Serena’s expression was stiff, her gaze was distant because of what she had said. She didn’t know if it was the right choice or if it was even necessary. However, she knew what Satan said was right about Videl and what he was capable of. She came to pause to look at the night sky where the stars were visibly moving slightly.

She listened to her unrhythmic heartbeat because of the anxiety and fear of the consequences. Her chest tightened ever since she left the spring, and she forgot to breath most of the time, forcing her to breath manually. She wanted to rip her chest apart and pull her heart out, begging it to stop beating so painfully.

She sighed and decided to lean against the tree, clenching her fist against her chest. She couldn’t make her mind stop from thinking that even after she tried her best to think of something else.

“I’m sorry, Rasmus…” Serena muttered to herself.

(A few moments ago)

“I know how powerful Videl was, and I have seen how many times he dealt with countless rebellions in hell. The Fallen Watchers aren’t that special compared to billions of primal demons after eons of living in hell. Yet, he could defeat them all with a mere flick of his finger,” Serena said, remembering the horrors that Videl could do that made Hell feel nothing compared to the one who held power over it.

‎”Oh, I know him really well, Serena. Among the three of us, Lucifer and I are not that different from each other. However, Iblis is the smartest, but he never reveals that. He never reveals his true capability as someone who was created from smokeless fire, said to be the most powerful destructive power,” Satan replied as she nodded in agreement. “Even what you saw, those might be just a glimpse of what he’s capable of,” she pointed out.

‎Serena knew how much smarter Videl was compared to the demons in Hell. He accepted his punishment without complaint once he knew there was no turning back. He bargained with God, something that not any higher beings dared to do, but he did. He then made a bet with God, the bet not any living being knew, not even Satan.

‎”If I chose you, Satan. What would you do?” Serena asked, wanting to get anything that could assure her that her choice was less burdensome than the other.

‎”Right now? Wouldn’t sabotage his plan to regain power be the right thing to do?” Satan asked back as she walked toward the Fallen Watchers, staring at them and flicking her hand.

‎The Fallen Watchers bowed their heads and flew away, leaving the two alone. Serena could breathe a little bit better since she believed that she was a lot safer.

‎”But the question is, would Rasmus accept that? Would he accept that two forces were capable of erasing him?” Satan asked again. “Let’s stop with the what ifs, stop with all the possibilities…” She turned around to look at Serena. “You have no chance of making an alliance with the Angels, never will be. They have one purpose, no bargain, just judgment,” she pointed out, opening the curtains toward the truth.

‎Serena took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, her eyes locked and imprisoned by Satan’s gaze. She knew that already, and that was why she preferred to make a deal with Satan than the cult who served the angels.

‎”I…” Serena paused to let out a shuddering breath. “What do you want me to do?” She asked.

‎”Nothing, really,” Satan shook her head. “But I want this continent and everything in it,” she answered with her brows raised. “Tell this to Rasmus, if he doesn’t want to comply, I might as well make a deal with the angels. After all, I’m no different from them, servants of God,” she smiled coldly.

‎Serena felt like her heart stopped beating for a moment before she felt the air in her lungs being sucked forcefully. Walking away would mean that Rasmus would end up as Videl’s toy and Satan would make an alliance with the Angels. However, accepting Satan’s deal would mean she forced Rasmus to yield for the sake of his own survival but avoided Videl from taking advantage of him and everyone.

‎”I’ll make Rasmus comply…” Serena answered quietly with her head lowered.

‎”Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself. It was Rasmus’ doing in the first place to allow the cult to summon the angels. He should have known that his plan could backfire. I believe he would understand that, or I would be extremely disappointed,” Satan replied as she snapped her fingers and opened a portal. “I want to see what kind of choice he will make, and any choice he makes, it will help me understand him better,” she chuckled as she walked away and disappeared into the portal.

‎Serena sighed as she pulled her hair back, closing her eyes and trying to breathe.

‎”I’ll send my army, and what you do will decide your fate.”

Satan’s voice was like inside Serena’s head and that startled her. Serena looked around and didn’t sense Satan’s presence at all until she realized that her mind was connected to Satan because that was what Satan did, to remind. She knew that she had to tell Rasmus of what had happened, and she was ready to accept whatever Rasmus would say about her.

Satan came out of the portal and the first person she looked for was Ermaine. She found Ermaine playing with the tar around her, making the tar move like it was her own limb. Satan was intrigued by what Ermaine was doing, observing her quietly when suddenly she saw Ermaine sinking into the tar and disappearing like she was drowning in it.

“Hmm, fascinating,” Satan narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms and stared at the pool of tar in front of her. That tar was the origin of evil, no humans or demons would want to be in that thing, and yet, Ermaine seemed to be fine and didn’t find it unpleasant.

It didn’t take a while when Ermaine’s head to come out of the tar, the lower half of her face still underneath the tar. She was looking up at Satan with her glowing red eyes, her gaze had nothing in it, just a stare without any intention.

“What are you doing, child?” Satan asked as she bent her knees. “Aren’t you scared about this thing before? What made you change your mind?” She raised her brows.

Ermaine slowly rose from underneath the pool of tar until she was completely out of it. The tar moved like slimes on her body until her skin began to absorb the them, all of them including the pool of tar underneath her. Satan was fascinated that there was a human that could withstand the power of corruption and even tamed it.

“I’m learning my new power, mother,” Ermaine answered as she sat on the ground, hugging her legs in front of Satan. “It makes me feel calm and peaceful,” she added.

Satan knew that Ermaine was special because she was the one that was mentioned in two different prophecies as the figure that led to the end of time. She never knew how special Ermaine was until now, until she witnessed how powerful Ermaine could become.

“I see…” Satan smiled as her hand reached Ermaine’s head, caressing her head gently. “I want you to leave, to lead an army. To be the truth bringer,” she revealed. “Your time has finally come, to fulfill your prophecy,” she continued.

Ermaine’s eyes widened slightly because she never knew that her time to fulfill her prophecy had finally come. A smile that grew bigger formed on her face, and slowly held Satan’s hand and led it to her cheek, rubbing her cheek against Satan’s palm.

“Mother, is it really time?” Ermaine asked.

“Yes, and you will lead my army in my stead,” Satan nodded, cupping Ermaine’s cheek. “Can you do that, my child?” She smiled softly.

“Yes, mother. I can do that,” Ermaine nodded repeatedly.

“Good, now, I’ll summon everyone because they will be in your command…” Satan slowly stood up and swirled her index finger, opening a portal in the sky.

Two days had passed, and Rasmus was still resting in his chamber with Aris beside him. He was still recovering and trying to understand the new power within him. At the same time, Videl was trying to absorb corruption from the continent that seemed to be a lot more than they had expected. Rasmus had received Erlina’s report from herself, and he could see that Erlina’s plan was going to move smoothly from here on out.

Rasmus was thinking about what could be his next plan until someone knocked on the door. He knew it was Serena because he could feel her divine energy, and that was when she came in and her expression looked like someone who had done something irreversible, making both Rasmus and Aris look at her with a confused look.

Before Rasmus could say something to Serena who stood in front of him, Serena suddenly bent her knees in front of him with her head lowered. Rasmus knew from Aris about Serena’s plan, the plan that could sabotage Videl by either asking for help from Satan or the cult, but he knew that the plan was still far away.

“I’m sorry…” Serena’s voice was barely a whisper.

“For?” Rasmus asked as he went down to his knees and looked at Serena with a confused look.

“I met Satan by accident… and…” Serena paused as she slowly lifted her head to look at Rasmus with guilt written in her eyes and on her face.

Serena explained everything, about the deal, the consequences, and the options that Satan gave her. Aris narrowed her eyes when she found out about what had happened while Rasmus kept listening without showing any reaction.

“I’m sorry….” Serena said and bit her lip until it bled.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” Rasmus furrowed his brows as he shook his head.

Serena was surprised that Rasmus took the news so calmly. She stared into Rasmus’ heterochromatic eyes, but she found no lies, anger, or even displeased in them.

“But… what about the plans? Yours, Erlina’s, Aris’s, and even the others?” Serena asked, and she still insisted that she was the one to blame.

“Are the plans worth more than our lives? I always told the Blackhands that their lives matter most than the missions, what made you think that it didn’t apply to us as well?” Rasmus asked with his brows raised.

“So…” Serena looked at Aris to see her reaction, but even Aris didn’t seem to care much about it. “So, we are abandoning this continent?” She asked.

“Yes, we are,” Rasmus answered without hesitation. “I know something like this would happen, without removing the impossible outcomes or unexpected outcomes. I must say that this is the worst one. However, I believe there’s an opportunity from this situation, and it would be best to look for them instead of changing something that’s inevitable,” he added.

“It’s a shame, isn’t it?” Aris glanced at Rasmus.

“It is, but what can we do?” Rasmus asked back and looked at Aris. “Bring everyone, we are leaving,” he said under his breath as he stood up.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep