Turning back to the altar—
Where Lust and the "King" were facing off.
The sound of collisions echoed through the air, followed by thick smoke and swirling dust that cloaked the altar.
Through the haze, the silhouettes of Lust and the "King" clashed repeatedly, each trying to kill the other.
The "King's" bloody claws slashed with raw power and death, capable of disintegrating anything they touched.
Every pillar, every patch of ground turned to dust beneath his strikes.
But it was all useless—against Lust.
To her, dodging the "King's" assaults was like dancing.
Each strike aimed at her vital points only "accidentally" grazed her, missing their mark as though his attacks didn't truly want to kill her.
"What's wrong? You don't want to kill me?" Lust taunted with a mocking tone.
As if responding, his wings vibrated violently, then extended thorny vines outward, forming a cage of bloody thorns around them.
"What's with the cage again?" Lust looked around, unimpressed. "Don't you have anything new?"
The "King" answered with a bestial roar, and the thorns lunged toward her.But again—just like before—they only grazed her.
Lust walked slowly toward him, the spikes brushing her body but never harming her.
"It's a good effort... but it's not worth it." She smiled.
More spikes surged at her—from above, around, even from underground—All in vain.
"Stop this useless nonsense."
But the "King" didn't speak. Only guttural growls escaped him.
Whatever humanity he once had... was gone.
All that remained was the appearance of human.
Ironic, that the one who fought so hard to resist the demons had become one himself.
"What an irony of fate," Lust muttered. "You were dead long ago, and yet you're still alive."
This time, her words carried no arrogance—only sadness, almost human.
But the "King" didn't understand. He growled again, thrashing his thorns in vain.
"Honestly...," Lust said quietly. "I just want to talk to you now."
She waved her arm, and the cage dissolved into pools of blood that flooded the altar.
Then she conjured chains that wrapped around the "King," binding him tightly.
"That's better," she said with a gentle smile.
Lust stepped closer and sat down in front of him.
"You know..." she whispered, placing her hand softly on his cheek, "I don't even know why I'm doing this... sitting here, talking to you..."
She sighed.
"Maybe it's because I just absorbed Order..." Her hand shifted to her chest. "Just like when I absorbed Chaos... I can feel what you call emotions."
Her voice grew heavier, sadder.
"What I felt back then was chaos—raw, overwhelming. The emotions of Chaos flooded into me. I think that's why I lost control back then."
She paused.
"Before I ever took over a human, I didn't feel emotions. I didn't even understand reason... but now..."
Her voice caught in her throat.
"...Perhaps it's because of your emotions... they're too intense..."
Then she suddenly laughed.
"Why does this sound like something a child would say? Maybe... maybe it is."
But then, something shifted. A strange sensation crawled over her.
Lust stood slowly and turned around.
Behind her, a hooded figure stood silently.
"And what about you... Honorable Solomon?" she said, eyeing him.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to call me that," Solomon smiled. "Seems like you've absorbed quite a few... interesting things."
"That's inevitable if you want to become stronger, isn't it?" Lust approached him slowly. "So, me becoming like this... was it part of your plan?"
"Actually, no."
"...What?" Lust blinked, surprised.
"No need to be so shocked," Solomon replied calmly. "Things don't always go the way we plan, do they?"
Lust fell silent.
"But honestly... right when the 'King' was about to summon Chaos and Order, I was about to abandon him and find someone else..."
"Then why didn't you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
"I don't know why..."
That answer stunned her.
She knew Solomon well—but this was the first time she'd heard him uncertain.
"Is this a joke?" she asked, wary.
"Does it sound like one?" Solomon's tone turned serious.
"I joke a lot, sure—that's how I get things done—but not this time."
Lust fell silent, a single thought dominating her mind:
What could make someone as confident as Solomon hesitate?
"I know what you're thinking," he continued, "but it's true—something stopped me. Something that doesn't belong to the present."
"You mean... it's from the future?" Lust asked, confused.
"Possibly. But you're still missing something," Solomon said.
"What is it, then?"
"The reason I changed my mind... is because I'm from the future."
"You're from the future? But how could that be—"
"That's what worries me."
Solomon cut her off immediately.
"What's even stranger is... even though it came from future me—it wasn't me."
"That's... bizarre. But somehow not surprising." Lust looked at him tiredly. "Just hearing you say it is already enough to surprise me."
Solomon let out a deep sigh.
"But even so, I've already thrown the spear. Now I just have to go along with it. I'll make a new plan—what about you?"
"Same as you..."
"Sounds interesting."
They both turned to look at the "King."
"So what are you going to do?" Solomon asked.
"Something I never would've done before... and honestly, it's not a good thing," Lust murmured.
"Want me to tell you what it is?" Solomon grinned.
"...What do you think about making the 'King' the one who holds the power of the seven Demon Lords... Chaos... and Order?"
"...Are you crazy?" Solomon said, half-laughing.
"If you call me crazy, you're no better." Lust smirked. "Back to the point—do you think it's possible?"
"Before I answer... why do you want to do this?" he asked.
"Maybe it's guilt... or maybe..."
"HAHAHA... you feel guilt?" Solomon laughed aloud.
Lust glared at him, annoyed.
"Alright, alright, it's my fault," Solomon said, trying to stop laughing. "I just didn't expect you to say something like that."
"Enough laughing. Just answer the question."
"Actually... it's not impossible. It all depends on the will of the 'King'."
"That's enough." Lust turned toward the "King."
"Oh? I thought you'd ask for my help," Solomon pouted.
"You've got your own part to play," she said thoughtfully. "Though... actually, could you help with one thing?"
"Something?" he perked up.
Lust pointed below the altar.
Solomon followed her gaze, looking down toward the hidden room deep beneath it.
"...I see now why you feel guilty."
Lust didn't respond.
He looked back at her, her expression now burdened with guilt.
"Alright, don't make that face," Solomon smiled gently. "Besides... I've decided. I'll make a bet with you."
"You're sure?" Lust asked, surprised.
"Doesn't sound too bad, right? Besides..." He glanced down at the altar. "The Girl I Saved for the 'King'... I could never see her future—not from the beginning."
"You mean..."
"I mean she might be the one I've been searching for all this time."
"Are you sure? She's still just a child."
"I did the same thing back when the 'King' was young."
"...What did you do?" Lust raised an eyebrow.
"Well... it's hard to explain." Solomon looked embarrassed.
"Oh really? That hard to say?"
"Let's leave it at that for now," Lust said, looking up at the sky.
Solomon followed her gaze.
"...They really know how to ruin the atmosphere," he muttered seriously.
From the sky, cracks began to split the air again.
Out of them emerged arms—mutated, twitching—followed by heads with eyes that stared down at the altar.
Then, suddenly, they were pulled back by an invisible force. The cracks sealed shut.
Beneath the altar, Solomon extended a hand. It was his doing.
"I'll hold them off—just finish what you need to do."
"Okay." Lust nodded.
And with that, the two parted—
To perform the final act.
The act of despair.