I got transmigrated with Incubus system-Chapter 16: Submission strike

Arthur found a private training room in the east tower – a small round room with strong walls and basic equipment. No one used it this late, and it had special wards that hid magic, making it perfect for secret practice.

He lit the wall torches with a simple lighter – no need to waste energy on fancy magic he could barely control anyway – and stood in the middle of the room.

In the corner stood an old wooden practice dummy that generations of princes had used for training.

[New Ability: Submission Strike (Rank 1)]

[Description: Use a harem member's loyalty to weaken an opponent's will]

[Cost: 30 Energy]

[Duration: 10 seconds]

[Range: Line of sight]

[Cooldown: 120 seconds]

Arthur stared at the practice dummy, trying to picture Gareth's face on its blank wooden head. He focused on his connection with Lily, remembering the pure loyalty that had flowed from her into him just hours ago.

[Submission Strike: Activate?]

[Energy Cost: 30]

[Current Energy: 195/200]

[Select Harem Member: Lily/Valentina]

"Lily," Arthur whispered, reaching for that feeling of her devotion still fresh inside him.

[Channeling: Lily]

[Primary Attributes: Loyalty 98%, Submission 100%]

[Strike Configured: Precision Focus]

[Energy Cost: -30]

Arthur held out his hand toward the dummy. Energy gathered in his palm – not fiery like normal magic, but a subtle shimmer that felt like Lily's essence. He pushed the power out with a quick hand motion.

An almost invisible wave rippled through the air. When it hit the dummy, nothing happened at first.

Then the wooden face seemed to change, looking a bit like Gareth. The illusion only lasted moments, but in those seconds, Arthur felt strangely connected to the dummy – like if it were alive, it would hesitate and doubt itself.

[Submission Strike: Success]

[Effect: Target will hesitate and have weakened resolve for 10 seconds]

[Cooldown: 120 seconds]

Arthur walked around the dummy, thinking about what this meant. Ten seconds of hesitation in a fight could be huge – enough time to dodge a spell or land a critical hit. But the ability didn't seem to do much damage on its own.

He waited for the cooldown to finish, then got ready to try again, this time focusing on Valentina's essence.

[Submission Strike: Activate?]

[Energy Cost: 30]

[Current Energy: 165/200]

[Select Harem Member: Lily/Valentina]

"Valentina," Arthur commanded, reaching for that mix of ambition, possessiveness, and cunning that defined their blood bond.

[Channeling: Valentina]

[Primary Attributes: Ambition 95%, Cunning 90%, Possessiveness 90%]

[Strike Configured: Aggressive Dominance]

[Energy Cost: -30]

This time, when the energy left his hand, it had a visible red tint – Valentina's blood magic influence.

The dummy shook when struck, and the face that appeared looked shocked and submissive.

Surprisingly, small cracks formed in the wood, like the strike actually had physical force.

[Submission Strike: Critical Success]

[Effect: Target will submit for 10 seconds and have 25% less physical strength]

[Blood Magic Influence: Minor physical damage added]

[Cooldown: 120 seconds]

As the energy from the second strike faded, Arthur felt a strange warmth building inside him.

The feeling spread through his body, centering in his chest then flowing out to his arms and legs.

His vision blurred briefly, replaced by glowing symbols and messages.

[Energy Threshold Reached]

[Experience Accumulated: Sufficient]

[System Evolution Triggered]

[Level Up: 2 to 3]

[All abilities strengthened by 15%]

[Physical Attributes Enhanced: Strength +20%, Stamina +15%]

[Harem Capacity Increased: 3 to 5]

Arthur gasped as power flow through him. His muscles tensed and relaxed in waves, feeling stronger and denser.

He flexed his hands, amazed at the new strength flowing through them. The physical enhancement was unexpected but welcome – maybe now he wouldn't be so outmatched if tomorrow's Trial turned into a physical fight.

[Evolution Successful]

[Level 3 Incubus Abilities Unlocked]

[Physical Attributes Enhanced]

[Harem Capacity Expanded]

The wooden dummy across the room suddenly looked fragile, breakable.

With a quick movement that surprised even himself, Arthur crossed the distance and struck it with his palm.

The dummy split down the middle, cracking nearly in two from the force of the blow.

Arthur stared at his hand in amazement. The evolution had changed him more than he'd expected.

[Quest Update: Trial of Arcane Mastery]

[Status: Preparation Advancing]

[New Abilities Available]

[Countdown: 1 day remaining]

[Victory Chance: 45% ↑]

As he left the training room, Arthur walked with new confidence. He could feel the enhanced strength in his body.

Servants he passed in the hallway seemed to press themselves against the walls without thinking, their eyes lowered in automatic respect.

Tonight's session with Beatrice would be more than training—it would be the start of his expanded harem, the next step in his rise to power.

And afterward, he would need to keep control over Valentina while getting more information about tomorrow's Trial.

He stopped at a window overlooking the gardens, where Gareth was training with the Ironwood mages, fire jumping from his fingertips in impressive displays.

Arthur watched calmly, no longer intimidated by his brother's elemental power.

"Enjoy your fire magic, brother," he said quietly. "Soon you'll learn there are better ways to do it."

Arthur headed to the North Tower Library to meet Valentina before his session with Beatrice. He needed information to plan for both the Trial and Thorne's assessment.

The library was quiet, most nobles having left to prepare for evening meals. Arthur slipped through the heavy oak doors, immediately sensing Valentina among the tall bookshelves.

She stood by the window, her figure outlined against the red sunset. Her dark dress seemed to absorb the dying light, making her look wrapped in shadows.

When she turned to face him, her eyes gleamed with that familiar mix of calculation and desire.

"You're early," she said, her voice a silky whisper that carried easily in the quiet space.

Arthur approached her, noticing subtle changes in her behavior since their last meeting.

The jealousy from before had been replaced.

[Emotional Sensing Activated]

[Energy Cost: -5]

[Target: Valentina]

[Ambition: 95%, Cunning: 90%, Desire: 75%, Possessiveness: 85%]

"I thought we might need more time," he replied, stopping just out of reach. "Tomorrow is the Trial, and Thorne wants a magical assessment in the morning."

A flash of concern crossed her face. "That's... troubling. His investigation must be moving faster than we thought."

"Which is why I need every advantage I can get," Arthur said, moving closer. "What have you found out?"

Valentina's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Always straight to business. No time for small talk?"

Arthur reached out, tracing a finger along her jaw. "We can mix business with pleasure. You know that better than anyone."

She leaned into his touch, her eyelids fluttering slightly. "Indeed. And I have something that might really interest you." She pulled a small folded note from her sleeve. "I've made contact with Madame Roselle."

Arthur raised his eyebrows. "The Pleasure District madam? How did you manage that?"

"We have... mutual interests," Valentina said mysteriously. "She's been watching Judge Bainbridge for years. It seems our respected judge has specific tastes that would ruin him if made public."

"Blackmail material," Arthur said, taking the note and reading its contents. The details were explicit—Bainbridge's preferences for being dominated, humiliated, treated like sex slave. "This could force him to reconsider his loyalty to Gareth."

"Exactly," Valentina purred, stepping closer until her body nearly pressed against his. "But there's more.

Madame Roselle has also noticed strange visitors in the Pleasure District. Arathian agents, asking questions about magical anomalies in the palace."

Arthur tensed. "Foreign powers are interested in the succession?"

"Not just the succession," Valentina said, her eyes searching his.

"They're specifically interested in unusual magical signatures. Energy patterns that don't match traditional elemental or divine magic."

The implication was clear—they might be looking for something like his incubus powers. Arthur turned away, moving toward the window to hide his reaction.

"There's something else," Valentina continued, following him. "Madame Roselle believes she can help with Thorne's assessment tomorrow. Her establishment provides... services... to certain members of the magical community. She knows tricks for temporarily masking magical signatures."

Arthur turned back to her, interested. "And what would she want in exchange?"

"Protection," Valentina said simply. "The new king's protection for her business. And perhaps... a more personal connection to the throne."

[Strategy Updated]

[New Objectives Added]

- Contact Madame Roselle about Judge Bainbridge

- Prepare magical misdirection for Thorne's assessment

- Develop counter-strategy for fire-based Trial challenges]

"I see," Arthur said, considering the implications. Adding Madame Roselle to his growing network—maybe even his harem—would provide valuable intelligence and resources.

With his newly expanded capacity, it was now a viable option.

"You're not jealous?" he asked, watching Valentina carefully. "You seemed quite possessive before."

Valentina's smile was sharp. "I've had time to think about our arrangement. I understand the necessity of your... collection.

As long as I remain your primary confidante, your queen in all but name, I can accept the others."

Arthur stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He could feel the blood bond pulsing between them, carrying echoes of her emotions—ambition, calculation, and a deep, possessive desire.

"You'll always be special, Valentina," he murmured, his hand sliding around her waist. "No one else shares our blood bond. No one else knows what I truly am."

She tilted her head back, exposing her pale throat. "Then show me that I'm still yours. Before you go to your little training session with the Academy girl."

Arthur's grip tightened, pulling her against him as his mouth descended on hers. The kiss was hungry, demanding, a reminder of the power dynamic between them. When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily.

"I have time before I need to meet Beatrice," he said, his voice low and rough. "And I think we need to seal our new understanding."

Valentina's eyes darkened with desire as she backed toward the reading table in the corner. "Then let's not waste a moment, my prince."

As the last rays of sunlight faded from the library windows, Arthur claimed Valentina once more, strengthening their bond while his mind raced with plans for tomorrow's challenges.

The Trial, Thorne's assessment, the Arathian investigation—all pieces in a complex game that he was increasingly confident he could win.

[Energy Harvested: +65]

[Current Energy: 195/200]

[Blood Bond Strengthened]

[New Intelligence Acquired: Bainbridge's weakness, Thorne countermeasures, Arathian interest]

Afterward, as they straightened their clothes, Valentina handed him a small vial of dark liquid.

"From Madame Roselle. Drink this before Thorne's assessment. It will mask your unique energy signature for about an hour—enough time to fool his detection spells."

Arthur pocketed the vial. "Thank you. This could make all the difference."

"Just remember," Valentina said, her voice suddenly serious, "tomorrow changes everything. Once you defeat Gareth in the Trial, there's no going back. The court will see you as a true contender for the throne."

Arthur nodded, feeling the weight of tomorrow's importance. "I'll be ready."

As he left the library, he realized he was late to meet Beatrice.

"Damn," he thought, "I need to come up with a better excuse."

[Time Remaining Before Trial: 14 hours]