Dinner ended earlier than usual.
That alone was strange.
The Neon Moon was still lively, music drifting through the open windows, plates clinking, laughter rolling through the crowd—but the Vixens were already pushing back their chairs.
Bunny stretched dramatically.
Nyxian smirked into her drink.
Zee looked exhausted but content.
Llandra stood, smoothing her clothes with composed finality.
Jax blinked. "That was… early."
"We're ready for bed," Bunny said cheerfully.
Jax nodded. "That makes sense. Last night was—"
"—quite the night," Nyxian finished, smiling. "We thought an early night would be good."
Jax smiled in relief. "I agree. We should sleep early. Tomorrow's training will be—"
"No one said sleep, Jaxy," Nyxian said lightly.
Jax paused.
Zee leaned in, emphasizing each word. "We want to go to bed."
Llandra folded her arms, regal and calm. "We want YOU again, tonight."
Jax's mouth opened.
Closed.
Bunny raised her hand. "I just want to be on top of you again. Having the S-E-X."
The entire table froze.
Nyxian slowly turned.
Zee covered her face.
Llandra pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Have some tact," Nyxian sighed.
Bunny shrank a little. "Sorry… but I do want to be on top."
Jax cleared his throat, face warm."…Alright," he looked up, still a little shocked. "Check Please!"
Morning came too fast. Nyxian and Llandra awoke Jax with more "training", hitting different milestone firsts for the Vixens.
After Breakfast and getting ready for the day, the Vixens were looking at their iPoints gains. Moving them into their own stat points. When they would ask Jax his opinion he would default to their intuition. He didn't want to make those decisions for them. He would just say something like "whatever will help you improve and be safe".
But the decisions they made on their own bodies was theirs to choose, in his opinion.
Later in the morning:
Sunlight spilled across the training yard beyond Brannic's forge — newly expanded, reinforced, and shaped to Jax's specifications. Wooden barricades, uneven terrain, elevated platforms, movable obstacles.
Jax stood at the center.
There was no teasing now. No laughter. Jax had switched modes.
The Vixens gathered around him, different this morning.
Stronger.
Lighter.
Sharper.
Before stepping onto the field, they opened their systems.
Quiet gasps followed.
Zee flexed her fingers. "My mana flow feels… cleaner."
Bunny bounced once. "I feel fast."
Nyxian rolled her shoulders. "Oh, I feel dangerous."
Llandra nodded slowly. "Balanced. Centered."
Jax didn't smile.
"Good," he said. "Now forget that feeling."
They stared.
"Because the enemy won't care how powerful you feel," Jax continued. "They'll care how you move together."
He stepped back.
"Form up."
They moved instinctively into their old formation.
Jax shook his head. "Again."
They adjusted.
"No."
Again.
"No."
Nyxian scowled. "Then tell us what you want."
"I don't want obedience," Jax said calmly. "I want adaptability."
He pointed."Bunny. Front-left.""Zee. Two paces back.""Llandra — rear center."
Llandra frowned. "Rear?"
"Yes," Jax said. "Your perception is highest. I need you covering our blind spots."
Nyxian tilted her head. "And me?"
"You float," Jax replied. "Where pressure breaks."
They ran it.
Five steps in, Jax raised a hand.
"Stop."
"What?" Bunny protested.
"You left Zee exposed."
Zee blinked. "I did?"
"You did," Jax confirmed. "Again."
They ran it again.
Better.
Not enough.
"Again."
Sweat formed. Breathing deepened.
By midday, frustration was setting in.
Nyxian dropped onto a crate. "We're strong. Why are you pushing this hard?"
Jax met her eyes.
"Strength doesn't matter when speed is needed. Speed won't matter when tactics are needed. I need you stronger than the sum of your parts. I need you guys to form a group that can take on any foe, with or without me."
He looked at all of them.
"Again."
They understood what he was trying to accomplish with them. They stretched their necks, popped their fingers and prepared for another run.