Adeline sat down and watched Kuso, whose arm almost looked healed. She did not speak, but the smile on Adeline’s face said it all. Kuso was now certain this was not the same demon he had fought st time. This was the first time Kuso had met an opponent like her. Usually, monster fights are straightforward: if you're weak, you surrender or die. There is no overarching strategy or game. It was pin to see Adeline was weaker than him, yet she should have surrendered. Kuso joined her as he also took a seat while managing his arm.

  “You are not the same demon. What happened to you?”

  “I thought you were not going to talk.”

  “You're too prideful, demon.”

  “I am indeed prideful, but I earned that right.”

  “Why did you not just kill me? You had the opportunity.”

  “You spared my life st time, so I repaid my debt. Our next battle might not end the same.”

  “I am stronger than you in every way possible, yet I am losing. Why?”

  “Don’t ftter yourself. Just because you're stronger doesn’t mean you will win. That is only guaranteed when your opponent can no longer fight.”

  “Your horns have started growing. I take it you defeated the shaman also.”

  “Why do you fight?”

  Kuso’s eyes narrowed at the unexpected question.

  “Because my master willed it.”

  “That will be the reason why you die today.”

  Adeline stood up, followed by Kuso, who stretched his now healed arm. Kuso advanced, throwing a strong punch. She ducked, then appeared behind him. She gripped his waist tightly and performed a German suplex. His entire body weight crashed on his neck and head. Before he could recover, Adeline got on top of him and started a ground pound. Punch after punch nded on his face, releasing a small shockwave with each blow. Kuso, for the first time in his eighty-year life, was completely defenseless. All he felt was pain.

  “Why did you give up? You still don’t understand the battle is only over when you're dead.”

  “grbhh”

  Kuso wasn’t even able to speak, his entire mouth broken, only the sound of blood bubbling from his mouth. Adeline felt insulted by her opponent. She did not receive the fight that was promised. She stared down at the mangled face with indifference, using her sharp nails, she punctured his throat, then proceeded to rip off his entire head in one movement. She got up and walked towards the still-raging fire, feeling the heat sting her skin. She then proceeded to walk into the inferno while carrying Kuso’s head. Oddly enough, only her clothes and the head caught fire, leaving her unscathed.

  She emerged from the fire and was met by chaos. Dead bodies littered the ground. Some were caught by traps, while others burned. Screams still filled the night, with both orcs and goblins running in a panic. Those who made the unfortunate mistake of getting close to her were met with a slit throat. Scales was still busy fighting a group of orcs who had spears and swords, using her rge body to circle around and crush her opponents while spreading her poison everywhere. Adeline threw the melting head of Kuso toward their feet, the head itself barely recognizable. The orcs stared at bloody Adeline. She looked rexed, but her blue eyes had a flicker of danger.

  “Master, you were successful.”

  “You did well yourself.”

  The orcs stared at each other, but one of them finally summoned the strength to attack Adeline. She skillfully disarmed the orc, then subdued him. The orc fell to his knees, holding his shoulder in pain.

  “At least you are not a coward. Do you have a name?”

  “No, I do not.”

  “Gather those who are useful; kill the rest. Then I will give you a name.”

  The orc stared bnkly at her, but he got up and picked up his weapon. He stared at the group of orcs and let out a roar as he approached them. The group promptly bowed, then they made their way back to the burning fortress. Scales returned to her normal size and wrapped herself around her neck as they slowly made their way. Adeline did not forget Kuso’s head, her personal trophy and a powerful demoralizing tool. They received zero pushback as they all fell in line, and finally, they met Fang, who was still beating up an orc.

  ‘Is he imitating me? How adorable.’

  “Master, I knew you would be victorious.”

  “Are there any more enemies pouring out?”

  “I am unsure, master.”

  “Sorry to interrupt, um, master.”

  One of the new orcs spoke with caution as he inched closer to the group.

  “My previous master has a prisoner underground the fortress. She seemed important.”

  “Scales, Fang, look after the group. If they try to flee or betray me, feel free to kill them.”

  “Yes, master.”

  Adeline walked towards the raging inferno and fearlessly walked inside. The group watched in shock as she disappeared inside. Adeline walked around the crumbling building, looking for a way downstairs. After spending some time, she found a hatch. She entered the dark hatch and started to search around, looking for the prisoner. She could hear shallow gasping. At the end of the underground cave y a woman with fair skin and bright golden hair, covered in filth and surrounded by corpses. Her state was concerning, so she acted quickly. Adeline started to look for another way out.

  With no options, she started digging her way out using her sharp nails. It felt as if she was cwing hard cement. She had just recently started to adore her nails, but now they were breaking. Once the hard part of the soil was broken, she was able to dig more freely and finally break through. She pulled the woman through the small opening, and finally, they were outside. She ended up behind the group, who still watched the bzing inferno with intent.

  “If my lovely master does not come out, all of you will die gruesome deaths.”

  Scales towered over the goblins and orcs, looking down on them while Fang did his best to approach the fire. Adeline smiled as she carried the unknown woman toward the group.

  “That won’t be necessary.”

  “Master, I am gd you’re alright!”

  The two rushed to her side like lost puppies. She promptly instructed the group to make a small camp and collect firewood while she tended to the woman. She force-fed her water and some soluble foods, then patched up her wounds. She spent the remaining night checking up on her and making sure the new orcs and goblins didn’t try and eat or kill her when they were not around. When morning came, the unconscious woman finally woke up and was greeted by the sight of a bloody Adeline, who had a snake around her neck and an orc on the other side. She quietly closed her eyes and pretended she was not awake, but that did not work.

  “Oh, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

  “You can speak our nguage!!”