Chapter 374: All is Nigh

"A Happy ending for everyone. The monsters all gone, the Temptation ceased, the fruit dissipated into mere dust. Nothing else could've been better, won't you say?" Jesta would ask, as he'd write down a word for the screen: Restart. Kuro's magic immediately took place, following the command given by the word and rewound the entire footage, as Kubrick would keep the picture steady, basing off of a small image he was able to capture within Rubix.

The boys, however, knew better. "There was a catch, wasn't it? It looked too good to be true for everyone to be happy...especially with what we had to endure." Zazel questioned, as he'd make the sigil of Asmodeus, recalling on how it was hell on earth during one of the Goetia's reign. Stolas would prepare just as much, stars made around his hand, remembering just as much as to what truly happened. The two human children looked in confusion, with Harvard nearly raising his hand to ask what he meant by a 'catch'. 

Jesta would keep his smile as he heard the Demon Prince spoke, pausing Harvard's concerns as he spoke. "There it is! The details that I left out! You boys have gotten smarter since I last saw you. Could've sworn earlier that you still had trust in me, even with my small crumbs I left behind." He'd chuckle as he'd start it up again, now playing in the perspective of the demons. "Yes, it did had a catch. The story you saw was one that Humanity has invented. They weren't able to see the full story, unfortunately, due to it being beyond the living's control. Luckily for you four, you have someone who was there when the apocalypse occurred." He'd let the screen play once more, now in his living self's perspective. Mass of bodies that littered across, the earth breaking apart as the demons were taking what they wanted. Rather than the beam of light by God, the Man would be facing them all by himself, all with a deck of cards that served to be his true offense.

Wounded.

Infected.

Infested

Disturbed.

His body was in tatters as he tried to explore the world he loved and best the demons that bothered it. At the same time, Lucifer was attacking Heaven itself, angels falling left, right, and center. The Lord was forced to keep an eye on his once proud angel in order to ensure he doesn't try to escape and attack humanity, a ploy set for the Man to weaken the six other demons so as to ensure they would all be dealt with, having his soldiers fend off the Demon of Pride, buying as much time as they possibly could. It was a massacre, and was most likely the reason as to why God ensured no other demon would take such an advantage again. The visual of him merely speaking words as an offense was a lie, all to soften the blow of its true events. "Nowadays we have to be discreet. We couldn't reach to the same devastation and power as the seven once did. Otherwise we'd be disintegrated the second we had such malice for human life in our very conscious. Back then, also, was when Humans had such a first grasp for their new gift. Nobody knew what to do against the demons beforehand, so the odds were slim to none. Their fates would've been sealed, their lives gone into extinction..." He'd pause as he'd stare at his past, the Mask he donned opening its cheerful mouth and letting him laugh. "BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES HUMANITY SO SPECIAL!! Even at the brink of annihilation, they still have the power to overcome those odds! The indominable Human Spirit is a BEAUTY beyond creation! GOD, DO I LOVE IT!!"

Harvard and Solomon were both horrified at his words, whilst Stolas and Zazel dropped their guard and winced at knowing what he meant by such. Not just by how much he had to endure, but at how much his 'love' was presented. From the contracts they saw and how much he punished them, they dread to know what would happen if he began to hate. The scene would end in the same way, the lights coming down as the Demons were weakened, and the Man that had to endure so much punishment finally succumbing to his wounds. His name was shouted by the populace, desperate to keep him alive. "Soleil...! SOLEIL!! ADRIEL SOLEIL!!! PLEASE WAKE UP! PLEASE!" One shouted, cradling his body. His eyes would slowly close, the last sight being the people he once protected.

"Adriel...Soleil?" Harvard asked.

Jesta would shudder as he heard the boy's question. "Ooh....The nostalgia. Centuries have passed since I last heard my name. Well....what used to be my name."

"...So how did you become-"

"A Demon? Simple! Murder, regardless of who or what it is, is still a Sin. So as expected, it was a guaranteed sentence to hell. Whilst there, I found my true calling. A mask was left on the ground, calling to me. It told me that my job was not done. That my gifts were not yet spent. Billions more would want my help, and as their savior, I can't leave them behind. I adopted this mask as my new face, once I remembered who I was... and now look at me! Helping those that try to defy their directions, pruning those that wish to take advantage of what is granted to them." Such cheers and laughs, despite sounding innocent, felt deranged. The boys looked amongst one another and understood what truly happened. He must've discarded what he once was, his view in life just as distorted as those under his contracts. As the Ringleader calmed down, he'd switch into his Comedy Mask once more, the screen disappearing, the name etched being mere smoke. "Now...how are we going to go about this? We could always go for the usual climatic battle. Shoddy and cliche, of course, but a tried and true method! We could also go for the whole 'Redemption' line people seem to be doing nowadays. Feels a bit out of place, but I'm sure with the right words, you could convince me. We could provide a sealing, a taste of suppressing the beast to ensure either a stronger combatant, or a potential chance to provide more of my gifts to the Public! I like that one the most, actually! Not saying I'll stay still and abide by-"

BANG!!!

Jesta's mask nearly broke by the bullet from Lemegeton, a small crack against it, slashing across its cheek. He'd stop himself as he looked down, watching the four be in a stance, a stare of defiance as Harvard spoke. "You wanna know something, Jesta? I want to be a Hero. I know that's probably what you're after, but I don't think you really GET it. I'll simplify it for you: It means being good. It means doing something because you want to help them. It means going out of their way to ensure the best course of action for the benefit of everyone alive. What we're going to do next is not heroic. It's not good. It's ugly. It's disgusting. Yet, despite all of that, it is very... VERY fitting with what you've done."

"We're killing you. You talking about Redemption is the first funny thing you've said in a while. Nobody is going to want to redeem you after torturing our friends and family like this..."

At first, it was silent. Not even a cough out of the Ringleader, as he stared down at the boys for doing such damage, even if it was minimal. The mask itself began to smile wide and proudly, however, as he'd began to laugh it off. His laugh rang louder and louder and louder, reveling in his words as he'd get closer. "VIOLENCE IT IS!!! I KNEW YOU WERE A SPECIAL ONE TO KEEP MY EYE ON!! Let's not have any other delay then!" He'd respond, his arms open wide, his eye sockets gaping, his mouth finally moving properly, acting as the bullet being fired to begin such a race. "LIFE! IS!! A!! CARNIVA~AL!!!"