Bab 29: Proselyte - Part 2
"Stop!" a voice commands.
Beelzebub's life is spared, just a millisecond away from total annihilation. The figure responsible for intervening is Asmodeus, someone whom Lucifer would never dare to harm, other than God Himself. Lucifer challenges Asmodeus, unfazed by their action, and Asmodeus dematerializes their mask.
"This... This isn't like you, Lucifer," Asmodeus says, slowly falling to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's not like you at all to try and kill one of our own."
Asmodeus's words weigh heavy on Lucifer's heart. The sight of their leader acting without rational thought saddens her deeply, and a tear escapes from her graceful eyes.
"Is it because it's a sin?" Lucifer rhetorically questions, answering it swiftly. "Then why don't I just embrace that sin? If all of you can ever do is call me a sinner."
Lucifer's words silence everyone, including Michael, who has been following the sequence of events intently. It makes him reconsider his comments about Lucifer and the Demons as a whole.
"I'll spare you all this time," Lucifer growls, walking away from Asmodeus and Beelzebub, who remain crawling before him. "Make sure you never cross paths with me again, or you'll face the consequences."
"Wait, Lucifer," Asmodeus tries to make a final plea.
"What is it?" Lucifer replies, seemingly unconcerned, but his voice carries a hint of softness.
"Are we heading in the same direction? Will we meet again?" Asmodeus implies, wanting to know Lucifer's destination to avoid a future confrontation and hinting at her next move.
"There aren't many destinations available in this messed-up place," Lucifer scoffs. "Now, go."
"As you wish, my General," Asmodeus bids her farewell and hurries after Abaddon. She is deeply concerned about Lucifer's state of mind, whispering frantic questions to Abaddon, hoping to receive answers and prevent her nightmares from becoming reality.
"You're such a worrywart, Asmodeus," Abaddon jokes, opening his eyes hastily. Remember, his sudden change in personality and behaviour is connected to their true sin nurtured.
"Get your hands off me!" Sathanas exclaims as Mammon and Belphegor try to help her stand after the powerful blow she received earlier.
"Really? Then why aren't you on your feet yet?" Mammon calls her out for lying.
"Shut up! That's none of your business."
After a short while, they gather in a small circle near Asmodeus. She busily opens a teleportation portal for them to use. Regardless of the outcome, they need to distance themselves from Lucifer after admitting defeat and accepting his condition.
While the others make their way through the portal, Asmodeus takes a final glance at Lucifer, the respected leader she once knew. It's not pity she waits for, but a glimmer of hope that he will join them on their path of conquest.
"I will meet you again, my dear Lucifer," Asmodeus mutters to herself before finally stepping through the portal. Six of the seven Sins of Demons have successfully withdrawn.
Now, with only the three of them left and no more pursuers to harm them, they can relax their bodies and minds, which have been working overtime. Michael can finally focus on how he can help Malique breach the other side.
"Let him down," Lucifer suddenly instructs as he returns to the spot where the confrontation began.
"He's not dead, is he?" Michael asks, trying to ease his mind and hoping Lucifer shares his belief.
"Well, I'm not the Harbinger of Death, so how am I supposed to know?" Lucifer's response sparks a feeling of disbelief in Michael.
"Just tell me, yes or no."
"See for yourself."
[Poof!]
Lucifer points his finger like a pistol, and a flame sparks on Malique's wound. The fire burns his skin with a crisp sound that echoes in their ears. Michael becomes enraged, considering attacking Lucifer despite his injuries.
"Oi, what are you trying to do?" Michael grabs Lucifer's shoulder tightly, shaking him. He even contemplates forming his lance and piercing him.
"Relax," Lucifer retorts, twirling Michael around to witness the effect.
"What the...?"
"I deduce that you Demons can heal and regenerate quickly whenever we inflict damage on you," Lucifer explains, watching the fire slowly dissipate, leaving behind a horrific scar. "It's not too big or too small to judge."
"Anything particularly interesting?"
"Well, this is just a theory. But all Demons and Angels have their weapons imbued with energy, either good or bad, holy or cursed, depending on our nature," Lucifer adds, the entertaining sight of Malique being burned alive now over.
"Two opposite energies cancel each other out," Michael suggests, sharing his opinion, which aligns with Lucifer's proposition.
"True. And something special: Mammon's arrow loses its energy after travelling a certain distance from its user, so he injects poison into it—paralyzing, coagulation, various effects," Lucifer concludes.
"So, what's your plan to solve our issue?"
"By forcing an opposite reaction, it will unconsciously remove any irregularities in the body," Lucifer says, staring intently at Malique's body, with Michael following suit. "In other words, he should wake up any second now..."
"Bah!" Malique gasps for air, seemingly out of breath. "Where am I? What happened? Is the fight still going on?"
"Calm down, Malique. Everything's alright," Michael reassures him, embracing Malique with relief, trying to ease his panic.
"What about that guy?" Malique becomes more agitated after seeing Lucifer. "That armour...! He killed our friends! Let me go! I'm going to kill this murderer!"
"Malique! Behave," Michael says, pinning Malique to the ground. He is more afraid of Lucifer's wrath than Malique escaping his hold, having witnessed Lucifer's terrifying power first-hand. "He saved you."
"Huh!?" Malique's distress subsides as he spots the scar on his chest when Michael accidentally tugs his shirt open. "What's this? What's happening to me?"
"Relax, the mark should disappear in a few days," Lucifer calmly explains his actions. "No big deal."
"Michael, he tried to kill me when he did this."
[Smack!]
"Hold yourself together, Malique," Michael delivers a sharp slap to snap Malique out of it. "How many times are you going to let your childish emotions run wild?"
"Forgive me, Michael," Malique says, feeling the sting of the slap and realizing how out of control he was. "I promised I won't let it happen again."
As a bystander, Lucifer is amused and impressed by how quickly they transition from life-threatening situations to moments of light-heartedness. They seem to enjoy it a bit too much, much more than Lucifer himself, who feels a tinge of envy.
"I'm sorry for all the harsh things I said earlier," Malique confesses, recognizing his mistakes. As an Angel, he must believe in whatever Michael says, as Angels cannot lie.
"It's all good," Michael reassures him.
Michael finds it strange how Lucifer maintains his composed demeanour after transforming into his Sinner's form. With his full potential unlocked and ready to unleash, Lucifer controls it effortlessly, avoiding any unnecessary waste.
"Now, what's the plan?" Michael asks, now that everything is resolved and no one needs to feel remorse except Lucifer, who severed the last ties with his kin.
"Back to our main point," Lucifer orders.
"To Heaven, you mean?"
"Yeah," Lucifer responds, sounding somewhat drowsy with his vague replies. "Show me the way, will you."
His question-like statement doesn't bother Michael or Malique anymore. They have grown accustomed to Lucifer's mannerisms. But understanding one character from a single perspective is limiting.
Moreover, the outcome of this entire ordeal can be considered lucky. Will the Demons decide to halt their advance? What awaits them in Heaven? These questions remain unknown to the three of them.
In a novel that has stretched the limits of imagination, one can only hope that fate will protect them on their journey through destiny itself. With the past, present, and future entwined in a vast mystery, the rewards of discovering the treasure should be worthwhile.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Aki_Kure
Aki_Kure Fact no. 15: The average person walks the equivalent of three times around the world in their lifetime.
Wait, does this also include the ocean floor and all that!? Mad thing.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone