My Wives are Beautiful Demons

The following day, an improvised battlefield in the heart of the Underworld.

The chosen arena was a desolate expanse, where the dark rocky ground seemed to pulse with demonic energy—a place carved by Vergil's own hands. Yes, the mountain he had flattened with his demonic energy just a few days prior. At its center, Vergil stood with Yamato in his right hand, the sheath firmly secured at his waist. His posture was rigid, his cold eyes fixed on the figure approaching with an almost provocative calm.

Sapphire, his ruthless master, moved with the elegance of a predator. Her steps were slow, deliberate, and every movement she made carried the weight of impending disaster. Her presence was suffocating, an oppressive mix of power and menace. The deep-blue garments she wore clung to her like smoke, rippling in harmony with the energy that radiated from her, saturating the air around her.

"Vergil," she began, her voice soft yet heavy with authority. "You promised a fight, and I don't take promises halfway. Show me what you're capable of… even though I know you still have a long way to go."

Vergil didn't respond immediately. He knew what she was doing—provoking, testing, trying to coax an uncontrolled reaction out of him. Still, his fingers tightened around Yamato's hilt.

"You're speaking again... underestimating me," he said, his voice low and measured, though a spark of defiance lit his gaze.

He was tired of every encounter with this woman treating him like a child.

Sapphire smirked slightly, as if she had been expecting this response. She didn't need him to say it out loud—his glare said it all.

"I'm not treating you like a child, dear," she replied, her tone confident and arrogant. "But here… only power matters."

Before he could respond, Sapphire vanished. A split second later, a thunderous impact shook the ground as she reappeared in front of him, her fist shrouded in black energy, ready to crush him. Vergil reacted just in time, unsheathing Yamato in a lightning-fast slash that deflected the blow. However, the residual force was enough to hurl him back several meters.

He barely had time to regain his footing before she was on him again, the shadows surrounding her solidifying into blades and whips that attacked from every direction. Vergil focused all his energy on enhancing his speed, vanishing in a series of rapid flashes to dodge the relentless onslaught.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't gain the upper hand. Sapphire seemed to anticipate his every move, and each of her attacks was like a wave threatening to consume him.

"Is that all?" she asked, effortlessly blocking one of Vergil's strikes. His blade barely scratched the shimmering energy barrier she had summoned. "Do you think this level of skill is enough to impress me?"

Vergil gritted his teeth. He knew she was right. But Sapphire wasn't just an anomaly—she was the anomaly among anomalies. It wasn't just her raw strength or speed; it was the way she fought, controlling the battlefield like a chess grandmaster playing against an amateur.

He leaped back, trying to create some distance, but she didn't give him a single opening. With a graceful motion, Sapphire raised her hand, and a red magic circle flared to life beneath his feet. From it, a barrage of energy spears erupted. Vergil slashed through some with Yamato, vanished into bursts of speed to dodge others, but the overwhelming number caught up with him, slamming him against one of the jagged rocks.

Vergil fell to his knees, breathing heavily. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, yet his eyes remained locked on her.

"Tired already?" Sapphire asked, tilting her head slightly. There was an amused glint in her eyes, but beneath it was something else—a flicker of frustration. "I expected more."

Vergil wiped the blood from his face, his hand trembling slightly. He knew he wasn't on her level, but giving up was never an option. He was Vergil.

With a grunt, Vergil forced himself to his feet, Yamato gleaming in his hand.

"It's not over yet."

Sapphire raised an eyebrow, as if daring him to prove that statement. She lifted one hand, a new magic circle forming in front of her. The sky above began to darken, as though an eclipse was about to descend.

"Very well. Let's see if you can handle this," she teased.

The next attack was devastating. From the circle, a massive sphere of pure dark energy materialized, swelling with destructive force. Sapphire launched it toward Vergil with a simple gesture, as though it were nothing.

Vergil reacted instinctively, channeling all his strength into Yamato. He unleashed a vertical slash, sending a cutting wave of energy to meet Sapphire's attack. The two forces collided in a thunderous explosion that shook the entire battlefield, sending dust and debris flying in every direction.

When the dust finally settled, Sapphire stood unscathed, while Vergil struggled to stay on his feet.

She studied him for a long moment, her expression finally softening.

"You're stubborn. I'll give you that. And that's good. But stubbornness without control isn't enough," she said, crossing her arms. "You're still ignoring the fundamental principle of mastering demonic energy absolutely."

Vergil panted heavily, unable to argue. He knew he had lost this battle, but something in her expression told him that wasn't the only lesson she intended to impart.

"Are you ready to listen now?" Sapphire asked, her arms still crossed.

Vergil hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes."

Sapphire stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity.

"You have potential, Vergil. But if you keep fighting like just another warrior, you'll never become what you need to be. You don't need to rely on a weapon—or anything else that foolish. I've taught you this already, and I won't repeat myself," Sapphire said firmly.

She leaned in slightly, her piercing gaze locking onto his.

"The good news?" Her voice took on a playful edge. "I'm here to make sure you get there. Even if I have to crush that arrogance of yours a thousand times until you finally learn."

Vergil allowed a faint smile to tug at his lips, despite the pain coursing through his body.

"I won't make it easy for you," he said, his tone tinged with defiance and humor—a glimmer of his indomitable spirit.

Before Sapphire could reply, Vergil moved swiftly and unexpectedly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her off balance. Taken by surprise, she stumbled and fell onto him, her body pressing against his on the rough, dark ground.

"Looks like someone let their guard down," he teased, his voice dripping with mockery and evident satisfaction.

For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade. Sapphire, always in control and composed, now found herself uncharacteristically vulnerable, her eyes widening briefly before narrowing with a dangerous gleam. But instead of reacting with anger or frustration, she smiled—a truly mischievous smile as realization dawned.

Without much thought, Sapphire leaned in closer, and her lips met his in a kiss that was as intense as it was unexpected. It wasn't a gentle or hesitant gesture; it crackled with electricity and intention. That moment felt like an extension of their battle—a clash of wills where neither emerged victorious nor defeated.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

When they finally pulled away, Sapphire remained close, their faces still mere inches apart. Her eyes gleamed with a mix of satisfaction and challenge.

"Tch, bold," she whispered, though her tone held no irritation.

Vergil offered a grin that bordered on smug.

"Just playing with what I've got, darling," he teased.

"Fufufu," she let out a soft laugh, rare and melodious, a sharp contrast to her usual sharp demeanor.

"If you think this will distract me enough to win, you'll have to do better than that," she quipped, her neon-green eyes glowing faintly.

"Who said it was a distraction?" Vergil countered, raising an eyebrow.

Sapphire huffed, standing up and adjusting her clothes with almost theatrical poise, though the faint blush on her cheeks was impossible to miss.

"You're nowhere near beating me, but I'll admit, you have your moments," she said.

Vergil slowly sat up, still feeling the toll of their battle. His grin remained, stubborn and provocative.

"I suppose that's the closest thing to a compliment I'll get today," he replied.

Sapphire looked down at him, crossing her arms as a faint, amused smile lingered on her lips.

"Don't get used to it. Tomorrow, we'll continue, and I'll crush that confidence of yours again," she said, pouting slightly.

"I'll be looking forward to it," Vergil replied. For a brief moment, their gazes locked, carrying something deeper than mere rivalry.

Sapphire turned on her heel, walking away with the same calculated elegance as before, though not without casting a final glance over her shoulder.

"Rest while you can. You'll need it," she said before adding, "I'm heading to the human world."

"Where are you going?!" Vergil called out as a red magic circle appeared beneath her feet.

"Your dear mother has been causing chaos in the global economy. I need to check what she plans to do with my company," Sapphire explained with a smirk before disappearing in a flash of crimson light.

"She didn't even invite me to come along... What a pain of a woman," Vergil muttered, sighing dramatically. After a beat, he straightened his posture, raising a hand in a mock-salute.

"Well... good luck, Mother. You're going to need it." He added in a deadpan tone, holding his salute with exaggerated flair.

(O-O)7