Love and Inferiority Complex

Those who drowned themselves in pleasure were bound to fall to pleasure.

Blades clashed, laughter alternating with low, heavy breaths.

They were two similar faces, yet two utterly different creatures.

One was bewitching as a serpent, always wearing a satisfied smile. The other was steadfast as ice, his eyes filled with an anger too difficult to name.

"You seem unable to gain the upper hand in a simple sword duel, my dear self."

Demon smiled faintly.

Two right hands cut deadly arcs through the air, elegant and light, yet they forced Fulgrim to meet them with every ounce of focus he had. Under that single strike, the Phoenix was driven back a full five steps.

"Ha."

Demon looked at him with delight, raising one right hand and bringing that twisted longsword before its face. It stared at the golden flames that seemed to have been passed onto the blade, then, with keen interest, actually stretched out its tongue and licked them.

"Mmph—!"

A stifled groan of pain rang out, followed by the hiss of corrosion and a succession of high, shrill screams. Demon trembled, its serpent tail sliding over the ground and leaving a winding trail behind.

Gleaming beads of sweat dripped to the floor. Only after a dozen full seconds did it come back to itself.

"This is truly..."

It thoughtfully stroked its mouth, which had only just healed. Its long, forked tongue abruptly flicked out, tasting the lingering flavor of flame in the air, and its eyes narrowed in satisfaction. "This is truly wonderful, my dear self."

"Since you cannot defeat me by swordsmanship alone, why not use those burning flames on you?"

It looked at Fulgrim with anticipation, its gaze soft, full of love and pleading, like a purple ocean brimming with tenderness. "Come and hurt