Chapter 5

The ground was shattered, and the air was filled with debris with the aftermath of their battle. Smoke and dust covered the battlefield, obscuring the remnants of the forest that had been all but obliterated by their clash. Sarah stood at the edge of a massive crater, her chest heaving as she caught her breath, of course, she couldn't get physically tired, but it seemed that the battle had exhausted her mentally and this would reflect on her body. Across from her, Nami slowly rose to her feet, her body bruised and bleeding.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then Nami let out a low laugh, wiping the blood from her lip. “I’ve fought countless enemies,” she said, her voice with minor signs of pain. “Many demons, humans, elves. But none of them... none of them were like you.”

Sarah’s expression softened, her fists lowering slightly. She watched as Nami took a step forward, her aura reduced but still pulsing with dark energy. “You’re... stronger than even Primordial Demons like myself,” Nami continued, her eyes locking onto Sarah’s. “Stronger than I ever imagined.”

Sarah didn’t respond immediately. She studied Nami, searching for any hint of deception, but found none. There was only honesty in those grey eyes, mixed with traces of respect.

“You’re not bad yourself,” Sarah said finally, her tone neutral. “You fought well.” Considering that this demon should have been at the very least above level 90, she was certainly a formidable force within this world and could, as shown, create some form of challenge for Sarah.

Nami chuckled again, though it was clear she was in pain. “You don’t have to be kind, Sarah Viserya,” she said, a faint grin forming at the corner of her mouth. “I know when I’ve been beaten, and I know that you still held slightly back. I know when I’ve found someone worth following.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’ve always been a wanderer,” Nami said, straightening up. “No allegiance, no cause. But I’ve always wanted something more—someone to follow. Someone stronger, who could lead even demons like me to greater heights. I had never seen a being this strong before… and today, I’ve found that.”

Nami continued as her eyes shined with admiration. “A Goddess… a Demon Goddess… You’re truly of the highest level.” She took a step closer, lowering her head slightly, almost like a bow. “I want to serve you, Sarah. Let me be your subordinate.”

For a moment, Sarah was silent, processing Nami’s words. She had expected many things from this fight, but not this. Not a powerful demon, a Primordial Demon at that, asking to serve her. She could see the sincerity in Nami’s words, the determination, and it stirred something within her.

“You’re serious,” Sarah said, more a statement than a question.

Nami nodded, her expression honest. “More than anything. You’ve shown me power… unlike anything I’ve ever seen. You’ve shown me that there’s still something more to strive for, even for a powerful demon like me. I wish to peer within the abyss of magic… the abyss of power.”

Sarah considered this, her mind racing. She could sense Nami’s potential, the raw power that she possessed, and that, even after such an intense battle, the power was still formidable. Having someone like Nami on her side would be a tremendous asset. But more than that, she could see the loyalty in Nami’s eyes, a rare and precious thing among demons.

“Very well,” Sarah said, her voice firm. “I accept your offer, Nami. From this moment on, you will serve under me. But understand this—I do not tolerate betrayal. If you ever cross me, there will be no mercy.”

Nami’s grin widened, and she knelt down on one knee, lowering her head in a gesture of fealty. “Understood, my lady. I wouldn’t dream of it.” She glanced up, her eyes shining with admiration. “I swear to serve you loyally, to follow your commands, and to fight by your side until the very end. You have my word.”

Sarah nodded, a small, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. “Then rise, Nami. There’s much to be done.”

Nami stood, a new light in her eyes, the weight of the fight seeming to lift from her shoulders. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of purpose, a direction. And she knew, as she looked at Sarah, that she had made the right choice.

“As you command, Lady Sarah.” She said, her voice carrying a newfound reverence.

Sarah studied Nami, her brow furrowing slightly with curiosity. “Tell me, Nami,” she began, her voice steady. “When did you realize that I was a demon as well?”

Nami looked thoughtful for a moment, her grey eyes glowed crimson glimmering with a mixture of respect and understanding.

“At first, I was unsure,” she admitted. “Your magical power was surely overwhelming and your strength like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

She took a breath, steadying herself. “So… I kinda realized during the fight. It wasn’t just your strength that gave it away. It was the way you carried yourself, the way your magic flowed. Even concealed, I could feel the demonic energy radiating from you, just beneath the surface. It was faint but unmistakable, although humans probably wouldn’t be able to perceive that.”

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Sarah nodded, considering Nami's words. “I keep my power concealed for a reason,” she said. “It’s better to blend in. Revealing my power could invite unnecessary questions.”

“Yeah. This world isn’t used to this kind of power.” Nami nods in agreement.

Sarah then extended her arm to Nami, who was standing on the lower ground of a crater. Taking a breath, Nami unclenched her fist and reached out, clasping Sarah’s forearm with her own. Their hands met, gripping each other’s forearms in a firm, solid grasp.

***

The two demons left the battlefield, leaving the forest and the surrounding mountains they had just casually destroyed behind. They were now standing by a calm river, its waters being adorned by the moonlight passing through the trees canopy above.

Sarah leaned against a tree, her eyes half-closed, listening to the soothing sound of the water. Nearby, Nami knelt in the river, the water washing away the blood and grime from their recent battle. She looked serene, her usual intensity softened as she scrubbed her hands and face, letting the water carry away the remnants of dirt and blood from her.

Sarah broke the silence. “So, what exactly were you doing out there in that forest, Nami?”

Nami glanced over her shoulder, her wet hair clinging to her skin, and smiled. “Oh, that? Just having a bit of fun,” she said, her tone lighthearted. “I was following a lead on a magic item. You could say it’s a bit of a hobby of mine—collecting interesting artifacts. This one was rumored to be somewhere in this area, so I figured I’d check it out.”

“Collecting magic items, huh?” Sarah mused. “Not what I expected from someone like you.”

Nami chuckled, shaking the water from her hands one last time before turning to face Sarah. “What can I say? Even demons have hobbies,” she said, her grin playful. “It keeps things interesting. Besides, you’d be surprised how useful some of these trinkets can be.” She went back to the shore, stepping lightly onto the rocks as she wrung out her wet hair. “But I have to admit, I wasn’t just here for the treasure hunt.”

Sarah arched an eyebrow, curious. “Oh?”

“Yeah,” Nami said, her grin widening. “I was the one who posted that request to lure adventurers to the forest. I wanted to play a little, see who’d be brave enough to come wandering all brave... just to see their bravery and pride suddenly crushed. Humans can be such fun to toy with, and who knows? Sometimes they lead you to interesting things.”

Sarah's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression contemplative. “So, you set a trap. You really enjoy your games, don’t you?”

Nami shrugged, unbothered. “Guilty as charged. But it wasn’t all just for fun. I thought maybe one of them might know something about the magic item I was looking for, or at least point me in the right direction. Unfortunately, none of them were particularly… helpful.”

“No need to come up with excuses, Nami, unfortunately, I can… relate to this… I mean, having fun this way…” Sarah said, her tone neutral on the outside, but her thoughts worried on the inside. She had truly lost her humanity, and this created unease within her. “So, you were hunting for a magic item, and the adventurers were just a distraction to pass the time?”

“More or less,” Nami said, her grin fading into a softer, more thoughtful smile. “But I didn’t expect to find something even more interesting—namely, you.” She sat down on a nearby rock, letting her legs dangle into the water. “In a way, I suppose it was worth it, even if I didn’t find what I was looking for. Fate has a funny way of leading you to unexpected places.”

Sarah’s gaze softened as she regarded Nami, the demon who had become her subordinate. “Well, it led you to me, and now we’re here,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. “But if you’re serious about collecting magic items, maybe we can make that one of our next objectives. I’m sure there are plenty of treasures out there, and it sounds like you could use the company.”

Nami’s eyes lit up, her grin returning full force. “Really? You’d join me on my little treasure hunts?”

Sarah chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Well… it won't be the main objective,” she said, her voice filled with a hint of amusement. “What I am saying is that we could definitely grab some magical artifacts along the way. If we come across something interesting, it wouldn’t hurt to pick it up. But don’t get your hopes up that we’ll be dedicating ourselves solely to treasure hunting.”

Nami’s grin didn’t falter; if anything, it grew wider. “Fair enough,” she said. “As long as there’s a chance, I’m in. Besides, following you around sounds a lot more exciting than my usual routine.”

Sarah smiled, leaning more comfortably against the tree and crossing her arms. “Good to know. Just remember, Nami, that there’s more at stake than collecting trinkets. I have my own goals, and I’ll need your strength to see them through.”

Nami’s expression grew serious, but her enthusiasm didn’t vanish. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m ready to face whatever comes, and if I get to take a few shiny artifacts while doing it, all the better.”

“Then we understand each other,” Sarah said, her tone firm but warm.

After contemplating shortly, Sarah asked a question. “What do you think about world domination? I know it sounds a little cliché, but it's... well, fun, I guess?”

Nami paused, caught off guard by the question. She tilted her head, a slow smile creeping onto her lips as she considered it. “World domination, huh?” She wondered, her tone playful but with a hint of curiosity. “I have to admit, it’s not exactly the first thing I expected you to suggest… but then again, you’re full of surprises, Sarah.”

She stepped out of the water, letting her wet hair fall freely over her shoulders as she approached Sarah. “You’re right—it does sound a little cliché,” Nami said, mimicking Sarah’s words with a chuckle. “But there’s something about it that… appeals to me. The idea of taking over, reshaping everything to our liking, showing the world what true power looks like...”

She stopped in front of Sarah, her gaze directly staring at Sarah’s blue and green eyes. “Yeah, I can see the fun in that. It’s bold, ambitious, and a little chaotic—just how I like things.”

Sarah’s lips curled into a sly smile. “But it’s not just about ruling over everything. It’s about creating something new, something better. We could build a country good enough where the people would obey us not only due to our power but due to it being a great nation to live in.”

Nami’s smile faltered a little, her face showing mild disgust. “I’m not exactly fond of giving such benefits to inferior life forms… but if it's my Lady’s will, then I’ll follow.” Nami stopped shortly before resuming her speech. “A world shaped by our hands, where we set the rules. And if we have to crush a few obstacles along the way… well, that’s just part of the fun.”

Sarah nodded, her eyes distant for a moment as if envisioning the future she spoke of. “Then it’s settled. World domination it is. We’ll start small, build our power, and take things one step at a time. But make no mistake, Nami—we’re going to change everything.”

Nami let out mischievous laughter. “I’m all in, Lady Sarah. Let’s make this world yours. All nations, all people, all races will kneel before your greatness.”