Lily sat in her spacious tent, larger than the others in the village due to her status as the chief's daughter. The air inside was thick with the familiar smell of wood and leather, the scent of old trees and tanned hides that surrounded her since childhood. The walls of the tent were decorated simply but meaningfully—carved wooden symbols of the tribe's spirit hung beside the entrance, and feathers, each one representing a personal victory, were tied to the frame. A few skulls of animals she had hunted in the forest were proudly displayed on the ground, the polished bone shining faintly in the dim light. Her leather armor and gear, worn and well-cared-for, were neatly folded nearby, the rich scent of the hides mixing with the woodiness of the tent.

  She moved to a wooden trunk in the corner, its surface scarred by years of use. As she opened it, the soft creak of the lid echoed in the quiet tent, revealing her sword lying inside. The blade gleamed slightly, even in the muted light. She picked it up, the weight of it familiar and comforting. Her grip tightened around the hilt as she stepped outside, feeling the cool air brush against her skin.

  The village around her was filled with the sounds of worried whispers. The people were gathered in small groups, their faces showing signs of fear and uncertainty. Despite her father's words of reassurance, their expressions remained tense, as if the anxiety in the air was too thick to be dispelled by mere words. She could feel the weight of their gaze as she passed, some looking at her with curiosity, others with visible fear.

  Lily took a deep breath, her heart heavy with the weight of the responsibility she carried. She raised her sword high above her head, her voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd. "Be not afraid! Believe in your chief—my father—and me!"

  Her voice was steady, but the villagers' faces remained unchanged. The fear in their eyes lingered, thick and suffocating. Sighing, Lily lowered her sword. She knew that words alone couldn't erase the fear that gripped them. Without hesitating further, she turned and ran toward the entrance of the settlement. The warriors had already gathered, a strong line of defense standing ready. Nearly 300 guards lined up, each holding their weapons with tight, determined grips. Spears, bows, and axes gleamed in the dim light, reflecting the tense atmosphere.

  In the center of the warriors stood her father, the chief, his bow in hand and a quiver of arrows slung over his shoulder.

  Lily joined him, standing by his side. The air grew colder, almost electric, as they all focused on the path leading to the village. Two figures slowly came into view, walking through the trees. The warriors braced themselves, gripping their weapons even tighter.

  The strangers were close enough now for their silhouettes to be seen clearly.

  The woman was dressed in strange clothing unfamiliar to Lily and her tribe. She wore a cream-colored garment that covered her upper body, with long sleeves and small fastenings running down the front. A flowing crimson cloth draped down from her waist to her feet, and she had red coverings on her feet. The outfit looked completely foreign, nothing like the simple furs and fabrics the tribe was used to.

  The horned man had a sharp, handsome face, and his glowing blue eyes gave him an otherworldly presence. His black hair fell in soft waves over his shoulders, and his perfectly fitted black clothing, polished shoes, and crimson cloak made him look both regal and dangerous. Compared to the woman, his attire was somewhat familiar to them, as they had seen similar styles worn by Captain Hook and his crew. But it was the curved, obsidian-like horns on his head that truly unsettled them, marking him as something far beyond human.

  "Halt your steps, strangers!" Lily commanded, pointing her sword at them. "Don't come any closer unless you're ready to lose your lives!"

  At the same time, everyone around her raised their weapons, mirroring her actions.

  Both the man and the woman stopped in their tracks, their eyes locked on the group. The man quickly nodded at the woman, who then stepped behind him, hiding from their view. He sighed, clearly frustrated. "Seriously, already pointing weapons at us? I thought that waving and smiling at one of your people would show our friendly nature..."

  The horned man reached into what seemed like a black space and pulled out a weapon that was neither a staff nor a sword, but a curious combination of both.

  "Drop the weapon or face the consequences!" Lily shouted, her voice firm and resolute. Despite her usual reluctance toward violence, she had no hesitation in protecting her village and the people she loved. Yet, deep down, a feeling gnawed at her. She couldn't shake the sense that she had done something she shouldn't have.

  "Wait!" the Chief suddenly called out, his voice cutting through the tension. "Everyone, stand down!"

  "But Father?!" Lily objected. Her heart raced as she tried to understand. Why was he asking them to lower their weapons when they had clearly been threatened?

  "Don't speak! Let me handle this," the Chief said firmly. "And it's an order."

  Hearing the Chief's command, everyone reluctantly lowered their weapons, even though most of them didn't want to. But they had no choice—when the Chief spoke, they listened.

  "You made a wise decision," the horned individual said with a hint of a smirk. "Otherwise, I might have had to burn every single one of you." He lowered his weapon as well. "I prefer to settle things without bloodshed."

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "I, too, would prefer that," the Chief replied, his tone steady. "Now, tell me—what brings you two here?"

  "You can come out now, Yuko," the horned man said, his voice calm but firm. "I think it's better if you speak for yourself."

  At his words, the woman stepped out from behind him. "Hello, everyone," she greeted them, her voice clear. "We are here to rescue my daughter."

  "Your daughter...?" the Chief asked, his curiosity piqued.

  "I will start from the very beginning..." Yuko said, her voice serious, as she prepared to explain the reason for their arrival.

  ...

  Shinegleam slowly woke up, her breath heavy and her body weak. She looked around, trying to make sense of her surroundings. The room was built into the trunk of a large tree. The walls were made of twisting roots, and the floor was soft with moss and small flowers. The room smelled sweet, filled with the scent of yellow blossoms, which felt familiar to Shinegleam.

  "Where am I?" she thought, trying to gather her thoughts.

  Then it clicked. "Now I remember! This is my best friend's room," she whispered to herself, a sense of calm flooding her.

  The door opened, and in walked Duskdrew, a pixie with dusky-colored skin, like hers. Duskdrew wore a similar outfit to Shinegleam, made of soft fabric. While Shinegleam's was light, Duskdrew's was dark, with black clothes that shimmered faintly. Her wings had a slight glimmer to them, and her eyes sparkled with a deep sapphire color.

  "Duskdrew!" Shinegleam exclaimed, feeling relief.

  "Good, you're awake," Duskdrew said, her face filled with worry. "I was so scared when I saw you, hurt and covered in blood, lying at my door."

  The two sat down on the bed, and Duskdrew asked, "Now tell me, what happened?"

  Shinegleam took a deep breath. "I was on patrol when I sensed a disturbance. And then..." She explained everything—the strange man, his powers, and the attack.

  Duskdrew's eyes widened. "Unbelievable! To think such a being has entered Neverland…" she said, rubbing her chin in thought. "But I'm also curious about the magic system this 'Devil' uses. Tier magic... those spells like Volcanic Wall and Icy Wind clearly belong to a predefined category. How could someone so powerful use such basic spells, like a novice?"

  "Duskdrew!" Shinegleam said urgently. "We have to do something. That man is causing havoc in Neverland!"

  Duskdrew nodded. "True. But are you sure the woman doesn't have any magic?"

  "No, she seemed like an ordinary woman from the outside world," Shinegleam replied.

  Duskdrew stood up, her eyes determined. "Then we need to gather all the pixies. If this Satan is as powerful as you say, we'll need every pixie we can find to stop him."

  ....

  Satan was now inside the tribe village, looking around at the scene. There were at least over a hundred houses, some made of wood, some built high in the trees, and others were simple tents. The houses were of various types: some had green moss growing on their rooftops, while others were made from blackened wood, giving them a weathered appearance. Some homes were tidy, while others appeared to be more lived-in and rustic. The tents were white and stretched across the land like little puffs of fabric. There were many shops and market stalls, where sellers offered goods to the villagers, and people walked around, some busy with their tasks, others simply observing.

  As Satan walked through the village, he noticed the people staring at him. Some were looking with curiosity, whispering to each other, while others regarded him with fear in their eyes. The air was thick with tension, the villagers unsure of who or what he was, but unable to look away from the strange and powerful figure before them.

  At the center of the village stood a massive statue made of limestone. It was a figure of a woman, carved with remarkable detail. The statue was elegant and beautiful, with her face serene and her clothing draped in a style similar to the furs and fabrics the villagers wore. Satan didn't recognize her, and there was no mention of such a figure in the storybook he knew. This statue seemed to be an important figure in the village, towering above its surroundings, with vines and flowers growing around its base, giving it a sacred and timeless feel.

  "Is something wrong with the statue?" the Chief asked, noticing Satan staring at it with quiet curiosity.

  "No... nothing," Satan said, taking a breath. He then looked at the Chief and asked, "Tell me, can I trust that your daughter won't inform Peter Pan about us?"

  He needed to catch Peter Pan off guard, to gain some advantage. Otherwise, things would be much more difficult.

  "No, I don't think my daughter is foolish enough to do something that would endanger the tribe," the Chief said, then added, "Though I must ask, were you really going to burn it all down if it had come to blows?"

  "I meant it," Satan replied, though he was relieved that it hadn't come to that.

  "Satan!"

  A voice called out to him, and he turned around to see Yuko, now holding a leather bag.

  "Where did you get this bag, Yuko?" Satan asked.

  "I bought it at the local market here, along with some food for my daughter. She must be hungry," Yuko said, holding the bag tightly.

  "And what did you pay for it?" Satan inquired.

  "I exchanged the diamond ring my late father gave me," Yuko replied.

  "What?!" The Chief said. "These items aren't worth that much! I'll pay for them and return the ring to you!"

  "No... no, please, there's no need," Yuko said. "For my daughter, I would give everything."

  The Chief looked at her with understanding, his expression softening. "You remind me of my late wife. She was also like you... doing anything and everything she could for her daughter." His expression darkened with anger. "Peter Pan... that brat, forcing an innocent mother to go through such grief."

  Then Lily arrived with four more guards, carrying a few light bags. They had finished preparing for the journey.

  "Father, we are ready," Lily said.

  "Good. After you take them to Peter Pan's hideout, I want you to come back here immediately," the Chief said. "I don't want you to getting involved in the fight between him"—he glanced at Satan—"and Peter Pan."

  "But—" Lily began, but the Chief interrupted her.

  "No buts. This is an order," the Chief said firmly. "And don't break the deal by warning Peter Pan. He has done something truly evil: kidnapping a child, taking her away from a loving mother, and trying to kill said mother."

  "He isn't bad; he must have made some mistake!" Lily said.

  "Trying to kill an innocent mother is not just a mistake..." the Chief said, his voice firm and serious. "Is it?"

  Lily looked down, unable to meet her father's gaze. She had no answer and stayed quiet, her hands fidgeting nervously.

  Satan, watching the tense moment, calmly reached into his player inventory. After a moment, he pulled out a scroll. The scroll had a striking appearance—it was a mix of blue and dark blue, with a faint, magical glow surrounding it. A bright neon thread tied it tightly, and strange, glowing symbols were etched all over its surface, as if they were alive with energy.

  "Here, Chief, take this," Satan said, holding the scroll out to him.

  The Chief hesitated, his brows furrowed in confusion. Slowly, he took the scroll from Satan's hand and examined it closely.

  "What is this?" the Chief asked, his voice filled with curiosity and caution.

  "This is a resurrection scroll. With it, you can bring your wife back to life," Satan explained.

  The revelation shocked everyone present.

  The Chief asked in disbelief, "You're saying this scroll can resurrect my wife?"

  "Yes, it can. I have no reason to lie," Satan replied.

  Lily's eyes widened, and her breath caught. Her lips trembled as she whispered softly, "Can I really see my mother again? We can bring her back?"

  "Yes, you can," Satan confirmed, his tone steady and composed, before turning his piercing gaze back to the Chief. "Consider it a gift for your cooperation."

  The Chief looked at the glowing scroll in his hands, his expression a mix of disbelief and wariness. "You're giving me something so extraordinary for such a trivial reason?" he asked, his voice low, laced with suspicion.

  Satan smirked faintly, his sharp features making the expression seem almost mocking. "I am the Devil. I don't do anything for free," he replied smoothly.

  However, deep in his mind, Satan had his own reasoning. I don't trust Lily. But if the thought of seeing her mother again anchors her loyalty, she won't betray me. After all, she's just a child, well, sort of, and children are painfully easy to manipulate. Wow… that actually makes me sound like a pedophile, doesn't it…'