Harem Trials

[Harem Member: Alice Glory has joined. Passive buffs strengthened. New ability unlocked.]

Elian opened his stats menu and quickly read the new ability that he had received.

[Abilities: SoulBound. BondBreaker]

It was only then he realised he could tap on the abilities, and learn what they were.

He tapped SoulBond first.

[SoulBound. Allows the user to grant a member of his harem a random ability.]

As though the words had some sort of magical property, he felt himself gain a new understanding of himself and the ability after reading its description.

He knew how to activate the ability, and it would work as long as the harem member was in range.

This is strong, but risky. What if they're given a useless ability?

Tap, tap, tap.

Footsteps made their way up the stairs.

There's no time.

"Alice, I need you to listen closely," Elian said, putting his phone away and placing his hands on her shoulders.

She looked at him, confusion on her face, before nodding.

"There are people on their way to this rooftop, and I think they're here to hurt me. I need your help to fight against them.."

Her face grew even more confused for a moment, before letting out a chuckle, thinking it was some sort of joke.

Elian kept his grip on her shoulders, looking her in the eyes with a straight face.

"Wait.. you're being serious?" She said, a smirk leaving her face. Elian nodded in response.

"I don't know how to fight, how am I meant to help you? You should have called the police!"

Alice said, growing frustrated, and worried.

Wait. She actually cares about my safety?

Thats a first.

This time, Elians lips turned into a smirk.

"You're right, you can't fight. Not yet."

He activated SoulBound, and instantly the world changed around him.

The sky went dark, though he wasn't sure if it was an effect being played on his mind or something that could be seen by everybody else.

Then, a force struck silently from the sky like lightning. It was golden and powerful but harmless.

It struck Alice, who let out a screech from the shock, but otherwise, she was left unharmed.

The force began to encapsulate her body, as the beam disappeared from the sky.

Around her form was now a golden forcefield, which radiated with an energy so powerful, that he let go of her shoulders out of fear.

Alice looked at her arms, noticing the field that went around her body, and her face changed from fear to awe.

"What is this?" She said, and her words seemed to trigger something on my phone.

Bzzt

Bzzt

Two notifications.

I checked them whilst Alice continued inspecting the forcefield around her.

[SoulBond activated:

Ability: Golden Bastion (Immune to all physical attacks for 5 minutes, increase to all physical attributes.)

Recipient: Alice Glory.]

Rather than explaining what it was, Elian simply showed his phone screen to Alice.

She read it carefully.

"Is this some sort of game? One of those systems?"

Elian was dumbfounded.

How does she know about games and systems? Is Alice, the most popular girl in the school, actually a nerd?

He saved the thought for another time.

"Yes, that's the best way to think of it. I'll explain the rest later, but for now, we need to focus on-"

Slam

His words were cut off as the door leading to the rooftop slammed open.

Elian and Alice instantly jumped backwards, facing the door and keeping close to each other.

They watched intensely, as two students emerged from the door.

The first was Adam. Now that they were up close, Elian could see how handsome the man truly was.

He had a smirk on his face, revealing shining white teeth. His body was tall and lean, evident by the fact that his sleeves were rolled up, revealing muscular forearms. And his blonde hair was neatly combed backwards.

This man... He looks strong.

Mercy exited through the door next. Black hair falling to her back. She had a confident look on her face, and her eyes were the same colour as her hair.

Elian found her beautiful, but he couldn't afford to admire her. He had to stay on guard.

"Hello there, Elian Star," Adam said in a mocking tone, as they stood at the other side of the roof. A few metres between the two duos. "Is she your first harem member?"

Elian cursed under his breath.

He had wished that the man would not reveal the nature of the game so fast, or Alice might think that Elian was only talking to her to gain strength. But there was no helping it now.

Adam let out a cat-calling whistle.

"Not bad, she's pretty hot. I don't know how someone like you managed to get-"

His words were cut off, as Alice sprinted towards him.

She was fast, incredibly fast, catching them all off guard.

It only took her a second to end up in front of Adam, arm pulled back and ready to deliver a punch. But Mercy reacted just as fast, stepping between them, and blocking the strike with a simple swipe of her arm.

Alice's arm recoiled from the block, and then Mercy delivered an opened palm strike to her chest.

The impact was hard, sending Alice tumbling backwards until she ended up next to Elian again.

He rushed over to her, checking if she was alright, but the woman flashed him a smile and brushed him off.

"I'm fine, I felt nothing at all." She said between breaths "It must be the ability you gave me."

Elian sighed with relief. He was shocked that the ability actually worked.

"I didn't come to kill you, Elian. You were simply just the closest school nearby. I needed to test my opponents."

Alice pushed herself back to her feet, preparing to strike again, but I put my hand out to stop her.

"Now that I've seen one of you face to face, I realised that I am likely the strongest of us all. Look behind you, Elian. Look at your school gate."

He hesitated, before turning around, looking over the edge of the rooftop.

The school was empty, the students had all left to go home.

Except for two.

Standing on guard were two women, wearing white school shirts and black skirts.

They were too far for him to notice any specific features, but reality settled on him fast.

"You already have three members?" Elian asked in disbelief, and Adam let out a maniacal laugh.

"If I wanted to kill you, you would have been dead a while ago. You're safe for now, I just wanted to say Hi and confirm that there were others like me in this great game. But it doesn't matter, the victor has already been decided.

Did you even notice that once you've collected three members, you're granted the ability to give them classes of their own? No? Of course you didn't, because you're already so far behind me."

As he rambled on like a psychopath, Adam placed his arm around Mercy's shoulders, whilst his laughter continued.

His arm reached down and cupped one of Mercy's plump breasts in his hand. The girl's cheeks reddened, and her red lips slightly opened with pleasure.

Then, he used his fingers to pinch the girl's nipples, forcing her to let out a cute moan.

"...mhm~♡"

"We'll be seeing you soon, Elian. Unless one of the other competitors takes you out first. I've got other schools to visit."

They turned around and slowly made their way down the stairs, leaving Elian and Alice on the roofs by themselves.

Elian let out a breath that he didn't realise that he was holding.

He's right. He's way too strong for me... I would have been no match. Not against four of them.

And he said that even his harem members have classes..

His fists clenched in anger, as he realised the gravity of the situation he had been brought into.

Gone was the mundane life of reading novels and relaxing at home every day. The simple thought deepened his rage.

Then, he felt something something soft on his cheek.

....Mwah ~ ♡

Alice had leaned over and kissed him, before wrapping her arms around him in comfort.

She had been dragged into the cruel game, and yet she was still there for Elian.

"It's okay Elian, you're better than him."

The words of reassurance truly helped, and he was filled with a new goal.

There could be others just like Adam, cruel womanisers who were able to get any girl they wanted.

And not only will they be a danger to me. But to Alice as well.

...

I will need to build my harem. Fast. I refuse to lose to the likes of him.