Somewhere in the burning skies of the demon realm, beneath a crimson moon that never faded and above lands scarred by eternal war...
A swirling vortex of void magic opened, cracking like shattered glass.
Out stepped a man cloaked in black and white.
Dev. Or as this realm knew him... Vicky, Commander of the Abyssal Third Legion.
With silent steps, he entered the Grand Demon Court — a circular throne room carved into obsidian stone, glowing veins of lava running beneath the black floors like arteries pumping blood through a dying beast.
A monstrous voice echoed from the throne at the center.
"Vicky. Back from the human realm, I see. And yet… your presence reeks of hesitation."
The Demon King, his body a shifting mass of shadows and molten fire, leaned forward, flames flickering behind his ever-hungry eyes.
"Have you located the outworlder girl?"
Dev dropped to one knee.
"Not yet, my lord," he spoke flatly, voice devoid of emotion. "The Academy holds no signs of an awakened outworlder. I've only encountered a weak girl, no mana, barely standing upright in combat. She's merely a cover. A pawn."
The room remained still.
Until a new voice slithered into the space, wrapped in honeyed poison.
"Oooh~? A weak girl, you say?"
From behind a dark pillar, stepped a voluptuous figure with fiery pink skin, shimmering horns, and eyes that glowed with wicked curiosity.
Lilth. The Demon King's Second Commander of the Abyssal Third Legion. — a succubus known for her charm, power… and endless teasing.
She twirled a finger around a strand of her violet hair, sauntering toward Vicky with hips that swayed like a slow spell.
"Or was she perhaps… not weak where it matters, hmm~?""You're spending quite a bit of time around her, dear Vikran. Could it be~…""...that a fearsome demon general fell for a human girl?"
She leaned close, her breath warm and scented like forbidden cherries.
"If you miss her that much…""...I can always transform my body to match hers — every inch… every curve…""Would you like me to be your little toy, Vicky?~ I can moan like her too~ Shall I try?"
Her voice oozed control, trying to seep into his thoughts.
He didn't move.
She giggled, pressing a finger to his chest.
"C'mon, I'm softer than her. Stronger, too~ You don't even know if that girl's a virgin—"
SMASH.
A shockwave exploded as Dev's arm blurred, fist connecting cleanly with her midsection.
Lilth was launched across the hall, crashing into a basalt wall. Dust clouded the impact as shards rained down like sparks.
For a second, silence ruled again.
"Tch… still violent, aren't you?" she groaned, slowly pulling herself from the crater, still smirking. "But you wouldn't hit me if I was her… would you~?"
Dev didn't even look at her.
Instead, he turned back to the throne.
"As I said, my lord. She is nothing. My association with her is simply camouflage. A cover story. Human men usually pursue women. I'm simply blending in."
His voice had returned to flat and calculated.
"If she were the outworlder, she would've shown signs. But her body contains no unusual energy signature."
Just then—the chamber shook.
A tremor rippled through the realm.
Not from their world…
But from another.
The Demon King's eyes narrowed.
"...That power. That resonance. It's not ours."
The Black Phoenix.
Its summoning could be felt even from this dimension.
"So… the seal was broken."
He rose from his throne slowly.
"The Phoenix of Despair has returned… and it chose a master."
Even Lilth stopped moving.
"The Phoenix…?!" the Demon King stood, his molten flames pulsing violently. "But it was sealed thousands of years ago!"
"Then someone… has summoned it."
He turned to Dev.
"Find out who — and where. If the Phoenix of Despair has bonded with someone… it will not be a coincidence."
"But it cannot be that powerless girl."
He scoffed.
"She has no lineage, no mana. The Phoenix would never choose trash like that. Look to the noble class — the mage princesses, the exiled bloodlines."
Dev bowed.
"Understood, my lord."
But deep inside, as he walked away, something itched in his mind.
A powerless girl who lifted a 500,000-ton sword… and survived humiliation with no anger.
And now… the Phoenix returns.
He clenched his jaw.
No. It can't be.
Lilth floated beside him again, licking her lips.
"Still think she's not special~?""If she's really worthless… then why can't you stop thinking about her?"