Rein's face twisted with conflict at the demand.

Lila sobbed and said, "Elaya, why did you lie and say my mentor was gravely wounded? I rushed here because of you. If it weren't for you, Mentor Rein and Mentor Calder wouldn't be suffering like this."

Rein stared at me in disbelief. "It was you? You lured Lila here? Do you despise her so much that you'd send her to her death?"

The words had hurt me over and over again, but their baseless accusations still cut deep.

"We've been at war for three days and nights, fighting for our lives. How could we possibly have time to trick her into coming?"

My feeble attempt at an explanation was met with Rein's skeptical eyes. It was clear he was not buying it.

I let out a weary chuckle, shaking my head. "Yeah, right. Like you'd ever believe me."

Calder gave a derisive snort and turned to my sister. "Everyone knows you two are always up to some drama. Serena, are you in on this, too? If you've messed with Lila, I swear I'll leave you."

"Do what you want." Serena's icy reply sent a shiver down Calder's spine.

"You..."

He was cut off mid-sentence by one of the Demons' top brass.

"I need that lotus tattoo now! Or else..."

Lila went ghostly pale. "Mentor Rein...."

With just a faint call from her, Rein was at my side in a flash, pulling at my clothes. "Hang in there. She's all I have left from a dear friend. I can't stand by and watch her die. Plus, this mess? It's on you."

He did not wait for my answer before he made his move.

"Rein! Are you out of your mind? She's your wife!"

"Stop! For the love of God, stop!"

Serena's screams were desperate, but she was powerless to stop him.

Pain wracked my body, and through clenched teeth, I said, "Is this really about your friend, or is it about something else?"

Rein could not meet my gaze, his hands moving faster.

The Demons' commander watched, his laughter booming with satisfaction.

"They say Serena's got a Life Core that can boost someone's power. God of Fire..."

Calder did not get a word in before my sister blurted out, "I'll give it to you. Anything you want! Just get Rein to back off!"

"That's not how it works. You Celestials are always preaching about fate. Well, today's her day of destiny."

Calder moved close to Serena and began to drain her Life Core. "You crossed a line. Take this as a warning," he told her, his voice icy.

Moments later, the Demons' commander was all smiles, a lotus that transformed from my tattoo in one hand and a glowing Life Core in the other, clearly pleased with himself.

"You five are quite the spectacle, unlike anything I've ever come across.

"How about a choice? Who gets to live and who dies?"

His words cast a shadow over everyone's faces, turning them a shade grimmer.

The elder could no longer hold back and pleaded with urgency.

"Please, no! If the Twin Flowers of Chaos perish, it'll unleash chaos itself! You must consider the fate of the entire world."

The World Tree in the Sacred Mountain, with its twin blossoms joined together, held the power to obliterate all life and plunge the world into chaos.

Yet without the World Tree, life itself would wither and die.

That was the paradox. They dreaded our power, yet they couldn't survive without it.

As Rein wrestled with the decision, I locked eyes with the Demons' commander and rasped, "They've made their choice. Don't you see it?

"A million tries would yield the same outcome.

"The Dark Lord and the Demon King want us sisters as their sacrificial vessels. We'll go with you."

Serena chimed in, "Yes, we're ready."

Rein panicked. "Elaya, how could you stoop so low and willingly offer yourselves as sacrificial vessels to the dark forces?

"Have you both lost your minds?"

Their concern was short-lived, silenced by Lila's sobs.

"Mentor Rein...it was my fault for getting caught. You're trapped because of me. I should bear the guilt."

She was ready to end her life right there.

However, in the next instant, Lila's resolve faltered, and the dagger slipped from her trembling hand.

As they reached for the weapon, Rein spoke up with urgency, "You can have Elaya and Serena, but let Lila go!"

"Yes, let Lila go!" Calder chimed in.

In their desperation to save Lila, they were willing to overlook the grand scheme of things.

The elders were beside themselves, trying desperately to intervene. "This is madness! Giving the Demons the Twin Flowers of Chaos is akin to surrendering our very life force into their hands!

"And besides, the Twin Flowers were nurtured by the High King of Heaven himself. They're practically his daughters. How can you just abandon them for someone else?"

Their pleas fell on deaf ears.

Rein faced the Demons' commander squarely. "Give us Lila, and you can take those two. Deal?"

"Agreed, or we'd all go down together."

"Fine, but don't think it's because I fear you. I just need to wrap this up quickly," the Demons' commander said.

Before the elder could interject again, Rein said, "Don't fret. I've got a trick up my sleeve to keep them from unleashing chaos."

Serena and I locked eyes, our brows furrowed in confusion; we were clueless about his plan.

Calder addressed the Demons' commander, saying, "You don't want to haul back a pair of disasters, right? You can hold them down while we handle the rest."

The Demons' commander was only too happy to agree.

Rein approached me, his right hand outstretched, revealing six World Tree staves hovering above his palm.

"Elaya, don't hold this against me. You chose to offer yourself to the Demons."

"And if I hadn't, would you have come to my rescue?"

He remained silent at my challenge.

Calder, holding a World Tree stave, stole a hesitant glance at Serena.

"You two betrayed Lila. So, now, you're getting what you deserve. Enjoy being sacrificial vessels in the Demon World. Who knows, if I'm feeling generous, I may just come to save you."

With those words, a staff carved from the World Tree was driven deep into my sister's ankle, dropping her to her knees.

"Serena!"

A moment later, I coughed up blood and hit the ground hard.

Rein was just as unforgiving with me, driving the first stake straight into my heart.

They strung us up, World Tree staves piercing our limbs, foreheads, and hearts.

They did not stop until we were barely clinging to life.

The elder, heart aching, still had to ask, "Are you sure this will stop them from unleashing chaos?"

"It's made from the World Tree. Their connection's cut, so they can't." That was the reply.

The Demons' commander scoffed and said, "You're harsh with your own wives. Almost admirable, in a demonic way."

"The Twin Blossoms of Ruin deserve nothing less," Rein said.

Blood tears fell from my eyes; my every memory of Rein turned to dust and echoes.

However, even with their research, those two harbored doubts. So, Rein leaned in close and whispered, "This is just to buy time. I swear I'll come to the Demon World to save you."

Calder, unexpectedly tender, wiped the tears from Serena's face. "I'm sorry you're going through this. Wait for me. I'll rescue you, and whatever you do, don't tap into the chaos."

They still believed we would love them blindly, still spinning lies cloaked as love.

However, the pain was too much; I could not even speak to call out their deceit.

In the end, it was over, and Lila was set free.

Lila dove into Rein's arms, her sobs coming in ragged gasps. "Mentor Rein...I was so scared. I thought I'd never see you again."

Calder gently caressed the angry red marks on her neck. "Does it hurt, Lila?"

"Don't worry about me. I'll whip up a better healing cream that'll make sure these marks don't last."

While our husbands were busy comforting her, Serena and I were tossed onto a prison cart by the Demons like yesterday's garbage.

As we walked away, Lila called out, "Elaya, Serena, I'm not mad that you tricked me into coming here. I forgive you. I'll look after the mentors for you from now on!"

She must have thought we were goners.

...

Stepping into the Demons' lair, the monsters were drawn to the pure light radiating from Serena and me like moths to a flame.

They were practically drooling, eyes filled with envy.

"Ah, the Twin Flowers of Chaos," one of them said to their leader, admiration in his voice. "You're incredible, sir. Only you could meet the Dark Lord's and Demon King's demands so swiftly. However, before you hand them over...maybe let us have a little fun?"

The Demons' commander chuckled. "Why not? They're destined to be sacrificial offerings anyway. Let's enjoy them while we can."

The flattery flowed like a river.

Serena had passed out, and I was barely hanging on, glaring at them as I whispered fiercely, "How dare you... I am..."

My voice was too faint; they did not even bother to listen.

Some of them had started to cross the line, and just as my clothes were on the brink of being ripped apart, the Dark Lord, Kael, emerged from behind the onlookers.

His eyes narrowed into slits the instant he caught sight of me. "E...Elaya!"

In the very next moment, the Demon King, Raven, burst through the crowd, his voice thundering as he said, "Serena...Serena!"

It was not until Kael's arms wrapped around me that I felt the slightest bit of warmth.

"You...you've finally arrived."