The table fell silent.
Five glowing blue system screens hovered in the air above the booth.
Everyone stared.
Nyxian blinked first.
Bunny tilted her head.
Zee leaned forward curiously.
Llandra read slowly.
Carefully.
Very carefully.
Then her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Jax."
Jax looked up nervously.
"…Yeah?"
"What exactly are iPoints?"
His stomach dropped instantly.
"…I have no idea."
Four heads snapped toward him.
"You don't know?" Bunny asked.
"I've never seen this before!"
The screens remained floating calmly in front of them.
NEW FEATURE UNLOCKED:
iPoints
• iPoints are gained through intimacy, trust, and shared experiences
• iPoints are granted to ALL bonded members
• iPoints stack — they are not divided
• Unique bonds unlock unique skills
NOTICE:
Future growth paths have permanently diverged.
Nyxian read the line twice.
Then slowly smiled.
"…Oh this is INCREDIBLY dangerous."
Jax rubbed his forehead.
"I'm serious. I didn't know this was part of the system."
Llandra studied him carefully.
He genuinely looked confused.
Not manipulative.
Not excited.
Just:
slightly horrified.
Interesting.
Zee quietly opened another notification.
"…It says we can gain points through emotional bonding."
Nyxian immediately looked toward Jax.
Like a predator spotting prey.
Jax noticed instantly.
"…No."
"What?"
"I know that look."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You absolutely do."
Nyxian slowly stood from the booth.
Every instinct Jax possessed screamed danger.
She stepped around the table calmly.
Then placed both hands on his face.
Jax blinked.
"…Nyxian."
"Yes?"
"We're in public."
"So?"
Then she kissed him.
Openly.
Boldly.
Completely without shame.
The restaurant exploded instantly.
Half the nearby patrons started cheering.
Someone yelled:
"GET HIM, DEMON GIRL!"
Jax's brain stopped functioning for approximately six seconds.
Then—
the system chimed.
iPOINTS GAINED
Kiss: +1
Passionate Kiss: +2
First public affection: +5
Emotional acceptance: +5
Mutual attraction acknowledged: +5
TOTAL iPOINTS GAINED: 18
PARTY BONUS APPLIED
Nyxian finally pulled away slowly.
Very slowly.
Then deliberately licked her lips while sitting back down smugly.
"…For science."
Five new screens appeared instantly.
LEVEL UP AVAILABLE
BONUS STAT POINTS AVAILABLE
Llandra blinked sharply.
"…Wait."
Zee gasped softly.
"We all got points."
Bunny looked delighted.
"We level together?!"
Nyxian looked thrilled.
"Oh this system is HORRIBLY designed."
Jax covered his face.
"What did I choose during character creation…"
Llandra immediately opened her status screen.
Of course she did.
Llandra – Party Status
Strength: 16
Speed: 22
Agility: 20
Accuracy: 28
Perception: 24
Endurance: 21
Intelligence: 23
Mana Control: 20
Luck: 10
Charisma: 14
Beauty: 28
AVAILABLE BONUS POINTS: 3
Without hesitation—
she selected Accuracy.
+3
Accuracy → 31
Llandra froze.
Then slowly lowered the screen.
"…Oh."
Jax looked toward her.
"…Good oh or bad oh?"
The elf stared at her own hand quietly.
"…Very good oh."
Nyxian immediately leaned across the table toward Bunny.
"Kiss him."
Bunny's ears shot upright.
"…Right now?"
"Yes."
"For science," Zee added softly.
Jax looked betrayed.
"Why are ALL of you agreeing with this?!"
Bunny stood immediately.
Walked around the table.
Then kissed him too.
Softer than Nyxian's.
Warmer.
But no less real.
The system chimed again.
iPOINTS GAINED
Kiss: +1
Affectionate Kiss: +2
First public affection: +5
Emotional acceptance: +5
Mutual attraction acknowledged: +5
TOTAL iPOINTS GAINED: 18
PARTY BONUS APPLIED
TOTAL PARTY iPOINTS: 36
NEW SKILL SLOT AVAILABLE
NEW PARTY BONUS UNLOCKED
The restaurant lost control entirely after that.
People were openly watching now.
One old beastkin woman loudly shouted:
"Marry him faster!"
Nyxian raised her mug toward her.
"THAT'S THE PLAN."
Jax physically sank deeper into the booth.
Brannic looked deeply concerned.
"…Should we leave?"
"Yes," Merriweather answered instantly.
Then paused.
"…Actually no. This is fascinating."
Zee quietly looked over her updated screen.
"…The points stack between all of us."
Llandra nodded slowly.
"The closer we become…"
"…the stronger everyone gets," Zee finished softly.
Silence settled briefly across the table after that.
Because suddenly—
the implications became enormous.
Nyxian recovered first.
"Well."
She leaned comfortably against Jax again.
"This is officially the greatest system ever created."
Jax pointed accusingly.
"You are NOT helping."
"I'm helping tremendously."
Brannic suddenly grabbed Jax's shoulder proudly.
"Well lad, while ye accidentally build a terrifyingly powerful harem cult—"
"PLEASE don't call it that."
"—Merriweather and I are officially accepting yer business proposal."
The dwarf grinned broadly.
"We merge operations. Twenty percent partnership. Dragon materials become production stock."
Merriweather clapped excitedly.
"And ten percent toward rebuilding Solmere!"
Nearby tables overheard.
Applause broke out again.
Jax blinked.
"…Why does this suddenly feel like a life-changing night?"
Nyxian snorted.
"Because it IS."
Eventually the drinks kept flowing.
The laughter kept escalating.
And the waitstaff stopped pretending they weren't listening to every word.
By the time the group finally stepped outside beneath Solmere's lantern-lit streets—
everyone was at least slightly tipsy.
Bunny stretched happily.
"We should register as a new party tomorrow."
Nyxian smirked.
"Oh?"
"We can't be the Frightful Four anymore."
A drunken man further down the street shouted loudly:
"There go the Vixens!"
His friend pointed toward Jax.
"Lucky bastard!"
Llandra folded her arms calmly.
"…Then we embrace it."
The others looked toward her.
"We register tomorrow," she declared, "as Jax and the Vixens."
Jax raised one hand weakly.
"Can I just be a Vixen too?"
The girls laughed immediately.
"You can't be a Vixen," Bunny informed him proudly.
"Sounds discriminatory."
"It is."
By the time they reached the inn—
Jax stopped at the staircase.
The girls looked toward him curiously.
"…What?" Nyxian asked.
Jax rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"We're all very drunk."
"Moderately drunk," Llandra corrected.
"And?"
"And maybe splitting rooms tonight is the safer decision."
Nyxian tilted her head slowly.
"…Are you saying you don't want us staying with you?"
Jax immediately panicked.
"No! I mean yes! I mean—not because I don't WANT to—"
"Great," Nyxian said brightly.
"Decision made."
She immediately grabbed his hand.
Bunny grabbed his other arm.
Zee followed.
Llandra sighed softly before joining them.
Jax made one final desperate attempt.
"…I snore."
"We'll survive."
"I move around in my sleep."
"So do I," Bunny admitted proudly.
"I sleep naked."
Nyxian looked delighted.
"Oh good. We will dress to match you."
Jax stared at her in betrayal.
The magical elevator doors opened beside them.
The girls piled inside together pulling him along.
As the doors slowly closed—
Llandra smiled serenely.
"With a room that large," she said softly, "perhaps we'll finally sleep comfortably tonight."
Nyxian smirked wickedly beside her.
"In Jax's room?"
She leaned comfortably against him.
"I hope we don't sleep much at all."
The doors closed.
Jax's soul quietly left his body.