Chapter 252: THE TRUE ADVERSARY

"You change your mind as easily as the wind,

Didn't you say you are in no rush?"

"I did. But your pride is burning off my patience,

You never changed Lucifer, you cannot be humbled,"

"Certainly, because I plan to be god."

"A god should not be humble.

A god should only do what he thinks is fit.

And regardless of our history,

or whatever lie you make up to convince me,

I will not change what I think you are.

I will not share you the fruits of my victory."

"Victory? Hah, you dare talk of victory when you barely made it out of that plant,

Stop flattering yourself, you are no god.

You have lost the moment you had accepted me in your heart.

You have lost the moment you took Satan's hand."

"No. You couldn't be...you couldn't be Satan. The Satan I know, died a while ago,"

"Or that's what you believed was so.

Lucifer, you, a man-child, did not create the greatest adversary of all time,

Everything you believed up until now, is all an illusion, a well-crafted lie."

Lucifer becomes even more furious at the insult,

And tries to finish him off.

But the snakes on Satan's hair suddenly jumped towards his arms,

Making him feel frozen and numb.

"That will warn you not to get too close,

Or like Icarus, you'll die like a fly too near to a torch.

Like I said Lucifer, if only I have a soul,

I'd even be...far powerful."

"I really...couldn't remember you,"

"Too bad, your arrogance makes me feel mix feelings towards you.

A part of me wanted you to experience the same thing the angels and demons are experiencing now,

Kneeling on the ground, hands on their head,

remembering my existence, they once had forget.

But at the same time, I don't feel like filling the blanks just yet.

C'mon, can't you remember even a little?

I hoped that my presence, scent, or my eyes seem familiar.

But it seemed that my manipulation seems too strong to reverse."

Lucifer's eyes suddenly glowed.

And soon, the poison turned to smoke.

He stood up, and casted a huge steaming pole,

Determined to kill the demon,

Who seemed to know.

The demon dodged him quickly,

And pinned him to the ground.

"I told you not to get too close,

But here you are.

How funny, Lucifer. As strong as you are,

Without me, you won't truly go far.

You can't be a powerful man without a brain,

You can't only go for strength.

And still, I'm thankful you're an idiot,

Or else...my plans wouldn't have sailed forth."

"Let me go! I command you to release me!

I am not weak! The angels had just fought me!

If I were as unscathed as you, I would have won!

You are not to be god! I dreamt of that for long!"

"And who made you dream that big, Lucifer?

Is it just your own?"

Lucifer's eyes suddenly widened,

As he suddenly remembered a childish voice.

He remembered a long forgotten scene,

Near the ponds of the human realm.

Two angels converse as they soak their feet,

One remembered, and one buried and forgotten.

("It would be a waste if we serve here forever.

Especially with someone like you, ever so powerful!

What do you say you aim to be just like God?

Or even better! Stronger than God!")

The red-eyed angel tells the young Lucifer,

Who quickly denied ever wanting to take that power.

"I do not want to be someone to step boundaries."

("Why? It wouldn't be fair if a guy with your talents dream so lowly.")

"I cannot surpass Father, you know?"

(And what? Stay like this forever?

Didn't you told me before that you wanted to be the very best angel in the world?

Well, if you can't aim higher than Michael, your dream won't come true.")

Lucifer then snaps back to the present and looks at Satan with a confused look.

Tears falling from his eyes as he asked again,

"Who are you?"

Satan laughs and crashes the spell he casted upon Lucifer,

And back they were, to the true forms of chaos.

Lucifer was back to the smell of blood and smoke,

As he saw his comrades, and foes.

He felt his heart ache, feeling emotions he had never felt before.

He felt guilt and shame, realizing he may not have been dreaming of being god this time along.

"I did not came from a mere angel.

I did not came from an arrogant child.

In fact, if anything, I created you, Lucifer.

I took the crown of a well-mannered angel,

Away from your fingertips.

And now, you'll see what I really am,"

He snaps his fingers,

And calls Samael's name.

Who was battling the angel Dawn by then.

Upon hearing his name however, he turns to look at the source,

And upon staring at the demon's red eyes,

Fell to its curse.

He was quickly transfixed to the new demon,

And a chain appeared on his neck,

As Lucifer realized he had been helplessly summoned.

Samael followed him, eyes in a trance.

Like a hound, following it's master's command.

Satan smiles as Ken looks back,

Warning Samael not to continue his steps.

Azazel's face however, suddenly breathed wind,

Which quickly, and painfully, tore Ken's skin.

He yelled in despair, and his warnings was drowned in the air,

As the unknowing Samael, to Satan's trap fell.

When the demon was too close,

He was quickly disemboweled.

Shocking Ken who knew,

That the real Samael was still there.

The smoke was a mix of black and white,

Which was quickly absorbed by Satan's hands.

He soon gave Ken a warning smile,

"You can warn all you want, but they're all mine."

Azazel's face then turned back to Ken,

Making the hero forcefully rise again.

Satan's face then looks at Lucifer,

Who by then, had lost all hope.

He felt stupid, and was still, trying to process what had happened,

And among all things, was trying to remember for all things to make sense.

Satan laughs and looks at him in the eye,

"If you want answers, let me inside."

Lucifer tried to resist but was too weak and shocked,

That he was unable to resist the force, entering his heart.

Soon, Azazel's body was completely his again,

But he was seemingly left like a shell.

Eyes still emotionless and neck still chained,

It was clear to Ken that the demon was still caged.

"How pitiful. You've all been tricked,"

Ken murmurs as he tries to dodge him swift.

...

Meanwhile, Selaphiel stands up from the heavy migraine he had experienced,

Along with the other angels.

He tried to pick his spear but was completely blocked,

By a huge serpent, the color of black.

He tried to summon another spear but was entangled in seconds,

As a familiar face, look at him with satisfaction.

"Ah, Selaphiel, the man with a hundred thousand curses,

How does it feel, being the one at my mercy?"

"Get out of my brother's body!

Now I understand, you tricked him!"

"It's not my fault he was weak-willed,

It's his own trust that destroyed him.

Remember, I just whisper desires unto every creature's ears.

It wouldn't happen, if they didn't let me in."

"I will kill you! I will kill you once I'm released!"

"No, I'm afraid you won't get out from my beast.

And also, I know you know this but, I want to say it as well...

I hate you very much, Selaphiel.

How I wish that even angels, go to hell."

Satan readies his spear to stab the archangel,

But suddenly, his movements were stopped mid-air.

He felt shocked at first, but his mouth suddenly curved,

Revealing a rather, impressed smirk.

"Lucifer, you're still resisting?

Ah, you truly are, my most stubborn sibling.

Why don't you just lend me your body?

Or would you be satisfied, once you hear our story?"

Satan suddenly spat blood as he realized that Lucifer was extremely serious.

"Harming your own just to drive me off?

Hah, you truly are something, Lucifer.

Why are you suddenly helping this goat?

Remember, you used to wish for their deaths.

Why is it, that your mind's mimicking the wind as well?

You wanted to be god, and you would have killed them either ways,

Or is it now...that your desires has changed?

Had you suddenly rediscovered feelings again?

That one thing you hated back then?

If so, then that's such a shame-"

"Tell me now, Satan! When did this all began?!"

"Ah, I see...you wanted me to start 'Once upon a time-'"

"I want to know how I forgot,

How I betrayed everyone,

If this...

If this is what I really want."

Tears fell from Lucifer's eyes,

As Satan had a hard time taking control.

He tries to lower his weapon to Selaphiel,

But he was always met with an unfathomable force.

He felt even more surprised that Lucifer was doing it out of spite.

"You really want to know? Then fine.

I'll tell you from the start.

I'll tell you how I tricked you with my lies.

But remember, it wouldn't have happened,

If you didn't let me inside."