If I can't have him… I'll become him

— — — — — — 

"You want this?"

Lynn twirled the golden flame of life on his fingertip. The sheer vitality radiating from it was so rich and potent that Avrora couldn't take her eyes off it. She was practically drooling.

At his words, she nodded instinctively, her gaze locked on the flame, her expression brimming with desire.

Lynn smirked. "Become my follower, and you can have as much of this as you want."

"Mhm!—" Avrora nodded again without thinking… but then paused. Her eyes cleared up almost instantly.

Become your follower?

Her? The Fourth Primogenitor?

Serving someone else?

What the hell?!

Her brain went into overdrive, a storm of question marks flashing through her mind.

Wasn't something… off?

Wasn't their role reversed?

She finally managed to pull her attention away from the life flame and narrowed her crimson eyes at Lynn. A strange glint flickered behind them—something unmistakably hostile.

She didn't even try to hide it.

Let her—the Fourth Primogenitor—be someone's follower?

Avrora's lips curled into a cold sneer. Was this guy serious? Did he have any idea who he was talking to?

But then as she looked at Lynn a little more seriously, something unexpected surfaced in her heart.

There was something… off about this man.

Those wine-red eyes of his—there wasn't even a hint of fear or awe in them. Not even toward her, the Fourth Primogenitor.

Avrora frowned and casually glanced at Liana Caruana, who was still kneeling on the ground.

The moment Liana felt Avrora's gaze, she instantly bowed her head lower, not daring to meet her eyes. Cold sweat soaked her back as her pupils dilated. 

'He… he actually dared to say something like that to the Fourth Primogenitor?!'

'He's dead. He's so, so dead…'

'Lady Fourth Primogenitor's gonna explode for sure.'

'That guy was gonna be ripped to shreds!'

Just picturing it made Liana shudder. How the hell did he have the guts?!

---

On the other side—

Avrora gave Liana an approving nod. Now that was the normal reaction someone should have when facing her.

Then she turned her gaze toward Gajou and Kojou.

Hmm…

Anxiety, worry, fear?

Also normal.

Next up was Endou and Yukina.

But when her eyes fell on the two of them, Avrora's expression twitched again.

Calm?

They had the same calm, composed attitude as that man!

Avrora was getting more and more irritated.

Had people already forgotten the name of the Fourth Primogenitor just because she'd been asleep for a while?

But what bugged her even more was the way these two looked at Lynn.

Respect?

They were looking at him with respect?

She's the Fourth Primogenitor, not him!

Avrora's eyebrows twitched.

At the same time, she caught a scent on Yukina—faint, but unmistakable. It belonged to that man.

And not just that… There was another strange smell on her too.

And it definitely wasn't human.

Avrora's mind went into overdrive as she dug through her ancient memories, trying to place it.

She suddenly looked up, eyes sharp and locked onto Lynn.

"Devil?!"

Lynn didn't look surprised in the slightest.

In fact, he was kind of disappointed it took her this long to figure it out.

'Seriously? You're the Fourth Primogenitor and only just noticed? You sleep that deep?'

Avrora blinked in mild surprise, but then quickly regained her composure.

A devil, huh? Just a devil.

No big deal.

Nothing compared to the dignity and might of a Fourth Primogenitor.

And yet, a mere devil had the nerve to try and recruit her?

The arrogance!

Avrora narrowed her eyes. "Devils recruit followers now? Copying vampires?"

That definitely wasn't a thing back in her day.

Still—Regardless of what he is, anyone who dares to offend me deserves punishment.

Yep. She'd made up her mind.

She'd drain him dry and turn him into devil jerky.

That massive life force of his made her crave it even more.

He needed to be punished. Severely.

Avrora licked her lips, eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Saying something like that to me... You must be ready to die."

As soon as the words left her mouth—

She lunged forward with lightning speed, hand shooting straight for Lynn's neck.

"Your blood is mine tonight."

"No one can save you now!"

Smack!

Just as Avrora was about to land her strike, Lynn's hand suddenly shot up and caught her wrist mid-air.

"?"

Avrora blinked, then tried to yank her hand back.

"!!!!!"

What the hell?! So much strength?!

Her eyes widened as she realized—she couldn't move at all.

Lynn's expression remained calm. "Haven't you considered something?"

"??"

Avrora frowned, waiting for whatever he had to say.

"With life energy this massive… do you really think I'm someone you can just mess with?"

"...?!"

Avrora's pupils shrank.

And before she could process anything else, the world flipped upside down—bam!—she crashed face-first onto the icy floor.

THUD!

A loud, satisfying thud echoed through the underground tomb. It sounded like she'd hit her head pretty hard.

Avrora lay there, cheek pressed against the cold ice, blinking blankly.

What… just happened?

Who am I again?

. . .

"Y-Your Majesty, the Fourth Primogenitor!"

Liana Caruana gasped in horror, instinctively shouting.

Endou raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the show.

Gajou had somehow made his way closer to Kojou and Nagisa, a relieved expression on his face.

"Good, with the Fourth Primogenitor focused on the new guy, that means Nagisa's safe… for now."

Still, he stayed alert. It wasn't over yet.

Avrora remained sprawled out for a few moments, dazed, before finally realizing what had just happened. She began to struggle.

Lynn, still expressionless, calmly stepped on her belly, pinning her down.

"Bastard!"

Avrora growled in frustration.

Her strength hadn't fully recovered yet. Her powers were still scattered somewhere. And now… she was being stepped on by a devil?

How humiliating!

So this is what it's like when a lion falls and even the rats come out to bite, huh?

Damn it all!

But Lynn's words stuck in her head. Someone with that much life force… definitely not a pushover.

Avrora's eyes narrowed.

A new idea sparked.

"If I can't suck him dry… then I'll just become him!"

The moment the thought hit—

A ghostly blue soul emerged from Avrora's body, drifting upward before shooting toward Lynn at high speed.

"Then I'll just take this tasty body for myself!!"

Her eyes gleamed with triumph. She wore the smile of someone certain of victory.

"Bet you didn't expect me to try possession, huh?"

But Lynn just raised an eyebrow, smiling back with a strange expression.

'A spirit form, huh…'

'You really picked the wrong guy.'

Thanks to the feedback he'd gotten from Miko, Midoriko, Kikyo, and the others, Lynn's spiritual resistance and soul manipulation skills had skyrocketed.

So, this?

Avrora was walking straight into a trap.

As her spirit form closed in, Lynn lifted his hand slightly—calm as ever.

.

.

.

(These chapters can be used as the Ultimate Filler Manual for any writer fr.)