Chapter 210: Deception

The explosion shook the very foundation of the area. The house quaked and ripped itself in certain rooms, the Shadow People falling from the darkened skies directly into the chasm and Temple below. The sounds of such detonation echoed across the empty lands, reverberating everything across said chasm. As the smoke cleared, the Hat Man would be severely wounded, struggling to pick himself up. His arms and half his chest were singed and torn apart, his left leg scattering into small pieces against the wall, his blood smearing the glyphs. His face was also in disarray as well, his mouth being fully exposed alongside one half of his eyes and cheek being ripped away in the same manner. "The boy.....nay.....The Demon has attained more courage than I thought. It was point-blank. I'm sure of it. No one sane enough would do it against something that close unless they're asking for a death wish. Unless...he's done this before...Yes, yes. He's done this before....he's been used to doing such actions of a lunatic. He has embraced such carnage and chaos to a degree where it's barely scathing to his mind. He must've been used to so much risks, it's second nature..." He'd mumble to himself, struggling to get up as he recovers his body, his mind somewhat damaged, yet it still remained intact, his memories regenerating his lost limbs and missing skin. He couldn't help but smile as he'd try to recall his serpent, seeing through the debris that the explosion put it down for good, the shadowy skin that acted as its body torn off and watching it slowly disintegrate away. "And it did so much, too..." He'd continue, his smile being bigger.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think this child is just as mentally insane as the make believe Hero..."

He'd see through the dust the Devil remained intact, an arm and a leg being blown off, sure, but in its place was of a mechanical appendage to serve as a prosthetic, sharpened fingers and bladed elbows at its helm. The Hat Man would laugh to himself as he'd try to rush forward, attempting to continue the fight. He was ecstatic. The Demon knew his life was forfeit, or at least was going to take some risks for such a close-ranged explosion, so to see him already adapted to the losses made A. N. Noh wonder how far the boy is willing to go to best him. Despite such joy, however, he would be quick to notice the metal also had a blue tinge to it, as well as the next sigil being prepared to cast, Asmodeus. Even with such a hypothesis being made, he never lost his smile. "So that's what's happening....What a hypocrite. Proclaims to never forgive someone for faking a Death.....yet does it right here. Such turmoil, such trickery. It's unmistakably the act of the mischievous imp himself. He must be feeling proud, making a fool out of me. Or rather....he knows I already caught up to his stunt. The wonders of the Mind truly are a blessing to me. His emotions are skyrocketing now...I can't wait to see his reaction as I find him again."

FWOOOSH!!

The blue flames of the makeshift Asmodeus blasted forward, with Publiq being aware that this was a copy. He'd create his own Asmodeus Sigil and blasted it back, pushing away such temperatures while he'd run past the demon and began his search, casting out a combination of Apep with two sigils: Ronove and Sabnock to create scopes on its eyes and a gatling gun in its mouth. It would try to recreate such sounds that Zazel used before in order to try and disorient the Devil into coming out, ready to unload a flurry of bullets to the creature before he gets the chance to get back up. The dupe, however, would try to throw them off, utilizing Sabnock in creating a M40 Rifle, a heightened scope to get a longer distance and shooting such bullets directly to the snake's head, sniping them clean and watching them drop, trying to regenerate what they lost. The Hat Man, being observant as he is, would create appendages to barrage the clone, trying to grab and rip it to shreds, or pummel him into a bloody pulp, whilst he creates replacements and continued with his search. As he does, he can see the land began to shift and turn, recognizing his psyche is starting to break. Whatever the demon did must've did a number in his mind, so he needs to act fast. He'd continue his rush, having the serpents search every creek and crevice imaginable, while the dupe broke free from such dark grasps and ran after. "You can run, Demon, but you cannot hope to hide from my sight! Your trick does absolutely nothi-"

KRACC!!!

A Punch. A Direct punch straight across its jaw, nearly ripping it off. The Hat Man looked on in confusion at who threw such a punch, before seeing none other than Zazel Cal'cul himself. A dirty tactic in the Hat Man's eyes, one befitting for such a mischievous demon. Something did caught his eye at how his body, head to toe, is covered in markings. "Pssh...a mere punch? After everything you've done so far to harm me...? I believe I'm losing interest in you after such a pitiful reaction." The Hat Man mocked, to which the Demon chuckled a bit before slowly opening his palm.

"Ah well. I thought I could've hit you as hard as I can with that. Let me see if my friend can do better."

KRACC!!!!!

A sucker punch, one from a metallic hand, caving directly into his cranium, stabbing into his brain and holding enough force to bounce the Hat Man across the floor and up into the air. He was tricked once more. Deceived. Bamboozled. He let his guard down at the worst moment, with Zazel's hand opening to allow a Demon to go through the sigil and punch him directly. The force was enough to make him go dizzy, blood spewing outward from the impact, his mouth caked in such a viscous fluid. He wanted to be lesser in order to get a proper hit on the second strike. He was starting to lose his sight, His mind being in a haze. He's ran out of time. As he'd stare down towards the Demon that bested him, he merely grinned before making a hand sign. Zazel maintained his focus as he prepares for what's to come next.

"Memory Magic - MANDELAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"

His voice echoed across the temple, and once more, darkness began to seep in.