Chapter 22: Proof of Endurance

Nash stood there, barely hearing the roar of the crowd anymore. His heart was pounding, not from the game, but from something wilder.

Nia had just booked him.

Corner of 9th and Ember. Top floor. Midnight.

The words kept echoing in his skull like a chant, a spell, a countdown to the inevitable. His grin grew wider.

He was gonna get laid. Tonight.

Not just flirted with. Not teased. Not some random dirty dream.

Real, honest, sweat-dripping, sheet-twisting, mind-blowing, sex.

And not just with anybody.

Nia Valencia.

Pro player. Pro escort. Walking wet dream in a tank top, surely something more creative on her tower.

And she wanted him.

He exhaled hard, rubbing the back of his neck like it might cool him down.



"This is it," he whispered to himself. "I actually made it."

He felt giddy. Euphoric. Like the world had finally said yes for once.

Everything, Zayela, the street grind, the betrayals, the bullshit system, washed away in a single moment.

Tonight, the top floor of the Midnight Rest was his arena. And he wasn’t planning to sleep.

He bit his lip, heart thudding harder.

Then... a memory flood back.

Lina.

That first time. Her mouth, barely even halfway down his shaft, and he’d exploded. Instantly. No control, no warning.

His stomach twisted.

"Shit..."

What if it happened again?

What if he stepped into that room, all swagger and fire, and lasted thirty goddamn seconds?

Nia would eat him alive. He’d never hear the end of it. Jaz would know. Jinzo would definitely know. And worst of all?

Everyone would know, because he was here, almost selling himself to hungry women, but unable to go two rounds an hour. Why was he even so confident in the first place?

He opened his interface with a shaky breath.

[Opening Interface...]

CATEGORY: SEXUAL STATS

• Charisma: 40

• Virility: 30

• Endurance: 19

• Tease: 31

• Domination: 23

• Control: 53

Note: Average stamina under arousal: 3–6 minutes. Mental Control reduces premature ejaculation chance by 30%.

Nash stared at the screen.

[Average stamina under arousal: 3–6 minutes.]

"Three to six?" he muttered. "I’m not even a guaranteed six?"

His Control was solid. His Tease decent. But that Endurance? Still sitting at nineteen like a sad joke. And if the last time taught him anything, it was that stats weren’t a theory, they were prophecy.

Nia was upstairs sharpening fangs. That woman didn’t want a one-round softie. She wanted a damn champion. A man who could grind her through the mattress and ask what’s next.

And right now? He wasn’t sure he’d survive foreplay.

[Points Available:]

• BP (Basketball Points): 10

• PP (Body Points): 6

• SP (Seduction Points): 5

He clenched his jaw. Not impressive. Not bad either, but definitely not enough to roll into Midnight Rest without prep.

His mind spun.

He needed more SP.

And he needed it now.

He looked up from his interface, scanning the crowd again. The celebration was still going, still wild, and the women? Even wilder. Half of them didn’t even care who won—they just wanted a piece of whoever made the building shake.

And one of them... was still on him.

The girl who’d whispered about "pills and bills" earlier was still clinging to his arm like it might turn into credit. Glossy lips. Tight crop top. Big hoop earrings. Her cleavage practically steamed against his bicep.

He turned, subtle, and flicked open [TARGET STATUS VIEW].

[TARGET STATUS VIEW: AMARA RYZE]

Type: Extroverted | Opportunistic | Gold-Digging

Current Mood: Playfully Predatory

Affection: 44% – Casual

Lust: 81% – High

Opinion on Nash: Thinks he’s hot, rising in value. Willing to "try him out." Sees potential for leverage, bragging rights, and profit.

Love Type: Swagger / Flash / Performance

Erotic Weakness: Verbal Domination + Public Risk

Position Preference: On top / Reverse / Visual Control

Foreplay Preference: Neck teasing, whispered dares, watching herself get touched

Personality Flags:

•Shallow but aware

•Enjoys bragging after sex

•Will trade intimacy for status

Trigger Actions:

• Flashing cash or system bonuses → +9% Lust

• Whispering "you’ll moan my name" in public → +10% Lust

• Taking her wrist with authority → +8% Affection

• Giving her a full attention stare mid-crowd → +6% Lust

• Public rejection → –15% Lust / –12% Affection

A slut with a nose for money.

But her Lust was clocking 81%.

Her body was ready. Hell, she probably wouldn’t even care if he lasted 20 seconds, as long as she could brag about it afterward and he gave her money.

Not ideal. But...

Perfect.

He needed a test.

A round to shake off the Lina curse.

Earn some quick SP. Get the nerves out. Check if he could handle the real thing tonight.

Risky? Yeah. Word spread fast. But a quick alley fuck wouldn’t get back to Nia. Not if he picked the right time, right spot, and the right tools to motivate her.

He made up his mind.

[ALLOCATING POINTS...]

SP: 5 → 0



• +2 → Endurance (→ 21)

• +2 → Control (→ 55)

• +1 → Unlock Passive: Restraint Forged I

Reduce chances of early climax during intercourse.

PP: 6 → 0

• +2 → Flexibility (→ 63)

• +2 → Muscle Mass Index (→ 52)

• +2 → Recovery Speed (→ 57)

Nash closed his menu.

His body pulsed with system feedback. Subtle warmth in his hips, spine, and thighs. Control tightening like a coiled spring. Flexibility stretching like elastic over his joints.

He exhaled slow.

No more flinching.

No more early taps.

Nash turned to her, Amara still giggling, still tracing his collarbone like it was an ATM touchscreen.

"Still interested in celebrating somewhere nice?" he said low, almost casual. "Top floor. No distractions. I’m covering pills, bills... maybe even a gift or two."

She blinked once.

Then her grin curved, slow and feline.

"Word’s spreading you’re loaded now," she said, lips gleaming. "You get tipped heavy or are you sitting on something bigger?"

"I eat good," Nash replied. "But I feed better."

Amara bit her lip, her fingers now sliding to his chest, tugging gently at the collar of his shirt.

"Mmm," she hummed. "You feeding strays now, or just the expensive pets?"

"I only feed what makes noise," he said. "And I like a girl who works for her meal."

"Oh, I work," she whispered, brushing against him. "I’m a greedy bitch, Nash. But if I eat well..."

She leaned in, lips grazing his jaw.

"I give a whole lot back."

He didn’t flinch. Just smiled like the deal had already been signed.

"Then say the word."

She didn’t hesitate.

"Let’s go."

[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED – Pheromone Magnet]

Four or more female targets simultaneously exhibit sexual intent toward player.

Reward Unlocked:

Passive – Smooth Talker I

Your speech patterns naturally adjust to seduction scenarios.

• +10% success rate on verbal triggers.

• Reduces backlash from risky flirtation by 50%.

[NEW SPECIAL QUEST – Seduction Quest: Proof of Endurance]

Complete a full sexual encounter without climaxing in the first 90 seconds.

Bonus Objectives:

Trigger Aura Presence during the act

Use one Weakness Exploit (Verbal Domination or Public Risk)

The alley was tight, but he didn’t stop there. Nash veered toward a side path and waved a hand. A hoverboard-rickshaw hybrid zipped in, neon underlights buzzing as the driver grunted.

"District Eleven. Garden Row," Nash said. "Quick."

The ride wasn’t long.

They slid out two blocks later and stepped onto a cracked marble walkway, flanked by neon palms and sleek, graffiti-tagged statues of fox-faced girls. A red-glass awning glowed overhead.

The sign read:

Velvet Nest – Private Rooms. Hourly Welcome.

It wasn’t elite. But it was clean, curated, and way above street standard, the kind of place underground girls whispered about but rarely saw the inside of.

Amara blinked, jaw twitching.

Okay, this ain’t no alley quickie. This place costs. That’s imported wood in the fucking doorframe. Actual gold trim on the wall? And... is that soft music? Holy shit, there’s even a fragrance system. Who the hell is this guy? Is he for real? Is he a damn sponsor playing broke on the court?

Nash caught the look on her face and smirked. He raised his hand toward the wall terminal, a sleek screen set into faux-marble.

"Standard double bed. Cleaned." He tapped through the options. "Extras... scented oil. Hour only."

Total: 85C

He pressed his thumb to the screen. A blink later:

[Transaction Complete – 85C deducted]

The door slid open, smooth and silent.

Amara stared.

"You dropped that like it was change."

Nash tilted his head.

"You said you eat a lot."

She stepped in, pausing just inside the corridor. It was dim, warm-toned, soft lighting diffused across a red velvet wall.

Her mind was melting.

This ain’t a game. This dude’s real. And I better not fumble this bag. Fuck... he might actually be a keeper. Or at least a steady top-up. Look at this place. Look at that floor. I could charge 300 creds for a night in one of these rooms, and he just tossed 85 like nothing!

She turned, hands on hips, lips pursed.

"So... you bring all the girls here, or just the ones who look expensive?"

Nash gave her the stare, triggering her status ping.

[Trigger Action – Full Attention Stare: +6% Lust]

"Only the ones who give something back."

Her breath caught, just slightly. She reached to pull off her crop top but paused.

"You got expectations, baller? Wanna start the party outside or are you into slow play?"

Nash stepped closer, grabbing her wrist, light but firm.

[Trigger Action – Wrist Grab (Authority): +8% Affection]

He leaned in, lips near her ear.

"Don’t worry, we have time. I expect you to moan my name."



[Trigger Action – Verbal Domination (Public Edge): +10% Lust]

[Aura Presence I – ACTIVE]

Target’s breath rate increased. Vision focus narrowed. Heartbeat spiked.

Amara’s pupils widened. Her hand slid up his chest again.

"Well damn," she whispered, voice almost reverent. "You got lines, Nash."

"And you’ve got two minutes," he said. "Before I make you forget them."

She didn’t argue.

She walked backward toward their designated room, her hips rolling slow, eyes locked on him.

That walk alone might’ve earned her a bonus.

Nash exhaled, and stepped forward.

This was it.

Warm-up time.