With the budding plan solidifying in her mind, she started to day-dream, envisioning the possibilities that the future held for her.
She saw herself, after securing the nexus, rapidly ascending to the peak-tier with a powerful fort to support her conquest for souls. She envisioned the inevitable confrontation not as a defensive struggle, but as a war of expansion.
With her advantages, she would be able to recruit endless hordes of demons, and entice young and weaker devils to serve her.
She would fight her father, Kaelgor, and the other two peak-tier devils for total dominion over this entire territory; for the territory under Arch Devil Gorael's control.
Saphira wasn't foolish enough to go against an Arch Devil.
Rather, she would offer her allegiance, and the power of the nexus, directly to Lord Gorael and become a powerful subordinate.
By becoming a valuable asset, she would hopefully garner immense rewards, and perhaps even a special position in one of hell's deeper layers.
Her ultimate short-term dream was clear: reach the Awakened Devil realm and leave this restrictive first layer, but not before establishing a permanent power base here.
She would leave loyal subordinates to manage this territory, transforming it into a farm that would steadily feed her a stream of resources, souls, and even newborn devils for her endeavors in the more dangerous, more opportunity rich layers of hell below.
It was a grandiose, wildly optimistic fantasy, a sequence of events that required every event to be done perfectly against the immense odds.
Power and knowledge were no longer the only factors that could determine such a future; luck was essential to achieve such a thing as well.
Yet in Saphira's young, prideful mind, it was not a fantasy; it was a destiny she was now actively seizing.
She was even completely unaware that Lord Gorael's subordinates in this section of influence were not easily chosen.
They had been kept very limited and were constantly under his supervision as he had grand plans that included the yet-to-be-born Adam.
All in all, getting into a conflict with Kaelgor in pursuit of taking his position of power was not the best idea…
The handsome, arrogant devil stopped just on the other side of the shimmering barrier with his hellish eyes locking onto hers; his tall form no longer as daunting as she had initially thought it would be.
He was the first, crucial key for her grand plans, to the future she coveted.
She took a heavy breath, forced a look of unresigned defiance in her beautiful eyes; prepared to put on a play.
Before her, Adam stood.
Adam's approach had been one of cold and calm predatory intent. His mind honed by constant battle and struggles was a sharpened blade ready to deal with the threat.
Yet!
As he reached the barrier and his gaze fell upon the figure hidden in the trench, the cold, murderous intent shattered for a single second. The cool non-expressive expression and determination in his hellish eyes flickered, replaced by a jolt of genuine, welcomed surprise.
Not long after the jolt of surprise had struck, that a pang of irony smeared his heart.
He had just chastised himself, sworn to focus, to see the dimensional gate and teleportation array completed with swiftness, to resist the distracting, addicting allure of his own harem.
Yet now, as if hell itself were mocking his resolve, or testing his limits, it had delivered this… this beauty directly to his doorstep!
She was breathtaking.
Crouched in the shadowy ditch, she looked like a forbidden jewel unearthed from the hellscape.
Her skin was an enchanting, vibrant crimson the color of wine and seemingly glowing with an inner warmth against the dull, scorched earth. Her hair was a cascade of abyssal black, a stark, beautiful contrast that framed a face of ethereal perfection.
Like a black waterfall that flowed with hells blazing inferno.
Her features were soft, yet her eyes held promise of sharp, intelligent beauty. Her full, naturally pouting lips signaled at her naturally beguiling nature; innocent, cute, yet dangerous.
From her brow swept a pair of elegantly spiraled horns, that seemed to be carved from deep amethyst, adding a regal, demonic crown to her deceptively innocent allure.
Though it was her body, even curled in a seemingly tepid posture within the trench, that truly captivated him. She possessed the full, tempting swell of her breasts, the tantalizing narrowness of her waist, and the ripe, inviting curve of her hips.
She was shorter than Lyra, yet much 'fuller' than her.
Adam's mind, momentarily derailed from its killing intent, spun with sudden, lust-fueled calculations and interest.
'Kaelgor's daughter, it has to be!'
The promised payment, delivered with an efficiency he had to grudgingly admire. The initial wariness, caused from the invasive probe, began to recede, and became soothed by the visual evidence before him and the confirmation of his hell's eyes.
Saphira.
Age: 1 Year.
Rank: High-tier lesser devil.
She was powerful for her age, yes, but still a child in devil terms.
Though, she was still far off from Adam's insane speed; him being near becoming a high-tier devil at less than a month old. In fact, he was barely a week old!
She couldn't possibly have the refined control, the battle-hardened experience of an old devil.
His guard, while not completely down, lowered significantly. He refused to underestimate an opponent once again; her year of life still overshadowed his 1 week in terms of practice and experience.
Adam allowed the stoic mask to melt from his face, replacing it with a look of intrigued, amusement.
His eyes glanced past the beauty and onto the surroundings, wondering where Kaelgor was. He genuinely couldn't fathom why Saphira appeared alone and in hiding.
As he neared her, his suspicion only grew because there was no sign of the veteran devil, and the aura radiating off of Saphira was very similar to Kaelgor's.
It was now very clear to his senses that she was his daughter.
Soon, only the barrier stood between them; a humming transparent wall that separated the hunter from his stunning, prize.
Saphira, seeing his expression shift, played her part.
She uncurled from the trench, rising to her full height but keeping her posture slightly small and non-threatening. Her molten brass eyes, wide and shimmering with false unwillingness, met his.
"Lord Adam?" She began, her voice a defeated whisper that was expertly laced with an angry sadness, "I am Saphira. My father… Lord Kaelgor… he has commanded me to come to you. To… to submit..." She bowed her head, a gesture of defeat, allowing her black waterfall of hair to curtain her face.
"I am yours to command."
It was the truth, and that made the lie in her heart all the more potent.
She offered no resistance, nor no prideful defiance. She instilled her true negative emotions to the thought of being forced to submit. Like a perfect actress completely taking in their role.
She looked just like a fallen princess.