"Broc!? You missed her," yelled a familiar voice.

  Lai's gaze fell upon the stern of the ship, where two shadowy figures emerged from the glow of the moonlight. It was the lean, sinewy form of Lucius, his presence both alluring and enigmatic, accompanied by his formidable bodyguard, Broc, whose broad shoulders and imposing stature cast a commanding silhouette against the night sky. Intrigue coursed through Lai as she recognized the duo, their familiar faces stirring a whirlwind of emotions within her.

  "You got me once with that, coward. But I won't let you get another," Lai shouted out as she gred at the pair with her glowing green eyes.

  Lucius, a striking figure in his te 30s, possessed a mane of dark, jet-bck hair that contrasted sharply with the prominent scar etched across his face—a mark of stories untold. He carried himself with an air of nobility, draped in fine garments that suggested a lineage he never had, lending an aura of mystery to his character. There was a certain magnetism about him, as if he were a man who had walked through shadows and emerged with secrets swirling in his gaze.

  Lucius stepped forward, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as his gaze lingered upon Lai, drinking in the sight of her new figure.

  "Wait? Lai!? You're alive? But how did you become a succubus? And here I thought I could never have sex with you. Maybe I miscalcuted... Well... Since you're a monster now, that means I can ensve you and have sex with you all I want. Broc, bring her to me. I want to have my way with her," Lucius ordered his bodyguard.

  Broc is an imposing figure, standing tall at 6'7" with a muscur build that commands attention. In his mid-40s, he exudes a rugged charisma honed from years of adventure. A master of the crossbow, he wields his weapon with the precision of a seasoned hunter. Broc’s fighting style is not about brute force; instead, he relies on stealth and cunning, striking swiftly from the shadows before his opponents even know he’s there.

  Lai clenched her teeth, her blood boiling as her mind raced as she readied herself for her final confrontation. The two men were her adversaries, and the stakes were high.

  "Right," Broc nodded, and then he disappeared, his movements so quick that he seemed to vanish before Lai's very eyes.

  *Whoosh!*

  'Where did he go!? Where did—' Lai's thoughts were interrupted when Broc suddenly appeared behind her, grabbing her arm and twisting it.

  "ARGH!" Lai grunted out as the pain shot up her arm. 'HUH!? He's fast! Too fast! Is this the power of an assassin?' she thought as she tried to break his hold. But the burly assassin was too strong and quickly twisted her other arm and pushed her down, causing her to crash into the deck.

  "ARGH! Let me go, you bastard!"

  Broc didn't answer her as he took out a pair of handcuffs and went to pce them on her.

  'Shit! If I let him lock my hands, then I'm done for!' Lai thought as she tried with all her might to escape, but the burly assassin was far too strong for her.

  'Dammit, what can I do? What can I—' Lai's thoughts were interrupted when, all of a sudden, a figure in a red jacket rushed across the deck of the ship and grabbed hold of Broc's right wrist, which was holding the handcuffs.

  "What the—!?" Broc grunted out.

  'Chase!?' Lai's eyes widened as she recognized the Demon Lord.

  "Let her go, or I will snap your wrist," Chase warned as he squeezed the assassin's wrist, causing some cracking noises.

  "Gah!" Broc shouted in pain as he released his hold on Lai.

  Chase then grabbed the hair on Broc's head and proceeded to smack his face into the wooden deck, causing him to become dazed.

  Broc let out a startled yelp as an overwhelming pressure enveloped him. Just then, Chase lunged forward, seizing his wrist and twisting it with a fierce grip. With a swift motion, Broc felt the cold metal of the handcuffs slip from his fingers, cttering to the ground.

  *CRACK!*

  Lai and Broc both heard the sound of bones breaking, and the assassin started screaming in pain.

  Lai heard the sounds of sickening crack echo through the air, followed by the assassin's piercing scream that pierced the night. The sheer agony in his voice was almost enough to make her wince, a testament to the intensity of Chase's assault. But she was more happy than upset that he broke the assassin's wrist. Chase came to her aid once more, and she was grateful. Also, at the time, she didn't notice the tingling sensation in her pussy, and her green eyes were locked on the Demon Lord's figure.

  'Wow... Chase... He's amazing. But why did I get turned on watching him beat up that guy?' Lai thought.

  "Don't you dare y a finger on her again, you bastard. Otherwise, next time, I'll snap your neck," Chase growled as he pinned the burly assassin against the deck of the ship.

  The burly man squirmed under Chase's grip, his eyes wide with fear and his body shaking. Chase pressed his forearm against Broc's chest, his strength unyielding.

  "W-What are you? Argh!" Broc moaned as he couldn't help but notice that the Demon Lord's body was so firm. His muscles were perfectly sculpted, which is the definition of masculine beauty. It was a sight to behold, and the feeling of being trapped beneath him made his blood pump with excitement.

  Chase didn't like how this guy was staring at him, so he punched him in the face.

  *WHACK!*

  "ARGH!" Broc moaned as he was knocked unconscious, the world spinning into darkness.

  "Broc! WAKE UP, YOU WORTHLESS TRASH!" Lucius shouted as his bodyguard was defeated. Chase stood up and helped Lai to her feet. She stared at him with starry eyes while Chase watched Lucius carefully, his hands ready for any action the vilin may attempt. Lai shook her head and came back to her senses. She looked at the mayor's son, her eyes fshing a bright green as she gred at him.

  "W-Who are you? You WORM!" Lucius shouted in frustration as he saw the man standing beside Lai with two horns sticking out of his forehead.

  "Me?... You don't need to know. What you do need to know is if you want to survive this night, then I suggest you drop any weapons you have and release the captives," Chase demanded as he stood in front of Lai, shielding her from Lucius. Normally, she would have been annoyed if some man had protected her. But now, the feeling was different; she liked that Chase was willing to protect her. It made her feel safer and more confident.

  'Wow... His presence is just... Wow... And his eyes... There's something about them that makes me feel like they've been staring at me for centuries... What is this feeling in my heart? Why does my pussy throb every time I look at him?' Lai thought as her cheeks turned pink.

  "No, I don't think I will, worm. They're my property, and they will be mine until they die," Lucius retorted.

  "So this is how it's going to be," Chase said, his voice cold and detached. He was getting tired of pying games.

  "I am not afraid of you, demon. I will sy you and then have my way with your little slut of a succubus," Lucius said as he drew his rapier and pointed it at Chase.

  'Shit!... Should I let Lai fight him? Or should I pick up a weapon or something and try to defend myself?' Chase thought as he looked at the rapier and the mayor's son.

  "Hahahahahaha! Are you going to fight me with your bare hands?" Lucius taunted Chase.

  "I can improvise," Chase said as he readied himself.

  Just as Lucius prepared to leap down and confront Chase, a flurry of action erupted nearby as the doors to the captain's cabin swung open, and Hanz, the Mayor, burst onto the scene, his expression a mix of urgency and determination. Clutched tightly in his hands was a glimmering holy talisman, its surface etched with intricate symbols that radiated an otherworldly glow, casting flickering shadows on the ground around him.

  "Lucius! Move! Get away from him!" Hanz yelled.

  "W-What is this? A priest?" Lucius asked as he took a few steps back, his eyes widening in surprise.

  "But, Father! I can defeat this monster! Just wait and watch!" Lucius replied as he took a stance.

  "Damn it, boy! I said move back!" The Mayor's voice boomed through the air as he raced toward his son, panic etched across his face. In a swift motion, he gripped his boy’s arm, yanking him back just before he could raise the gleaming talisman glinting in his palm, aiming it at Chase and Lai.

  *Crackle! Crackle!*

  'Oh shit! I can sense a massive amount of something coming from that thing! Shit, this is bad! B-But why don't I feel afraid?...' Chase thought.

  Out of nowhere, an intense, blinding light erupted, flooding the space with a dazzling brilliance. A thunderous crackle of energy reverberated through the ship, sending a shiver down their spines. The source? The mysterious talisman glowed fiercely and cast an ethereal glow straight at Chase and Lai, who were caught off guard by the sudden burst of illumination.

  'Ow! It is kind of annoying... Is that thing a fshlight or something?... I mean, how is that supposed to stop—' Chase's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Lai's screams.

  "AUGH! It burns!" Lai screamed out in pain as she fell onto the floor, her eyes shut tight, and she writhing in pain.

  "Lai!" Chase yelled out in surprise as he turned and saw the holy talisman glowing brightly.

  "Ahhhhhh!" Lai shrieked in pain.

  "HAHAHA! Taste the full might of a Priest, demon!" Hanz said as he watched the demon writhe in pain, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

  A seething fury surged within Chase, more intense than anything he had ever experienced. In a desperate rush, he threw himself between Lai and the blinding holy light, determined to shield her from its searing wrath. As he stood there, unaffected, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction and pleasure.

  'Wait a minute? I'm not in pain. So, that thing is useless against me, and it's hurting Lai instead. Whatever, I need to protect her, and I will.' Chase thought as he successfully blocked the light from reaching Lai.

  "Huh? Chase? Why aren't you crying out in pain?" Lai said weakly as she looked up at the Demon Lord.

  "I don't know, but I'm fine. Just hang in there, babe. I'll save us," Chase said reassuringly.

  'B-Babe? What does he mean by that?' Lai thought, her cheeks blushing pink.

  "W-What the!? That's impossible! My holy light can burn and purify all evil. But why are you not being purified, like that whore?!" Hanz yelled out in shock as he saw the demon didn't receive any damage from the holy light.

  'This dude is fucking insane! Wait a second?! Did he just call Lai a whore? Oh, I'm going to show him who the real fucking whore is!' Chase thought, his anger building inside him as he took a step towards Hanz.

  "Stay back, demon, or I will destroy your succubus whore," Hanz threatened as he tried to channel more divinity into the talisman.

  This only annoyed Chase as he continued to walk forward while covering his eyes with his left hand while Hanz and Lucius walked backward.

  "You know, for a priest, you sure do curse a lot, old man," Chase said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

  "I'm only doing God's work, demon! So, why don't you do everyone a favor and just disappear?!" Hanz shouted.

  "You want me to disappear, old man? Fine. Then how about this?!" Chase retorted.

  *Fwosh!*

  With a swift flicker, Chase vanished and reemerged before Hanz, a mere heartbeat having passed. The old man's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, Chase lunged forward. In a single, fluid motion, he seized the hand clutching the talisman and crushed it mercilessly, shattering both the ancient artifact and Hanz's hand in a dispy of ruthless power.

  *CRACK! CRUNCH!*

  "Huh? Ah! Aaaghhhhhh!! AAAAARRRRRGGGHHH!" Hanz shrieked in agony as his hand was crushed, and he fell to his knees, writhing in pain.

  'Got him!' Chase thought with a smirk.

  "F-Father! Noooooo!!" Lucius cried out as his eyes were glued to the horrific scene unfolding before him. He tried to attack the Demon Lord with his sword, but Chase quickly punched Lucius in the gut, causing him to crumple into a ball and fall to the floor.

  "ARGH! F-Father! I-I'm sorry..." Lucius moaned as he crawled to his father, who was still screaming in pain.

  "You two are something else... Lai!? How are you doing? Can you get up?" Chase asked, his voice filled with concern.

  Lai rose from the ground, a sense of transformation coursing through her veins. It was as if every fiber of her being was awakening, her body becoming stronger with each heartbeat. A newfound power surged within her, building momentum after defeating the treacherous foes around her. She could feel it—a palpable strength that promised to propel her forward into whatever challenges y ahead.

  'He saved me, again?... NO! Stop it, Lai! Don't start falling for him!... A-At least not at this moment,' Lai thought to herself.

  "I-I fine... T-Thanks, Chase," Lai muttered, her cheeks turning a shade of red.

  With a deep breath of relief, Chase shifted his focus back to the two men sprawled on the ground before him, their expressions a mix of fear and desperation.

  "Lai... I'll let you pass judgment down on these two pieces of shit," Chase said, his tone cold and harsh.

  Lai stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat as the realization washed over her. Chase wasn’t merely acting as her protector; he was granting her the rare opportunity to evaluate her own people, a privilege she had never dared to envision. The weight of his authority was palpable, yet he regarded her not as a subordinate but as an equal, his deep-set eyes reflecting a respect that filled her with awe. This combination of power and deference was intoxicating, setting her heart aflutter with a heady mix of admiration and wonder. She'd only known Chase for a few hours, but she'd felt more emotions in those few hours than she had felt her entire life.

  'Chase... He's something else. And he's treating me as an equal? W-Why does my heart skip a beat whenever he says my name? If this keeps up, then I will...' Lai's thoughts were interrupted by Hanz's cries of anguish.

  "W-Wait, no! Please! We're sorry, demon! I promise we'll do whatever you ask! Just spare our lives!" Hanz cried out as he held his crushed hand with the destroyed talisman sticking out in different parts of it.

  Lucius looked up at Chase with defiance in his eyes, but even his bravery couldn't keep his knees from shaking.

  "Shut the fuck up, old man! Your pathetic whining is annoying. If you didn't get in the way, I would have killed this Demon Lord and sold his corpse to the highest bidder," Lucius spat out.

  Lai's love-struck gaze morphed into one of pure disgust when Lucius mentioned selling Chase's corpse. She picked up her sword and made her way next to Chase. Then, she stared down at the mayor's son.

  "Now, you will pay for your crimes, Lucius. This is your punishment," Lai said coldly.

  "My crimes? What crimes? I didn't do anything wrong! I had every right to do what I did! They were my property and no one else's—UGH!?"

  Lai ran her sword straight through the chest of the mayor's son, who gasped and choked as he slumped over, blood dripping from his lips.

  "You had no right to rape and ensve all those people in the vilge, Lucius," Lai stated as she twisted her sword. His face was frozen in a look of terror, his eyes wide and lifeless. With a shuddering breath, his body went limp, the st of his life seeping away.

  'Goodbye, Lucius... You're nothing but a worthless bastard who got what he deserved,' Lai thought to herself as she pulled her sword out of this coward.

  Hanz watched the scene unfold in horror, his eyes welling with tears and his body trembling uncontrolbly as Lai turned to him.

  "S-So this is what has become of the Baron's daughter?... Killing her own people for the sake of a monster! How can you even live with yourself?!" Hanz yelled out.

  "What did you say, old man?" Lai's voice dripped with venom as she fixed him with a piercing gaze from her bright, glowing green eyes, locking him in a relentless stare that seemed to cut through the air. "I may no longer be a human, but I'm far from being a monster. At least I'm not the monster that has been ensving innocent girls and selling them to the highest bidder!... You're no priest, and you have no right to call yourself a Mayor... You're just a greedy, selfish bastard who's so blinded by his own ambitions that he doesn't care who gets hurt or killed along the way. So, don't you dare try to lecture me about morality, you hypocritical piece of filth," Lai replied, her anger rising with every word. She pointed the tip of her bloody-covered sword at his neck, ready to end his life.

  Hanz gulped, his gaze locked on the sword hovering inches away from his jugur vein.

  "N-No, wait! I never wanted to do those things to the people! I-It was my son's doing! If you let me live, I promise I'll do better," Hanz pleaded, his voice shaky.

  "Tell that to the Gods," Lai growled as she plunged her bde deep into his throat.

  *Gurk!*

  A gurgle escaped his lips, and his body went limp as a thick pool of blood formed beneath him. Lai pulled her bde out and wiped the blood off her sword, her expression devoid of any emotion as Hanz held his throat with his only good hand, coughing up blood and spitting it onto the deck of the ship. After a few seconds, his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he fell to the ground, dead.

  Chase witnessed this, and he was worried about Lai. Was she okay? Did killing her former people have any effects on her?

  "Lai..."

  "Yes, Chase?"

  "Are you okay? I know that it was hard for you to kill the people you used to live with," Chase asked, his voice full of concern.

  She looked at him with a slight smile. She'd killed before and seen good people die at the hands of monsters and humans alike. This is a harsh part of reality when living in Asmodai, but Lai has learned to accept it. But there was something about this Demon Lord, a sense of warmth and kindness and the feeling that she liked being around him. It was odd that he was worried about her. No one, not even her father, had ever shown such concern for her.

  "No, not really, but I will be fine. Why are you asking," Lai answered as she sheathed her sword.

  Chase was relieved to see that Lai wasn't suffering any emotional damage from killing her former people, but he wanted to make sure.

  "Revenge usually isn't a healthy thing, and I just wanted to make sure that you are okay with how things turned out. But you seem okay, and I'm gd that you're alright," Chase expined.

  'Why is he so concerned about my well-being? No one has ever cared about me before, and here this Demon Lord is, expressing more concern for me than anyone ever has... I-I think I like this feeling. But he is a Demon Lord, and I don't think it's right to fall for a demon... But I can't stop thinking about him,' Lai thought.

  "Y-Yes... I am fine. Thank you for asking. But are you okay, Chase?"

  Chase sighed and cracked a smile, "I think I am... Considering everything that has happened, I should be fine. Anyway, do you need my help with freeing the captives? Or can you handle it on your own?"

  Lai blinked twice as she totally forgot about the captured vilgers.

  "Oh yeah, almost forgot. Um. I can handle it myself. You can just stay here and watch the deck... Plus, I don't want them to panic when they see a Demon Lord like what I did when I first met you," Lai felt a warm blush creep across her cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and shame swirling within her. After everything that had transpired, she couldn’t shake the feeling of foolishness, especially when she thought back to her impulsive attempt to confront Chase. It was as if crity had struck her like a bolt of lightning, making her realize just how reckless her actions had been.

  Chase blushed and scratched the back of his head, "Ah! Yeah, I don't want to frighten them. Alright, and I can't bme you for being scared when you first saw me. If I was in your shoes, then I would've freaked out. But thanks for taking care of the situation. OH! Make sure they don't notice your horns and tail. You're not human anymore either," Chase warned her as he stood near the doorway that went into the lower deck.

  'Why does he keep gazing at me like that? I-I know I'm beautiful, but his eyes have this effect on me... Oh, shit. What the hell am I thinking?! Ugh! I have to get these thoughts out of my head,' Lai felt a rush of warmth creeping up her cheeks, her heart racing as if ignited by an unseen fme. The heat enveloped her, leaving her breathless and utterly captivated. She had never known true love before, only some teasing of the flesh, but now she was feeling emotions that she never felt before. She tried to fight it, telling herself that Chase was a Demon Lord and she couldn't let herself fall for him. But every time their eyes met, her resistance crumbled like a house of cards.

  'Dammit! I looked at him again, and my stupid heart is pounding again! Ugh! This isn't normal. How can he have this effect on me without using his charm spell?!' Lai thought, her heart beating faster. That's when it hit her. She finally understood what was going on with her.

  'I'm falling in love with him?... N-No. That can't be right. I've known him for a few hours. He just saved my life. That's why I'm feeling this way. That's the only logical answer. I'm not falling for him. It's just a coincidence that my heart starts to race when I look at him,' Lai thought, but a small part of her was saying otherwise.

  Chase noticed Lai's cheeks were a bright red color, "Are you alright? You're a little red," Chase pointed out.

  Lai shook her head and tried to compose herself, "O-Oh yeah, I'm fine. Just a little winded from the battle... A-Anyway, I better go take care of the captives," she replied, quickly averting her gaze.

  'Damn, I can't look at him!... I've gotta focus on saving these people. Don't think about Chase. Think about them,' Lai thought, trying to get her mind off of the handsome Demon Lord.

  "Okay. Let me know if you need help," Chase added.

  "Right. Thank you," Lai said as she pulled the hood up over her head, trying to hide her two tiny horns.

  'Gods... This is the weirdest day of my life. I've gone from being a human to a Succubus. Chase has saved my life, and he's letting me make my own decisions. He's a very kind person, and he's treating me with respect. And I don't know if the stories are true about demons. But so far, they're wrong. I hope we can continue to be friends. I would love to get to know him more. And... Stop it. He's your friend. That's all. You're just thinking too much. Now, stop being a silly girl and focus on the mission,' Lai told herself.

  Chase's gaze lingered on Lai as she turned to leave, her hood obscuring her features as she deliberately averted her eyes from his striking visage. She descended the creaking wooden steps, the shadows of the ship enveloping her as she disappeared into the dimly lit hull where the prisoners were confined. The air grew cooler and heavier as she entered the confined space, looking for the brig where the prisoners were held. The stench of unwashed bodies assaulted her senses as she walked past the empty crew's quarters.

  As she navigated the tight hallways, she saw Chase's face popping up in her head again.

  'It's fine... He's just a friend. Nothing more... Nothing more. Nothing more. Nothing more. Nothing more.' Lai repeated this in her head over and over, trying to convince herself that she was just being friendly and nothing else. But every time her mind drifted to him, her heart started pounding harder, and her face flushed with a strange heat that sent her mind reeling.