A soft chime echoed in his head, and the System lit up with that now-familiar neon purple glow:
[System Prompt – Choose Your Response]
A. Careful, Demon Queen. I might get addicted to your dreams.
B. I'll try, but if I die in my sleep, it's your fault.
C. I was just about to say the same. Who's stalking who now?
D. Say nothing. Let the silence do the flirting.
Jerry grinned and tapped C, heart pounding with a mix of nerves and bravado.
Jerry:I was just about to say the same. Who's stalking who now?
Vess 🔥💋:Tch. Cocky little mortal. Don't tempt me, or I'll visit your dreams personally. And trust me—you won't be sleeping after that.
Jerry:Promise? 😏
Vess:Good night, Firestarter. Try not to set the bed on fire.
He stared at the screen for a beat, then sank back into his pillow with a snort.
Zen's voice floated into his thoughts, all hushed mischief. "She wants him. Bad."
Ragnar chimed in, deadpan, "Or she wants to kill him. Same thing in demon tongue."
And Alric, ever the worrier, muttered, "…Jerry, sleep with protection. Holy protection."
Jerry laughed into his pillow. Demon flirts were dangerous—and kind of addictive.
By morning, his limbs felt like overcooked noodles, but pride—and the System's constant reminders—dragged him to the gym.
[Reminder: You've got a spot to earn… and a waifu to impress.]
He hoped to beat the crowd, but no such luck. The usual suspects were already there: Minotaur guy doing upside-down meditation, a centaur adjusting the leg press like it owed him money. This gym didn't do normal.
Then she walked in.
Vess.
Painted-on black leggings, a crop top that read "Pain? I call it foreplay," and a high ponytail that looked like it could slice steel. She didn't walk—she prowled. And Jerry, mid-stretch, almost toppled off the bench.
Zen whistled. "Here comes trouble."
Ragnar muttered, "Brace your soul."
"Morning," Vess greeted, her smile calm and killer. "Hope your pride healed."
He nodded, not trusting his voice. "Mostly. Muscles are still negotiating with gravity."
She strolled to the squat rack, all confidence and curve.
"Spot me?"
He swallowed. "Sure."
Jerry moved in behind her, maybe a little too close, but hey—he was just trying to be helpful. Right?
Then she dipped into her squat.
And backed straight into him.
Direct contact. Her hips pressed against him with all the subtlety of a collision warning.
Jerry froze.
His brain short-circuited.
The System blinked to life in the corner of his eye.
[ALERT: Glutes-to-Groin Alignment Achieved]Composure Status: DOOMEDEmbarrassment Level: Maxed OutTrait Unlocked: "Happy Accident"
She didn't move. Not immediately.
She lingered.
Was it on purpose?
Jerry couldn't think. Couldn't even blink.
Finally, she rose—slow, deliberate—and racked the bar. Then she turned to him. Close. Too close.
"You call that spotting?" she asked, voice low and teasing. "You didn't even flinch."
"I… wasn't sure if I was allowed to."
Her finger tapped his chest gently. "Next time, don't be afraid to get hands-on."
His lungs forgot how to breathe.
Zen whispered, "He just got reverse-bumped by a boss-level waifu."
Ragnar: "His blood pressure is unacceptable."
Alric: "He needs ice. Or divine intervention."
The rest of the workout blurred. Jerry couldn't focus on reps, weights, or physics. Only on the smirks she threw over her shoulder. The way her eyes lingered just a second longer. And once—just once—a fingertip brushed his arm when she handed him a towel.
His System was overheating.
As they walked out together, Vess glanced at him, casual but curious.
"You're improving," she said. "Still shaky. But you'll get there."
"Thanks," Jerry replied, surprising himself with a bit of boldness. "I'm a fast learner. Especially with the right teacher."
She smiled at that, and for the first time, it looked… softer. Like he'd said something real.
"Careful," she said. "Say things like that and I'll start expecting homework."
For a moment, her eyes lingered—less flirty, more… thoughtful?
"You're different, Jerry. Most humans can't keep up."
Before he could answer, the System chimed in again.
[New Side Quest: Study Session – Demon Queen Style]Private Training InviteLocation: Unknown (Until She Texts First)Estimated XP: High
[UPDATE: Vess has bookmarked your 'Happy Accident.' Expect repercussions.]
Jerry blinked. "Wait, what—"
Vess leaned in, whispering near his ear. "Same time tomorrow. And next time? Don't flinch."
And then she walked away.
Hips swaying like the final boss of temptation.
He stood there a full minute before exhaling.
Zen: "You lived."
Alric: "Barely."
Ragnar: "And tomorrow… you go again."