Chapter 501 Decrepit Demon Lord
Just as I prepared myself for the biggest jumping of my life, suddenly, Leviathan, in the very far distance opened his mouth. His throne world which I had initially thought was the peak of his power... had only been sidestepped by yet another powerful display of divinity.
"[Throne World: Wormhole]. Condition Set. Strength Against Weakness. Condition Set. Favored in Stronger Demonic Energy."
...
Everything changed. From his surroundings to the enveloping mana distinctly pronunciating the edge of each and every single throne world erupting through the vicinity. It was a disturbing and chilling sight that brought a drop of sweat to dribble down his forehead.
"I knew it..." Orion smirked.
"Knew what?"
"That something like this would turn out... unfortunately, I don't have any countermeasure."
"We both know how much bullshit that is..." The demon lord lightly chuckled. "... Our bond was slowly growing, but unfortunately you had to pull some stupid shit like this... how pathetic."
The nightmarish battlefield unfolded beneath a blood-red sky. The landscape is a twisted, barren wasteland, marred by jagged, obsidian mountains that pierce the treacherous heavens like the teeth of some monstrous, forgotten deity. The ground beneath is cracked and hazardous, with molten rivers of lava snaking through the terrain, casting eerie, flickering reflections.
The very air is thick with sulfurous fumes, choking and acrid, making each breath a struggle. The ground trembles incessantly, as if writhing in agony, while ghostly whispers and malevolent laughter echo through the air—cries of the lost souls forever trapped in this accursed realm. Unseen entities lurk in the shadows, their presence felt but never seen, ready to torment those who dare to enter.
The weather is a relentless barrage of hostility, with razor-sharp shards of obsidian hail plummeting from the heavens, slicing through the air and anything in their path. Occasional lightning storms rupture the sky, casting eerie strobe-like flashes that reveal grotesque creatures skulking in the shadows.
This decaying life had been twisted into abominable forms. Mutated, grotesque creatures roam the wasteland, their bodies a nightmarish patchwork of monstrous features. Cursed trees, with gnarled, twisted limbs, claw at the crimson-hued sky, bearing blood-red, venomous fruit. Toxic rivers teem with grotesque, amphibious monstrosities, their eyes gleaming with hunger.
Amidst this nightmarish backdrop, two warriors stand, locked in an eternal battle. They must not only confront each other but also navigate the shifting, unstable ground, fraught with hidden pitfalls. The relentless onslaught of supernatural horrors, lurking just beyond sight, makes every moment a test of willpower and survival.
"The coordinates are a bit off... but it's still pretty much the same."
...
(48 Hours Prior)
"I'm back..."
As Lucifer materialized from the single gargoyle perched on the aged wooden chair, a palpable air of enigma surrounds him. His arrival is marked by subtle, otherworldly music, a haunting melody that seems to emanate from the very depths of his being. The ethereal notes create a mesmerizing aura, drawing all eyes to him... when its only purpose was white noise for the fallen angel to work with.
His eyes, the windows to his soul, reveal the depths of his inner turmoil. They shimmer with an otherworldly fire, an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of emotions that range from burning anger to a profound sadness that only an immortal being can comprehend. Each glance from those piercing ebony orbs carries the weight of centuries of experience and knowledge of the universe's mysteries.
Around his neck, a silver pendant hangs, adorned with an intricate engraving of a celestial realm cloaked in darkness. The pendant seems to pulse with an eerie light, hinting at the duality within Lucifer's nature - the celestial light he once embodied and the shadows he now commands.
Lucifer's hands, long and graceful, are adorned with rings bearing cryptic symbols and ancient gemstones that seem to hold the power of the cosmos. With a mere touch, he can manipulate the very fabric of reality, a reminder of his formidable abilities as a celestial being.
"Why have you come? Belphegor and his city all trust you and your gang... yet you've left them to be wiped out."
His voice, when he speaks, carries a hypnotic quality that commands attention. It resonates like a hauntingly beautiful melody, wrapping around the minds of those who hear it, luring them into his web of intrigue and temptation. Each word drips with a seductive charm that conceals the abyss of knowledge and danger that lies beneath.
As he moves, his footsteps barely make a sound, as if he treads lightly between the realms of the living and the damned. His presence is a paradox, simultaneously alluring and unsettling, drawing those who encounter him into a dance of temptation and revelation.
Lucifer's emergence from the gargoyle on the wooden chair is a spectacle that transcends mortal comprehension. It is a reminder that he is a being of infinite complexity, a fallen angel trapped in the eternal struggle between light and darkness, and his very existence is a testament to the enigmatic nature of the cosmos.
"Unfortunately, I've already gained everything I needed from there. It only took a couple of months, but I've maxed out my level."
[Level: 100/100] (250/250) XP Needed
"So you've come to me for the materials you need to evolve, right?"
"No... I've come to offer you a deal," Orion lightly grinned, his head tilting downwards as if offering the supreme demon a bow of respect. "I hope you won't be a fool by dismissing me immediately... You haven't even heard my offer."
"I don't even need to hear it to understand what you're about to offer me."
"Then let's settle down and talk over a cup of tea..." Orion snapped his fingers, allowing one of the five demonic generals to step out of his quasi-world and pour the two magnificent beings a piping hot cup of tea. These leaves had been fermented over many years, to the point where they had even turned to ash, but that's what makes them good... a blend of death and rebirth to signal the start of this meeting.
"First of all, let's not play dumb... I know you know that we know of what you're about to do..."
"Don't try and make it more complicated than it has to be," Orion's grin widened once more, causing Lucifer to realize something was up.
"If I detect a single usage of skills..." His face darkened and the lights within the room imploded.
"You'll do what?" Orion chuckled.
"I'll Kill You."
Magnus, the vampiric general that had been brought out was frozen in place. He knew he had permission to move around at his Master's leisure but even then... There was something about this atmosphere of raw tension that forced his muscles to chafe and his bones to lock in place.
"Tch... whatever... let's get to it. You know what I'm about to do and that's the reason why I've come to present you an offer... tell me what will go down and I swear on my life, I will help kill the gods in the past."
"Go down in what way? You have to be more specific than that or I'll outright scam you. You have no skill that allows you to lie detect... even though you're decent at it when the time comes."
"When I attack Leviathan, what exactly will go down? Who or what will interfere... I need to know as much information as possible."
"No."
Orion was slightly taken aback by the sudden decline. He was absolutely sure that Lucifer would follow through with this due to many conforming pieces. First of all, his pride. By not giving him information, he basically admitted to Orion that he isn't stronger than him and he will need as much information as possible in order to win. The rest are slightly minor and were bound to fall out of line, but the part about his pride... well, I guess Orion made a few miscalculations.
"Hah! So you're basically admitting defeat?!" Orion provoked the man and as the imploded lights filling the room flickered back on, Lucifer's expression was filled with nothing but defeat.
The man, once filled with vitality and purpose, now stands at the precipice of despair, slowly losing his will to go on. His transformation is a gradual erosion of hope, a fading ember in the cold darkness of his existence.
Physically, his posture has changed. Once proud and upright, his shoulders now droop with the weight of the world. His steps have grown lethargic as if he's dragging the heavy chains of his burdens behind him. The energy that once fueled his movements has dissipated, leaving behind a languid, almost robotic gait.
His eyes, which were once bright and filled with dreams, have dulled. They now carry a distant, vacant look, as if they've lost the ability to see the beauty and wonder in the world. The spark of enthusiasm that once ignited his gaze has faded into a hollow emptiness.
Conversations that used to light up his face with animated expressions have become monosyllabic exchanges. He no longer engages with enthusiasm, and his voice has lost its vibrancy. It quivers with fatigue, and his words seem to hang in the air, heavy with the weight of his disillusionment.
"Everything is already over. They've planned it all."
"Hey! You piece of shit!" Orion furiously slammed his hands on the table, knocking over the priceless set of tea. His hands reached out, grabbing the man by the collar, yet nothing worked. He was but a limp corpse losing its ember of life. "What happened to you..."
"You have no idea what is about to come."
At that moment, the first servant of the primordial beings, the first angel warrior, the first fallen angel, the first demon, the first demon king, the first demon lord, the first traveler of time... was nothing but a toy whose time had run out.
