Chapter 39: The Prince of Sloth

Lily, Incubus, Amiel, and Kerubiel found themselves in the lava fields of hell, covered with crimson flames and demon skulls.

“Well, here we are. From now on, don’t let your guard down, stick together, and try to follow my advice!” Kerubiel ordered.

“Eh? Why your advice?” Incubus got angry.

“It’s simple – because I’m the oldest and the most experienced.”

“Duh, to let you know, you look like a midget!”

“Don’t judge by looks, child. Anyway, let’s move. I can feel Samael’s energy. Follow me.”

He walked on. Lily and Amiel followed him without a word. Incubus went after them too, but with reluctance.

“So, Lord Kerubiel, don’t you think they would already have detected us?” Amiel looked down at her master.

“Obviously they would have, Amy. That is why I’m telling you to stick together. No one knows which demon might appear.”

Just as Kerubiel said this, a glowing red sphere hit the ground. After the dusty smoke aerated, a tall black-haired man appeared, who resembled Samael by his looks. He chuckled when saw the four intruders:

“Hello! We haven’t had any guests in a long while. May I please know your names, ladies and gentlemen?”

Kerubiel frowned. Amiel got a little frightened as she felt deadly energy come from this vicious man. Incubus instead gave him a youthful smirk:

“Oh, if it isn’t Uncle Abaddon! I am quite surprised you were the first to volunteer to fight us – you are known as the laziest among my uncles.”

“Oh, so true, so true!” Abaddon smiled as if ‘the laziest’ was an appraisal. “But how could I miss a meeting with my precious nephew and my little sister-in-law?”

He eyed Lily in a wolfish manner, dreading her with his vile yellow eyes.

“Well then, let’s make that meeting memorable, shall we?”

Incubus cracked his finger-joints and moved forward when Kerubiel grabbed his arm:

“Stop Incubus, it is not your fight. Let us test your mother’s powers first. You said you trusted in her, didn’t you? Leave this to her.”

“Huh? But why? This guy isn’t worth my mother’s bother!”

“Trust me, step down for now. We haven’t yet seen how Lily has recollected the rules of combat. Furthermore, she will need to get accustomed to the powers she’s regained after so many millennia. Leave this to her. We will need your powers later on.”

“Ugh, fine!”

Incubus grumbled in indignation and stepped back. Lily blinked in surprise:

“Eh? I should fight?”

“Yes. Do not fear. Trust in your heart and your powers will come naturally.” Kerubiel smiled. “Abaddon is the laziest of all the five brothers, so he will be the least of a threat to you. He’s a good opponent to test your powers on.”

“Well, okay…”

Lily stepped forward, watching her opponent in apparent fear.

“Oh, please don’t underestimate me, dear guests! No matter you are a woman and my sister-in-law, I will not hold back. As I am a lazy person, I’d prefer this battle to end quick and neat.”

Abaddon grew his claws. Lily widened her eyes at first, but then, a frown covered her face:

I’m doing this for Sammy…

“Transformation! Basic form!”

Lilith’s soul rushed out of Lily’s body, which fell to the ground. A black demonic dress appeared on her soul form. She held a long black staff with a half-moon symbol and a red gem in its center. A pair of tiny horns grew on her head, while a red-to-black tail and demonic wings had appeared on her back.

“Eh? Nice outfit, woman! Now, let’s see how much your powers are worth…”

Abaddon rushed towards her with his claws ready. Lily screamed and randomly swung her black moon staff. Large blue current emerged from it and blasted Abaddon, but he vanished and reappeared right before Lily:

“Don’t take my laziness wrong, tiny – I am not too lazy to hasten up my attacks. I am too lazy to toy with you!”

He swung his red claws, cut her chest, and blasted her off to a wall. Lily yelled and fell off, in pain.

“Mom!”

Incubus got frightened, while Kerubiel remained calm:

“Don’t worry. She’ll handle it.”

“How can you tell me not to worry? That bastard cut my little mom!”

“Ugh, just calm yourself, Incubus! I’ve told you, she’ll be fine!”

“But_”

“He’s… right, Incuby.”

Lily’s soft voice sounded. Incubus widened his eyes – his little mother had stood up! She was beat-up, true, but her eyes still twinkled with determination.

“Mother…”

“Oh, you can still stand? Admirable, tiny!” Abaddon grinned. “I can now understand why Satan came to like you.”

Lily’s eyes sparkled in anger:

“His name… is Samael!”

She accumulated large energy in her moon staff and swung it. A red ray emerged now, headed at Abaddon. This latter widened his eyes, as the shot was unexpected. He prepared to dodge it, but the ray vanished. He raised an eyebrow:

“That was all? Too bad, because for a second, I thought_”

The ray reappeared right behind him and shot him in the back. He collapsed and coughed out dirty blood.

“Hmm, I think for a lazy person you talk way too much…” Lily smirked with pride.

Incubus burst out laughing, along with Kerubiel. Abaddon stood and clenched his fists:

“You are quite cunning, little woman. I feel too lazy to continue this stupid little fight. Let’s get serious!"

He glowed red and grew in size. He turned into a large monster with claws, big jaws and two pairs of horns. Lily was shocked – such an ugly monster! Her husband was at least handsome in his skeleton form! What the heck of a beast was this?

“Now then,” Abaddon growled in a demonic voice, having completely lost his human tone, “let us fight like real demons! I shall let you face me in my supreme form – the Prince of Sloth!”