Lust looked down from above at Order and the "King."
Her gaze was unusual—still unmistakably that of a demon, yet no longer driven by hunger or rage. Instead, it looked strangely human.
Odd, yes, but almost... normal.
"This body is amazing," Lust murmured, gently touching her skin. "When was the last time I had a body... I think—"
A sword flew straight at her, cutting her off. With nothing more than a finger, she blocked it effortlessly.
Looking down, she saw Order pointing the sword at her.
"Hey, I haven't finished enjoying this new body yet." With a flick of her finger, she knocked the sword away.
It flew back toward Order, who instinctively reached for it. But a sudden wave of unease surged through him. Instead of catching it, he grabbed the "King" and dodged aside.
The moment the sword touched the ground, the earth cracked and sank, the impact spreading out in all directions.
"What a terrifying power," Order muttered, sweat dripping from his brow.
"I didn't expect you to dodge it," Lust laughed. "With your personality, I thought you'd try to catch it."
Clicking his tongue, Order replied coldly.
"But you know, good intuition is also a form of "Reason.""
"You… what did you do to Chaos?" he demanded.
Lust met his anger with a blank, innocent expression.
"Who?"
Just that single word was enough to make Order lose his composure.
"You... damn you—!"
He transformed the sword into a pen. But before he could act, Lust had already appeared behind him.
"Since when—"
She grabbed his neck and squeezed tightly. Order struggled, gasping.
"No need to panic," she said with a gentle smile. "Besides, I'm still up there."
Order froze. He looked up—and saw another Lust slowly descending in front of the "King."
"How…?" he gasped.
"There's nothing to be surprised about. But you and I should give the "King" some space."
She dragged Order away from the altar, leaving only herself and the "King" behind.
"I didn't expect you to hold out this long," she said, glancing at him.
But he neither moved nor responded.
"Oh dear, my mistake… I forgot I cut off all your senses."
With a light touch, she restored them.
Suddenly, the "King" could feel everything again.
A hand touched his body, and he turned.
In front of him stood a girl with a charming smile.
"You're awake... You've been unconscious for quite a while," she said, reaching to help him up.
"Chaos is you—"
But something was off. Her gaze wasn't Chaos's. And behind her, tails swayed.
The "King" leapt back.
"You're not Chaos," he said, frowning. "You're Lust."
"Ding ding! That's right." Lust smiled. "And to reward you for that answer, I'll give you a gift."
"I don't need anything from you," he snapped.
"Come on, take it." Lust chuckled. "Even if you don't want to... you've already accepted it."
"Since—!"
Suddenly, he collapsed as pain overtook him.
"What's happening…?" he gasped. "What did you do to them…?"
Lust crouched before him, lifting his pain-stricken face.
"I don't know about the Order," she said, "But I granted the owner of this body her wish."
"Her… wish?" the "King" whispered.
"She wanted to die," Lust said calmly.
"You… what did you do to her?" he growled.
"I told you. I fulfilled her wish." Lust stood. "Now then… who were we talking about just now?"
"What do you mean… don't mess with me."
"Oh, I'm not joking. Then let me ask—who is the owner of this body?"
"Don't play games. It's yours. This body belongs to—"
The "King" stopped. Not because he didn't want to speak—because he couldn't remember.
"What is this… my memories… what did you do?" he asked, shaken.
"Nothing much. At most… I accidentally ate her existence," Lust said, smiling.
"But how could you do that when—"
He went silent.
"What? While what?" Lust sneered.
Then it hit him, the book, the one he had suspected she took from the start. It was no longer just a suspicion.
"You… how can you use the power of the book?"
"What book?" she replied again, wearing the same innocent look.
Lust smiled, feigning thought.
After a moment, she reached behind her and pulled a book from one of her tails.
"This one?" she asked sweetly.
It was the Book of Solomon—the very source of all their current misfortune.
"Why so quiet?" she asked.
But the "King" could only glance at her, paralyzed by agony.
"Oh dear, I forgot you're still in pain."
She let go of the book and dropped it in front of him.
The "King" reached for it—but it ignited the moment he touched it, turning to ash.
He could only stare in silence as it crumbled, his eyes dimming.
Lust laughed.
"Why is it that just because of a book, you look like you've lost something precious?"
She leaned in close, her lips near his ear.
"Don't you have anything important left… like… your family?"
Her words pierced him.
Despite the pain, he clenched his fist and threw a punch at her.
Lust effortlessly retreated.
"I didn't expect you to still have that much strength."
The "King" gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand. His body trembled. Sweat dripped from his chin.
Lust watched him calmly—perhaps confident, or perhaps simply enjoying the sight of his struggle.
"You're planning something," he said, standing straight. "But no matter what it is, I'll show you the end if you touch my family."
His eyes were now those of a demon—cold and filled with death.
"Oh my, how terrifying," Lust said with a mocking smile. "Then, to applaud your efforts, I'll give you the rest of your gift."
She snapped her fingers.
The "King" trembled violently.
In an instant, he felt like he was being crushed by an unseen force. His body tore apart, bones breaking one after another. His mind was consumed by terror, his ears echoing with voiceless screams.
Wounds opened across his skin. Blood poured from every part of his body, unstoppable.
His vision blurred. His hearing dulled. Breathing grew harder.
But even that wasn't enough to bring him down.
The "King" stood—drenched in his own blood.
"Oh my, still standing?" Lust sneered.
He couldn't hear her clearly anymore.
"So boring… but that's just who you are," she said, swinging her arm forward.
Tails emerged and rushed toward him.
He stood his ground, staring at them.
Just before they reached him, the blood on his body stirred.
It gathered into countless tentacles and repelled the incoming tails.
"Using blood again? Do you have a death wish?" Lust frowned.
But he didn't respond. He stepped toward her, his movements lifeless but resolute.
"Looks like you're more of a demon than we are now," Lust muttered.
Blood dripped from his fingers and toes, forming sharp claws. From his back, blood-thorns erupted, curling into cracked, jagged wings.
His eyes, soaked in blood, glared at her with madness.
For a moment, Lust seemed to retreat under his gaze.
"You're truly insane," she whispered.
He ignored her. Roaring like a beast, he crouched low, hands in front like a predator ready to strike.
His wings flapped violently as he launched himself forward.
He slashed with his clawed hand—
Lust blocked with her tails, but the force of the attack drove her back.
Behind her tails, she glared at him.
The man who was once a wise king now looked like a blood-drenched beast, frothing at the mouth.
"Looks like we've switched roles," Lust sneered. "Exactly as I planned."
She retaliated, sending the "King" flying. He crashed and rolled, but rose again without hesitation.
"Then prepare to meet your end… Former King of Atlantis… no—"
"The one who challenges the gods."