Right now, Alicia just wished the ground would swallow her whole. With such idiotic teammates, what was the point of even trying to rescue anyone? She’d only get herself killed too.

"Holy Maiden, they’ve spotted us," a Holy Knight beside her said nervously. He hadn’t seen so many enemies below earlier. He’d shouted to intimidate them and alert his comrades.

*Spotted us? Only because you yelled first!* Alicia bit back the retort, swallowing her pride.

"Hmm…" She didn’t know how to respond. Truth was, seeing hundreds of demons and strangely dressed humans below, she’d already decided to retreat and call for backup. Her dozen Holy Knights wouldn’t even be a mouthful for that army. *Why do I have such brainless teammates?* Tears welled up but wouldn’t fall.

*What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?*

Charge down? It’d be suicide. Flee? But the surviving Light Sanctuary members below were moments from death. She couldn’t just abandon them. *Damn it. This idiot ruined everything.* She blinked. Actually… she’d never had a plan to begin with. She just wanted to go home.

"Holy Maiden? Sounds delicious," Asmodeus murmured. Though he couldn’t see her face from the cliff, the title alone ignited his lust. Breaking the Holy Maiden of the Light Sanctuary, parading her naked before his army—any city’s defenses would crumble at the sight. *She brought only a dozen knights? Either overconfident or utterly stupid.* Her hesitation confirmed the latter. *I wonder how she tastes…*

"Ahem! Release my people now, or you’ll regret it!" Alicia drew her golden Holy Sword, pointing it at Asmodeus below. Her voice was steady, but inside, she was panic-stricken. It was a bluff—if it worked, they’d win; if not, she’d die. She had to say *something* to keep her knights’ morale from collapsing.

"The Holy Maiden’s come to save us!"

"Long live the Holy Maiden! Long live the Light Sanctuary!"

"Praise Goddess Freyja!"

Hearing her voice, the trapped knights and priests below erupted in hope, as if their prayers had been answered.

"Seems this generation’s Holy Maiden is all looks and no brains too," Asmodeus spread his arms, grinning. "The last fifteen were all captured by demons and broken into slaves. Is the Holy Maiden so desperate for a taste of darkness she’s offering herself?"

"You shut your mouth!" Alicia trembled at the word *slave*. She’d just escaped Albel’s grasp—was she stamped "property" on her forehead? Furious, she leveled her sword at him. *If only I could actually fight…*

Drama struck. Swinging her sword too wide, her warhorse stepped on a loose rock at the cliff’s edge. Alicia and horse slid down the slope.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" She rubbed her sore backside, standing up. Unharmed, but her horse lay dead, neck broken.

"Eager, aren’t we, Holy Maiden?" Asmodeus chuckled, hands behind his back. "Couldn’t wait for my… attention?"

"Like I’d ever let a monster like you touch me!" Alicia yanked off her dented helmet and threw it aside. *That helmet saved my life.*

"Exquisite," Asmodeus breathed. Even he, seasoned in pleasure, was stunned. His demon army echoed with hungry gulps. *A true treasure.*

"Hey! Get down here now!" Alicia called up to the cliff, unnerved by his gaze and her isolation.

"Who dares follow her?" Asmodeus gestured to the knights hanging from rocks. "They’ll share their fate."

"Hold on, Holy Maiden! We’ll fetch reinforcements!"

"We believe in you!"

"We’ll be back immediately!"

The cliff-top knights exchanged glances. *This was just reconnaissance…* One turned his horse toward Raynhal City. The rest followed instantly.

"You…!" Alicia stamped her foot. *Worse than pigs!*

"Hah! See how faith crumbles when life’s at stake?" Asmodeus laughed as the knights vanished. He turned to Alicia, alone. "I’ve never seen a Holy Maiden’s body before."

"Asmodeus! Order us to bring her to you!"

"Will a Holy Maiden’s body feel different?" His demons jeered, knowing she’d never be theirs—but they’d enjoy the show.

"Stay back!" Alicia raised her Holy Sword, stance trembling. Her Fire Drake spat a fireball overhead—useless.

"Notice their eyes, little saint?" Asmodeus stepped closer, pointing at the hanging knights.

"What?" Alicia frowned. No anger or despair in their gazes… only *anticipation*.

"They know they’ll die," Asmodeus said, red eyes piercing. "But seeing your perfect body first? Worth it." He grinned. "Let’s play a game."

"You’re lying!" Alicia shook her head hard. *People can’t be this vile…*

"Test it." Asmodeus snapped his fingers. His men cut the hanging knights loose. "Here’s your chance: subdue the Holy Maiden. Strip her. Bring her to me. After I’m done, you can have her. Then you walk free."

"No…" Alicia backed into the rock wall, trapped.

"Really?"

"I’ll do it!"

"Name the time!" The knights nodded as one, eyes fixed on her.

"See? I never even said ‘refuse and die’," Asmodeus clapped, amused. "Human hearts are deliciously dark."

"How can you betray humanity? The Light Sanctuary? Goddess Freyja?" Alicia pleaded.

"The Holy Maiden exists to protect us."

"If you can’t save us from demons, you’re no Holy Maiden."

"I have a wife and children…"

"Sacrificing yourself *is* protecting us, Holy Maiden."

In the face of death, faith meant nothing. Alicia understood too late.

"First to catch her gets second turn with her body," Asmodeus announced.

The knights charged, eyes bloodshot. Alicia froze. *Could she kill fellow humans?*

*Whoosh!* Black flames erupted from the ground, engulfing the knights. Ash scattered on the wind.

"Fools. What’s mine stays mine," Asmodeus sneered. He approached Alicia. "Be grateful, little saint. You belong to *me* alone."

*Is this the end?* Alicia gripped her Holy Sword. Better death than his slave. She thought of Albel—teasing her, yet always shielding her. *I even pretended not to know him earlier… Is this my punishment?*

"Give up, Holy Maiden," Asmodeus opened his arms, smiling wickedly. "I’ll show you a woman’s true pleasure."

"Al…" Alicia closed her eyes, whispering his name. She raised the sword to her chest—

A familiar, lazy drawl cut through the air from the cliff above.

"Look, if you don't have the strength, just quit being a Holy Maiden. Obediently become my wife and raise our kids—it'd be perfect."

A short-haired youth in pure black battle dress leaped lightly from the cliff, landing before Alicia.

"I blossom amidst slaughter, like a flower at dawn."

Albel stood up, gazing toward Asmodeus, and continued.

"I am who I am—a firework of unique colors."