Chapter 234: THE KING AND THE KNIGHTS

Barbatos continued to hesitate,

While Ken used the distraction to peer of his past fate.

Curiousity had consumed him at best,

And though he fears of how explicit he'll see,

He have to know nonetheless.

Soon, he saw the times Barbatos was treated with neglect,

As his family see his incredible talent, as nothing but a bad omen.

No one recognized his abilities in his family,

Thus, made him seek acknowledgement, from heaven's enemy.

It made sense at one part, but was still wrong in the other,

Barbatos could have been the hero, the world was seeking for.

And now, he ended but as another vengeful demon,

Whose hatred had eaten up their logical reasons.

Ken saw that Barbatos still had the intent to fight back,

His eyes, were still filled with wrath.

"Give what your family had stolen,"

"Give what you took, to the families you've broken,"

With Ken's reply, Barbatos' eyes bulged,

This human, never backs down.

He did not want to submit though,

He have waited for this moment for so long.

Backing down would make his hardwork look like a waste of time,

And in his eyes, it was God's fault for giving him such a miserable life.

"You always complain that I should have been good,

But is it my fault that I hate this world?

Why does God love the other, and curse another?"

"You're not the only one with a miserable chapter,

Everyone have their sad parts, not just you.

So don't act like you're any special,

an exception, have your backstory justify what evil things you do.

We still have a choice, Barbatos.

You could have changed it for the better.

But here you are, making it worse."

Barbatos soon turned red in anger,

And cut up most of his hair, turning them to arrows.

The bright arrows targeted Ken here and there,

But his teleportation prevented him from being hit.

Barbatos used his experience to predict where Ken would be,

Making it harder for Ken to set foot and attack him with.

Yet as the trumpets from above loudly played,

It was clear that Barbatos' allies had died as well.

The unwanted knowledge made his heart ache,

Making him loosen his guard, as Ken cuts his chest.

Blood sprayed on Ken's face,

As Barbatos didn't even screamed.

It was though he knew it was coming,

His eyes looked dead, even if he was still blinking.

He crumpled his fists as he laid on the ground,

But he was still breathing, suffering somehow.

He tried to grab a nearby arrow on the ground,

Hoping to kill himself, but Ken struck him again.

The scythe buried deep into his lungs,

And soon, Barbatos could no longer react.

Was he regretful? Filled with hate? Realized he was wrong?

He felt none of it. He was just happy to be gone.

With nothing to feel, and nothing to hope.

No one to battle, and no one to mourn.

He closed his eyes, slowly as if he was just sleeping,

Swallowing the blood, in his throat that started forming.

Ken watched as Barbatos breathed his last.

A single tear, coming from his right.

The hero knelt to the ground to take a rest,

As he watches his opponent, slowly vanish from the air,

Till not a trace of him, remained.

Ken soon felt himself collapsing any moment,

The exhaustion keeping up with him.

Just as when he was about to close his eyes to blink,

He smelled an awfully familiar scent.

He looked behind and saw the black monsters he saw back then.

Back at the arena, were Belphegor's pets.

The Demon who creates monsters from other's nightmares,

Seemed to be Ken's next opponent.

Bad dreams kept surfacing on Ken's mind.

He saw those same black creatures before, every night.

He couldn't help but think of how realistic the pain was,

Belphegor seemed heartless, opposed to what Sellena shared he was.

"I've finally gathered enough monsters for the fight,

Now, how about you show me what you got?

Don't worry, I'll only use your nightmares when I ran out of them,

So better hope they won't...or else."

Belphegor warned as Ken could only freeze.

He tried looking at the future, but his nervousness hindered it useless.

It seemed that knowing what was about to happen before had made him feel hopeless,

Would he really be tortured like what his past vision says?

"What? Scared?"

Belphegor asked as he grinned at Ken.

"You know, for a hero, you look scared as hell,

Why don't you just surrender? So this could finally end?"

...

Lucifer's appearance triggered Lluming so much.

After all, he turned Eleazar to ash.

The recklessness he have been trying to hide for long,

Suddenly broke from its chains, as careful measurements were ignored.

He tried to hit Lucifer with his best force,

But despite the speed he gained, he was no match at all.

Lucifer quickly dodged him, and had his hand trap his head,

But since he wanted to make him feel the most pain,

He pierced an arrow to his chest.

The arrow soon turned to a horn,

Making a much bigger hole.

The pain was enough for Lluming to pass out,

As the archangel watching, could only cry at the sight.

Gabriel wanted to attack as well,

But Michael was hesitant, since they had no plan prepared.

If they attack carelessly, they could also kill Selaphiel,

Who by that time, was merged with Lucifer.

"But Lluming!?"

Gabriel cried in tears.

But Michael knew Lluming was aware of the risks.

It was no denying, he and Lucifer's gap is just big.

Lucifer looked at Michael with a calm expression,

As he continued to hold Lluming in his possession.

"You've pampered them too much, they grew into arrogant weaklings,

What an idiot he truly is, for him to think he could stand a chance against a King."

Sellena could only cover her mouth,

As she watches painfully, a dear friend bleed out.

She closed her eyes, praying hard,

That Lluming, could survive.

Suddenly, Lucifer felt a cold metal touch his back,

And to his utmost surprise,

He saw Raphael's eyes.

"Let go of Lluming or I'll bury this deep,"

Lucifer smiled, "Oh, there he is. My opposite."

Soon, Lucifer lost interest on the young angel he is holding,

And finally let him drop on the ground, as he kept walking.

Sellena did not hesitate to ran towards him,

Despite knowing well, that Lucifer is still near.

Raphael readied his guard as Lucifer drew his sword.

"Let's see this time, who ends up as victor."

...

Sellena quickly held Lluming, and carefully tried to dress his wounds.

She ripped a part of her dress, as she tearfully tried to clean it up.

Asmodeus felt awful, seeing Lluming weakly gasp for air,

But could do nothing, since he himself, is exhausted as hell.

Michael felt responsible for the situation Lluming was in,

And thus shared half of his energy, although little to him remains.

It slowly healed Lluming, but he was still not opening his eyes,

So Sellena refused to leave him, to make sure he won't die.

Michael nodded and ordered Gabriel to aid him with Lucifer.

While the others try and fight off Eligorr.

Asmodeus was torn if he should help them or protect Sellena instead,

But the woman assured him that he must go and help.

Asmo hesitantly agrees,

But did not left without giving her a quick kiss.

He felt scared that she might hurt herself,

But Sellena pushed him away,

Saying everything's okay.

She soon casted a strong barrier,

Hoping that Lluming won't be left vulnerably alone.

Lluming winced in pain as his wounds slowly closed,

As Sellena could only assure him, that he won't suffer for long.

"Lluming, don't cry no more!

If...if you were careful, this wouldn't have happened, you know?!

Gah! Why are you so careless anyways?

Why don't you learn from your mistakes?"

She lectured him out of her own frustration,

Recalling the times Lluming had saved her from doom.

She held his hand tight, telling him he won't pass,

And with the clear concern on her voice, Lluming finally opens his eyes.

Soon, Sellena heard nearing steps.

And her eyes lit up with joy, seeing Haborym's face.

155, her found-friend, was also there,

And all of them, are willing to help.

155 quickly gave Sellena a tight embrace,

As Sabrina and Humility dug a deep hole on the ground.

Humility couldn't help but shake a bit,

Knowing that what's beside him, was a complete beast.

Soon, the water flowed and surfaced,

Making Sabrina smile wide.

Jegudiel quickly yelled seeing more allies,

"Come help us quickly then! We don't want to die!"

Jacob quickly laughed at the archangel's remark,

Thinking he was nothing sort of noble, but a useless coward.

He even pointed at the duplicate near him,

But before he could enjoy himself more,

The duplicate near his face was mercilessly killed by...

"HAIR??!"

Sabrina's hair had reached their distance,

And her hair, was metal-hard.

Jacob couldn't help but shiver like a coward,

Knowing that he was next no matter what.

It caused him to double his multiplication,

But Sabrina felt unfazed cutting more.

Blood soon soaked the fighting space,

Making Eligorr distracted by his partner's own screams.

"It's just a girl, be a man!"

Eligorr told Jacob, as he, himself continued to dodge.

Being a distraction, and a shield,

Now felt deeply unfair to him.

Sabrina's shots were too accurate,

No amount of speed could help him escape.

If he slowed down from duplication,

He would be easily reduced to countable numbers.

Humility on the other hand,

Tried all he can,

To determine which of the duplicating demons,

Is truly the original.