"What are you planning to do?"

"Stop asking. Just keep your expectations high."

She seized Freya’s wrist. Simultaneously, Freya’s clothes slowly faded away, revealing the pale, alluring body beneath. Since Freya was a girl—and Morningstar now inhabited a female form too—there was no reason for shame.

"I’ve walked all day and feel tired. Massage me. Take your clothes off too. No barriers between us."

Staring into Morningstar’s eyes, glowing with faint crimson light, Freya recalled the Dark Sorceress she’d seen upon first awakening—clear-eyed, utterly devoid of this current malice. *Could her words back then have been true?*

"You weren’t like this before. Just two days… has darkness already consumed you?"

Guilt tightened Freya’s chest. *If only I’d stayed calm and listened… maybe I could’ve guided that untainted soul.* But how could she? Centuries of sealing and hatred made composure impossible the moment she saw the Dark Sorceress.

"I wasn’t like this? Then how *was* I?"

"Your eyes were clear. Your manners graceful. Nothing like this frivolity now. I believe you spoke truth then… I’m sorry."

"Hehehe… And what good is that realization now? What did my kindness earn? Now it’s gone, and your regret comes too late~"

Morningstar found Holy Maiden Freya’s apology utterly laughable—a fleeting amusement for her boredom.

"It’s only been two days. A trace of goodness still lingers in you. Don’t let darkness control you. Please… stay clear-headed."

Though late, Freya clung to hope.

"Hehehe—‘Don’t let darkness control you’? Easy for you to say! I was ordinary once. Suddenly twisted into a Dark Sorceress—how was I to hold onto myself? And… you stand unharmed *only* because a shred of human kindness still lingers in me."

"I’ve fought darkness for centuries. I can help you, guide the light within—"

Morningstar covered her mouth. "Stop. A bet: win, and I’ll listen."

"You fought darkness for centuries? Hehehe. That was just my leaking aura, piercing seals. You’ve never seen *true* darkness. Withstand it for ten minutes… and you win."

Morningstar had tried resisting—but her darkness was inevitable. A quiet shift in perception. Even a gentler persona couldn’t dominate; her shadow self had long claimed control. Only that faint kindness whispered: *Don’t go too far.*

"Fine. I accept." Freya would prove darkness wasn’t invincible.

"Mm. You always bring amusement to my boredom. Let’s begin."

Behind Morningstar, a tail slowly oozed from her waist—a thick tendril of black, as thick as a man’s thigh. Less tail, more giant python. At its tip gaped a massive maw, an abyss of endless black.

It drifted above Freya. Her body tensed instinctively. She gulped.

*Gulping.* Fear clawed at her, but she stood firm—to prove her resolve.

"Bring it on!"

The maw lunged. In an instant, half her body vanished inside.

"Mmmph!"

Prepared or not, engulfed by absolute void, she thrashed silently. Only muffled whimpers escaped. Her exposed legs kicked wildly—but the tail consumed relentlessly.

Soon, fully swallowed. The black tail stretched into a human silhouette, tightly wrapped, tracing every curve. The shape writhed… accelerating its descent. Like food in an esophagus, sliding downward. Eeriest of all? Upon touching Morningstar’s body—it kept sinking. Visible, undeniable: the silhouette slowly vanished *into* her.

"Wh-what is this…? It’s… absolutely delicious!"

Morningstar glanced down at her flat, pale stomach in shock—then melted into bliss, licking her lips like savoring a divine feast. Not just Freya’s form… but her *fear*.

The Dark Sorceress fed on fear. This flavor—Morningstar’s first taste—ignited a millennia-dormant craving. She felt Freya struggling, wailing inwardly, radiating terror. Captivating. Addictive. Her humanity stood no chance. The Dark Sorceress within surged stronger.

"Thank you, Freya… You helped me rediscover myself faster~"

Truth was, Freya had accelerated Morningstar’s fall. Her anger awakened the darkness. Her defeat gifted the thrill of dominance. Even now—what began as play yielded unexpected delight: the joy of the Dark Sorceress, the hunger fully awakened.

"Struggle. Fear. The more you do… the richer the flavor grows."

Morningstar gently caressed her stomach, eyes closed in rapture—as if holding a delicacy on her tongue, savoring every trembling note of terror.