A terrifying aura emerged from the shadow, even surpassing that of the demon king. The air froze, as if the world itself was holding its breath. This was not a simple presence: it was an unfathomable abyss opening in the room, a vertigo of fear and domination. Each step of the intruder hammered a relentless truth—no one could measure up to them.
"Damn, I wanted to say something cool, but it came out cheesy…" thought Amane, stepping forward casually.
The priestess, paralyzed by fear, her eyes cornered, struggled to rise. Amane advanced as if nothing were happening.
"So, the king isn't aware of your little schemes?" said Amane, smiling as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"how… how are you…?" stammered the priestess, trembling all over.
"I'm alive and well. It's a secret, at least you still remember me."
"Impossible… She isn't dead with the others. Her aura… it's that of a demon, and her eyes…" thought the priestess, shaken.
Amane sat casually on the statue, tilting her head. "So here I am… and I'm very, very disappointed. Why wasn't I summoned?"
The priestess, still disturbed, forced herself to regain some composure. "You came to take revenge, didn't you?"
"But no, come on, I'm not that cruel." Amane's mischievous smile widened as she swung her legs, head tilted to the side.
The pressure was crushing—the priestess felt her heart beating against a too-narrow cage. Her legs trembled slightly, but she clenched her fists out of sight, nails digging into her palms to keep calm.
"Why are you so surprised to see me?" asked Amane playfully.
"How… so?"
"In fact, I was wondering why that necklace was at the bottom of a dungeon being explored. Unless…"
The priestess froze. She couldn't banish her or silence her.
"You ordered Eleanor to place this object and use one of us as a pawn against the heroes." Amane's words struck like a revelation.
The priestess stepped back, cornered. She stumbled, then slowly smiled—a twisted grin—as if deciding to reveal everything.
"Yes, it's true. I sent you into that hell for my own interest. One of you had to fall under the influence of the demon king, to turn them against the heroes. My goal was immortality, promised by the demons once they won the war."
Her smile stretched unnaturally, her eyes gleaming with a disturbing brilliance. Her once gentle, melodious voice turned hoarse, dripping like venom into the air.
Her beautiful face twisted into a sinister aura: the beauty remained, but sharp, dangerous, like a rose with poisoned thorns.
A laugh slipped from her lips. Clear, crystalline, almost graceful—until it warped. The sound deepened, then sharpened, echoing like a demonic melody across the room. It was no longer the laughter of a woman, but that of something inhuman, delighting in revealing its true nature.
"Ah… that's what I wanted to see."
Amane leapt from the statue, landing face-to-face with her. The tension was suffocating, but Amane's expression made it clear—she was only amused.
"So, explain what you want."
Amane smiled, but less intensely this time. She explained that in two months, King Theodric Kaelthorn Veyras would organize a party in honor of the heroes.
The priestess frowned. "I won't bother asking—you'll tell me nothing."
"You know me so well." Amane's sarcastic grin widened. "I'd like to be invited, so don't forget me."
"…Very well. I have no reason to refuse. But if you reveal anything about me—you'll regret it."
Amane tilted her head, amused but calm. "Do you accept? I didn't expect it, but don't worry. I can keep my mouth shut."
> [Teleportation - activated]
[Special Effect - activated]
A black fog rose slowly, coiling like a living mist. Her body's contours blurred, dissolving into thick darkness.
When the fog dispersed, nothing remained—except an oppressive void and a chilling silence. A silent warning: she hadn't truly vanished, she was still prowling in the shadows.
"…Eleanor, explain." Aurelia forced herself back to normal and demanded.
"The plan failed. The receptacle gained power greater than the demon king's—she became his superior." Eleanor knelt before her.
"Why did you lie about the missing bodies?"
"It was she who asked me not to tell you anything. And my king ordered me to serve her until the end."
Fury erupted in Aurelia. The air vibrated around her, distorted by a burning aura that escaped despite her. "Then why are you still here?!"
"I will tell you nothing."
A magic circle flared before Aurelia, launching a fireball at Eleanor.
But Eleanor slipped into the shadows at the last instant. "I'll be leaving." Her voice echoed faintly as the flames missed.
"Damn… she's untouchable in the shadows. I don't know what your goal is, Amane Seiren, but know this—the gods will never accept an existence like yours." Aurelia's voice trembled, torn between fear and conviction.
After Aurelia left, Amane reappeared silently in her inn room. Midnight.
> [False Aura - disabled]
[Excessive Confidence - disabled]
"In the end, pretending to be some overpowering demon is exhausting."
"Note: a god or goddess cannot get tired."
"Tch, boring. I was this close to jumping at her throat!"
"I'm starting to understand how to use my power efficiently. But I really need to stop overdoing it," she thought.
Amane looked at her palm, then clenched her fist. Her golden eyes burned with determination.
"Everything is in place. Just a few more skills… and this time, I won't lose."
> [Skills written: 388]