The Life of Lust Demon

Hearing the voice, Anos turned around to face Hannah, and for a moment, he was caught off guard.

Tall and graceful, her figure was the epitome of allure—curves that seemed to defy logic and a face that could topple kingdoms. Her eyes held a mischievous glint, enough to stir anyone's soul. She was breathtakingly perfect. Well, almost… if not for the lollipop sticking out of her mouth.

"Ding... You have successfully triggered the mission [Claim Hannah's Heart]. Mission Duration: 2 months. Mission Failure Penalty: Drop to Stage-Six. Mission Reward: Unquantifiable Technique [Ethereal Shift]. Current Favorability: 10."

Anos: "…"

Oh, here we go again.

It wasn't surprising at this point. His system had a knack for popping up with absurd missions the moment a beautiful girl entered the picture. Before, it was all about teasing and earning points for harmless fun. Now? It had evolved into full-blown conquest missions. It didn't help that the stakes were climbing. Drop six whole stages if he failed? That was downright terrifying.

But worse still, this mission wasn't optional. If he didn't take on Hannah, the consequences would be catastrophic. The system had boxed him into a corner—was it trying to turn him into some kind of legendary womanizer?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Anos rubbed his temples. The prize, though… Ethereal Shift. A technique so advanced, even the system couldn't categorize it? That was tempting enough to make him consider abandoning his principles.

Still, two months wasn't a lot of time, and Hannah didn't exactly strike him as the easy type. This mission was going to be anything but straightforward.

But… what baffled him even more was the fact that Hannah already had a favorability score of 10 toward him. When had this even happened? He hadn't crossed paths with her before today! Why did she already have some level of interest?

It left him dumbfounded.

As far as Anos knew, the Academy's undisputed number one beauty was Charlotte, someone he hadn't even seen in person yet. But looking at Hannah now, her sheer presence, her allure—it made him reconsider that ranking. Her appearance surpassed Mia and Sasha in certain ways. Her sultry and seductive aura was on par with Miss Sofia's, and her features, though unique, carried a strange and magnetic charm that made it impossible to look away.

"Erm… What's the matter?" Anos finally asked, breaking the silence.

Hannah's lips curled into a devilish grin, a mischievous light gleaming in her eyes. But the lollipop dangling from her mouth dulled what could have been an intimidating expression.

Her presence was overwhelming, her aura unmatched, but… why on earth was she sucking on a lollipop?

"Yes," she said in a voice smooth as silk, but laced with a dangerous edge. "You bullied my Advanced Division's class, so I've come to represent them… to punish you."

Anos: "…"

Punish me? Really?

In the crowd, murmurs and whispers grew into outright cheering as Hannah declared her intent.

"Fuck yeah! We've had it with this guy!"

"First, he took out the Beginner Division's class, then the Intermediate Division's class, and now he's picking fights in the Advanced Division! Who does he think he is?"

"Crush him! Goddess, cripple him!"

"Show him his place!"

In an instant, the same people who had been cowering before Anos just moments ago were emboldened by Hannah's presence. Their voices rose in a cacophony of jeers and cheers, rallying behind her as if she were their knight in shining armor.

Anos couldn't help but glance around, a sardonic smile forming on his face. "Ah, the fickle loyalty of a crowd. Amusing."

Still, his gaze settled back on Hannah. Her devil-may-care grin, her commanding presence, and the undeniable confidence in her tone… This wasn't going to be a simple confrontation.

The crowd's murmurs grew louder, their envy and disdain palpable. Perhaps it was because Anos had companions as stunning as Mia and Sasha by his side. Or maybe it was his meteoric rise to the Spirit Core Realm at such a young age. Whatever the reason, their jealousy and dislike for him were evident. Some genuinely wanted to see him humbled, while others simply craved the spectacle of someone taking him down.

Mia, sensing the brewing tension, stepped forward to shield Anos. Her voice was calm but resolute. "Senior Hannah, Anos didn't mean any harm. He only acted because of me. I hope you can let this go."

Sasha joined her, standing firm. Both girls knew exactly who Hannah was and the weight her name carried. She wasn't just a top-tier martial artist in the Sky Martial Court—her reputation extended far beyond its walls, reaching even the highest circles of Flower City's elite fighters. Few dared to challenge her, and those who did often regretted it.

Hannah, however, wasn't here to settle petty scores. She wasn't the type to waste her time over such trivial matters. The supposed mission to "stand up for the Advanced Division's Class" was little more than a pretext.

In truth, she was intrigued.

Anos had caught her attention the moment she first laid eyes on him, but now? Her curiosity was impossible to ignore. How had this so-called good-for-nothing suddenly ascended to the Spirit Core Realm? Even with the help of pills or forbidden techniques, such progress should have been impossible in such a short time.

No, there had to be more to him.

As she studied him, her interest deepened. Anos was an enigma, a mystery she felt compelled to unravel. And though her lips curved into a playful smirk, her sharp eyes betrayed her analytical nature.

If this was a game, she was determined to uncover all of his hidden cards.

---

It wasn't uncommon for someone to rise quickly in cultivation with resources and shortcuts, but for someone to achieve not only a high realm but also unparalleled combat ability in such a short time? That was a rarity. Hannah couldn't help but conclude that Anos had been hiding his true capabilities all along.

He wasn't some overachieving underdog. No, he was a wolf in sheep's clothing, biding his time, waiting for the right moment to reveal his strength. This wasn't low-profile humility; it was calculated deception. And that made him all the more fascinating to her.

Her curiosity burned brighter as she studied him. Was he just a rare genius? Or was there something else at play?

Anos, however, was unimpressed by the theatrics. Tilting his head slightly, he asked in a voice mimicking Mia's, "Who's this Hannah everyone's talking about?"

The crowd fell silent for a moment, stunned by his ignorance.

Hannah's lips twitched at the corners, forming a slow, amused smile. Interesting.

Mia's eyes widened at Anos' question, and she hurriedly answered in a hushed tone, "She's the second most beautiful woman in the Sky Martial Court, right after Senior Sister Charlotte. But in terms of looks, they're practically equal! And she's the strongest among our peers. I think she's at Spirit Core Realm Stage-Five!"

Anos raised an eyebrow. That explained the quiet pressure radiating from Hannah. He had already gauged her cultivation and confirmed her level. What surprised him more was the dual Elements she commanded—Shadow and Wind.

A chill ran through him as he considered the combination. Individually, these Elements were already formidable. Together, they created a terrifying synergy, allowing her to strike swiftly and vanish like a phantom.

However, something didn't add up. With her talent and these Elements, Spirit Core Realm Stage-Five seemed underwhelming. If she were truly dedicated, she'd have reached Astral Fusion Realm by now.

Anos smirked to himself. This woman must be lazy. Either that, or she had something to hide.

That's right, Hannah was indeed lazy—her reputation for idling around was well-earned. Unlike Charlotte and John, who were constantly training and honing their skills in the perilous Beast Domain, Hannah indulged in her whims. Yet, her talent was undeniably monstrous. If she applied herself, she could probably rival even the legends of the Sky Martial Court.

The gap between Spirit Core Realm Stage-Five and Stage-One was immense. Four levels might not sound like much, but in practice, it was a gulf as vast as heaven and earth. For Anos, compensating for the difference required a mastery of exceptional martial techniques and perfect synergy between his elemental abilities. Even then, facing a Stage-Five head-on seemed insurmountable.

Hannah, ever nonchalant, bit down on her lollipop with an audible crunch, the sound breaking the tension like a whip. Her gaze shifted to Mia, and she said coolly, "You don't have to involve yourself in this. You can't."

Mia's expression faltered, but before she could respond, Hannah turned her attention to Anos, her voice suddenly sharp. "I'll give you a chance. Let's take this to the Arena and settle it."

Her words hung in the air, a challenge laced with casual arrogance, daring Anos to face her head-on.

Damn it! This was Spirit Core Realm Stage-Five! Agreeing to fight would be practically asking to get pummeled.

"No! I can't beat her!" Anos declared bluntly, his honesty ringing loud and clear.

The surrounding crowd froze for a moment before collectively losing it.

Damn it! Wasn't he the cocky, untouchable guy just moments ago? The one who wouldn't back down no matter what? And now he's admitting defeat so easily?

Hannah, too, was taken aback. She had expected Anos to fire back with something along the lines of, "You think you're all that just because you're stronger?" But no, this guy was completely off-script.

"Then let's fight here!" Hannah's voice was cold, her eyes narrowing with intent.

Swish!

Before anyone could blink, Anos darted behind Mia and Sasha, using them as a human shield. He pointed at Hannah and shouted, "Go ahead! But if you dare hurt the two of them, good luck explaining yourself to everyone later!"

Everyone: "…"

Hannah was left utterly dumbfounded.

"Ding… Hiding behind women and using them as shields is textbook scumbag behavior. Situation vile. Scumbag Value +20,000."

Anos: "…"

Damn it, even this counts?