I. The Kiss Under the Bright Moon
Solen and Lilathra sat in the quiet embrace of the night, the Bright Moon a silent witness to their tension. The air felt thick, heavy with unspoken truths, until Lilathra's voice, startlingly calm, broke the spell.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow... I've gotten what I wanted here."
Solen's response was measured, a subtle tremor beneath his tone. "I see... I and Pollux still have tomorrow to get what we came here for."
He turned slightly, his gaze earnest. "I truly feel happy for you, at least the vacuum within you has been sealed up... even being incomplete, I'm still willing to pave a future for myself."
His simple affirmation of self-worth struck Lilathra like a physical blow. She stared down, a wave of unfamiliar guilt washing over her. A strong sense of conscience, long dormant, now judged her from within. "He's different... " she thought, the words echoing in her mind.
Just then, the wind surged, catching the surrounding trees, as a cascade of brilliant fireworks exploded above, momentarily turning the night sky into a canvas of color. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful, a profound contrast to the turbulence in their hearts.
"S-solen..." Lilathra whispered, her voice laced with a sudden, devastating seduction. She leaned in, a visible blush high on her cheeks, her blood-red lips moving inexorably closer to his.
It happened in an instant. Solen's world tilted as Lilathra's lips met his. It was a soft, consuming contact, acknowledged only by the wind's serene movements as it lovingly caressed them both.
Solen's heart hammered against his ribs—a furious, rapid rhythm he had never felt. The surge of emotions was inexplicable, overwhelming the Saint who had only known the sterile clarity of Wonder.
Lilathra drew back, her expression now etched with a profound sadness as she gazed at the moonlight. "Let that be my way of saying thank you to my Knight in shining armor." She stood abruptly and vanished into the shadows, leaving Solen paralyzed.
He couldn't utter a word. Something fundamental had changed within him, but the sheer intensity of the moment made him momentarily ignore this shift.
Solen finally rose and returned to the inn.
"Oh, it's good you're here! I've been able to pinpoint the location of the final demon!" Pollux greeted him excitedly.
"Oh really? That's great," Solen replied with a dull, flat tone.
"What's wrong, Solen? Did something happen?" Pollux questioned, instantly noticing the shift.
"I'll be fine..." Solen affirmed, collapsing onto his bed, fleeing into the darkness of his room.
II. The Blood Queen's Vengeance
Lilathra, standing alone beneath the moon, was equally tormented. Her expression was dull, an unknown conscience weighing her down.
"It's just like that time... this feeling..."
The Flashback:
Lilathra stood within a small, desolate temple. Its walls and interiors were morbidly decorated with dried blood. Upon a majestic, ominous throne sat Belva, the Blood Queen.
Belva watched as the newly formed, vengeful soul of a woman materialized before her. "Do you know why you were summoned here?" Belva asked, her blood-red lips curling.
"I know not..." Lilathra replied, her voice empty.
"Lilathra... you who were killed by a man and fell into the abodes of hell with that vengeful spirit, shall be given a second chance to unleash your anger against all men... you shall be reborn as a Succubus," Belva chuckled, the sound echoing ominously.
A dark, transforming power instantly cloaked Lilathra, changing her appearance and bestowing her new, immediate role.
"Lilathra the Succubus... your mission is to break down and captivate a Saint called Valor who lives in the neighboring city. All you need to do is to destroy his spiritual awareness... then I'll handle the rest," Belva commanded, her legs crossed regally on her majestic, blood-stained chair.
Belva scowled. "Yet to be a Knight of Wonder, he has taught men to avert their eyes from the lustful gaze of vices I have sent to capture their souls within this city... he's a true menace!"
Naked from her previous transformation, Lilathra stood and swore to fulfill her mission before vanishing into thin air.
III. Valor and the Crescent Moon
The next day, the Saint Valor was assigned to protect a woman against regular demonic attacks during her four-day stay in the city. The woman was Lilathra.
Day 1: Beneath the Crescent Moon
As Lilathra and Valor walked, they paused at some beautiful city sights.
"This place is truly exceptional," Lilathra said, her voice expertly calibrated to be calm and innocent.
"Y-yeah... I'm always around here when I have less work to do from the Sanctuary... these are my people after all," Valor stammered, rubbing his blonde hair. "Oh! And by the way... my name is Valor. I know yours is Lilathra from the mission files, tehehe."
"He's so full of life and positive, it's disgusting!" Lilathra thought, but her lips only moved to whisper, "The heart of men lies deceit within the tongue."
"What was that?" Valor asked, not hearing.
"Eh... nothing," she quickly replied.
Valor's innocence made him open. "I've seen some stuff about you from the mission file, but would you like to explain your predicament in detail?"
"It's such a burden to talk about, honestly," Lilathra sighed dramatically. "Some demons seem to always lurk around me from time to time... it's very scary."
"And you can somewhat see these demons?" Valor questioned.
"Y-yes..." Lilathra hesitated, playing the part.
"In the Sanctuary, we refer to them as Vices... because they enter into the world through the negative energies produced by human desires," Valor explained, falling into his teacher role. "If they carry a very huge presence, then it's quite easy for them to be visible to the human eye, but if they carry a miniature presence, then they can't be perceived by humans. Seeing them could mean you're spiritually enlightened and gifted to the level of a Junior Saint."
"Junior Saint?" Lilathra questioned, feigning interest.
"Well... yeah, I'm just a few miles above that now, hehe... my goal is to become a powerful Saint like Sir Chrono Lucent!" Valor spoke with a gaze of pure, focused determination.
"I feel free speaking to her... it's awkward..." Valor wondered internally, already wrestling with a nascent feeling of affection.
As they neared her rented house, two majestic red eyes glared at them from the deep shadows.
A chilling howl tore through the night, followed by claws dashing toward them at supersonic speed.
FWOOSH!
The attack missed as Valor instinctively dodged, sweeping Lilathra up into his arms. The creature, a demonic wolf with blood dripping from its mouth, emerged.
"It's a manifestation of the Vice of Greed," Valor stated.
Lilathra simply stared at the horror. Valor quickly checked her with his side-eye. "She's still awake... it's not a high-class Vice then..." he affirmed, his focus returning to the fight.
He materialized his Holy Boots divine weapon and dashed in on the Shadow Hound at full speed.
Clash... clash... clash...
It was a dizzying dance of kicks against slashes. Every supersonic slash from the wolf was met with a perfectly timed, counter-kick. Sparks flew as the demonic claws struck against the metal boots.
"Ultima Vestigia!" Valor landed a devastating, consecrated kick on the demon's stomach, sending it smashing into nearby structures.
Boom... boom...
The demon retaliated, firing concentrated dark energy beams. Valor dodged the majority and countered the rest with precise blocks from his divine weapon. Closing the distance, he adopted his final stance.
"Sanctus Terminus!!" The kick came with the speed of light itself, his boot flaring with wondrous energy. The devastating impact instantly disintegrated the demon.
Valor turned, offering Lilathra a thumbs-up and a big, heartfelt smile. "It's okay now!" he assured her.
She simply stared, lost in awe. Words failed her; she could only stare up at the crescent moon that seemed to observe the earth beneath it.
Two more days passed, marked by similar, failed demonic attacks.
IV. Day 4: To You Beyond...
Valor was fighting a battle alone in his room. His heart was racing, his mind consumed by thoughts of Lilathra—thoughts conceived of the flesh. He struggled against the unseen forces besieging his sanity.
Knock, knock, knock...
Valor's heart skipped a beat.
He opened the door and found Lilathra dressed in a beautiful, highly transparent, veil-like gown that the wind caressed, slightly exposing her inner features in a deeply seductive manner.
Valor's heart pounded out of his chest, a million frantic questions racing through his mind: What is she wearing? Isn't she leaving today? But all questions were silenced by the sudden, overwhelming captivity in his soul.
Her seductive words came like a sharpened blade, not a whisper. "Your body is mine and mine is yours..."
Before he could react, her full body leaned into his, dropping him to the ground. She was above him, half-naked, his underwear his only covering. Her calm, demonic touch caressed his skin before it came: A kiss.
The moment their lips met, something broke within Valor. His flesh rejoiced, but his spirit wept so violently that his eyes subconsciously shed tears.
And then...SHNK!
It fell upon him from the heavens: a massive, dark pillar of blood pinned both his shoulders to the ground. Lilathra calmly rose, unleashing her terrifying true Succubus form.
Belva the Blood Queen floated down slowly, pitying the Saint beneath her. "Good job, Lilathra... so this is the hope of men?" Belva mocked.
The truth dawned upon Valor, a sickening realization he had silenced with hope. He had been tricked.
"So even you can fall for this fool's deceit called love?" Belva chuckled, while Lilathra stared away, wracked with guilt.
Suddenly, Valor started laughing, a hollow, tragic sound. "Truly, I have committed a great sin!" he quoted, before his Wondrous Energy burst forth, shattering the pillars of blood holding him.
He donned his Saint Regalia, but blood profusely streamed from the wounds.
Dash!
Valor closed in on Belva at terrifying speed. "None of you shall leave here alive!"
He countered attacks conjured with blood using the strength of his kicks and high precision. "Ultima Vestigia!" Valor leaped at Belva with a kick that caused a shockwave, but his effort was blocked by a shield conjured from blood.
Belva conjured hundreds of deadly blood-pins and hurled them. Valor, now critically weakened by blood loss, had to brace the brutal impact. He breathed heavily, casting a fierce glare at Belva and Lilathra.
And then he spoke, his voice fading. "This is my last dance."
DASH!
He moved through space with overwhelming speed, as though he had become light itself. This was the final preparation for a deadly technique—a technique taught to him by the Knight of Blessed Time, Sir Chrono Lucent. A technique so great it was meant to be performed by his future, perfected self.
"Apotheosis Pedum!"
From the ground beneath, he landed a devastating kick that hurled Belva toward the heavens. "I didn't even see him come!" Belva shrieked, instantly conjuring a barrier of blood around her.
"Regnum Sub Pedibus!" Valor soared across the heavens and landed a second, equally devastating kick that sent Belva crashing back down to Earth. His boots glowed gold, a majestic holy energy emerging as they plummeted. People across the city looked up, seeing a bright, descending star as the technique carried on.
A technique so powerful the sky shed tears to acknowledge its might.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Valor roared, pouring every ounce of his remaining strength into the technique. It broke through Belva's barrier and finally struck her.
The secondary ability of the technique—a powerful holy seal—trapped and banished demons back to the realm from whence they came. In an instant, Belva's body vanished into thin air.
Valor knelt to the ground, his body collapsing past its limit.
He stared at the sky with his bright green eyes, the wind now caressing his blonde hair. It was his last moment, and he was ready to savor it.
Lilathra approached him.
"I see... I couldn't finish you all, after all," Valor chuckled weakly.
"How does a Saint as mighty as yourself fall for this fool's trick called love?" Lilathra asked with a condescending glare, desperately trying to maintain her facade.
Valor offered a slight, tragic smile, his saint regalia completely stained red. "Hehehe... you can't blame me, huh? We Saints might never know what it means to love. Being at the frontlines to guard humanity, we've traded so much to become the pillars that hold the world... love... a truly funny emotion."
His eyes, full of failing light, locked onto hers.
"You may roam the earth free, Succubus, but know that the Almighty has already thwarted your plans ahead... Within your heart lies an unending vengeance against all men, a path you chose due to the pain you were caused. But I tell you today... one day you'd evaluate your life and regret shall be your only accomplishment."
With his final warning given, Valor closed his eyes and gave up the ghost.
Lilathra stood frozen, staring at the enigma before her. For the first time since she had been reborn as a demon...
Lilathra wept.