As the battlefield settled into an uneasy calm, the group took a collective sigh of relief.

Amidst the lull, Ren found himself drawn to the still form of Iraelyn, who lay unconscious nearby.

The weight of the recent battle pressed on everyone, and this moment of respite allowed for much-needed recovery.

Ren's gaze lingered on the sleeping Oni like female, her formidable presence softened in the quiet reprieve.

Iraelyn was an imposing figure even in rest, bore the size and stature of an Oni warrior. Her dark skin spoke of the Oni race, marked by the scars of countless battles and victories. The horns on her forehead, a distinctive feature, added an air of mystique to her slumbering form.

Beads of unruly short red hair framed her face, a testament to the untamed spirit that resided within her. The aftermath of the battle had left some strands in disarray, lending a wild elegance to her appearance.

Even in repose, there was an undeniable vibrancy to her, as if the very essence of fire that she wielded in battle still lingered in the strands of her hair.

Her beauty, Ren observed, was rugged and unconventional.

In a world accustomed to conventional standards, Iraelyn stood on the masculine side of beauty, yet there was an undeniable allure to her uniqueness.

The lines of her face, marked by the challenges she had faced, conveyed strength and resilience. Despite the masculine undertones, her own brand of femininity shone through, creating a blend of characteristics that defied easy categorization.

As Ren continued to watch, he marveled at the dichotomy of her appearance. Iraelyn was a warrior, undeniably fierce and strong, yet in this moment of vulnerability, there was a certain grace that softened her features.

"What are you staring at?" Evie asked with her usual bored tone, though her gaze carried an ominous weight.

Elena, standing at her side, shot Ren a forceful smile coupled with threatening eyes.

Ren quickly averted his gaze from Iraelyn, feeling that something was stuck in his throat. "I'm not. I was just curious about her appearance."

"Hmmm . . . ?" Both Evie and Elena raised their eyebrows, their suspicious stares fixating on Ren.

As the group tended to their injuries and restored their health and magical reserves, a palpable sense of unease hung in the air.

Vivi, while expressing relief over Iraelyn's well-being, couldn't shake the troubling reality that Malifira had not been stopped.

"I'm glad Iraelyn is okay, but . . . we didn't stop Malifira," Vivi voiced her concern, her eyes casting a shadow of worry.

Her gaze dropped as she pondered Malifira's intentions. "I wonder what's going on with her to make her do things like these."

Desira scoffed as she worked on healing her injuries. "Like I said, she would use that corruption to make herself stronger and rule the Netherworld. That's girls ambition knows no bounds."

"Malifira might be envious all the time, but we both know she isn't ambitious," Vivi remarked to Desira.

"Whose side are you on?" Desira asked angrily.

"And besides, why didn't she use the corruption on herself then? And Lord Azazel is here, she could have drain the corruption from him but she just escape!" Vivi posed a valid question.

Desira offered a nonchalant shrug. "Beats me. Who knows what's running in that idiotic head of hers."

A tiny voice, almost forgotten in the midst of their conversation, piped up from the sidelines.

Avaris, still in his diminutive snail-like form, lamented, "Who cares about what she would do with that corruption? You should worry about me! And how I would get back to my real body!"

Desira, not one to tolerate such complaints, swiftly kicked Avaris and barked, "Shut up, you useless fool! You've done nothing, and now you want to demand?"

Meanwhile, Azazel remained quiet at the side, deep in contemplation, while Lethargia, seemingly impervious to the ongoing chaos, remained fast asleep. The group found themselves in a precarious situation, a moment of respite tainted by the looming uncertainty of Malifira's actions and the unresolved issues within their own ranks.

"Can we just ask this sleeping thing here?" Lorelai inquired and lightly kicked Lethargia on the ground. "Hoi, sleepy head, wake up and tell us the future. What's going to happen to Malifira and us?"

Lethargia only rolled to the side, smacked her lips numerous times before she muttered a reply with her slow and groggy voice, "Augh . . . cage . . . punishment . . . beware of . . . evils with wings . . ."

Lorelai furrowed her brow. "Huh? Evils with wings? Are you talking about Malifira or Desira?"

"I don't have wings!" Desira instantly growled.

"Oh, I thought you're a succubus, and I thought all succubi have wings," Lorelai answered without care.

"I'm not a succubus!" Desira scowled again. "And maybe she's talking about you?" she shot back at Lorelai.

Lorelai retorted, "Of course not. I'm no devil. I'm a half-angel, remember?"

Desira smirked. "Angels can be devils too, you know."

"Then is she talking about Iraelyn?" Elena asked. "She has wings because she's a dragon."

"It's no use," Vivi said. "You wouldn't get any clear answers from Lethargia. Her visions only come in random and incoherent."

"Another useless thing, I see," Lorelai commented.

"What are we going to do now?" Elena asked.

"We won't solve anything here by guessing," Ren stated. "If she's after the corruption, then she would likely go to Hubrion next, the last warlord."

Azazel nodded. "That's right. She could be heading there next. This time we have to stop her and ask her real intentions for gathering the corruptions."

"Don't forget to ask her to bring me back to my real body too!" Avaris shouted from a distance.

"What about Iraelyn?" Vivi shifted her gaze to the still-sleeping woman in Azazel's lap. "She still hasn't woken up."

"We'll carry her on Tiki's back," Desira said nonchalantly and addressed Elena. "Hey, elf girl, go and summon your pet again."

Elena summoned Tiki, and the moment the giant lizard appeared, Desira briskly pulled Iraelyn from Azazel's lap and tossed her onto Tiki's back.

"Alright, let's go," Desira declared before her expression turned infatuated, shifting her attention to Azazel. "Lord Azazel wants to leave, so let's get going."