Lewd System: Every Scream and Moan is EXP Chapter 285 : Seris’s stepmother is making her mad

Thirty minutes remained until the ultimate showdown.

Discussions among the academy staff had concluded. Procedures were relayed to viewers and both finalist teams alike. The final match to crown the inter-academy tournament victor was about to commence.

The rules were straightforward: a one-on-one duel in Arena #1. Mentors select one pupil from their group. Victory in that clash secures the tournament for their squad.

Jax positioned himself alongside his team—Astrid, Seraphina, Elira, Lilith, Seris, and a fretful Roxana who kept eyeing the opposite side where Zharina lingered with just Karina beside her.

Jax felt concern too. He'd seen Karina's prowess up close, and her destructive spells weren't something he could dismiss lightly with mere bravado.

Numerous choices filled his toolkit, yet none promised certain triumph. His gaze swept over his students sequentially.

Lilith then voiced her thoughts. "Professor, I'm the ideal pick. Only I can overcome her at full strength."

Jax refused. "No way. Announcing you would prompt Headmistress Lysandra's rejection. Your demon form remains uncontrolled, and deploying it would complicate matters severely."

Lilith got it. Disappointment lowered her gaze, as she recognized the reality he did. Lacking demonic might, senior Karina proved unbeatable for her.

A reassuring hand from Jax rested on her shoulder. "Rest easy though. Mastering your abilities will make you my trump card in all future contests."

Her eyes sparkled with hope. Jax pivoted from her, squeezing his nose bridge amid intense deliberation that brewed a throbbing ache.

To Seraphina and Elira he turned. "Advanced healing magic has restored you both completely, but selecting either isn't wise."

Seraphina drew his focus. "Raw strength evades you against Karina head-on. This open-arena duel offers no edges—no terrain shifts, no rule exploits. Pure exchange of strikes between you two."

Elira caught his next glance. "Exhaustion lingers in you. Your body endured beyond endurance. Healers noted mana core flow irregularities. Mana recovery stays incomplete."

Fist clenched, Elira muttered curses at her frailty.

"That narrows it to you pair," Jax declared.

Seris and Astrid entered his sights.

Astrid cut in before he spoke, flashing a grin while slamming fist into palm with alarming zeal.

"Cease the overthinking, Professor. Debate over—I'm vastly superior to Seris."

Seris retorted sharply. "What gives you that notion?"

Not even glancing her way, Astrid replied. "Need I recall our rankings? I dominate hugely, poor Seris. Stay out of superiors' choices."

Seris shot a glare loaded with brawl-ready fury, tavern-style. Astrid basked smugly, oblivious.

"Done deal. I'll smash that senior anew."

Elira advanced before Jax replied. "I object."

Astrid eyed her, face promising imminent violence, yet restrained to spare Elira's flawless record—and features.

"Professor, deploying her is unwise," Elira pressed. "She grasps no stakes' gravity. Won't treat it gravely. Blind to match fallout."

Confusion flickered on Astrid. Elira persisted.

"Take it gravely yourself. Your life hangs in balance. Loss seals it via blood contract—no recourse."

Tension thickened the group's atmosphere.

"Pick me then. You granted my second chance. Let me battle for yours. I'll pour all in the arena. Death over defeat—I'd fight till my body fails—"

Astrid interrupted. "What was that?"

Elira met her stare.

"Blood contract? Saving his life—what?"

Jax attempted mediation. "She misspoke. Her real intent was—"

Astrid's hand halted him, head unturned. His uneasy voice betrayed the secret.

Elira received her icy, air-chilling glare.

"I asked a question."

Elira swallowed hard. Little by little, she was piecing together exactly why Jax had gone out of his way to conceal this from Astrid.

She glanced around the room. Jax caught her eye first, his features twisted in the look of a doomed man sensing the rope drawing tight around his throat. Then her gaze shifted to Roxana, who mirrored the bewilderment of the entire group.

In the worst move imaginable, she laid it all bare. The full truth. From both her viewpoint and Seraphina’s. The garden incident. Jax’s actions. Sianna’s suggestion. Every aspect of the bet. All the wager’s terms. The blood contract that would bind Jax in lifelong slavery if he failed.

Every last bit.

The moment "slave" escaped Elira’s lips, Astrid whipped toward Jax.

A smile stretched across her face. One barely containing a torrent of feelings, like a dam on the verge of collapse. Not joyful. Not furious. The sort that had folks subconsciously eyeing the closest way out.

She seized his hand and addressed the others, eyes locked on him. "There is something important to discuss between us. So don’t anyone dare to interrupt. Or peek. Otherwise that smart one responsible will be missing more than one limb."

Her smile morphed then. Aimed squarely at Jax, radiating pure betrayal.

With brutal force, she hauled him into the preparation room. His legs scrambling to match the furious pace of a betrayed woman.

The group froze in shocked quiet. The killing intent pouring from Astrid was utterly foreign to them all. This was someone who normally shrugged off life or death. In truth, she relished the former. Yet now, she unleashed primal, fierce protectiveness over a man she openly despised.

It defied logic.

Naturally, every puzzled stare swung toward Seris. As Astrid’s nearest confidante, she’d surely understand this madness.

Yet Seris brimmed with more confusion than anyone, utterly lost in the dark.

-x-X-x-

[A/N: Guys slight delay on the next update, Chapter is still being written. Will try to get it out within 4 hours so don’t lose your sanity waiting]