The Goddess had changed her attire—her body was now wrapped in wide straps adorned with copper buckles instead of a dress. Strips of fabric barely covered her chest, held by a clasp behind her back, and transparent panties dug into her crotch. The symbolic outfit was completed with long black knee-high boots.
'Seems like the Prince of Pleasures' style. She's become even more beautiful,' Amon thought involuntarily. 'Even more beautiful than the Keeper of Secrets.'
The sorcerer barely hid his admiration. The Goddess reminded him of the mighty Unborn Slaanesh, as ancient as time itself. She exuded immense power, akin to the Demon Prince he dreamed of becoming one day.
And power is always worthy of respect! Even if it's unconventional! The Goddess had chosen him as her instrument and ally. A wise decision, the best possible one. And though Amon was playing his own game, he didn't fear admitting that he felt a certain fondness for Fallen Goddess.
She had imposed a contract on him, perhaps accidentally, but still. She wielded magic and had unreliable, yet loyal followers. She was surely planning to regain power over the world. A fine combination of beauty and wicked intelligence!
His affection for the Goddess made it hard for Amon to choose the right strategy. He started speaking to Fallen Goddess as if she were a slightly superior being—relatively straightforward and honest. In his understanding, such speech was the highest form of affection. Moreover, Amon wasn't afraid of the consequences. He was confident that Fallen Goddess couldn't harm him.
"Goddess, in the flesh," Amon said coldly, but with a tone of respect. "I've been waiting for our meeting. I wanted to say—well played. A good move with the contract. It's rare for someone to impose conditions on me! You can be proud of yourself. But let's leave compliments and manners for Chaos! Let's talk business. I have a lot of questions."
Fallen Goddess didn't respond, looking at the sorcerer with an unreadable expression on her face. She frowned and slightly bit her lower lip. Amon didn't pay this much attention.
"First. I don't know how you managed to drag me into Pandemonium. And more importantly—why? It smells like a bluff. Did you choose the right setting to strengthen your position? Clever, but it won't work on me. Not one clause of the contract has been broken. I haven't harmed any monsters. The time for release hasn't passed. A report on progress? Once a month at the very least, and it's only been eleven days. So why am I here?"
The Goddess shuddered and opened her mouth, then closed it and opened it again. She took a deep breath as if preparing to shout. But instead of a loud outcry, a quiet, sinister whisper escaped her chest:
"So, that's how you speak..."
Fallen Goddess's reaction surprised the sorcerer.
"I don't understand," Amon raised an eyebrow in astonishment. "What did you expect? Flattery? Not this time. It's obvious to both of us—the situation has changed, and now..."
Fallen Goddess's face turned red, then pale, and red again. She widened her green eyes, straightened up, and placed her hands on her hips. Her legs lifted from the ground. The Goddess flew half a meter into the air. Now her face was at Amon's level. The air thickened so much that the sorcerer found it hard to breathe.
Somewhere far off, lightning flashed, illuminating Pandemonium with a bright burst. A strong wind blew, carrying the rumble of thunder, and Amon felt the storm approaching with his whole body. It didn't take long. The storm broke, but instead of a soulless element, it had a feminine face.
"Oh, you ungrateful! I saved your life. I let you go! I showed incredible mercy, granting you a contract. I offered my hand for a kiss! You should be worshiping me!"
"You acted for your own benefit, that's all," Amon coldly remarked, immediately regretting his words. The sky above turned black. Through the coal-colored clouds, bolts of energy broke through, blinding the sorcerer and deafening him with thunder.
'Did I make a mistake?!' the sorcerer thought in panic. 'What if this isn't an illusion! What if the mamono sent me to Pandemonium? I don't know their magic!'
"Wait!" he shouted, but Fallen Goddess ignored him.
In anger, the Goddess was even more beautiful. Her black hair was disheveled, her green eyes blazed with fiery fury, and her heated body seemed to radiate passionate strength. The Goddess flew up to Amon, face-to-face, and, gesturing desperately, screamed directly into his face:
"I thought about you! I worried, how are you? Is everything fine? I sent a priestess for our meeting! And you, apparently, didn't even miss me. Where are the compliments? Where are the confessions of love?! Where's the worship? Heartless oaf! How can you speak like that to your future wife? Idiot!"
On his path, the sorcerer had encountered creatures that would make an ordinary person drop dead from the mere sight of them. He calmly endured the horrors of the warp. He didn't retreat before demons and the hurricane fire of the loyalists.
But the assault of the enraged goddess was even too much for him. The sorcerer flinched and backed away, almost assuming a combat stance.
Suddenly, Fallen Goddess fell silent, as if struck by a sudden thought. But before Amon could say anything, the Goddess scowled.
"Confess, knight—you were planning to run away from me, weren't you? No, you found someone else! I can tell by your eyes, you've found someone!"
Amon spread his arms.
"Not a pony..."
Fallen Goddess didn't let him finish.
"Who is she?" Fallen Goddess asked ominously. "Not a mamono, I would have sensed it. Did you really trade me for a human girl?!"
Amon turned his gaze away. He desperately tried to figure out who Fallen Goddess meant. The only woman he had met was the monster-slayer. Could the Goddess be talking about her?
What was happening didn't make sense to him. The ancient being was behaving like an ordinary girl. And the conversation felt more like a scandal set off by a jealous wife over a wandering husband. It could be a clever ruse, a performance, but what goals was she pursuing? Amon didn't know what to think.
"Speak!" Fallen Goddess commanded.
"Her name is Alexandra. She's a mercenary," the sorcerer said, making a conciliatory gesture. "But you're mistaken. I'm still on your side. I just have another ally."
It was a mistake! Fallen Goddess clenched her fists and shook them in front of Amon's face.
"I knew it! Alexandra. Ugh, what a disgusting name! Dirty mortal, I'll show you! I'll turn her into a priestess and send her to the harem of the first random guy!"
"Don't. She's helping with our venture, though she doesn't know it," the sorcerer said reassuringly.
"Vile little insect! Who do you think you're messing with? The very Goddess, the creator of existence! No, I won't let this slide!" Fallen Goddess exclaimed, as if she hadn't heard the sorcerer.
"You!" The Goddess pulled back a little and gave Amon a contemptuous look. "Actually, no! I don't want to listen to you!"