Chapter 10: No Holding Back

Lucifer ran to look for me when he overheard me say the words he didn't want to hear from me.

"A soul sacrifice from another world... that's me, isn't it?"

Lucifer felt a strong tightness in his chest upon hearing that. It reminded him of Lilith's death and how she killed herself for his sake. It felt like history was repeating itself for him. He didn't want to go through that again, and in a instant he embraced me from behind.

"Lucy?! What are you-?!"

"Don't you dare try to die on me, Kitten, " Lucifer said in a serious tone but also shaking in fear, "No sacrifices. No dumb risky moves... All I ask... is for you to stay alive for me..."

Remembering Lucifer's backstory, I understood the reasons of his sudden embrace and let my hands hold onto his own during the embrace, to accept the hug fully. However, I knew this sacrifice was meant to be... I can't avoid this... and I certainly can't just ignore the chaos in front of me either. His shaking soon stopped as I closed my eyes to prepare myself to break a heart.

"I'm sorry Lucy, but I can't promise I'll live this out... Death comes to use eventually and I just can't ignore the forest that I lived in since I got to this world dying before my eyes..."

Lucifer began to tear up. He knows my small little mortal body will give out one day. He can't protect me from everything in the world. He couldn't even protect me from Cleon. He couldn't protect Lilith. He then made the biggest decision of his life, something that he never thought he ever do to me.

"Then make a contract with me, Kitten, " he said seriously.

"W-Wha-? Like a soul contract where they take souls and put them through torture?!"

"Yes, but don't get the wrong idea, I don't want to harm your soul in any way, that's not what I want with this contract."

"Then what?"

"I want to preserve your soul in my body, when your body isn't functional and your soul has nowhere else to go. It's so no one else can touch your soul, " Lucifer said, "In exchange, you will gain my demon pact mark."

A pact? I heard of pacts before, from my brother's library. Aren't pacts suppose to give you very strong demonic powers and the ability to control that demon as they wish, like a servant? Do I even want that kind of power? But I can tell he was very serious with this.

"Alright then... it's a deal."

The soul contract along with a black feather pen immediately appeared with all the terms and details he described. It also looked like he made it so that I can cancel our contract at anytime without any punishments.

"Why-?"

"For precaution, " he answered, "And... in case you decide you don't want to stay in our contract anymore. It's a win-win for you."

He was obviously prepared for this, to make me comfortable and safe. I sighed it, then the soul contract immediately disappeared as I felt extreme pain in my chest as if my soul was chained, then a massive rush of power grow around me along with a burning sensation at the back of my neck. When it was over I was in a cold sweat, and Lucifer kisses the back of my neck to stop the burning, making me blush.

"The pact has been made, " Lucifer said, "Hope it was okay for me to put the mark at the back of your neck, so no one tries to find it covered in all your hair. It'll be our little secret."

He finally lets go of the embrace, stands up and pulls out his hand to me.

"Now, " he said smiling, "There's nothing holding me back anymore. Go save this forest, my friend."

I took his hand with confidence and met up with the fairy siblings back at the cave to make up a plan. It was clear to both Lucifer and Echo that I didn't want to attack anyone, for it wasn't in my nature to kill. Then I had an idea, but it was risky, but what other option do I have. I either save this forest or die trying.

"I want to try something, but this would mean Lucy would have to be the distraction, the sisters can assist Lucy as back up. Are you okay with that Lucy?"

"Of course, " Lucifer agreeing, "But I assume you don't want me to kill them."

"If you see fairies then don't kill otherwise you are free to do as you please."

"Wait... are you serious, " Lucifer asked in shocking concern, "You're actually gonna let me kill demons? I thought you don't like me killing people."

"But isn't killing a main part of demon culture? And besides, whether I like the thought of it or not, no demon of this Fallen Prince Mammon guy is gonna hold back on you, especially given your status. "

"How do you know that, " Lucifer now confused, "I don't remember telling you about demon status."

"Oh right. Well it's because-.

[I TOLD HER THAT.]

"GAH, " everyone shouted, except for me.

Guide must have turned on his telepathy to talk to everyone now.

[PLEASE TO MEET EVERYONE, I AM GUIDE, A FRIEND OF "CATHERINE".]

"Her friend, huh, " Lucifer said calming down, "You must be the one who telepathically connected me to Kitten."

[THAT IS CORRECT. I DISOBEYED MY NORMAL CODE OF CONDUCT SO THAT "CATHERINE" WOULDN'T DIE.]

"Well, he sounds trustworthy enough, " Lucifer said, "I don't think I've ever met an entity who can use Telepathy besides gods, but I can't that type of aura, so it's rather strange."

"Same here, " Echo added.

Even the fairy sisters nodded. I mean, Guide is a special case and all, but really? No living person has ever done Telepathy before? Is Guide suppose to be some sort of hidden race or something that isn't a god, if Telepathy is originally claimed to be used only with gods?

"Okay lets go back to the plan. Lucy will be the distraction and the sisters will join you as back up, me and Echo will go alone to the Tree, he will help me get to the tree. Or at least keep me alive long enough to make it to the tree."

"Wait... you plan to die, "Echo said in shock, "We just got you back and you're going back to die?!"

"Look I don't have a lot to go by, but Cleon told me about a prophecy with the tree and that this was all destined to happen. I have to do this, Echo."

"You're crazy, " Echo yelled back.

"No... she's right brother, Aurora said in a sad tone, "This is the only way to save the forest and no one else can do it except her."

Echo turned to Ellie and she even gave this sad face that agreed with Aurora and me. He then looked to Lucifer, in a last attempt to convince me otherwise.

"What about you, " Echo asked him in a serious and angered tone, "How can you be straight faced about this?! Don't you guys care if Catherine lives or dies?!"

"We do, " Lucifer said, "And I know what she's doing is recklessly stupid but... I trust her plan. There is no other way around this."

"Please Echo... won't you help us?"

"...Don't look at me with those sad kitten eyes, " Echo said trying to resist but fails, "Arrrrgh fine! I'll go along with this, but just so you know, I tried to stop you! None of you blame me if she doesn't come back!"

He looked like he was about to cry, and I get it. This would be the last we see each other, whether this plan works or not, I'm probably going to die either way. His face turned red, as he reached out to my face and pressed his lips towards mine, and after a second immediately pulled his face away. This shocked everyone but irritated Lucifer.

"W-W-W-W-WHAT WAS THAT?!"

"Dummy, " Echo said still red, "It's called a kiss."

"I KNOW WHAT A KISS IS, I WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU-?!"

"Because..., " Echo said in a soft tone, trying to contain himself, "I like-like you, Catherine. I want you to know that... before you... you know..."

Echo... likes me?! What the heck?! Well, at least he didn't pull the flirts on me or did the confession on the first meeting, but still! Excuse me?! This is the second person to have a crush on me in this world, what is going on?!

"A-Anyway, " Echo said trying to change the subject, "Now t-that I did that, I think I can move forward with this plan of yours. S-Shall we?"

He held his hand out to me with confidence and-. Omg I feel a sense of déjà vu. Well me and Echo went together as planned, with Lucifer and the two sisters distract as many demons, as possible. The race begins, Lucifer with his murderous intentional eyes began to glow in rage, when facing a group of demons.

"It's Fallen Prince Lucifer, " one of the demons cried out, "GET HIM!"

"Go right ahead, " he said in angered anticipation, "I'm in a bad mood now anyways. Make. My. Day."

As he goes off killing left and right so brutally, the two sisters were at the corner just staring at this gruesome battle.

"I don't know whether to be rooting for him, or scared for him now, " Aurora said in laughing hesitantly.

"You think brother might have accidentally... bothered... the Fallen Prince from that kiss, " Ellie asked.

"Most likely, " Aurora answered, "But let's not sit and idle, we have to contribute to this too. Heal and protect as much as we can. Even if he is super scary right now than the previous time we saw him fight..."

With me and Echo, we tried our best to hide ourselves away from fighting as much as possible. Sometimes when we wanted the demons to go the other way, I would summon spears with magic attacks as far from the both of us as possible and throw it at their direction to make it look like a far shot so that they would chase where the spear came from. We almost made it to the tree, but were surrounded by demons as a sneak gang up attack. Echo immediately summoned vines to grab and kill all the demons in an instant, which shocked me as I saw vividly his LV has increased and gained fresh EXP for the first time.

"E-Echo... y-you..."

"Don't think about that now, " he said, "We have to make it to the tree!"

Suddenly a far magic blast hit both me and Echo from behind. It was Mammon, who waited patiently alone at the tree, hoping deep down that I would come back here.

"Greetings, " Mammon said as he tried to introduce himself, "I am Mammon, Fallen Prince of Greed. And you must be the Kitten Lucifer has eyes for. We have met at the Gathering, but it's nice to have a proper greeting like this."

"Enough, " Echo interrupted, "We don't have time for you! We're just here-!"

"To save the tree? Yeah, I'm not going to let that happen~, " Mammon said with a smile, "I know about the prophecy of this forest, so I know what you two plan to do. And letting her die is not in my plans-. HEY!"

Echo was fighting of Mammon with grass and light magic, trying to hold him off.

"H-HURRY, " Echo yelled, "WHILE I CAN STILL HOLD HIM BACK!"

"NO, " Mammon screamed in anger freeing himself over and over from the magic holds.

I ran as quickly as I could to the Grand Flair Tree and put my hand to it. A flashback to when I first came to this world, I remembered Guide announcing a certain unique skill that I haven't checked upon. I remembered Cleon talking about how the tree's power was similar to the process of reincarnation. I remembered the prophecy fully clear and the soul sacrifice that survived after the aftermath. I know it was a long shot and I know I should have checked my unique skill list before attempted this, but what other choice I have. If this skill saves my life then I'm the luckiest girl to have ever lived, otherwise I died for this forest and I will leave with so many regrets.

"Let's do this."

[STARTING MAGIC TRANSFER.]

[BEGIN TRANSFER.]

I almost immediately passed out the moment I let myself go to the tree. I started to use Lucifer's pact magic to keep myself alive, but it eventually gave out too.

[WARNING! MAGIC TRANSFER AMOUNT IS RAPIDLY INCREASING!]

[BODY DESTABILIZING! MAGIC DECREASING!]

[WARNING! MAGIC LOW! PLEASE CANCEL TRANSFER IMMEDIATELY!]

My eyes we're getting heavy and the pain was numbing.

[MAGIC NOW AT ZERO! TRANSFER WILL NOW USE HEALTH AS ALTERNATIVE!]

[WARNING! HEALTH LOW! PLEASE CANCEL TRANSFER IMMEDIATELY!]

I closed them... I knew what was coming... Death... I was about to die... Goodbye... Lucy... Echo... Brother... Kath... I'm... sorry...

[HEALTH NOW AT 0.]

[CHECKING STATUS.]

["CATHERINE" IS DEAD.]

My soul showed me asleep before Guide in my black void of a mind as he started to breakdown, knowing that it meant that I was about to pass away soon.

[THIS... THIS CAN'T BE HOW IT ENDS! I WON'T ALLOW THIS! I-! H-HUH?]

A skill appeared before him that asks him if she should accept or not. It was clear that I was still unconscious from passing out from the draining, so my soul was still in sleep mode.

[THIS IS... I GET IT NOW... HERE I AM CALLING HER AN IDIOT FOR BEING RECKLESS... WHEN I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT HER FIRST UNIQUE SKILLS... GUESS I CAN STILL BE YOUR GUIDE AFTER ALL.]

[UNIQUE SKILL ACTIVATED: REINCARNATION]

[BEGIN REVIVAL]

[REVIVAL COMPLETED]

[UNIQUE SKILL: REINCARNATION WILL NOW BE PUT ON TIMER HOLD]

[WAKING PROCESS NOW LOADING.]

[WELCOME BACK, "CATHERINE".]

["CATHERINE" IS NOW AWAKE.]

[WELCOME BACK... MY FRIEND.]