The Incubus System Chapter 1438. Stress-relief Incarnate
The Incubus System Chapter 1438. Stress-relief Incarnate
It ducked back behind the tree the moment my gaze lingered too long.
I smirked slightly.
“Shy, huh?”
I tilted my head a little, eyes narrowing just enough.
“System… Analyze.”
A faint pulse flickered across my vision.
[Target Identified]
[Name: Lumimoss]
[Level: 10]
[Race: Light Creature]
…
I blinked.
“That’s it?”
No extra data. No skill list. No hidden traits. Not even a proper breakdown.
I glanced at its tiny glowing body again, watching how the soft particles drifted off it like it was leaking light on purpose.
[HP: 150/150]
[SP: 30/30]
“…Yeah, okay.”
That explained a lot.
Low level. Barely any mana. No threat.
I exhaled softly and leaned back just a fraction.
“So you’re basically wildlife.”
Or… the Light Realm’s version of it.
Not exactly animals.
Not exactly monsters.
Something in between.
Something that just… existed here.
I watched as it peeked again, a little braver this time, its glow pulsing faintly like it was trying to decide whether I was interesting or dangerous.
“Relax,” I muttered. “I’m not here for you.”
It didn’t understand.
Obviously.
Something else moved on my right.
Bigger this time.
Much bigger.
My eyes snapped toward it.
And yeah.
That one?
Definitely not cute.
Tall.
Almost humanoid, but stretched.
Its limbs were too long.
Too thin.
Like branches given life.
Its body looked like bark layered over something that pulsed faintly underneath, veins of soft blue light running through cracks in its surface. Its “face” wasn’t really a face, just a split in the bark that opened slightly, like it was breathing.
Watching.
Carefully.
It didn’t move closer.
Didn’t attack.
Just stood there.
Still.
Like it was deciding something.
“You’re definitely not a dog,” I muttered.
It didn’t react.
Just… observed.
Alright then.
And then… Something brushed past my leg.
I froze.
Looked down.
And yeah.
That one?
That one almost made me break character.
Because it was…
Small.
Round.
Fluffy.
Like an oversized glowing rabbit… mixed with a cloud.
Its ears drooped slightly, made of translucent light that shimmered every time it moved. Its eyes, actual eyes this time, big, soft, and glowing faintly gold.
It looked up at me.
I looked down at it.
We both paused.
“Don’t,” I whispered to myself.
Because yeah.
My hand twitched.
I wanted to pat it.
Really wanted to.
It looked that pettable.
Like stress-relief incarnate.
But…
Timing.
Context.
Situation.
This was not the time to pet mysterious glowing forest creatures in a goddess domain.
So I didn’t.
Barely.
The creature tilted its head slightly.
Then… stepped back.
Not running.
Not scared.
Just… cautious.
And that’s when it clicked.
None of them were attacking.
None of them looked aggressive.
If anything?
They looked…
Wary.
Afraid, even.
Of me.
I glanced down at my armor.
At my claws.
At the dried streaks of divine blood still marking parts of it.
“…Ah.”
Right.
That.
Angel blood.
Divine blood.
Mixed with demonic energy.
Yeah, that probably screamed “don’t mess with me” in every possible language.
“Good,” I muttered. “Let’s keep it that way.”
I kept walking.
The creatures followed.
At a distance.
More of them now.
Different shapes.
Different sizes.
Some floating.
Some crawling.
Some blending into the trees so well I only noticed them when they moved.
And all of them?
Watching.
Not attacking.
Just… observing.
Like I was some kind of rare event.
Which, to be fair…
I probably was.
The temple grew larger.
Closer.
More detailed.
Stone.
White.
Gold accents that glowed faintly under the shifting light.
Vines wrapped around parts of it, not wild, but controlled. Placed. Like even nature here followed a design plan.
“Alright,” I muttered. “Final boss vibes.”
Because yeah.
This was it.
The place.
The source.
The trap.
All of it.
And then, sound.
Soft at first.
Barely there.
Then clearer.
A melody.
Voices.
Singing.
Not loud.
Not overwhelming.
Just… present.
And it did something.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
My shoulders relaxed slightly.
My breathing steadied.
The tension in my chest eased just a fraction.
“Wait.”
I slowed.
That song.
I’d heard it before.
Somewhere.
Not exactly like this.
But similar.
“Where the hell…”
I frowned slightly.
Because I couldn’t place it.
And that annoyed me.
A lot.
The place itself was doing something.
Not forcing.
Not controlling.
Just… influencing.
Subtle.
Refined.
Annoyingly effective.
I shook my head slightly. ‘Stay sharp.’
Because calming effect or not, still a trap.
Always a trap.
The gates came into view.
Massive.
Tall.
Carved with intricate patterns that shifted slightly when you looked too long.
Two figures stood in front of it.
Guards.
Definitely guards.
Humanoid this time.
But different.
Their armor was cleaner.
Sharper.
Not like the ones before.
More refined.
More… important.
I slowed.
Raised my hand slightly.
Light gathered.
Redemption formed again in my grip.
Because yeah.
Last time I met angels?
They attacked first.
So… Preparation.
Just in case.
I stepped closer.
Watched them carefully.
They watched me.
Tension built.
Silent.
Heavy.
And then… Nothing.
They didn’t attack.
Didn’t move.
Didn’t even raise their weapons.
They just… looked at me.
One of them tightened his grip slightly.
The other shifted his stance.
Displeasure.
Clear.
Obvious.
But no hostility.
I tilted my head slightly.
“Not stabbing me this time?”
No answer.
Figures.
I lowered Redemption slightly.
Still ready.
Still active.
But not raised.
Because yeah, if they weren’t attacking?
No point escalating.
The guard on the left finally spoke.
Low voice.
Controlled.
“You are expected.”
I blinked.
“I am?”
That was new.
The other one stepped aside slightly.
Just enough.
Not welcoming.
Not friendly.
But allowing.
The gate behind them… opened.
Slow.
Heavy.
Soundless.
Everything here was annoyingly elegant.
I stared at the opening.
Then at them.
Then back at the opening.
“You guys aren’t even going to pretend to stop me?”
Silence.
Yeah.
That tracked.
I exhaled slowly.
“Alright then.”
I stepped forward.
Past them.
Into the temple.
And yeah, the moment I crossed that threshold?
The air changed again.
Heavier.
Focused.
Like I just stepped into the center of something important.
Something watching.
Something waiting.
I rolled my shoulders slightly, wings shifting behind me as my grip tightened on Redemption.
“Let’s get this over with.”
Because whoever, or whatever, was waiting inside?
I had a feeling this was where things actually started.