After Eve talks a little bit about Naomi to Pride, she can't help comparing her to Lucien. 'So they are that similar.'
'No…' Eve replies. 'Lucien is really doing those things with Sophia and Amelia while Naomi has never done anything like that. She just liked teases everyone with her crazy ideas.'
'Crazy ideas?' Pride asks sarcastically. 'From what I see, she predicted all of this perfectly. Before, I thought that if we depended on his help, we would stop generating our own demonic energy, but now I see we've wasted so much potential by not doing exactly what your sister thought.'
Eve shakes her head. 'You do not understand! How will I keep my pride as their big sister if I get that dependent on my little brother? I can not do that...'
Pride really understands how Eve feels. She also dislikes the idea of receiving power from the host of l.u.s.t. However, the idea of cooperating with Lucien, even in his own way, seems very tempting, even to her.
'It's okay if you don't want to do that, but don't stop your sisters from doing it. If he can empower them, then they must accept, even with everything that comes with that.' Pride explains.
'I know.' Eve responds. 'I've even given permission for Donna to do that with Luci, even though I feel terrible right now. But I'm afraid what kind of things he and Naomi could do...'
'I'm curious to see what will happen, though.' Pride comments. 'Anyway, this meeting won't happen right now, so you can stay calm.'
Eve should be more relieved, but by remembering Lucien's situation, she gets more worried. 'That's not going to happen because he's facing that d.a.m.n monster! How do you want me to stay calm like this???'
'...' Pride has no answer for that. She is generally calm in most situations, but Lucien is affecting her in unpredictable ways, even though he is far away now.
As Eve looks to s.h.i.+ps at the horizon ahead, Donna approaches her and softly speaks while Pride creates an energy barrier around them so that Kayla doesn't hear them. "You know, right? Naomi is with them..."
Sophia and Amelia also look at Eve with thoughtful expressions, making it clear that they know about Naomi.
"Yes..." Eve nods. "But it's best not to make our relations.h.i.+p clear yet because we don't know what relations.h.i.+p she has with these people."
"What do you mean?" Sophia asks while Donna has the same question.
Before Eve responds, Amelia explains. "She may be trying to manipulate Kayla's grandmother to get information about Phoenix."
"Hahaha..." Envy sarcastically laughs. "I can't say anything about your sister, but I know mine well. Gluttony is definitely not the smartest of us, and it's improbable that she knows about the Phoenix."
Sloth shakes her head as she looks at Envy with a disappointed expression. "I also agree that Gluttony shouldn't know about the Phoenix, but not because she's not smart but because the creature might hide her energy well."
"Also, I don't believe they're manipulating anyone either." She continues. "Only Envy likes to act like that… well, Wrath sometimes does things like that to try and make us angry, but overall that's not her way."
Envy smiles. "Oh yes, Gluttony is like a hungry dog who is always looking for something to devour..."
"She must have felt the energy of Kayla's grandmother, who must also have the Phoenix's blessing. But as that woman must be very strong now, Gluttony must be waiting for the right moment to devour her and absorb that high-quality energy." Pride explains.
"Devour? Do you mean really eat her?" Donna makes a curious expression.
Wrath nods. "Yes, Gluttony generates demonic energy by devouring anything that has good energy, such as mystic crystals, treasures of all kinds, and living creatures."
"Eeek!" Amelia makes a disgusted expression. "That must be bizarre to watch..."
"And Gluttony's real form must be grotesque." Sophia comments.
"Not really..." Sloth explains. "She transforms all types of energy into her own energy, not ma.s.s."
The girls can't help but be curious about Gluttony's appearance, and meanwhile, Eve continues with a thoughtful expression. "In any case, let's try not to destroy Naomi's disguise before we understand her situation."
"Okay." Donna, Amelia, and Sophia agree, and then Pride removes the sound barrier so that Kayla doesn't get too suspicious of them.
The Sea Devil quickly approaches the s.h.i.+ps of the Rising Phoenix Clan, and Maya orders them to stop when she feels powerful auras there.
[Demons???] She recognizes the demonic energy of the Sins, and not only that, but she also recognizes a specific energy, which makes her really worried. [Is it really her??? So the others must be here too... s.h.i.+T!!!]
Under Maya's orders, her s.h.i.+ps go into a defensive formation, and her best mages create a powerful barrier around them as the Sea Devil comes within two hundred meters of her s.h.i.+p.
"Grandma!!" Kayla yells as Scarlett stops the Sea Devil in front of the barrier; the girls put down the sails and get ready to fight if necessary.
"Kayla?!?" Only now, Maya notices her granddaughter waving at her. She was so focused on the Sins that she hadn't even noticed her energy before.
"It's me, grandma!" Kayla flies towards Maya's s.h.i.+p as Daisy puts down the Sea Devil's barrier.
Maya recognizes the energy within her granddaughter and quickly orders her mages to lower the great barrier in front of them as well as the barrier of her s.h.i.+p.
Kayla lands in front of her and hugs her. "Grandma… I knew you would come to my rescue!"
"Of course, darling." Maya also hugs Kayla as she looks over her shoulder at the girls in the Sea Devil. "Who are these people? Isn't that the main s.h.i.+p of those d.a.m.n pirates?"
"They're my friends." Kayla quickly states and then starts to explain. "The Black Sea Raiders wanted to take me to make a trap for you, but then these people saved me... their leader is really a kind person, and now he's in trouble."
Maya gazes at the Sins and Lucien's sisters with a thoughtful expression as she listens to Kayla's story. [Demons... they're really known for offering help, but always in exchange for something...]
She's so focused on thoughts about the demons that she doesn't even notice the excited look on the face of Naomi, who is so happy to see her sisters.
"Come on, grandma." Kayla pulls Maya by the hand towards the Sea Devil. "I'll introduce you to my new friends."
Eve's group is clearly smaller than Maya's army, so it's normal for her to go to them and not the contrary. They land on the deck, in front of Eve and the Sins, who don't hide their true appearance.
"Grandma, these are-" Kayla tries to speak the girls' names.
"I know who they are..." But Maya interrupts her. "They are demons, dangerous people who now want something from us."
"Demons?" Kayla looks at Pride's horns. "Oh yes, but they are really good people who helped me. Their leader even-"
"Good people?" Maya interrupts again, speaking sarcastically as she gazes at Pride. "Are you good people?"
Pride smiles. "Of course not, but you already know that, don't you? I can see in your eyes that you know exactly who I am."
"This arrogant look… so I was right." Maya tries to maintain a confident look, but she is really worried. "You can only be the sin of Pride, herself."
Kayla starts to get worried about the direction of that conversation. She has never seen her grandmother act so strangely and fears something bad will happen.
"Grandma…" She touches the sleeve of Maya's s.h.i.+rt.
"Naomi!" Maya calls, and she flies to them, doing her best not to look too much at her sisters.
"Master..." Naomi speaks in a respectful tone, but Eve can't help but notice her lips curling into a mischievous smile for just a second.
Maya gently pushes Kayla towards Naomi. "Take my granddaughter to our s.h.i.+p while I talk to our guests."
"Of course," Naomi quickly hugs Kayla, making it clear that they are friends.
"Grandma???" Kayla doesn't like that, but she doesn't resist Naomi's embrace as they fly to their s.h.i.+p.
Maya keeps looking at Pride. "What do you want? As long as I can do it, it's fine."
First, Pride uses her energy to create a sound block barrier around the Sea Devil. Then she smiles teasingly. "How much is your granddaughter's life worth?"
"..." Maya can't contain her annoyance when she notices the sarcastic tone that Pride uses to say 'granddaughter.'
"You don't have to pretend anymore." Envy smiles too.
Sloth nods. "Yes, we know she's not your real granddaughter."
"Even I could recognize a Phoenix if I got so close to one…" Wrath speaks teasingly.
But the truth is that she and her sister are only sure that Maya is a Phoenix because they can feel the powerful fire energy that emanates from her, and they already knew there was a Phoenix in the Blue Star.
"Like now..." Pride comments. "Right, Ms. Phoenix?"
"What?!?" Lucien's sisters and wives are shocked when they hear Pride's words. They can't really believe they found the Phoenix so quickly and that she's that woman in front of them.
Maya's eyes glow like living flames. "Even you weren't supposed to see through my disguise... so I can only conclude that you already knew where to find me, right? What I can't imagine is who would tell you about me."
"Your disguise isn't bad, but people like us can feel how powerful your fire affinity is." Envy comments. "I would say you are a daughter of the Fire G.o.d or a legendary firebird."
"Lie!" Maya speaks. "Tell me who sent you to me, or I'll burn your hosts to as.h.!.+"
As the girls prepare for combat, Sloth sighs. "You wouldn't believe us if we told you..."
The red glow fades from Maya's eyes as she sighs too. "A Primordial, right? I knew this day would come..."