping his lips.

"What the fuck?!" one of the Fallout Bulls shouted, his face a mix of horror and disbelief.

"Jack—did he just—?" another stammered.

Morrigan threw her head back and laughed. "Ahahaha! Not so tough now, huh?" She glanced down at the writhing mess on the floor, her grin positively wicked.

One of the gang members took a step back. "What the hell is she?!"

Morrigan didn't let them recover. With a flick of her wrist, the entire area was bathed in a haunting blue glow. Her aura erupted outward, washing over the remaining Fallout Bulls like a suffocating wave.

"Now it's everyone's turn!"

The gang barely had time to react before the magic hit them. One by one, they dropped, their weapons clattering to the ground as they fell into uncontrollable spasms of pleasure. Some tried to fight it, biting their lips, clenching their fists—but it was futile.

Morrigan's boys stood frozen in disbelief as their enemies crumpled around them.

Jerry gulped. "Holy shit…"

The last of the Fallout Bulls collapsed, gasping, their bodies trembling from the aftershocks.

Morrigan stretched her arms with a satisfied sigh. "Welp. That was easy." She turned back to her gang, her expression smug. "Alright, boys. We've got a new home."

Her words snapped them out of their shock. Jerry let out a wild cheer, and the others quickly followed, raising their fists in the air.

"Hell yeah!"

"This place is ours now!"

"Boss Morri is unstoppable!"

Morrigan kicked aside a groaning Fallout Bull, stepping over him as if he were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

"Now then," she mused, looking at her new headquarters, "let's start redecorating."

Her gang erupted into cheers, their fear replaced with unwavering loyalty.

The Lilith Bros had officially claimed their turf.

"Oh?" Luka raised an eyebrow as he scrolled through his phone, his expression shifting from concentration to mild surprise. After finishing his breakfast and tidying up the house, he had resumed his usual routine—scanning for any odd happenings in the city.

But it wasn't a major news headline that caught his attention.

"That cat is cute," he murmured to himself, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he tapped on a picture of an orange tabby curled up in a tiny cardboard box.

The earpiece in his ear crackled to life. " Get back to work! "

Luka sighed, placing his phone down on the table. "Give me a break, would you?" he muttered, rubbing his temples. He was lounging on the couch, comfortably stretched out, while Eva sat beside him, completely absorbed in whatever was playing on the TV. She didn't even glance his way, her eyes locked onto the screen.

Though she did hear the conversation.

"That's right," she said casually, plucking a potato chip from the bag and popping it into her mouth. "Being unemployed is great! Doing nothing is great!"

Luka grinned and mimicked her posture. "Yes, unemployment boss!" He reached for the chip bag, grabbing a handful like a loyal disciple.

" Don't follow her example goddamit! I'm working my ass off covering after your wreckage!"  

Luka leaned back, completely unbothered. "Retribution," he said lazily, crunching down on a chip. "Now leave me alone."

Unfortunately, fate had something else in store for him.

Luka's phone buzzed to life, the screen flashing with an unknown number. He groaned, already regretting the decision to acknowledge it. With a sigh, he reached for the device, his thumb hovering over the screen, ready to decline—

Until Eva grabbed his wrist.

"Why don't you just sit this one out?" she suggested, her voice smooth, almost sweet. "I'll cover for you."

Luka raised an eyebrow, meeting her gaze. She was grinning from ear to ear, a smile full of mischief. Oh, she was definitely plotting something.

Yeah. I'll just answer myself.

Without another word, he pressed the green button and brought the phone to his ear. "Just enjoy your TV show or whatever," he muttered before answering. "Hello, who's there?"

Static crackled on the other end, followed by hurried, panicked breathing. Then, a shaky male voice finally spoke.

" Detective… Luka? Is it you on the phone?" 

Luka frowned. "Yeah…? Who's this? Something wrong?"

The man exhaled sharply, his voice quivering. " C-Can I meet you at your office? It's closed and—"

He didn't hesitate. "Don't move, I'm coming." After hanging up and standing, he grabbed his coat on a nearby chair.

Eva, still lounging, grabbed another chip from the bag, watching him with an unimpressed look. "You're really getting up for this?"

Luka pulled on his coat with practiced ease. "Guy's scared out of his mind. Not exactly something I can ignore."

She waved a hand dismissively. "Maybe he's just paranoid."

"Or maybe he's actually in danger." Luka shot her a glance. "You coming or staying here to embrace your unemployment philosophy?"

"Just so you know, I'm perfectly fine doing nothing! Thank you!" she waved him off before he stepped out of the house. 

His office was only a few streets away, he would be there in a few moments. However, it was still in shambles after… the portal crisis and he still didn't have the time to move the dino corpse right in front of his broken desk.

"I bet it's rotting by now…" Luka exhaled through his nose, already feeling a headache forming as he picked up the pace. "I thought you sent your robots to clean this mess, Nina," he muttered into his earpiece.

" They were busy helping me on your armor. That you broke, mind you…"

"Yeah, yeah," Luka sighed, stepping over a pothole. "Can you just let it go already? It saved my life. That should be enough."

" I spent a whole week tuning it!!" Nina snapped, her voice filled with wounded pride. "Only for you to take it out once and get it wrecked like a dumbass."

"Okay, next time, how about you fight whatever monster crawls out of a hell portal?" Luka shot back, stepping onto the curb.

There was a pause.

"I give up. "

"That's what I thought," Luka muttered, tapping the earpiece to cut the line. 

He finally arrived at his office… and immediately stopped in his tracks.

A group of rough-looking men stood on the sidewalk, shifting uncomfortably. They weren't just loitering—no, they were waiting. Even from a distance, Luka could see the tension in their shoulders, the uneasy glances they exchanged.

Gang members, judging by the jackets and ink. 

Luka's hand instinctively hovered near his coat pocket, brushing against a binding talisman. He made his approach slow and inviting, reading the atmosphere. 

As he stepped closer, one of them—tall, lean, and visibly nervous—cleared his throat. "Uh… Detective Luka?"

Luka raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Who's asking?"

The man hesitated, then shot a quick look at his companions before stepping forward. "We—uh—We need your help."

Luka tilted his head. "We?"

Another gang member, shorter and stockier, spoke up. "Yeah. It's about… the boss of the Lilith Bros…."

He squinted at the name on their jerseys, lips pressing into a thin line. "Fallout Bulls?" he muttered under his breath. "What a dumb name…"

The gang members visibly tensed. A few shuffled awkwardly, and Luka caught one of them clenching his jaw like he was fighting back the urge to say something.

He cleared his throat, feigning a casual tone. "I mean—uh—Lilith Bros? What a weird name, yeah."

The tension didn't leave their shoulders, but at least no one looked ready to swing at him.

Luka shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, exhaling through his nose. "So, what's the problem? A gang that deals drugs and runs turf on the other side of the city comes to me? What's it got to do with me?"

The tall guy swallowed hard, his voice a bit shaky. "We think she's... not human."

"You deal with supernatural stuff, right?"

"Yeah," Luka nodded, taking their words with caution. "Noticed anything unnatural?"

"Well, her eyes were glowing."

The shorter guy added, "And her hair—it's blue, like, really blue."

Luka pinched the bridge of his nose, the realization hitting him like a brick. "Oh, crap..."

He let out a long breath, looking at them with a mix of frustration and a hint of amusement.

"She made you cum with some aura powers or something like that?"

The tall guy blushed deeply, eyes wide. "H-How do you know that?" 

"Yeah… I know her. Care to tell me where she is? I'm going to give her a beating."

The group went dead silent for a moment, the tension thick in the air. Luka could almost feel them reconsidering whether they should've come to him at all. They weren't used to having someone like him—someone who knew their dirty laundry and wasn't afraid to poke at it.

The shorter guy shuffled his feet, glancing nervously at his comrades, before speaking up. "We... we don't really know where she went after, uh, all that. But we saw her heading back towards her place earlier."

"And where is that?" Luka pressed, his tone sharp.

The tall guy cleared his throat. "It's—uh, it's in the old industrial district. We know the area. It's... it's a warehouse near the edge. Hard to miss."

"Yeah," another one added. "That's where the Yellow Hawks were playing before."

Luka raised an eyebrow at the mention of the name. "Yellow Hawks? A bunch of high school kids pretending to be gangsters? What? That's kind of her vibe, though... never mind."

One of the men swallowed before speaking, a hint of genuine concern in his voice. "Are you going to stop her, detective? She's really strong."

Luka's lips curled into a small, knowing grin. "Would you prefer me to stop you?"

The shorter guy piped up again, more desperate this time. "Look, we just asked because... you're known for dealing with weird stuff in this town. We thought you might actually have a chance against her."

Luka's expression turned serious, and he took a moment to consider their words. "Fine," he said after a pause. "I'll see what I can do. I don't usually deal with gangs, but if it's her... guess I don't have much of a choice."

With that, he turned and started walking off, his mind already calculating the next steps. After taking the train and the bus, he finally reached the industrial district. It was extrapolated from the city, a large industrial area with many hypermarkets and companies of woodworking and painting.

"They said a warehouse near the edge..." Luka murmured to himself, eyes scanning the horizon. He took in the surroundings—endless rows of buildings, most of them abandoned or repurposed for various small-time businesses. The highway stretched out into the distance, and the once-busy railroad tracks, now rusted and overtaken by weeds, snaked off toward forgotten corners of the district.

It all felt like a place left behind.

"Guess I'll have to start from the edge," Luka muttered under his breath, shifting his weight as he began walking, his eyes darting between the warehouses, looking for any sign of activity.

In the distance, a few hundred meters away, the familiar outline of the high school loomed. Kids often came here after school to hang out, skate, or just pass the time. The area was known for its gritty reputation, and that's where the Yellow Hawks, a self-proclaimed gang, had set up shop.

Luka had never understood why they bothered. A bunch of high schoolers, trying to play tough. It was almost laughable, really. But they weren't a major nuisance—just kids trying to act bigger than they were. The locals knew to steer clear of their turf, a tacit understanding to avoid conflict unless absolutely necessary.

Finally, Luka spotted someone—a young guy wearing a yellow jersey hastily painted with blue, clearly cobbled together from whatever supplies the nearby companies had left behind. He was walking toward one of the old warehouses, but froze when Luka called him out. 

"Hey, kiddo," Luka said, raising his finger to get his attention. "You're one of the Yellow Hawks… no, Lilith Bros?"

The kid's eyes widened, and he took a half step back, almost as if he was about to bolt. But Luka could tell he was trying to keep cool, his shoulders tense and his hands twitching at his sides.

The kid took a deep breath and, with a forced nonchalance, replied, "Yeah? What about it?"

Luka studied him carefully. The kid was definitely younger, probably in middle school, though he could've been a little older. He didn't seem like the real muscle, more of an errand boy with an older brother or cousin in the gang.

"What's going on with your boss? I hear she's been causing some trouble."

The kid shifted, glancing nervously over his shoulder toward the warehouse as if weighing his options. "I don't know, man. We just hang out here, you know? Just... get lost."

"Mind taking me to her?"

"Huh…"

"Hey, who're you?" A taller kid, wearing a red cap and wielding a baseball bat, approached, glaring at Luka with a mix of suspicion and bravado.

"Jerry!" the little guy said, quickly walking to his side.

Jerry took a few steps closer, eyeing Luka like a potential threat. "What do you want with boss Morri? Huh?" his voice raised to intimidate the detective. 

"Morri, huh? Guess this is her." Luka sighed before stepping in front of the kid who was as tall as him. "I got business with Morrigan."

Jerry paused, sizing Luka up. His grip tightened on the bat, and for a moment, it seemed like he was debating whether to make a move or back off. 

"Fine, whatever," Jerry muttered after a tense silence. "Follow me."

With that, Jerry turned and started walking toward the warehouse, his bat slung over his shoulder. The younger kid lingered a moment before hurrying after him, throwing a glance over his shoulder to see if Luka was really following.

Luka did, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

Inside the warehouse, it was chaos. Kids were moving in and out, some dragging crates, others preparing objects Luka couldn't immediately identify. The place had an air of disarray, like a makeshift base of operations.

With a swift motion of the hand, while a kid was busy preparing one on a small crate, he stole one of these objects. It was a blue ball, and upon sniffing it, it gave a faint scent of perfume that reassembled closely Morrigan's natural scent.

Succubi pheromones? he thought, quickly realizing what he was holding. He placed the ball back exactly where it was, making sure no one had noticed his quick inspection. The realization hit him harder than expected. Morrigan had to be behind this, using the pheromones to control or manipulate these kids. It wasn't a coincidence anymore.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by the unmistakable, almost playful voice of Morrigan echoing across the warehouse.

"Hora hora! We're going to be the greatest gang ever!" She swaggered into the room, her confidence as infectious as always. The kids immediately shouted their approval, raising their hands in the air in unison, "Yes, boss!"

"Eh? Luka?" Morrigan shot the detective a surprised look.

Luka rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "You've been manipulating kids now? Seriously? Also where did you get that ridiculous cap?"

Morrigan shot him a surprised look, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Come on, they're barely kids. Also, I like the cap."

"I'm 17!" one of them yelled.

"I'm 16!" another chimed in.

"I'm 12!" The youngest voice rang out from behind the group.

Morrigan shot a glare at the youngest kid. "Shut up, lil' bro!" she snapped, before turning back to Luka with a sheepish grin. "Okay, so maybe one of them's a baby. But the rest are basically adults!"

Luka wasn't amused. He picked up one of the blue balls again and held it up to her face. "Care to explain what these are?"

Morrigan's grin widened, her fangs glinting. "That's my special recipe! We're gonna take over the city with these bad boys, yo!"

Luka's eyes narrowed. "So that's your plan? Use pheromones to control these kids, turn them into your little army?"

One of the kids, eager to defend their boss, piped up, "Boss isn't controlling us! She's just real chill!"

"Yeah!" another kid added. "She even plays baseball with us! She throws the balls so fast, it's crazy!"

Luka shook his head, trying to suppress his growing irritation. "You really think this is just a game? You're not just playing baseball, kid. This is serious. She's using you."

"Hey! Don't come causing trouble on our turf!" Jerry said, pointing his baseball bat at him. "Boss Morri can beat you up in a sec'!"

"So if I get this… Child labor, drug dealing and violence plus sexual assault…" he said, counting off on his fingers.

"Oi, oi, chill out, Luka," she said, laughing nervously. "I mean, I was bored, and these guys kinda adopted me. It's not like I planned any of this!"

"Adopted you?" Luka repeated, his voice flat. "You're a centuries-old succubus, Morrigan. They're children."

Morrigan opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, the warehouse doors burst open with a deafening crash. A group of armed figures stormed in, their faces obscured by masks. The kids scattered, screaming, as the intruders began overturning crates and shouting orders.

Morrigan's playful demeanor vanished, her eyes narrowing into slits. "Rivals," she muttered. "I already beat up a few gangs before coming back here today. Guess they didn't get the memo."

One of the masked figures stepped forward, his voice booming. "It's time for you to die, Lilith bros!"

"Fuck off!" Morrigan snapped, her aura flaring. "This city ain't big enough for the both of us anyway!"

Luka, meanwhile, had sidled up to one of Morrigan's gang members—a scrawny kid with a baseball bat and a look of sheer panic on his face. Leaning in, Luka whispered, "How long has she been like this?"

The kid blinked, confused. "Huh? We only met her early this morning."

Luka's eyes widened in disbelief. "IT'S ONLY BEEN ONE DAY?!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the warehouse.

Morrigan shot him a glare over her shoulder. "Hey! I work fast, okay?"

"Four hours, actually."

Before Luka could respond, the warehouse was suddenly alight with a swirling blue aura. Morrigan raised her hand, and the air seemed to crackle with energy. The intruders froze mid-step, their weapons slipping from their grasp as they collapsed one by one, moaning and writhing on the floor.

"Yay! Boss Morri's so cool!" the gang erupted into cheers, their fear forgotten as they swarmed around her like adoring fans.

"Ahahaha! That'll show them!" 

"Okay, time's up. Morrigan, I'm taking you back home," the detective sighed before grabbing her wrist forcefully.

"Hell no! I'm good here! I found a house, just like you wanted!" she retorted, shaking herself free. 

With a sigh, the young man cracked his knuckles and stared her down. "Morrigan… Don't make me do this, we made peace."

"I don't get why you're so mad…" she huffed, stepping back slightly.

"I told you to lay low until I found a way to get you back home," Luka said, his voice rising. "And here you are, leading a gang and beating up people. I've got a whole squad of guys knocking at my door for help!"

Morrigan rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Those guys had it coming. They were trying to muscle in on my turf."

"Your turf?" Luka repeated, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've been here for four hours, Morrigan. Four. Hours. You don't have turf. In fact, this whole city is my turf."

Morrigan's lips twitched, fighting back a grin. "Oh? This whole city is your turf?"

"Yeah."

"Then let's settle it here," she said with a grin, her hand flaring blue. "If I win, you go back to your house and leave me there."

"I thought we made peace," he crossed his arms.

"Oh, we did. But here, I am the leader of the Lilith Bros. Gang-to-gang fight!"

"Beat him up, boss!" the boys shouted, pumping their fists in the air.

"Yeah! Humiliate him!"

But the succubus suddenly shook her head. "Nah, this guy's the only one my powers don't work on." She turned back to Luka, pointing at him with a grin. "So… I challenge you to a game!"

Luka arched a brow. "A game?"

Morrigan nodded, her mischievous smile widening. "A baseball game."

Luka blinked. "You're joking."

"Nope!" She spun one of the blue pheromone balls in her palm before tossing it up and catching it. "One round. You pitch, I bat. If I win, you leave me alone."

"Fine." Luka rolled up his sleeves. "But if I win, you're coming with me."

Morrigan's grin turned downright predatory. "You're on."

A makeshift baseball field was quickly set up in the open space of the warehouse, with crates and metal barrels serving as bases. The gang members were buzzing with excitement, some grabbing chairs to spectate while others marked out an impromptu pitcher's mound.

Luka grabbed one of the blue pheromone balls, weighing it in his hand. It felt a little lighter than a regular baseball, but he could tell it was sturdy enough..

Morrigan stood at the "home plate," gripping a wooden bat one of the gang members handed her. She rested it on her shoulder, cracking her neck with an eager smirk. "One pitch. That's all I need."

Luka let out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders. 

Jerry, the kid with the red cap, stepped forward as the self-appointed umpire. "Alright, rules are simple! Luka pitches, Boss Morri swings. If she hits it out the door, she wins. If she misses, she goes with the asshole!"

"Hey! A bit of respect for your elders!" Luka shot back but the guy just flipped him off. 

Morrigan wiggled her fingers around the bat's grip, settling into her stance. "Hora hora… You sure you wanna do this, Luka? I've been playing with these guys all day. I know my swing is perfect."

Luka lined up his stance, gripping the ball firmly. 

I feel kinda sorry for her…

The warehouse fell into an eerie silence as everyone held their breath.

"You didn't say anything about magic, right?" he smirked with a knowing look.

"Ah?" It startled her for a second as if she was being caught. "I mean I—"

"Nah, it's fine. You can use magic all you want," his smirk grew wider. 

"Oh really? You're gonna regret this!" she wiggled her hips, ready to receive the ball. Her body began glowing, creating a soft light in the dim warehouse.

He took a single step, supporting the weight of his whole body on it. With his left hand, he held it high in the air for a split moment, creating a wide arc. 

However, just before he threw it, a talisman stuck to his skin burst into flames. No, not just one but four, each one enhancing his physical strength to its maximum.

Then, with a sudden twist of his body, Luka hurled the ball forward.

It wasn't just a pitch—it was a missile .

The simple act of throwing created a shockwave, lifting the hair of everyone inside the warehouse. The air cracked as the ball shot toward Morrigan like a bullet, faster than anything she had ever faced before.

Her instincts kicked in. She swung with all her might, her body glowing even brighter as magic surged through her muscles. The bat sliced through the air—

—And hit nothing.

Silence fell over the warehouse.

A gaping hole smoked in the wall, faint embers flickering around its edges.

Morrigan stood frozen in her follow-through, her bat still extended from her swing. Her hair, ruffled by the shockwave, slowly settled.

The gang, wide-eyed, gawked at the destruction.

Jerry was the first to break the silence. "…Uh, what the hell was that?"

Another kid gulped. "Boss… you… missed."

Morrigan's mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. "No… no way…" Her grip on the bat tightened. "When did you learn how to throw that fast?"

Luka casually adjusted his sleeve, brushing away the sweat from his palm. "Nah, I just made sure to give everything in that pitch."

The gang was still frozen in shock, taking in the aftermath. Some kids were whispering among themselves.

"She actually lost…"

"Damn… Luka's insane."

"I think I peed a little."

Jerry cleared his throat, stepping forward as the self-appointed umpire. "Uh… well, since Boss Morri missed, that means… uh…" He hesitated, before looking at Luka. "She's gotta go with the asshole."

Luka shot him a deadpan look. "Dude, really?"

Jerry shrugged. "Hey, I just call it like I see it."

Morrigan groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Ughhh, fiiine! Whatever! I'll go! But this sucks, just so you know."

The gang let out a collective sigh, half disappointed, half relieved.

One of the younger kids sniffled. "We'll never forget you, Boss…"

Morrigan rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up, I was here for five hours."

Jerry nodded solemnly. "The best five hours of our lives."

Luka grabbed Morrigan's wrist before she could come up with another excuse to stay. "Alright, enough of the goodbyes. Let's go."

"Stop taking my wrist, I'm not a kid." she shook him off before crossing her arms.

Luka sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Alright then, Boss Morri, walk yourself out like an adult."

Morrigan pouted but ultimately followed, dragging her feet like a kid forced to leave recess early. As they stepped out of the warehouse and into the dimming city streets, she cast one last glance over her shoulder.

The gang was still watching her, some wiping away fake tears, others saluting dramatically.

"Go on without me," Morrigan called back. "Stay strong, my brothers."

"We'll keep the legend alive!" one of them shouted.

"Make us proud, Boss!" another added.

Jerry, however, had already turned around, muttering, "Time to find a new boss…"

Luka rolled his eyes. "You really had them wrapped around your finger, huh?"

"Of course! I'm the best!" 

"Yeah, yeah. Now explain this 'special drug' of yours." Luka pulled one of the blue balls from his pocket, rolling it between his fingers. "Pheromones, huh? What exactly were you planning?"

She froze, her eyes avoiding his. 

"Morrigan…?"

"Fine, maybe I got carried away playing with them," she admitted with a soft sigh.

"Eh."

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing. Let's go home."