Niroki possessed a perfect beauty—not just her lovely face, but also her enchanting figure. Her long hair flowed like ocean waves, and her eyes were a piercing green that was cold and sharp. Every movement she made was full of grace.
This beautiful woman radiated a strong green aura. Even so, Yamile wasn't afraid—on the contrary, she was captivated by the woman's beauty.
"I'm not a model," Niroki said coldly.
"There are no models in the demon world, fool!" she snapped.
"I am the ruler of the ocean floor, the owner of the storm, and the queen of the waves. This body is not meant to be admired—but feared."
Yamile simply shook her head. "You're always angry. You call yourself a queen, but you act like a hothead. Try being gentle and kind for once."
Once again, Yamile mocked Niroki. The demon looked visibly enraged. She quickly summoned a vortex of water that formed into a massive dragon.
Yamile didn't flinch even as the dragon charged toward her. She too released her power, creating a shield of water to block the dragon's assault.
"Did you forget? When your power merged with mine, that means I now possess half of it," said Yamile.
"Don't be arrogant, girl. You came here to awaken my power, didn't you? Don't think it'll be easy!" Niroki barked.
Amid Niroki's relentless attacks, Yamile remembered Uncle Marco's words. If she wanted to awaken a demon's power, she had to form an alliance—not defeat it, but befriend it.
"Never treat Niroki as your enemy. Calm her demonic nature and make her your friend," Uncle Marco had said before they trained under the waterfall.
"I came only to thank you for all your help," Yamile said softly as she dodged the attacks.
Niroki looked startled by those words. She shook her head as if she couldn't believe Yamile's sincerity.
Floating in the air, surrounded by roaring water like a storm, Niroki's sharp eyes stared at Yamile in fury—but behind that cold gaze, doubt began to grow. Yamile's words cut through the wind, piercing the pride and rage that had long surrounded her heart.
"What did you say?" Niroki asked, her voice no longer as harsh. It was still cold, but now it trembled.
"I know you don't like being ordered around. Neither do I. But we can work together—no need to hurt each other," Yamile said, lowering her water shield to show she meant no harm.
The words struck Niroki's pride. No longer frustrated, she turned away, hiding her face behind both hands as she smiled shyly.
"Hey, why are you turning your back on me?" Yamile asked, puzzled.
She walked closer. "Are you okay?" she asked again, gently touching Niroki's shoulder.
Suddenly, Niroki turned around, her face flushed with embarrassment. A second later, she hugged Yamile tightly. "Fine! What do you need me to do?" she said.
Yamile was stunned. Niroki's embrace was cold, yet calming—like the deep sea hiding a thousand secrets. For a moment, Yamile felt herself in a vortex of extraordinary energy, as if being pulled into a magical current from Niroki's power.
"I want to fully awaken your power… and make it a part of me. But not to conquer the world. I only want to save our city from the terror of evil demons," Yamile confessed.
Niroki's face grew tense. She slowly released her hug and looked deeply into Yamile's eyes. "You want full access to my power? That won't be easy. It means… you must accept my darkest side as well. You'll have to survive in the world I come from."
"I'm ready," Yamile answered firmly, though fear crept into her heart.
"If that's truly what you want, go to the southern shore and let your body sink there," Niroki said quietly.
"Alright," Yamile replied, waking up instantly and returning to the real world.
After her subconscious conversation with Niroki ended, Yamile awoke drenched in sweat. Her breathing was heavy and her body cold, even as the morning sun shone brightly through the trees near the waterfall where she trained. Uncle Marco, who had been waiting, approached her from atop a large rock.
"Did you get a sign from her?" Marco asked, helping Yamile to her feet.
Yamile nodded slowly. "She asked me to go to the southern coast and dive into the sea. She said, If I truly want to awaken her power, I must face the world she came from."
Marco let out a long sigh. "That means you must confront the origin of Niroki's power. The deep sea is unlike our world. Down there, even beauty can be deadly. But if that's your choice, I'll guide you there."
They traveled there on horseback, following forest paths along the hillside. After some time, the ocean came into view. The waves crashed violently, intimidating and wild.
"This is it," said Marco. "If you're sure, now is the time. But remember, Yamile—once you dive in, you'll be completely in Niroki's domain. I won't be there to help you."
Yamile looked into Marco's eyes and nodded. "I understand the risks. But if this is the only way to stop the demons, I must be brave."
With steady but determined steps, Yamile walked toward the sea. The waves greeted her, curling gently as if acknowledging the arrival of a special guest.
When the water reached her waist, she paused. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and dove in. In an instant, her body sank past sharp corals, glowing fish, and swirling currents that pulled her downward.
The deeper she went, the more terrifying the current became. It grew so violent that she struggled to swim, her body tossed around unpredictably.
As Yamile sank deeper, the world around her changed dramatically. The sunlight that once pierced the water vanished entirely. The ocean's blue turned to murky green, then to pitch black like a starless night. The sound of waves disappeared; all she could hear was her heartbeat and the chilling rush of water.
Suddenly, a vortex rose from the depths, writhing like a giant sea serpent. Yamile panicked, certain that she would surely perish if she became entangled in the vortex.
She tried to swim upward, but something held her down—as if the ocean itself refused to let her go. The vortex slowly sucked her body in. Her breath was fading. Her eyes were wide open, yet all she saw was emptiness.
"No! I can't die here," her heart cried as her body was pulled entirely into the vortex.
"I… I can't breathe…"
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