Sera's eyes darted between Lilith's face and the ground, her posture still rigid despite Lilith's reassurances. "I don't know what I could possibly tell you that you don't already know, my La—Lilith. I haven't been to the Wastelands in nearly fifty years."

  Lilith studied the half-demon woman more carefully. Despite her nervous demeanour, Sera's face showed few signs of ageing—just the faintest lines at the corners of her eyes when she smiled. According to what Lilith remembered from the game lore, half-demons lived approximately five centuries.

  "How old are you, if you don't mind my asking?" Lilith asked.

  "Seventy-eight," Sera replied with a small shrug. "Quite young by our standards. You've surely seen far more than I have."

  Lilith nearly choked. Seventy-eight? The woman looked barely thirty. She fought to keep her expression neutral, suddenly aware of the absurdity of her situation. If she counted Jacob's years, she was only twenty-five—a mere infant by demonic standards.

  "Age doesn't always equate to knowledge," Lilith said carefully. "Humour me about the Wastelands. Explain it as if I've never been there."

  Sera's brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded. "The Wastelands are... chaotic. Imagine dozens of minor demon lords, each controlling territories ranging from a single corrupted landmark to several hundred square miles." Her hands moved as she spoke, becoming more animated. "They're constantly fighting each other, forming alliances only to break them days later."

  "And the borders?" Lilith prompted.

  "Heavily fortified by the Solarians," Sera said, her voice hardening. "Their patrols are relentless, and they send hunting parties into the Wastelands regularly—supposedly to prevent raids on human settlements, but they kill any demon they find, regardless of whether they're a threat."

  As Sera continued, her initial nervousness gradually melted away. Her voice grew stronger, her gestures more confident. "There are safe passages, though—underground tunnels, hidden paths through the mountains. That's what our network helps with—getting non-humans to safety when they're being hunted."

  "What about the landscape itself?" Lilith asked.

  "Twisted," Sera said, her eyes distant with memory. "Parts are beautiful in a terrifying way—crystallised mana formations that glow at night, fields where reality seems to bend. Other areas are barren wastelands, scorched by magical battles or corrupted beyond recognition."

  Lilith nodded, absorbing the information. "And what do you know about Nocturne?"

  Sera's expression shifted, a reverent look crossing her features. "Not much beyond legends. It was an empire that collapsed after the Demon Queen's disappearance. No empire can survive without its leader, especially one as powerful as she was."

  "She?" Lilith asked, feigning ignorance.

  "The Demon Queen," Sera said, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. "They say she was the most powerful succubus ever to exist—beautiful beyond comprehension, but deadly to her enemies. She built an empire where demons could live without fear, where even half-breeds like me would have had a place." A wistful smile touched Sera's lips. "Some say she'll return someday to rebuild what was lost."

  Lilith couldn't help but smile at the unexpected praise. It was strange being idolised, especially for accomplishments she hadn't actually achieved—at least not in this reality.

  Sera noticed Lilith's smile, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Your name... Lilith. That's—"

  A harsh voice cut through the night. "Well, well. A demon spawn convening with a demon whore."

  Five men emerged from the trees, wearing the distinctive armour of the Solarian Empire—silver breastplates emblazoned with a blazing sun. Their leader, a broad-shouldered man with a cruel smile, had his sword already drawn.

  "Shit," Sera hissed, jumping to her feet. "Inquisition."

  Lilith rose more slowly, annoyed at herself for being caught off guard. She'd been so absorbed in Sera's story that she'd failed to notice their approach. Even with her enhanced senses and supernatural abilities, she'd been careless—a stark reminder that stats and powers meant nothing without the awareness to use them properly.

  "What an unexpected surprise," the leader said, his tone mockingly pleasant. "Solaris must truly favour us tonight."

  * * *

  Lilith felt a surge of irritation as she assessed the five men. Their armour gleamed in the firelight, each bearing the unmistakable sun insignia of the Solarian Inquisition. The leader's face was contorted with religious fervour, his eyes bright with the prospect of violence.

  "I suggest you turn around and walk away while I'm still feeling merciful," Lilith said, her voice deceptively calm. "This doesn't have to end badly for you."

  The leader laughed, the sound harsh in the quiet forest. "A demon dares to offer mercy? Your arrogance knows no bounds."

  Lilith weighed her options quickly. These weren't simple bandits or slavers—these were trained killers, professionals who hunted demons for sport and religious duty. The stealth suit she wore, while perfect for shadowing Sera through the forest, offered minimal protection in direct combat. Its enchantments focused on concealment rather than defence.

  Her gaze flicked briefly to Sera, who had backed up against a tree. The half-demon's eyes darted frantically between the inquisitors, clearly searching for an escape route that didn't exist. The men had positioned themselves too well, cutting off all obvious paths of retreat.

  Perhaps it was time to use a more appropriate weapon. The Sword of Gluttony had remained dormant in her inventory since she'd arrived in this world. Its power would certainly tip the scales in her favour.

  "The punishment for consorting with demons is death," the leader continued, his voice rising with religious fervour. "But don't worry—I'll try to make it as painful as possible. Solaris demands nothing less than your complete suffering."

  Lilith sighed. Fanatics. There would be no reasoning with them, no chance for a peaceful resolution. The fight was inevitable.

  "Stay behind me," she murmured to Sera, who nodded frantically, her amber eyes wide with fear.

  With a fluid motion, Lilith reached into the air beside her. Space itself seemed to tear open, revealing a pocket of darkness. The inquisitors' eyes bulged as she reached into the dimensional rift.

  Her fingers closed around a hilt, warm and pulsing like a living thing. As she drew the Sword of Gluttony from her inventory, the weapon seemed to shudder with anticipation. Its crimson blade caught the firelight, the seam running down its centre quivering slightly as if breathing.

  "Demon magic!" the leader shouted, his voice cracking with panic. "Kill her now!"

  The inquisitors attacked as one, a coordinated assault that would have overwhelmed most opponents. Two charged from the front with swords drawn, while another pair flanked from the sides. The fifth hung back, fingers already tracing arcane patterns in the air.

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  Lilith's body reacted before her mind could fully process the danger. She sidestepped the first attacker's thrust with a fluid grace that surprised even herself, the Sword of Gluttony singing through the air as it deflected the second man's overhead strike.

  "Watch the demon witch!" one shouted as Lilith pivoted between them, her movements unnaturally swift.

  A ball of concentrated light—a Circle 2 Radiant Burst spell—hurtled toward her from the spellcaster's hands. Lilith tensed, expecting pain, but the spell simply dissipated against her skin like water striking hot metal, leaving nothing but a mild tingling sensation.

  "Impossible," the caster muttered, already beginning another incantation.

  Lilith smiled, recognising what had happened. Her Hellblade passive ability had nullified the spell completely. She felt a growing confidence as she danced between the attackers, their movements appearing almost comically slow compared to her enhanced reflexes.

  One inquisitor lunged with surprising speed, his blade nearly catching her shoulder. Lilith twisted away, her body flowing like water around the attack. Where earlier with the slavers she had surrendered control to her muscle memory, now she began consciously directing her movements, merging Jacob's tactical mind with Lilith's combat expertise.

  "Circle of Binding!" shouted the spellcaster, slamming his palm to the ground.

  Golden light erupted in a circle around Lilith, threatening to immobilise her. With barely a thought, she snapped her fingers, sending a counter-pulse of violet energy that shattered the spell before it could take hold.

  The inquisitors' faces registered shock as their most powerful containment magic failed. Lilith assessed them clinically as she continued evading their increasingly desperate attacks. Their skill level seemed equivalent to what she would have considered below mid-tier in Infinity—perhaps level 50 at most. Was this the standard for this world? Or were these merely low-ranking hunters?

  A third spell—a Circle 3 Light Lance—streaked toward her. Lilith didn't even bother dodging it, simply stretching her neck as the passive absorbed the spell.

  "Is this really all you have?" she asked, genuine curiosity in her voice.

  The inquisitors exchanged nervous glances. Their coordinated assault had devolved into individual desperation, their movements growing sloppier with fear.

  Lilith twirled the Sword of Gluttony, feeling its hungry vibration against her palm. The weapon seemed impatient, demanding to be fed.

  "I think I've seen enough," she said, her eyes narrowing as she shifted her stance. "My turn."

  Lilith felt something shift inside her as she gripped the Sword of Gluttony tighter. The blade pulsed against her palm, its hunger merging with her own growing rage. These men had hunted her kind for sport, for religious glory. They would have killed Sera without hesitation.

  "My turn," she repeated, her voice dropping to a dangerous purr.

  She moved with preternatural speed, appearing before the first inquisitor before he could raise his shield. The man's eyes widened in terror as Lilith swung the crimson blade in a vicious arc. Just before impact, the seam running down the centre of the sword split open, revealing rows of jagged teeth. The blade transformed into a gnashing maw that clamped down on the inquisitor's torso.

  The man screamed, a high-pitched sound of pure agony as the living weapon bit clean through his armour, flesh, and spine. His body fell apart in two neat halves, blood spurting into the night air. The Sword of Gluttony made a sickening slurping sound as it consumed chunks of the man's flesh, growing visibly larger and more vibrant with each passing second.

  "What manner of demon are you?" cried another inquisitor, backing away in horror.

  Lilith tilted her head, violet eyes gleaming in the darkness. "The kind you should have left alone."

  She darted toward the second man, who swung his sword wildly in panic. Lilith easily ducked beneath the clumsy strike and swept the Sword of Gluttony in a low arc. The blade's maw opened again, this time clamping down on the inquisitor's legs just above the knees.

  The man toppled backward, staring in disbelief at the stumps where his legs had been. His severed limbs disappeared into the sword's gullet with wet, crunching sounds. Blood pooled beneath him as he clawed at the ground, still very much alive and conscious.

  "Please," he gasped, face pale with shock. "Mercy..."

  "Did you offer mercy to all the people you hunted?" Lilith asked, stepping over his writhing form.

  The third inquisitor, seeing his comrades fall, made a desperate lunge toward Sera. "If I die, I'm taking this abomination with me!"

  Lilith moved faster than thought, interposing herself between the attacker and the terrified half-demon. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the Sword of Gluttony flying through the air. The blade spun once before its maw expanded impossibly wide, engulfing the inquisitor's head completely.

  The man's body staggered forward a few steps, headless, before collapsing in a heap. The sword floated back to Lilith's hand, its metal surface rippling with satisfaction as it digested its meal.

  "Solaris preserve us," whispered the fourth inquisitor, his face a mask of horror as he watched his companions die in ways no training could have prepared him for. His hands trembled as he looked from Lilith to his fallen comrades, then to his own sword.

  "No," he muttered. "Not like this."

  Before Lilith could reach him, he turned his blade toward himself and plunged it into his own heart. His body crumpled to the ground, his expression almost peaceful compared to the terror that had preceded it.

  Only the leader remained, his religious fervour evaporating like morning dew. He dropped his sword and fell to his knees, hands raised in supplication.

  "Please," he begged, his voice cracking. "I have a family. Children. I was only following orders."

  Lilith approached slowly, the Sword of Gluttony writhing in her grip. Its teeth gnashed hungrily, bits of armour and flesh still caught between them. Blood dripped from its edge, sizzling where it hit the ground.

  "Orders?" Lilith repeated, her voice dangerously soft. "Orders to hunt and kill those different from you? To slaughter innocents in the name of your sun god?"

  "We were told all demons are evil," the man whimpered. "That they corrupt everything they touch."

  Lilith crouched before him, bringing her face close to his. She could smell the fear radiating from him, could see the rapid pulse in his neck. The Sword of Gluttony quivered in anticipation.

  "Perhaps," she whispered, "it's time you learned what true corruption looks like."

  She stood, raising the hungry blade. The inquisitor's eyes followed its movement, tears streaming down his face.

  "Please," he sobbed.

  Lilith's lips curved into a cold smile as she echoed his earlier words: "Don't worry—I'll try to make it as painful as possible. After all, Solaris demands nothing less than your complete suffering."

  * * *

  Lilith watched as the Sword of Gluttony finished consuming the inquisitor leader. The man's screams had faded to whimpers, then to silence as the blade methodically devoured him piece by piece. His face had contorted in exquisite agony with each bite, his eyes pleading until they too were swallowed by the hungry weapon.

  What disturbed Lilith wasn't her lack of emotional response to the slaughter—it was how good it felt. The rush of power, the satisfaction of hearing their screams, the way the leader had begged for mercy while she systematically fed him to her sword. She had enjoyed every moment of it.

  Is this what I am now? she wondered, looking at the blood-soaked ground. Am I becoming the monster I roleplayed for years?

  She could have simply grabbed Sera, cast a fly spell, and escaped without killing anyone. Instead, she'd chosen violence—brutal, excessive violence. She'd tortured a man and relished his suffering.

  Lilith pushed these uncomfortable thoughts aside, unable to face their implications. She returned her attention to Sera, who stood frozen several paces away. The half-demon woman's expression was a complex mixture of terror and... something else. Awe?

  Great. I just slaughtered five men in front of her. She must think I'm a complete monster.

  Which, Lilith had to admit, wasn't far from the truth anymore. She had killed without hesitation or remorse. She had tortured a man for pleasure. What was that if not monstrous?

  With a sigh, Lilith returned the Sword of Gluttony to her dimensional pocket. No need to frighten Sera further with the blood-slick, sentient weapon. As the blade disappeared, Lilith felt an unexpected emotion emanating from it—sadness, like a puppy watching its owner leave for work. The sword had been enjoying itself.

  That's a problem for another time, Lilith thought.

  She approached Sera cautiously, hands open to show she meant no harm. "I'm sorry you had to see that," she said, her voice gentler than it had been moments before.

  Sera didn't back away as Lilith expected. Instead, the half-demon woman's eyes widened, her gaze fixed on Lilith's face with an intensity that was almost uncomfortable.

  "It's really you," Sera whispered, her voice trembling.

  Lilith frowned. "What do you mean?"

  Sera took a hesitant step forward, then another. "I didn't believe it at first. I thought perhaps you were just some powerful succubus from the deep Wastes. But that weapon... the way you fought... the power you command..."

  She dropped to one knee, head bowed. "My Queen. My Empress."

  Lilith froze, caught off guard by the sudden reverence. "Sera, what are you—"

  "You're her," Sera continued, voice filled with wonder. "The Demon Queen Lilith. Empress of Nocturne." She looked up, tears glistening in her amber eyes. "The legends said you would return when we needed you most. For a thousand years, we've waited."

  Sera's hands trembled as she reached toward Lilith, stopping just short of touching her. "My grandmother told me stories of your glory when I was a child. How you built an empire where all demons could live without fear, where even half-breeds like me would be judged by our abilities, not our blood."

  She bowed her head again. "I never thought I would live to see you with my own eyes, my Queen."