"Are you ready to leave here?"
"Yeah, it's been too long, even though time is dilated... Almost a week has passed outside."
'Eight months...'
"I understand, My Lord." The white tiger lowered his head, feeling lonely because these two were leaving his mountain.
Baku seemed lonely to see Asmodeus preparing to leave because he hadn't found his successor yet; he couldn't leave alone with his new master.
This situation meant Baku felt deeply ashamed of himself.
"That little bastard is somewhere in this empire messing around, I'll make sure to drag him back before you leave!"
"You better come find me, Baku. I need you to become stronger—let's find a pretty female divine beast for you."
Asmodeus forgot Baku was impotent and didn't understand why Baku looked full of sorrow.
How long did Asmodeus and Lumina spend in the special world fighting against each other and connecting their bodies?
Thanks to the unique trait of Lumina and his body, their strength grew significantly, and now he wouldn't suffer issues when absorbing divine energy.
[Tsk... that bitch]
However, since Lumina became more active, it meant Serena became more violent and emotional.
It seemed she didn't class the other women on the same level, but Lumina, a former goddess, was someone who once stood at the same apex. Thus, she got jealous.
'Calm down, you've only just recovered...'
[Hmph! You only needed to perform the ritual... who said to fuck her?!]
'...It just happened.'
[Hah! I don't believe you!]
"Master, I have finished, should I bring anything else?" A gentle voice echoed from the distance.
Lumina's soft white-haired legs tapped on the ground while she wore a silver and black silken dress on her human body.
[Oh, look at her!]
"I think this is fine, we should thank Baku one last time..."
'Don't be angry, my pretty Serena. I promise that all of this is for the future, our future.'
[Our future?]
Serena's voice became softer—she knew Asmodeus was coaxing her. Yet it wasn't a lie either. Thanks to the ritual and creating that bond with Lumina, he wouldn't suffer if they were to mate or have a child.
In fact, before, she couldn't have got pregnant from his sperm.
Now she could.
[Well... remember this is your last chance. If you sleep with anyone else, I will punish you!]
'Okay, I will accept your punishment.'
Serena's mood calmed down, while Lumina seemed to have spent a long time forming a bridge of silk. It extended from their current place to the canyon below. This bridge would save them at least a day's travel.
'Well, if we were normal people, I could just fly now since my power is stable.'
However, when looking at the proud face of the beautiful arachne, he didn't mind. It might be worth taking it slow.
"Master, do you want to sit on my back?" Lumina continued to call him her master even after regaining a bit of her memory and personality.
She protected Asmodeus like a crow would a precious gemstone.
"I think so, it wouldn't be good to fall..."
Of course, the silk web was extremely sticky. Yet it didn't feel horrible, but rather smooth and smelt of honey.
As Asmodeus sat down, Lumina lifted her spider rump and leaned her human body back, allowing him to hug her from behind. Sometimes, she would make him do this while at Baku's mountain, then ask him to touch her.
However, this time, she remained well-behaved.
However, just as the spear reached close enough to penetrate her skin, a wicked smile grew on Yuina's face.
"Close!"
Instantly, her body hopped in the air and twisted around the spear, her eyes like a snake never leaving the spear. Fredricka followed with her movements, pulled backwards on her spear, and swung her other hand.
Fredricka was a skilled human woman, having lived in many battles and enjoyed fighting alongside Princess Anne. But this time, she discovered the talent of the Princess and taught Yuina how to use her unbelievably flexible body.
"Do not think I can not sense your actions."
"Keep coming, Princess Yuina!"
Yuina used a new technique she had been practising called Serpents Wind Steps.
While airborne, Yuina began to spiral through the air, creating small steps using wind elemental mana. This skill made it almost impossible to predict her location because it defied all logic and physics.
"Hah!"
Just before her next move, Fredricka threw a dagger towards Yuina, and without a single hesitation, Yuina caught the handle of the weapon with her bare hand.
Like catching a sword with her fingers, her skill, thanks to the drawing style of combat she used, was almost impeccable as she tossed the dagger at the recovered Fuuka.
It pierced the female demon's thigh, and she let out an agonizing scream.
'This is enough...'
The sounds of blades clashing reverberated throughout the area.
Meanwhile, somewhere not far away, a huge aura spread across the entire plains, causing all the demon knights and Yuina to cease combat and turn to the new enemy instantly.
"Ah... Asmodeus?!" Yuina called out, her ferocious gaze becoming soft and gentle again as the knights all fell to the ground, panting, tired from the intense training.
'To think that they would fight in a round robin format, replacing each other the moment the injured ones healed... so intense.'
Asmodeus couldn't help but find their training pattern to be ingenious and wondered who came up with it. This unique method gave no rest to any opponent or Yuina. Thereby improving their reaction time, stamina and endurance.
"Though only a demon knight could handle it... due to their extreme recovery speed. It's quite interesting to see the shrine maidens trying to keep up, too."
These benefits applied to Yuina as well—since she didn't waste her mana needlessly and used skills only when needed. Asmodeus felt this style of combat was closer to actual demon kings, relying on pure techniques with mana only supplementing their strikes.
Yuina and these knights' training made him feel pleased.
"Yuina, Fredricka and Fuuka... you've done well. No, all of you, I am proud to see your training." Asmodeus spoke such positive words, causing the knights to feel all the suffering was worth it.
Yuina and Fuuka both looked quite embarrassed but also happy.
The pair fought against each other over and over due to their similar styles to refine each other's abilities.
"It was all thanks to Princess Yuina and Lady Fredricka!" Fuuka, the former arrogant hero, answered with a bright smile on her face.
'Fuuka... you've really started to change, soon you will be accepted by the world as a true hero. I can feel it.'
[You're right... I wonder what god will choose her—she's quite a rare gem].
A hidden gemstone lost in a pile of junk that could now sparkle.
"Well... Fredricka I will tell Vinea about your efforts, good work. I didn't know you girls could come this far, it makes me proud of my choice back then."
Asmodeus's sight turned towards Yuina, who panted but tried to remain graceful.
Cuts and scars covered her small body. She didn't have the same regeneration skills as the demon knights... but standing till the end showed her effort.
"Yuina, I am truly impressed by you."
Asmodeus stepped closer while the Demon Knights looked at the arachne, who peered at them with her eight eyes curiously.
"Did I reach your standards, Asmodeus?"
"You crushed them... I am in awe, all the power I gave is now yours even if I wanted. I cannot take it back, haha. Great work, Princess Yuina."
He could see her blushing face and the emotions filling her heart.
Yet now wasn't the time.
Because soon, the other woman would arrive from the south and east.