Leon barely had time to process what Lilia had said before she moved. The elf’s emerald eyes locked onto him with unsettling intensity, and in the space of a single breath, she raised a hand. Arcane symbols flickered to life around her, glowing with an eerie, pulsating energy. The air between them thickened, charged with something unnatural.


    Leon took an instinctive step back, heart hammering. "Hey, hold on! What—"


    A blast of wind surged forward, slamming into him with the force of a charging bull. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. Dirt filled his mouth as he gasped, rolling onto his side. Every nerve in his body screamed, not from pain, but from the sheer wrongness of the situation.


    Lilia stood over him now, her face unreadable. The glow from her magic faded, but the tension in the air remained. "Good. You’re not dead."


    Leon coughed, wiping grit from his lips. "Not dead? What the hell was that for?"


    Her expression didn’t change. "You need to learn quickly."


    Leon pushed himself up, his limbs still shaky. "Learn what? How to get thrown around by a magical elf?"


    "You’re the Hero of Eros." Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "If you can’t handle a little pressure, you won’t last long in this world."


    A bitter laugh slipped from Leon’s lips. He wasn’t even sure why he was laughing—maybe it was the absurdity of it all. A day ago, he was just another guy, slogging through life. Now, he was apparently some kind of "hero," getting ragdolled by an elf in the middle of a forest.


    He exhaled, forcing his thoughts into order. "Alright. Fine. You’ve made your point. Now, maybe instead of knocking me on my ass, you can explain what’s actually going on?"


    Lilia studied him for a moment, then, to his surprise, nodded. "Stand up."


    He did, brushing dirt from his clothes. As he straightened, the glowing panel from before reappeared in front of him. It still looked like a video game interface, shimmering in the air.


    Quest Updated: Survive Your First Test


    Objective: Defend Yourself Against Lilia Everhart.


    Leon frowned. "You’ve got to be kidding me."


    "Magic, combat, and… other skills will define your survival here," Lilia said, taking a step back. "The Eros System is powerful, but it doesn’t mean anything if you die before learning how to use it."


    Leon’s brain latched onto those words. Other skills. The way she said it wasn’t subtle. But before he could dwell on it, she raised a hand again. Another flicker of energy coiled around her fingertips, crackling with raw potential.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    He had a choice: stand there like an idiot and get blasted again… or fight back.


    His eyes darted to the panel. His stats were displayed now, though most of them were low. Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence… all basic. But at the bottom, one thing stood out.


    Skill: Eros Infusion (Level 1) - Enhances all abilities when engaging in physical intimacy.


    Leon grimaced. "Well, that’s not exactly helpful right now."


    Lilia’s fingers snapped, and another blast shot toward him. Instinct took over. He dove to the side, hitting the ground in an awkward roll, narrowly dodging the attack. The burst of magic struck a tree behind him, leaving a scorched mark on the bark.


    "Good," Lilia murmured. "You’re not completely hopeless."


    Leon’s breath came in fast, shallow gulps. This was real. This wasn’t some dream or hallucination. He could feel the weight of his body, the strain in his muscles, the heat radiating from where the spell had nearly grazed him. His survival instinct flared, cutting through the lingering disbelief.


    Fine. If this was real, then he needed to start acting like it.


    He straightened, focusing. The Eros System—whatever the hell it really was—had given him an ability. Even if the description was vague, it had to mean something.


    A thought occurred to him. If his abilities were linked to intimacy… then maybe even contact could trigger something. It was a long shot, but at this point, he was out of options.


    Lilia’s next attack was already forming, but Leon didn’t wait this time. He lunged forward, closing the distance between them before she could react.


    The moment his fingers brushed against her wrist, something clicked.


    A surge of warmth spread through him—no, not just warmth. Power. It wasn’t like the rush of adrenaline he’d felt before; this was different. It was like a floodgate had opened, energy pouring into his body from the brief touch alone. His senses sharpened, his heartbeat steadied. The world around him became painfully clear.


    Lilia’s eyes widened. "What—"


    Leon moved without thinking. He twisted her arm just enough to throw her off balance, stepping behind her. She stumbled slightly, and for the first time, her composure cracked.


    She wasn’t expecting that.


    Leon’s grip on her wrist tightened, and the glow of the interface shifted.


    Eros Infusion Activated: Strength +2, Reflexes +2, Combat Instincts Engaged.


    His body reacted before his brain could process the words. He pivoted, sweeping her legs from under her. Lilia hit the ground with a startled sound, her silver hair fanning out beneath her.


    Silence.


    Leon breathed hard, half-expecting the interface to tell him he’d just made a terrible mistake. Instead, the notification simply updated.


    Test Complete. +100 Experience Gained.


    Lilia blinked up at him, her expression unreadable. Then, to his complete shock, she laughed.


    It wasn’t a mocking laugh. It was amused, maybe even impressed.


    "Well, well," she murmured. "You might actually have potential after all."


    Leon exhaled, finally stepping back. The power boost from his skill faded, leaving him slightly lightheaded. "Glad to hear it. Now, seriously, what the hell is going on?"


    Lilia sat up, brushing dirt from her sleeve. "Fine. I’ll explain properly this time."


    She met his gaze, her smirk returning. "But first… we need to find you some allies. You’ll need them."


    Leon didn’t argue. He didn’t know what this world had in store for him, but one thing was clear—he wasn’t going to survive alone.


    And if the Eros System was as powerful as it seemed… he had a feeling things were only going to get more complicated from here.