With his hand still raised in the air, Lucifer let out a triumphant scream that echoed across the chaotic scene,
"YES!"
His voice boomed with an unsettling mixture of glee and malevolence. "It's been 400 years since I've soaked these claws with mortal blood, and I've never felt so alive!"
The twisted grin on his face widened as he slowly lowered his hand, his eyes flickering with a wicked red glow. His gaze fell on the four teenagers standing before him—Raiden, Zohar, Kaito, and Kirashi—all frozen in place, paralyzed by fear.
Lucifer's grin only grew more sinister as he took a step forward, towering over them. "Ah, look at you," he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "So small. So weak. And yet..." He paused, his eyes narrowing in curiosity as he studied them. "You're still standing."
For a brief moment, the air around them grew colder, and the oppressive weight of Lucifer's presence seemed to grow even heavier. He chuckled, the sound low and dark, as if savoring the fear he could feel radiating from them.
"I've revealed myself now,"
Lucifer continued, his voice turning smooth, almost conversational.
"So you might just get lucky. The gods know where I am now."
He let out a soft, mocking laugh. "But that doesn't mean they'll defeat me. It'll just delay the inevitable."
The four of them exchanged brief glances, their minds racing, trying to comprehend the gravity of what Lucifer was saying. They were standing face-to-face with the king of hell himself, and his power felt immeasurable.
Lucifer's eyes flicked over to Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito, his gaze lingering on each of them as he tilted his head slightly, an amused expression crossing his face.
"I noticed something about you three," he said with a cold, calculated tone.
"You were able to pick up Gabriel's sword. Not an easy task for mere mortals."
His voice held a note of begrudging respect, though his eyes remained filled with malice. "And, somehow, you managed to kill one of my spawn."
He gave a slow, deliberate nod, as if acknowledging their achievement.
"That's... impressive."
For a moment, a heavy silence fell over the group. Lucifer's words hung in the air, chilling them to the bone. The realization of what they had done, and what it meant, hit them like a wave. They had fought back. They had survived. But now, standing in the presence of Lucifer himself, it felt like nothing more than a fleeting victory.
Lucifer's grin returned, darker and more menacing than ever. "But what a waste of potential," he mused, his voice filled with twisted disappointment. "You could've been so much more. You could've stood by my side. But instead, you chose to meddle in things far beyond your understanding."
He took another step forward, his wings unfurling ever so slightly, casting a shadow over the four of them. "So now," he said softly, his voice like a whisper of death, "I'll have to destroy you."
Raiden's heart pounded in his chest, every fiber of his being screaming at him to move, to run, to do anything. But his legs felt like they were made of lead, rooted to the ground by the sheer terror of what stood before them. Kirashi's breath hitched, her hands trembling as she stood by Zohar, trying to stay strong despite the overwhelming fear.
Zohar, his mind racing, clenched his fists, trying to summon the courage to act. Kaito's eyes darted to the ground, where Gabriel's sword had once been, now lifeless and powerless. The reality of their situation began to sink in—they were outmatched, outgunned, and completely at the mercy of a being who delighted in their suffering.
Lucifer's grin widened once more as he raised his hand, dark energy swirling around his claws. "I suppose I should thank you for waking me up," he said with a sneer. "But don't worry. This won't take long."
The tension in the air was palpable.
Raiden, still looking at the ground, gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as he spoke up, his voice trembling with barely contained anger. "So, you're responsible for all these deaths..."
Lucifer, now slightly confused, tilted his head, observing the boy's sudden shift in demeanor. Before he could respond, Kaito stepped forward, his voice cracking with grief, "You're responsible for my parents."
Without hesitation, Zohar followed. His tone was cold and resolute as he muttered through gritted teeth, "You're going to pay."
As Lucifer prepared to respond, Kirashi, standing frozen, caught a glimpse of something behind the dark figure. Her eyes widened in panic as she saw Shigenori, moving stealthily amidst the chaos, pick up a pistol from a fallen soldier. He aimed the weapon directly at Lucifer's back, his hands trembling, but his resolve clear.
Time seemed to slow down for Kirashi as she screamed out, "Shigenori!" Her voice echoed through the streets just as he pulled the trigger.
The bullet struck Lucifer in the wing as he raised it to shield himself. The force of the impact made Lucifer stumble slightly, but the expression on his face remained one of amusement. He let out a soft, mocking chuckle, barely fazed. "Nice try," he mused, as his image blurred, suddenly appearing behind Shigenori in an instant, moving faster than any of them could process.
Lucifer's clawed hand gripped the back of Shigenori's head, lifting him into the air effortlessly. Shigenori struggled against his hold, but it was futile. Lucifer's grip tightened as he whispered coldly, "Do you really care about such a little possession?"
In a final act of defiance, Shigenori cried out, "Kirashi! I love you!" The words pierced the chaos, filling the air just as Lucifer hurled him into the sky with brutal force. Shigenori's body soared through the air, crashing against a slanted rooftop. His body rag-dolled along the surface, bouncing lifelessly before disappearing from view.
Kirashi's scream tore through the battlefield, filled with unimaginable horror and grief.
"SHIGENORI!"
she wailed, her heart shattering as she watched her brother's limp body disappear. Tears filled her eyes, her world collapsing in an instant.
Lucifer smirked, his wings unfurling as he turned his attention back to the others. Without warning, he launched himself toward them, his body a dark blur of power.
Kirashi barely had time to react before his hand whipped across her face, sending her flying across the street. She hit the ground with a sickening thud, her body going limp as she fell unconscious.
Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar stood frozen, their minds still reeling from the horror they had just witnessed. But they couldn't afford to grieve, not with Lucifer standing before them.
With desperation, they charged at Lucifer in unison, fists and kicks flying, but none of their strikes found their mark.
Lucifer danced around them effortlessly, toying with them, mocking their every attempt. He tripped them up, slapped away their blows, and delivered light taps that sent them sprawling.
"YOU BASTARD!!"
Raiden roared, his voice raw with fury. He threw a wild punch, hoping to land at least one solid blow. But before his fist even reached Lucifer, the demon king grabbed him by the abdomen, lifting him high into the air before slamming him down hard onto the pavement. The impact knocked the air out of Raiden's lungs, leaving him gasping for breath.
Kaito followed quickly, his foot aimed at Lucifer's face. But Lucifer's response was swift. He drove his fist deep into Kaito's stomach, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through his body.
Kaito gasped, clutching his stomach, utterly winded.
In the chaos, Zohar saw an opening and took it. With all his strength, he swung a punch and—connected. His fist smashed into Lucifer's face, making the demon king stumble slightly.
Lucifer's eyes flashed with something close to excitement as he slowly turned to face Zohar. He let out a deep, satisfied laugh. "That's the fury I've been seeking," he mused darkly. "You're a feisty one."
Without warning, Lucifer lashed out with a devastating kick, sending Zohar flying backward, crashing through a shop window. The glass shattered around him as he tumbled to the ground, dazed and bleeding.
Lucifer, still smiling, turned his attention back to Kaito, who was struggling to get up. With a brutal punch, Lucifer slammed Kaito's face into the concrete, blood splattering from the impact.
Finally, he set his sights on Raiden. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed Raiden into the side of a car, the force crumpling the metal on impact.
Lucifer stood over them all, his black wings spreading wide, his eyes glowing with malevolent power. He was toying with them, breaking them slowly, savoring their pain.
But deep inside, something was stirring within the three of them—an anger and desperation far beyond what Lucifer had anticipated.
As Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar lay battered on the ground, their bodies aching from Lucifer's brutal onslaught, time itself seemed to freeze. The dust in the air stopped swirling, the smoke from the burning wreckage stood still, and the sounds of the world around them fell silent.
Then, faint yet distinct, each of them heard a voice, powerful and ancient, calling to them through the silence.
"Get up, soldier."